Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1951 Page 32 



GAME FISH SECTION 



Hatcheries and Rearing Stations 



Excellent results have been obtained in the culture and distribution of the 

 various species of commercial and game fish from 26 provincial hatcheries, which were 

 in operation this year. Dorion Trout Rearing Station which was closed for some time 

 for renovation purposes is now in full scale operation. Following the procedure to 

 renovate at least one hatchery annually, the Hill Lake Trout Rearing Station near 

 Englehart is closed at present for extensive alterations. When completed, this station 

 will be on a par with the Dorion Trout Rearing Station which is considered one of 

 the most efficient of its kind on the continent. 



After a lapse of two years, during which time it was under repairs, the Pem- 

 broke Trout Rearing Station was again in full operation, supplying fish to the 

 Renfrew-Xipissing areas. 



Of particular interest is the rearing of maskinonge at the Deer Lake Hatchery. 

 It is necessary to feed live food to the young fry and fingerlings; this presents quite 

 a problem at times. The Department now obtains sucker eggs from spawn-taking 

 operations conducted at several locations. These sucker eggs are hatched, and fed as 

 fry. to the voracious maskinonge fingerlings. as required. Each year upwards of 

 10.000,000 sucker eggs are needed to satisfy the demands. 



A new station, Westport Bass Ponds, has now been completed and will be in 

 full production by next year. An extensive experimental fish feeding program 

 will be conducted here to raise bass to larger size before release. 



Biological Projects 



The biological studies and projects undertaken during the year, consisted of 

 the following: — bass harvesting, sea lamprey control, coarse fish remov^al, creel census 

 studies, fish tagging, and biological surveys of lakes and streams. 



Sea Lamprey Control 



Operations for the control of sea lamprey were continued. A number of weirs 

 and traps were set in selected streams flowing into the Xorth Channel, Lake Huron 

 and Lake Superior. Many other locations are being studied to determine their suita- 

 bility for lamprey control operations. 



Removal of Coarse Fish 



Nets were operated for the removal of undesirable fish, such as carp and ling, 

 from the following lakes: Black. Bobs, Crow, Hamilton Bay, Lower Rideau, Manitou, 

 Nonquon River, Otter, Pike, Scugog, Sturgeon, and Wolfe. 



Creel Census Studies 



Some creel census studies were conducted on a number of waters to determine 

 the proportion of hatchery-reared trout in the angler's catch. This project included 

 waters in the districts of Thunder Bay and Algoma. and in the counties of Bruce, 

 Grey, Peterborough and Haliburton. 



Fish Tagging 



The program, initiated two years ago, of tagging smallmouth bass in 

 Georgian Bay, was continued and 250 additional smallmouth bass were tagged. 



Biological Surveys 



Some long-term projects are being conducted on several waters to determine 

 the relationship of commercial fishing to angling. These include Long Point Bay and 



