ANNUAL REPORT, 1941-42 19 



Included among the miscellaneous articles which were seized are three axes, one 

 suitcase, one trunk, eight packsacks and haversacks, one tent, thirty-seven duck decoys, 

 one box of tools, four batteries, three hounds and two ferrets. 



Charges were laid and prosecutions undertaken in 1,201 cases involving violations 

 of provisions of the Game and Fisheries Act and Regulations. Convictions were regis- 

 tered and penalties imposed in 1,117 of these cases, in 70 cases the charges were dis- 

 missed by the presiding Magistrates, and in 14 cases the charges were subsequently 

 withdrawn. These prosecutions were undertaken by Game and Fisheries Officers in 

 1,144 cases, by the Provincial Police in 28 cases, in 18 cases by Game and Fisheries 

 Officers and Provincial Police Constables acting in co-operation with each other, and 

 in 11 cases in which trespass was involved by the property owners concerned. 



REPORT OF THE FISH CULTURE BRANCH 



During the year the department operated twenty-seven hatcheries and rearing 

 stations in a satisfactory manner. With the exception of maintenance and necessary 

 repairs, additional hatchery construction was not undertaken. 



THE CULTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF FISH 



speckled Trout: 



In keeping with the objective, in excess of 3,000,000 yearling speckled trout were 

 planted in suitable waters. In addition, 16,732 adults and 394,000 fingerlings, which 

 could not be accommodated in the hatcheries and ponds, were distributed. 



Brown Trout: • 



The distribution of brown trout yearlings was 37.4 per cent, greater than that 

 of the preceding year. 



Brown trout are not planted in waters which continue to support native 

 trout in a satisfactory manner. For the most part the distribution of browns has been 

 confined to streams in Southern Ontario which have been giving promising results. 

 Since 1934 planting in lakes and streams of northern Ontario has been avoided, with 

 two or three exceptions; in those particular exceptions speckled trout would not be 

 affected. 



Rainbow Trout: 



(a) Steelhead trout — 



Distribution of fingerlings and yearlings of this species was 45 and 40 per cent., 

 respectively, lower than that of the preceding year. 



This species is strongly migratory and descends from small streams in which 

 it is planted to larger waters. For example, rainbows planted in streams flowing into 

 the Great Lakes migrate to the latter probably before their third year and, after sexual 

 maturity, return to the streams, spawn and soon after return to the lake again. Ex- 

 cepting in the large rivers and lakes where they remain after planting, and these cases 

 are apparently few, their value from the angling standpoint is open to question. Plant- 

 ing is confined to suitable and large, torrential rivers of the north and also to the 

 large, warm rivers of the south where interference with speckled trout is nil or nearly so. 



It is desirable that a check be made in regard to the waters stocked with this 

 species to determine the validity of further planting. 



(b) Kamloops trout — 



A concise account of this species was given in the report for 1940. Briefly, it 



