the Fisheries Section of the Research Branch would allocate highly-selected brood 

 stock to production hatcheries in Ontario and Michigan. The first stock will be 

 ready for planting in 1969 or 1970. 



In preparation for the Department's large-scale operational planting pro- 

 gramme of tubed seedlings, commencing in 1966, the Forestry Section of the 

 Research Branch undertook certain refinements, including: Pre-treatment of jack 

 pine, white and black spruce seeds to promote uniform and rapid germination; 

 regulation of watering of seedlings to produce best root growth in the tubes; fer- 

 tility and pH (acidity level) ratings for the various Districts, and pH and texture 

 ratings for the sand covering of seed in the tubes; improvement of the equipment 

 and instruments designed originally as prototypes for research only. 



The Wildlife Research Section prepared a detailed cover-type map of the 

 Patricia Districts north of latitude 54°. This is the first map of this kind covering 

 this area, and will be useful for many other purposes in addition to wildlife work. 



FISHERIES SECTION 



The fisheries research programme has been developed to discover the new 

 facts and new techniques necessary to the scientific management of the complex 

 sport and commercial fisheries of the Province of Ontario. New problems are 

 continually evolving, both from the recreational demands of an expanding fishing 

 public and from the rapidly changing water environment occasioned in other ways 

 by expanding population. Constant attention is given to the selection, from the 

 multitude of problems facing management, of those which, when solved, will 

 provide the greatest advantage to management throughout the Province. Adequate 

 priority rating of research projects is possible only because of close working re- 

 lationship between management and research staff. 



No new programmes were initiated in 1965-66. Some changes of emphasis, 

 within established programs were made necessary by changes in management 

 emphasis, by drastic changes in fish populations, and by progress in both manage- 

 ment and research projects. 



Progress of research during 1965 in all established programmes was consistent 

 with the present level of staff and facilities. Additions of facilities particularly to 

 provide for completion of the selective breeding (Splake) research remain an 

 urgent requirement. There is keen competition for scientific staff by universities 

 and other research agencies at present. 



Great Lakes Programmes 



LAKE ONTARIO 



The whitefish fishery continued its discouraging sharp decline during 1965 

 and reached its lowest point since the turn of the century. There continues to be a 

 scarcity of young, small whitefish in both commercial and experimental nets, indi- 

 cating that reproduction has again failed. The excellent growth and apparent good 

 health of adult whitefish in the lake, together with the fact of repeated failures 

 in reproduction strongly suggests that the deteriorating environment may have 

 reached a state which prohibits in some way the hatching of the eggs or survival 

 of young. Laboratory studies are being designed to study the effects of some of 

 these recognizable environmental factors on eggs and young of whitefish. Studies 



239 



