A population of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in the waters off eastern Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron was sampled from 1950 to 1982 by an experimental pound net in the outer basin of South Bay. Year-class strength increased markedly from 1947 to 1977; the increase began with the decline of the 1943 year-class. The fork length attained by age 1–3 fish decreased during the study, but no trend was apparent for older fish. Natural mortality of year-classes varied considerably, and was probably related to the abundance of lamprey. The annual exploitation rate increased from 1 to 37% between 1960 and 1977. Year-class strength was not correlated with the thermal regime during spawning and hatching. Recruitment was a function of parental stock size, and there was evidence that survival from the egg to juvenile stage was inversely correlated with parental stock size. Instantaneous growth rates (G) during the 2nd year of growth were inversely related to year-class strength. Growth (G) in the 1st year was positively correlated with estimated surface water temperatures. The sizes attained by ages 2 and 3 were inversely related to total population abundance. Catchability coefficients in 144-mm-mesh gill nets were inversely related to estimated population sizes. An intrinsic mechanism of population regulation is proposed whereby recruitment is a function of parental stock size, juvenile survival is inversely related to stock size, and growth is inversely correlated with population abundance.