1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 273 



It must, however, be realized that in starting hatcheries of her own, 

 the Province has not at present the necessary personnel^ and should 

 most certainly not commence experimenting with amateurs; but, rather, 

 should take up the art at the point it has now reached. In due time 

 Ontario citizens ^^dll be trained, and will acquire the necessary skill; 

 but for the first hatcheries it is obviously essential to obtain the services 

 of non-residents who have had long, practical experience in the erection, 

 maintenance, and general operation of the different forms of hatcheries. 



Bass Brooderies. 



That Ontario already has a large tourist traffic, coming in from out- 

 side and attracted by the angling, it is only necessary to look at the 

 returns of the non-resident anglers' tax to realize; and that this tourist 

 traffic can be developed into one of the largest economic factors in the 

 prosperity of the Province, provided good angling facilities are forth- 

 coming, few who have knowledge of the geograpli}^ of the Province, with 

 its vast areas of forest lands and streams, unsuited to agriculture; its 

 magnificent lakes and waters, offering alike beautiful scenery and a 

 splendid climate, and its ever-growing transportation facilities, or Avho 

 have studied the development of the State of Maine, where it is esti- 

 mated that the tourist traffic brings into the state j^early a revenue of 

 twenty-five million dollars, Avould be prepared to deny. A study of this 

 question will reveal the fact that in this Province, as an attraction to 

 anglers of all classes, our owti citizens, as well as those from other 

 provinces and states, the black bass stands in a class by itself. Its 

 imi>ortance, therefore, from the point of view of developing the tourist 

 traffic of the Province, as well as of affording a healthful recreation to 

 our own people, cannot be overestimated. 



The black bass, however, differs from the majority of fish, in that it 

 cannot be forced to yield its egg-s, or fertilize the same; and hence ordi- 

 nary methods of artificial propagation, as used in hatcheries for other 

 varieties of fish, are unavailing. Moreover, compared with other fishes, 

 the black bass produces a small nund>er of egg-s, the number varying 

 from about 2,000 to 9,000. A system has been devised by which use is 

 made of small ponds, cleared of other fishes and injurious matter, for 

 the purpose of inducing the bass to breed under normal conditions; and 

 the young, resulting, are then carefully nurtured and reared, until in a 

 suitable condition for transplantation. 



In view of the vast numbers of bass that are taken <mt of the waters 

 of this Province yearly, the comparatively small number of eggs pro- 

 duced by the female and the improbability, to say the least of it, that, 

 in the small lakes and rivers at least, tlie present supply will be main- 

 tained unless special measures are taken to increase the propa,gation, 

 your Commissioner would strongly recommend the adoption of the prin- 

 ciple of bass control ponds, to be scattered throuigliout the Province in 

 suitable locations; and though time and opportunity have been insuffi- 



