Saving Ontario's Natural ^ Resources By G. C. Tonstr Ontario Federation of Angler and Hunter* (No. 38) BASS CULTURE The raising of young ba*w i one cf the most difficult prob- lemg in fish culture, for unlike the trout or the whitefish, th Ita&'os canr.ot be stripped of their eggs as '.his process kills the par- ent fish. Fishes which spawn in schools an- of such a nature that their cgrtrs and sperm flow freely from the body when rip, but th l>a<;s must build a nest, come to- gether in pairs, and spread th 'KK laying period over several clays. Apparently, one reason for this is that the egs of the feinala do not ripen al! at the same time. Since this is so we must bring the adult bass together in ponds, leave them to pair naturally, and leave the male bass with the nest for several weeks. This can best be understood if I explain th way in which the- basses repro- duce. In natural waters, when they warm in the spring, the mala Itass selects a site protected against wave action and to som extent, from natural enemies. H dears the ooze from this site by fanning with his tail and lower fins, leaving a cleared circular area of gravel. This is the nest. Hatching of Young Bass When the nest is completed, if :he water temperature has reach- ed 65 the male drives a female over the nest and a few of her eggs are extruded and fertilized 'y the male. This is repeated a number of times until there r everal thousand eggs In th (travel of the nest. Then tht male mounts guard, driving away all other fishes including the fe- laales. He watches the eggs for several weeks and when they hatch guards the young for some time. The young at first are very tiny and live on the egg sack which is atill attached to their bodies. In a week or so they have grown considerably and have absorbed the remainder of the yolk. They are now r<?ady to feed and rise to the surface. The male bass seems to know that his job it finished and he drives into the school scattering them in all directions, riiis is why we find young bass in July scattered all through the shallow waters if the hatch has !>een successful -for that year. Canada's Railways Increase Revenue Groti Intake During 1940 Wai The Beat In A Deoad* Freight Train* Earned Muoh More Gross revenues of Canadian railways during 1940 soared to their highest point since 1930, leaching $424,820,629, compared with $3f.3,32G,824 in 1939, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics has reported. At the same time, operating expenses were heavier than dur- ing the previous year by $29,605,- 507, transportation expenses were \H> $13,550,56!! and maintenance expenses higher by $16,343,0-19 the report said. Expenses Heavier The operating income was in- 'reased by $27,506,404, from *46,649,20o to $74,155,656. Freight traffic measured in ton-inili-K was heavier than in lysrt by 20.5 per cent., and pas. oenger miles increased by 24.5 per cent. Total payroll increased by *13,0fl,277, from $191,101,- 727 to S204,1U3,004, for an av- erage of 121,00!) employees in 193!) and 127,028 in 1040. Freight trains earned 15 cents more per train-mile than in l!3f* and carried 34. y more tons of revenue freight. Passenger trains showed higher earnings per train- mile of 30 rents and carried 10.5 more passengers per train-mile. C.N.R. Revenue up 22.7% Of tin- gro.ss revenue totaU, $212,300,711 was made up of Canadian National Hallways cani- ingH, which showed a 22.7 per cent, increase from tin- )!>3!i fig- ure of S173,05!,ll!i. Canadian Pacific Uailway Gorn- |n.v gross revenues towards the total wirr- SI 71, 5.15, 47 1 a 12.7 percent, increase fYorn $ir,'_,l IX,- :>?'.'! in 1M!. Pine Cone Found In Spruce Wood While- sawing a piece of sprue* wood, John Walker, of Windsor, i ami- arums an ummul formation. inxi'l of the wood was found * piece of pino cone which had apparently been lodged ihcra nuite a number of years am>. Th uotie had turned t,<> a ruddy i-olyr hut was still in an excellent .state More Bomber* For Britain Are Being Dismantled for Shipment Oversea* More than thirty Lockheed Hudson bombers arc assembled at Floyd Bennett Airport in New YoA, where they'll be dismantled and shipped to England via beats. They're part of the steady flow of American planes which have greatly bolstered the R.A.F. THE WAR- WEE K Commentary on Current Events BALKAN FRONT IS STAGE OF MAJOR WAR DRAMA "PeopU of tke Empira bbuld be profoundly grate- ful that in the Naci path Greece and Yugoslavia have become active obstacles. But tli chief obetacle to Nazi am- bition* i> still Britain . . . The threat of invasion of her own island has not passed; that danger will (row at the spring- advances . . . The Battle of the Atlantic, yet te> be won, is the most vital truffle of all." Prime Min- ister Mackenzie King, see At the