ANNUAL REPORT, 1938-39 23 



nature is wonderfully endowed with recuperative powers and, if given a chance, 

 it is surprising how quickly fish will multiply under properly balanced conditions 

 of food and shelter. On the other hand, if a suitable number of adults is not 

 left to reproduce we should not be surprised to find an increase of undesirable 

 species. It is wise for fishermen to remember that a body of water produces a 

 definite number of adult fish, depending on the food, natural enemies and possi- 

 bilities of reproduction. Fishermen generally are beginning to realize the importance 

 of this fundamental factor and many are content with the minimum, rather than 

 the maximum creel limit. 



Within the compass of this report the salient features of the progress made 

 during the year in connection with fish cultural practice are set forth. 



HATCHERIES AND REARING STATIONS 



During the year the Department operated twenty-six hatcheries and rearing 

 stations. The actual number of hatcheries operated was twenty; trout rearing stations, 

 fifteen; and bass rearing stations, five. 



New and additional facilities for hatching and rearing fish during the fiscal 

 year 1938-39 were provided for in a very satisfactory manner as follows: 



1. Additional raceways were constructed at the Dorion trout rearing station. 

 Thunder Bay district, to increase the carrying capacity of the hatchery. 



2. A trout rearing station subsidiary to the Glenora fish hatchery was operated 

 on Waring's creek. Prince Edward county. 



3. Two additional ponds were constructed at the Chatsworth trout rearing 

 station and a subsidiary station was developed on Nicholson's creek, in the same 

 vicinity. 



4. Construction of a new trout rearing station at Hill's Lake, vicinity of Charlton, 

 district of Temiskaming, was commenced. 



5. Three additional bass ponds, making a total of five, were completed at 

 Sandfield, Manitoulin Island; four of these ponds were used for wintering trout 

 in 1938-39. 



6. Five bass ponds and a pickerel hatchery were constructed at Skeleton 

 lake, vicinity of Ulls water, Muskoka district; four of these ponds were used for 

 wintering trout in 1938-39. 



7. Three ponds were completed at Deer lake, vicinity of Havelock, Peterborough 

 county, for the rearing of black bass, maskinonge and forage fish; a hatchery for 

 maskinonge and pickerel was also completed at this site. Two of these ponds were 

 used for wintering trout in 1938-39. 



THE CULTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF FISH 



Speckled Trout: 



The policy of rearing large numbers of trout to yearling and older stages 

 for distribution to suitable public waters which require restocking was vigorously 

 pursued. The following comparative distribution figures show the successful results 

 obtained and the definite progress that is being made: 



1936 557,270 



1937 1,167,073 



1938 2,083.538 



