1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 13 



that a considerable saving in fertilized eggs Ik thereby most certainly 

 affected. Moreover, the fry obtained under artificial conditions appear 

 just as hardy as those hatched in their natural state, although it would 

 be impossible to compare the capabilities of such fry in looking after 

 themselves when placed in the open waters with that of the percentage 

 of fry naturally hatched and which have survived up to equal stages. 



Consequently, viewing the comparative merits of natural and arti- 

 ficial hatching of whiteflsh spawn from an unbiassed standpoint, there 

 would appear to be little doubt that the hatcheries can produce a very 

 much greater percentage of fry from the eggs deposited than can nature 

 unassisted, but that nature, which alone produced the millions of white- 

 fish which crowded the waters before the advent of the modern commer- 

 cial fi'sherman, is far too valuable an ally to be dispensed with alto- 

 gether. 



The whitefish, unlike many other varieties of fish, is in fair condi- 

 tion for eating at the time of spawning, for the reason that, owing to the 

 low temperature of the water in October and November, the flesh is firm 

 and flaky, and coming presumably fresh from bounteous summer feed- 

 ing grounds, the fish itself is exceedingly fat. 



From the above brief outline of the habits, life and domain of the 

 whitefish, it would seem, then, that the following conclusions may be 

 justly drawn : 



(1) Under natural conditions only a comparatively small number 

 of the eggs deposited are hatched. 



(2) A greater number of eggs can be hatched by artificial means. 



(3) In view of the fact that the average female whitefish produces 

 85,000 eggs, and that a percentage of these will be hatched by natural 

 means, and a very high percentage can be hatched hj artificial means, 

 the destruction of immature fish — that is, fish which have not spawned 

 at least once — is a great economic loss and detrimental to the welfare of 

 the fisheries. 



(4) The spawning seasons, spawning beds, and areas occupied 

 mainly by immature fish can be accurately ascertained in each lake. 



(5) The feeding grounds of the mature fish are known. 



(6) The fish is largely local in its habits. 



THE EFFECTS OF LEGISLATION ON THE WHITEFISH 



FISHERIES. 



When first the diminution in the catch became apparent, the most 

 obvious remedies were resorted to in the hopes of checking it, including 

 the regulation of appliances, methods of capture and size of the mesh, 

 the limitation of the numbers of nets in a given locality, the closing of 

 certain areas and seasons, and, lastly, experiments in artificial propaga- 

 tion. 



