GAME AND FISHERIES FOR 1929 15 



The functions of the Branch pertain to all matters, either directly or indi- 

 rectly, related to fish culture and the fisheries of Ontario. 



The biological field work is done during the summer months when graduates 

 and undergraduates of our provincial universities in good standing, (that is, 

 with the necessary background for fisheries' investigations), may be drawn 

 into the service to work on various freshwater fishery problems. A limited 

 number of qualified men is available each year from the Department of Biology, 

 University of Toronto. Queen's University, Kingston, and the University of 

 Western Ontario, London, are also developing their departments of biology 

 along similar lines and, although available qualified men are scarce at present, 

 each year there is a decided improvement and this is largely due, probably, to 

 the possibilities offered in this line of work. Men who have gained experience 

 with the Department in connection with biological investigations are encouraged 

 to continue the following year or years. 



In addition to the permanent stafiF of the Branch, which consists of a 

 Director, who is also Chief Biologist, a Hatchery Supervisor, or practical fish 

 culturist, and two assistant biologists (temporary appointments), the personnel 

 of the field staff was as follows: Professor J. D. Detwiler, Associate Professor 

 of Zoolog\% University of Western Ontario, London; Messrs. G. Adams, M.A., 

 Honour Biology- and Chemistry, Queen's University, '29; W. H. R. Werner, 

 M.A., Biology, Western University, '29; A. E. AUin, B.A., Biology and Medicine, 

 University of Toronto, '29; S. J. Bochner, B.A., Biology and Medicine, Uni- 

 versity of Toronto, '29; H. J. Dignan, B.A., Honour Biology, University of 

 Toronto, '29; E. O. Ebersole, B.A., Biology and Chemistry, Queen's University, 

 '29; A. H. Louden. B.A., Biology and Chemistry, Queen's University, '29; 

 D. C. G. MacKay, B.A., Biology, Queen's University, '29; Roy F. Cain, Third 

 year. Biology, University of Toronto; W. L. Dibbon, third year, General Science, 

 University of Toronto; P. L. MacLachlan, third year. Honour Biology and 

 Chemistry, Queen's University; W. R. Cameron, second year, Biology and 

 Medicine, University of Toronto; H. J. Perkin, second year, PhysiologA- and 

 Biochemistry, University of Toronto; J. Savage, second year. Honour Biology, 

 University of Toronto. 



Biological Surveys — General: 



In order to regulate our game and commercial fishing and to improve the 

 fishing, and after all the only argument which will be instrumental in changing 

 the views opposed to such regulation will be the practical one of more and better 

 fish, it is absolutely necessary for us to know the conditions, (physical, chemical 

 and biological), under which fish of all species five and thrive. The required 

 knowledge is made possible to some extent at least by biological surveys of 

 waters, which give us a clue to the fish best adapted to the waters, according to 

 known criteria, either physical, chemical or biological. Such studies will help to 

 increase our knowledge regarding the most suitable places to plant fish and the 

 means we might adopt to maintain good fishing. The latter necessitates studies 

 regarding size limits, which involve special studies of rate of growth, maturity 

 and spawning conditions. 



Furthermore, a knowledge of the entire life history of all species of fish is 

 necessar\^ for the best results in the culture of these species, either naturally or 

 artificially. When we know conditions under which eggs, fry, fingerlings, 

 yearlings and adults live, our problems in connection with fish culture will 



