

RESEARCH BRANCH 



THE functions and responsibilities of the Research Branch are to provide the 

 management Branches of the Department with useful information, checked 

 for reliability by experiments and tests, concerning reproduction, rates of growth, 

 population changes, and diseases relating to forestry, fisheries and wildlife re- 

 sources. Separate sections of the Branch work in these three major disciplines. 

 A fourth section, Mechanical Research, develops, improves and tests equipment 

 and instruments to meet the special needs of the Research Branch and other 

 Branches of the Department. 



FORESTRY SECTION. Silviculture — studies of forest culture, growth 

 and reproduction of the important tree species and associated vegetation. Re- 

 search includes studies of logging effects upon forest stands; cultural herbicides 

 and controlled fires, seeding and planting. Site Research — evaluation of soil 

 features, climate and nutrients to determine best use, and rate of productivity. 

 Tree Breeding — selection and breeding of forest tree strains of superior quality 

 and resistance to disease. Reforestation (Nursery and Planting Practices) — to 

 assist in solution of nursery problems and the planting and care of plantations. 

 Miscellaneous — Wood Quality; Forest Mensuration, Mathematical Statistics, and 

 Economics; White Pine Blister Rust Reconnaissance Surveys. 



FISHERIES SECTION. Studies to determine rates of reproduction, growth 

 and mortality of commercial and game fish, and relation of these to environmental 

 conditions. Great Lakes — Research Branch responsible for general research on 

 Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario; Fisheries Research Board of Canada for Lake 

 Superior, as well as sea lamprey control experiment. Game Fish — Research 

 units established for study of lake trout, speckled trout, smallmouth bass and wall- 

 eye. Selective Breeding — to obtain brook trout-lake trout hybrid which can sur- 

 vive in presence of sea lampreys. Miscellaneous — Lake Productivity unit to 

 classify productive capacity on basis of chemical fertility. Parasites — to identify 

 and assess effects. Limnology (Lake Study) unit to study physical and chemical 

 characteristics of Great Lakes. 



WILDLIFE SECTION. Collects basic information and develops techniques 

 to assist management. Big Game — white-tailed deer, moose, woodland caribou. 

 Predators — timber wolves. Upland Game and Waterfowl — small game ani- 

 mals, such as pheasants and rabbits. Wildlife Diseases and Parasites — identifica- 

 tion, frequency, distribution and effects. Furbearers — habits, behaviour and 

 environment affecting numbers of such animals such as beaver and marten. 



MECHANICAL SECTION. Develops, improves, and tests equipment and 

 instruments to meet special needs of Research Branch and other Branches of 

 Department. 



A few representative projects which were highlights in the 1965-66 year may 

 be selected for comment. 



In 1965 an international agreement was made between Canadian and United 

 States agencies to undertake the rehabilitation of Lake Huron by stocking with 

 highly-selected splake hybrids rather than with lake trout. It was planned that 



237 



