ANNUAL REPORT, 1939-40 



23 



1. The rate of growth is very rapid during the first six months, the fish 

 reaching a length of approximately ten inches by that time. 



2. A study of the food of the growing maskinonge showed that the areas fur- 

 nished abundant food for the very young and more advanced stages. 



3. The young maskinonge remain in the area until the first of November which 

 indicates the advisability of planting hatchery raised fish in such areas. 



4. Large numbers of undesirable predators occur in such areas. 



5. Eighty-one advanced fingerlings were recovered, that is, a yield of 0.8 

 advanced fingerlings for each 1,000 fry planted. It is believed that a con- 

 siderable number of fingerlings were not recovered. Many predator fish, 

 namely, perch and rock bass remained in the area throughout much of the 

 experiment and these would undoubtedly cut down the yield. 



6. It is safe to say that while the results obtained the first year of the experi- 

 ment were promising, much better results might be expected. 



7. There is evidence to show that there is a migration of fish from such areas 

 in the fall and that sometime during the first year the maskinonge move 

 out, and that these movements might be used to advantage for harvesting 

 purposes. 



CLOSED WATERS 



One of the most promising methods of conserving the breeding stock of black 

 bass and maskinonge is to set aside portions of natural water areas. In these areas 

 the fish thrive without interference and spread to other parts of the same stream 

 or lake. In this way a permanent breeding stock is set up and we take each year only 

 the natural increase from it. 



Closures of all such areas (with one exception) in the Kawartha watershed 

 were extended for a further period, and the same principle is being extended to im- 

 portant sections of the Rideau watershed. 



In addition to the waters already closed for the natural protection and pro- 

 pagation of fish, the following were closed during the year, April 1, 1939, to March 31, 

 1940: 



BLACK RIVER, 



Townships of Charlottenburg, County of Glengarry, Annual Closure, May 15 to 

 June 20, inclusive. 



CRAFT'S CREEK, 



Townships of Mountjoy, Jessop and Murphy, District of Cochrane. 



DEEP BAY, 



Township of Matchedash, County of Simcoe. 



EMERALD LAKE, 



Township of Parkman, District of Nipissing. 



FINNIE'S CREEK, 



Townships of Charlottenburg and Lancaster, County of Glengarry, Annual 

 closure. May 15 to June 20, inclusive. 



LITTLE JOCKO RIVER, 



West from Timiskaming Road, known as Morrow's Dam, east to the outlet in 

 the big Jocko River, District of Timiskaming. 



NASH'S CREEK or HOASIE'S CREEK 



Township of Williamsburg, County of Dundas, during the closed season for 

 black bass. 



