GAME AND FISHERIES FOR 1929 21 



fishermen throughout the Province regarding the composition of the daily 

 catch by species, weight, etc. The information sought was outlined in the 

 Annual Report of the Department of Game and Fisheries for 1928. Although 

 there was some opposition, the assistance rendered by government overseers in 

 explaining the forms and purpose of the information helped considerably to 

 allay any suspicions or fears. 



Studies in connection with hoop-netting are being extended to include a 

 study of the spawning period of all species, the interdependence of coarse fish 

 with game fish, and the most satisfactory mesh of netting to use which will 

 protect the fish requiring protection. The ultimate aim of studies along these 

 lines is to serve commercial and game fishing interests compatible with the 

 principles of conservation. Such studies may show where the fishermen may 

 fish with impunity and to advantage. 



Hatcheries: 



Our hatchery policy is a progressive one and has grown as a result of the 

 need to replenish lakes and streams in order to supplement the work of 

 nature in maintaining good fishing. 



In 1926 the Province had six hatcheries devoted to the propagation of 

 both game and commercial fish, and in that year eight additional hatcheries 

 located in the Province under the control of the Dominion, and used exclusively 

 for the propagation of commercial fish, were taken over. Provincial hatcheries, 

 under provincial jurisdiction, were the first to go into the propagation of game 

 fish intensively. Our holdings now include fifteen hatcheries, all of which may 

 be used for propagation of one or more of the following species — speckled trout, 

 rainbow trout, brown trout, bass, lake trout, pickerel, whitefish, and herring. 

 In addition, temporary hatcheries have been in operation in connection with the 

 artificial propagation of maskinonge. 



Fish culture is a highly technical problem. By means of biological studies 

 and experimentation, we are endeavouring by increments to make a careful 

 study of each step in the process from the time the spawn and milt are taken 

 until the fish are liberated in suitable waters. There is, after that, the infinitely 

 important study, namely, the question of survival. In this connection, some 

 work was done by Mr. H. C. White, while in the employ of the Biological Board 

 of Canada, and the following significant statements were published in "A Pre- 

 liminary Report on Trout Investigations in Forbes Brook in 1925 and 1926" 

 in the Contributions to Canadian Biology and Fisheries, 1927, regarding survival 

 and the method of seining for recovering the planted fry. 



"Although a survival of only 27.5 per cent, is shown by the experiment on 

 this creek, undoubtedly with improved methods in the planting, a much higher 

 percentage might have been obtained with the same fry. 



"In 1926 an attempt was made to expose equal numbers of fry to single 

 classes of enemies or competitors. Four sections of Forbes brook were selected 

 and screened with fine meshed screen. These sections were then seined to 

 remove all the fish, but care had to be taken to conserve as much as possible 

 the natural condition of the stream and the food organisms. 



"Seining under such conditions is far more difficult than where it is not 

 necessary to take such precaution, and I think could not be carried out with 

 any degree of thoroughness except in specially favourable portions of a stream." 



The entire problem requires considerably more experimentation, both 

 intensively and extensively, under natural conditions or as near to natural 

 conditions as possible for all species of fish handled. 



