MNR watching for 'perch that don The Ministry of Natural Resources is alerting Ontario anglers and commercial fishermen to be on the lookout for a fugitive fish poised to infiltrate the Great Lakes. The river ruffe -- a.k.a "the yel- low perch that don't look right" -- is already lurking on the American side of Lake Superior and soon may move into Ontario waters, says MNR Great Lakes fisheries co-ordinator Doug Dodge. upper Great Lakes, where shipping activity is heavy -- to report any catches of suspected river ruffe to the nearest MNR district office. The fish resembles a small yel- low perch, except for its larger dor- Sal fin (the spiny rayed fin on the fish's back) and spots along its body instead of bars. Its body is slimmer than a perch's, and adults rarely exceed 20 centimeters in length. IS vas Paar Sn SRO CUR iS ce i SH Fai fe A *yeers pet ie ce The river ruffe -- Also known as the "yellow perch that don't look right," this species is causing concern. The MNR is worried the little fish might upset the Great Lakes commercial and sport fishing industry. The exotic fish has slipped into the lake from its native northern Europe, "probably by stowing away in the ballast water of ocean- going ships," says Dodge. It has lit- tle commercial value because of its small size and slow growth, the same reasons why anglers consider it poor sport. But the river. ruffe, a prolific breeder that preys heavily on whitefish eggs, could severely dis- Tupt the $5 to $10 million whitefish industry in Lakes Superior, Huron. and Michigan. Vagabond tuffe could also outcompete yellow perch in Lake Erie, which supports a commercial fishery worth be- tween $20- and $30-million a year. Because river ruffe also feed on young trout and salmon, the exotic invader may adversely affect Ontario's sport fishery, "An exotic species can damage lative fisheries by disrupting a nat- ral ecosystem through predation, ompetition, disease or interbreed- ng with native stocks," noted dodge. The Ministry is asking sport and ommercial fishermen along the hipping lanes -- particularly in the Slashed tires On August 7, 1988 a Trans ovincial truck was parked in mnt of the Voyageur Restaurant on > North side of the highway at proximately 11.00 a.m. It is believed that someone proached the vehicle while it was ked and slashed five tires with a fe. Anyone who has information is ed to contact Schreiber O.PP ll 824-2333. If there is no wer, call the operator and ask Zenith 50,000. R.LD_E. on-going do not drive after you have con- ed any alcoholic beverage. The D.E. (Reduce Impaired Drivers rywhere) Program is continu- and spot checks will be con- edah this areas To date, no river ruffe have been found in Ontario waters, In May, MNR 'staff scoured Thunder Bay harbor using gill nets and an elec- _tro-fishing boat but came up empty-handed. In 1987, a Minnesota biologist reported that 33 river ruffe had been caught in the mouth of the St. Louis River. Subsequent investiga- tion showed several generations were present in the harbor at Duluth, Minnesota. Wisconsin and Minnesota biologists believe the fish has now begun to establish itself in the area, _ This spring, some 1,500 river tuffe were caught in Duluth Harbor during surveys conducted by US. fisheries agencies to assess the size and distribution of the species in the area. Recent reports show the tuffe has moved about 160 kilome- tres past Duluth. The U.S. agencies are continu- ing their assessment over the sum- mer and will develop a ruffe man- agement and control program after their data are analyzed this fall. Invading river ruffe can devas- tate a fishery. Ruffe that got into only four years to become the loch's most abundant perch species, almost wiping out the native perch population in the process. Fisheries in the Soviet Union believe that their whitefish populations would be doubled if the river ruffe was Not present. é The river ruffe probably reached North America inside ocean-going vessels that pick up fresh water as into the lake. The Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards addressed the problem of introducing ballast water contami- nated with exotic species at a meet- ing July 26-27 in Cleveland, Ohio. Experts favor regulations that would require ocean-going vessels to exchange their fresh water bal- - last for sea water before entering the Great Lakes. Very few open- Ocean Organisms would survive in Page 13, News, Wednesday, August 24 » 1988. - 't look right' holding tanks. Exotic species introduced through ballast water have created some problems in Ontario waters. The cladoceran "water flea" fouls downriggers and anchor lines in the Great Lakes and competes with small fish for food. The zebra mus-' sel recently found in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair is considered a pest because it attaches itself to water intakes. ballast in Europe for stability dur- _ the lakes or other coasial waters. Other exotics that most likely ing the