i2 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



' Qii' the other hand, Ontario's game-fishing interests are vitally important to 

 every petiBon in the Province, and the conservation of these interests is becoming 

 of practical concern to increasing thousands of our citizens. This is not difficult to 

 explain, when we consider the recreational and health advantages, and the direct 

 and indirect financial benefits of a large and ever-increasing tourist trade, em- 

 bracing as it does in one way or another every branch of industry, thus increasing 

 •employment. It is estimated that 10, St) 0,0 00 tourists from the United States and 

 other countries entered Canada in 1935, and left behind $200,'000,000. in cash; of 

 this total Ontario received $84,000,000. Emphasis is placed on the importance 

 of the tourist trade, for it is generally conceded that the chief attraction to the 

 tourist is our excellent fishing. 



There are many complex factors involved in the maintenance of fisheries 

 Interests and a few of the more important may be cited: 



1. Scientific inquiry. 



2. Re-stocking measures of a practial nature. 



3. Protection. 



4. The spread and development of the ideals of true sportsmanship. 



All these factors are inseparably linked together in the problem of fisheries 

 management. 



HATCHERIES AND REARING STATIONS: 



The Department operates twenty-two fish cultural stations. This number in- 

 cludes all the major and subsidiary rearing stations. The actual number of hatch- 

 eries is nineteen; trout rearing stations, nine; bass rearing stations, three; in addi- 

 tion to the facilities for hatching bass in the Lake on the Mountain, Glenora 

 Hatchery. 



During the year, a new trout rearing station was built in the vicinity of Chats- 

 worth, comprising the hatchery for hatching and culture to the advanced fry stage, 

 and four rearing ponds, all of which are separately fed and drained. Two excellent 

 sources of spring water supply the hatchery and ponds, and a very important advan- 

 tage in the arrangement is that the hatchery supply and the supply to the main 

 rearing ponds are separate. The water itself is of satisfactory composition and of 

 low and approximately constant temperature 45 °F. The total volume of water 

 delivered is approximately 2100 gallons per minute. The constant and relatively 

 high winter temperature induces early hatching, so that the fish are strong and well 

 advanced for transfer to the rearing ponds in early summer. 



The Department acquired a series of four ponds at Midhurst Reforestry Sta- 

 tion. These were renovated and trout carried over winter. Additional improve- 

 ments will be made on these ponds next year. 



SPECKLED TROUT: 



The Department's objective is to increase the number of sizable trout distri- 

 buted to suitable waters year by year. This is necessary if we are to maintain the 

 supply on account of the increasing intensity of the fishing. Furthermore, there 

 are numerous streams in southern Ontario, in which the food supply for trout fry 

 and fingerlings has diminished and cannot meet the requirements imposed on the 

 stream by the introduction of additional supplies of baby fish. This condition is due 

 to the rapid industrialization of the Province by agricultural, lumbering, manufac- 

 turing, and other interests, all of which have been instrumental in changing the 

 character of our lakes and streams. It is clear to anyone, for example, how effective 

 scouring freshets, and bulging streams heavily laden with silt are, in changing the 

 quantity and quality of the food supply. During prolonged periods of drought, 

 also, the shallow muddy shoals and backwaters, the home of minute life on which 



