MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. Received Accession No. ^ ' ^ / 1.4. t. t. Given by Place, *^i*rlo book OP pamphlet is to be removed fpom the Uab- opatopy tuithout the pepmission of the Tpustees. U. S. COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES. GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commissioner. P^RT XXVIII. REPORT THE COMMISSIONER THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1902, WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1904. 3cn) ^ CONTENTS. Page. Report of the Commissioner 1-21 Report on the propagation and distribution of food-fishes. By John W. Titcomb 22-110 Report on inquiry respecting food-flshes and the fishing grounds. By HughM. Smith 111-142 Report of the division of statistics and methods of the fisheries. By C. H. Townsend 143-160 APPENDIXES. Cobb, John N. The sponge fishery of Florida in 1900 161-175 Evermann, Barton W. Statistics oi the fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States 433-540 Smith, Hugh M. The common names of the basses and sun-fishes 353-366 Stevenson, Charles H. Aquatic products in arts and industries. Fish oils, fats, and waxes. Fertilizers from aquatic products 177-279 Stevenson, Charles H. Utilization of the skins of aquatic animals 281-352 Wilcox, William A. The fisheries and fish trade of Porto Rico in 1902 367-395 Records of the dredging and other collecting stations of the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross in 1901 and 1902 397-432 Supplement to list of publications of the United States Fish Commission available for distribution 541-543 III LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Plate 1. Beaufort laboratory: (1) Pivers Island and laboratorj-. (2) Exterior view of laboratory. 1 2. Beaufort laboratory: (1) Interior view. (2) Observation tank 14 3. (1) Sea-lions at Clitf House, San Francisco. (2) Pups about 4 weeks old 110 4. (1) Stones found in the stomach of a sea-lion, Point Arena, California. (2 and 3) Specimens of salmon from gill nets, Astoria, Oreg., supposed to have been mutilated by .sea-lions 112 5. (1) A part of the Ano Nuevo rookery. (2) Purissima rookery 116 (■). (1) Bringing sponges from the vessels to sponge wharf at Key West. (2) A sponge auction at Anclote 163 7. (1) Spongers at work. (2) Sponge yard at Key West, showing the sponges drying 166 8. Vessels and kraals at Baileys Bluff 172 9. The sponge auction wharf at Key West 175 10. Origin of the whaling industries at New Bedford, Mass 179 11. Whaling vessels at New Bedford, Mass., in October, 1901 ,186 12. Removing blubber from whale beached on California coast. (2) Try works on modern whaler, looking aft 192 13. Deck of modern whaler, showing try works, scrap hopper, and utensils employed in trying out oil 196 14. (1) Grinding and pressing crude .spermaceti for removal of taut-pre.ssed oil. (2) Interior view of oil refinery. Filling bottles with sperm oil 200 15. School of black-fish stranded on the shore of Cape Cod, Mass 208 16. View of menhaden fleet at Provincetown, Mass 232 17. (1) Primitive form of kettle and press for rendering oil from herring on the Maine coast. (2) Modern type of hydraulic oil press used in the menhaden factories 236 18. (1) Spermaceti refining. Vat for boiling and removing sediment. (2) Packages of ' blocks, cakes, and candles of spermaceti 246 19. Menhaden factory at Tiverton, R. I 253 20. (1) Discharging menhaden from vessel by means of tub.s. (2) Discharging menhaden from steamer by means of bucket elevator, at Promised Land, N. Y 258 21. (1) Receiving-bin for fish at menhaden factory. (2) Continuous steam cooker, used by fisheries company at Promised Land, N. Y 260 22. Press room of menhaden factory, showing arrangement of tracks, curbs, presses, etc. 264 23. (1) Artificial drier in factory of fisheries company, Promised Land, N. Y. (2) Fertili- zer room in factory of the fisheries company, Promised Land, N. Y 268 24. Drying skates for manufacture into fertilizer, opposite Provincetown, Mass 270 25. Fertilizer department, Russia Cement Company's glue factory, Gloucester, Mass 272 26. (1) Sealing steamer at St. Johns, Newfoundland. (2) Weighing seal pelts at St. Johns, Newfoundland 283 27. (1 ) Tubbing, combing, and reversing furs. (2) Fleshing jpiink skins 286 28. (1) Skiving beaver f kins. (2) Beaming and plucking beaver skins 290 29. (1) Seal skins tanned without removing the hair. (2) Shaving mink skins 292 30. (1) Cleaning dnuns. (2) Beating beaver skins for removing sawdust, etc 292 31. (1) Fur-seal skin, dressed, natural. (2) Fur-seal skin, plucked, natural. (3) Sea- otter skin, dressed, natural 308 32. (1) Nutria skin, dressed, natural. (2) Muff of mink skin, showing method of sewing and piecing 320 33. Mink skins, cased and dressed 324 34. (1) Walrus leather. (2) Skin of Brazilian shark. (3) Manatee leather. (4) Sea-lion leather. (5) Skin of mottled shark. (6) Skin of white shark. (7) Seal leather. (8) Leopard-seal leather 326 35. (1) Section of European sturgeon skin. (2) Skin of Delaware River sturgeon, tanned in Newark, N.J 328 36. Alligator skins, under-surface and hom-back 342 37. (1) Skin of water .snake. (2) Skin of beaver tail and jewel box covered therewith .. 348 38. (1) Section of gar-fish skin. (2) Letter box mounted with shark skin, gar-fish skin, and mother-of-pearl 352 V Ki'port u b. h. V-. i^Uif. M laco page PIVERS ISLAND AND LABORATORY. BEAUFORT LABORATORY— EXTERIOR VILW. UNITED STATES (lOMMlSSlONKIl OK KISII AND KISHKKIES KISCAI. YKAIi KNI)IN(i .HINIO ;)(l, 1!H)2. I have- the honor to siihiiiit a report coviU'iiiy tlic lisli-cultiii'iil work juid scieutilic and .statistical iiivostioations of the United States Coin- mission of Fish and Fisheries for th(>. fiscal year endino- June 80, 1902, to«»"ether with the detailed reports of the assistants in charo-e of its diti'crent divisions. PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES. Natural conditions L'<)\'ernin«4- the collection of ('<;•<;•« were o-(»ri<'rally very tavoral>le at all points where operations were carried on, and increased appropriations made it possible to take advanta<;e of these conditions. The Conunission was therefore ena])led to keep up its record and show an increased output of nearly all of the species han- dled, and in the ag^-regate there were distributed over 1, 495,500,000 lish and eg'gs, or 321,700,000 more than last year. Of these, 99 per cent were in the interests of the commercial fisheries and 1 per cent, or 14,5)00,000, were g-ame fishes. Popular interest in the Commission and wider knowledo-e of its functions are shown by the increasing number of applications for fish to stock interior waters, 3,S14 having been received, or 25 per cent more than the previous yeai-. The propagation of quinnat salmon was carried on in California, Oregon, and Washington, at 12 stations, including several collecting camps, and the season's work was considered very satisfactory. The runs of lish in the various streams were in most cases good, and over 5<;,000,()00 eggs were collected. 29,300,000 fry and lingerlings were hatched and planted and 17,480,000 eggs were transferred to the Cali- fornia State Commission. As far as possible fry were held and fed during the winter and planted when about 2^ inches long, but lack of room and other facilities prevented pursuing this polic}^ to its full extent. A few silver-salmon eggs were taken on a tributary of Rogue River, Oregon, and steelhead-trout eggs were o))tained at th(^ same F. C. 1902 1 1 "l EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. point and at the Baker Lake Station in Washington. The collection of steelhead eggs was hampered by unfavorable weather and scarcity of fish. At Baker Lake 3,694,000 blueback-salmon eggs were taken and hatched with a small percentage of loss, and the fry were planted in the lake. Over 41,000,000 lake-trout eggs were obtained from commercial fishermen in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan; of these, 5,000,000 were assigned to various State commissions and other applicants, and the remainder hatched by the Commission, the fr}^^ — except some 700,000 — being planted in the Great Lakes. In Lake Erie the number of white-fish eggs secured from fishermen exceeded any previous record, the hatchery at Put-in Ba}^ at one time being so crowded that the}^ were retained in tempo rar}- devices. The facilities for holding the white-fish in pens were increased, but, owing to unpropitious weather, not many eggs were obtained from fish thus held at Lake Erie points, though at the collecting stations on the Detroit River the results were very successful. . The total take of white-fish eggs amounted to 701,900,000, of which 111,000,000 were assigned to State commissions and others and the balance hatched at different stations of the Commission, whence the fr}^ were planted in the lakes. The quality of the fry was unusually good. Although April was cold and unfavorable, 437,000,000 pike-perch eggs were taken in Lake Erie, but the weather conditions were such that the percentage of fr}^ was comparatively small. At Swanton, Vt., 113,000,000 eggs of this species were also obtained. No lake herring were taken, as the work was interrupted by ice before ?a\y spawning fish were found. On the New England coast 338,120,000 cod eggs were collected and hatched at Woods Hole and Gloucester, Mass. Those from the brood fish taken off' Nantucket Shoals and held at Woods Hole were of ex- ceptionally good quality. Cod were scarce on the Maine coast, and the number of eggs from this source was not large. From Ph^mouth fishermen, however, the supply was good. The tlat-fish work was more successful than in the preceding year, both in the collection of eggs, which amounted to 194,000,000, and in the hatching of fry. The collection of lo))ster eggs was also more satisfactory, though some of the territor}- in Massachusetts formerly depended on was abandoned. In Maine, however, egg-bearing lobsters were abundant. Eggs from all sources numbered 103,898,000, which, except for 6,000,000 devoted to experiments in hatching and rearing, were hatched at the New England stations and yielded 81,000,000 fry. The runs of shad in the rivers where the Connnission operates were small, owing to the late spring, and consequently the take of eggs shows a falling off, the station on the Potomac being the only one REPORT OF (H)MMISSIONER OK FISH AND FISHERIES. 3 where there was an increase, whih> on tlie Delaware, where the collec- tions have usually been larjjfe, there was Ji oreat decrease. 141,239,000 eggs were secured from all points and 107,000,000 fry were hatched and planted. Consideral)le consignments were sent to rivers north and south, where the shad rvuis have been diminishing in recent years. The propagation of the trouts, basses, and other iish appropriate for interior waters has been satisfactorily continued, and these species supplied to applicants in all parts of the country. The collections of wild fishes from overflowed lands along the Mississippi River con- tinued throughout the summer, and large numbers of bass and other native tishes were saved and distributed. On the Illinois River this work was curtailed by the excessive heat, which caused the death of man}' tishes in the shallow ponds. In continuation of the policy of acclimatizing certain species in sec- tions of the country to which they are not indigenous, steelhcad and grayling eggs were brought from the West to be hatched at eastern stations, and white-tish, lake-trout, and brook-trout eggs were sent to the Pacific coast, where they were hatched and planted. Landlocked salmon eggs from Maine were sent to various places as far west as Utah. Twenty-nine species of fish and one crustacean have been handled during the fiscal year, and in the following tables and in the reports of station superintendents are shown the results attained in hatching the eggs and the disposition of the product. Distribution and assignments of fish and eggs among the States and Territories. State or Territory. Species. Eggs. Fry and fingerlings. Adults and yearlings. Alabama Shad 450,000 3,400 200 Brook trout . . . Cat-fish Black bass 9 000 '500 Rock bass 300 Breain . . . . 7 000 1,400 550 Black bass Arkansas . Rainbow trout . . 2 700 2,225 200 Crappie 100 California Quinnat salmon 17,480,410 5,000 10,000 2,115,560 Loch Leven trout 3,000 160,000 Black-spotted trout 20,000 765 000 745,000 100,000 851500 Black bass 75 Shad 6,000,000 Atlantic salmon . •200,000 25,000 2,000 55,000 20,000 3,200 4 000 Brook trout . 250,000 Black bass 150 100 Lobster ' 1,151,000 7, 092, 000 Delaware Shad 1 Rainbow trout | 1,800 4 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. I>istrihutio7i and amguments of fish and eggs among the States and Territories — Cont'd. State or Territory. Species. Eggs. Fry and fingerlings. Adults and yearlings. District of Columbia Shad 800,000 2,000,000 30,000 Black bass 100 Florida Shad 6, 010, 000 Cat-fish 300 1,650 310 n Shad 2,550,000 ° 16, 700 Cat-fish . . 4,250 8,684 Rock bass 500 7,059 75,000 100,000 38,000 11,500 Illinois Rainbow trout 500 Black bass 6,700 1,990 Rock bass 400 100 Sun-fish 300 4,. 500 45, 000 16, 000, 000 Pike perch 18, 600 Crappie 945 900 Rainbow trout 1,000 1,675 500 200 3.50 J 4,666 215, 000 10,000 30, 000 50, 000 54,475 Brook trout 4, 500 Cat-fish 58, 120 500 Pickerel 805 1,100 Buffalo-fish 200, 000 Black bass 19, 630 702, 620 200 603, 890 Kansas Black bass 12, 675 2,960 1, .500 13,885 1,395 Rock bass 700 Black bass 2, 275 1,425 600 Maine Atlantic salmon 48, 715 519, 785 12, 046 282,000 20, 000 74,582 84 1,406 370,000 1,080,863 7, 694 36,333 37, 100, 000 21,897,000 643 Scotch sea trout 6,837 Grayling Shad 50,000 15, 650 3,360 Pike perch 1,800,000 2.50 Shad 6,400,000 40,000 50,000 50, 000 500 2,000 75,000 20,000 14,500 10,000 675 600 212,001,000 168,133,000 38,107,000 160,000 75,000 68,500 Flat-fish Steelhead trout Rainbow trout 1 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 5 DisfrihiUioii tiiid ((sxlf/tunnitx of fiah aud eggs amung tlw State h and Territories — Cont'd. state or Territory. Species. Kggs. Fry and fingerlings. Adults and yearlings. Michigan Brook trout •25, 000 1,000,000 100, 000 911,000 15,295,000 200, 000 245,300,000 1,500,000 Lake trout White-fish . 50,000,000 Black bass Steelhead trout 6(i,900 32, 000 107,230 1,904,000 124, 000 25 000 Rainbow trout 10,000 Black bass 3 500 Crappie 600 * Black bas.s IG 125 Rock bass . . 6 890 500 21,090 20,000 50,000 10,000,000 24, 275 30, 678 Brook trout Pike perch Black bass 2 189 Rock bass 2 800 '351 Steelhead trout 10, 000 258, 500 Brook trout 15, 000 Grayling .525, 000 9 9'>5 1,800 Rainbow trout 50,000 50,000* Brook trout Black bass 1,240 Rock bass 1 000 '300 Nevada Brook trout .... 5,000 100,000 Atlantic salmon Landlocked salmon 8 759 Rainbow trout 25,000 7,000 330, 000 120, 000 69,950 3, 000, 000 900 500,000 Pike perch 50 2, 200, 000 7,597,000 New Jersey Shad 10,000 Rainbow trout 1,450 Brook trout 20,000 Crappie 400 New Mexico Rainbow trout 6 600 10,000 Black bass . 1 700 1,200 Strawberry bass 200 Sun-fish 600 New York Shad 2, 123, 000 4,050 3,870 Atlantic salmon Landlocked salmon 45, 000 Steelhead trout 1,319 Rainbow trout 38,360 744,350 3, 138, 630 1 000 3,500 Lake trout 2, 710, 000 70,000 8. 100, 000 White-fish 34, 900, 000 8,200,000 Pike perch Black Ijass 200 Rock ba.ss 200 North Carolina Shad 22,909,500 25, 000 23, 875 500 Brook trout 300 Crappie 100 1,700 North Dakota 3 000 Brook trout ] 000 Cat-fish 2,000 Pike perch 75 Yellow perch 600 Criipi)ie 300 Rock buss 200 Sun-fish 250 6 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Distribution and iiKHignments of fish and eggs among the States and. Territories — Cont'd. suite or Territory. Species. Eggs. Fry and flngerlings. Adults and yearlings. Ohio Rainbow trout 13,000 85,000 3,500 200,500,000 125, 500, 000 Lalie trout White-fish Pilie perch Black bass 5 080 '330 Rock bass 700 3,000 Black bass 5,600 1,100 1,4,50 Oregon Quinnat salmon 1,866,000 14,401,619 424, 530 20,260 Steelhead trout 18, 745 Black-spotted trout 15,000 Brook trout 138,979 45, 498 598,000 74 876 Pennsylvania Shad Brook trout 17 900 48, ICO, 000 Pike perch 1,800,000 2, 925 Crappie 3 940 2,350 Shad 3, 000, 000 1,000 2, 000 20,000 500 Brook trout 625 * Lobster 2, 462, 000 5, 138, 000 4,000 Shad Atlantic salmon 2,500 20,000 1,900,000 Pike perch 3, 625 Rock bass 400 13, 760 41,500 5,000 Rainbow trout 11,000 342,000 Brook trout 209, 000 56, 650 10,316 2,200 Tennessee Rainbow trout 76 184 75 Black bass 5 895 500 Rock bass . . . . 2, 525 Texas Rainbow trout 3 000 Black bass 4, 425 5, 155 200 Strawberry bass 2,830 Utah 10,000 26, 700 Brook trout 50,000 100,000 35,000 Vermont Landlocked salmon 13, 724 10,000 2,000 436, 000 190,000 20,000 17, 399, 000 36,283 Rainbow trout 1,341 50,666 250,000 15, 62*) 3, 012 Grayling 100 Shad 12,411,500 148, 700 8,000 126, 692 Brook trout 26 Black bass 100 2,750 5,050 12,816,129 3,371,000 110,000 30,000 20,000 20,000 24, 9.W 730,000 44, 2.50 Luke trout White-fi.sh REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 7 Di^tribudon and as.siyiDiioit.'i of Jhh and eggs among the HUden and Territories — Cont'd. State or Territory. Species. Eggs. Fry and fingerlings. Adults and yearlings. Brook trout 100,000 2 000 Black bass 1 657 Crappie 1 (yo Rock bass 10,000 26,000 Rainbow trout 4,000 25,000 15-1, 000 790, 000 75, 000 1,800,000 Lake trout 200, 000 55,000,000 Wliito-tish Black bass 540 33,000 50,000 150, 000 135, 000 500,000 125,000 Rainbow trout 20,000 10,000 Brook trout 4,S, 000 8,000 200 Black bass Foreign countries: Canada Lake trout 360,000 10,000 25, 000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 10, 000 Rainbow trout Mexico do Rainbow trout Belgium Black-spotted trout Total 198,672,200 1,290,000,926 6,870,248 Fish and eggs furnished for distribution during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902. Source of supply. Species. Eggs. Fry and fingerlings. Adults and yearlings. 45,000 370,000 300,000 155, 000 Brook trout 1,081,388 48, 715 90,000 12,046 7,694 5,475 Landlocked salmon Stoelhead trout 20,758 84 10, 000 Brook trout 1,143 Gruvling 36, 333 429, 785 53, 825 Nasbua, N. H Brook trout 100,000 470,000 8,000 160, 000 70,000 6'' 741 Lake trout Brook trout 120, 000 471,000 5,000 10,000 190,900 20, 000 83,191,000 74,340,000 128, 810, 000 168,133,000 6, 680, 000 5 634 Steelhead trout 36 285 3,028 Grayling Gloucester Mass <" Cod Woods Hole, Ma.ss.rf . Cod Flat-fish Lobster - n Besides the above there were transferred from Craig Brook Station to other stations 10,000 Atlantic, salmon eggs, 65,000 landlocked-salmon eggs, and to Charleston (S. C.) E.xposition 5,000 Atlantic- salmon eggs, 5,000 landlocked-salmon eggs, and to the Washington (D. C.) Aquarium .528 adult fish of various species; also 100,000 landlocked-salmon fry were transferred to Green Lake Station to be reared. bin addition to the above, there were transferred from St. Johnsbury Station to other .stations of the U. S. Fish Commission 10,000 brook-trout e^i;^ :ni, 120 3,551 37, 170 100 623,739 237, 099, 675 Pickerel 805 95, 970 Yellow perch 1 700 200,000 Black basa 262 157 735,120 Strawberry bass 3,551 37, 170 Warmoutli bass 100 623 739 Cod 212,001,000 168,133,000 81,020,000 212,001,000 Flat-fish 168 133 000 81,020,000 Totals and grand total 198,672,200 1,290,000,926 6,870,248 1,495,543,374 RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION. The ears of the Coinniission while distrihutino- fishes during* the fiscal year have traveled 95,259 miles, and detached niesseng-ors 199,944 miles. The work of distribution has been greatly' facilitated b}' the free transportation furnished through the courtes}' of the following railroads: Statement of free transportation furnished }>y certain railroads. Name of railroad. Cars. Messen- gers. Name of railroad. Cars. Messen- gers. Astoria and Columbia River R R .36 s 19 608 7, 379 1,282 502 1,531 2, 80<» 62 183 3.036 1,034 154 242 S.718 Detroit and Mackinac Rwv I';it;iii, .lolirl aii.l f.iisl.'ru 'Kwv... 756 750 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rwy 20 K\ l'aM>aiid Nniiliraslriii i;.R... I'L.rida i:a>l CoaM Uw v Kort Wdrtliand Drnv.^r City Rwy 330 Atlantic Coast Line R R 250 2,312 HiiiiLTor nnd Aroostook R. R 1,194 197 (iri'iit NorlluTii l;'\vy.' Line (iuir, Colorado and Santii FeRwv Houston and Texas Central R.R. Houston, Kast and West Texas Kwv 1,378 Hurliiit^ton, Cedar Rapids and N'orllirni Kwy 1, 6S4 6,445 922 Chiraf^oand Northwestern Rwy.. Cliicago, Biirliiigtoii and Quin«y R.R Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Rwy 177 3, 892 556 Illinois ('(.■ntral R R 497 Interiiiitional and (ireat North- ern K R 8,714 lacksonville and St Louis Rwv 54 Chicago, ilocii Island and Texas Rwy 8 Linvillc River R K . .. 13 Colorado and Southern Rwy 74 139 Maine Central \i K 512 1,592 1,721 4 3'^7 198 Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley R. R Mobile and Ohio R R 104 Moiison 1{,R 12 Crystal River R R Montana K R i88 188 ■■'fsrvi' Montj.elier and Wells River R.R. New York Central and Hudson River R.R 192 em K. li Denver and HioCriinde R.R 149 KKPORT OK OOMMISSIONKU OK KISII AND KISUKKIKS. Stali'iiit'iil d/frci' Iniiisporldllon fiiniislicil hi/ ccrtiiiii nii/rodds — (loiiliiuiiul. 11 Niinio of railroad. Cars. Messen- gers. Name of railroad. Cars. Messen- gers. Norfolk and Western Rwv Northern Pacific liwv 754 2, 419 f.21 («i3 714 "l,U)Y 825 ""'346' "i.'oos' 1,509 (-.33 427 Seaboard Air Line Rwy Southern Rwv 1,690 61 C. 121 "'.S.S2' 809 Southern Indiana Rwy Soutlieru Pacific Co Texas and Pacific Rwv Orrcon Sliiirl Line U.H I'cuiisvhaiii.i K. Iv.Svstcni 4;i4 (iOS 522 592 4,225 408 1,025 2,344 rciiiisylviuiia Lints, west of Pitts- lunx Texas Ccnlral R. R Union I'acilic R R 100 IIH riiint System tjtieen and Crescent Route Kio (iraiide Southern R. R Viindulia Line 52 Wabash R. R 1 607 Rio (iraiide Western Rwv 911 Washintfton and Columbia River 30 1,043 204 Total 29,616 Rwy BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. The exYjeriments Avhich have betMi ctirriod on for .several years at Lyniihaven, Va., to j)erfect. a method l)v which oysters can be fattened and improved in flavor and food value are ineetino- with encourai>-ino- success. Means have been found to supply proper food in sudicient quantity and in a systematic manner, and it is believed in another season it can be demonstrated that oysters can be fattened foi market by simple economical means. This will make the industry far more profitable than the present method of allowing the 03'sters to grow under natural conditions, which is always uncertain and often will not give the best results. Successful results are hoped for from the expiM-imental work cai-ried on in Florida in raising sponges from cuttings. It is desired to dis- cover methods wdiich will be available for the prtictical sponge-gi'ower and which will permit the cultivation of sponges systematically and assure the grower of regular mark(^ta))le crops. As Florida can now supply only about half the demand of this country, and as the natural sj)onge-grounds are rajjidl}' ])ecoming d(>plet(Hl, the undtM'taking is watched with interest by prominent dealers. A systematic investigation of the carp in the (Treat Lakes, where this species is very abundant, was undertaken on account of the dis- favor in which it is held by man}' persons. Attention was given to the food and feeding of the carp, its relation to other fishes, and its food and market value. It is probable that th(» prejudice against this fish. comes from a misapprehension and may be removed with a fuller knowledge of the facts. Much information on the subject has been obtained, and tht^ intjuiries will be continued another season. The supposed destruction of fish and ai)paratus by sea lions has caused apprehension to the fishery interests of the Pacific coast, and in some localities systematic efforts liave been made to kill off the herds. A diversity of opinion has existed as to the advisability of this course, for while the fishermen claim that grtnit damage was done, this was 12 REPORT OF C0MMISSIONP]R OF FISH AND FISHERIES. hardl}' substantiated ))y reliable data, and the extermination of the herds met with opposition in many (quarters. The Commission was final]}' asked by the California authorities to make an investigation of the food and feeding habits of the sea lions with a view to determining the point at issue. This was according!}^ undertaken by an agent of this office, assisted by a representative from both the California ))oard of fish commissioners and the California Academy of Sciences, and was carried on during July and August. As thorough an inquiry as practicable was made, from which it appears that the sea lions did not do much damage except at the mouth of the Columbia River, but further study of some aspects of the case will be necessary before a definite conclusion can be reached. At the request of oyster-growers of Tuckerton, N. J., a representa- tive of the Commission was detailed to investigate the destruction of oyster beds in that vicinit}^ by drum-fish. These fish feed on the seed oysters, which are the thin-shelled eastern forms, and cause enormous losses, many extensive beds being practicallv depleted. In one case, where some 20,000 bushels of oj/sters had been planted, an examina- tion showed that over 80 per cent had been destroyed. Various expe- dients have been tried or suggested without much success, and it would seem that it will be necessary to use heavy-shelled oysters, which are strong enough to resist the drum-fish, for seed, rather than the thin- shelled ones. The former, however, at this particular locality do not attain so satisfactory a growth. The ])iological surve}' of the Great Lakes has been continued, the work still being confined to Lake Erie with headquarters at the station of the Commission at Put-in Bay. Special attention was given to the white-fish, wall-eyed pike, carp, and sturgeon The investigations of the fisheries of the Territory" of Hawaii, called for by act of Congress, were partially completed during the summer of 1901, most of the islands being visited, the fishery methods and laws studied, a statistical canvass made, and a large and interesting collection of fishes obtained. A preliminarv report was made to the President in July, 1902, and by him submitted to Congress. As stated elsewhere, the investigation of the deeper waters around the islands is now being continued by means of the steamer Albah'oss. Among other investigations may be mentioned the continuation of the biological study of the quinnat salmon in California, a further in(]uiry as to the results of introducing new species into certain lakes in Idaho and ITtah, an inquiry into the geographical distribution of trout and salmon in the waters of Maine, and biological inv(>stigations of certain waters of New York and New Jersey. The subject of the diseases of fishes has received considera})le atten- tion, the time of one assistant being entirely devoted thereto. Mor- talitv from causes little understood in the (i()\'(M'rimen( hatcheries and REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 13 private estahlishnionts luis always ])ocii a source of ein))arrassineiit and loss. These studies have been made at a number of places and under various conditions, and it is hoped they will result in renderino- it pos- sible to stamp out disease, or, better still, prevent its appearance. The laboratories at Woods Hole and Beaufort, which hav(> been open as usual durino- the season, have been utilized b}- a numl)er of trained invcstit>-ators, who are attracted by the facilities offered for Ijiological research. The investigations carried on have direct bearing on the various problems related to the fisheries and are exceedingly valuable to the Commission in the performance of its functions. In the laboratory at Washington studies have been made of various collections of fishes and of particular species, reports prepared, and much work of a miscellaneous character accomplished. STATISTICAL INQUIRIES. . The principal statistical canvass undertaken was that of the Middle Atlantic States, and at the close of the fiscal year it was still in prog- ress. Besides this, the lobster fishery and several inquiries relating to minor or local fisheries were covered. At Boston and Gloucester, during the calendar 3^ear 1901, there were landed 151,165,191 pounds of fishery products, valued at $4,2^1:5,951. These figures are somewhat less than in the preceding year, both in quantity and value, both ports participating in the decrease. An inquir}^ prosecuted in the State of Utah developed that a con- siderable fishing industry, amounting to over 1,000,000 pounds and nearh' $50,000, is carried on in that State, the principal part of the catch being taken from Utah Lake and consisting mainl}^ of carp, trout, and black bass. It is not possible to show the entire quantity taken, for here, as in other interior waters, much of the fishing is by sportsmen or for the personal use of the fishermen and is not reported. In the season of 1901 a canvass of the lobster fishery of the Atlantic coast States was made, and interesting comparisons of the value of the industry for the preceding ten 3^ ears will be found on pp. 156-1 58. This inquir}-, which covered the calendar je&v 1900, showed a total invest- ment of $1,668,000 and that 4,348 persons were employed. While lobster fishing is carried on to some extent from New York and New Jersej^, it is chiefly confined to the New England States, Maine having far the largest interest, followed by Massachusetts. The total yield was 15,767,700 pounds, having a first value of $1,390,500. In the report of the Division of Statistics, on pp. 154-155, will be found notes on salmon fishing with hand apparatus in several localities on the Pacific coast. This method of capture has achieved some com- mercial importance during the last few 3^ears, besides being in vogue with anglers. There are also given in the report the results of some inquiries respecting the trade in fur-seal skins in London. 14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. NEW STATIONS. Work was begun on the biological .station near Beaufort, N. C , the latter part of July, 1901, and it is now practically completed and in operation. It was desired to afford this establishment every facility for carrying on marine biological research, for which it is admiral)ly located, and its appointments and equipment, while plain, are substan- tial and as complete as possible. The main building is a 2-storv frame structure To by 42 feet, with Report U. S. F. C. 1902. (To face page 14.) LABORATORY INTERIOR, BEAUFORT. OBSERVATION TANK, BEAUFORT LABORATORY. KKroK'l' OK COMMISSIONKK OK KISIl AND KISMKUIKS. 15 two wiiij^s (>iu-li 5lri l)v ITfi I'oc't, iiiid coiilains :i luboralory, !i(|ii:iiiiiiii, otlicc, 1-} bedrooms, comnuKlious halls, U bathrooms, aiul stoj'croonis. Ill front is a portico with a balcony, and around the si(U's is a \'ci*anda. In the center of the larjj^i^ acjuaria hall are two oval tanks. 