The Southampton hatchery was closed because a suitable supply of 

 IsLke trout eggs was not available, owing to the great decline In the pro- 

 duction of lake trout In Lake Huron. Sarnla hatchery was closed chiefly 

 because the stocks of spawn available for the hatchery can be handled 

 without difficulty by the Klngsvllle hatchery, and, also, because of the 

 scarcity of suitable local supplies of spawn of the species of fish handled 

 by the hatchery. 



This year approximately 1,000,000 Pacific "Chum" salmon eggs were 

 transferred to the Port Arthur hatchery from the Samlsh State Hatchery in 

 Washington, U.S.A. The shipment which was received in excellent condition 

 will be cultured at the Port Arthur station for subsequent transfer and 

 planting in the eyed egg and finger ling stages in the Wlnisk and Attawapiskat 

 .livers in the Hudson and James Bay watersheds. The purpose of this project 

 is to establish a desirable commercial species in this vast Inland sea 

 which is presently relatively unproductive of fish. 

 HATCHERY INVESTIGATIONS 



During the year considerable study was conducted on various fish 

 cultural practices and techniques employed within the hatchery field. Some 

 of the more important advances were as follows:- 

 (a) Transportation and distribution 



Distribution methods are continually under surveillance to improve 

 the facilities for transferring and handling fish. This year the aircraft fish 

 carrying equipment was modified and standardized for use in the Department's 

 Beaver aircraft. Being an economical method of transfer the practice is 

 receiving widespread attention and use throughout the province. 

 (t>) Egg storage and transfer 



Experimental studies on the storage of "green" lake trout eggs were 

 continued at the Sault Ste. Marie hatchery during the past year. Recent 

 results indicate that eggs may be stored for periods up to three weeks 



without reducing their viability or increasing their natural mortality. This 

 procedure in handling eggs will eliminate considerable mortality encountered 

 with egg stocks, particularly where hatchery water temperatures are excessively 

 high during the early part of the season. 



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