of school-children, as well as students of the 

 superior schools, are conducted through the 

 Aquarium in their turn. Hère a guide supplies 

 them with information about the habits, the 

 habitat and the importance of the fish displayed. 

 Tlien they proceed to the exhibit located in the 

 rotunda. This is where they become familiar 

 with the varions fishing methods and the gear 

 or tackle used. They view drawings, paintings. 

 or models which fishermen hâve reduced to 

 scale. Films on the animais and fish complète 

 this lesson in natural history and broaden the 

 interest of our youth in the fauna of Québec. 

 The outcome of teaching youth thus to know 

 and love nature better is the formation of a 

 génération whose mentality is distinct from 

 those with attitudes of indifférence and disin- 

 terest. Principles of conversation based on deep 

 conviction rather than on the fear of law- 

 breaking alone are effectively brought home. 



The Aquarium of the Biological Centre 

 will reach the objectives intcnded for it by the 

 authorities of the Department of Fisheries, 

 through the interest it maintains on the part 

 of adults and the knowledge it imparts to the 

 younger people. 



While the visitor enjoys himself and iearns 

 to know and appreciate our fish, work continues 

 in a less spectacular part of the Biological 

 Centre, the section reserved for the research 

 laboratories. Hère a group of specialists col- 

 laborate on the scientific level in conservation 

 work on principles guided by knowledge of the 

 bidlogy of the différent species. The safe- 

 guarding of natural resources, it is realized, is 

 not synonymous with the mère accumulation of 

 data. It is the function of biologists to dis- 



cover the natural laws which govern the life 

 of the riches we wish to préserve, and which 

 détermine their abundance and well-being. 

 This knowledge, arrived at through scientific 

 investigation can then serve to orient législation 

 whose double purpose is to protect the fauna 

 anJ to improve the fisheries. 



A portion of the scientific work is carried 

 out in the field — that is to say, on the streams 

 and lakes where biologists of the Centre study 

 the habitat, e.xperimental fishing, tag the fish 

 in order to follow their migrations, etc. The 

 results of ail this work are compiled, compared, 

 and analysed in the laboratories of the Centre 

 where they are compïeted by a study of col- 

 lections brought to the laboratory for exami- 

 nation. 



Some of the facts gathered are of relevance 

 to commercial fishing only. Thèse are. there- 

 forc, passed on to other services of the Fish- 

 eries Department for spécial study. The adop- 

 tion of new fishing methods, and the modern- 

 ization of fishing fleets. together with up-to- 

 date methods of fish préservation, and increased 

 consumption through improved quality of the 

 product, bave ail contributed to an extension 

 of interest in fishing. It follows that the 

 increasingly intense fishing activity may resuit 

 in partial or total élimination of our stocks. 



It would seem, as a conséquence, that 

 controlled exploitation for maximum returns 

 woul.l conflict with protection of our com- 

 mercial species. Such. however. is not the 

 case! On the contrary, with provision niade 

 for sutficiently stocked waters, intensive fishing 



14 — 