12 by 8 feet and H feet deep, constructed of white cedar and linished with cement. Alono- the north Avail, in front of each window, are placc^l lar^-e a(|uaria with tidal boxes between. The room also contains a tank-table and saurian tank, three compartment hatch ino-tjibl(\s, work-tables, jind sinks. Along* the north and south walls ol' the laborator}^ arc compart- ments divided by partition sh(\lves, each (-ompartment beinj*- provided with a table for microscopes. Four large tank-tables, two at either end of the room, are arranged for the experimental work of the Itiboratorj'^, while two long tables in the center contain lockers and shelves for the supi)lics. At each end arc sinks. AH other available space is used for show^-cases. Sixty-tive feet north of th(^ main building is the mess-house, a 1^- story frame structure, 80 b}" 38 feet, containing "a dining-room, three bedrooms, kitchcMi, and bath. Near by is the power-house, 8G by 33 feet, in which are the boiler, pumps, dynamo, etc. All these buildings are lighted with electricity and have slate roofs. There are also a boat-house, fuel-shed, outbuildings, and a landing-pier 80 feet long. Fresh water is obtained from an artesian well 200 feet deep and a brick cistern with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. Salt and fresh water tanks are placed in towers on the wings of the main building, from which the water is distributed by pipe lines as needed. Under the authority of an act of Congress approved June (5, 1900, correspondence was begun with a view to the selection of a site for a fish-cultural station in West Virginia, and during the fall of 1900 and the succeeding 3^ear a number of localities in difi'erent parts of the State were examined by the Commissioner personally and by agents of the Commission, A site about two-thirds of a mile from White Sul- phur Springs, Greenbrier Count}^ was finally decided upon as com- bining the desired requisites for both trout and bass culture. Here was found a spring flowing 1,800 gallons per minute, with a tempera- ture of 53" in August. Below the spring several small runs, with tcmp(u-atures of 65^^ to 70°, can be utilized, which will augment the supply by about 5,000 gallons per minute. Land was availa})le where buildings can be advantageously erected and well adapted to the con- struction of ponds below the spring, and railroad facilities are good. Accordingly a tract of 25 acres was purchased June 26, 1902, and the preparation of plans was at once begun. An item in the urgent deficiency bill approved February 14, 1902, so amended an item in the sundry civil bill approved March 3, 1901, providing for the establishment of a fish-cultural station at Tupelo, Miss., as to allow the purchase of land. The wording of the act limited the location of the station to the town of Tupelo, and a site 16 KKroRT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. coinpri.sing- 2S acres was selected on its southeast border, where it would appear that a water supply can be o})tai)ied by artesian wells. Steps have been taken to acquire the property. An act of Cong-ress approved February 4, 1901, provided for a lobster hatchery on the Maine coast, and after an examination of dif- ferent localities l)y the Commissioner and representatives of the Com- mission conversant with the needs of such an establishment, McKown Point, on the southwest side of Boothbay Harbor, was chosen. This is about 3^ miles by land and about a mile by water from the town of Boothbay Har})or, Lincoln County, where there are daily boat con- nections with Bath and other important towns. The site selected has an area of 9 acres. It is on a rocky point with deep water close to the shore, thus insuring a good water supply by pumping even at low tide; boat landings can be advantageously constructed, and the ground lies well for a convenient arrangement of the hatchery and other buildings. Moreover, Boothl^a}^ Harbor is an excellent center for obtaining egg- lobsters in (luantities for artificial propagation, which is a matter of importance. STEAMER ALBATROSS. The salmon investigations conducted with this vessel during the summer of 1901 were carried on in southeast Alaska, and it was intended to complete the survey l)egun in 1897. Smallpox broke out among the crew, compelling the return of the ship earlier than was intended, ])ut though an examination of all the new canneries in this part of the Territory was interfered with, the stream and lake work was practically completed. The vessel reached Seattle early in Sep- tember. A report covering the salmon investigation for 1900 and 1901 will soon be issued, which, taken in connection with that of 1897, it is believed will give a comprehensive account of the commetcial aspects of the salmon interests of Alaska. During September and October an examination was mi de along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, looking to the move- ments of salmon at sea and the results of the introduction of eastern lobsters and crabs. At the end of October the Albatross was in San Francisco for the purpose of refitting and making minor repairs pre- paratory to her next duty. In continuation of the investigation of the Hawaiian fisheries, begun in 1901 by direction of Congress, it was decided to send the Alhatros.s to those islands to study the conditions in the surrounding waters. An arrangement was made with Dr. David Starr Jordan to have gen- eral supervision of the expedition, and Dr. Charles H. Gilbert was put in immediate charge of the scientific work. The investigation was to embrace dredging and collecting in channels and on the banks about the islands, and a thorough examination of the surroundings of Kauai, the oldest of the group, of outlying reefs about the islands northwest KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 17 of Kauai, and of the different fishing-banks. It is believed infonuation of both c-omnieivial and scientific importance will be gained. The vessel sailed from San Francisco March 11, arriving at Honolulu March 24, where the investigation was at once begun and is now in progress. On October 26, 1901, })y order of the Secretary of the Navy, Com- mander flefl'erson F. Moser, U. S. Navy, was detached from the com- mand of the Albatross and was succeeded by Commander C'hauncey Thomas, U. S. Nav}'. Commander Moser's services with this Connnis- sion covered a period of over four years and were efticient and valuable. His detachment was viewed with regret. STEAMER FISH HAWK. On July 3, 1901, this vessel left Gloucester City, N. J., for Woods Hole, Mass., where she was detailed for duty in connection with the laboratory until September, when she was sent to Baltimore to undergo considerable repairs. It having been determined to use her in connec- tion with the sponge investigations on the Florida coast, she sailed from Baltimore Octobers, 1901, arriving at Cedar Keys, where it was decided to esta})lish head([uarters, on the 21st. The work outlined for the vessel was to determine and plot the area of the different sponge- grounds; to investigate the nature of the bottom and depth of water as affecting the growth, distribution, and abundance of marketable sponges; and to examine ])iologically certain areas, making as com- plete collections of specimens as possible. A survey covering all the sponge-grounds on the west coast of Florida, north of Tampa Bay, was continued till Januar}^ 29, 1902, during which lines of soundings and dredgings, about 5 miles distant from each other, were made from shoal water out to a depth of about 10 fathoms. On completing this work the vessel proceeded to Key West, Fla., and made a series of dredgings for the purpose of determining the nature of the marine fauna in this region as bearing on the advisability of establishing a biological station at Key West, and also to ascertain the condition of the sponge-grounds in this region. During the season collections of live fishes were made for the aquarium at the Charleston P^xposition. The results of these operations, though considerably retarded b}" bad weather, are regarded as successful, and will be enlarged on when the complete reports of the condition and resources of the Florida sponge- grounds are ])ublished. From March 17 to April 10 the Fkh Hawk was at Charleston, S, C, moored at the Exposition grounds, where she formed an attractive feature of the exhibit of the Commission ))y illustrating the methods of carrying on deep-sea investigations, with the appropriate apparatus. After some repairs at Baltimore the vessel proceeded to Gloucester City, N. J., and on April 29 the usual spring shad-hat(^hing on the Delaware was taken up and contmued until the close of the liscal year. The fish-cultural work is referred to elsewhere. F. C. 1902 2 18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. EXPOSITIONS. At the close of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, November 1, 1901, it was desired by those interested to have the Government exhibits sent to the South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Expo- sition, which was to open at Charleston, S. C, December 1. Con- gress at that time had provided no funds for the purpose, but with the approval of the President the heads of the Executive Departments directed that such parts of their respective exhibits as might be desired should be sent to Charleston for display there, provided that all the expenses should be borne by the exposition authorities. Accordingly, the Commission sent its entire exhibit directly from Buffalo to Charles- ton, where it was installed in a building constructed for the purpose, with an amount of space equal to that in Buffalo, except that the aquarium was much smaller. By an act approved January 21, 1902, Congress appropriated 190,000 to defray the expense of the Government exhibit. At the close of the exposition, on the 31st of May, 1902, the material was returned to Washington. The board of directors of the Pan-American Exposition awarded commemorative diplomas to the Commission for its exhibits as follows: The collective exhibit; the aquarium; the hatching and transporting apparatus; fishing apparatus and accessories; scientific researches: products of fisheries; sponges; collection of pearls and pearl-bearing shells; reports and bulletins. The Interstate and West Indian Expo- sition awarded a diploma and gold medal. By an act approved March 3, 1901, Congress appropriated $5,250,000 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held in St. Louis in 1903. The act directed the appointment by the President of a national com- mission and also that the Executive Departments and bureaus, includ- ing this Commission, should take part. The Government exhibit, as usual, is to be under the direct control of a board of management con- sisting of a representative from each establishment participating. Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, who has represented the Commission at all the recent expositions, was designated to act in a similar capacity at St. Louis. The opening of the exposition has been deferred till 1904. Invitations to participate in the below-mentioned expositions were received, but could not be accepted in the absence of specific authority from Congress: International Exposition of Hygiene, Maritime Security, and Fishing, Ostend, August Scj)tember, 1901; organized under the auspices of the Communal Administration. International Exhibition of Fisheries, St. Petersburg, February-lMarch, 1902; organized by the Imperial Society of Fisheries and Fish-Culture. International Fishery Exhibition, Vienna, September 6-21, 1902, on the occa- sion of the eighth Austrian Fishery Conference. Exposition of Hydro-biology, Fish-culture, and Fishing, Moscow, March, 1903; organized by the Ichthyological Section of the Imperial Society of Accli- matation of Russia. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 19 MISCELLANEOUS. At Neosho, Mo., it was found advisable to obtain an addition of 3^ acres of land in order to control the water supply from Spring Branch and to extend the pond system. This purchase was made b}^ deed dated June 6, 1901. Two small tracts of land were also purchased at San Marcos in order to straighten the boundary lines of the property and to obtain addi- tional area for new ponds with land and water rights adjacent to the San Marcos River. These purchases were deeded October 2, 1901, and March 27, 1902. The increasing work involved in the collection and distribution of adult fishes in the Mississippi River and its tributaries in connection with the operations of the Manchester, Iowa, Station has rendered the use of a steamer specially constructed for the purpose very desirable, as b}^ this means the work can be conducted more efiiciently and economically. Accordingly, under authority of an act of Congress approved March 3, 1901, a contract was entered into with Kahlke Brothers, of Rock Island, 111. , to build a two-decked, stern-wheeled river steamboat 1 6 feet long, 20 feet beam, with 3 feet depth of hold. On the main deck are light galvanized-iron retaining-tanks, 1 feet by 2i feet by 2 feet, for carrying fish, with pump, air-compressor, and necessary machinery for a complete circulating apparatus; on the deck above are the pilot-house and a deck-house containing four double bunks. The boat is propelled by a pair of lever engines, with a boiler 10 inches in diameter and 16 feet long. The vessel will be completed and ready for use during the coming season. Besides the usual repairs to the steam launches and smaller vessels, to keep them in good condition, the/Shearwater and Senator havG been thoroughly overhauled, the hulls of both being practically rebuilt, as they were in bad condition and showed serious signs of decay. CHANGES IN PERSONNEL. On February 11, 1902, Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, who had been assist- ant in charge of the Division of Fish-culture since 1895, severed his connection with the Commission to accept an administrative position with the United States National Museum. Mr. Ravenel, entering the service in 1881 as superintendent of the St. Jerome, Md., Station, had risen through difl'erent grades, and his record has always been distinguished for efiiciency and business ability. He has taken a prominent part in the exposition work of the Commission, and has been its representative on the Government Boards of Managers at all the expositions held in this country, except at Cincinnati and Chicago. At the latter exposition he was chief special agent. 20 KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. PUBLICATIONS. During the year there have been added to the library 115 books and 185 pamphlets and unbound volumes. The bound report for 1900 has been issued together with the following pamphlets: The Mollusca of Porto Rico, by W. H. Dall and C. T. Simpson. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 1, pp. 351-524, plates 53 to 58. The Brachyura and Macrura of Porto Rico, by Mary J. Rathbun. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 1 to 127+*129 to *137, plates 1 and 2. The Anoinuran collections made by the Fish Hawk expedition to Porto Rico, by J. E. Benedict. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 129-148, plates 3-6. Stomatopoda of Porto Rico, by R. P. Bigelow. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 149-160. Report on Porto Rican Isopoda, by H. F. Moore. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 161- 176, plates 7-11. The Cirripedia collected near Porto Rico by the Fish Ilmvk expedition in 1898-99, by M. A. Bigelow. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 177-180. The Polychj^tous Annelids of Porto Rico, by A. L. Treadwell. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 181-210. Descriptions of two new leeches from Porto Rico, by J. Percy Moore. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 211-222, plates 12-13. Tlu! Nenu'iteans of Porto Rico, by W. R. Coe. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 223-229. The Echinoderms of Porto Rico, by H. L. (Hark. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 231- 263, plates 14-17. The Alcyonaria of Porto Rico, by C. W. Ilargitt and C. G. Rogers. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 265-287, plates i-iv. The stony corals of Porto Rican waters, by T. Wayland Vaughan. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 289-320, plates i-xxxviii. Actinaria from thi' vicinity of Porto Rico, by J. E. Duerden. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, i)|). 321 -.",74, plates i-xii. The si)ongc.s (•(illccted in Porto Rico in 1899 by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Fish I la irk, by H. V. Wilson. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 375-411. Dredging and other records of the U. S. Pish Commission steamer Albatross, with bibliography relative to the work of the vessel, compiled by C. H. Townsend. Report for 1900, pp. 387-562, plates i-vii. The French sardine industry, by H. M. Smith. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 1-26, plates 1-8. Biological notes, No. 2, from the biological laboratory at Woods Hole. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 27-33. Description of a new oceanic fish found off southern New England, by Carl H. Eigen- matm. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 35-36. The egg and development of the conger eel, by ('arl H. Eigenmann. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 37-44. Investigations into the history of the young squeteague, by Carl H. Eigenmann. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 45-51. A new isopod parasitic on the hermit crab, by Millet T. Thompson. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 53-56, phUes9-10. The plants of wesh'rn Lake p]rie, with observations on their distribution, by A. J. Pieters. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 57-79, plates 11-20. The Leptocephalus of the American eel and other American Leptocephali, by C. H. p]igenmann and C. H. Kennedy. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 81-92. Report of the Commissioner for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, by George M. Bowers. Report for 1901, pp. 1-170. Publications of the United States Connnission of Fish and Fisheries available for distribution on December 1, 1901. Report for 1901, pp. 177-192. Notes on the lislies and inollusks of Lake Chautauqua, N. Y., by B. W. P^vermann and E. L. ( ioldshorough. Report for 1901, pp. 169-175. The Foraminifera of Porto Rico, by James M. Flint, medical director, U. S. Navy. Bulletin for 1900, vol. 2, pp. 413-416. Description of a new species of blenny from Japan, by Hugh M. Smith. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 93, 94. List of species known to occur in the Great Lakes or their connecting waters, by Barton Warren P^vermann. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 95, 96. Notes on the tagging of four thousand adult cod at Woods Hole, Mass., by Hugh M. Smith. Report for 1901, pi). 193-208. Notes on the ailversides of the genus Menidia of the east coast of the United States, by W. C. Kendall. Report for 1901, pp. 241-267. IIKI'ORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 21 Notes on the Scotch methods of smokinj; liaddocks, ))v llnj,'li IM. Smith. R(>i»<>rt for 1901, pp. 269-271. Notes on the fishes of Lake Ontario. An annotated list of the fishes known to occur in Lake Champlain and its tributary waters. An annotated list of the fishes known to occur in tiie St. Lawrence River. By B. W. Evermann and W. C. Ken- dall. Kc]K)rt for 1901, i)p. 209-240. A report on lishes collecttHl in Mexic-o and Central America, bv B. W. Evermann and E. L. GoldsborouKdi. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 137-159. The organic constituents of the scales of fish, by E. H. Green and R. W. Tower. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 97-102. The reactions of copei)ods to various stimuli and the bearing of this on daily depth migrations, by G. H. Parker. Bulletin for 1901, pj). 103-123. The gas in the swim-bladder of fishes. Biliary calculi in the squeteague, by R. W. Tower. Bulletin for 1901, pp. 126-135, plate 21. Description of new species of shad {Ahsa oliiensis), with notes on other food-fisheg of the Ohio River, by Barton Warren Evermann. Report for 1901, pp. 273-288. There have been distributed during the year 1,815 bound and 19,210 pamphlet publications of the Commission. The Museum of Comparative Zoologv, Cambridge, Mass., has pub- lished imder the general title, '"Reports on the scientitic results of the expedition to the tropical Paciiic, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross^ from August, 1899, to March, 1900, Commander Jefferson F. Moser, U. S. N., commanding": I. Preliminary report and list of stations, by Alexander Agassiz; with remarks on deep-sea deposits, by Sir John Murray. (Vol. xxvi. No. 1.) II. Some species of Partula from Tahiti: A study in variation; by Alfred (iolds- borough Mayer. (Vol. xxvi, No. 2.) III. Medusjc, bv Alexander Agassiz and Alfred Goldsborough Mayer. (Vol. xxvi, No. 3.)' APPROPRIATIONS. The appropriations available for conducting the Commission during the fiscal year 1902 were as follows: Salaries $234, 120 Miscellaneous expenses: Administration 12, 500 Proi.agation of food-fishes 175, 000 In(|nirv respecting food-fisiies 22, 500 Statistical in(iniry 7, 500 Maintenance of vessels 35, 000 For improvement and enlargement of stations at— Green Lake, Me 4, 000 Woods Hole, Mass 2, 000 For purchase of additional land and improvements at — San Marcos, Tex 8, 000 Neosho, Mo 7, 500 For the construction of a steamboat for use on the Mississippi River 5, 000 For the establishment of a lobster hatchery on the coast of Maine 10, 000 For the establishment of a fish-c;ultural station at Tupelo, Miss 20, 000 A report of the expenditure of these appropriations will be made to Congress in accordance with law. George M. Bowers, Commissioner. REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD-FISHES. By John W. Titcomr, Assistant in Charge. PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES. The work of the division was under the direction of Mr. W. de C. Ravenel until February 15, 1902, when he resigned to accept the position of administrative assistant in the National Museum. The vacancy was filled by the promotion of Mr. John W. Titcomb from the superintcndency of the St. Johnsbury, Vt., Station. In addition to the usual work of the division, which consists of the general direction of fish-cultural work, including the propagation and distribution of fish from the various stations, Mr. Ravenel was repre- sentative of the Commission at the Pan-American Exposition and also at the Charleston Exposition, and continued the duties of representa- tive after assuming his new position in the National Museum. There has been no change in the policy of the Commission in respect to the division of fish-culture, and the work is conducted on the same general lines as in the past, the results exceeding those of any previous year. The total number of fish and eggs distributed was 1,495,513,374, or an increase of 321,709,912 over the output of the preceding year. Of these 1,480,642,960 were for the development of the commercial fisheries of the country, and 14,900,414 may be regarded as strictly game fishes. The number of applications received during the year was 3,814, an increase of 762 over the previous year, or 25 per cent. This is in addition to the large number of fishes distributed and planted by the Commission from the various stations, principally commercial fishes. This increase in the output of the stations is attributable to several causes, largely to the increased appropriation provided for by Congress and also to the fact that the general conditions for collect- ing eggs at most of the stations were unusually favorable during the spawning seasons. The results reflect great credit upon the esprit de corps of the superintendents and other employees in the field. The following is a list, in systematic order, of the fishes propagated and distributed by the Commission, with the scientific name and the common name or names. The fish(»s artificially propagated arc desig- nated *; those simply collected and distributed are indicated thus §; the inti-oducod species are shown by §§; and the species propagated as food for other fishes are represented by an exclamation mark. 22 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 23 List of fisliex propagated ami diMr'dnded hi/ tlw FIsli Coiiiiiiissioii. Siluridee, The Cat-Fishes. * ^ Ictahirus punctatus (Raliiiesque) . Spotted Cat; Blue Cat; Channel Cat. * ^A)nelarus nelndoms (Le Sueur). Horned Pout; JJullhead; Yellow Cat. Catostomidae, The Suckers and Buffalo-pishes. § Ictiohm bnbalns (Rafinesque). Small-mouthed Buffalo-fish. Cyprinidee, The Minnows and Carps. ! §§ Ct/primis carpio Liiiiueus. Carp. (Cultivated varii^ties, German Carp, Leather Car}), Mirror Carp, etc. ) Clupeidae, The Shads and Herrings. '^' AJosa mjyidisiiiriia (Wilson). Shad. Salmonidae, The Salmons, Trouts, White-pishes, etc. * Coregonus dupeiformis (Mitchill). White-fish. * Argyrosomus artedi (Le Sueur). Lake Herring; Cisco. * Oncorhynchiis ischaimjtscJia (Wall)aum). Quinnat Salmon; Chinook Salmon; Tyee Salmon; King Salmon. * Oncorhynchus kisutch {Walhaum). Silver Salmon; Coho. * Oncorhynchusnerka (Wsdhanm). Blueback Salmon; Red-fish; Sockeye. * Sahno gairdneri Richardson. Steelhead; Hardhead; Salmon Trout. * Sahno salur Linnteus. Atlantic Salmon. * Salmo sebago Girard. Landlocked Salmon. * Sahno Invisi Girard. Yellowstone Lake Trout; Cut-throat Trout; Black-sjjotted Trout. * Salmo pleuriticus Cope. Colorado River Trout; Black-spotted Trout. * Salmo macdonaldi Jordan & Evermann. Yellow-finned Trout. * §§ Sahno trutta Linneeus. Sea Trout; Salmon Trout. * §§ Salmo tridta levenensis (Walker) . Loch Leven Trout. * §§ Salmo fario Linnaeus. European Brown Trout; Von Behr Trout. * Cristironter namaycusJt, (Walbaum). Lake Trout; Mackinaw Trout; Longe; Togue. ^ Salvelimis fontinaUs (Mitchill). Brook Trout; Speckled Trout. ^Salvelmns agassizii (Garman). Dublin Pond Trout. * Salrrhvus aureohis Bean. Golden Trout; Sunapee Lake Trout. Thymallidae, The Graylings. * Thymallns montanus Milner. Montana Grayling. Esocidse, The Pikes. § Esox ludus Linnajus. Common Pike; Pickerel. § Esox vermiculatus Le Sueur. Little Pickerel; Grass Pike. Centrarchidse, The Basses, Sun-fishes, and Crappies. * § Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. Crappie. * § Pomoxis sparoides (Lac^pede). Strawberry Bass; Calico Bass. * ^ Arnbloplites rupestrif (JiaGnesque) . Rock Bass; Red-eye; Goggle-eye. * § Chsenohryttus gulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Warmouth; Goggle-eye. § Micropterus dolomieu Lac^pede. Small-mouthed Black Bass. * § Micropterus salmoides (Lac^pede). Large-mouthed Black Bass; Straw Bass. * I Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Bluegill. Percidee, The Perches. * ^ Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). Pike Perch; Wall-eyed Pike; Yellow Pike; Blue Pike. * § Perca flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow Perch. Gadidae, The Cods. * Gadus callarlas Linnaeus. Cod. Pleuronectidae, The Flounders. * Pseudopleuronectes amerianiH.s ( W'alliaum). Winter Flounder. 24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. INSPECTIONS. During the month of November Mr. Ravenel visited Detroit and Northville to confer with the superintendent of the Northville Station and the State fish and game warden of Michigan, and to arrange for the collection of lake-trout eggs in the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. He also visited Put-in Bay Station, inspected the improvements recently made, and found the station in very good condition. Various recommendations were made for further improvements — first, for the dredging out of the channel and a place for anchoring the penning crates. The station ver}" much needs a residence for the superintend- ent. The only available house is over 2 miles from the hatchery. In order to familiarize himself with the work of the various stations over which he had recently assumed charge, Mr. Titcomb began a series of inspections in March, and before the close of the year had visited the following stations in the order named: VVytheville, Va., Station. Erwin, Teun., Station. Bullochville, Ga., Station. Neosho, Mo., Station. San Marcos, Tex., Station. Bryan Point, Md., Station. Edenton, N. C, Station. Gloucester, Mass., Station. Swanton, Vt., Substation. Nashua, N. H., Station. Battery Station, Havre de Grace, Md. Steamer Fish Haivk, Delaware River. Cape Vincent, N. Y., Station. St. Johnsbury, Vt., Station. All of these stations were found to be in good condition, but each one seemed to have more or less need for improvement in order to keep the work up to its fullest capacity. At the Wytheville Station the buildings and ponds were found to be in very good repair. An ice-house is needed, as it is possible to collect at the station all the ice necessary for fish-cultural work if storage room is provided for it. The superintendent was instructed to introduce a power chopper for preparing fish food. A bad feature about this station is the fact that the spring is gradually failing in the amount of water flowing from it. The Erwin Station is very attractive in appearance, and everj^thing being new was in good repair with a few exceptions. The superin- tendent's residence is small and cheapl}^ constructed; it should be enlarged and the chimney rebuilt. Arrangements were made for the construction of five new ponds for the propagation of bass and other pond fishes and for inclosing the station with a hog-proof wire fence. The station at Bullochville, Ga., was found to be in first-class condi- tion, both as to buildings and ponds. One of the main sources of water supply is not on the station property. It would be a great improve- ment to the station if an additional purchase of land could be made, to include the source of water suppl}^ and straighten the boundary lines. At Neosho the buildings had been recently repaired under a special appropriation and the ponds were in course of construction and repair. Th(; station is very inadequately supplied with water, and an additional supply can be ol)tained only at large expense. The station at San Marcos, Tex., and everything connected with its conduct, was very satisfactory. The demands upon this station are REPORT OF OOMMISSIONKR OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 25 iiicreasino- annuall}', owing to tho opening up of new territory and the reniarkal)le results attained from the fishes already distril)uted. These conditions make it desirable to accpiire additional land for pond culture. Tho shad stations at Br^-an Point and Havre de Grace, Md., were visited during the period of active operations, and everything was found to be working most satisfactorily. The Fish ITawJc., engaged in shad work on the Delaware River, was also visited before the close of the egg-collecting season. The shad station at Edenton has in connection with it three marsh ponds for the propagation of black bass and crappie, but it is ques- tionable whether the station will ever be of value for other work than the propagation of shad. It is a well-built and well-equipped station, in fact, the most complete shad station of the Commission. It w^ould be econoni}', however, to have in connection with it a boathouse to shelter the launches and other boats and to give additional storage room. When the station at Gloucester, Mass., was visited everything was in readiness for the lobster work. Arrangements were made for the con- struction of a breakwater in which to keep the tish-cars for retaining live cod and lobsters. The capacity of the station for fish-cultural work should be increased b}^ an addition to the hatchery. At Swanton the work of collecting pike-perch eggs on Missisquoi River was placed in charge of Supt. Livingston Stone, of Cape Vincent Station, and arrangements made for its conduct during the season. At the Nashua Station the chief problem was the shortage of the water supply during the summer season, and methods for increasing the supply were fully discussed with the superintendent. In the hatchery there had been an unusual mortality among the brook-trout fry, undoubtedly due to the lack of sufficient flow of water upon the eggs during the period of incubation. At the time the Cape Vincent Station was visited no fish-cultural work was going on, the product of the station having been previously distributed. This station is entirely dependent upon the collections of eggs from other stations for its source of supply. The capacious hatchery building is capable of turning out a great man}^ young fish and is well supplied with the necessary apparatus and equipment. Arrangements were made for obtaining water from the city works upon a more economical basis. The heating apparatus at this station is not satisfactory, owing to the inordinate amount of coal consumed by it. A new and more economical heating plant should be installed. Extensive repairs upon the wharf will soon be necessary. The St. Johnsbury Station is still inadequately supplied with water, the special appropriation for necessary improvements being kept unim- paired until satisfactor}' arrangements can be made for its economical expenditure. The traveling expenses incurred were much less than the saving at one station, resulting from the changes made as a result of the inspection. 26 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. METHODS OF FISH-CULTURE. Few improvements in the methods of fish-culture can be recorded for the year. The most notable one may be the method of taking salmon eggs at the Baird, Cal., Station and substations, whereby from 10 to 15 per cent more eggs are obtainable from the same number of fish than heretofore. This is accomplished by cutting the salmon open after the usual stripping and washing the blood}^ eggs thus obtained in a normal salt solution before fertilizing them, as explained in detail under the summarized report of Baird Station. This improved method will be adopted at the other salmon stations the coming year. At Put-in Bay, Ohio, Superintendent Downing has devised a new hatching-jar along the same general lines as the Stranahan jar, except that it is of a different shape and of greater capacity. It has been adopted for Put-in Bay Station. In pond culture, by which is meant the propagation of the basses and other fishes, the eggs of which are handled and hatched in ponds by the natural process, little definite progress has been made. The gen- eral feeling among fish-culturists in charge of pond stations is that the ponds for the propagation of bass and other fish should be made much larger than at present — in fact, as large as possible and still have them entirely under control so that the fish can be removed as wanted. The following stations and auxiliary stations were operated during the year, and the work at each is reviewed in detail in the abstracts of the reports from the various superintendents: Green Lake, Maine. Craig Brook, Maine. Grand Lake Stream, Maine. St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Nashua, New Hampshire. Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Gloucester, Massachusetts. Cape Vincent, New York. Swanton, Vermont. Steamer Fish Ihtnk (Delaware River). Battery Station, ^Vhiryland. Bryan Point, Maryland. Fish Lakes, Washington, D. C. Central Station, Washington, D. C. Wytheville, Virginia. Edenton, North Carolina. Erwin, Tenneosee. Cold Sjiriiigs, (Jeorgia. Put-in I'.ay, Ohio. Northville, Mic'liigan. Detroit, Michigan. Alpena, Michigan. