ANNUAL REPORT, 1937-38 21 



SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS: 



Excellent results were obtained in connection with the culture of small-mouthed 

 black bass; the increased production of fry and fingerlings was 63.4 per cent and 

 104.5 per cent, respectively, over that of the previous year. 



There was also a slight increase in the distribution of yearlings and older bass, 

 as a result of bass harvesting from natural areas; a limited amount of this work 

 is conducted by our hatchery officers, annually. 



LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK BASS: 



Following the previous year's practice, one pond was operated for the pro- 

 duction of this species with satisfactory results. This pond, which is 0.64 acres in 

 area, produced 135,000 fry and 4,120 fingerlings. 



YELLOW PERCH: 



Due to a diminished run of spawning fish, there was considerable reduction in 

 the number of perch eggs collected by the commercial fishermen in the vicinity of 

 the Kingsville hatchery, where the eggs are cultured to the fry stage. 



BLUE PICKEREL: 



Blue pickerel spawn was collected in the west end of Lake Erie and cultured 

 to the fry stage in the Kingsville hatchery; this was the first time that such work 

 was undertaken by our Department. 



This is a species of considerable commercial value in Lake Erie, and artificial 

 culture is one way by which its maintenance may be assisted. 



MASKINONGE: 



The distribution of maskinonge fry was increased 53.5 per cent over that 

 of the preceding year, due largely to a much more satisfactory collection of eggs. 

 One chief drawback was prevailing cold weather during the incubation period, which 

 retarded development. This condition was followed by a sharp rise in temperature, 

 causing too rapid development and hatching. 



The difficulties surrounding the culture of this important species were outlined 

 in the previous year's report, and the information given applies with equal force 

 to the results obtained in 1937. 



In Wisconsin the culture of maskinonge has been pursued for thirty to 

 forty years. A large number of eggs are collected from areas where the parent fish 

 are abundant, and a large number of fry are planted annually, but the rearing 

 of fingerlings is a much more difficult matter; Wisconsin is reported to have 

 reared 1,417 fingerlings of this species in 1937. New York State has likewise 

 pursued the culture of maskinonge for over thirty years. This work is concentrated 

 on Lake Chautauqua where parent maskinonge are plentiful and, therefore, egg 

 collection and fry production large; in 1937 it is recorded that New York State 

 planted 856 maskinonge fingerlings. In Minnesota progress along these lines has 

 been slow on account of the scarcity of the breeding fish. Small numbers of fry 

 have been distributed, but there is no authentic or definite record of the number 

 of fingerlings actually reared up to and including 1937. 



In Ontario these activities are concentrated in the Kawartha Lakes region 

 and for good reasons. In the first place, these waters have the necessary or essential 

 conditions for producing maskinonge. Secondly, this area requires intensive re- 

 stocking on account of the intensity of the fishing. A good indication of the 

 capacity of these lakes to produce maskinonge is given in the statistics of catch 

 from 1892 to 1901, when this important species was taken in large numbers, com- 

 mercially. 



