116 KEPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



in fact, that the first brook trout hatchery of the Province should be 

 established on or in the vicinity of the Nipigon River. Subsequently, 

 additional brook trout hatcheries could be established with advantage 

 in such localities as, for instance, the Algonquin National Park, and 

 eases might also occur in the interior portions of the Province where 

 this fish might be advantageously handled by small branch commercial 

 fish hatcheries in conjunction with lake trout, pickerel or other local 

 fishes; when it was found, in fact, more economical to do so than to 

 transport the ova or fry considerable distances to and from tlie larger 

 hatcheries, but when the system of hatcheries had once been established 

 in the Province, the coKt of the institution and running of these small 

 branch hatcheries would be so inconsiderable that it would impose no 

 appreciable burden on the Provincial Treasury. 



In the case of the black bass, which will not allow itself to be 

 stripped of its spawn or milt and consequently cannot be handled by the 

 ordinary means employed in the ordinary commercial fish hatcheries, 

 it would be necessary to establisli bass breeding ponds at various points 

 throughout the basB region, for as compared with many other fishes 

 the bass produces but a small number of eggs and the difficulty of 

 obtaining a sufficient supply of fry or fingerlings is, therefore, pro- 

 portionately increased. Of all the sporting fishes of the Province, how- 

 ever, the black bass is undoubtedly at the present time the most im- 

 portant, not only for the magnificent sport which it affords alike to 

 citizens and visitors, but from the fact that it is unaffected by the on- 

 ward march of civilization and will continue to thrive in waters sur- 

 rounded by cleared and cultivated lands in consequence of which, as 

 the more cleared areas are likewise the moist densely populated and 

 the most easily accessible, it fills the angling needs of a greater percent- 

 age of the provincial population and the visitors from abroad than does 

 any other sporting fish. It is evident, therefore, that the comparatively 

 small expense involved in the establishment and maintenance of a few 

 series of bass breeding ponds through the bass regions of the Province 

 would be more than justified by the importance of the results to be ob- 

 tained from them. Already in the neighborhood of Brantford one such 

 series of breeding ponds has been established by the Province and the 

 extension of tliis undertaking to other localities would appear to be 

 most desirable. It is to be noted, however, that as in the case of the 

 commercial fish hatcheries it would in all cases be expedient to deter- 

 mine scientifically the suitability of the site for the hatchery before 

 attempting its establishment. 



In regard to the question as to whether the conditions prevailing 

 in waters which have once become depleted will allow of effective re- 

 stocking, this is plainly a matter for scientific determination. Measures 

 may have to be undertaken, such as the removal of coarse or predaceous 

 fishes, before the plantation of fry or fingerlings would be productive 

 of results, while, again, as in the case of the brook trout, provision 



