ANNUAL REPORT, 1935-36 13 



young trout feed, become dried up. It is clear, therefore, that under such circum- 

 stances planting yearling and older fish which feed on the larger forms of terrestrial 

 and aquatic life, insects, shellfish, and fish will have a better chance to survive. It 

 is true that if fry and small flngerlings are carefully distributed in protected head- 

 waters, a percentage will survive, but we may plant. yearlings in the main streams of 

 creeks with much greater impunity and with greater hope of success since fish of this 

 age can more easily search out favourable sections of the stream for food and shelter. 

 There are numerous lakes, also, where on account of the limitations of food supply, 

 the planting of fry and fingerlings is undesirable. For example, lakes with both 

 shallow and deep water, should produce more trout food for immature and mature 

 trout than those with precipitous shores, where the shallow water fauna are 

 extremely limited. In the latter case the planting of larger trout is desirable. 



We must remember that the productiveness of any natural body of water is fixed 

 by nature and our objective is to prevent fishing from reaching a low level. When 

 a body of water becomes depleted to too low a level the increase of undesirables 

 often goes on to such an extent that it becomes increasingly diflBcult for trout, 

 especially young trout, to survive. The introduction of yearling and older trout, in 

 such cases, is obviously a more practical procedure. 



The following table illustrates the progress being made in the distribution of 

 larger trout to suitable lakes and streams throughout the Province: 



Length in Inches 1934 193? 



3 to- 7 inches 913,315 2,464,987 



4 to 9 inches 19,538 



4 to 16 inches 3,876 189,156 



BROWN TROUT: 



Brown trout are native to lakes and streams in the temperate portions of Great 

 Britain, France, Germany, and other central European countries. The Loch Leven 

 trout is a form of brown trout inhabiting Loch Leven in Scotland. 



Brown trout have been introduced and are now fairly abundant in certain waters 

 of the Great Lakes watershed. They have been propagated in Michigan since about 

 1880. Most of the early plantings of brown trout were in the fry stage, as a result 

 of which they are now rather widely distributed especially in the lower peninsula. 

 Brown trout are now being reared to the fingerling stage in Michigan and good 

 results are claimed from these pri&,ntings to date. Brown trout are also established 

 in the more southerly sections of Wisco'nsin and Minnesota, and also in New York 

 State. 



Conditions suitable for brown trout are closely parallel to those suitable for 

 speckled trout, excepting that brown trout according to the experience of those best 

 qualified to judge will endure much higher water temperatures than speckled trout, 

 and hence are valuable for re-stocking lower stretches of streams which are no longer 

 suitable for the latter on account of temperatures in excess of 75 "F. 



In a biological survey of the Genesee River system, in New York State, it was 

 observed that with few exceptions brown trout were found in every stream in- 

 habited by brook trout. However, in the colder brook trout streams, showing tem- 

 peratures below 65°F. they were rarely encountered. They reached maximum size 

 and abundance in streams ranging from about 68 to 75°F., and occurred in many 

 others attaining temperatures as high as 80''F. 



Our policy, and the general concensus of opinion of those who have had ex- 

 perience with this trout in America is that it should not be introduced into any 

 waters where conditions are still suitable for native speckled trout, as experience 



