GAME AND FISHERIES FOR 1929 25 



2. The Lake on the Mountain [Natural Breeding Ground): 



The introduction of parent fish to the Lake on the Mountain has provided 

 the Fish Culture Branch with a small supply of bass fry for cultural purposes, 

 and pending a further development of the pond culture of bass, this lake will 

 undoubtedly be a good source of supply for fry. 



3. Detached Rearing Stations: 



In addition to the common practice of pond culture, the Branch is making 

 preparation for the detached pond method for rearing purposes. A pond of 

 twelve acres in the vicinity of Ingersoll will be in readiness this year for the 

 purpose. The pond is spring-fed, and has all the requirements for bass culture. 

 Further construction is necessary to drain or lower the water into a collecting 

 basin in which the bass fingerlings or yearlings may be collected in a most con- 

 venient manner for distribution. When this is done we shall have at least 

 one station from which it is believed good results will be derived. 



4. Closed Season: 



The extension of the closed season for bass from June 15th to July 1st 

 as developed by biological surveys will protect the bass more adequately, 

 particularly in our warmer and more southerly waters. From the standpoint 

 of protection this law is not all inclusive, since it was determined that many 

 bass in the Georgian Bay spawn after July 1st. On the whole, our bass policy 

 is similar in principle to that existing in the State of New York and when all is 

 said and done, it is believed that in the free waters of the Province natural restocking 

 by bass is the most effective replenishment. 



Lake Trout, Herring, Whitefish and Pickerel: 



With the exception of a slight decrease in this year's distribution of pickerel, 

 there was an increased distribution of all the species named above. 



Generally speaking, with the exception of lake trout, which may be retained 

 in our hatcheries to fingerling grade, fry of the commercial species, such as 

 whitefish, herring and yellow pickerel are planted. The Fish Culture Branch 

 is not aware of any hatchery on this continent where these species are reared 

 beyond the fry stage. No reason has yet been given why we should not plant 

 fry of commercial species, since no accurate quantitative study of the survival 

 of planted fry of these species has been made. The necessity and economy 

 of rearing these to the fingerling stage has yet to be proven. Life history 

 studies, however, by the fisheries' research departments of our universities for 

 all species mentioned will undoubtedly cast more light on the subject of survival 

 of artificially reared fish, on which there is little or no quantitative knowledge 

 at the present time. The Fish Culture Branch will do everything possible to 

 encourage studies of this nature. 



Experiments carried on by the various states of the United States and the 

 Federal Government to rear pickerel, whitefish and herring to the fingerling 

 size have been shown to be impracticable. 



Educational Propaganda: 



Illustrated addresses pertaining to fish culture in Ontario and ways and 

 means of preserving the fisheries were given by the Director of the Fish Culture 

 Branch in a number of cities and towns of Ontario during the year. An extension 