start of the tremendous war drama in the Balkans, ail in- itial seriei of triumphs for the German military machint in both Yugoslavia and Greece appeared all but inevitable. Hitler Must Act Faet Far from inevitable, however, (wrote Edward Bomar of the Associated Press) was it that such victories at the early capture of Belgrade and the overrunning of the Yugoslavs' richest areas would b followed by the smashing of all obstacles to the Nazi drive to th east. "Only the verdict of fateful battles to the sout/h could decide whether Hitler's gen- erals would be able to match in th Balkans the quick victories won in the Low Countries and in France last year," Mr. Bomar continued, in one of the clearest analyses of the situation made last week. "They are forced by necessity to try to execute in a hurry Hitler's injunction to smash the dangerous new British-Greek- Serb alliance and drive the Brit- ish forces from southeastern Eur- ope. With United States aid in- creasing steadily though slowly, time is no ally of the Nazis . . . Germany is faced with the neces- sity of a quick decision to avoid the alternative of a long struggle with its perils that Turkoy and even Russia might join the foes." Most military observers saw in the Balkan campaign the major part of an attempt to wrest con- trol of the entire Mediterranean from Britain and to win the war thi* year. Another part of the same drive was the new Na/,i campaign in Libya which might develop into a drive to close fche Mediterranean at Gibraltar from the south (instead of from Spain)- -with or without the aid of the rue French Army in Mor- occo. At Tvrkejr'a Back Door But Germany could never con- quer the Mediterranean miles-. Turkey were first put out of the picture, either by military con- quest or by diplomacy. Thei pro- Axis coup in Iraq last week plac- ed Turkey in a doubly dangerous position German air bases could now be located at her back door. It was believed that Hitler would shortly demand that Turkey be- tray her alliances or be herself attacked. In the latter event, there was no question that Turkey would defend herself with all th force she could muster. Last week thoujfh still non-belligerent, Turkey was helping the anti-Axis allies in rnore ways than one, chief of which consisted in keep- ing the Bulgarian army immobil- ized. (British quarters hinted last week in Istanbul that Turkey might declare war soon. They suggested she would remain on the defensive, but could permit Brit- ain to use Turkish air bases and to move warships through the Dardanelles into the Black Set.) U-S. Approaches Zro Hoar In Washington last week, the opinion of most observers wan that April was likely to be the month for events which would send the United States into the war. It was thought that the U.S., if any ruptures in foreign relations were made, would break with Italy first, then Germany. Before another month was up, ob- servers said, the American na- tion would be very close to the state of actual belligerency a state of war can and may be es- tablished without formal declara- tion. The future war role of the United States was just about at the zero hour. Mateuoka to Moscow Japan'* Foreign Minister Mat- suuka left Berlin "suddenly" laat week for home, having been en- tertained in two Axis capitals to several exhibitions of fireworks that went "pfft!" (Italy's Ionian Sea disaster in an engagement with the British Navy and Yugo- slavia's .stand against Germany). Kn route l>nck to Japan, Matsuoka stopped off in Moscow again for an important appointment rela- tive to nt- initiation of a llusso- Japanosc non-Eggnulon pact. His meeting there with Soviet officials was watched very closely by th British, who, according to foreign military observers recently re- turned from the Far East, be- lieved that if Japan were success- ful in concluding such a pact she would start a land, sea and air attack on Hong Kong. "Waiting- Period" at End? In the Dutch East Indies, too, authoritative circles were of a similar mind. There the view was that the "waiting period" in the Far East would shortly come to an end and that concrete action toward Japan's aim of a "new order" in Asia would be exped- ited. Reports that Thailand would very soon join the Axis and shar- pon the crisis in the Paific, cen- tering on Singapore, appeared to be well substantiated. The Book Shelf.. "NEW IMPROVED CULBERT- SON SYSTEM" (1941) Here are the latest rules in con- tract bridge summarized for you by Ely Culbertson himself. Thi first basic changes that have been made in the Culbertson System in six years are completely describ- ed in this little book. With it* help, you can play with any part- ner, whether average player, ad- vanced, or expert. ($1.35). "CONTRACT BRIDGE SELF- TEACHER" By Ely Culbertson The world's greatest authority on contract bridge, in an entirely new book on the game, has im- plified bidding and play so that anyone can now learn expert methods easily and quickly. 