crossing, then discharge the reached the Great Lakes in ballast "Water -- about 22 million litres per Others have suggested requiring --_ water include the Asiatic clam, the ship -- during loading at docks in _Ocean-going vessels to chlorinate European flounder, the Chinese Lake Superior. Approximately 300 _ their ballast water to elimiuate _ mitten crab and a half-dozen vari- ship a year dump their ballast water --_ favorable conditions within a ship's _eties of marine algae. By Greg Huneault He obviously is doing a lot right. Disabled, Windsor, June 1987; the News This past meet yielded yet another Provincial Games,July 1987 and well of ribbons to add to his other First National Games, July, 1987. Shawn Prince just keeps getting athletic accomplishments. He is already gearing up for the better. ____ He wona Ist place ribbon in the next Nationals, which will be held The Terrace Bay athlete javelin event for tossing the spear sometime next year in Halifax. returned from the Provincial Games for the Physically Disabled with a proud chest full of ribbons and a medal. Shawn was awarded three sec- ond place ribbons, one first-place ribbon and one first-place medal. The weighty medallion was for his victory in the 100m, a race which he ran faster than anyone before him in the history of the Games. He competed in his second Provincial Championships in North York, and as expected he fared very well. The speedster said he has enjoyed running for years. It was a natural extension coupled with determination which lead him to competitive racing. He began his athletic tenure as a member of the Thunder Bay Athletics, despite training alone and without the guidance or benefit of a coach. Despite not having the resources available to athletes in larger areas, Shawn has continually improved his conditioning over the last three to four years by running along the Highway. He would like to have the advice of a coach, but he is humbly confident of his own program. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong or what I'm doing right, but since I broke a record," he said before over 17 m. Shawn said that, although he was pleased with the result, his personal best in this event is over 18 m. Running is his spe- cialty, and the tally at the Games indicated that. Only one competitor beat him in the running events, which means that he can rightfully and proudly claim to be the second fastest runner in Canada in his class. His record at this year's championships: 100 m - Ist place, Shawn set a new provincial record with his time of 14.4 sec- onds Javelin - 1st place at 17m Shawn fin- ished second in the following three events with his time posted: 400 m , 1 min. 16 sec.; 800 m, 2 min., 49 sec.; 1500 m , min. 48 sec. Shawn's list of track meets keeps growing. He competed in: The Regional Shawn, who has Cerebral Palsy, will be entering his last year of High School. He plans to join the Track and Field Team to keep in shape for future events. It doesn't take a professional sports analyst to confidently predict that this young athlete has many years of great potential ahead of Don't be too surprised if the | local newspaper does a story some- time next year on a local boy who has set new national records in athletic competition. - Shawn Prince is on his way to doing that. Shawn Prince displays the rib- bons and medal he won while com- peting in the Provincial Games for the Physically Handicapped last Loch Lomond, Scotland, after trailing off. Games for the. weekend. being used as bait for pike took The Lake Superior THE NORTH OF SUPERIOR DISTRICT R.C.S.S. BOARD Board of Ed i HOLY ANGELS SCHOOL popes SCHREIBER, ONT. D.I. McQuarrie Director of Education PROPOSALS For the Lake Superior Board of Education four unit apartment - Manitouwadge, Ontario will be received by; Mr. D. Ditchfield Operations Manager Lake Superior Board of Education P.O. Bag "A" Marathon, Ontario POT 2E0 Until 2 p.m. September 9, 1988 Drawings & specifications are available from Lake Superior Board of Education upon deposit of $25.00 P. Richardson Chairperson Information about the first day of School: Information about the . bus schedule: Date: September 6, 1988 Time: 8:55 a.m. - Grades.1 to 8 8:55 a.m. - Senior Kindergarten 12:55 a.m. - Junior Kindergarten We will endeavor to accommodate the transportation needs of pupils in grades JK to Grade 8. Please be advised of the bus stops for pupils. BUS - Lakehead Freightways - Funeral Home - Main Street and Scotia Street STOPS}- Corner Walker Lake Road and Walker Street - Walker Lake Road (Across from Figliomeni's Trailer Park) - Corner Langworthy Street and Pearcy Street - Bus will loop around the New Subdivision - Across the road - Figliomeni's Garage - Corner Ontario Street and Superior Street - Corner Manitoba Street and Superior Street - Corner Erie Street and Ontario Street - Corner Quebec Street and Erie Street - United Church G. J. Matys E. Drozdowsky Co Re PO NAR Seas Director of Educatian