DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

63
ment for disposing of them elsewhere. They numbered about one million in the
ponds when put out.
The following is the gross output of fry, and semi-hatched eggs of all kinds from
the Newcastle hatchery during the year 1b88
Salmon-trout fry. ... 4,200,000
do eggs semi-hatched ... - 4,040,000
Whitefish fry 2,700,000
Speckled-trout fry 176,00
Black bass fry 1,000,000
Grand total 12,116.000
Demand/or Trout Fry this Season.
There are already a large number of applications for trout fry, and as the
demand is increasing it would be desirable for the Department to procure fully half
a million eggs this winter in order to give the applicants an opportunity of obtaining
a supply. Owing to the demand far exceeding the supply in previous years a large
number of applications have been held over from last season and unless a supply i
obtained almost immediately many persons will be disappointed in their wants.
The trout eggs can be purchased now at a very reasonable figure in the United
States, and when the fry are hatched they can be disposed of to the Canadian applicants
in such a manner as will recoup the Department for the original outlay. This
hatchery would in this way become a very satisfactory medium in the country,
through which the numerous urgent requests made by fishing clubs, and private
individuals for brook trout to keep their ponds and streams well stocked; and could
be easily accomplished.
.LVewcastle Fish Ponds.
During the past summer the ponds in connection with this hatchery were
thoroughly renovated. The sedimentary matter, which for many years had accuinulated
in the ponds made them shallow, its removal has both deepened and increased
their area. A most satisfactory proof of their adaptability to raise black
bass and trout (especially the California Rainbow Trout) has been demonstrated
beyond a doubt during the past summer. Early in May last some 300 brook and
California trout (yearlings, about 4 inches in length) were put in one of the ponds
on trial, the experiment has proved most satisfantory, as at the present time the trout
are fully ten inches long, weighing from 5 to 7 ounces. As these fish will not be
two years old until next spring the rapid growth they have attained in this short
period gives strong evidence of the capability of these ponds to grow trout in conS
siderable numbers in the future. It would be advisable to obtain a quantity of
California trout eggs this winter and when hatched turn them into these ponds where
they would find abundance of natural food. These fish are specially adapted for the
warmer waters of the more cultivated portions of Ontario, and would thrive in any
of the streams running into Lake Ontario, where the native trout have now become
almost extinct from the fact that the temperature of the water in these streams rises
too high during the summer months.
Black Bass.
A qutintity of parent bass have been kept over in the ponds, but whether they
will thrive in confinement during the winter cannot be definitely ascertained at
present. Air holes are kept open in the ponds and food is put in daily; but they
seem to remain in a dormant state and apparently do not take the food. Should
this experiment of keeping parent bass through the winter for future manipulation,
prove a failure, almost any desired quantity can be obtained from the Bay of Quint
in the spring months at a reasonable figure, from which millions of young fish can
be hatched and distributed wherever your Department may require them.