68 EEPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



years ago, through the enterprise of local citizens, who caused a small 

 and isolated lake in the vicinity of Kenora to be stocked with some small- 

 mouthed black bass. The results of the plantation have been most satis- 

 factory, and the waters of this little lake are to-day said to be teeming 

 with bass. This, however, unfortunately constitutes no proof that the 

 Avaters of the Lake of the Woods are suitable for bass life, and, indeed, it 

 is questionable if such will prove to be the case. Except in a few cases 

 near the height of land the black bass does not seem to be indigenous to 

 the waters of the Hudson Bay watershed, although its occurrence in 

 some of the main waterways near the height of land has obviously 

 afforded it opportunity to spread over the whole of this water system. 

 Consequently before undertaking plantations of fry or parent fish, or the 

 institution of bass breeding ponds, it would be advisable to have a care- 

 ful scientific investigation made of the waters and food supply in them, 

 to ascertain if the introduction of this sporting fish into these waters is 

 feasible. Even were it deemed impossible in regard to the waters of 

 Lake of the Woods, the successful experiment above noted would seem 

 to point to the fact that niauA- of the numerous smaller lakes of the dis- 

 trict could be advantageously made use of for this purpose, but even in 

 regard to these it would be wiser to conduct scientific investigations be- 

 fore incurring the expense of further experimental plantations. 



Recommendations. 



Your Commissioner would, therefore, recommend : 



(1) That the warden staff of the Lake of the Woods district be in- 

 creased by at least two men during the fishing season, and that two 

 launches of the class C type, as recommended in the Interim Report of 

 this Commission, be provided for these waters. 



(2) That the provisions recommended in regard to commercial net 

 and other licenses in connection with the great lake fisheries be applied 

 also to those issued for Lake of the Woods. 



(3) That the co-operation of the Armstrong Trading Company be 

 invited in the matter of developing an active fish market in Kenora and 

 throughout the Rainy River District, and that if possible some arrange- 

 ment be come to with that company in regard to the export of whitefish 

 and lake trout. 



(4) That commercial fishing for pickerel in this district be pro- 

 hibited for a term of three years. 



(5) That within a radius of fifteen miles of the town of Kenora no 

 commercial fishing whatever be permitted. 



(6) That areas of water which are or have been the favorite habitat 

 of the mascalonge be carefully ascertained, and closed altogether to net 

 fishing of every description. 



(7) That in connection with the system of fish hatcheries, already 

 recommended in this report, a fish hatchery plant be installed in this 

 region to handle whitefish, trout, pickerel and mascalonge. 



