Inventory surveys were conducted in all forest districts 

 except Chapleau, Lake Erie and Lake Simcoe. including both 

 new surveys and surveys to up-date some work carried out 

 in the past, 969 lakes were surveyed. Echo sounding to pro- 

 duce an accurate bottom contour map, water analysis, the 

 determination of fish species present, and the gathering of 

 fishing information form the principal parts of the survey. 

 This information is later analyzed and the results used to 

 provide a sound fisheries management program. 



The accurate identification of all fish is an important re- 

 quirement of each survey, but many of the smaller species 

 are difficult to identify except by experts. In co-operation 

 with the Department of Ichthyology of the Royal Ontario 

 Museum, LJnit personnel identified all collections of small 

 fish sent in by lake survey crews. Over the province, 59 dif- 

 ferent species were identified. 



Work to evaluate infra-red photography as an aid in plant 

 identification was continued. Aerial photographs of Tiny 

 Marsh near Midland were taken with both infra-red and 

 colour film, and the results compared. Preliminary results 

 show that infra-red film can be employed to identify aquatic 

 plants from aerial photographs, but much refining of tech- 

 niques is required. The work is continuing. 



Although the primary emphasis has been on lake surveys, 

 streams have not been overlooked. Following a study of 

 stream survey methods used by other agencies all over the 

 world, a two-man crew was employed to develop tech- 

 niques suitable for our needs in Ontario. The crew worked 

 in the Forest Districts of Lake Simcoe, Lake Huron and Lind- 

 say, and by the end of the summer had prepared a stream 

 survey manual which will be tested further in 1970. 



INDIAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 



The policy of the Department in the major portion of north- 

 ern Ontario favours local residents, mainly Indian Bands, in 

 the development of fish and wildlife resources. The follow- 

 ing projects were carried out during the past fiscal year 

 under the Federal-Provincial Resource Development Agree- 

 ment. 



Indian Delegates. Indians attended District meetings held 

 under the Agreement and are now taking an active part in 

 the planning of projects under the Agreement. 



Fur. From beaver population surveys in the Patricia Districts, 

 annual estimates of population changes and distributions 

 were related to food supplies, water and weather condi- 

 tions, and diseases. Trappers from James Bay were assisted 

 in establishing trapping areas in central Ontario. 



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