smallmouth black bass. Scientists hired to lead these imlts assessed the more 

 Important research requirements as ground work for a realistic program In 1961* 

 Lake trout studies demonstrated that growth of this species, In some situations at 

 least, can be Improved by 40 per cent by providing clscoes as food. The selective 

 breeding (splake) project has demonstrated characteristics which allow us to select 

 Individual fish with high egg production potential and strong deep swimming ability, 

 both fundamental to the success of the project. 



The MECHANICAL Research Section established a forest fire equipment test- 

 ing unit at the Southern Research Station In the summer of I960. This unit tests 

 the durability, economy and suitability of equipment newly Introduced by manu- 

 facturers and recommends Improvements. 



FORESTRY research during the year was highlighted by developments In 

 several fields. 



In the Site research program some of the relationships between forest 

 growth and forest environment were clarified, such as the relationship between the 

 mineral composition of bedrock and the nutrient uptake of trees, and the nature and 

 movement of soil water and Its availability to the forest. 



In Reforestation a series of fertilizer experiments covering methods of 

 application, chemical content and quantities was Initiated on an area where normal 

 planting had failed and soil and foliar analyses Indicated deficiencies* 



Two features of the Regional Sllvlcultural Research program may be 

 mentioned: (a) prescribed burning and (b) black spruce layering. 



The tests of prescribed burning as a sllvlcultural tool has yielded 

 promising leads. During the current year a second series of fires were carried 

 out successfully In Algonquin Park and work of a similar nature was Initiated in 

 the hardwood stands of two other districts. The work to date Indicates that this 

 technique may be an economical way of preparing seed beds for pine, spruce and 

 yellow birch. In addition, prescribed burning may provide a suitable method for 

 the control of undesirable weed species. 



