82 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



defined area of water, can take place without seriously endangering 

 one or more indigenous species within that same area. 



Another natural law, which we must bear in mind, is that the 

 greater or less fecundity of an animal bears little or no relationship 

 to abundance or scarcity in nature, but that abundance or scarcity is 

 governed rather by periodical deficiency in quality or quantity of food, 

 and powers of offence and defence. As an example let me point out 

 that our lake trout (Cristivomer namaycush) deposits from 300 to 500 

 ova per pound of her weight while, on the other hand, the whitefish 

 (Coregonus clupeiformis) deposits about 1,300 ova per pound of her 

 weight. We cannot claim that the defenceless whitefish is increasing 

 in proportion to her ova production in our waters. 



Factors Affecting Naturai, Balance 



The chief factors affecting this natural balance in our inland waters 

 are as follows: 



(1) We have the enforcement of regulations arising from legisla- 

 tion affecting netting and angling and which have often brought about 

 artificial conditions. The intentions of the framers of these regula- 

 tions are obviously good, but the anticipated results are by no means 

 often achieved. 



(2) We have pollution, both mechanical and chemical. 



(3) Artificial obstructions frequently hinder or prevent the free 

 passage of fish and thus affect the numbers on the spawning beds. 



(4) Artificial incubation is sometimes extremely beneficial, some- 

 times the very contrary, depending largely on the amount of initial 

 study undertaken of the area to be treated, previous to planting. 



(5) The correlation of the various aquatic creatures to one another 

 may be disturbed by the extraction or introduction of one or more 

 species of fish in a defined area of water without compensation by 

 natural or artificial means. 



(6) There is an intimate relationship between fish and their animal 

 food supply, which, again, is dependent on subaquatic plant life and 

 this, in its turn, is affected by the geological formation of the soil. 



With your permission, I should like to deal shortly 



Effects of ^itii each of these six factors in rotation, with the 



Legislation , . ... • «■ 



object of pomtmg out its eirect on conservation. 



In the first case, let us take the effect of legislation. The intention, 



broadly speaking, is to frame legislation prohibiting any one from 



disturbing fish during the period Nature ordains they should reproduce 



their species. 