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Duluth, Minnesota. Quincy, Illinois. Manchester, Iowa. Bellevue, Iowa. San Marcos, Texas. Neosho, Missouri. Lead vi lie, Colorado. Spearii.sh, South Dakota. Bozemau, Montana. Baird, California. Battle Creek, California. Mill Creek, California. Rogue River, Oregen. Clackamas, Oregon. Little White Salmon River, Washington. Baker Lake, Washington. Green Lake Station, Maine (E. E. Race, Superintendent). The work at the Green Lake Station has ])een confined entirely to the proi)agation of the brook trout and landlocked salmon. During the summer months, in addition to the usual fish-cultural work, inves- tigations were made with the view to establishing new field stations for the collection of eggs, and as a result operations were inaugurated at Alligator Lake, in Hancock County, and Sourdnahunk Lake, in Piscata- REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 27 quis County. The field stations operated in previous 3'ears at (xreen Lake, Pattens Pond, and Braneh Pond were also reopened and operated. At Alligator Ijake a lo*^- camp was constructed for the shelter of the lishernien, and a temporary hatcher}^ for eying- eggs was erected and equipped with the necessary apparatus for conducting operations. At this point it was thoug-ht that brook trout could ho. captured on the bars and hmdlocked salmon at the outlet of the lake, but although the water and weather were both favorable, and the station in the hands of experienced fishermen, no salmon and only 52 brook trout were captured. From the trout 21,000 eggs were obtained, 7,000 of them being transported direct to Green Lake Station within 24 hours after being taken from the fish. The remaining 14,000 were laid down in the temporary hatchery to be eyed, but after holding them from 15 to 20 days in a temperature of 38° F., it was found that the expense of developing them at the point of collection would be very large; they were therefore transferred to Green Lake Station before the eye-spots appeared, but all died en route. Sourdnahunk Lake is 55 miles northwest of Patten, in an unbroken wilderness, and is probably at the highest elevation of anj'^ lake of equal size in the State. It is 4 miles long by li miles wide, and is the breeding-ground for nearly the entire west branch of the Penob- scot River. No fish are found in the lake except brook trout and shiners. The adult trout averaged a trifle less than a pound in weight, the largest weighing 2 pounds. Owing to the expense of transporting suitable material from Patten, nets were used for the leads of the traps and sides of the confining pens, but these were destroyed by a moose swimming around in the lake about the time the fishing season began. Temporary pens were built of poles and the fish were captured b}^ means of seines. All the fish that could be safely held in these pens were caught before any of them had commenced working on the spawning-grounds, as many as 800 being taken at one haul of the seine. The total number recorded as captured was 4,275 males and 5,725 females; 4,047 females were stripped and yielded 1,470,000 eggs. As the lake froze over two weeks earlier than was expected, the rest of the females were liberated by cutting holes through the ice and removing the stakes in the pens. The eggs were eyed in troughs set up in a small tent, the troughs being not more than 6 inches above the ground; but notwithstanding the fact that two fires were kept night and day, the water temperature dropped to the freezing-point several times, and 190,000 were lost by freezing to the bottoms of the hatching- troughs. On February 19 the eggs were packed out, but on account of the deep snow between Sourdnahunk Lake and Patten the}' were on the road three days, and 10,250 died en route. Of the 1,280,000 which reached Patten in good condition, 320,000 were shipped to the Maine Fish Commission and 50,000 to the Parmachenee Club, Camp 28 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Caribou, Maine. The others were transferred to- Green Lake to be hatclied, and the losses on the eggs and fry were very small. Operations at Green Lake for collecting landlocked-salmon and brook-trout eggs were inaugurated as in previous years, but owing to the fact that the water in the lake was 14: inches lower than during any fishing season in the past seven years no fish were captured in the trap at Great Brook near the spawning-house, it being impossible for them to get over the bars at the mouth of the brook. This, is the first season since the establishment of the hatchery that the fish were unable to ascend Great Brook during the spawning season. A large pound net was operated on what is known as the middle ground, between the hatchery wharf and the outlet of the lake, but owing to unprecedentedly low water no fish were captured in it. A pound net set southeast of the bar at Great Brook in 10 feet of water captured 2 brook trout and 164 salmon, half of each species being females. From these fish 2,000 trout and 194,000 salmon eggs were taken. The female salmon caught late in the season were all small, and averaged a trifle over 2,365 eggs to the fish. Some eggs were from immature salmon, apparently 4 or 5 years old, and, as a result, 25,000 died within a few days after being laid down in the troughs. At Patten Pond, owing to the low water, only 56 brook trout and 2 male salmon were captured. The trout yielded 35,000 eggs, which were transferred to Green Lake Station in good condition. In September the collecting station at Branch Pond (Winkempaugh Brook) was repaired and put in shape for the season's work. The water at this point was higher and general conditions more favorable for the capture of fish than at any of the other field stations. How- ever, the lake froze over ten days earlier than the previous ^^ear, which prevented the capture of the usual number of salmon. On October 14 the only rain of any importance during the fishing season raised the water in the brook from 8 to 10 inches, and as a result 110 brook trout (25 males and 85 females) and 35 salmon (22 males and 13 females) were captured. The total take of fish at this point for the season was 142 trout and 50 salmon. Owing to the scarcity of male brook trout, 16 were captured at Harriman's Pond and transferred to this station, but after using all the male fish available there were still 25 large females unstripped, and as it was impossible to obtain milt for fertiliz- ing their eggs, they were liberated. The total collections at Branch Pond amounted to 56,000 salmon eggs and 85,000 brook-trout eggs. The landlocked-salmon eggs secured at all points numbered 250,000, and 45,000 of these were shipped to applicants in Massachusetts, Ver- mont, New York, Utah, and Colorado. The remainder were hatched for rearing and distribution as j-earlings in the fall. The stock set aside for this purpose was materiall}' increased during the spring b}' the transfer of 100,000 young salmon from the Craig Brook Station, the loss on these in transit between the stations amounting to 1,551. KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FlSHElilES. 29 In addition to the 1,013,000 brook-trout eggs collected at the field stations, 200,000 were purchased from George F. Lane, Silver Lake, Mass. These reached the station in excellent condition, only 1,370 having died en route, and the resulting fry were strong and active, the total losses on eggs and fry not exceeding -1 per cent. All but 15,000 of this stock, which are being held for brood tish, were distributed in ]\Jay tind June with the fry derived from the collecting stations, the total output aggregating 1,081,388. This work was all done In^ the regular emplo3'ees of the station, and was completed by June 20. The following shows the field stations operated in connection with Green Lake Station, and the number of fish and eggs obtained at each: stations. Species. Males. Females. Total. Number of eggs. 41 28 29 2 4,275 20 1 82 16 101 22 27 142 50 56 2 10,000 52 2 164 16 85,000 56,000 35,000 Do. ... Patten'8 Pond Brook trout Do Sourdnahunlc Lake Brook trout 5,725 32 1 82 1,470,000 do Green Lake do 2,000 194,000 Do Harriman's Pond Brook trout Total 4,494 5,990 10 484 1 1 863 000 At the close of the year the stock of fish on hand consisted of 264,088 landlocked salmon fry and 129,514 brook-trout try. A special appropriation for general repairs and improvements hav- ing been provided, the western wing of the dam at Rocky Pond, 53 feet long, was removed and replaced b}^ a new wing 189 feet long, and surmounted with 4-foot flush boards. Two hundred and fifty feet of the main supply flume was replaced and 5,000 feet of it repaired. For the purpose of housing the steamer Senator and other boats during the winter, a boat-house 57 feet long by 22 feet wide, with a roller rail- wa}" 384 feet long leading to it, was constructed near the station wharf. The hull of the steamer Senator was replanked, calked, and otherwise repaired. Sixteen hatching- troughs were cons^tructed for increasing propagation facilities in the hatcheiy; the bridges between the hatchery and Rocky Pond were repaired, and much work was done in grading around the north and south reservoirs, hatchery buildings, and rearing- ponds. The coal shed at the outlet of Green Lake, together with 7 or 8 tons of soft coal, was burned on October 17, it presumabl}^ having been struck by lightning. Craig Brook Station, Maine (C. G. Atkins, Superintendent). The work at the Craig Brook Station and its two auxiliaries, Matta- gamon and Grand Lake Stream, has been applied to the propagation of the Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, quinnat salmon, steelhead trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Scotch sea trout, and grayling. The work at the Mattagamon auxiliary was wholly tentative, aiming at the capture of wild Atlantic salmon near their natural spawning- 30 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OB" FISH AND FISHERIES. beds for the collection of spawn, as a substitute for the present system of obtaining spawn from salmon purchased from fishermen about the mouth of the river and impounded during the summer in a stream near Craig Brook. At the beginning of the year a weir of novel form was in operation and an inclosure ready to capture all salmon seeking to ascend the East Branch, but on account of the very low water the salmon failed almost wholly to surmount the dams in its lower course, and scarcely any reached the East Branch. In consequence of their failure the station was abandoned in August. At the beginning of the year the stock of Atlantic salmon consisted of 238 adults in the Dead Brook inclosure, 300,295 fry, and 411 fish 2 years old. Of the 2-year-old fish 16 were distributed in August, and the remainder were carried through the year with a loss of 19. The fry w^ere reared to fingerlings, and as a result 282,400 were distributed in October and 351 kept to the end of the year. From the 238 adult salmon 832,300 eggs were obtained, of which 315,000 were distributed in the winter and 397,499 hatched in March and April. Of the fry thus obtained 48,715 were liberated in June, and 326,186 remained on hand at the close of the year in course of rearing. Preparations have been made for enlarging the Atlantic salmon operations the coming year by the collection in May and June of 614 adult salmon, of which 589 remained alive at the close of the year. The stock of landlocked salmon on hand at the opening of the year consisted of 4 broods, of which 24,229 vv'ere fry and 1,796 were from 1 to 3 years old. The fry were all fed until November, when 20,758 of them were distributed. Of the balance 2,407 remained on hand at the end of the year. At the Grand Lake Stream auxiliar}'^ 72,312 landlocked-salmon fry were on hand at the beginning of the year. These were a part of those reserved for the preservation of the species in the waters where the eggs were collected, and 53,825 were reared and liberated in Grand Lake Stream and vicinit}^ in October. During October and November the run of wild salmon from Grand Lake down into the stream for spawning purposes was unusually heavy, and the weir intercepted 3,210, of which 1,464 were males and 1,746 females. The eggs obtained from the latter amounted to 1,448,274, the largest number collected at this point since 1884. Of these, 225,000 eggs were distributed, arid there were hatched from those retained at Grand Lake Stream 505,513 fry and at Craig Brook 282,482. Of the fry at Grand Lake Stream 429,785 were liberated in the lake and stream in June and the remainder, 68,949, were held for feeding. From Craig Brook 100,000 of the fry were transferred to the Green Lake Station in May, 90,000 were distributed in June, and on June 30 there were 67,546 on hand. Of the 2,137 fingcrling brook trout on hand at the beginning of the year 1,243 wore distributed as yearlings, j^'roiu the few adult brook trout on hand 8,500 eggs were collected, and tiu> fry from these eggs, amounting to 5,475, were distri])ut('d in local waters. REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. HI Forty -one ([uinnat .siilnion hatched in 1897 are kept in a dee}) pond for experimental purposes. Of steelhead trout several old ])roods have been kept for experiment, and two of the broods, numbering 1,01!), are still retained. One brood afforded 8,500 eggs. From these and from a lot received from Rogue River there were hatched 33,99-1 fry. These suffered from an obscure disease, and only 12,0-10 were left for distribution. In October there were distributed 3,350 rainbow trout hatched in 1901 and 1,050 hatched in 1900, leaving only a lot of 33 tiwh hatched in 1899. The Scotch sea trout, like other species, has deteriorated under domestication, the vitality of the eggs and fry growing constantly less. In October 6,937 yearlings were distributed, and in November 68,950 eggs were taken from the brood stock. Of these 10,000 were distrib- uted in the egg stage; the remainder were hatched, and as a result 7,694 fry were distributed in June. The adult stock on hand is 459. The results from the introduction of this species are not encouraging, and their propagation will be discontinued. From 100,000 grayling eggs shipped from Montana in May, 86,615 fry were hatched, and 36,333 fry were distributed in local waters. An attempt was made to feed the balance, but about June 3 a sudden and heavy mortality attacked them, and by the end of the month only 1,775 remained. This remnant has, as observed at other stations, grown very rapidly. The fish food consisted of hogs plucks, purchased at an abattoir near Boston. The total consumption was 5,346 plucks, weighing 23,790 pounds and costing $310.04, including transportation. From the entire stock of fry of all species in the spring of 1901 84.4 per cent were reared to fingerlings and distributed in October and November. The Atlantic salmon did a trifle better than this, and the landlocked salmon best of all, 94.4 per cent having been reared to the fingerling stage. The aggregate production of the station for the year, including auxiliary stations, is as follows: Eggs collected, 2,516,524; eggs distributed, 550,000; fish hatched, 1,321,490; fish dis- tributed, 1,099,929. The stock on hand at the close of the year was as follows: Calendar year in which fish were hatched. Kind. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898 or earlier. Wild fish inclosed. Atlantic salmon 326, 186 a 67, 546 b 68, 949 351 2,407 376 955 589 39 707 Do Ai 906 47 Rainbow trout 279 133 Grayling 1,775 Total 464, 456 3,037 39 2,317 994 "At Craig Brook. 'At Grand Lake Stream. 32 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. St. Johnsbury Station, Vermont. Mr. eJohn W. Titcomb, the superintendent of this station, having been appointed in charge of the Division of Fish-culture of the U. S. Fish Commission, at Washington, D. C, he was succeeded on February 15 by Mr. E. N. Carter. During the summer preparations were made for the collection of brook-trout eggs in the waters controlled by the Laurentian Club in Canada, in Lake Mitchell at Sharon, Vt. ; Darlings Pond, Groton, Vt., and Noyes Lake, Chittenden, Vt. At Darlings Pond, where the run of fish has heretofore been very large, the opposite conditions pre- vailed. The collecting season was unusually dry throughout New England and also in the Province of Quebec, where, in the Lauren- tian Mountains, the lumbermen reported the water in the streams as lower than it had been since 1847. Owing to the excessive drought the trout did not run as early as usual, and in many instances the eggs were inferior in quality. In the Province of Quebec 6,000 trout were handled in one stream, but the ovaries of the females seemed diseased and the few eggs secured were of inferior quality. In the Laurentian Mountains most of the fish spawned around the shores of the lakes late in the season after the ice had formed on the surface, and there were very few places where the fish ascended the streams to spawn. At Lake Mitchell the first eggs were secured October 9 and the last on November 16. Of the 324,129 collected, 150,300 were shipped on assignments and the remaining 173,829 were transferred to the St. Johnsbury Station to be hatched. At Darlings Pond the spawning season extended from September 30 to November 11, and resulted in the collection of 156,000 eggs, 15,000 of which were shipped on assignments. The remainder were hatched at St. Johnsbury. From Noyes Lake 53,930 eyed eggs were secured, and after shipping 25,000 to fill assignments, the remaining 28,930 were transferred to St. Johnsbury and hatched, producing 22,661 fry. The work at this point began late in the season — October 18 — and lasted only five days. In addition to the eggs secured at the different field stations 250,000 domesticated-trout eggs were purchased of commercial fish-culturists; a consignment of 40,000 was received from Carolina, R. I., in exchange for 35,000 wild-trout eggs, and 39,500 were obtained by the same method from East Freetown, Mass. An assignment of 8,000 domesticated-trout eggs was donated by Mr. L. B. Handy, of South Warcham, Mass. , to be used for experimental purposes. AH of these eggs were hatched at the St. Johnsbury Station, and the fry were dis- tributed with those derived from the field station in Ma}' and June, only 5,802 being retained for rearing. While the results from the domesticated-trout eggs do not compare favorablv with those from the eggs of the wild brook trout, vcrv good REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 33 results obtain by stipulating- that the domesticated eggs must 1)C the product of fish at least 2.^ >'ears old. The rain})ow trout on hand ])egan spawning early in April and eggs were obtained from them at intervals to the end of the month. Only 17,845 were secured, and these were very inferior in quality. The fry were retained for rearing. The propagation of the rainbow trout at the St. Johns))ury Station has never been very successful, owing to the extremely cold water. A shipment of .50,000 eggs was also received from the Manchester Station, but they proved to be very poor and only a few fry were hatched from them. During the winter and spring 200,000 lake-trout eggs were received from Duluth, Minn; 25,000 landlocked-salmon eggs from EastOrland, Me.; 50,000 grayling eggs from Bozeman, Mont., and 50,000 steel- head-trout eggs from the station at Rogue River, Oregon. These hatched with good results, and all of the fry were distributed, with the exception of the landlocked salmon and a few of the grayling, which were retained for rearing. The results of the fish-cultural work at St. Johnsbury for the past live years have proved extremely satisfactory, as demonstrated by the large catches of lake trout from Big Averill Pond, Averill, Vt., which never contained any of that species until they were introduced by the Commission in 1897. From Little Averill Pond, Averill, Vt., in which salmon never existed until introduced from the St. Johns- bury Station, large quantities of salmon have been taken. From Cas- pian Lake, at Greensboro, Vt., it is estimated that 6 tons of fish were taken with hook and line between May 1 and September 1, 1901, and a proportionate amount for the months of May and June, 1902. Ever since the establishment of the St. Johnsbury Station this lake has been annually stocked with lake trout, landlocked salmon, and brook trout. The species mostly caught are the lake trout and landlocked salmon, speckled trout not having produced very satisfactory results. The introduction of the steelhead trout in Vermont waters has also been very successful. The introduction of the lake trout in Big Averill Pond afforded an opportunity of ascertaining the actual growth of the fish from the fry stage. The plant of 1897 afforded good fishing for anglers during the season of 1901, the largest fish taken that year weighing 3f pounds. The next in size weighed 2f pounds, the next li pounds, and the smallest specimens ranged from 9 to 10 inches in length. Many fish of the sizes mentioned were taken, and there was very little variation from the weights given above, indicating that the fry planted in 1897 had attained in 1901 a weight of 3f pounds, and that the other sizes were the results of plants in the succeeding years, those from 9 to 10 inches long being a year and a half old from the time the eggs were taken. 34 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. During May and June, 1902, the angler.s reported an average of about 200 pounds a day from this lake, and the largest fish, which undoubtedly resulted from the plant in 1897, weighed 5^ pounds. The stock on hand at the close of the year is shown by the following table: Calendar year in which fish were hatched. Species. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. 1897 or before. Steelhearl trout 20,500 5,734 90 4 1,000 5,802 17, 786 14 1 Total 50,822 14 4 1 90 Nashua Station, New Hampshire (W. F. Hubbard, Superintendent). Besides the brood stock of lish on hand at the beginning of the year, there were 63,810 brook-trout fry which were reared to yearlings before being distributed, the product of the same amounting to 62,500 yearlings. There were also on hand at this time 46,100 landlocked- salmon fry hatched from eggs belonging to the New Hampshire Fish Commission on shares. The product of these fish amounted to 22,400 yearlings, one-half of which were turned over to the New Hampshire Commission and the balance distributed in the usual manner. During the summer a disease known as pop-eye attacked the 55 adult rainbow trout retained as a brood stock. The eyes protruded from the head, and little bubbles, some of them as large as peas, appeared on the gill-covers, fins, and other parts of the body. When the disease made its appearance the fish were being held in one of the rearing-ponds 100 by 8 feet in dimensions and with plank sides and bottom. In order to cure the affection, the fish Avere transferred to a larger pond, 150 by 100 feet in area, with natural earth embank- ments, and as a consequence only two of them died. When removed from this pond, in November, they were found to be in good condition and produced eggs during the following spawning season. In the course of the summer the superintendent visited various places in the State with the view to finding suitable locations for field stations, and as a result a station for the collection of brook-trout eggs was, in September, established at the Balsams, 12 miles east of Cole- brook, the nearest railroad station. Another station was established at Lake Sunapee for the collection of eggs of the brook trout, golden trout, and landlocked salmon. At the Balsams the fish were caught by means of a trap, in a brook tril)utary to the pond, and held in pens. The eggs were transferred daily by wagon 12 miles to the State hatchery at Colebrook, where they were eyed, and in December shipped to the Nashua Station. KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 35 At Lake Sunapoc the brook trout were captured in traps and also, along with the landlocked salmon and golden trout, in fine-nieshed gill nets. The eggs at Lake Sunapee were placed in hatching-troughs at the lake, where they were kept for four or five days, or until enough had been collected to warrant making a shipment, when they were placed quart glass preserve jars, filled three-fourths full of eggs and in brimful of water. The jars were then sealed and packed in a box with ha}' and ice, and in this condition were shipped to Nashua. The eggs were about eight hours in the jars in transit and the jars were not opened during that period, but all eggs shipped in this manner were received at Nashua in good condition and with very small loss. The brook trout at the station began spawning October 24 and con- tinued until the middle of January, when 1,959 females, nearly all of which were 2i years old, had been stripped and 1,009,470 eggs secured, or an average of about 512 per fish. The eggs began hatch- ing earl}^ in February, the period of incubation being 104 days. There was an unusual mortality among the brook-trout fry about the time they began to feed, and the cause of this mortality is attrib- uted to the fact that the station was inadequately supplied with water during the early stages of incubation. In order to determine whether the same mortality would occur among fry hatched under favorable conditions, but reared at the Nashua Station, 100,000 brook-trout fry were transferred from the St. Johnsbury Station to Nashua and were successfully reared. The following table shows the number of eggs and fry received at the station during the year: Species. Source of supply. Eggs. Fry. Brook trout Ta ken at station 1,009,470 70, 500 176, 720 123, 800 23,000 10,000 25, 500 200,000 Do Do Taken at the Balsams Do ('rai" Biodk Station Takni at staliiili . . Lake trout Duliitli Staliim 100,000 Total 1,638,990 The distributions of fish from the station were all made by the regular station force, and the following table shows the number of fish and eggs shipped from the station during the year: Species. Eggs. Fry. Yearlings. Two years or over. Brook trout . . 100,000 470, 000 70,000 8,000 160, 000 62,500 15 294 Hainbow trout ... l^ako trout 11,200 Grayling .. 8 Total . 100, 000 708,000 73, 715 36 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The stock of fish on hand at the close of the year is shown by the following table: Species. Calendar year in which fish were hatched. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. 131,087 4,429 85 <5tpplhpflfl trniit 5 5,705 23,510 51 35 . 7,051 1,989 754 Total 190,978 754 4,464 5 136 Woods Hole Station, Mass. (E. F. Locke, Superintendent). The collection of brood cod ofi' Nantucket Shoals was commenced by the schooner Granvpus on October 2 and closed on November 3, when 3,179 had been captured and conveyed alive to Woods Hole Sta- tion. These fish varied in weight from 3 to 10 pounds, the average being between 6 and 7 pounds, and from them 118,745,000 eggs were taken, which were all of good quality, with the exception of a few of the last lots secured. Of the brood fish 2,106 were released alive, the remainder d^ang from natural causes. Some of the smaller fish were barren and yielded no eggs. On November 29 the Phalarope reached Plymouth, Mass., and the auxiliary station at that point was opened on December 2. The first eggs were taken on December 3, and collections were obtained up to February 28, when 125,559,000 had been secured. Of these 38,621,000 were shipped to the Gloucester Station and the remainder, 86,938,000, to Woods Hole. The total number of cod eggs received at Woods Hole amounted to 205,683,000, from which 128,810,000 fry were hatched and planted. During the month of January arrangements were made for the col- lection of flat-fish eggs, and on February 5 the boats, nets, and other equipment were sent to Waquoit Bay, but owing to the ice in the bay it was impossible to set the nets until February 15, and it was only done then by breaking up quantities of ice. Nets were also set in the harbor near the station, and from these two fields 653 females were secured, of which 105 died and 123 failed to deposit eggs. The product of the egg-bearing fish amounted to 191:,059,000 eggs, of which 144,800,000 were secured from the fish taken at Waquoit Bay. The average yield of eggs this season was larger than that of last j^ear, the average from the fish captured at Woods Hole being 808,000 per fish and from those taken at Waquoit Bay 548,000 per fish. About the middle of April arrangements were made for collecting egg-bearing lobsters at Scituate, Mass., and from the fishermen at Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. At Plymouth only a few men were fishing and this territory was abandoned. Later in the season a REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 37 man was employed at Noank, Conn., to collei't cf,rg- bearing- lobsters from the fishermon there and at Stoninoton. The work heretofore done at Newport was discontinued because the commissioners of inland fisheries for the State of Rhode Island were engaged in collecting at that point, and arrangements were made to receive such eggs as the State commission did not have use for. The receipts from these sources were less than one-fourth of the number received last year, but the receipts from Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound showed a slight increase over the collections of the previous year, and the col- lections from Connecticut waters showed a gain of over 900 per cent. The total number of eggs received during the season was 20,480,000, a slight increase over the previous year. Of these 5,176,000 were delivered to Mr. G. H. Sherwood, an assistant in the Division of Sci- entific Inquiry, for experimental purposes, and from the remainder 12,857,000 fry were hatched. Of the fry 6,177,000 were delivered to Mr. Sherwood for rearing purposes, 2,462,000 were shipped to the Rhode Island Fish Commission, at Wickford, R. I., and the remainder were planted in the waters of Connecticut and Massachusetts. During the year several collections of live fishes were made for the Pan-American Exposition and also for the aquarium at Central Station, Washington, D. C. The usual repairs necessary at such a station were made during the season, as well as the necessary repairs to the vessels. Gloucester Station, Massachusetts (C. G. Corliss, Superintendent). During the summer months the station employees were occupied in overhauling and fitting up the cod-hatching apparatus, making repairs to the equipment and buildings, and also assisting in the construction of the new coal-house. The old coal-house, being past repairs, was torn down and a new one, 29 feet by 14 feet, with a capacity of 45 tons, erected in its place. After the cod season closed a woodshed 12 feet by 9 feet was built adjoining the coal-house, and all the station build- ings were painted. Early in November preparations were made for collecting cod eggs at Kittery Point, Me., and on November 15 Capt. E. E. Hahn, of the schooner Giximpus, and a force of 7 spawn-takers reported there and at once began operations. The first eggs were taken and shipped to the station November 17. Eggs were collected daily until November 24, when bad weather put a stop to egg-collecting until December 6. Throughout December, January, and February the Ipswich Bay fish- ing was very poor and irregular. Cod were scarce and many of the boats were laid up for a week or two at a time, it often being difficult to find boats for the spawn-takers. The results of the collections were very disappointing, especiall}^ as the weather throughout the winter was exceptionally mild and favorable for fishing. The last eggs were taken March 20, and a few days later Captain Hahn and the Grampus 69 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. force proceeded to Woods Hole to fit up the vessel for collecting egg lobsters on the Maine coast. During- the entire season 132,437,000 cod eggs were received at the station, of which 87,408,000 were collected at Kittery Point, Me. ; 38,621,000 were received from the collecting station at Plymouth, Mass., and 6,348,000 from the Woods Hole Sta- tion. As a result of these collections 83,191,000 fry were hatched and distributed on the natural spawning-grounds from Ipswich Bay to Massachusetts Bay, In the meantime preparations were being completed for collecting lobster eggs. Early in April collecting stations were established at Kittery Point, Me.; Boston, Mass., and Beverly, Mass., and the cus- tomary arrangements were made with fishermen and dealers for saving their egg lobsters. Collections were also made on the Maine coast from Wood Island to Eastport by the schooner Gra?/ipns, assisted by a steam smack which was chartered for the purpose. Active opera- tions began April 18, when the first shipment of egg lobsters was received from Boston. The collections in April were unusually large, and in May were greatly increased, the collections at all the stations showing a substantial increase over those of the previous season. During June the collections in Massachusetts dropped off considerably, while at Kittery Point and along the Maine coast egg lobsters continued to be found in fair quantities up to the latter part of the month. The collecting stations at Boston and Kittery Point were closed on July 10, but the Grampus continued making collections up to July 18. The ship- ments of egg lobsters from the several collecting fields arrived at the station in excellent condition, with the exception of a few lots late in the season, the eggs on these being so far advanced that some of them were affected by the heat. The collections from all sources aggregated 5,901 lol)sters, which yielded 83,418,000 eggs. Of the fry hatched from these 37,100,000 were distributed in Maine waters, 2,200,000 off the coast of New Hampshire, and the balance, except 180,000 sent to Woods Hole for experimental purposes, were planted at various points along the Massachusetts coast from Rockport to Boston. Cape Vincent Station, New York (Livingston Stone, Superintendent). During the year eggs of the white-fish, lake trout, brook trout, and pike perch were handled. In November 3,771,000 green eggs of the lake trout were received from the Duluth Station which turned out very well, 2,347,600 fry being hatched from them and distributed. Later 4,088,000 green eggs of this species were sent from Charlevoix, Mich., but these turned out very badly, producing only 741,280 healthy fry. In December 31,212,000 white-fish eggs were received from the Put-in Bay, Ohio, Station, and 10,003,000 from Detroit, Mich. Both lots turned out well, yielding, respectively, 27,346,000 and 6,954,000 strong, health}^ fry. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 39 Durino- the inontli,s of Januaiy and Fc])ruaiy 81H,250 ]>i-ook trout, oous wore received from commercial tish-culturists in Massachusetts, the product of which, as distributed, amounted to 749,350 fry. In February 50,000 rainbow-trout eggs were received from Manches- ter, Iowa, resulting in 38,360 fry at the time of distribution. In March an auxiliary station at Swanton, Vt., was established for the collection of pike-perch eggs. The superintendent assumed general charge of operations at this point, and was in the field in northern Vermont from March 27 to May 24. The run of pike perch up the Missisquoi River began unusually early, and trial hauls of the seine were iirst made on March 17. The first ripe eggs were taken April 7. The spawning season lasted fifteen days, during which time 113,550,000 eggs were taken, including the eggs contributed free of cost by the commercial fishermen on Lake Champlain. Most of the brood fish from which eggs were secured were captured b}^ operating a seine on the Missisquoi River, and the green eggs collected from the fish thus taken turned out about 05 per cent of eyed eggs. The total number of good eyed eggs, measured just before the hatching began, was 48,000,000, of which 32,000,000 were turned over to the State of Vermont, 11,925,000 were taken to the Cape Vincent Station, and the remainder, a little over 4,000,000, were distributed in the waters of Vermont and New Hampshire. In the course of this work it was found that the use of muck is not essential for separating pike-perch eggs, the finely pulverized silt forming the upper layer of the river bed answering the purpose fully as well. It was also found that pike-perch eggs conveyed to the hatchery in the milt in which they were fertilized and put into jars immediately after being washed proved to be better than eggs treated in any other way. Thirteen hundred steel head-trout fry were liberated in the St. Law- rence River during the summer, the remarkable feature about this event being the fact that the fry were the product of eggs that had been taken from fish that had been hatched at the station four years earlier and had spent their entire life inside the hatchery building. The fry seemed strong and health3^ Several of the parents of these fish were subsequently liberated in the St. Lawrence River, together with some of the quinnat salmon, which had also matured in the hatchery building. Those of both varieties remaining in the hatchery were sent in September to the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo. During the year some minor repairs were made. Steamer Fish Hawk (James A. Smith, in Charge). The vessel arrived ofi Gloucester City, N. J., in the Delaware River, on April 29, and the hatching apparatus was immediately erected and spawn-takers from the vessel's crew detailed to attend the fishing shores at Howells Cove, Bennetts, and Cramer Hill. 40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Havino; received information that the Pennsylvania Fish Commission would not operate the hatcher}' at Bristol, three spawn-takers were detailed to attend the fishery at Riverton, N. J., 9 miles above Cam- den. The first eggs were taken on May 1, but owing probabl}' to the prolonged season of cool weather and the consequent low-water tem- peratures very little spawn was secured until May 14. Contrary to past experience, the majority of the spawning fish were found in the upper river above Philadelphia, and the fisheries below that point yielded very few eggs. Howells Cove, which has each season yielded the greatest amount of spawn, the take there last 3^ear amounting to nearly 60,000,000 eggs, produced this season only 6,500,000. The collecting season ended on June 9, the total take of eggs aggre- gating 36,977,000. Of these 621,000 impregnated eggs were shipped to Central Station, Washington, D. C, and 25,997,000 fry were hatched; -l, 835, 000 of the fry were distributed on the spawning- grounds at Howells Cove and at the mouth of Timber Creek, New Jersey. The balance were planted by the regular car messengers in the waters of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Florida. Battery Station, Maryland (George H. H. Moore, in Charge.) The station was opened March 24 by J. J. Glennan, who, with a small force of men, prepared the buildings and apparatus for active operations. The superintendent assumed charge of operations on April 21, and the first shad eggs were received April 22. The total collections of eggs for the season, which ended June 5, amounted to 20,707,000. Of these, 2,134,000 were shipped to the Exposition at Charleston, S. C, which were subsequently hatched and distributed from that point. The balance, with the exception of 267,000 sent to Central Station, were hatched and produced 14,943,000 fry. As at the other shad stations, ripe fish were scarce, and it is a notable circumstance, as reported bj^ old and experienced fishermen, that while the proportion of roe or egg-bearing fish was greater than usual, the percentage of ripe fish was smaller than ever before noted by them. A suppl}^ of herring roe was canned and shipped to the stations at Wytheville, Va., and Erwin, Tenn., to be used as food for trout fry. A few cases of shad roe were canned with a view to testing its edi- ble qualities. From those who have tested it man}^ favorable reports have been received, and it is the consensus of opinion that it would be difiicult to distinguish it from the fresh roe. The method pursued in its preparation and preservation is simple. After being washed a set or pair of roe are put in a 2-pound tin can, which is then capped, exhausted, tipped, and subjected to 15 pounds steam pressure for about an hour. To prepare for the table it is removed from the can and cooktHl the same as the fresh roe. The milt has also been success- full}' canned, and it is quite as pahita))le as the fresh product. REPORT OJ^ COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The followiiij^' t:i])le sliows the details of operutioiis: OlxTaliovs (it BaUerii Station in 1902. 41 April 22 23 24 25 27 May 26 27 29 30 31 June 2 3 4 5 Total . Number of eggs when received. 689,000 1,355,000 1, 681, 000 185, 000 974,000 1,713,000 3, 003, 000 871,000 1,856,000 361,000 215, 000 1,402,000 1,741,000 2, 754, 000 1,691,000 3,231,000 815, 000 366, 000 1, 179, 000 1,022,000 777, 000 782, 000 1,374,000 1,020,000 492, 000 689, 000 1, 498, 000 837, 000 593, 000 902,000 126,000 128,000 70,000 184, 000 189,000 49,000 82,000 14, 000 271,000 280, 000 176,000 112,000 Number of eggs 12 hours after received. 37,649,000 577,000 1,322,000 1,640,000 180, 000 914,000 1,617,000 2, 895, 000 830,000 1,762,000 339, 000 197, 000 1,343,000 1,696,000 2, 685, 000 1,649,000 3,173,000 793, 000 350, 000 1,122,000 980, 000 725, 000 768, 000 1,336,000 982, 000 465, 000 651,000 1,402,000 789,000 549,000 836, 000 109, 000 124,000 70,000 163, 000 189, 000 49,000 82, 000 14,000 226,000 272, 000 102,000 100, 000 36, 067, 000 Number of .'ggs 24 hours after received. 560, 000 1, 283, 000 1,495,000 151,000 887, 000 1,495,000 2, 721, 000 756, 000 1,711,000 329,000 191, 000 1,207,000 1,647,000 2, 607, 000 1,601,000 3,081,000 726, 000 336,000 1,089,000 932, 000 670, 000 724, 000 1,216,000 871,000 385,000 599,000 881, 000 597, 000 497,000 634, 000 87,000 91,000 57, 000 98,000 180, 000 49, 000 36, 000 10,000 194, 000 140,000 66, 000 93,000 32,980,000 Number of eggs 36 hours after re- ceived or number pur- chasea. 249, 000 596, 000 822, 000 83, 000 488, 000 657, 000 1, 430, 000 416,000 941, 000 181,000 106, 000 609, 000 906,000 1,434,000 881,000 1,695,000 621,000 292, 000 1,053,000 751,000 577,000 624, 000 1,076,000 748,000 247, 000 520, 000 605, 000 460, 000 295, 000 471,000 78,000 79,000 30, 000 CO, 000 128, 000 20,000 34,000 146,000 140, 000 66, 000 93, 000 20,707,000 Fry hatched and planted. 149, 000 235, 000 618, 000 70, 000 363, 000 489, 000 1,347,000 319, 000 709, 000 125,000 84,000 499, 000 819, 000 1,228,000 840, 000 1,417,000 280, 000 56, 000 248, 000 570, 000 411, 000 515, 000 841, 000 145, 000 143, 000 92, 000 605,000 450,000 286,000 402,000 77, 000 79, 000 28, 000 57, 000 119, 000 20,000 34,000 15, 000 66, 000 93, 000 Number of eggs shipped. 229, 000 222, 000 671, 000 530,000 91, 000 391,000 131,000 136, 000 2,401,000 Mean water tempera- ture 57 60.50 60.25 59.50 60 61 60.75 62. 25 62 62.75 63.25 63.25 63.75 65.50 66.75 67 65.60 62.25 60.75 61.25 62.25 61.50 61.75 62. 76 64.25 66.75 68.76 69.50 69.50 70.26 72 73.50 73.25 73.25 68.75 63. 25 65.75 66.50 71 73.75 75 73.50 Bryan Point Station, Maryland (L. G. Harron, in Charge). The old pump-house bein^- badly out of repair and disadvantageously located with reference to the new hatcheiy, a new and substantial pump-house was erected near the east end of the hatchery and the suc- tion pipe extended from the pumps to the river on the bracing under the new wharf to a point where the water is 10 feet deep at low tide. This change in the location effected the saving of 218 feet in the length of the discharge pipe from the pumps to the supply tank, with a result- ant saving in fuel whenever the pumps were operated. The boiler and pumps were removed to the new pump-house, and the old pump-house was fitted up as quarters for four of the spawn-takers; 354 feet of 3-inch discharge pipe was removed from underground, and 106 feet of the same relaid; 240 feet of 3-inch suction pipe was also laid, and the necessary steam-pipes connected. A suitable coal-})in was constructed adjoining the pump-house. 42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The launch Blue Wmg, which had been ordered from Woods Hole, Mass. , arrived at Washington on March 23 and was taken to Bryan Point the following da}'. Some necessary repairs were made on her stern post and her hull above the water line, and all her house work and decks were thoroughly cleaned and painted, after which she was in good condition for the season's work. The station was opened March 24. Sixteen tents were set up and the necessary equipment installed therein for quartering spawn-takers. The hatchery and other buildings were painted with a coat of indurine, and by April 15 all necessary repairs were completed preparatory to active operations in collecting shad eggs. Small lots of eggs were taken on April 15, 16, and 17, which were placed in jars, but they died and no record was kept of them. On April ISth 60,000 good eggs were received, and on April 20th 791,000 eggs were taken and fishing began in earnest, the entire force of spawn- takers being set to work. The collecting of eggs was pushed vigor- ously with a full force until May 9, when operations were discontinued. The total collection of eggs for the season was 45,971,000, of which 2,421,000 were shipped to Central Station, Washington, D. C, and 2,007,000 were shipped to the Fish Commission exhibit at Charleston, S. C. Of the 41,543,000 eggs remaining, 84 per cent, or 34,994,000, were hatched at Bryan Point. Of the fry resulting 9,018,000 were delivered to the Fish Commission cars at Alexandria, Va., for distri- bution in southern waters, and 25,976,000 were planted on the prin- cipal spawning-grounds in the Potomac River. The following table shows the daily collection of eggs, the number of fr}^ planted, and maximum and minimum water temperatures: Date. received. hatched Eggs shipped. Fry shipped. Fry planted. Temperature of water. Max. Min. 1902. April 18 60, 000 81,000 791,000 1,599,000 2,748,000 2, 529, 000 3, 706, 000 1,788,000 °F. 53 53 55 56 60 °F. 52 19 52 20 .. 52 21 54 22 r>^ 23 63 57 24 63 60 25 999,000 62 60 26 64 60 27 .. 668,000 3,490,000 4,929,000 5,357,000 7,271,000 2, 663, 000 791,000 1,002,000 1,581,000 1,896,000 947, 000 1,201,000 873,000 63 61 28 686,000 3, 139, 000 4,444,000 1,648,000 63 60 29 1,005,000 686,000 3, 139, 000 4,444,000 1,648,000 63 61 30 6b 62 May 1 66 62 2 .. 66 63 3 68 i 64 4 5, 535, 000 6,149,000 6, 378, 000 67 ' 65 5 2,525,000 3,146,000 6,378,000 69 6.=> 6 1,002,000 3, 010, 000 3,003,000 70 70 71 68 67 68 68 67 7 68 8 3,005,000 1,328,000 1,733,000 1,005,000 68 9 67 10 3,005,000 1,328,000 66 11 65 12 949,000 417,000 i, 733, 666 949,000 65 13 (>3 Total 45,971,000 34,994,000 4,428,000 9,018,000 25,976,000 1 1 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 43 Fish I.akks, Wasiiinoton, I). C. (C. K. Green, Supkkintkndknt). The station being located withiii the park i no- system of the District, much attention is given to the ornamentation and care of the grounds during the summer. During the summer months the work consists chieil}^ in keeping down the extensive growth of aquatic grasses in the various ponds and giving them a tidy appearance. The adult bass and crappie are fed regularly, the food consisting of carp bred for the purpose, which arc taken from the ponds by means of nets, dressed, and cut in pieces as large as a hickory nut for the adults and from one-fourth to one-half this size for the yearlings. In the fall of the 3'ear, when the breeding-ponds are drawn, a supply of joung carp is secured and introduced into the stock ponds, and in this wa}^ the adult fish are furnished with a food supply throughout the winter. During the vear the cottage Avas thoroughly renovated and put in a sanitary condition as a residence for the superintendent. The work of collecting young fish for distribution was begun September 16 and continued until October 21, the total number furnished consisting of 4,688 large-mouthed black bass, 17,468 crappie, and 30,000 cat-fish. On October 18 the shad which had been introduced as fry the previous May to the number of 2,000,000 were liberated in the Potomac River b}' raising the gates leading from the pond to the river. Several speci- mens examined when liberated showed that the fish had grown to an average length of 3f inches. The usual attention was paid to the cultivation of ornamental fishes, such as gold-fish, golden tench, green tench, and golden ide, which are raised for stocking the aquaria at the Zoological Park and Central Station and for the District parks. Large numbers of carp were also reared for fish food. Many predatory animals, birds, and snakes were killed during the year. The crappie began spawning April 17, in a water temperature of 61°, and continued until May 15, the height of the season being about May 2, when the temperature of the water ranged from 68° to 75°. The first eggs cast hatched in five da3^s, the water temperature during the time ranging from 53° to 6Q°, but as the weather became warmer the period of incubation was reduced to three days. The large-mouthed black bass began spawning April 20, in a water temperature of 64°, and ceased spawning about May 20, although four nests were discovered between June 2 and June 13. The height of the spawning season was about April 23, when the water tempera- ture averaged about 71°. The first fry made their appearance April 24. Central Station, Washington, D. C. (J. E. Brown, in Charge). The work at Central Station has been conducted on the same lines as for the past few years. The station is used as a clearing-house for nuich of the product of the Fish Lakes Station and for shipments of fish and eggs sent here from other stations. During fall and winter 44 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. various species of fish are hatched for the purpose of iUustrating the nietliods of fish-culture. This brancli of the work has always formed an attractive and very interesting- exhibit. Following is a record of the fish and eggs received at the station during the year, eggs hatched, and fish distributed: Species. Fish received. received. sh&. hatched. Fry shipped. Fish shipped. 787 2,300 1,746 787 Rock bass 2,300 1,741 9,823 253,925 9,729 3,099,000 10,000 5,000 2,000,000 2, 892, 000 7,120 58,512 9,117 628,000 4,620 4,411 1,800,000 2, 050, 000 4,200 53,200 8,000 600,000 4,050 3,870 1,800,000 1,850,000 Lake trout 160,000 Brook trout White-flsh 2, 138, 000 5,000 Pike perch Shad 400, 000 4,833 8, 279, 477 2,703,000 4,561,780 4, 323, 320 Central Station Aquarium (L. G. Harron, Superintendent). In addition to his regular duties in charge of the aquarium at Central Station, the superintendent was detailed to the station at Woods Hole, Mass., from July 8 to August 15, for the purpose of superintending the arrangement and stocking of the aquarium there. In February he was detailed to superintend the installation of a live-fish exhibit af the Sportsmen's Show in Boston, and from March 24 until May 14 he was detailed in charge of the shad hatchery at Bryan Point. During the summer the aquaria were kept well stocked with the various species of fresh- water fishes found in the Potomac River and five species of ornamental fishes, some of which have been kept in the aquarium for years. In the fall, as soon as the water temperature was sufliciently cool to maintain them, various species of Salmo7iidae were introduced into the aquarium and carried through the winter. An assignment of trout, salmon, and grayling, representing nine species, was received from the aquarium at Buffalo, at the close of the exposition, and held until December, when the stock was drawn upon to stock the Fish Commission exhibit at the Charleston Exposition. A live-fish exhibit of marine species was maintained in the aquarium from September until May 15, when the salt-water exhibit was given up entirely, and the closed circulating system connected with this exhibit was used for suppl} ing the fresh-water aquaria, which were cleaned out and completely stocked with fresh-water fishes. The adoption of closed circulation for supplying fresh water is an experi- ment to test the feasibility of using the system of closed circulation for this purpose at the St. Louis Exposition in order to insure having perfectl}^ clear water in the aquaria at all times. At the close of the year this system was in successful operation, and the exhibit showed great improvement over its appearance when the filthy water of the Potomac was supplied to the aquarium from the city water mains. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 45 Very few improvements have been made to the aciuarium in the past few 3'ears, and in comparison with the ehiboratc a's were forwarded to the Detroit hatcher}^ ])y iiiean.s of tug and wagon, it being necessary to hold over night those taken at Grassy Island, but this was done without detriment. The number of eggs shipped was 201,800,000, leaving 164,240,000 in the hatchery. As the total number hatched was 1.35,000,000, it woidd appear that the percentage was a little above 82, but in reality it was about 85 per cent when allowance is made for the fact that a part of the eggs shipped were e3'ed eggs. The season was I'ather earlier than usual, the hatching period extending from March 23 to April 16, and the distril)ution was made between March 30 and April 17 by means of a* tug and two of the Fish Commission cars. The cars carried 27,000,000 fry in live loads, three of 6,000,000 each to Charlevoix and two of 6,000,000 each to Mackinac Cit}^ for planting in Lake Michigan. The balance were deposited in the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Not only did the number of white-fish greatly exceed that of any previous year, but the quality of the fry also greatly surpassed that of an}' of the earlier efforts. This may have been due in part to the favorable weather conditions, improved facilities, and expert manipu- lation, but undoubtedly credit should be given to the liberal plants made in the past in the Great Lakes. To relieve the overcrowded condition of the Northville and Detroit stations, and also to comply with the Milliken act of the State legisla- ture, which provides that the fry from 75 per cent of the eggs col- lected shall be deposited in State waters, the Sault Ste. Marie hatchery was used, and from the 16th to the 23d of November 5,000,000 lake- ti-out eggs were sent there from Manistique. Of the 3,700,000 fry which hatched from these eggs, 1,000,000 were turned over to the Michigan Fish Commission and 2,700,000 distributed. The eggs began hatching April 20 and it was not until May 10 that all had hatched, the cold weather greatly retarding development, although it apparently made the fry extremely hardy. The first plant was made on May 19, and the last of the fry were liberated Maj' 31, the work being done by messenger and tug. A shipment of 30,000,000 white-fish eggs was received at the Sault Ste. Marie Station from Detroit on November 29th, 6,080,000 on Decem- ber 28, and 10,000,000 on February 25, or a total of 46,080,000. The first shipment was made when the eggs were green and the last two shipments after the eggs were eyed. The product of the eggs resulted in 40,000,000 fry, or about 86 per cent, the first hatching on April 10 and the last on April 29. With the exception of 2,000,000, which were shipped b}' baggage car to Manistique, the distributions were all made by boat. The first plant was made on April 15, and the work of distribution was completed on May 1. A large proportion of the fry were planted in Lake Superior near Whitefish Point and in Lake Huron off Detour. 58 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The Commission is indobtod to A. Booth & Co. for the free trans- portation of fry to Whitelish Point, Lake Superior. The following table shows the number of eggs collected, nmnber of eyed eggs shipped, and fry distributed: Species. Eggs collected. shl%. Fry distributed. White-fish 366, 040, 000 25,312,000 1,134,260 164,600 105, 012 78,000 209,078 104,720,000 8,128,000 217,500,000 13,255,000 Lake trout Steelhead trout 140 000 86,000 75,000 200,000 Loch Level! trout Grayling Total 393,042,950 112, 848, 000 232,311,000 DuLUTH Station, Minnesota (S. P. Wires, Superintendent). During the year a concrete sidewalk was constructed along two sides of the station grounds abutting the highway, and extensive improve- ments were made on the hatchery building, gravity flume, and steam plant. A large number of shade trees were also set out. Of the 34,290 young steelhead trout on hand at the beginning of the year 30,000 survived and were distributed as fingerlings. In August and September arrangements w^ere made for the collection of lake-trout eggs at the usual points on Lake Superior, nameh^, at Grand Portage, Minn.; Port Arthur and Rossport, Ontario; Isle Royale, Manitou Island, Keystone, Ontonagon, and Marquette, Mich. The spawning season opened September 15 and closed October 31, resulting in a total collection of 15,771,000 eggs. Of these 3,771,000 green eggs were transferred to Cape Vincent, and 25,000 to the Pan- American Exposition, at Bufialo. Subsequent shipments of eyed eggs were also made to the number of 2,325,000. The following table shows the number of eggs of various species received from other stations of the Commission and the disposition of same: Species. Eggs re- ceived from other stations. Eggs collected. Eggs shipped. Fry distributed. Fingerlings distributed. White-fish 3f">, 000, 000 29,800,000 7, 150, 000 199, 000 92, 230 96,900 32,000 Lake trout 15,771,000 6,121,000 200, 000 100,000 100, 000 50, 000 Brook trout Rainbow trout Total 36,450,000 15,771,000 6,121,000 37,370,130 30,000 All eggs and fry were handled throughout the season with very light losses, and the fry resulting from the eggs received from other stations, and also the lake trout carried through the season, w'oro all distributed in good condition in April, May, and Juno. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 59 (iuiNCY Station, Illinois (S. P. Bartlett, Superintendknt). Throughout tlic navigable portion of the Illinois liivcr, or about 250 miles, the banks in most places are low and any considerable rise of water overflows them, producing* ponds and lakes varying in width from a few feet to 8 or 10 miles, in which the native fishes find desirable spawning-grounds. With the receding waters many of the adult lish and millions of fry become landlocked. Here they grow rapidly until, with the contraction of the water areas and the increas- ing demands for food, the waters become overstocked and the fish die in countless thousands from starvation or perish by the drying up of the ponds during the season of summer drought, when the temper- ature of both air and water become abnormally high. The work of the Quincy Station consists in the collection of the fishes from these overflowed ponds and lakes and the return of them to the Illinois River, or their distribution to applicants throughout the country. At the beginning of the year there were large numbers of fish in the ponds and the best of prospects for a good collection. The weather was hot, causing the moss to grow rapidly, but the evaporation was correspondingly great, so that little difficulty was experienced in clean- ing out the moss to facilitate the use of small-meshed seines. The work of collecting continued good until July 22, when the water in the lakes and ponds, which were 10 to 12 inches deep, showed a tem- perature of 120 degrees, and the fish, large and small, came to the surface dead. Up to this time operations had been confined mostly to one lake, although the moss had been removed from others preparator}- to working them. After July 22 operations were necessaril}^ confined to the seining of the deeper ponds, l)ut as the moss could not be removed the results were not so satisfactory as when collecting from the shallower waters. Operations extended over the entire navigable portion of the Illinois River. Great care was exercised in handling the fish on account of the usual high temperature of the water and the distance the fish must be carried from the river to the large towing live-boxes. It is necessary to observe caution in rounding a haul to land the seine, because if the seine is hauled in rapidly to the shore the flounder- ing of the larger fishes and the rolling of the moss will cause great injury to the fingerlings. Where possible the seine is brought together in deep water and a few feet at a time worked over, the fish being carefull}^ placed in tubs and from them into the smaller live- boxes until read}" to haul over to the river, where they arc placed in the large live towing-cars. They are then taken to the pumping station, placed in tubs until the temperatui-e is gradually reduced, after which they are put in the retaining-troughs and held until the following da3\ Those showing signs of injury are removed and those selected for dis- tribution are placed in the retaining-ponds. Early in the season it is difficult to induce the very small ivy to take food, but as they grow 00 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. older little trouble is experienced in that respect. Fish that have been kept a week or more in the retaining-ponds are in prime condition to bear transportation, but if sent to the distribution cars direct from the tield where collected great mortality results. The season of 1901 was an unusually disastrous one, all kinds of fishes perishing in the shallow overflowed ponds, owing to the high temperature, when in ordinar}^ seasons they live and flounder around until all the water is gone and they are absolutely left on the bare mud. The total distributions of fish thus collected for the year were as follows: Black bass fingerlings, 50,900; adult black bass, 600; adult crappie, 2,170; adult warmouth bass, 100; adult sun-fish, 300; also 158 adult assorted fish. At the close of the year the water in the river was 13i feet higher than the normal level, and too high throughout the month of June for the collecting of fish. Manchester Station, Iowa (R. S. Johnson, Superintendent). During the year various improvements and repairs were made to the buildings, grounds, and waterways, the most important being the construction of three new ponds. These ponds were 15 feet wide at the top by 10 feet wide at the bottom, and 291 feet, 254 feet, and 140 feet in length, respectively. Congress having made a special appropriation of $5,000 therefor, a stern-wheel steamboat was constructed by Kahlke Brothers, of Rock Island, 111., under the supervision of the superintendent. Other particulars in regard to this boat will be found elsewhere. On the morning of May 18 a violent rainstorm and cloud-burst broke over the station, flooding the southeast section of the reservation, destro3'ing the wagon bridge and road from the main-entrance gate, and doing- much other damage to the grounds. The upper spring reservoir was completely choked with mud, cutting off the water supply temporarily from the hatchery building and ponds. This resulted in the loss of about 76,000 of the 328,000 fry which were being held in the hatchery troughs. The property damage resulting from the flood was repaired by the station employees, assisted l)y temporary labor. The output of fish and eggs during the year has been most gratify- ing, exceeding the work of all previous years. The 60,000 brook-trout fry on hand at the opening of the year were reared to the fingerling stage, and in the fall 49,200 were distributed, 2,275 being held for brood stock. The loss incurred in rearing amounted to 8,525. The brood stock of brook trout, consisting of 1,209 two and three year old fish, were kept in one of the stock ponds in an apparently healthy condition until October, when they were transferred to the 80-foot ponds with plank sides, in readiness for the spawning season. Soon after the transfer was made the same peculiar disease which has attacked the brook trout at this station for the past RErOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 61 four years caused a heav}^ mortalit3\ Efforts wore mad<^ to check the disease, but without success, until the tish were again transferred to the earth ponds. Experiments conducted at this station prove that it is impossible to hold adult brook trout in the 80-foot wood-lined ponds, while there seems to be no difficulty in holding the same fish in the larger ponds with natural earth embankments. From 257 ripe female brook trout 214,00() eggs were secured, or an average of 833 per fish. Of this lot of eggs 60,000 were shipped to applicants and 100,000 were hatched, but the fry were a very inferior lot and only 65,000 were distributed. The poor quality of the fry is attributed to the diseased condition of the parent fish. From the Spearfish and Leadvillo stations 250,000 brook -trout eggs were received, and 285,000 fry were hatched from the eggs received from all sources.' Of these, 189,000 were distributed during the spring and 96,000 were held for fall distribution. The 75,000 rainbow-trout fr}^ on hand Jul}^ 1 were carried until fall, when 69,000 were distributed and 3,000 held for In-ood stock. The spawning season of the rainbow trout extended from December 10 to March 21. The brood stock of rainbows consisted of 3,980 three and five year old fish, which were in excellent condition, having been held in the large stock ponds the greater part of the year. Out of this lot l,296.ripe females yielded 1,247,400 eggs, or an average of 963 per fish. Of the total number of eggs secured 1,007,190, or 80 per cent, were eyed. Of this number 525,000 were shipped on assignment and 482,190 hatched. Of the fry thus obtained, 241,000 were distributed and 128,000 are being held for the fall distribution. At the beginning of the year there were on hand 10 adult Loch Leven trout. During the month of November 8 ripe females produced 8,000 eggs. From this lot of eggs 6,000 fry were hatched, 3,500 of which are on hand at the close of the year. There were also received from other stations in good condition 10,000 quinnat-salmon eggs, 10,000 landlocked-salmon eggs, 50,000 lake-trout eggs, 50,000 steelhead-trout eggs, and 100,000 grayling eggs, which produced strong, healthy fry, and these fry were distributed on assignments. The food used for the brook and rainbow trout fry that were reared to fingerlings consisted of beef livers and mill shorts, boiled in vary- ing proportions, according to the age of the fish. Live food collected from streams in the vicinity of the station was also used to some extent. During the month of September the rock-bass ponds were drawn, and the young fish, numbering 14,450, were transferred to troughs in the hatchery, where they were held without loss until distributed. The stock of adult rock bass on hand at the beginning of the year num- bered 235, but this number was increased by the addition of 45 adults collected from streams near the station. These fish were seen spawn- ing in May, and the first fry were discovered on June 20. The indica- tions are that the crop of young from this brood stock will be large. 62 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The work of litting- up the Bellevue collecting station and over- hauling the equipment preparatory to the season's work was begun May 27 and completed June 15. Active fishing operations commenced on July 1, under the direction of Mr. H. Crasser, assisted by the launch Water Witch and a temporary crew of six men. Fishing continued until October 12, an extra launch and an additional crew of five men being employed during the month of August. As a result of this work 100,976 black bass, 24,680 crappie, 16,820 cat-fish, 1,700 perch, 4,3-10 sun-fish, 600 bream, 305 pickerel, 75 pike perch, and 26 carp were collected in the lakes and bayous formed by the overflows of the Mis- sissippi River. These fish were distributed by means of the U. S. Fish Commission cars to various applicants and planted in public waters throughout the United States. While making the collections of young black bass and crappie large numbers of the more common varieties of fish were seined from the warm shallow lakes and liberated in the Mississippi River between Dubuque, Iowa, and Savanna, 111. On account of the large number of fish handled and the necessity of transferring them quickly, it was not practicable to count them, but it is estimated that there were transferred in this way 5,000 black bass, 700,000 crappie, 600,000 sun- fish, 500 pickerel, 43,500 cat-fish, 35,000 carp, 500 pike, and 200,000 buffalo, a total of 1,584,500. This is regarded as a conservative esti- mate, and it is believed to fall short of the actual number transferred. The fish on hand at the close of the year were as follows: Calendar year in which fish were hatched. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. 1897. 