89 clear lessons teach you how and 86 practice drills. All you need I* a book and pencil. ($1.35). Toronto: John C. Winston Co. 1. in.it-. I, Publisher*. Dogs Going Into Action On Birds Spring Field Trial* of On- tario Bird Dog Association Are Being Held at Niagara- on-the-Laka Next Week-end The cream of tu biixl dog* in Ontario will display their wares at Niagara -on-t-he-Lake on April 19th and 20th, wlien HI > Ontario Bird Dog Association will hold IU sixth Aunuail Spring Field Trials. S|/.mi.'k Setters and Pointers will in- seen in action on birds. The. first stake to be run ou Sat- ninlay, th* liHh, Is an opm ovp)i<. f<-r Pointer and Setter pujtpios and Btaie likely contenders are expect- ed to take the field. ThU trial 1 aclioduUd for 1 o'clock. For BETTER desserts DURHAM Two Spaniel trials will also be run on Saturday afternoon, a trial tor Novice Spaniels and the Open Spaniel Stake. Dr. John Barnes, Williams villa, X. Y. and G. S. Steckles, Welland, will judge the Spaniel trials. SPANIELS, SETTERS. POINTERS Two trials for Setters and Point- em are on the card for the second day. In the morning Novice Setters and Pointers, owned la Ontario. wlU auow their stuff and in the afternoon in the Opn All Age Slake for Setters and Pointers will b run. Geo. W. Boag, Woodstock, Ont., Secretary of the Association ipredlcto big fields in all trials. Aa asual, it is exipected that New York State kennels will be well repre- sented in the events, particularly In tb* open stake for Setters and. Pointers on the second day's pro- gramme. Tommy Thomas, Rochest- or, N.Y., and Don Crawford, Kings- vlll, Ont. will judge the trials tor SMtera and Pointers. The Prince of Wal*s HoteJ, Nla- gwa-oii-the-Lake will be head- quarters for the meet anil road ilgna will be posted to mark the courses (or the benefit of the big gaJlery of spectators which Is ex- pected to witness the trials. Ugly, Poorly Built Homes Lack Value Failure to design buildings of attractive architectural style is an evil which must be combatted to improve conditions of home own- ership, according to authorities. Other conditions which mak for poor mortgage security ar bad construction, poor workman- ship, improper use of materials, or use of inferior materials, and inefficient or objectionable room proportion and arrangement. SCOUTING . . . The proceeda of a "single dog derby" for 'boys and girls of Rouyn and Noranda of 16 yean and under, sponsored by the Nor- anda Firemen, went to the camp- ing funds of the Rouyn-Koranda Scouts. Rules for the race barred the use of whips. e e An indoor campfire program, conducted in the main hall of St. John's Church, Peterborough, was the entertainment feature of the annual banquet get-together of some 200 Cubs, Scouts, Rovers and parents. * At a meeting of the Sarnia Boy Scouts Association, which was in part run as a demonstration Boy Scout Troop, adult members be- came boys in the various patrols. During the evening several of the members were invested as Scouts. e * * 800 magazines for soldiers' reading rooms were collected in one week by the Boy Scouts of Dartmouth, N.S., and 2,729 were gathered in a month by a Winni- peg Boy Scout Group. e * Three Boy Scouts of Bristol, England, own and operate their own mobile tea canteen. They carried on during the heaviest Nazi bombing of the port, serving a hot drink and sandwiches to firemen and A.R.P. workers. VOICE Of THE PRESS NOT ALL SO LUCKY Niagara is to keep its beauty, but the upper stretches of the St. Lawrence are due for some sad treatment if, as and when tha deep waterways scheme material- izes. Stratford Beacon-Hehald EXTREMELY DANGEROUS It is unlawful for a pedestrian to stand on the travelled portion of a roadway to beg rides or sell articles. It is also extremely dangerous to stand or idle in any roadway where motor traffic passes. Hamilton Spectator THINK NATIONALLY A Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan claims that, but for the development of the Western Provinces, Ontario would still be a backwoods district. This is a highly theoretical statement, but in any case it would-be better for this and all M.P.'e to think in terms not of the West or of On- tario, but in terms of the Domin- ion of Canada. Brantford Expositor "You can no more regiment fun than Hitler can regiment IOT." Cornelia Otis Skinner LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher "Doin" yer plowin' early, in'lcHa, pardner?" REG'LAR FELLERS The Opportunist By GENE BYRNES / THE HUDSON* ARC MOVIN \ AN' I'M cerriN' CENTS TO HELP/ VERY PINHEAD.' NO QO BACK AND AMOTHCK I.OADX I 1 1J It At