ANNUAL REPORT, 1943-4 4 21 



required by speckled trout are reported to be somewhat similar for Kamloops trout. 

 Some good reports of successful planting have been received, and when the necessary- 

 personnel is available a closer check on the distribution already made will be 

 advantageous. 



Lake Trout: 



The collection of lake trout spawn in the fall of 1942 was 50% lower than 

 that of the preceding year, resulting in a decrease in the distribution of fingerlings 

 in approximately the same proportion. Prevailing stormy weather prevented our 

 spawning crews from carrying out effective operations. 



When the take of fish is reduced the spawn collection is reduced in about 

 the same proportion. Thus, the distribution of fry and fingerlings is adversely 

 affected. 



Fair weather, prevailed during the lake trout spawning season of 1943, but 

 the take of fish with certain exceptions, showed evident signs of decline; the effects 

 of this reduced take were reflected in the total collection of spawn, and thus in the 

 total distribution of fry and fingerlings. If the take of lake trout in the Great 

 Lakes continues to decrease, a protective closed season may be necessary. 



The progress made in the culture and distribution of yearling lake trout was 

 promising: 



1942 — 10,700 yearlings 



1943 — 60,900 yearlings 



Whitefish: 



The decrease in the collection of whitefish eggs in 1942 was approximately 

 28,000,000. This decrease was not serious or confined to one spawning area; some 

 areas showed slight or substantial increases. The weather during the spawning 

 period was not good for operations of this nature. 



Access to whitefish spawning grounds in the eastern end of lake Erie has 

 been greatly curtailed for reasons beyond control during wartime. 



The total number of whitefish planted in 1943 was 6% less than that of the 

 preceding year. 



Herring : 



The collections of herring spawn were carried out on the Bay of Quinte, Lake 

 Ontario, and the west end of Lake Erie. Only a very limited amount was taken at 

 the latter point. As a result of these collections the distribution of herring fry 

 showed a favourable increase of approximately 33 per cent in excess of that of the 

 preceding year. 



Yellow Pickerel: 



There was a 12.6 per cent decrease in the distribution of yellow pickerel as 

 compared with that of 1942. 



The chief spawntaking areas where decreases occurred were, Hay Bay, 

 (Lennox-Addington), Echo Lake (Algoma) and Whitefish Falls, (Bay of Islands, 

 North Channel). At the other spawntaking areas increases or a very slight change in 

 yield was evident. 



In the Hay Bay area the ice was slow in going out; the fish swam under the 

 ice into the Bay, and spawned before the nets were set. This happens ■during a 

 prevailing west wind; with an east wind the condition is reversed, and there is no 

 difficulty in getting the equipment in place before the spawning run. In Echo Lake 

 many pickerel moved up under the ice before the nets could be set; this caused a 

 reduced collection of spawn. In 1941 and 1942 pickerel spawn was collected sue- 