56,000 128,000 3,500 5,300 25,000 2,275 2,935 300 no 2,975 4 94 220 6,600 4,700 49,000 278, 100 5,510 3,403 San Marcos Station, Texas (J. L. Leaky, Superintendent). An appropriation of $8,000 for enlarging and improving the station having been secured, two tracts of land (one cutting into the south- west corner of the grounds and the other extending about 300 feet along the river front) were purchased at an expenditure of $3,200. This property rounds out and adds greatly to the appearance of the station and makes it possible to conduct operations on a much larger scale. Four ponds, covering about 3 acres, were constructed at an expense of $2,252, and a pumping plant of 1,000 gallons capacity was installed. The latter consists of a 10-horsepower gasoline engine of the Spring- field type and a No. 6 centrifugal pump, with 6-inch suction and REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 63 8-inch discharge. The entire cost of installing it, including the con- struction of a substiintial engine-house and pinni)-pit, amounted to $1,125. While in operation the pump requires very little attention, and the cost of running it for a period of 8 hours is only $1.40. The plant has already prov^ed invaluable, the station having been entirely de})endent upon it at one period during the severe drought which has continued almost without intermission for two years. A building on one of the acquired pieces of land was removed to the southwest end of the reservation and fitted up as a residence for the foreman. Wire fencing was constructed around the orchard and superintendent's dwelling and a large number of shade trees set out. The four new breeding-ponds for the large-mouthed black l)ass necessitated the collection of additional brood tish from the San Marcos River, the stock being increased during the winter to 360, not includ- ing 90 eighteen-mouths-old fish which have been reared under domes- tication. The spawning season of the black bass began over a week later than in past seasons, not a nest being observed until February 18, whereas the first nesting has usually occurred from February 8 to 10. The first ivj made their appearance on March 10, but the weather at this time was very cold, the water temperature being 68*^, and nearly all of this school died. During the year 103,580 large-mouthed black bass were transferred from the breeding-ponds and 81,260 distributed. The 70 adult crappie on hand were placed in a breeding-pond pre- pared for them, together with the necessary number of carp for keep- ing the water roily. During the year 6,490 were removed from the ponds and 4,455 distributed. This fish is considered as invaluable for the muddy lakes and streams of Texas, being a prolific breeder, rapid in growth, and a fine table fish. Its propagation has hardly advanced beyond the experimental stage, however. The breeding season opens in March, continues well into the summer, and young fish have fre- quently been observed spawning during the fall months. Early in the spring 38 bream were placed in one of the breeding- ponds and commenced nesting late in April. The spawning season of this species extends through the summer into early fall. During the year 3,410 young fish were taken from the pond and 2,830 distributed. The rock bass is the most desirable pond fish cultivated at the station for ponds of an acre or less in area. These fish begin to spawn early in March and the spawning season continues until July. During the 3'^ear 9,360 were transferred from the ponds and 4,555 distributed. The brood stock on hand at the close of the year consisted of 5 adult fish brought from Neosho in the winter of 1898 and 25 two-year-old fish. These were placed in two ponds previous to the spawning season and from them a good crop of young fish is expected for distribution the coming season. Of the 10 calico bass received from Neosho in the winter of 1898, 6 64 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. remain, unci these, with 17 two-j-ear-okl li.sh, were placed in two ponds previous to the spawning season, which began March 10. The product from this brood stocl^ during the year amounted to 1,450 young fish. At the close of the year the ponds had not been drawn, but the young fish seen in them appeared to be about one-third larger than rock bass of the same age. The question of fish food is an important one in the conduct of a pond station. As most of the streams in the vicinit}' from which sup- plies of food have been obtained in previous 3^ears had dried up, it was difficult to secure natural food in abundan.ce and cannibalism among the young was much more prevalent as a result. Carp and mud shad have been propagated for a supply of fish food. The carp are placed in the ponds with the bass, where the young make excellent food for the fry. River shrimp have been planted in the ponds in large num- bers, but as they have no protection are soon devoured. They make very excellent food for all kinds of fry in the ponds. Crawfish, also a valuable food supply, have been scarcer than for the past four years. Bullfrogs breed in the ponds, but were not so plentiful as in former seasons. Their young make fine food for the adult bass. Blind cave salamanders and shrimp continued to come up with the waters of the artesian well. It becomes necessarj^ in the protection of the fish to kill many wild ducks, other water fowl, and snakes, as they are ver}^ destructive to the young fish. With very few exceptions the railroads of the State have given free transportation for messengers with cans of fish and messengers return- ing with empt}^ cans, thus contributing ver}^ largel}^ to the success of the station. Neosho Station, Missouri (H. D. Dean, Superintendent). The construction work begun last year was continued throughout the year. The hatchery was reconstructed and changed from a low one-story to a two-story building, the oflice was enlarged, and a hot- water furnace was installed for heating the building. The hatching- room is now 28 by 36 feet, with space for 20 hatching-troughs and a capacity for 1,000,000 trout eggs. A room of the same size on the second floor is used for storage and workshop. Some necessary repairs were made on the residence and a new pond, 12,000 square feet in area, was constructed. Two of the old ponds were enlarged, deepened, and replied with l^-inch cypress, and a drainage sew^er 800 feet in length was constructed. Over 200 feet of retaining wall and gutter were constructed to protect the embankments on the north side of the station property, a cement concrete walk was built from the hatchery to connect with the walk on the south side of the driveway, and considerable grading was done around the ponds and grounds. This construction interfered somewdiut with fish-cultural w^ork, as some of the ponds were luidergoing repairs during the spawning season. RErURT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 05 Of the 51,500 3"oung' rainbow trout on hand at the beginninjj;- ot" the year 44,088 were distributed in the fall and 2,000 were held for rear- ing-. The adult rainbow trout were placed in the rearing-ponds early in December, and from them 487,011 eyed eggs were obtained. Of these, 91,290 eyed eggs were the product of 376 two-year-old female trout, being 63i per cent of the total number of green eggs taken from these young fish, and a much better percentage than usual for fish of this age. Of the eggs thus obtained 304,415 were shipped on assign- ment, 25,000 were distributed as fry when 3 months old, and 77,000 remained on hand at the close of the year. Shipments of eggs from other stations to be hatched and the prod- uct reared for the aquarium at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition were received as follows: Quinnat salmon eggs, 10,000, which were hatched, and the product at the close of the year amounted to 0,900 young fish; landlocked salmon, 5,000, which nearly all died in hatching, only about 200 remaining at the close of the year; steelhead, 10,000, which hatched well and grew nicely, the product on hand at the close of the year being 6,400; grayling, 25,000, large numbers of which died in process of hatching, though 8,000 remained at the close of the year and were in fine condition. In addition to the propagation of the Salmonidse above referred to, the various fishes pi'opagated in ponds were handled at the station, and while the work during the year was not entirel}^ successful, 32,905 yearlings were distributed, as follows: 18,400 rock bass, 3,251 straw- berry bass, 9,514 black bass, and 1,800 sun-fish. Leadville Station, Colorado (E. A. Tulian, Superintendent). At the beginning of the year there were on hand 200,800 brook-trout fingerlings, of which 30,000 \vere planted during the month of July, 9,000 in August, 53,000 in September, and 35,500 in October, the losses during this time amounting to about 51 per cent. The usual arrangements were made for the collection of brook-trout eggs in the fall from lakes belonging to private individuals, and the results of the work are embodied in the following statement: Source of supply. Spawning season. Eggs col- ^--^^- leeted. j^^^ Fry hatched. shipped. Station brood fish.. Uiieva Lake Smitn's ponds Wellington Lake . . Young's ponds Musgrove's ponds . Derrv's ponds Black Lake Oct. 3 Oct. 23 Oct. 21 Nov. 1 Oct. 10 Oct. 14 Oct. 28 Oct. 28 to Dec. 6 to Nov. 27 to Dee. 5 to Nov. 28 to Nov. 23 to Nov. 26 to Dec. 7 to Nov. 2 235, 300 261,700 197, 300 1, 303, 400 1, 013, 700 569, 300 225, 300 443, 800 31 13.5 12.3 15.9 21.9 22. 8 226,500 128, 300 944, 200 680,800 257, 100 182, 000 378, 700 162, 540 153, 400 111,700 183,200 Total . 4,249,800 797,600 I 635,840 Reference was made in last year's report to the improvement in the percentage of eggs which produced fry owing to the fact that the practice of stripping young fi^h had been discontinued. This year the F. C. 1902 6 66 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. lines were drawn somewhat closer, and when in doubt as to whether a fish was spawning for the first time or not it was put aside without taking the eggs. As a result the loss on each lot of eggs was from 20 to 50 per cent less than on lots taken from the same places last year. Undoubtedly a very much larger percentage of eggs would produce strong, healthy fry were it possible to secure the eggs from wild fish without confining them for a considerable period, during which time it is necessary to handle them over and over again; but the conditions under which the collection of eggs is made in Colorado are such that there is no other practicable way, and most of the wild fish must be caught earlv in the season and penned until ripe. After the eggs were eyed 675,000 were shipped on assignments, and in every instance the assignments reached their destination in good condition. One case of 25,000 eggs was sent to Tokyo, Japan, with a loss of 12 per cent en route and a subsequent loss of 2,000 during the period of incubation. Although the total number of eggs taken was somewhat less than the number taken last year, the percentage of fry hatched was greater than last year, and the number of fish available for distribution propor- tionally greater. On May 20, when all the brook-trout eggs had been hatched, there were on hand 2,664,440 fry, of which 1,087,115 belonged to the Commission and 1,577,325 to the parties who had furnished the eggs. Between this time and the end of the fiscal year there was a loss of 6i per cent of the fry belonging to the Commission; 745,000 were planted, and there remained on hand 271,000. Of the 68 adult Loch Leven trout on hand at the beginning of the year 33 died, and during the months of November and December 30,600 eggs were obtained from the remainder, from which 18,500 fry were hatched; 3,000 of the fry were distributed in June, and tho balance on hand at the close of the year amounted to 2,450. The eggs were of inferior quality, as the parent fish were past their prime. The introduction of the Loch Leven trout has not proved very suc- cessful, and its propagation will be discontinued. Of 1,525 two-year-old rainbow trout on hand July 1, 1901, 675 died and 200 were shipped on assignment, leaving 650 on hand at the close of the year. There were also 6,790 fr}^ in the rearing-ponds, of which 5,000 were shipped and 1,790 died. During the months of February and MarcL, 109,800 eggs were collected f rom Ridgway's ponds, 50,000 were acquired from the station at Manchester, Iowa, and 100,000 were purchased from J. P. Morrill, Verdi, Nev. These eggs produced 227,075 fry, of which 160,000 were distributed during the month of June, 41,550 were returned to the owner of the ponds, the balance being lost. In February 25,000 lake-trout eggs were received from the Duluth Station, and hatched with a loss of 900. The fry from these eggs did not do well, 10,600 of the young dying before the close of the year. Out of 76 three-year-old grayling in stock at the beginning of the REPUKT OF COMMISSlONEli OF F18H AND FISHERIES. 67 year, onh' 15 renuiined iit the close of the year. The doiiiestication of the g-rayling has not proved a siiecess, the few lish on hand hav- ing l)een carried for experimental purposes. On the 21st of May 181,200 eyed grayling c^^ys were received from the Bozeman Station, 120,000 of which hatched, and during the month of June a distribu- tion of 100,000 fry was made in Colorado waters. On the 23d of May 35,000 steelhead eggs were received from the collecting station atMedford,Ore. , from which 34,090 fry were hatched, and 33,900 healthy and rapidly growing fish remained on hand at the end of the year. On the 26th of February 10,000 landlocked-salmon eggs were received from Craig Brook Station, from which 9,800 fr}^ hatched, and at the close of the year 9,450 remained on hand. At the beginning of the year there were on the hatching-trays 1,317,800 l)lack-spotted trout eggs, to whicli may be added the collec- tions during the m^nth of July, amounting to 863,900. Of the 2,181,700 collected, 175,000 eyed eggs were shipped elsewhere and the balance hatched, with a loss of 17.6 per cent. The distribution of these fish was made during the fall, when 847,000 were planted for the Commission and 560,000 for the owner of Grand Mesa Lakes, the point of collection. During the month of June, 3,016,700 eggs were collected at Grand Mesa Lakes, and the loss to June 30 was 106,000, or 3i per cent, leaving on hand at the close of the year 2,910,700. For two months during August, September, and October the super- intendent was detailed to collect statistics and methods of the fisheries in Utah and Colorado. During this time the station was in charge of W. K. Hancock, fish-culturist. No material improvements were made at the station during the year in the way of new constructions, although, so far as the funds would permit, the property was kept in good repair. A new tin roof was laid on the kitchen, coal-shed, and storeroom of the messhouse. A small room was built in the workshop, with an inside lining of tin, in which to store seines and nets. The grounds were inclosed by a Page woven-wire fence along the south side and the greater part of the west side, and the balance of the west side was inclosed with a barbed- wire fence. The stock of fish on hand at the close of the year is shown by the following table: Calendar year in which fish were hatched. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. Brook trout 271,000 2,460 26 1,000 35 650 Grayling 15 7,500 9,450 33, 900 Landlocked salmon Klack-spotted trout 8 1 Total . . c.-o 84 ' 68 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Spearfish Station, South Dakota (D. C. Booth, Superintendent). During the year the station grounds were materially improved by the construction of a stone bulkhead 82 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 6 feet high across the canyon outlet, and a channel, in places 6 feet deep and 8 feet wide, was cut through the upper grounds to connect with the storm channel constructed last year. Although still incomplete, the channel is sufficiently large to care for sudden accumulations of water from the canyon during ordinar}^ rains, and has during the past year carried off the surface water, thus preventing the pollution of the water supply to the hatchery, and as a consequence the percent- age of eggs hatched was higher than heretofore. During the summer much trouble was experienced owing to a decrease in the volume of . the spring-water supply, which is the main source of supply for the hatchery and ponds. From time to time, as the regular force could be spared from the fish-cultural work, and with some temporary assistance, the sources of the springs rising on the reservation in the canyon were developed with gratifying results, and it is believed that by continuing this work the present volume of water can be doubled. A driveway was laid to grade through the station grounds, and, together with other completed portions of the grounds, sown to grass. Shrubs of various kinds were planted, and 47 shade trees were set out. The fish on hand at the beginning of the year in course of rearing were distributed as lingerlings and ^^earlings during the summer and fall, with the exception of a lot of rainbows which were retained to rear for a brood stock. The output amounted to 73,500 brook trout, 5,000 Loch Leven trout, and 10,000 rainbow trout. On the 1st of July there were on hand 1,200,000 black-spotted trout eggs at the collecting station in the Yellowstone Park. As soon as the eggs were properl}^ cn^ ed they were packed in refrigerator cases in lots of about 250,000 each and transported 74 miles by wagon to Cin- nabar, Mont., thence by rail to Spearfish, where they were hatched, and during the fall and winter 382,000 fry were distributed to applicants or planted in the waters of the Black Hills. The substation in the Yellowstone National Park was again opened in the early part of June, 5 men being detailed for the collection of eggs at that point. At the close of the year there were in the troughs 1,934,000 eggs. During the fall the brood stock of brook trout at the station was largely increased by seining the creeks in the vicinity of the station, and resulted in a larger collection of eggs from this source than in pi-evious 3^ears. During the early fall arrangements were made with persons in the vicinity of the station who had a supply of stock fish to collect and hatch the eggs at the station on shares. The first eggs were taken October 26 and the spawning season continued until Janu- ary 14, when the last eggs were taken from the 1)rood fish at the sta- tion. The total number of brook-trout eggs collected from all sources amounted to 1,005,000, of which 112,000 green eggs were given to the REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OK FISH AND FISHERIES. 69 owners of stock tish, 113,477 were lost during- incul)at.ioii, 355,000 ej^ed egg!S were shipped to other stations, and the l^alancc produced 496,523 fry. Of the fry, 50,023 were lost in the hatciiery, 77,500 were given to the owners of stock lish, 269,000 were distributed as f r3^ during May and June, and at the close of the year 100,000 fry remained on hand in course of rearing for distribution as tingerlings and yearlings. The Loch Leven trout at the station began spawning October 23 and linished November 29, when 16,375 eggs had been collected. The product of these eggs amounted to 14,000 fi-y, which were distributed during Ma}^ and June. On February 10th 50,000 rain])ow-trout eggs were received from the Manchester Station in good condition. The 41,500 fry from these eggs were distributed to various applicants and planted in streams on the Rosebud Reservation and in Spearfish Creek. Between March 20th and May 31st 3,670 adult rainbow trout were seined in the Laramie River and Sodergreen Lake, about 20 miles south of Laramie City, Wyo. Only 183, or 5 per cent, of these fish produced any eggs, the total collection amounting to 170,000, which, after being eyed at the hatchery of the Wyoming Fish Commission, were divided equally between the Laramie State hatchery and the Spearfish Station, the latter receiving 75,000, the product of which at the close of the 3^ear amounted to 60,000 fry. At the close of the vear the stock of fish on hand was as follows: Species. Eggs. Calendar year ir which fish were hatched. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. 100,000 690 2,239 1,000 104 Loch Leven trout 60,000 5,000 Black-spotted trout 1,934,000 390 54 Total 1,934,000 160,000 5,000 2,929 390 1,158 BozEMAN Station, Montana (James A. Henshall, Superintendent). The work at this station was confined to the propagation of brook trout, black-spotted trout, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, Montana grayling, and the collection of eggs at auxiliary stations. The work at the auxiliary station for the collection of black-spotted trout eggs at Henry Lake, Idaho, was in charge of Mr. W. F. Jarvis, who took the first eggs April 4 and the last May 24. From 700 females there were obtained 871,500 eggs, an average of 1,200 per fish. Ripe males were very scarce during the season, and the loss of nearly a half million eggs is to be attributed to this cause. Besides the eggs trans- ferred to the Bozeman Station, 235,000 were shipped to other stations and applicants, one assignment going to Belgium. The temperature of the water in the hatchery during the season varied from 40° to 54° F., the water in the spring pool being much influenced by the air temperature. 70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The auxiliary station at Red Rock Lake, Montana, for the collection of grayling- eggs, was in charge of Mr. G. H. Tolbert. The first eggs were taken on April 21 and the last on May 31. Ripe fish of both sexes were ver}^ plentiful, and the number of eggs collected could have been greatly augmented had the station been equipped with more hatching-jars, in which the eggs are eyed. The collection amounted to -1,4:63,000 eggs, which were eyed in 21 jars. In addition to the eggs shipped to Bozeman Station there were shipped to other stations and applicants 1,455,000. More than 2,000,000 were hatched and the fry planted in streams contiguous to the substation. The temperature of the water in the hatchery varied from 49^ to 53'^ during the season. Mr. Tolbert reports that the streams are swarming with yearling grajding from the plant of last season, which indicates that grayling fry thrive well, when planted early. The number of eggs collected at Bozeman Station and received from the auxiliary stations during the year numbered 1,429,000, as follows: Black-spotted trout, 615,000; steelhead trout, 83,000; rainbow trout, 2,000; brook trout, 129,000; grayling, 600,000. The number of eggs received from other stations during the j^ear was 282,700, as follows: Brook trout, 197,000; rainbow trout, 47,000; lake trout, 38,700. During the year 2,946,000 fry and fingerlings were distributed in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, as follows: Black-spotted trout, 262,000; brook trout, 24,000; steelhead trout, 10,000; grayling, 2,650,000. The water in the hatchery at the Bozeman Station is uniforml}' 45'-' during the winter and 44° during the summer months, when the snow is melting in the mountains. During the past fall the wall of the warm spring was raised and extended, giving a fall of 18 inches to the creek-water ditch. As the water of this spring is 77^ during the entire year, it keeps the water in the ditch from freezing in the winter, thus insuring a constant supply of creek water the year round. After the fry are hatched in the spring water it is shut off and the creek water is utilized for the iry. As it never rises above 65° in summer, con- tains a great deal of natural food, is more highly aerated, and is clear and pure after the spring rise, or from the middle of June, it is preferable to the spring water for the fry. The different species of trout sent out from the station have done exceedingly well wherever planted. The steelhead trout and brook trout have shown a growth quite remarkable, in some instances weigh- ing 3 pounds at little more than 2 j^ears of age where the supplv of natural food was abundant. There was sent to the station a black- spotted trout 2i years old that weighed 8 pounds dressed. It had been placed, with others of the same liatching, in a carp pond near Toston, Mont., which ma}" go to show the value of young carp as trout food. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 71 During- the past yenY there has been no evidence of disease among the fiy at this station. A few of the hhick-spottcd male trout were injured b}" fighting- and some by jumping against the supply pipes (hiring the spawning season, resulting eventually in their loss. The same causes also account for a slight loss of steelhead trout; otherwise all stock fish have done very well. They are fed on mush made of 1 part beef or sheep liver and 3 parts of mill shorts from which the bran has been taken. This food is well assimilated and taken with avidity. At the close of the fiscal year the following fish were on hand: Species. Calendar year in which fish were hatched. 1902. 1899. 1898. 1897. 249,000 225,000 21, 000 37,000 18,000 25,000 278 2,326 1,580 268 Blatk-siMittL'd trout Rainbow trout ■■■■i:.^74' 40 Lake trout Grayling i Total 575,000 1,614 4,184 268 Baird Station, California (G. H. Lambson, Superintendent). The work at this station is confined to the propagation of the quinnat salmon. At the beginning of the year the various racks were in place and some salmon had collected in the fishing pool; the cur- rent wheel used to supply the hatchery with water was in running order, and all hatching equipment had been cleaned and painted. During the month of July the spawning-house, fish-pens, whim, and seine reel were made ready for active operations. Twice during the season the current wheel broke down. The first time it was repaired b}' the station employees, but the second time it was necessary to replace the countershaft. On each occurrence the steam pump was operated during the time the current wheel was out of service and thus kept the hatchery supplied with water. Fishing began on August 16. when 4 ripe females were obtained. The following day 37,200 eggs were taken from 7 females. Fishing and spawning operations continued until September 25, when the season's operations with the summer run of salmon closed. The fall run of fish began October 25, with a catch of 8 ripe females, and the following day 66,400 eggs were obtained from 10 females. Fishing and spawning operations continued until November 25. From the summer run 7,375,520 eggs were taken from 1,203 females, or an average of 6,130 per fish. The fall run yielded 1,557,770 eggs from 233 females, or an average of 6,690 per fish. Of the total col- lections, amounting to 8,933,290 eggs, 5,706,410 were shipped to the California Fish Commission at its Sisson and Eel River stations, 30,000 were shipped to the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, N. Y., and 10,000 to each of the stations of the Commission at Neosho, Mo., 72 REPORT OP^ COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. and Manchester, Iowa. From the })alance of the eggs collected 2,115,560 healthy fry were planted in the McCloud River. The fry from the summer run, 811,900 in number, were planted just as the umbiUcal sac was absorbed, all the trough room being required for the eggs from the fall run. The fry from the fall-run fish were held in the troughs until April and when planted averaged about 2i inches in length. A lot of 100,000 fry from the fall run were reared in an earthen pond, and at the end of the season, when the plants were made, averaged slightly larger than those retained in the hatching-troughs. The method of stripping and fertilizing the eggs was the same process used during the past five years, with the exception that after the regular spawning all females were killed and opened to secure the balance of the eggs in them which could not be extruded in the regular way. These eggs were washed in a normal salt solution and then fer- tilized. As a result about 12 per cent more eggs were secured than if the usual methods had been pursued. The food for rearing the fr}^ consisted of liver, liver and mush mixed, and canned salmon. Heretofore much difiicult}- has been expe- rienced from feeding the canned salmon, as it dissolved in the water so quickly that the fish could not find particles large enough to eat and the water became so milky as to obscure the fish fi-om view. It also fouled the troughs, covering the sides and bottom with a greas}- scum, and collected on the gills of the young fish. Dui'ing the past season these diflSculties were obviated by sul)mitting the canned salmon to pressure in a press made for the purpose, somewhat similar to a hand cider-press. The moisture was pressed from the salmon until it could be squeezed in the hand like damp earth, and in this condition it held together well in the water and did not foul the troughs much more than liver or liver and mush. For experimental purposes eight troughs of fry of about the same age were set aside, four troughs being fed on nothing but canned salmon and the other four on liver at first and then a mush of liver and shorts. When the fry were planted there was no apparent difference in the size or condition of the two lots, the fr}^ fed on the canned salmon appearing as strong and healthy as any in the hatchery. The first cost of the canned salmon is about the same as that of the liver and mush, but it is alwaA's avail- able when once canned and the labor necessary to secure and prepare the liver and mush is avoided. On October 5 the foreman's cottage was reported on fire, and although all the emplo^^ees were at hand ready to do what was possible to extinguish the flames the building Avas entirel}" consumed within half an hour, the foreman losing nearly all of his personal effects. During the summer there were many fires on the hills and around the reservation. In September the fires entered the southern part of the reservation, endangering the Avoods back of the superintendent's residence. The spread of the flames was prevented by l)a("k-firiiig. KKPORT OF COMMISSIONER OK FISH AND FISHFRIKS. 78 On Jamiaiy 16 Colchoolooloo, one of tlie oldest and most infiuential Indians on the reservation, died in his hut. He was a consistent friend of the white people, and in former years saved the superintendent from ])eing killed by the Indians. His influence was always exerted toward keeping his people sober and industrious. He was buried on the reservation upon a hill, where he had selected a site for his grave. From October 18 to December 18 the superintendent was absent from the station, detailed to act as messenger in the transportation of a shipment of salmon eggs from San Francisco to New Zealand. On April 24 a quinnat salmon was noticed spawning in the river opposite the hatcher3^ It had about finished spawning, only 10 or 15 eggs being secured. It is not known whether this lish was a straggler from the fall and winter run or an earl}^ comer in the spring run. Battle Creek Substation, California (Operated from Baird Station). In order to determine the extent of the spring and summer run of salmon the racks had been put in place during the month of April. A large run of fish came into the seining-pool during the late spring and early sunmier, but owing to the extreme heat the}^ died without ripening. The experiment proved that there is a large summer run of fish in the creek, but it also proves that it is impossible to secure eggs from this run at the Battle Creek Station. A new stone-ballasted crib pier was constructed at the mouth of the ditch and the water turned in by the aid of a wing dam. All hatching-troughs and equip- ment were cleaned and asphalted and the general repairs about the station completed. The first fishing occurred October 22, when 13 ripe females were caught, and the following day from 41 ripe fish 238,700 eggs were taken. Fishing and spawning operations continued until December 1, when portions of the racks were washed out and the balance of the salmon on hand escaped. The total number of eggs collected amounted to 10,059,000, of which 705,000 were lost during incubation, and 9,354,000 were shipped to the Sisson Station of the California Fish Commission. The fry resulting from the eggs shipped to the Sisson Station were all planted in the Sacramento River and tributaries. The ordinary method of stripping the fish and fertilizing the eggs was pursued the same as at Baird, and after each stripping all the female fish were cut open to secure the balance of the eggs in them. The eggs were washed in a normal salt solution and then fertilized. By this method 1,512,630 eggs were obtained, or 15 per cent of the total take. The entire loss of eggs from all causes was 0.07 per cent. The method of handling the eggs was different from that followed at the Baird and Mill Creek stations in that after the second day they were left undisturbed until they emerged from the tender period or when the blastopore was fully closed, while at Baird and Mill Creek the eggs were picked daily. The results from this experiment were not 74 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. definite or satisfactoiy, as the eggs proved to be better thaii those at Baird Station and not as good as those at the Mill Creek Station. On November 28 a very heavy rainstorm occurred and b}^ night the creek was raised over 7 feet. A large amount of drift came down- stream and lodged against the racks and the entire force were engaged in removing it in order to save the racks. This work proved unavail- ing, and just as the men were ordered to desist C H. Storrs, a tempo- rary laborer, was caught b}' a log and killed. