FISH AND WILDLIFE BRANCH 



'Throughout the Province, the personnel of the Fish and Wildlife Branch are 

 -*- faced with a "sea of anomalies". The desire of much of the public to zealously 

 protect or have protected both fisheries and wildlife resources is matched by a 

 similar keenness to enjoy more hunting and fishing by many. Some want more, 

 but cannot rationalize such wants with their inclination to save resources. 



Many citizens, who have actively campaigned for and assisted in programmes 

 of fish stocking or pheasant rearing, resist any liberalization of the regulations 

 which would allow their harvests, along with the naturally produced fisheries and 

 wildlife resources. 



The Branch and its field staff have -continued in directing its programmes 

 towards permitting the people of Ontario the maximum recreational and economic 

 benefits of the fish and wildlife resources. Although dramatic progress is difficult 

 to recognize annually since this is a long term objective not easily reached, the 

 annual report does indicate some landmarks which mark such progress. 



Perhaps the major factors which have affected the programme were changes 

 in both economic and social conditions in the Province over the past few years. 

 The commercial fishery, although increasing both production and value of the 

 catch by over 20%, faced economic difficulties. A new licencing policy for com- 

 mercial fishing on Lake Huron was developed to attempt to overcome these, and 

 similar ones are to be developed in the other parts of the Province. Considerable 

 attention was directed towards fish marketing, in conjunction with the Prairie 

 Provinces and Federal Departments concerned with fisheries, culminating in the 

 establishment of a Commission of Inquiry by the Federal Department of Trade 

 and Commerce. 



An investigation of the bait fish industry during the year clearly demon- 

 strated the need for both biologic and economic intelligence of this industry, so 

 important to the tourist and sports fishing industries. An embargo on imports of 

 U.S. bait fish originally imposed for biological reasons, had desirable economic 

 effects on the Ontario scene. 



A size limit on perch taken commercially in Lake Erie which appeared to be 

 a retrograde step biologically, was imposed on economic grounds at the request 

 of the industry. It did not have the desired economic effect and huge surpluses of 

 perch were in storage at the initiation of fishing in the spring. 



The high mobility of sportsmen in recent years had made it imperative to 

 simplify complicated angling regulations. During 1965 and 1966, considerable 

 adjustment of fishing seasons, limits, and boundaries was made so that, for the 

 first time, all of the angling seasons could be shown on a single map. A simplified 

 angling season summary was produced in 1966 for the benefit of the angling public. 



Modernization of the fish hatchery establishments continued with the com- 

 pletion of the Normandale rainbow trout rearing station, and the preparation of 

 plans for reconstruction of the North Bay brook trout station. At the same time 

 introduction of 2.5 million kokanee eyed eggs and fry into Lake Ontario and 

 Huron stimulated renewed interest in exotic species of fish for special circum- 

 stances. 



The concern of the public (anglers, tourist outfitters, commercial fishermen, 

 etc.) over apparently decreased walleye catches stimulated some excellent studies 



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