Species of Traditional or Commercial Importance

Species of traditional or commercial importance:

Indicate the uses(s) of these species or varieties.
Aboriginal peoples used a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and native plants. This hunter gatherer tradition was retained during an "Early Iroquoian" period of agriculture (ca 900 - 1300 AD) using corn, beans, tobacco, and squash, as discovered at an archaeological site near Port Rowan. Aboriginals established seasonal fishing camps on Long Point.

European settlement by the early 19th century led to extensive clearing of the forests and development of a lumber trade, especially in pine and oak. Commercial fishing, mainly for lake trout Salvelinus namaycush and whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis began in the mid 19th century and peaked about 1905. Commercial waterfowl hunting flourished until the early 20th century.

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