108 EEPOKT OF ONTAKIO GAME No. 52 



pike, pike-perch and (lore, and in addition to these, the young, when pale 

 in color, are sometimes, but especiall}- in the Lake Erie district, styled 

 blue pickerel, although an allied species of less commercial value and 

 smaller size, the sand pickerel or Sanger, is also commonly known under 

 this designation. The range of the pickerel appears to extend practi- 

 cally all over the Province, but it occurs, perhaps, most abundantly in 

 the great lakes and rivers falling into them. In the warm weather the 

 fish seeks the deeper waters and is to be met with at those times by 

 anglers in places where the cliffs descend abruptly into the depths. In 

 the spawning season, however, which occurs early in the spring, it runs 

 on to the gravelly or sandy bars in shoaler Avater, or up the rivers, for 

 the purpose of depositing its eggs. The fish ha's been known to attain 

 a great size, specimens of 25 lbs. weight having been recorded, but at 

 the present time 10 lbs. is considered an exceptional fish and it is but 

 rarely that an angler will be fortunate enough to secure one of 'such 

 weight. The pickerel is voracious, feeding chiefi}' on such other fishes 

 as it can overpower, and on those insects, frogs and crusctaceaus which 

 occur in its particular locality. Ais a food fish it ranks particularly 

 high, its flesh being exceptionally well flavoured, firm, white and flaky, 

 and consequently it is not only in great demand, but most energeticallv 

 pursued by the commercial net fishermen on account of its high market 

 value, for at the present time it is rated as a commercial fish. 



As a Kporting fish the yellow pickerel is by no means to be despised, 

 for not only will it offer a vigorous even though somewhat brief resis- 

 tance after it is hooked, but its distribution is wide and it occurs in 

 many waters which would otherwise be destitute of sporting fish, except 

 perhaps a few lake trout. The pickerel will as a rule strike greedily at 

 almost any trolling spoon or imitation minnow, and the most usual 

 method, therefore, of angling for this fish is trolling from a boat, 

 although in certain localities Avhere the shore line is favoarnble it can 

 frequently be captured from land. At the present time the game quali- 

 ties of the pickerel are not generally appreciated by the citizens of the 

 Province, chiefly OAving to the superior merits in this respect of the 

 black bass and speckled trout, but visitors from across the border accord 

 it high rank among the sporting fishes, and would often as lief fish for 

 pickerel as for any other clasK of flsih. Consequently it would appear 

 that the yellow pickerel should be accorded its due, and that in the 

 lesser waters, but especially in those not inhabited by black bass or 

 speckled trout, steps should be taken to protect it both against the com- 

 mercial and domestic net fishermen. In some localities, indeed, it Avill 

 undoubtedly become necessary toi increase and maintain the supply of 

 this fish by artificial means. Already a small hatchery for this purpose 

 has been established by some enterprising citizens at Sparrow Lake. 

 Under a system of Provincial fish hatcheries, hoAvever, to deal with th(^ 

 commercial fisheries, a® recommended in this report, great attention 

 would naturally be paid to the valuable pickerel, and consequently there 



