ANNUAL REPORT, 1934 15 



FISH TAGGING EXPERIMENTS 



The Branch undertook the tagging of fifty rainbow trout in the vicinity of Owen 

 Sound after spawntaking operations with these had been completed. The fish were 

 not tagged immediately after spawning, but were given some days to recuperate. 

 After being tagged they were released above the dam on the Sydenham River at 

 Owen Sound. A record was kept of the number of the tag appended to each fish, the 

 date, the length of the fish in inches and the sex of each. 



The object of tagging in this instance was to determine whether rainbow trout 

 will migrate downstream over the dam at Owen Sound during the summer or 

 wliether they remain in the stream above the dam more permanently. 



LABORATORY STUDIES 

 These may be classified for brevity and convenience into three groups: 



1. Taxonomic : 



This involved identification of fish and other organisms submitted from time 

 to time, 



2. Patliolog'ical Problems: 



Confined to mortality among fish in a state of nature and also those under 

 domestication. The interest, importance and value of fish pathology with the prog- 

 ressive development of fish cultural work cannot be overestimated. 



3. Experiments 



During the year studies v/ere made of the effect of the use of a salt solution 

 (physiological saline) in prolonging life of the sperm and the effect of this on the 

 increased hatchability of trout eggs. Similar experiments were tried out by adding 

 saline solution to the ova during the fertilization process. The results of these 

 studies will appear in the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society for 1934 

 and the Branch hopes that work of this nature may be continued in order to obtain 

 further knowledge of this very important subject. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



In conclusion, I desire to publicly express my appreciation of the assistance 

 and support which has been rendered to the Department throughout the year, and 

 more particularly during the period of my active connection therewith. 



Our work has been made more pleasant by reason of the assistance and co- 

 operation supplied by the transportation companies and the various Fish and Game 

 Protective Associations, with the members and ofiicers of many of which organiza- 

 tions enjoyable personal contact has been completed to the future advantage of 

 both the Department and the organizations concerned, and which organizations work 

 in conjunction with the Department and its officers in an earnest endeavour to 

 secure proper observance of the provisions of the Game and Fisheries Act for the 

 general improvement of conditions throughout the Province. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 

 I am, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



D. J. TAYLOR, 



Deputy Minister of Game and Fisheries. 

 Toronto, April 15, 1935. 



