ANNUAL REPORT, 1945-46 23 



partment in which articles in more than one of these classifications are included, e.g., 

 fire-arms and game, traps and pelts, fish and fishing gear, as well as other com- 

 binations. 



An examination of our records reveals that the fire-arms confiscated during the year 

 consisted of 499 small calibre rifles, such as .22's and .25's; 184 heavy calibre rifles, such 

 as .250-.300O, .25-.35, .270, .30, .300, .303, .30-30, .30-40, .32, .32-40, .348, .35, .351, .38, .38-40, 

 .38-.55, .405, .40-82, .44, .44-.40, .57, 6.5 m.m. and 8 m.m.; one revolver; 27 air guns; 110 

 single-barrel shot-guns; 80 double-barrel shot-guns; 43 repeating shot-guns; 9 auto- 

 matic shot-guns; and 4 .22-410 combination rifle and shot-guns. 



Details of confiscated pelts of fur-bearing animals are as follows : — 



Beaver 908 



Fisher 10 



Fox 112 



Lynx 2 



Mink 59 



Muskrat 816 



Otter 20 



Raccoon 69 



Skunk „ 6 



Squirrel • 37 



Weasel 28 



Deer and Moose Hides 39 



Subsequent to the actual seizures, informations were laid and presecution of the 

 various charges were undertaken in 1,486 cases. Convictions were registered and pen- 

 alties imposed by the presiding Magistrates in 1,420 of these cases. The charges were 

 dismissed, principally due to the lack of evidence, in 58 cases, and in the remaining 8 

 cases the charges were withdrawn. 



An analysis of the 1,420 cases in which convictions were registered shows that in 

 1,391 of these actions the charges were laid by Game and Fisheries Officers, in 25 actions 

 by Provincial Police Constables, and in the remaining 4 actions by Overseers and Con- 

 stables in co-operation with each other. 



In those cases in which the charges were dismissed, 58, and in which the charges 

 were withdrawn, 8, Game and Fisheries Officers were responsible for the charges which 

 had been laid. 



REPORT OF THE FISH CULTURE BRANCH 



One of Ontario's chief assets is its fisheries, and the maintenance and development 

 of game and commercial fishing interests, in a practical manner, is the primary function 

 of the Department. 



Fisheries management is a complex undertaking, involving different species, spawn- 

 ing seasons and habitat preferences. It is obvious therefore that physical, chemical and 

 biological facts of lake and streams must be known for intelligent action. In other 

 words, an inventory of the aquatic resources of our lakes and streams is basic to any 

 well-planned fish cultural programme. 



Canada has the distinction of having been the pioneer in North America in rearing 

 fish as a government enterprise. The first fry hatched from artificially fertilized eggs 

 were produced in 1858, and fish culture was established as a Dominion Government 

 service in 1867. For many years this service was conducted, purely, under Dominion 

 auspices. In 1909, an experiment was conducted at Brantford, Ontario, on bass rearing; 



