14 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



7. Dams and Fishways 



A specific and organized study of dams and other barriers across water 

 courses to determine tiie feasibility of introducing fishways was undertaken in 

 the following counties and districts: Algoma, Cochrane, Frontenac, Grey, 

 Haldimand, Haliburton, Lanark, Leeds, Manitoulin Island, Muskoka (2), 

 Nipissing, Northumberland, Parry Sound (2), Simcoe and Thunder Bay (6). 



FISH CULTURE 



Successful fish culture depends on adequate and suitable water supplies, 

 a knowledge of the food requirements of the fish, a knowledge of fish diseases 

 and the manner in which they may be controlled and proper planting methods. 



Experimental work in connection with the nutrition of trout was carried 

 on for three successive summers by qualified university men. The results of 

 some of these studies have been published eleswhere and when feasible their 

 practical application has been efifectively carried out. 



Rearing fish to the early fry stage is a much simpler and easier process than 

 that to large fingerling, yearling and adult stages. The reason for this is that 

 in rearing larger fish in large numbers in restricted quarters, the problems of 

 nutrition and disease present themselves. Extraordinary vigilance must be 

 exercised at all times so that disease and parasitism may be controlled before 

 they make any headway. 



The importance of proper transportation and planting methods in con- 

 nection with fish distribution is recognized and the results of careful supervision 

 of these methods is apparent. Every care is taken to see that the waters supplied 

 with fish are suitable for the species, and that the fish are actually deposited 

 where they will have the advantage of proper food, proper shelter, and those 

 environmental conditions which will ensure reproduction. 



During the year a competent and qualified Biologist was placed in charge 

 of the Sault Ste. Marie Trout Rearing Station. 



Speckled Trout 



A perusal of appendix 3, page 29, will give some idea of the progress made 

 in the culture of speckled trout. A percentage increase in the distribution of 

 78.0 was made over that of the previous year and was due mainly to successful 

 operations of two large rearing station? located at Dorion (Thunder Bay district) 

 and Sault Ste. Marie. The former station was opened this year. Both stations 

 were briefly described in the previous annual report of the Department, but it 

 is not out of place to voice their virtues again. Both sites are excellent. There 

 is an abundant supply of clear, cold water of constant temperature and with 

 a good head. It is a commonly accepted principle that a fish rearing station 

 should completely control the source of its water supply and at both stations 

 this requirement, which is difiicult to meet as a rule when a large volutne of 

 water is desired, is provided in a most remarkable manner. At Dorion the 

 headwater springs forming a fan-like source, can be seen trickling out of a gently 

 rising slope over a frontage of 150 feet approximately. Five to thirty feet back 

 from the water's edge one can walk around the entire source on dry land. Besides 

 the trickling springs forming the fan-like source, there are strong subterranean 

 springs opening into the bottom of the supply reservoir or pond. These add 