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death and exonerated the Commission from all blame. The work of clearing the racks in times of freshet is hazardous, but this is the first fatal accident that has occurred at any of the California stations, although there have been several narrow escapes. Toward the (;lose of the year racks were put across the mouth of the creek to turn the salmon into the river and force them up the McCloud, where they can be retained until ripe. The results of this experiment can not be foretold at the close of the year. Mill Creek Substation, California (Operated from Baird Station). This is a new station situated on Mill Creek, a stream which has its source in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in the northeastern part of Tehama County, and emptying into the Sacramento River from the east about a mile above the town of Tehama. Investigations made toward the close of the previous year demon- strated that there was a large run of salmon in this creek, and in order to take and eye the eggs a hatching-shed 80 feet long by 40 feet wide, with 10-foot studding and open on all four sides, was erected. A water suppl}^ of 1,000 gallons per minute was obtained by tapping a mill-race and thence conducting the water to a settling tank in the hatchery through 78 rods of ditch and 57 rods of flume. The water thus used is returned to the mill-race, and is furnished free of charge. In the hatching-shed 80 troughs, 15^ feet long, 11|^ inches wdde inside measure, and Gf inches deep, were erected. When fully equipped the hatchery will have a capacity of 10,000,000 eggs. A small tool-house and storehouse were also constructed. The site having been selected before the close of the last j^ear, the racks were all in place at the beginning of the year. The upper rack, 75 feet long, is composed of three stone-ballasted piers, upon which rest three double stringers. The racks are 14 in number, made in sections 5i feet wide and 9 feet deep, with a space of 2i inches between the slats. These racks rest upon stringers at the top and on the mud sill, which is placed across the stream at the bottom. The lower rack is constructed in the same way except that it is 85 feet long and has three V-shaped openings or traps, the angle of the V being upstream. The salmon of the summer run which were intercepted by the racks all died before becomint; ripe enough to spawn, death being due to the REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 75 extrcinel}' warm weather. The fall run was not larg-e l)ecau.se the creek wa.s very low, while at the same time the Sacramento was several feet above the low-water mark. The run Ix^gan during the last week in October, and fishing- commenced October 30 and continued at inter- vals until the close of the season on December 2, when 2,501,000 eggb had been secured from 451 female salmon. The loss during incubation was 141,000 eggs, or 0.055 per cent. All of the eggs were shipped to the California Fish Commission — 1,000,000 to the Price Creek hatchery and the remainder to Sisson. The method of fertilization was the same as at Baird and Battle Creek. As it has been found impossible to secure eggs from the summer run of tish at the Mill Creek Station, during the spring temporary racks were constructed across the mouth of the creek in order to turn the salmon back into the Sacramento River with the hopes that a large proportion of them would continue up the river and on to Baird Sta- tion, where the water is colder and the eggs can be taken. A large run of salmon passed up the river during May and June, and the fish were continually fighting the racks, but all were compelled to return to the river. Clackamas Station, Oregon (J. N. Wisner, in Charge). Mr. E. N. Carter, who was in charge of the station for the first six months of the year, having been relieved, Mr. J. N. Wisner, field superintendent, was placed in charge for the balance of the year, and on February 15 Mr. Carter was transferred to St. Johnsbury, Vt. The initial work of the 3"ear consisted in the care of the few fish on hand at the end of June, cleaning up of the station buildings, and the construction of a fence around the premises. On July 24 the con- struction of the rack across the Clackamas River a short distance below the station was undertaken and the work completed early in August. Owing to the fact that about 2,000 cords of wood were being floated down the river, it was necessary to construct a boom above the rack on either side of the river to a point in the rack where a gate was made to allow of its passage. This gate was constructed of 1-inch boards, 4 inches wide, placed with their edges to the current and hinged to an iron rod below the surface. After the rack had been completed the employees were set to work on the bed of the river, which was cleared of bowlders and snags and put in condition for fish- ing. Live pens were made for retaining the salmon, and other work preparator}' to the fishing season was done. Fishing with gill nets began on the evening of September 22, and on the following morning 43,000 eggs were taken from eight ripe females. The run of fish gradually increased until October 15, when 194 were taken, 94 being females, and from these 412,000 eggs were secured, making the largest single day's work of the season. By November 8th 10,018,000 eggs had been collected, and as the capacity 76 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. of the station was taxed to its utmost it was necessaiy to discontinue collections. The rack was at once opened, that the remaining salmon might have free passage to the upper waters for spawning. A large portion of the rack was saved and stored for future use. The total loss of eggs w^as 1,347,850. or abovit 13 per cent of the entire collection. The females were spawned in the same manner as that practiced throughout the Columbia River territory, except that after the greater portion of the eggs had been removed an incision was made in the belly of the tish, the eggs shaken free from the enfolding sac, and then pressed from the vent. In this manner the egg take was added to materially, but the eggs thus taken were not of the best qualit3\ On November 10, after a period of incubation of tifty days, the eggs began hatching, and owing to lack of space it became necessary to plant the greater portion of the fry as soon as they hatched. With the view to affording them as nmch protection as possible, a series of dams was thrown across the small branch leading from the hatchery to the Clackamas, it having first been cleaned, and into the small ponds thus made throughout its length the fry were liberated. By eTanuary 1 over 6,000,000 fry had been planted, and the balance, 2,412,000, were held in troughs and outside tanks to be reared for a time upon artificial food. In each tank 36,000 fry were placed and in each trough 18,000, but on January 9 it was necessarj^ to thin them out b}" distribution, leaving 15,000 in each tank and 5,000 in each trough. The fry loss for the year amounted to 128,866, or 1.48 per cent of those hatched. During September and October 220,000 ej^ed quinnat-salmon eggs were received from the Oregon Fish Commission. Of these, 10,000 were loaned to the Portland Carnival in connection with its exhibit and 175,472 fr}^ hatched from the remainder were planted in the Clackamas River. In February 900,000 white-fish eggs were received from the North- ville, Mich., Station, and after being successfully hatched the result- ing fry, numbering 750,000, were planted in Lake Sequalitchew, Washington, In July and August the rainbow and brook -trout fry carried over from the previous year were planted under the direction of the Oregon Fish and Game Association. In one of the rearing-tanks 20 quinnat salmon had been held until 18 months old, and on June 26, 1902, copper .tags were placed upon them and they were liberated in the Clackamas River. At the request of the committee in charge a model salmon hatching- house was installed as an exhibit at a carnival held in Portland, Oreg. All the equipment used was made one-third the regular size and was furnished by the committee. The Conmiission loaned cans, packing, and such other articles as could be spared. Tiie installation of this exhibit was under the direction of the superintendent until completed, REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 77 and it proved to be very interesting and instructive to the visitors at the carnival. On the '25th of February 100,000 brook-trout eggfs were received from the Leadville, Colo., Station, and early in March another shipment of the same number came from the same place. These eggs were received in line condition, hatched well, and the resulting fry, after ])eing fed for a short time, were planted in waters of Oregon and AVashington. On March 10 a shipment of lake-trout eggs was received from the Duluth, Minn., Station in good condition, and began hatching March 23. The loss of fry was heavy, but was due to the fact that one of the screens clogged up, forming a current, which destroyed a large number. The fry were planted in Lake Sequalitchew, Pierce County, Wash., and in waters in Oregon. During May 10,000 cut-throat trout eggs were received from Verdi, Nev., and the fry hatched from them were planted in waters in Clack- amas County, Oreg. On Ma}^ 23 the lirst shipment of steelhead eggs, numbering ttOjOOO, was received from the Rogue River Station, and on June 3 a second lot of 30,000 arrived in good condition. The eggs hatched well, and at the close of the year the fry were doing nicely. The food used consisted at first of pure liver and later of liver mixed with Germea. This was prepared by stirring the Germea into very hot water, to which a little salt had been added, and then grinding the mixture with the liver to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Rogue River Station, Oregon. This station was operated as a substation of Clackamas. The con- struction of the rack across the river to stop the ascent of the quinnat salmon was commenced on July 6 and completed within live days, the expense of building it being much less than usual, as most of the niaterial in the last year's rack was again utilized. For the remainder of the month and during the early part of August the time of the men was taken up in general repaii's to the equipment preparatory to the opening of the salmon work, and in making various improvjments, the most important being the construction of a large water-wheel capable of lifting 100 gallons of water per minute, and the erection of 28 hatching-troughs. A strong boom was also anchored in the river above the wheel to protect it from driftwood, and a large supply tank was built. The money for making these improvements was furnished by Hon. R. D. Hume. The lishing season opened August 20, when 2 ripe females were stripped, and from that time to the end of Octo])er eggs were obtained dailv, the total collections aggregating .5,f>01,0i)0. The entire number of ripe females stripped was 1,.51.5, and the largest take of eggs was on ()ctol)er 21, when 385,000 were secured. The last eggs were taken on November 5, and on the 2Gth of that montli one-third of the sea- 78 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. son's take was shipped to Hon. R. D. Hume, Wedderburn, Greg., to be hatched and liberated by him in the Rogue River at that point. The balance of the eggs hatched at the station with a loss of 11.10 per cent, and on December 14 the first plant of frj^ was made. Early in the winter an effort was made to feed a lot of 100,000 in the rearing- tanks, but by January 26 the weather became so cold that it was impossible to keep the water running and the fry were liberated. Plants of fry were made from time to time during the winter, though as many as could be accommodated were retained for rearing to the fingerling stage, the last of them being released on May 22. The food giA-en these fish consisted entirel}" of canned salmon, and they seemed to thrive on it until they were about 2 months old, after which time they began dying in large numbers and were immediately distributed. The Elk Creek Substation was again operated for the collection of eggs of the steelhead and silver salmon. A dam 125 feet long and 10 to 15 feet wide was constructed in the creek about a mile from the hatchery, the old location 10 miles above the station having been abandoned, as it was found that a large number of the fish spawned before reaching that point. The dam was very solidly built of logs and rocks, with false and solid aprons alternating. The false aprons were filled with rock to give the necessary weight, and around one end of the dam a 4-foot channel was blasted and a trap placed in it. Toward the center of the dam were bowlders, around which the fish jumped, and it was found that by putting a slide upon some of these the fish would fall into it and be carried into the trap on the opposite end of the dam. Only one trap was in operation at the opening of the season, but later the number was increased to three. A series of substantial live-pens was constructed above the dam. Between the 18th of November and 6th of December 500,000 silver salmon eggs were taken from 268 females. These hatched with a loss of 63,000 eggs, and in April 424,530 fry were deposited in the Rogue River at Trail, Oreg. The steelhead work opened February 18, but the conditions early in the season were all unfavorable. There was a scarcity of males, and in many instances it was necessary to impregnate the eggs of several females with the milt of a not fully matured male. The weather was also cold and rain}^ and the water higher than normal. At the close of the season — May 11 — the total collections amounted to 617,000. The number of ripe females used was 290. As soon as the eggs had developed sufficiently 481,000 were shipped on assignment, one case of 25,000 being forwarded to an applicant in Germany. The loss on the 126,000 eggs retained for hatching was very heavy, only 20,250 fry resulting from them. These were released in the Rogue River on May 29. The method of taking and fertilizing the eggs was the same as in pre- vious years, and the heavy mortality during incubation is attributed to the unfavorable conditions existing during the collecting season. KEPORT OF ('OMMlSbK)NEli OF FISH AND F18HFKIES. 7{) Lirri,io Wiiri'K Salmon Station, WAsniNciTON. Altliouoh :i sul)statioM of Clackamas, this station i,s more important than the head .station in all branches oi" the work. From it are oper- ated the substations on Ihe Bi same manner of handling tlu> fish was in vogue as at the Little White Salmon. During the season 872 females were taken, from Avhich were secured 3,415,000 eggs, showing the average production per fish to have been 3,916. From the eggs tjiken at this station, and from the 741,932 taken at Tanner Creek and shipped REPORT OF COMMieSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 81 to this point, there were hatched 3,075,000 fiy, which were distributed with a loss of 330,500. Considering the fact that there were no build- ings at the station and that it was but the second year of operation, and also that it was impossible to start the work until late in the season, the results are considered very good. At Eagle Creek the eggs collected were eyed in troughs set up tem- porarily and supplied with water by a flume from the creek. Owing to the rough bottom of the creek it was impossible to follow any defi- nite method of Ashing, but so far as possible the fish were caught in downstream traps. The traps could hardly deserve the name, being nothing more than slats and slabs placed wherever practicable between the bowlders. Besides these traps, seines and dip nets were used. The total number of eggs collected amounted to 715,000, which were secured from 140 females, an average of 4,897 per fish. Of these, 90,132 were lost during the period of incubation, 598,868 eyed eggs were shipped to the Little White Salmon Station, and 26,000 eggs were left at the point of collection and planted in Tanner Creek. The station was cared for throughout the season by two men, and, considering the fact that it was operated for the first time, the work is thought to have been very successful. At Tanner Creek troughs, lumber, tools, tent, and a complete outfit were set up which had been sent over by boat from the Little White Salmon Station. The fish were caught by means of racks and downstream traps, and troughs were set up beside the creek in a most temporary manner, with a flume 700 feet in length leading to it from the creek as a water supply. The first eggs were taken September 12, when 6,000 were obtained from 2 females, and from this date the collecting season continued with an average daily take of 33,516 for twentj'^-four days. The total take for the season amounted to 801:,-i00, which were secured from 234 females. The loss of eggs during the eying period was 43,468. Of the 786,932 eggs e^'ed 45,000 hatched before it was possible to get them away from the station, and 741,932 were shipped to Big White Salmon Station to be hatched in the new troughs set up at that place. The work at this point, as at the Big White Salmon and Eagle Creek, was all done out of doors. The crew of two men lived in a tent, cooked for themselves, and did all the work. The hatching troughs were set up in the open air with no shelter except boards laid across the top of them as covers. Baker Lake Station, Washington (H. H. Bitck, Superintendent). The opening of the fiscal year found the racks in place on the river above the lake, as work on them had been diligently prosecuted throughout the preceding month. Seven racks were built, but there were still some sloughs and low places which it was impracticable to 02 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. close cntirel\' at high stages of the water. Notwithstanding the fact that the racks stood and were carefully attended, it was found, as the season adv^anced, that the fish ascended the river. This makes six years that the problem of blocking the salmon from the upper river has been tried without success. Some other method of capturing the fish must be devised. During the summer 100 new egg baskets were made of wire with 5i meshes to the inch, and these proved more satisfactorj^ for hatching blueback-salmon eggs than the former size of 5 meshes to the inch. The spawning season of the blueback salmon opened September 5 and lasted until October 26. Low water, which had prevailed through- out the summer, continued, and the run of fish in the lake was the smallest that has ])een noted. In all, 8,604,000 blueback eggs and 50,000 quinnat-salmon eggs were secured, which hatched with a normal loss of 8.7 per cent. These were all phmted as fry in the waters of Baker Lake between February 22 and June 4. Silver salmon, as usual, spawned in large numbers in the sloughs at the head of the lake, but no attempt was made to collect eggs from this species l)ccausc it is not thought best to allow them to dispute tlie limited area of Baker Lake with the more valuable l)hiebacks, and there are no facilities for transporting the eggs from the hatcher}' to other points for distribution. Early in December the auxiliary station at Birdsview was opened under the direction of Mr. Henry O'Malley, and preparations were made to collect eggs of the steelhead trout from Phinney and (Irandy creeks. The heavy wintc rains made the maintenance of the racks difficult on Phinney Creek and they were twice washed out. The tem- porary hatchery erected at this point last year was used as a base of operations, but the greater number of eggs were secured on Grandy Creek, and considerable inconvenience and a heavy loss of eggs re- sulted in transporting them over the 5 miles of rough country which separates the creeks. It is recommended that the temporary hatchery be removed to Grandy Creek. In all, 408,000 eggs were collected and hatched, with a loss of 18 per cent. Of the resulting fry, 110,000 were planted in the tributaries of the Skagit River during the last days of June and 223,815 were on hand at the close of the year. EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Details of diatrihution. 83 Spofie.s niul disposition. Eggs Fry and (iiiger- lings. Adults and yearlings. Shad: Cahiiba River, Centervilo, Ala Connecticut Fish Commls,sion, Stratford, Conn .. Hadlymo, Conn .., Brandywinc Creek, Wilmington, Del Nantlcoke River, Seaford , Del Lelpsic Creek, Clayton, Del Leipsic Creek, Cheswold, Del St. .Tolins Creek, Dover, Del , Murddck Creek, Felton, Del Mispillii.n Creek, Milford, Del Murderkill Creek, Klleiubile, Del Indian River, Millsboro, Del Potomac River, opposite Fish Lakes, D. C above Georgetown, D. C Bathing Beach, D. C Suwannee River, Suwannee, Fla , Bramford, Fla Ichetucknce River, Ichetacknee, Fla Santa Fe River, High Springs, Fla Withlacoochee River, Istachatta, Fla Ancloto River, Tarpon Springs, Fla Aucilla River, Aucilla, Fla Ocklocknee River, Ocklocknec, Fla Little River, Quincy, Fla Apalachicola River, River Junction, Fla St. Johns River, East Palatka, Fla Tomoke River, Ormond, Fla Spruce Creek, Spruce Creek, Fla Peace Creek, Wauchula, Fla Lake Tohope Kaliga, Kissimmee, Fla Ogeehee River, Midville, Ga Savannah River, Augusta, Ga Ocmulgee River, Macon, Ga Potomac River off Pamunkey Creek, Md Piseataway Creek, Md Bryan Point, Md Point of Rocks, Md Swan Creek, Swan Creek, Md Bush River, Bush River, Md Elk River, Elkton, Md Susquehanna River, Port Deposit, Md Havre de Grace, Md Gunpowder River, Gunpowder, Md North East River, Charlestown, Md Patuxent River, Laurel, Md Waukinko River, Wareham, Mass Assa womsett Pond, Middleboro, Mass Furnace Pond, South Hanson, Mass Delaware River, HowellsCove, N. J off mouth of Timber Creek, N. J. Lambertville, N. J Scudders Falls, N.J Washingtons Crossing, N. J Trenton, N.J Navesink River, Redbank, N. J Salem Creek, Salem, N.J Hudson River, Catskill, N. Y Cape Fear River, Wilmington, N. C Neuse River, Newbeme, N. C Kinston, N. C Trent River, Pollocksville, N. C Six Runs River, Clinton, N. C New River, Jacksonville, N. C Chowan River, Hornblower Point, N. C Eden House, N. C Reedy Point, N. C Pasquotank River, Elizabeth City, N. C Tar River, Washington, N. C Salmon Creek, Avoca, N. C Perquimans River, Hertford, N. C Roanoke River, Plymouth, N. C Neuse River, Goldsboro, N. C EdentonBay, Edenton, N. C Lake Waccamaw, Lake Waccamaw, N. C Chowan River, Hollevs Haul, N. C Susquehanna River, Fites Eddy, Pa Columbia, Pa Runnins River, Providence, R. I Shad Factory Creek, Providence, R.I Cooper River, Monks Corners, S. C Ashepoo River, Ashepoo, S. C ■150, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 2, 257, 000 2, 755, 000 83,200 124, 800 332, 800 416,000 416,000 124,800 582,400 450,000 350, 000 240, 000 240, 000 240, 000 270, 000 300, 000 520, 000 525, 000 525, 000 525, 000 525, 000 450, 000 225, 000 225, 000 COO, 000 COO, 000 450, 000 1, 6.50, 000 450, 000 2, 049, 000 8, 245, 000 5, 423, 000 COO, 000 2, 140, 000 688, 000 319, 000 600, 000 214,000 939, 000 230, 000 450, 000 400, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 4,435,000 400, 000 460, 000 450, 000 450, 000 512,000 450, 000 450, 000 2,123,000 956, 500 750, 000 750, 000 270, 000 1,000,000 300,000 2,103,000 2, 802, 000 1,245,000 1, 448, 000 728, 000 3,409,000 1,012,000 2, 623, 000 880, 000 1,269,000 400, 000 1,464,000 235, 000 363, 000 1,200,000 1,800,000 300, 000 900, 000 84 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and finger- lings. Adults and yearlings. S/iad— Continued. 1,625,000 413,000 Sampit Kiver, Georgetown, 8. C Edisto River, Jacksonboro, S. C . 1, 000, 000 500, 000 7,50,000 446,000 956, 500 686,000 2, 000, 000 1,090,000 4,835,000 1, 648, 000 Nottaway River, Courtland, Va Blackwater River Franklin Va Potomac River Occoquan Bav Va Little Hunting Creek Va Pohick Creek, Va Doves Creek, Va Total 104,986,000 2,000,000 Quinnat salmon: 2, 115,560 California Fish Commissfon, Sissou, Cal 14, 472, 380 2,008,030 1,000,000 Eel River, Cal Price Creek Hatcherv, Cal Lake Okoboji Spirit Lake Iowa 4,000 4, 462, 342 4,043,356 1, 757, 000 192,000 108,000 153,558 80,000 80,000 60,000 12,000 55, 100 36,000 36,000 12,500 920,000 2,151,363 4.5,000 23, 400 30,000 25, 000 11,000 15, 000 7,000 21,000 15,000 20,000 20, 000 10,000 Clackamas River Clackamas Oreg Cascade Locks Oreg Hood River, Hood River, Oreg Osterguarde Creek Oreg Shell Rock, Oreg The Dalles, Oreg . ... Eagle Rock, Oreg Seufert's cannerv, Oreg Lindsey Creek, Wasco County Oreg Des Chutes River, Free Bridge, Oreg Mill Creek, The Dalles, Oreg . . . Eagle Creek, Wasco County, Oreg Herman Creek, Wasco County, Oreg Willamette River, Portland, Oreg 1,866,000 Little White Salmon River Skamania County Wash 7,650,305 234,000 432,000 244, 000 72,000 2,024,390 450,000 160,000 62,558 61,600 37,000 89,000 1, 159, 276 36,000 15,000 39,000 50,000 Columbia Riyer, mouth of Dog Creek Wash Cooks Landing, Wash Underwoods, Wash Thirteen Mile Point, Wash Eagle Rock Wash Klickitat County, Wash Huntsucker Point Wash Rock Creek, Skamania County, Wash Haniiltdn Creek Skamania Countv Wash Baker Lake, Baker Lake Wash " Total : 19,346,410 29,337,308 Allantie salmon: Connecticut Fish Commission, Windsor Locks, Conn 200, 000 East Branch of Mattawiiinki^ai^ Kiver Oakfleld Me 48,715 70 650 Pleasant River, Brownville Me. 118,682 5,000 Phillips Lake, Bangor, Me 100,000 4,0.50 4,000 Total 300,000 56,765 282 000 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 85 Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and finger- lings. Adults and yearlings. Landlocked salmon: Gus Cushmaii Tellnrido Colo . 5,000 25, 000 Connecticut Fi**!! ('(iinini'<«i()n Windsor Locks Conn 8,000 30,880 Grand Lake Stream Grand Lake Stream Me 282,057 147,728 14, 945 Pliillips Lake Dedham Me 4,999 Toddy Pond Orland Me 10 723 4, 999 Moosehead Pond Moosehead Me 45 35,000 35,000 20, 000 Nickerson Lake Houlton Me ■20,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 20,000 1 E C Wood Plj'mouth Mass 1 Lake Winnepesaukee Laconia N H 1,000 Crystal Lake Grafton' N H ' 1 000 1,000 Granite Lake Keene N H 1,000 1,600 Tewksburv Pond Canaan N H 800 Lake Tarleton, Pi'ke Station, N. H 1,800 500 Sunapee Lake Lake Station N H 59 A. M. Bigelow.Branchville, N. J New York Fish Commission Caledonia N Y 10, 000 20,000 10,000 5,000 10,000 Wilmurt Club Northville N Y W.M.Keil, Tuxedo Park, N.Y 3,870 1,000 10,000 Clyde River Derby Vt 1,000 4,688 3,797 Long Pond Westmore Vt 2 240 Willoughby Lake Westmore Vt 400 1,599 Vermont Fish Commission, Roxbury, Vt J B Fielding North Wales England 35,000 10,000 Total 200,000 523,655 98, 565 Silver salmon: Rogue River Trail Oreg 90, 000 334,530 Total 424, 530 Blueback salmon: Baker Lake, Baker Lake, Wash 3,371,000 Sleelhead trout: 10, 000 12, 046 20,000 40, 000 30,000 10,000 20,000 10,000 10, 000 20,000 84 Thunder Bay River Turtle Lake Mich Greens and Floodwood creeks Leota Mich Little Au Sable River Fountain Mich 6,000 Fischer Creek Duluth Minn 5,000 5,000 Pickwick Creek Pickwick Minn 10,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 6,900 Lester French and Sucker rivers Duluth Minn Bridge Creek Gallatin Co Mont 10,000 1,319 20,250 28, 358 Bean Pond, Wheelock and Snyder, Vt 145 10, 000 6,930 Fairlie Lake. Fairlie'. Vt 850 86 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AISTD FISHERIES. Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs- Fry and finger- lings. Steelhead h. Van Etten Creek, An Sable, Midi Intermediate Lake, Bellairu, Mich Lake Hamlin, Ludmgton, Mich Spearfish Creek, Elmore, S. Dak Box Elder Creek, Benchmark, S. Dak. Spearfish Creek, Spearfish, S. Dak Trout Ponds, Roubaix, S. Dak Total Eainbow trout: Black Water Creek, Jasper, Ala Big Cove Creek Mill Pond, Gadsden, Ala Big Spring, Huntsville, Ala Applicants in Alabama Oak Creek, Jerome, Ariz Oak Creek, Flagstaff, Ariz Clear Creek, Jerome, Ariz Big Creek, Rich Mountain, Ark Fish Lake, Pine Bluff, Ark Spring Brook, Rogers, Ark Eagle River and Lake, Berrys Station, Colo Artificial Lake, Salida, Colo Fryingpan River, Thomasville, Colo Platte River, between Grant and Cliff, Colo Eagle River, Berrys Station, Colo Trout Lake, Grover, Colo Applicant at Sterling, Colo Copeland Pond, Seymour, Conn Connecticut Fish Commission, Windsor Locks, Conn. Applicants at Windsor Locks, Conn Beaver Pond, Pine Orchard, Conn Pembleton Creek, Ellendale, Del E. G. Shortlidge (State waters), Wilmington, Del .... Spring Lake, Cedartown, Ga Cherry Log and Rock creeks, Ellijay, Ga Tallulah River, Tallulah Falls, Ga Wolf Creek, Turnerville, Ga Anderson Creek, Turnerville, Ga Deep Creek, Turnerville, Ga Big Spring, Calhoun, Ga Fish Ponds, Calhoun, Ga Ivy Creek, Clarksville, Ga Santee Creek, Clarkesville, Ga Amys Creek, Clarkesville, Ga Crystal Lake, Dalton, Ga Pacolet Lake, New Holland, Ga Lookout Creek, Rising Fawn, Ga Fish Lake, Toccoa, Ga Applicant at Dalton, Ga Bee Creek, Olney, 111 Spring Brook, Bristol, Ind Trout Pond, Rolling Prairie, Ind Early Lake, Durant, Ind. T Crystal Lake, Dewitt, Iowa Snymagill Creek, McGregor, Iowa Spring Creek, McGregor, Iowa Maquoketa River, Forestville, Iowa Mill Creek, Bellevue, Iowa Lime Creek, Mason City, Iowa Upper Iowa River, Decorah, Iowa Big Cedar River, Osage, Iowa Turkey River, Cresco, Iowa Wapsipinicon River, Mclntire, Iowa Ionia, Iowa Upper Iowa River, Chester, Iowa Turkey River. Fort Atkinson, Iowa Red Cedar River, Charles City, Iowa Des Moines River, Estherville, Iowa 85,000 25,000 10,000 389,196 3,000 10,000 35,000 15,000 15,000 4,760 4,000 5,000 10,000 45,000 45,000 50,000 10,000 2, 500 2,000 50, 000 25, 666' 25, 000 25. 000 25, 000 25, 0(X) 30,000 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 87 Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Fry and finger- lings. 50, 000 Eaiiibow trout— Continued. Maquoketa River, Manchester, Iowa Spring Brunch, Manchester, Iowa Canaan Lake, Camden, Me Lake I'cnneesswasswee. Norway, Me Phillips Lake, Bangor, Me Twinings Branch, Behiir, Md ; Texas Branch, Texas, !Md ' Tnrkey and I'ainter branches, I'arkton, Md Spring" Branch, Garrett County. Md ' ' Muddy Creek, Garrett County, Md Fishing Creek, Frederick, Md Bennetts Creek, Frederick, Md ' Mine Branch, Minefield, Md Branch of Yonghiogheny River, Mountain Lake Park, Md . . . ' j North Blade Pond, Swanton, Md [ Brownings Dam, Oakland, Md White Oak Run, Oakland Md ' Marsh Run, Oakland, Md ' Trout Lake, Oakland, Md Lake Jorosa, Glyndon, Md North Branch and Paint creeks, Hyattsville, Md Maryland Fish Commission, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Md Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass Pine Grove Pond, Williamsburg, Mass Massachusetts Fish Commission, Hadley, Mass Wilkinsonville, Mass Hicks Brook, Millbury, Jlass West Creek, Hastings, Mich St. Marys Rapids, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich West Branch of Cedar River, Harrison, Mich Perch Creek, Sidnaw, Mich Tributaries of Paint Creek, Oxford, Mich Black River, Onaway, Mich Titibawassee River, West Branch, Mich Huron River, Milford, Mich Pigeon River, Rondo, Mich Lester River, Duluth, Minn Branch of Lester River, Duluth, Minn Fish Pond, Gloster, Miss Brazil Creek, Bourbon, ^lo , Flat Creek, McDowell, Mo , Lake of the Woods, Fulton, Mo Spring Lake, Republic, Mo Ash Cave Lake, Dixon, Mo Distillers Pohd, Southwest City, Mo , Galloway Cave Pond, Galloway, Mo , Bryant Creek, Mansfield, Mo Spring River, Verona, Mo Bennetts Mill Creek, Lebanon, Mo , Baker Lake, Dixon, Mo Hahatonka Lake, Hahatonka, Mo Fish Pond, Carthage, Mo Kansas City, Mo Exeter, Mo Hickory Creek, McMahons, Mo Bennetts Mill Spring, Bennetts Mill, Mo Schlichts Springs, Crocker, Mo Blue Lodge Spring, Bourbon, Mo R. D. Kellogg, Lebanon, Mo John A. Williams, Verona, Mo Nebraska Fish Commission, South Bend, Nebr , Penacook Lake, Concord, N. H Isinglass River, Dover, N. H Webster Lake, Colebrook, N. H Cocheco River, Dover, N. H Clias. B. Clarke, Concord, N. H Spring Brook, Ram.sey, N. J Fish Pond, Gallia, N.J Riegelsville, N.J Pecos River, Glorieta, N. Mex Gonzaloy Aroyd Creek, Springer, N. Mex Alamositos Creek, Springer, N. Mex Fish Pond, Springer, N. Mex Engle, N. Mex Las Vegas, N. Mex Dorsey, N. Mex Portales, N. Mex Indian Creek, San Marcial, N. Mex 5,000 b, 000 Wynantskill Creek, Troy, N. Y. Fish Pond, Hudson, N. Y Batten Kill Creek, Cambridge, N. Y 5,000 17, 500 6,000 5, 000 5,000 5,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 20, 000 12,000 Adults and yearlings. 9,450 11,640 50,000 12,675 5,700 5,900 88 RErOKT OF OOMMIrtSIONER OF FI8H AND FISHERIES. Dcta'ih of (lislrihulion — Coiit innefl. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and finger- ling.s. Adults and yearlings, Rainbow Meeuiii, N. V, 1,000 Clear Creek, Ilendersdiiville, N. C 1,000 Devils Creek, lliinlsihile. N. C 1,000 Hollow Poiilur Creek, Hollow Poplar, N. C 1,000 P...l.leti Cr.'ck, B.ildeii (;rcek, N. C 'I'niiil I'diid, Imrham, N. C 1,000 500 Mine iM.rk Creek Mine Fork, N. C 1,000 .lai'ks Cicek .lacks Creek N C ^ 1 000 Ap|>liean|, a(- Knxboro N C 200 (!. A. Sehenek, P.illniorc, N. C 2.5,000 Forest River, Inester, N. Diik 3,000 10,000 3,000 Ap|ilieanl at Amanda Ohio Indian Creek, \V Iward.Okla 1,000 JSorth Canadian River, oklalioma, Okla 1,500 Applicant at Mulliull, ok la 500 Necanicum Iviver, Seaside Oreg . 18, 746 Spring Lake, Chesi er Va 1 lev. Pa 200 Tribntarv of Susi|nebanna River, (!ush Creek, Pa 500 Musiineli) Creek, Will iains|M)rt,l'a ,... 1,000 Mounlain limok, Lands! reel, Pa Windsor Fnrniiee Creek, Ibunburg, J'a 1,200 700 Dolphin Rnn,.lohnst(.wn, Pa, 2,200 Norlli Kill Creek, Rotjesonia, Pa 600 Sand Spring linn, behiyh, Pa 500 Ash (Jap Rnii, Reliit,'li, i'a 500 Pond Creek Run, Lehigh, Pa 500 Tront Creek, Lehigh, Pa 500 Stony Knn, Mahanoy (^itv, I'a- 500 500 S(one Creek, llunlingdon Pa 1 500 S|iniee Creek, Sprnee Creek, Pa Shernums Run, Riddlosburg.Pa 700 Clear Run, Dubois, Pa 800 Hill Creek, Manslield, Pa 600 Bailev Creek, Manslield, Pa 600 Mill Creek, Manslield, Pa I'ish r(.nd, Hellevernou, Pa, 6(X) .lohnson Run, .iohnsonburg, J'a 800 Rabbit Run, 'raiiui(|ua, I'a 500 Cusheii Creek, (; rant. Pa 500 J''allingS|iring Creek, Chambersburg, Pa 800 6,000 Snu'ii r Creek, ( 'ol uniliia Cross Roads, Pa 1,200 TroutStreaui, JMeKlhatten, Pa 800 Ratlling Run, Cordon, Pa Locust, Creek, Maluuioy City, Pa 500 TroutStreaui, Mahanov City, Pa 500 North Fork Creek, .lohiistown, Pa Trout SIreaiiis llntchins Pa 800 Starrucea < 'reck, Starrueca, Pa 500 He form School I'ond, M organza. Pa 400 Clover Creek, Altoona, Pa hobs (Ueek, Altoona, Pa UK) Tom Creek. Stroudsburg, Pa. .'SOO Goose Pond Kun, Cresco, Pu 500 REPOKT (IF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISUEKIKS. 89 Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and finger- lings. Adults and yearlings. Hainhnw trout— Continued. Stonv Kuii.rrcsco, I'a .500 Huck Hill Kim,('rcsco,Pa 600 Mill ("ivok, Oii'sco, I'a 500 Si)rucc("iiliiii Run Cri'sco I'a 500 Fish I'ond, Noi risl, .wn, I'a 500 Marsh ("reek, Howard. I'a . 1,000 (ioldniino Creek 'rremont I'a .500 Good Spring ( 'nxk, Tniiioiit, I'a 500 Middle Cret'k Treiiioiit I'a .500 SwMlara Cri'ek 'I'ri^niont I'a • 600 600 Black Creek Treinoiit Pa 600 Trout I'ond, Radnor, I'a 500 Mitchell Rnn Snow Shoo Pa . 800 •lonalhan Riui Snow Shot' Pa COO Peeeh Creek, Snow Shoo, I'a . 1,400 (iOO OU'V Creek, ri)ner Lehit,di, Pa 1,000 Me("iinlv Hani Ashland I'a GOO Snrnce Creek, I'ottsville, I'a 500 Sprint,' Mead( .w Pond, Pedford, Pa Ston V Run, ■j'ower Citv, I'a 500 1,000 Pear R\ni Pear Run I'a 1 (iOO Swamp Rnn, Pear Run, Pa 1,000 Sprint< House Creek Penllyn.Pa 500 Trout Run, York, Pa , 500 Millers Run, York, Pa Pinoy Creek Martinslnirg Pa 500 Clover Creek , Mart iiisburg, Pa 500 Trout Pond Martinshurg Pa 500 Green Spring', Newville, Pa 1,200 500 Rock ]\nn Ralshm Pa COO 400 Warwick Lake, I'rovidenee.R.i 500 •J, 000 1,000 500 Saxon Mill Pond Spartanburg S C 500 Edwards Lake Campobello S C 500 Upper Spearlish Cre^'k Elmore, S Pak 6 000 Beaver (;ret>k, BulTalo (Jap, S. Dak 6,000 Srioarlish Creek, Spoarfish S. Dak •26, 500 15,000 Rock Creek Rosebud AKt'iiev S Dak Spring Lake, Paris, Teiiii Trout Pond Bolivar Tonn 1 000 1,200 Fish Pond, Chattanooga, Tcnn. 1 200 1,200 Willow Lake, Murfroo.sboro, Tenn Waterworks liesorvoir Murfreesboro Tenn 300 Fi.sh Pond, Santa Fe, Tcnn ' Roaring RiviT and Tributaries Algood Tenn 1 400 Bear ( 'reek, A Igood, Tenn 600 Spring Creek, Algood, Tonn . 700 1,000 Fish Pond, Mason, Tenn Rock Creek Rock Creek Tonn 3 000 '300 Beaver Dam Lake, Crandidl, Tonn 1,667 1,000 Fish Pond, Guthrie, Tenn Doak, Middle and Paint creeks Greeneville Tenn 1 000 W'atauga River, Neva, Tcnn 1,000 Sinking Crook, Newport, Tenn 500 Fish I'ond, Willard, Tenn 300 Flint Springs Lake, Cleveland, Tenn 600 Silver Lake Cleveland Tenn 500 Si.ring Crock, Cc.okeville, Tenn 1,000 Little River Rock lord, Tenn 1 025 Trout l'ono Brownings Dam, Oakland, Md 1,400 McHenry Branch Oakland Md .... 