16 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



YELLOW PICKEREL: 



There was a decrease in the distribution of pickerel fry to the extent of 

 approximately 48,8 41,000 due to an unsatisfactory run of pickerel in the Bay of 

 Quinte. 



Large numbers of fry were distributed to suitable inland game fishing areas. 



SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS: 



There was a percentage increase in fry distribution over the previous year 

 amounting to approximately 47 per cent. The Department was also successful in 

 distributing more than four times as many fingerlings, that is an increase of over 

 one hundred and seventeen thousand, in addition to 3,435 yearlings and adults, as 

 compared with 420 adults in 1934. 



LARGE-MOUTHED : 



From one pond devoted to the culture of this species at the Mount Pleasant 

 Hatchery, ISO.'OOO fry and 2,153 fingerlings were distributed. 



MASKINONGE: 



As a result of the Department's operations on the Pigeon River at Omemee, 

 460,000 maskinonge fry were distributed to suitable waters. 



The chief diflSculties attending our operations this year were adverse weather 

 conditions, that is sudden lowering of temperature from a gradually rising one 

 and, also, the scarcity of ripe males and females. Abundance of eggs and a small 

 amount of milt results in high fertility. 



We have already discussed the unsuccessful attempts made on this Continent 

 to rear maskinonge to the fingerling stage in appreciable numbers. Millions of fry 

 have been produced in New York and Wisconsin hatcheries and Ontario can do 

 likewise when suflQcient spawning fish are available and when favourable spawning 

 and hatching temperatures are actualities. 



SANCTUARIES: 



There is a trenmendous demand for more and more black bass and maskinonge 

 for maintaining the supply in our inland waters, since both of these species have a 

 very great appeal to anglers. Our rearing ponds and hatcheries are doing good 

 work, but considering the extent of Ontario's bass and maskinonge waters and the 

 enormous resident and non-resident fishing population, we can scarcely hope to 

 produce an adequate number of these species by pond culture to close the gap 

 between supply and demand. 



In addition to the imposition of suitable closed seasons, sane creel limits, the 

 control of competitive and predatory species, and pollution, there is probably no 

 more promising method of bass and maskinonge conservation than the establishment 

 of sanctuaries, that is setting aside in certain suitable waters, a number of bays in 

 which fishing of any kind is prohibited. The bass and maskinonge multiply in 

 these areas without interference and spread to other parts of the said lake or stream, 

 thus preventing depletion. By such means we may be approaching the ideal of 

 maintaining a permanent breeding stock and taking each year only the natural 

 increase from it. 



In many areas of this kind maskinonge and large-mouthed black bass live and 

 thrive. In many, also, there are mixed environmental conditions, so that small- 

 mouthed black bass is a frequent inhabitant also. Closures of this nature will be 

 followed up from time to time to determine the results and if there are deficiencies 

 in these closed areas, we propose to remedy them, if possible. For example, condi- 



