In Lake Huron proper, production was down 24% with a 12% decrease in 

 value following sharp decreases in the catch of yellow perch and chubs. Smaller 

 decreases were noted in other species: walleye 14%; sturgeon 29%; and white 

 bass 32%. Whitefish and other species showed gains. Georgian Bay landings in- 

 creased 35% with a 23% rise in value to the fisherman. Chubs became dominant 

 in the fishery with a three-fold increase. Decreases of about 25% were seen in 

 whitefish and walleye. Production from the North Channel increased 35% but 

 value was down. Yellow perch taken increased three-fold and sturgeon was up 

 slightly. Whitefish landings were off 60% from 1964 and decreases were noted in 

 other species. 



Lake Superior production dropped 15% due mainly to a sharp reduction in 

 lake herring. Walleye catches increased 35%; whitefish and lake trout remained 

 nearly steady; while saugers and menominee production both dropped about 70% . 

 Value, as a result of these fluctuations rose 14% in spite of the drop in total pro- 

 duction. 



In Lake St. Clair, walleye production decreased 23%, but in spite of this the 

 value of production remained stable due to a slight increase in sturgeon and larger 

 gains in species marketed alive. 



The fishery in southern inland waters showed a marked decrease in catch 

 and value due, almost entirely to a 48% decrease in carp. 



The number of men engaged in fishing (excluding bait fish operations) con- 

 tinued to decrease in 1965, while total investment, including nets, boats and shore 

 installations remained relatively stable at $9,971,691. More gear was reported "on 

 hand" than in 1964 although the number of trawls was down 20%. 



A total of 4,647 licences was issued by the Department in 1965. Of these, 

 1,881 were for the use of commercial fishing gear and 2,766 for the bait-fish in- 

 dustry. All types of producing licences, both for commercial fish and for bait-fish 

 species were issued in slightly fewer numbers than in 1964. However, fifty trawling 

 licences were issued for the first time, when experimental permits for smelt were 

 discontinued. 



Estimated bait-fish production increased 44% to 5,391,708 dozen, worth 

 $1,212,736.00 to the producers. The 12% decrease in value was due to a larger 

 proportion of the catch preserved for use as "chum" in ice fishing and to increased 

 wholesale dealing in bait. 



In 1965 the Department discontinued the issue of permits allowing importa- 

 tion of live bait fish to prevent possible harm to the Ontario fishery through the 

 introduction of disease, parasites or undesirable species. At the same time, to 

 achieve better utilization of the resource, permits were issued for the exportation of 

 surplus bait. 



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