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The Experimental Introduction of Smallmouth Black Bass into Lakes of the Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan
Author(s) -
Rawson Donald S.
Publication year - 1945
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1943)73[19:teiosb]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - bass (fish) , micropterus , fishery , stocking , national park , geography , ecology , biology
The introduction of smallmouth black bass (Micropterus dolomieu) into lakes of Saskatchewan has been attempted unsuccessfully over a period of forty years but never in freshwater lakes of the Churchill River drainage. The need for better game fish in the newly established Prince Albert National Park led to the present experiment which was carried on under close observation. Adult bass were brought from Eastern Canada, confined in rearing enclosures screened off in protected bays and provided with artificial nests. Stocking was begun in 1936 and continued for five summers with some interruption. A total of 1,500 adults was transported and 260,000 fry have been reared. These have been released in Waskesiu and the Heart Lakes. Investigations in 1942 showed that the adult bass had survived in fair numbers and were spawning in the Heart Lakes. No evidence was obtained that the fry released in the lakes have been reaching maturity. The abundance of piscivorous fish and the immature stage at which these fry were planted are suggested as factors contributing to a high mortality. Experience at Waskesiu Lake suggests that the larger, deeper lakes of this region are marginal as to the temperature toleration of the species. Shallower waters, such as the Heart Lakes may prove quite suitable for smallmouth bass. The method of rearing bass in natural enclosures and the successful use of this method has been reported by the author (Rawson, 1938). Further experience with this procedure has demonstrated that egg and fry losses resulting from falling temperatures, occur in these enclosures as they do in the usual type of rearing pond. It has also shown the desirability of enclosures where the fry might be fed to avoid planting them in an immature condition.