22 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 (1944) 



REMOVAL OF COARSE FISH 



Hoop nets were operated at the outlet of Charleston Lake for the purpose of removing 

 ling. Owing to changeable weather conditions the spawning run was small ,although the 

 spawning period was more prolonged. The total catch of ling was 1,100. 



Similar work was undertaken on Otty Lake, Township of North Elmsley, County of 

 Lanark. The total catch was 368 ling, weighing about 3 lbs. each, or a total weight of 1,104 lbs. 



The purpose of operations on Loughborough L^ke and West Rideau Lake was to remove 

 quantities of whitefish and herring, and coarse fish. A trap net was set in Loughborough 

 Lake but only catfish were taken. After sounding and determining the type of bottom, 

 pound nets were set on what was considered the best whitefish grounds in West Rideau Lake. 

 Trap nets were also set on suitable whitefish grounds and the fish taken were game fish and 

 ling, the former being liberated and the latter turned over to fox farmers in the district. 

 P'rom November 15 to November 26, 1942, the following fish were taken from West Rideau 

 Lake: 308 lbs. of whitefish, 514 pounds of catfish, and 12,228 lbs. or approximately 6 tons of 

 Hng. 



All the operations were under the direct supervision of local overseers or the hatchery 

 supervisor. Nets and other equipment were supplied by the Department and considerable 

 assistaDce was given by local residents. The whitefish and catfish were sold at a very nominal 

 price, and the ling were disposed of to local residents and fox farmers. 



BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS 



At frequent intervals from April 27 until June 26, a study of the spawning of srnall- 

 mouthed black bass. Long Point Bay, Lake Erie, was undertakeq. It was not until June 23 

 that the first small-mouthed fry were taken off the nests. The study indicated the danger 

 of opening the season too early without substantial evidence of spawning conditions. 



A study of two quarry ponds at Hagersville and a small pond at Guelph was made. 



For the most part, technical studies were confined to the hatcheries and rearing stations 

 in connection with the care and feeding of the fish reared therein. 



The Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratoiy of the Department of Zoology, University 

 of Toronto, continued field and laboratory studies in Algonquin Park, limiting the work to 

 the more urgent and important needs of fish culture. 



In co-operation with the Park Staff, 60,000 speckled trout yearlings, provided by the 

 Ontario Department of Game and Fisheries, were distributed as recorded in appendix I under 

 the District of Nipissing. 



Another measure for the maintenance of good fishing is the alternate closure of lakes to 

 fishing, which was initiated in 1938 and has been continued as shown by the following table: 



(the 21 reported for 1940 and 1941 shovild read 24) 



