October 21">

October 21, 1999 Press Release For immediate release: 800 Muskie fall fingerlings found a great new home today at the mouth of the Spanish River in Spanish, Ontario. The Espanola branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources carefully introduced these young fish in twos and threes throughout the large Spanish River delta. The Friends of the Spanish River have partnered with the Espanola M.N.R. for the last four years in a muskellunge restocking program taking place in the lower Spanish River. These large predator fish were once native to this region and all but disappeared over the last fifty years due to over fishing and river degradation 200 more of these muskie fall fingerlings will be "wintered over" at Chamberlain’s fish rearing center in Lindsay, Ontario to be released in the lower Spanish River next spring as muskie yearlings. These fish, up to 18" long, are thought to have a much greater survival rate than the more abundant fall fingerlings. This experimental program has had its ups and downs but overall, it seems to be working. If the funding holds out, the plan is to continue stocking the muskies for at least another two years. The hope is that enough of these new muskie fingerlings will survive to re-establish a healthy muskie population to help balance the fish population in the lower Spanish River. Welcome home little muskies!