10 



THE REPORT UPON 



No. 9 



Now, the question is: "What can be done to improve the bass fishing in 

 waters satisfactory for the species?" We do not wish to discredit hatchery 

 practice with bass, but we are convinced that it cannot alone satisfy the demand 

 nor save the situation, since the output from year to year is relatively small and 

 cannot be relied on definitely. However, conserving the bass supply of our lakes 

 and streams may be brought about in the following w^ays: 



(1) By setting apart natural spawning areas. The success of this method is 

 said to be well established in the State of Minnesota, United States. 



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(2) By setting aside lakes in certain districts for propagation purposes. 

 The eflficacy of this method was tried out by the Department in Long Lake in 

 1903. Four hundred and sixty adult bass were introduced into the lake and it 

 was closed for a period of years. This has been responsible for the natural 

 restocking of the Lake of the Woods and the restocking of other lakes in the 

 district. Fox Lake, also, in Kenora District, was stocked with fingerlings in 

 1913 and 1915 and the success of this was phenomenal. This lake has been used 

 solely for propagation purposes and supplies bass to other lakes in the district. 

 A number of lakes have been studied since in order to determine their suitability 

 for bass propagation. 



(3) By protecting the bass during their spawning period. The Department 

 is convinced that the validity of the law which prohibits fishing for bass before 

 July 1st, should show itself in no uncertain fashion in a few years. The closed 

 season may be extended, in certain waters, when scientific evidence demonstrates 

 the necessity of such a step. The only argument which will be instrumental in 



