ANNUAL REPORT, 1938-39 25 



the lake is permitted to spawn once, and preferably twice, before being taken 

 commercially there will, undoubtedly, be a very decided increase in the production 

 of this valuable commercial fish. As was pointed out in the introduction to this 

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

 chance it is amazing what can be accomplished. Much larger collections of spawn 

 are anticipated in succeeding years. 



Yellow Pickerel: 



There was an increased distribution of fry amounting to approximately 3 per 

 cent over that of the previous year. 



Following the usual practice approximately two million eyed eggs were handled 

 by the Sparrow Lake hatchery, the fry being distributed over suitable areas in Sparrow 

 lake. 



8 mall -mouthed Black Bass: 



Although there was a decrease of 37 per cent in the distribution of small- 

 mouthed black bass fry, this was greatly offset by an increase of 19.7 per cent in 

 the distribution of fingerlings. 



There was also an increased distribution of yearlings and older bass, amounting 

 to 1,840, as a result of bass harvesting from the following lakes, — Cook's lake (Thunder 

 Bay district), Lake Charlotte (Renfrew county) and Little Gull lake (Haliburton 

 county). 



Larg-e-monthed Black Bass: 



Following the practice of previous years, one pond was set apart at Mount 



Pleasant for the culture of large-mouthed black bass. This pond produced 57,500 fry 



and 8,035 fingerlings. Since this pond is only 0.64 acres in area, the production 

 record is an excellent one. 



Yellow Perch: 



During the spawning run of the perch in the spring of the year, spawn is 

 collected by commercial fishermen working in conjunction with our own hatchery, 

 officers. This work is conducted at the west end of Lake Erie near Kingsville. 

 The eggs are cultured in the hatchery in that vicinity and the resulting fry are 

 widely distributed over natural spawning areas in the lake. This work is of the 

 utmost importance considering the commercial value of perch fishing in Lake Erie. 



The distribution of perch fry was over six times that of the previous year, due 

 to a much larger spawning run of this desirable species in the vicinity in question. 



Blue Pickerel: 



The blue pickerel is of considerable commercial value in Lake Erie and it is 

 desirable to supplement the work of nature in maintaining production on a proper 

 basis. For the second season spawn was collected at the west end of Lake Erie 

 and approximately one-half million blue pickerel fry were liberated. 



Masklnonfire: 



The distribution of maskinonge fry was approximately 376.5 per cent greater 

 than the previous year. 



The difficulties attending the collection of spawn and the culture of this 

 important species were pointed out in the previous year's report. This report also 

 gave an outline of the work being done by New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota along 

 similar lines. The ways and means by which the Department is undertaking to 

 maintain this important species are, — 