300 1,000 Reservoir, Cottage City Mass 16,000 1 000 1.33;? Lyon Brook, Fall River, Mass 1, :W3 Kirbv Brook, Fall River, Mass l,33t Emerson Brook, Uxbridge, Mass 3,000 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. \)6 Details of dislribution — Continued. Spocics iiiiil rtispositic Eggs. Jirodk trout— Coniinncd. City reservoir, Worcester, Ma.s.s Kiiiilhvood Cemetery Pond, Sharon, Mass riyiuoiUh River, Higham, Ma.ss T\vo inountain brooks, New L;'nox, Mass Trout Brook, Sprintjlield, Mass Coouemessott Ki vor, FaliiK nitli. Mass Mas.sachiisetts Fish Commission, Wilkinsonvillc, Mass Massachusetts Fish Commission, Hadley, Mass Looking Glass River, Portland, Mich Spring Brook, Kalamazoo, Mich Portage Creek, Kalamazoo, Mich Murray Lake, Grand Rapids, Mich McKinley Creek, Clare, Mich Russell Creek, Clare, Mich Trout Creek, Clare, ISIich Branch of Tobacco River, Clare, Mich Murray Lake, Mosley, Mich Cedar Creek, Harrison, IMich .Toas Creek, Harrison, Jlicli Leiimn Cri'ck, Berrien Sprinics, Mich WrijilU Pond, Grcenvillt', Mich Berri( l,i,'e Creek, Greenville, Mich Turk Lake Creek, Greenville, Mich Brush Creek, Alpena, Mich Browning Lake, Iron Mountain, Mich Bird Creek, Holly, Mich Tributaries of Flint River, Oxford, Mich Millikan Creek, Onaway, Mich Wild Cat and Little Wolf Creeks, Alpena, Mich Silver Creek, Alpena, Mich Fish P( .nd, Milford, Mich Ritle Itiver, O.tiemnw, Mich , Au Sable River, Cheney, Mich Pigeon River, Sailings, Mich Sturgeon River, Gay lord, Mich Stewart River, Vanderbilt, Mich North Branch Au Sable River, Lovells, Mich Hale and Smith creeks. Hale, Mich Silver and Gold creeks. East Tawas, Mich Pine Lake, Au Sable. Mich Local trout streams, Farwell, Mich Marquette River, Nirvana, Mich Marquette River, Baldwin, Mich Dannaher River, Baldwin. Mich I Little M.inistee River, Canfield, Mich I Bear Creek. Kaleva, Mich I Rai.id i;i ver, Rapid City, Mich Buckhoru Creek, Holly, Mich Afaple River, Peelston, Mich Local streams, Emery Junction, Mich Grace Harbor, Washington Harbor, Mich Spring Brook trout hatchery, Kalamaz(w, Mich Crooked Creek, Reno, Minn McCarthy and Hall creeks. Flood wood, Minn Lester, French, and Sucker rivers, Duluth, Minn Fischer Creek, Duluth, Minn Talmage Creek, Duluth, Minn Hanging Horn Stream, Carleton, Minn Lester River, Duluth, Minn Poplar River, Lutsen, Minn Rocky Run Creek, Proctor, Minn Spring Brooks, Northfield, Minn Mi.ssouri Fish Commission, St. Joseph, Mo Horseshoe Lake, Dillon, Mont Judilo River, Harlowton, Mont Reservoir, Big Timber, Mont Artificial Lake, Butte, Mont Spring Creek, Whitehall, Mont Spring Creek, Harlowton. Mont Fish Pond, Harlowton, Mont Rock Creek, Browns, Mont Fitzpatrick Lake, Sweet Grass, Mont -. Nebraska Fish Commission, South Bend, Nebr J. P. Morrill, Verdi, Nev Thompson Brook, Exeter, N. H Lake Winnepecket, Warner, N. H Greenough Pond, Colebrook, N H Strafford Bogs, Groveton, N. H Swift Brook, West Ossipee, N. H Grass Brooks, Potter Place, N. H Cole Pond and stream, Potter Place, N . II Fry and finger- lings. 60,000 6,000 25, 000 1.5,000 15,000 10, 000 10, 000 20, 000 10, 000 10,000 10,000 20, 000 15, 000 20, 000 5, 000 15, 000 1.5,000 15, 000 15, 000 15, 000 25, 000 25, 000 oO, 000 20, 000 5,000 10, 000 10, 000 10,000 25, 000 15, 000 30,000 35,000 35,000 30, 000 10,000 10, 000 20,000 10,000 20,000 10,000 10,000 1,000 9.5,000 1.50,000 10, 000 10,000 20, 000 5, 000 12, 230 5,000 10,000 10, 000 10, 000 2.5,000 Adults and yearlings. 96 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Detaih of dlMnhution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and .♦in-^r- lings. Adults and yearlings. Brook trout — Continued. 2,000 Spring Brooks, Northampton, N. H . 2,000 Wild Meadow Brook Pond, Grafton, N. H 20,000 3,000 500 Trout Brook Nasliua N H 500 3,000 500 Trout Brooks Hollis N H 211 New Hampshire Fish Commission, State waters, Colebrook, N.H... 30,000 20,000 30,000 25,000 30,000 15, 000 20,000 1.5,000 25,000 20, 000 20,000 10,000 20,000 10,000 10,000 3,000 Home Hill Brook, Plainfleld, N. H .. Town Farm and Rum Brooks, Epping, N. H Bowman Brook Manchester N H i Lake Ma.ssabesic Manchester N H 1 Silver Brooks Warner N H Indian River Canaan N H Webster Lake, Franklin, N.H Nash Ponds, Groveton N H 20, 000 Beaver River, Beaver N. Y 1,000 600 Silver Spring Creek, Booneville N. Y 1,000 10,000 20, 000 25,500 20, 000 25,500 50,000 10,000 60,000 75,000 76,000 75,000 50,350 25,000 30, 000 20,000 20,000 10,000 5,000 10,000 10,000 20,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 10, 000 10,000 19, 000 4,000 10,000 1,000 Isatsawassa Creek, Rensselaer, N. Y Wolf Creek Cuba N Y Three Ponds, Saratoga Springs N. Y ' Fish Pond Schenectady N Y Trout streams Watertown N Y Little River, Star Lake N Y Smith Creek, Harrisville N Y Indian River, Natural Bridge, N. Y B. B. Smith Creek, Natural Bridge, N. Y Sand Hill Creek, Natural Bridge, N. Y Robt. Henry Creek, Natural Bridge N Y ' Tidd Creek, Natural Bridge, N. Y Green Lake, Lake Bonaparte, N. Y Fish Creek Harrisville N Y Silver Lake Big Moose N Y Tichnor and Hazzard brooks Chenango Forks N Y Thomas Brook, Whitney Point, N. Y Casey Brook, Norwich, N. Y Linville River, Montezuma, N. C 300 Applicant at Morrisville, N. C 200 Beaver Creek, Wishek, N. Dak 500 Sand Lake, Pleasant Lake, N. D ak 1 500 15, 000 35,000 10,000 2, 000 5,000 5, 000 5,000 3,000 6,000 Tributaries of Mad River Bellefontaine Ohio Spring Lake Wickliffe Ohio Fish Pond Cuyahoga Ohio Trout Lake, DeGraff Ohio Fish Pond, Bellefontaine, Ohio Willow Lake, La Grande, Oreg 6,000 Nenacinum River, Seaside, Oreg 39, 975 29,901 Mill Creek, The Dalles, Oreg 1 2.500 2, 500 5,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 3,500 Upper Eight Mile Creek Endersley Oreg Fifteen Mile Creek, Dufur, Oreg McKai Creek, Gloneoe Oreg Rock Creek, Bakers Ferry, Oreg REPOKT OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 97 Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Eggs. Fry and finger- lings. Adults and yearlings. Brook iiil, Kulaula, Ala... Sycamore Creek, Jerome, Ariz Railroad Reservoir, Williams, Ariz. 225 100 150 Mill Pond Cdluinliia Ala Clear Lake, Pine Bluir, Ark Lake Taylor, Piiic HlulT, Ark Ouachita River, Mai v. in, Ark McHenry Fish I'ond, Malvern, Ark. Artificial Lake, EurekaSprings, Ark 75 Potomac River, Fish Lakes, 1). C .. Lake Ella Umatilla Fla 75 300 Brickyard Pond, Columbus, Cia Oekmulgee River, Macon, Ga 300 75 Bussey Pond, Cuthbert, Ga Grassy Lake Wilton Ark 150 Fish Lake, Earle, Ark 200 Fish Ponds Atlanta Ga Applicants in Arkansas 900 75 Greenville, Ga Stinson Ga Mudge Pond, Sharon, Conn Washbands Ponds, Seymour, Conn. Applicant at Brightwood, D. C Crescent Lake, Cleremont, Fla .... Lake Ella, Umatilla, Fla 100 50 Mississippi River, Dubuque, Iowa. Maquoketa River, Manchester, 100 100 200 Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.. Wapsipinnicon River, Independ- Lake Helen, Lake Helen, Fla Fi.sh Lake, Clearwater, Fla 300 600 550 Spirit Wood Lake, Jamestown, N Dak Cumber Mill Pond, Morris Station, Ga 150 Bell Branch Pond, Haddocks, Ga.. Artifical Lake, Box Springs, Ga. . . . Swift Creek Mill Pond, Macon, Ga. 76 Total 96, 970 100 200 200 Pickerel: 200 105 500 Maquoketa River, Manchester, Spring Branch, Upatoie, Ga Mill Pond, Howard, Ga 150 Wapsipmnicon River, Independ- Smoors, Ga 100 ence, Iowa Mississippi River, Dubuque, Iowa.. Savannah River, Grovetown, Ga... St. Elmo Lake, Columbus, Ga Lake Carmichael, Gracewood, Ga . Augusta Game Club Pond, Au- gusta Ga 300 100 Total 805 250 1 elloiv perch: Maquoketa River, Manchester, 500 300 300 600 King Lake, Box Springs, Ga Caldecott Lake, Atlanta, Ga Roundabout Pond, Kirkland, Ga.. Lake Benson, White Sulphur 300 150 Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa . . Wapsipinnicon River, Independ- 200 100 Spirit Wood Lake, Jamestown, N. Dak 200 Ruby Lake, Fort Valley, Ga Fish Lake Cussetta Gal 100 500 Total 1,700 Holly Springs Lake,' Americus, Ga. 150 Buffalo-fish: Mississippi River, Dubuque, Iowa. . 200, 000 Lake Mohignac, Box Springs, Ga.. Panther Creek, Reynolds, Ga Coleman Lake, Coleman, Ga 400 350 Total 200, 000 3,520 Black bass: Big Cave Creek, Gadsden, Ala Betheas Lake Faundale Ala 300 100 150 300 100 200 500 160 160 60 800 200 300 200 200 200 300 100 200 300 150 150 200 200 350 3,150 Lonetree Lake, Lonetree, 111 Cherokee Fish Lakes, East St. Louis 111 500 260 Mill Pond, Birmingham,' Ala Ingrams Mill Pond, Opelika, Ala.. Mill Pond, Attalla, Ala Black VValnutLake, Goodenow, 111. Spring Lake, Barrington, 111 100 300 300 Spring Lake, Epes, Ala Mill Pond Brantley Ala Scotts Lake, Belleville, 111 150 Fox River Olney 111 500 Avery Lake Goldhill Ala Pine Terrace Lake, Crete, 111 Ahern Lake, Columbia, 111 Clear Lake, Columbia, 111 260 Fletchers Lake, Opelika, Ala Oak Lake, Hooks Ala 100 160 Locust Warrior River, Warrior, Al'a. Black Warrior River, Warrior, Ala. Town Creek, Town Creek, Ala Mill Pond, Spruce Pine, Ala Gilmore Lake, Columbia, 111 Long Pond Columbia 111 200 300 Kneipp Lake, Belleville, ill Priester Lake, Belleville, 111 Artificial Lake, Olney, 111 300 150 100 ville.Ala Jacks Run Lake, Freeburg, 111 Burghardt Lake, Belleville, 111 .... Kretzer Lake, Harristown, 111 Soldiers Home Lake, Danville, 111 . Applicants in Illinois 200 East Sheffield Lake, Tuscumbia, Ala 150 200 Chambliss Mill Pond, Montgom- erj', Ala 200 1,900 Simmons Spring, Florence, Ala. . . . Bradley Mill Pond, Millport, Ala.. Briggs Mill Pond, Jasper, Ala Blackwater Mill Pond, Jasper, Ala. Jones Mill Pond, Waverly, Ala Oxford Lake, Anniston, Ala Lake Baxter, Birmingham, Ala ... . Eufaula Fish Club Pond, Eufaula, Ala Lake Maxinkuckee, Culver, Ind .. Winona Lake, Winona, Ind Webster Lake, North Webster, Ind . Lake Wawassee, Wawassee, Ind... Tippecanoe Lake, Leesburg, Ind . . Fall Creek, Malot Park, Ind 800 800 300 800 400 150 300 Homan Lake, Claypool, Ind Mud Lake, Macy, Ind 300 160 Applicants in Alabama Lake Manitou, Rochester, Ind 300 104 RKl'OKT OK COMMISSIONER OK KISH AND KISHERIES. Details of (I!strihulio)i — Continued. Species and disposition. Adults and yearlings. Species and disposition. Adults and yearlings. 7>/a(A- ?w(s.s— Continued. Black ^aw— Continued. (Jravfl Lake, Adamsville, Iml 150 Wea Creek and Bull Creek, I'aola, 275 Kans 150 Indian I'ond Klnora, Ind '200 200 300 Rattlesnake Creek, Macksville, Kans 200 ton Ind . . Saline River, Grinnell, Kans Spring Branch, Prairie View, Kans. 300 Kiuikaljcc IMvcr, Konts, Ind 150 Notrcl)iniicLiilake, I'lynionth, Ind 200 King Creek, Manhattan, Kans 150 (iravel I'it Os^iaii Ind 100 liOO DeepCicck, Manhattan, Kans Wild Cat Creek, Manhattan, Kans. 150 Indian Creek, New All.anv, Ind... 300 Sugar Creek, Crawfc.rdsville, Ind.. 300 I'fcil Creek, Manhattan, Kans 150 White River, Castletnn, Ind 500 MillCreek, Manhattan, Kans 150 White River, Winchester, Ind 300 Eureka Lake, Manhattan, Kans... 150 Wabash River, Williainsport, Ind . 500 Lowland Lake, Muscotah, Kans... 200 Snf,'ar Creek, Thorn (own, Ind 300 Mulberry Creek, Dodge City.Kans. 300 Mine I'ond, Clarks, Ind '200 I'laytcrs Lake, I'ittsburg, Kans 250 Hlne l;iver,Sliell,vville, Ind 500 Si)ring rood, (Joldwater, Kans 150 Lewis Itcsc'rvoir, Lewis, Ind 050 Apjilicauts in Kansas Rolling Fork Creek, Lebanon, Kv . 4,050 Shriner Lake, Colnndiia Cit v, Ind. 300 200 Round Lake, Colunil.i.'i. City, Ind.. 300 Spring Lake, Covington, Ky 300 Cedar Lake, (Johunhia City Ind 300 150 Dix River, Lancaster, Ky 500 (inarry I'ond, Blooininf,'ton, Ind.. Oak View Lake, Versailles, Ky 150 Clements Milll'ond, Clirisney, Ind. 83 Deaf Mute Institute Pond, Dan- ville, Ky 100 Ind ." 107 Gcigers Lake, Henshaw, Kv Cinnberland River, Pineviile, Ky .. 20O Walnut Fork of Eel River, Green- 40O 300 Reservoir, Siiringfleld.Ky 180 Simonton Lake, Elkhart, Ind 200 Clear Creek, Shelbyville,Ky 200 Wabash River, GibsonCounty, Ind. 276 Kinniconick River, Vanceburg, Applicants in Indiana 4, 700 Ky 600 Spring Lake, Davis, Ind. T 100 Railroad Reservoir, Cumberland Roek Creek, Davis, Ind. T 200 Falls.Ky 825 M(>niitaiiiSlrca,Tn,Talihina, Ind.T. 200 lOlkhorii Creek, Georgetown, K v.. . 300 Shannon I' 1, l'nrc(dl, Ind. T.... 100 Little River, IIopkinsville,Ky 400 100 100 875 .lonesl'ond.Nolin, Ky 100 Fish Lake Ardiiiore, Ind. T Lake Reba Richmond Ky 200 Ajiiilicaiits ill Indian Territory Si)ring Lake, MadisonviUe, Ky 200 Fish Lake, RulValo Center, Iowa 500 500 Mill Creek, Fredonia Ky 200 Fish Lake, Corydon, Iowa Willow I'ond, Hodgensville, Ky... Livingston Creek, Fredonia, Ky... 200 Boyer River Mill I'ond, Dow City, 400 Iowa 750 Waterworks Reservoir at Spring- Crane Creek, Riceville, Iowa North Fork of Maquoketa River, 500 lield, Kv 180 llslcy Lake, llsley, Ky 100 Dyersville, Iowa 1,000 (inicst Creek, Slielbvville, Ky ClearCrcck, Shclbyville, Ky 300 Maquoketa River, Manchester, 300 3,000 Hull Skin Creek, Shelbvville, Kv .. 150 Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.. 4,000 Tyler I'ond, Shelbyyille, Kv 100 Wapsipinnicon River, Independ- Wild Cherry I'ond, Brent, Kv 250 t'licc, Iowa 3,380 Barber I'ond, II<)i>kiiisyilIe, Kv.... 200 Mississijiiii River, Dubuque, Iowa. Little Turkey River, Waucoma. 5,000 Green River, McKiniicy, Ky 300 Fern Lake. Mi.ldlesboro, Kv 400 Iowa 200 800 Floyds fork Creek, KislieryiUe, Ky. Washicrs I'ond, Hodgensville, Ky . Applicaiilsin Kentucky 100 Applicants in Iowa 100 Smoky Hill River, Enterprise, 5,750 300 400 Sunrise Lake, Mansliebl, La City I'ark Lake, New Orleans, La.. 150 Wisncr Creek, llutchinson, Kans.. 2-26 Spring Lake, Abilene, Kans 300 Chaplin Lake, Nalchiloi'hes, La... 150 Connor Creek, Connor, Kans Little ArkansasRiver, Hutchinson, 2W Lake Marie, Natchitoches, La 150 Manheim I'onil, Robeline, La 75 300 100 Red It.ivou, Shrcveport, Lii Vouskei' Lake, Shrcyei>ort, La 200 Spring Lake, Nashville, Kans North Fork of Sappy Creek, Ober- 200 Lake.lulia, Hrevelle, La 100 lin, Kans 50 200 Mill I'ond Keithville La . 75 Spring Creek, Coldwater, Kans Spring Hraneli, Lafayette, La 150 Willow Lake, Ravaria, Kans 50 Magnolia Lake Verrv, La.. . 176 Little Arkansas River, Wichita, Banner I'ond, Kentwood, La 100 COO 150 Applicants in Louisiana, La Antictani Creek, llag<>rstown, Md. . 525 Spring Creek, (irainlield, Kans 100 Lake Chaiiute, Olathe, Kans 150 Chevy Chase Lake, Chevy Chase, Elkhorn Creek, Lincoln Center 300 Md 100 Kans 60 Rock ( :reek, Sabetha, Kans 300 Percival Pond, Orleans, Mass 75 Mule Creek, Wihnore, Kans '200 Factory Pond, Fall River, Mass.... 76 Hazel Dell Lake, (larni'tt, Kans ... 75 Lake Acoaxet, Fall River, Mass.... 75 West I'ark Lake, Parsons, Kans. . . . 250 Middluboro Lakes, Kock, Muss .... 50 HKl'OllT OK COMMISSIONKK OK KISII AND KISUEKIES. 105 Vi'litils of dixtrihnllo)! — C'oiitimu'd. Species and disposition. Adults and yearliugs. Species and disposition. Adults and yearlings. Ulitck f)(iw— Continued. mack bas«— Continued. Silver l-ukc, Plviiipton, Muss 1,^)0 Applieaiitiil Cinnabar, Mont Fish Lake, Whilman Nebr 200 Cnitic I'ond Nc\vliui\ pdil, MM^s. . 1.^0 300 Api-licnlitnl llmnillon, Mnss Box Butte Creek, 1 la v Springs, Nebr 160 HoiinlniHU Luke, Tnivrrse Cily, Lak.d';ri<'s,,n,(;reelev,Nebr 200 Midi 150 |{ed Willow I'oiKl.lndiaiiola, Nebr. 200 OuU Lake, Yorkville, Midi 1,000 Indian Creek, Benkelman, Nebr .. . 140 Crooked Luke Wiitersmeet, Mieh.. 500 500 Applicants in Nebraska '2M Hi^'IM.ittc L.ikc, Henlah, Mich Liimprev Kiver, New Market, N. II . BO HiiiKt'^sl,iil;c,iiivciiville, Mli'li.... 300 Sliring Lake, l'orlales,N. Mex 75 Cm.lv I.mUc, Coral, Midi 300 Spring River, Roswell, N, Mex 375 Devils l.aUt', Devils l,ake, Midi.... 500 Oiitos Creek, Si>ringer,N. Mex Alamositos Creek, Springer, N. Mex 75 Whiles l.Mke, Knliiinn/.oo, Midi.... 300 160 K.iyle Liiki', I'Mwiinlsl.iiiK, Midi... 1,(M)0 500 1,026 .Inno Lake, Kd wanlslanx, Midi.... Caiiistei) Kiver, Addison, N.Y 100 Clirisliaiui Lake, Kdwanlsburg, Iila(d< Brook, SL.Ioseph.N.Y 60 Midi 500 300 Snyder Lake, West Sandlake, N.Y. French Broad River, Hot Springs, 60 HiHMid liiike, Iliuiover, Midi String of Iviikes, Oxford, Midi 300 300 N.C 150 Stoiiv Lake Oxford Mieh Spring Creek, Hot Springs, N. (; . . . . Ochlawakee Creek, Henderson- 100 Hald ICa.LjU- Lake, Oxford, Midi... 500 I'leasalil Lake Leslie Midi 300 500 ville,N.C 50 KliiiMer Lake, While I'iKeon, Midi. Spirit Wood Lake, Jamestown, Holland Lake Sheridan, Midi 300 600 500 N.Dak f>, 525 Hailev Lake Claire Mieli Fi.sh Lake Kolla N Dak 800 l';ai,'le Lake, Williiiar, Minn Willow Lake, R(jila, N. Dak 600 I'ike Lake, Duhith, Minn 1,000 Sanborn, N.Dak 500 Madison I,iike, Mankato, Minn.... 1,000 Spring Lake, Kdgerlev, N. Dak 200 Lake Minnewa.ika, Glonwood, 1,000 Fish Lake Kulm N Dak 150 Minn Wagner Lake, Sid nev, Ohio 160 Fish <;inl)'.s Lake, Holly 8i)ring,s, I'ond and stream. Green wicli, Ohio 150 300 St Joseph Lake, Carthage, Ohio . . . Waterworks Lake, Blanchester, 100 lieeeh Spring, ToptoD, Miss 'luiiehd'ark Lake, Tupelo, Miss.... 125 250 250 Ohio 200 Arlilieial Lake, Tiijielo, MisH ITazleddl I'ond, Clinton, Oliio 100 SpriiiK l!raii(di,Mvrtlc,Miss 150 Cliir Lake, Springlidd, Ohio 186 Arnii.lel l,ake, M.'ridian, Miss 300 Beaver Crrek,Sprinf;lield, Ohio... 375 Horseshoe l,ake, Ahenk'eii, Mis.s. . . 400 Maiimee River, Antweri), Ohio .... 300 Lower Dead itiver, Aberdeen, Miss. 250 Sandy Lake, Ravenna, Ohio 500 Til.l.s I,ake,\Vesl i'oiiiLMiss 350 Grand River, West Farniington, SliriiiK Lake, NLieoii, Miss 200 Ohio 500 Mill I'oiMl, Olive |{raiieli,Miss 150 Vcrinillion Lake, Ashland, Ohio. .. Middle Ba.sin Pond, Coshocton, 500 Mel'her.son Lake, Mlioon Valley, Miss 260 Ohio • 90 Mooreville Park Lake, Corinth, 200 Applicants in Ohio 1 930 Miss Tnreemile Creek, Weatlierford, Tiiseniiihia River, Corinth, Miss.... 200 100 Okla 200 Alligator Lake,Colmnlius, Miss Spring Branch, Woodward, Okla .. Deer Creek, Deer Creek , Okla 400 Huttahadiie lUver, (ireenwood 200 Springs, Miss 200 200 Salt Lake Yddell Okla 200 'I'ombigbcc Kiver, Bigbee, Miss Yost Reservoir, (iuthricOkbi 200 Aberdeen, Miss.. 200 Frisco Kiver,( in vmoii, Okla "00 Columbus, Miss . 200 Spring Lake, Woodwanl, Okla 400 Cliatauqna Lake, (^rvstal Spriiig.s, Crutel, Mont.... 300 Providence, R.I 260 Echo Lake, KaliBpcl, Moiit 300 Mill Pond at Tiverton, R.I 50 106 KKPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Adults and yearling.?. Black 6a.ss— Continued. Silver Lako, Wakpfiold, R. I 76 Roost I'oiid, Bi'aulort, S. C 50 Dnivlii'i Su.nnip. Slicliloii, S. C; 250 Paeoli'l Kivrr, Converse, S. 350 Sheldon Preserve Pond, Sheldon, S.C 100 Reedy and Saluda rivers, Green- ville, S. C 150 Sent'ca Kiver, ('.■illidnn, S. () 100 SaxtonMilll',.n(l,S|.;,rliinl.urg,S.C. 100 Fair Fiucsi Civrk, Spartanburg, S.C 150 Heedy Rivei-, < .ivrii\ illr, s. C 450 Mill Pond, (iivriK ill,., s.(.' 50 Roek Quarry r.ni.l, lvl,L;riield,S. C. 200 Reedy River, l.aiuvns, S.C 100 Enoree l;i\er. I'laiiilaiii inn, S. C . 300 Whitney i'diul, S|>artanlinrg, S. C 100 Applieanis in SdUtli (larolinu 1, 175 Artesian Lake, Tvndall, S. Dak.... 300 Eads Lake. Tvn.l,all,S. Dak 300 Mackintosh Lake, Tvndall, S. Dak. 300 Foot Creek, Alienleen, S. Dak 900 .lann's River, Huron, S. Dak 1,043 Lake j.onald, Huron, S. Dak 143 ShoeCn^ek, Huron, S. Dak 243 Whilesione Creek, Wilniot, S. Dak. 600 Whiteelav Creek, I'ine Kidgc' Age|]<'y, S, Dak 500 Kmannel Creek, Sprint,dielil,,S. Dak 1,200 .lames River, Milehell, S. Dak 600 Alexandria, S. Dak.. 044 Lake Tetonkaha, Vol^'a, S. Dak... 500 Turkey Creek, Volin, S. Dak 500 Frasin Lake, Mitehell, S. Dak 100 Lake Kampeska, Watertown, S. Dak 50O 300 Antelope Creek, Kosebtid, S. Dak.. LakeCluIoliwee.Canova.S. Dak .. 143 Applicants in S(aUli Dakota 1,700 Red River, Clarksville, Tenn 261 Horse Creek, Hetliel Spring's, Tenn 125 Klk Fork Creek, Sadlersville, Tenn 300 Millpond, LawrcneeliurL,', Tenn... 100 Piney River, Nnnnelly, Tenn 200 MeKinstrv I'ond, i lakland, Ti'iui .. 125 Beaver Cr.ek, II uulin,i,'i>li('atits in Tennessee 2,801 50 Artificial Lake, Cli<>sterville, Tex . Lower State Lake, Rusk, Tex 200 Spring Creek, HillslM,ro. Tex Old Reservoir, .Ia(d. Ilslev, Kv 100 Big Siindv River, Kaiigatuek, W. 250 Nolin Ki\-er, Nolin, Kv 100 Va I'avnes I'onil. ( ieorgetown, Ky 77 Kanawha River, Fishing Camp, W. Applii'aiils in Keiituek v 463 Va 200 Citv Park Lake, New Ork^ans, La. 125 Elk River, Charleston, W. Va 207 Chai.lin Laki', Nat.diitoelies, La... 200 Buffalo and Cross creeks, Wells- Manheim I'ond. Kobeliiie, La 100 burg W Va 150 Reil Bavplieant in Illinois Lealheiwood Vvvvk, Bedford, Ind. 50 Yokanookany River, McCool, Miss. 200 Indian Creek, Bedford, Ind 50 Big Blaek River. Pickens, Miss 200 Salt Creek, Bedford, Ind 60 25 Silver Creek. Yn/.oo City. Miss Al>plicants in Mississippi . . 200 Patoka River, Jasper, Ind 1,950 250 White River, Noblesville, Ind 175 Duck Lake. Seliell (Mtv. Mo Waterworks Lake, Bloomington, Lake Krieson. Greeley, Nebr 200 Ind 25 Private Lake, (Jreelev, Nebr 100 Calumet Lake, Jasper, Ind Stevenson Pond, Bloomington, Ind 150 Rancoeas River. Mt. IIollv, N. J... 50 25 Opeiinaki Lake, Morristown, N. J . 50 Pigeon Creek, Boonville, Ind 120 Spring Lake, Morristown, N. J .... Elk wood Lake, Newark, N. J 50 Indian Creek, New Albany, Ind... 25 50 Simonton Lake, Elkhart, Ind 200 Richmondtown Lake, Woodstown, A])plicants in Indiana 50 500 N ,T 50 Mountain Stream, Talihina, Ind. f. Quick I'ond, Swartswood, N. J .... 50 North Fork of Maquoketa River, Fish Lake. Kingston, N. J 100 Dversville, Iowa 500 French Bro.ul River, Henderson- ville, N. C Maquoketa River, Manchester, 100 Iowa 600 Spirit Wood Lake, Jamestown, N. Cedar River, Cedar Rapida.Iowa .. 700 Dak 300 Wapsipinnicon River, Independ- Springfield Lake, Akron, Ohio cliff Lake, Ri-ringfield. Ohio Buck V.wvk. S|iring(ield, Ohio 100 720 700, 000 Mississi[iiii River, Dubuque, Iowa.. 140 Aiiplieant lit Leon Iowa 100 I'ennv)iaek Creek llallioro Pa 200 Spring Lake, Nashville, Kans 100 Crvstal Lake. Carbondale, I'a 100 Spring Lake, Svracuse, Kans 100 I'orlers Lake. StroiKlsburg, Pa 100 Little Arkansas River, Wichita, Deer Lake, Stroudsburg, Pa 150 Kans 200 Forest Luke. Slroudsl.urg, Pa 100 Bull Creek, Paola, Kans 170 Lake Miuisink, Stroudsburg, Pa... 100 108 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Adults and yearlings. Species and disposition. Adults and yearlings. Oapoie— Continued. Lake Taminent, Stroudsburg, Pa. . . Jones Lake Montrose Pa 100 390 100 100 250 100 400 200 100 150 175 50 100 25 125 100 225 100 100 50 100 100 50 700 700 150 200 300 150 600 46 100 200 100 200 100 500 300 100 150 350 100 200 75 100 250 150 100 30 100 50 100 40 985 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 200 200 50 200 200 400 1,000 240 200 Crappie — Continued. Cold Run Creek, Hancock, W. Va.. Dinwiddle Lake, Sheridan, Wyo... Total 200 200 Perkiomen Creek, Norristown, Pa . . Schuylkill River, Norristown, Pa .. Sugar Loaf Lake, Hazleton, Pa Lake Clerno Hoadlevs Pa 735,120 Rock bass: Sandy Creek Mill Pond, Opelika, Ala Juniata River, Huntingdon, Pa Stone Creek, Huntingdon, Pa Harveys Lake, Alderson, Pa Frankstown Branch Juniata Riv- 200 100 Applicant in Arkansas 100 Mudge Pond, Sharon, Conn Reservoir, Covington, Ga 200 Frankstown Branch, Juniata Riv- 100 er Barre Pa Applicants in Georgia 400 Aug'hwick Creek, Hopewell, Pa ... . Lake St Clair Latrobe Pa Vermillion River, Danville, 111 .... Applicants in Illinois 200 200 Raystown Branch of Juniata River Hopewell Pa Waterworks Lake, Bloomington, Ind 200 Raystown Branch of Juniata River Riddlesburg, Pa 700 Applicant at Dewey, Ind. T 200 200 Everett, Pa Fish Lake, Hilltop, Kans 500 Raystown Branch, Juniata River, Fall Creek, Caldwell, Kans 200 Ludwig Run, Ebensburg, Pa ...'... . Conneaut Lake, Cambridge, Pa . . . Trough Creek, Mapleton, Pa Twelve Mile Lake, Stroudsburg, Reservoir, Slaughtersville, Ky Fern Lake, Middleboro, Ky Spring Lake, Madisonville, Ky .... 150 200 150 200 Middleboro Lakes, Rock, Mass .... Applicant at Northampton, Mass.. Horseshoe Lake, Macon, Miss Harpers Lake, Brooksville, Miss... Applicants in Mississippi 400 200 Applicant at Jermyn Pa 300 Foot Creek, Aberdeen, S. Dak James River, Huron S Dak 300 6 290 Lake Donald, Huron, S. Dak Shoe Creek, Huron, S. Dak James River, Mitchell, S. Dak Frasin Lake, Mitchell, S. Dak Beaver Creek, Huntingdon, Tenn.. Fishing Club Pond, Glasgow, Mo. . . Woods Pond, Schell City, Mo Spring Lake, Schell City, Mo Eden Green Ponds, Chillicothe.Mo. Cutoff Lake, Brunswick, Mo Fish Lake, Billings, Mo 500 100 500 200 200 Old River Bed Pond Marlin Tex Applicants in Missouri 800 Restleys Creek, Dublin, Tex Greens Creek Clairette Tex Nebraska Fish Commission, South Bend Nebr 1,000 400 Bosque River, Clairette, Tex Four Ponds, Marfa Tex Las Palomas Creek, Engle, N. Mex. North Spring River, Roswell, N.Mex..... 200 Litttle Brazos River, Hearne, Tex. . Onion Creek, Manchaca, Tex Oltorf Lake, Marlin, Tex Applicants in New Mexico Fish Lake, Rockville Center, N. Y . Rhetts Lake, Henderson ville,N. C . Mattamuskeet Lake, Elizabeth Citv, N.C 600 200 1,000 200 San Gabriel River, Georgetown, Tex Cannon Creek, Marfa, Tex West Side Lake, Crockett, Tex .... Elmendorf Lake, San Antonio, Tex . Applicant.^ in North Carolina Applicant at New Salem, N. Dak . . Odell Lake, Lakeville, Ohio 500 200 200 500 Washita River, Canadian, Tex . . Applicants in Oklahoma 1 100 Dads Creek, Canadian, Tex DuTait Creek, Canadian, Tex Beaver Lake, Canadian, Tex North Creek, Canadian, Tex White River, Canadian, Tex Bear Creek, Manchaca, Tex Antietam Creek, Reading, Pa Porters Lake, Stroudsburg, Pa Aughwick Creek, Shirley, Pa Harveys Lake, Alderson, Pa Juniata River, Lewistown, Pa Swatara Creek, Meyerstown, Pa Cocalamus Creek, Mifflin, Pa Ludwig Run, Ebensburg, Pa Middle Creek, Fairfield, Pa Applicants in Pennsvlvania Fish I>ond,.\llendale,S.C 200 400 50 400 300 400 Applicants in Texas 200 Potomac River, Daysville, Va Fish Pond, Winston, Va . 200 100 Broad Run, Manassas, Va 400 Cedar Run Manassas Va Duck Run, Cohuiiliia. Tenn Mill I'ond, La\vreneelaHLr,Tenn ... Hurricane Creek, \Va\erl\-, Tenn .. Aughtry L.nke, Kieliland.Tex Upper State Lake, Husk, Tex Bold Spring Lake, West, Tex Creek, Carrizo Springs, Tex Fish Lake Waco Tex 9->5 Occoquau Hun, Manassas, Va Fish pond, Amherst. Va Shadybniok I'on.l, (ih.nearlyn, Va. Piedmont I'ond, Charlottesville, Va 800 400 500 175 175 Fish Pond, North Garden, Va Tinker Creek, HoUins Va 250 150 Fish Lake, The Plains, Va Gibson Lake, Palestine, Tex Gordon Lake Paris Tex 75 North Fork (^reek, North Fork, Va 500 Applicants in Virginia San Gabriel River, Georgetown, Tex Kanawha River. FLshiner Camp. 1,000 W. Va . S ^ ^' Elk River, Charleston, W. Va Sleepy River, Hancock, W'* Va Railroad Lake, Walnut Springs, Tex 200 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER <^K FISH AND FISHERIES. 109 Details of dislribiUion — Continued. Species and disposition. Adulta and yearlings. Species and disposition. Adults and yearling8. Rock boss— Continued. Railroad Lake Ci-'iCO Tex 350 400 250 150 830 200 100 200 200 150 300 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 1,300 800 300 SMn-;teA— Continued. Mississippi River, Dubuque, Iowa . North Spring River, Roswell, N. 600,000 Trinity River, Fort Worth, Tex.... 600 San Antonio, Tex Spirit Wood Lake, Jamestown, N. Dak 250 Total 606,040 Tacoma Fish Club Fond, Rich- mond Va Bream: Mill Pond, Alabama City, Ala Oak Lake, Hooks, Ala Wolf Creek Mill Pond, Abingdon, Va 100 500 Ice Pond Danville Va Fish Fdiid, Inverness, Ala 200 James River, Lynchburg, Va City Reservoir, Charlottesville, Va. Dowdv Creek, Petersburg, Va Appomattox River, Petersburg, Va. Powell Creek. Petersburg, Va Taylor Mill Pond, Warsaw, Va .... Tinker Creek Hollins Va Mill Fciiiil Inverness Ala 200 K()dt,nrs Lake, Letohatchie, Ala ... Craddoek Lake, Dadeville, Ala 200 100 800 Dent Pond, Eufaula, Ala . 700 Thompson Pond, Eufaula, Ala Chambliss Mill Fond, Montgomery, Ala 200 200 Piney Creek Mill I'ond, Clover, Va. Orrix Creek Mill Fond, Evington, Va Jones Mill Pond, Waverly, Ala Briggs ISIill Pond, Jasper, Ala Blackwat.T Mill Fmid,. Jasper, Ala. Ingrams Mill I'..iid, Opelika, Ala .. Lake Vit'w (»iielika Ala 200 100 100 Goose Creek, Edwards Ferry, Va .. Applicants in Virginia Kanawha River, Fishing Camp, W.Va :.. 1,000 100 Eley Pond, Ihiion Springs, Ala Howell Fond, Union Springs, Ala . . Buzzard Pond, Eufaula, Ala Spring Lake, Union Springs, Ala. . . Applicants in Alabama Crescent Lake, Cleremont, Fla Lake Ella tfmatilla Fla 300 100 200 150 Total 37,170 1,550 200 110 Straivberry bass: 400 350 100 200 200 100 200 100 51 200 500 500 300 150 200 3, 551 100 Lake Macia, Natchitoches, La Chaplin Lake, Ritchitoches, La... Youseeka Lake, Shreveport, La ... Lake Ninock, Ninock, La Henderson Creek, Jasper, Ga 100 100 Sunnyside, Ga 50 Coleman Mill Pond, Cuthbert, Ga. 300 Scoutaway River, Leasburg, Mo . . . Clear Creek, Bois D' Arc, Mo Lake of the Woods, Fulton, Mo.... North Spring River, Roswell, N. 150 Juniper Pond, Juniper, Ga Augusta Game Club Pond, Augus- 200 300 200 Yost Reservoir, Guthrie, Okla Spring Lake, Guthrie, Okla Sanders Pond, Okarche, Okla Applicant at Mulhall, Okla San Gabriel River, Georgetown, Roundabout Pond, Kirkland, Ga.. Mill Pond Greenville Ga 200 200 Kings Lake, Box Springs, Ga Hills Fish Pond, Greenville, Ga ... Brick Yard Fond, Columbus, Ga... 300 200 500 100 Total Hudson lY.iid, Hamilton, Ga Crystal Lake. Cuthliert, Ga Green Sjiriiiy^s, ('uluinbus, Ga Hooks Mill I'oii.l, Americus, Ga... 200 209 300 600 2,850 Warmouth bass: 100 100 Applicants in Mississippi 500 Total El Caney Lake, Crockett, Tex Old River Bed Pond, Marlin, Tex . Crystal Lake, Palestine, Tex Little Brazos River, Hearne, Tex.. San Gabriel River, Georgetown, Tex 150 500 500 500 Sun-fish- Verde River, Jerome, Ariz 200 300 500 300 1,400 . 2,400 90 Beaver Creek, Jerome, Ariz 500 Soldiers Home Pond, Danville. 111. Maquoketa River, Manchester, Iowa Waterworks Pond, Taylor, Tex.... Trinity River, Fort Worth, Tex.... Applicants in Texas 100 500 80 Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.. Wapsipinnicon River, Independ- Total 17, 699 110 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Details of distribution — Continued. Species and disposition. Species and disposition. Fry. Cod: Woods Hole Great Harbor, Woods Hole, Mass Vineyard Sound, Mass.: Robinsons Hole Tarpaulin Cove Nashewena Island Quicks Hole French Watering Place Hadley Harbor Atlantic Ocean, Gloucester, Mass . Rockport, Mass .. Total Flat-flsh : Woods Hole Great Harbor, Woods Hole, Mass Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Mass Waquoit Bay, Waquoit, Mass Hadley Harbor, Hadley Harbor, Mass Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Mass Total Lobster: Fishers Island Sound, off Noank, Conn Gulf of Maine, Maine: Goose Fair Bay Portland Head Cape Elizabeth off Cape Porpoise Small Point Sequin Island Cape Newagen Pemaquid Point West Boothbay Bay Harbor Kennebunk Beach 1,267,000 32, 266, 000, 69,574,000 16, 315, 000 5,231,000 3, 132, 000 1,036,000 60,033,000 23, 158, 000 212,001,000 113, 996, 000 13,621,000 28,557,000 7,623,000 4,336,000 1,151,000 1,800,000 500, 000 700, 000 1, 000, 000 1, 500, 000 1,000,000 1, 500, 000 1,000,000 1,000,000 500, 000 Xo6s7 and 18t)8. The preparation of a general report on the salmon investigations and the study of mateiial Avith a view to a report on the em])ryology of the quinnat occupied Mr. Rutter's time during the remainder of the 3^ear. The habits of the Pacific salmons are vitally different from .those of the Atlantic species, and as these have an important relation to natural reproduction, artificial propagation, and commercial fishing, the Com- mission deemed it desirable that the species be subjected to a careful physiological investigation. While the Atlantic salmon, Sahiio sala?\ has been studied from the standpoint of physiology,* the Pacific sal- mons have up to this time been neglected in this respect. The Com- mission therefore engaged the services of Prof. Charles W. Greene, of the University of Missouri, who has devoted much attention to conqDarativc physiology. Professor Greene began his liekl work earl}' in July and continued unti,l September, examining tlie salmon before they entered the rivers and after they reached their sptiwning-grounds, *See Investigations on the Life History of the Salmon in Fresh Water, by D. Noel I'aton, M. D, Special Report of IK'.lS, Fishi^ry Honnl for Sentlmnl. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 135 and at intermediate points in the Sacramento basin. Most of the time was spent at Baii-d hatchery, where there was an al)undance of material and where the superintendent, Mr. Lambson, and the foreman, Mr. Wallich, rendered vahiable assistance. INTRODUCED FISHES IN UTAH AND IDAHO LAKES. Continued public interest in the planting- of the Great Lakes white- fish {Co7'egonus dupelforinis) in Bear Lake (Idaho and Utah), Coeur d'Aleue Lake (Idaho), and Pend d'Oreille Lake (Idaho), induced the Commission to make another effort to determine the results of the plants of fry in these waters a number of years ago. Accordingly, in Jul}^, 1901, a party, consisting- of Mr. S. P. Wires, superintendent of the Dulutli (Minnesota) hatchery; Mr. S. L. Pritchard, of the Washington office, and Mr. D wight E. Miller, was dispatched to these lakes with an equipment of gill nets of various sizes, seines, and other appliances. Fishing was carried on in Bear Lake (and Mud Lake con- nected therewith) at ten different points and during six da} s; in Lake Coeur d'Alene at thirteen different points and during eight daj-s; in Pend d'Oreille Lake at nine different localities and during six days. No introduced white-fish were discovered, and no evidence of the existence of this species in any of the lakes was obtained, although three other species of introduced fishes were found. The water of Bear Lake is reported to be very hard, unfit for domestic use, and possibly unsuited to the white-fish of the Great Lakes, although Williamson's white-fish {Co-regonus vyilUamsoni) is found in it. During the first week in August the surface tempera- ture of the water in the vicinity of Fish Haven was found to be from 69'-' to 71°. The minimum bottom temperature determined was 50°, at a depth of 105 feet; fishing, however, was carried on in water 175 feet deep, but no temperature data were obtained therefor. Suckers {Catostomus macroclieUus) and chubs {Leuckcm lineatm) abound and are the characteristic fishes of the lake; black-spotted trout {Sahno clarhii) also occur. Mud Lake is reported to be little more than a marsh during July and August, although it contains some black bass, carp, and a few black-spotted trout. The water of lakes Coeur d'Alene and Pend d'Oreille is deep and cold, resembling in every respect that of the Great Lakes; and it would seem that the white-fish whose introduction has been attempted should do well in both of them. Besides Williamson's white-fish, man}^ fine specimens of bull trout {SalveUnus parkei) 11 to 12 inches long and of the black-spotted trout were found in both these lakes, and suckers {Catostomus macrocheihts unA C. catostomus) are abundant. The introduced species, large-mouth })lack bass and 3"ellow perch, seem to have become well established in Lake Coeur d'Alene; examples of the latter 10^ inches long were obtained. 136 KEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. WooiJH Hole, Massachusetts (Hugh M. Smith, Director). During- the season of 1901-2 the work at the Woods Hole laboratory was under the direction of Dr. Hugh M. Smith, assistant in charge of division. Dr. H. C. Bumpus, who had been in charge of the labora- tory for a number of 3^ears, was unable to continue his relations with the Commission owing to other duties. The usual facilities for research and collecting existed, and the rare opportunit}^ for marine biological work here afforded was appreciated by the representatives of many institutions of learning. Two large fish-traps operated for the laboratory in Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay furnished much useful material. The steamer Fish Hawk and the schooner Grampus were temporarily attached to the station during the entire summer, and the steam yacht Phalarope and the steam launches Blue Wing^ Cygnet, and Merganser were in constant service. The director had the efficient assistance of Prof. R. W. Tower, Mr. George H. Sherwood, and Mr. Vinal N. Edwards. Among the biologists who occupied tables, the following carried on special investigations in behalf of the Commission: Dr. Gar}^ N. Calkins, of Columbia University, studied the marine protozoa found in the vicinity of the station. This group of animals has been neglected by systematists in the United States. The protozoa are numerous, and are important as being the ultimate animals on which the higher animals are dependent for food. Dr. Calkins found the water in the immediate vicinity of the station to contain man}^ species and individuals, including a number of species not previously described. His report, pu])lished in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1901, is an important contribution from one who is a leading authority on the subject. Dr. George H. Parker, of Harvard Universitj^, studied and reported on the effects of light, temperature, gravity, currents, and other natu- ral agencies on the movements of copepods. These minute crustaceans are found throughout the year in varying abundance, and constitute one of the most important foods of young and small fishes, young lob- sters, and other animals. Dr. Parker's observations and experiments were directed to the determination of the physical factors controlling the appearance and disappearance of copepods in a given region at different times, and his conclusions bear on the movements and abun- dance of the food-fishes whose immediate or idtimate pabulum the copepods are. His paper is published in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1901. Prof R. W. Tower, of Brown University, conducted a number of chemical and physiological investigations addressed to the food-fishes of the region. An inquiry regarding the organic constituents of the scales of fish and their use in lh(^ manufncture of gelatin was conducted REPORT OF CX)MMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 137 jointly by Professor Tower and Mr. E. H. (ircen, and a special report thereon was published in the 1901 Bulletin. Numerous <>-allstones were found in several of the squcteaguc cau<>ht in the pound nets, and the determination of the chemical constituents of the calculi formed the subject of a paper by Professor Tower and Mr. A. K. Krause, forming a part of the lUUl Bulletin, which is an important contribution to the diseases of wild tislies. A related subject which received attention wan the bile pigments and bile acids of squeteague, blue-fish, and l)onito. In the course of a general study of noises produced by fishes, some important physiological observations were made on the "drumming" of the squeteague. The drumming of the drum-fishes [Scisenidcv)^ of which the squeteague is the most prominent representative at Woods Hole, has been variously explained by difi'erent writers; and in the case of the squeteague, at least, it would appear that no accurate account of the factors producing the characteristic sound has heretofore been given. Professor Towner's observations and experiments have developed the following facts: 1. There is in the squeteague a special drumming muscle, lying between the abdominal muscles and the peritoneum, and extending the entire length of the abdomen on either side of the median line. 2. The muscle fibers are verj^ short, and run at right angles to the long axis of the muscle. 3. The muscle is in close relation with the large swim-bladder, and ])y its rapid contractions produces a drumming sound, with the aid of the tense Ijladder which acts as a sounding-board. 4. This nuiscle exists only in the males, and only the males are able to drum. In continuation of the plan of issuing from time to time systematic reports on the various groups of water animals in the Woods Hole region, studies of the following groups were carried on during the year: The crabs, by Dr. Robert P. Bigelow, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the jell^'-fishes and sea-anemones, by Prof . Charles W. Hargitt, of Syracuse University; the parasitic copepods of fishes, 1)3' Mr. M. T. Thompson, of Brown Unive;i'sity, and Mr. C. B. Wilson, of the W^estfield (Massachusetts) State Normal School; the isopods, b}' Miss Harriet liichardson, of Columbian University (Wash- ington, D. C); the amphipods, by Prof. S. J. Holmes, of the University of Michigan Following is a list of those in attendance at the laborator}^ arranged under the institutions with which they were connected: U. S. Department of Agriculture : W. T. Swingle, Ph D. ; Dr. Geo. T. Moore; Karl Kellerman, B. S. Brown University. R. W. Tower, A. M.; L. W. Williams, Ph. D.; George H. Sher- wood, A. M.; M. T. Thompson, A M.; A. K Krause, A. B. Bryn Mawr College: T H. Morgan, Ph. D. Columbia University. Gary N. Calkins, Ph D. 138 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Harvard University: George S. Amsden, A. B.; Henry B. Bigelow, A. B.; J. H. Con- verse; Julius M. Johnson, A. B. ; Clarence H. Lander, B. S. ; Y. T. Lewis, M. D.; James H. McMurray; Thomas Ordway, A. B.; George H. Parker; H. W. Rand, Ph. D.; M. E. Stickney, A. M.; R. M. Strong. Ph. D.; William A. Willard, A. M. ; Robert M. Yerkes, A. M. Indiana University: W. J. Moenkhaus, Ph. D. Johns Hopkins University: Caswell Grave, Ph. D.; Henry F. Perkins, A. B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Robert P. Bigelow, Ph. D. ; Erik H. Green, A. M. College of City of New York: Francis B. Sumner, Ph. D. Princeton University: Ulric Dahlgren, Ph. D.; C. F. Silvester. Syracuse University: Charles W. Hargitt, Ph. D. Yale University: W. G. Van Name, Ph. D. Miscellaneous: John Barlow, A. M., Fairmont College, Wichita, Kans.; E. W. Barnes, Tabor College, Iowa; W. B. Bell, University of Iowa; W. A. Denny, A. M., Anderson (Ind.) High School; OttoFolin, Ph. D., McLean Hospital, Waverly, Mass.; Henry R. Linville, Ph. D., De Witt Clinton High School, New York City; Porter E. Sargent, A. M., Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge, Mass. Beaufort, North Carolina (H. V. Wilson, Director). The Fish Commission laboratory at this place was in operation at the beginning of the fiscal year and remained open until September 25, the same temporary quarters being occupied as in previous years. Prof. H. V. Wilson, of the University of North Carolina, continued in charge. A dwelling-house near the laboratory was rented for a dor- mitory and mess-house. The launch Petrel was attached to the station during the season and was in constant use. About 20 persons availed themselves of the privilege of working at the laboratoiy; these, with the institutions with which they were connected, were as follows: Johns Hopkins University: Prof. W. K. Brooks, Dr. Caswell Grave, Messrs. R. P. Cowles, D. H. Tennent, O. C. Glaser, R. E. Coker, and J. A. E. Eyster. Columbia University: Prof. E. B. Wilson, Messrs. H. B. and J. C. Torrey. Urirrr.^Hy of Xaiih Carolina: Prof. H. V. Wilson and Mr. C. A. Shore. Uiiiri'i:^:itii (f Missouri: Prof. George Lefevre and Dr. W. C. Curtis. Washiiujtuii and Jefferson College: Prof. Edwin Linton and Mr. C. W. Stone. University of Alabama: Dr. J. Y. Graham. Bryn Mawr College: Prof. T. H. Morgan. Dartmouth College: Dr. J. H. Gerould. Professor Brooks studied the eggs of the oyster and preserved material for further work on the same. Prof. E. B. Wilson was engaged in experimental studies of the living eggs of the sea-urchin, Toxopneustef^^ and Professor Morgan worked on the eggs and larvee of the same species in connection with his researches on regeneration. Professor Linton began a systematic examination of the food-fishes of the Beaufort region with reference to their parasites. Professor Graham studied a trematode worm which is parasitic in the oj^ster. Dr. Grave, assisted by Mr. Glaser, continued the w^ork on the biol- ogy of the North Carolina oyster and conducted expermients with a view to develop a method by which 03'ster-farniing ma}" be success- fully carried on in the North Carolina sounds, where, on account of the peculiarity of the bottom in many places, the ordinary methods of planting arc inapplica})le. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 139 Mr. Cokor iuvcsti<>"ated a ))ariuu'lc (Dickclasjris) pai'a.sitic on the gills of the common cdiblo oral). From a report submitted by Mr. Coker it appears that this parasite affects over 50 per cent of the male crabs and about 90 per cent of the females; that it is not found in 3'ouno- crabs, being thrown off by the frequent molting; that crabs whose gills are heavily burdened with the parasite have less vitality, are sluggish in their movements, and are the first to die in captivity. While the usual number of barnacles found in one crab is from 2 or 3 to 8 or 10, in some the gills are tilled to overflowing and may contain 500 to 1,000 of the parasites. The new laboratory buildings on Fivers Island were nearly com- pleted by the end of the year, and on May 26 it was practicable to throw the laboratory proper open to investigators. Prof. H. V. Wil- son, the director, having gone abroad. Dr. Caswell Grave, of Johns Hopkins University, was appointed to the position. The operations of the laboratory during the last few weeks of the tiscal year 1902 will be referred to in the report for the next year. WORK IN FISH PATHOLOGY. The occurrence of serious disease among fishes at the hatcheries of the Commission and elsewhere has required the almost constant atten- tion of Mr. M. C. Marsh, the assistant assigned to this subject, and has shown the wisdom of making special provision for the study of this increasingly important branch. A part of the summer and fall was spent by Mr. Marsh at the North- ville (Michigan) station of the Commission in considering the disease aflecting the brook trout, A bacterial organism was isolated from the dying fish and the disease was reproduced in healthy trout by inoculation. On the recommendation of this division, two ponds were constructed entirely of concrete and cement for the purpose of exclud- ing disease-producing Ijacteria, and the ponds were stocked with healthy trout from the Au Sable River and from a private trout farm at Osceola, Wis. Mr. Marsh visited this farm to inspect the fry and yearling fish prior to securing a supply for Northville. The large spring pond constituting the main water supply was drawn down, cleaned, and thoroughly disinfected with chlorinated lime. Patholog- ical material and cultures were brought to the Washington laboratory, and a studj^ of the the ofi'ending organism was taken up. This genu can not be identified with any hitherto-known species, and a full description of its form and behavior is substantially completed. At the meeting of the American Fisheries Society, held at Milwau- kee, Wis., in July, Mr. Marsh l)rought the brook-trout disease to the attention of the assembled fish-culturists. An investigation of the mortality among brook trout at the Paris station of the Micliigan Fish Commission disclosed the same disease as at Northville, l)ut in a milder form. Mr. Marsh visited by request 140 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. the hatchery of the Pere Marquette Club at Wingleton, Mich. , where brook trout were found to be slowly dying of the Northville disease, and some suggestions for the amelioration of the conditions were made. The existence of fungous disease among fishes in the Government aquaria at the Pan-American Exposition, as noted in the report for last year, continued during the summer and required attention. Ex- periments with potassium permanganate and formalin confirmed the previously expressed opinion that they had no advantages over com- mon salt as a remedy for this troublesome disease. In March a visit of about one week was made to the Charleston Exposition to look into some cases of mortality among aquarium fishes. No serious losses were occurring, and some previous trouble was probably due to polluted water from the lagoon from which the water supply was drawn. The brook trout were slowly dying and these were infected with the Northville organism, which makes an interest- ing addition to the recorded distribution of this species. Local fishes taken for the exposition were not in the best condition and this accounts parth^ for the aquarium losses. Both salt and fresh water supplies were rather peculiar and not of the best for aquarium pur- poses, the river water being subject to contamination from phosphate works and the fresh artesian water containing considerable soda, like all of the artesian water of the region. MISCELLANEOUS LABORATORY WORK, REPORTS, ETC. FISHES FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. The Commission received through the Surgeon-General of the Army specimens of fishes and fish cakes from medical officers in the Philip- pine Islands. The fish were from Lake Buhi, in southern Luzon, and represented five or six species, several of which were previously unknoAvn. The most interesting and important of these was an exceed- ingly diminutive form, caught in large numbers by the natives and used for food. In forwarding specimens of these fish. Dr. George A. Zeller wrote as follows from the military hospital at Buhi: I inclose herewith samples of a strange article of diet greatly relished by the Bicols, among whom I have been stationed for the past eighteen months. Rice and fish are the staple articles of diet for most Filipinos and in the provinces of the Camarines there is little variation from these two. Fishes of every size and many varieties are prepared in every conceivable form, but the samples inclosed are unique in that they are found here and nowhere else. * * * Many varieties of fish abound in the lake, but by far the most numerous are these minute specimens. They are called in the native Bicol tongue sinarapan, and when dried in the sun on a leaf are called hadi. They are caught by a large sheet of close web, which is dipped under wherever a school congregates. They are put into tightly woven baskets from which the water soon drains, leaving a compact mass of fish. They are not minnows or immature fish. The natives buy them eagerly; and when the little fleet of fishermen return from their morning's quest and place their baskets upon the ground on the market place, they are instantly surroundexl l)y a crowd of waiting children, who, armed with every sort of disli, are anxious to take home the family REPORT OK COMMISSIONER OK KISII AND KISRERIES. 141 meal. They bi-ing tliree or four potatoes, tul)erH, ii liaudfiil or two of rice, or a few copper pennies, and in exchange receive about a pint of fish. In the kitchen the fish are made up with peppers or other spiced herbs, and they do not taste bad. The soldiers have become quite fond of this food, and Uberally patronize tlie little native restaurants where it is served. Tliis Hsli proved to bo of an iinde.scribccl ^onus and .species, and its diagnostic features were given in an article in Science (January 8, 1902), where the name Mistlchthys luzonensis was applied to it. The maximum length of the species is only 0.6 inch and the average slightly over 0.5 inch. It is the smallest known fish and probably the smallest known vertebrate. Through the courtesy of the Surgeon-General of the Army, the Commission was enabled to place three collecting outfits in the hands of medical oflicers located in various parts of the archipelago, and it is expected that additional specimens of interest will thus be obtained. SHAD OP THE OHIO RIVER. Prof. B. W. Evermann concluded his study of the shad of the Ohio River, referred to in the annual report for 1898, and submitted a paper thereon which was published in May, 1902. Publication of this article was delayed in the hope that opportunity might be afi'orded for obtain- ing further information on this fish, especially its migration from the Gulf of Mexico up the Mississippi and its tributaries. This shad proves to be an indigenous species, and is not, as some have supposed, the transplanted shad from the Atlantic coast. It lias appropriately been named Alosa oJdensis. It is an excellent food-fish, probably not inferior to the common shad, but is not highly regarded by the people of the Mississippi basin, the price received by fishermen being only 2 cents a pound. Its abundance and distribution are not yet known, and the annual catch is quite small and localized. FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES, ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, AND LAKE CHAMPLAIN. The extensive collections of fishes from these waters obtained ])v the Commission during a series of years have been reported on by Prof. Barton W. Evermann and Dr. W. C. Kendall, in four annotated lists published in March and April, 1902. The number of species and subspecies known from the Great Lakes and their tributary waters is 152, of which 27 are peculiar to Great Lakes basin. Erom Lake Ontario 73 species are recorded, and from the St. Lawrence River 71. The fish fauna of Lake Champlain includes 54 species'. SILVERSIDES OF THE EAST COAST. The silversides are among the most abundant of the small fishes inhabiting the salt, brackish, and fresh waters of the Eastern and Southern States. Their maxinuim length is but little over 6 inches, and most of them are hardly half so large; they are, therefore, only sparingly eaten by man, but they constitute one of the most important 142 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. foods for many of the best food-fishe.s of the coast. Extensive col- lections of the Fish Commission, supplemented by material in the National Museum, were studied ))y Dr. W. C. Kendall, and a report" thereon was issued in April, 1902. In this paper the abundance, uses, habits, food, etc., of the silversides are considered, and a detailed description, with figure, of each species is given. FISHES OF MEXICO. Recent collections of fishes from various parts of Mexico, obtained by the Division of Biological Surve}^ of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, have been referred to this Commission for identification, and have- been reported on by Messrs. B. W. Evermann and E. L. Goldsborough in a paper issued May 3, 1902. These collections, sup- plemented by several smaller ones from various sources, comprised 56 species, of which 5 were previously undescribed. FISHES OF LABRADOR. At the request of Prof. Leslie A. Lee, of Bowdoin College, Maine, Dr. W. C. Kendall identified and reported on a small collection of fishes obtained on the Labrador expedition of that college in 1901. The report will form one of a series of articles on the natural his- tory collections of that expedition. Professor Lee donated to the Commission specimens of all the desirable duplicates. "Notes on the Silversides of the genus Menidia of the East Coast of tlie United States, with descrip- tions of two new subspecies. REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. By C. H. TowNSENi), Axsisf(i)it In Charge. The commercial fisheries of the United States employ about 200,000 persons, the amount of capital invested is $60,000,000, and the annual value of the products to the fishermen is approximately $50,000,000. The difl'erent regions in which fisheries exist are the New England, Middle Atlantic, and South Atlantic States on the Atlantic coast, the Gulf States on the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast States, Alaska, the Great Lakes, and the various rivers and minor lakes. At the commencement of the present fiscal year the statistical agents of this division were in the field engaged in investigations of the lob- ster, sturgeon, menhaden, and salmon fisheries of the Atlantic coast. A thorough canvass was made of the entire lobster fishery, Mr. W. A. Wilcox canvassing Massachusetts; Mr. T. M. Cogswell, Massachusetts and New Hampshire; Mr. E. S. King, Rhode Island; Mr. C. H. Ste- venson, New York; Mr. W. A. Roberts, Connecticut and a portion of Rhode Island; Mr. John B. Wilson, New Jersey and Delaware; Mr. G. H. H. Moore, Maine. Mr. C. G. Atkins, superintendent of the Fish Commission station at Craig Brook, Maine, made a canvass of the salmon fishery of the Penobscot River, Mr. J. N. Cobb, who during the summer had been detailed to assist in an investigation of the fish- eries of the Hawaiian Islands, was for a short time engaged in making inquiries respecting certain fisheries centered in New York City. In the autumn Mr. C. H. Stevenson made inquiries in Connecticut and Massachusetts respecting the preservation of fishery products. Mr. E. A. Tulian, superintendent of the Fish Commission station at Lead- ville, Colo., made a canvass of the fisheries of Utah and Colorado. A canvass of the fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States was then begun, Mr. W. A. Wilcox taking up the work in Virginia and Mr. J. B. Wilson in New Jersey. Mr. Roberts was assigned to the canvass of Maryland and was assisted for a time by Mr. Wilson, who later took up the work in New Jersey. Mr. Cobb was assigned to New York and Mr. Stevenson to portions of Virginia and Maryland. Mr. Thomas B. Gould was temporarily employed in canvassing the fish- eries of Pennsylvania and New Jersey on the Delaware River. At the close of the fiscal year the investigations of the fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States were still in progress. 143 144 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Mr. Townsend, assistant in charge, after representing the Commis- sion at a meeting of the American Fisheries Society at Milwaukee, Wis., in July, made a reconnaissance of the fisheries of the Great Lakes west of Lake Ontario. In June he accompanied the Assistant Secretary of State to The Hague in connection with the arbitration of American whaling and sealing claims against Russia. Capt. S. J. Martin and Mr. F. F. Dimick, statistical agents of the division located at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., have continued to submit their monthly reports on the quantity and value of certain fishery products landed at those port.- by American vessels. Mr. A. B. Alexander, of the steamer A/hatross, was employed for a short time in making inquiries relative to the increase, among commer- cial fishermen, of hook-and-line fishing for salmon at Monterey, Cal., and elsewhere on the Pacific coast. The following bulletins, issued as single sheets, containing advance statistics in condensed form, were widely distributed during the year: 114. Lobster fishery of the United States, 1900. 117. Statement of the quantity and value of certain fishery products landed at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., by American fishing vessels during the year 1901. Other bulletins, showing the quantity and value of fishery products landed at Boston and Gloucester, have been issued monthly as usual. The publications appearing during the year which were prepared in this division were: Records and bibliography of the steamship Albatrons, by C. H. Townsend. Statistics of the fisheries of the Great Lakes. Notes on the fisheries of the Pacific coast, by W. A. Wilcox (in press). BOSTON AND GLOUCESTER. ^ The local agents of the Coumiission at Boston and Gloucester have continued to make monthly reports on the great fisheries centering there. The total quantity of products landed by American vessels during the year 1901 was 151,165,191 pounds,^ worth $4,245,951. These figures as compared with those for the previous year are some- what smaller, there being a decrease of 11,053,730 pounds and a decrease in value of $139,151. The total number of fares landed was 6,964, a decrease of 549 as compared with the year 1900. The fish landed at Gloucester amounted to 92,173,060 pounds, valued at $2,674,551, a moderate decrease in both quantity and value from the previous year. The decrease is shown in the quantit}" of fresh fish landed, the amount of fish salted being somewhat larger. The fares landed at Gloucester numbered 3,561, of which 2,899 were from grounds off the New England coast and 662 from the Eastern Banks. The total of fish from grounds off the New England coast was 34,835,456 pounds, worth $1,050,211. The quantit}^ from the Eastern Banks was much larger, amounting to 57,337,604 pounds, worth $1,624,340. REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES UJ At Boston the decrease amounted to 7,828,781 pound.s and ^27,106 in value. The fares landed at Boston were 3, 403, 170 hc'mg from the Eastern Banks and 3,233 from grounds otf the New Enghmd coast. At this port the orcatcr quantity of the tish was derived from grounds otf the New Enghmd coast. The total quantity of products landed at Boston was 58,992,131 pounds, worth $1,-571,1:00, the fresh iish amount- ing to 56,855,111 pounds, the salt fish being only 2,137,020 pounds. It should be noted that at Gloucester the quantity of salt tish is greatly in excess of that landed in a fresh condition. Summary, hij fishimj-groimds, of certain fishery products landed at Gloucester, Mass., in 1901 by American fishing vessels. Fishing-grounds. No. of trips. Cod, fresh. Cod, salted. Cask, fresh. Cask, salted. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Eastof 66° W. longitude: La Have Bank 132 187 142 73 2 22 88 1 15 3, 740, 485 9,173,636 2, 104, 738 35,620 »75,619 172,777 39, 834 855 798, 450 5,501,347 4,856,906 12,405,293 9,730 48,000 231,742 $27,814 185,690 1.52, 664 385,245 315 1,801 8,426 198, 130 36,600 8,000 «2,979 571 121 Western Bank Quereau Bank 5,000 1175 25,000 12, 185 41, 230 89,000 500 274 993 2,211 Off Newfoundland . . . Cape North 116, 000 1,690 Total 662 15,221,894 293,063 23, 851, 468 761,955 358,730 5,361 5,000 \Vestof66°W. longitude: 25 298 43 104 19 25 1 22 129 7 2,226 298,010 1,208,656 512,630 8,250 32,788 358,637 38,000 6,424 24,8.56 9, 9.54 130 l',469 230, 830 5,502,683 26, 710 7,743 200,293 1,025 118,494 27, 210 249,960 3,000 1,952 5.50 3,783 45 10,000 18,000 18,980 Georges Bank 4.56 Jeffreys Ledge South Channel 49,795 734 Off Chatham Bay of Fundy Block Island 148, 130 2,610 124,315 1,888 91,110 2,958 1,253,079 33, 656 7,114 109 Total 2,899 3,858,180 87,091 5,851,333 212,019 579,888 9,061 46, 980 1,202 Grand tot, 827 138,790 15,079,751 22, 911 Georges Bank 374, 200 26, 294 13, 444 2 515 Ipswich Bay 12, 543 Nantucket Shoals 1,469 397, 000 2, 544, 600 118, 790 8,597,340 24,817 155, 706 3,900 285,212 28, .599 Bay of Fundy 171,737 Block Lsland 4 000 392, 499 Total 15,585,303 272, 193 19, 2,50, 153 778, 018 31,835,4.56 1,0.50,211 Grand total 39 584 177 933,319 52 588 88:^ 1 741 '':« 92 17:^.060 , 674, 551 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 147 Sumniar;/, h;/ Jinhing-gmiinds, of certain fhhcrjt ])ro(li(rli^ landed at Buxtun, Mass., in inOl, In/ Americiiii Jishing vessels. Fishing-grounds. No of trips. Cod, fresh. Cod, salted. Cusk, fresh. Iladdoek, fresh. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. East of 66° \V. longitude: 42 38 13 1 12 20 44 569, 500 770, 000 206,000 Sl.3,985 19, 978 6,280 91,500 63,000 $1,449 1,006 909, 300 103,000 821, 172 2 705 \Vcvtfrn Bank CjM(.'n'au Hiuik Green Bunk 9,000 196 6,000 10,000 »120 300 5,000 45,000 100 780 Cape Shore 622, 500 15,430 760,000 20,838 Total 170 2,237,000 55,868 16,000 420 204, ,500 3,334 1,772,300 44,715 Westof66°W. longitude: Browns Bank 61 263 51 11 9 219 233 450 102 65 84 1,686 927,200 2,359,600 464, 300 106,000 44, 000 391,800 510, 200 3, 528, 300 1,552,400 197, 900 328, 300 4,245,450 25,053 65, 038 11,929 2,930 1,375 16; 554 99,322 37,241 5, 522 9,168 124,886 137,000 68,000 206,900 12,000 14,000 12,500 63, 700 70,500 83,300 2,128 1,057 3,201 180 220 190 970 1,155 1,429 1,222,000 4,631,500 344, 200 169,000 46,000 1,117,500 1,092,900 8,097,800 194, 800 519, 000 839, 000 4,685,350 25, 148 Georges Bank Cashes Bank 9,234 3 985 Chirk Bank Fippenies Bank Middle Bank 33,071 34,093 188, 125 3,828 14 894 Jeffreys Ledge South Channel Off Highland Light... Off Chatham 8,000 209, 900 110 3,573 22,309 136,088 Shore, general Total 3,233 14,655,450 409, 626 885,800 14,213 22, 959, 050 573, 520 Grand total 3,403 16,892,150 465, 494 16,000 420 1,090,300 17,547 24, 731, 350 618, 235 Fishing-grounds. Hake, fresh. Pollock fresh. Halibut fresh. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. East of 66° W. longitude: La Have Bank 76,000 101,000 21,000 »946 1,528 285 29,000 28, 000 $390 374 9,300 307,800 207,000 20,000 368, 000 393, 000 31, 700 SI 088 Western Bank 24, 699 17,200 2,000 Grand Bank 28 370 Off Newfoundland 27 600 Cape Shore 57,500 938 38,000 548 2,640 Total 255,500 3,697 95,000 1,312 1,336,800 103, 497 West of 66° W. longitude: Browns Bank 67, 700 216, 000 546, 100 99, 000 94,000 540, 400 721, 400 2,430,300 7,000 107,000 195, 800 2,177,650 1,189 2,563 8,829 1,435 1,600 6, 757 12, 082 39, 218 120 1,408 3,037 35, 392 26,500 69, 200 65, 500 18, 000 2,000 107, 200 367, 900 350, 200 97,300 49. 100 134, 800 811, 100 355 1,124 807 175 20 1,442 4,202 5,509 1,306 547 2, 582 10,301 11, 350 32,800 3,600 2,900 400 1 109 3,831 512 Cashes Bank Middle Bank 2,600 23, 100 3,000 200 300 4, 666 South Channel 3,110 390 Off Highland Light 20 Shore, general . 583 7, 202, 350 113, 630 2,098,800 28, 370 84,916 10, 472 7, 457, 850 117, 327 2, 193, 800 29, 682 1,421,716 Fishing-grounds. Mackerel, fresh. Mackerel, salted. Other fish, fresh. Other fish, salted. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. East of 66° W. longitude: 410, 000 337,000 1,400 4,400 8,700 4,000 609, 790 f 12, 300 33,618 140 608 778 460 23,431 1,468,200 823,005 West of 66° W. longitude: Georges Bank 208,250 64, 450 111,285 4,430 127, 200 $7, 407 Middle Bank Jeffreys Ledge South Channel 16,250 2,000 1,501,405 1,300 90 69, 968 1,000 40 Nantucket Shoals Shore, general 504, 620 19, 741 20, 000 325 Total 1,792,355 87,073 632,820 27, 188 865,290 58,835 20, 000 325 Grand total 1,792,355 87,073 632, 820 27, 188 1,275,290 71, 135 1,488,200 23, 330 148 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Fisliitig products landed at Boston, Mass., in 1901 — Continued. Fishiii.ij-ffromids. Total, fresh. Total, salted. Grand total. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. East of 66° W. longitude: La Have Bank 1,684,600 1, 372, 800 494, 000 20, 000 377, 000 808, 000 1, 554, 700 139,030 50,289 23, 765 2,000 28, 565 39, 900 41,174 1,684,600 1,372,800 494,000 20, 000 377, 000 2, 282, 200 1,-564,700 S^39, 030 50 289 23, 766 2,000 Grand Bank "i,'474,"206' 10, 000 ■■»23,'i2.5' 300 28, .565 63, 025 41,474 Total 6, 311, 100 224, 723 1,484,200 23,425 7, 795, 300 248, 148 West of 66° W. longitude: 2,391,750 7,922,350 1, 630, 600 406,900 200, 400 2,235,250 2, 763, 100 14,525,150 1,943,800 873, 200 1, 506, 200 14,145,311 54, 982 219, 576 34, .512 9,152 4,860 56, 638 68,783 3.38,517 44,864 22, 391 37,242 404, 222 2,391,7.50 8,049,650 1,630,600 406, 900 200,400 2,235,260 2, 763, 100 14, 526, 150 1,943,800 873,200 1,506,200 14,669,931 54, 982 127,200 7,407 226, 983 34, 512 CHrk Bank 9,152 4,860 Middle Bank 56, 638 68, 783 1,000 40 338,-567 44,864 Off Highland Light 22, 391 37, 242 524, 620 20,066 424,^ 50, 544, on 1,295,739 652,820 27,513 51,196,831 1,323,252 Grand total 56, 855, 111 1,-520,402 2, 137, 020 .50, 938 .58,992,131 1,671,400 Statement, by months, of quantities and values of certain fishery prodacts landed at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., by American fishing vessels during the year 1901. No. of trips. Cod, fresh. Cod, salted. Cusk, fresh. Cusk, salted. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. I>bs. Value. Januar 237 283 342 288 200 246 274 265 357 313 284 988,800 917, 100 1,738,800 1,007,200 1,661,200 1, 632, 400 1,257,600 1,-504,400 1,608,000 1,643,100 1,387,700 1,646,150 $28,176 37,396 49, 276 34,416 31, 746 39,937 32, 734 42, 418 46,252 40, 497 3-5,103 47,546 99, 000 54, 200 57,700 44, -500 195,000 133, 000 24,000 109,800 28,900 132,000 87, 700 124,-500 $1,6-54 1,221 1,144 766 2, 7-59 1,920 360 1,-8,52 446 1,925 1.313 2,187 6,000 ffl20 April Mav 10,000 300 Total landed lit Bos- 3,403 16,892,450 465,494 16,000 420 1,090,300 17,547 172 122 246 205 357 377 445 368 334 370 385 180 44J, 971 349, 449 2, 332, 102 1, 698, 776 1,819,231 2, 260, 147 2,367,707 2, 075, 340 1,803,920 1,903,656 908,005 1,127,770 11,622 12, 026 50,053 33, 739 38, 687 41,462 43,011 38, 957 33,637 34,238 18,306 24,417 (522, 465 -55, ISO 23:^, r,:i9 27H, 300 915,342 2, 368, 714 5,792,307 4,759,911 3,899,928 4,019,358 5,71.5,343 1,041,114 21,731 2, 026 ,S, 019 9, 621 34, 231 80,694 182, 311 165, 112 129,423 126,458 178,217 37,231 29, 475 12, 460 3, 6,S0 17, 740 298, 269 355, 730 150,610 8,000 5,000 9,364 44,010 4,280 372 286 92 224 4,. 593 6, 402 2,2.55 260 83 141 660 64 March April May 18,980 $•496 July 23,000 5,000 569 138 5,000 175 Total lauded iit Gk)uce.sler 3, 561 19, 080, 074 380, 154 29,702,801 973,974 938, 618 14, 422 61,980 1,377 Grand total 6, 964 35, 972, 524 17,717,650 16,333,742 845, 648 29,718,801 974, 394 2, 028, 918 31,969 51, 980 1,377 Landed at Boston in 1900 3,731 3,782 397,415 293,248 131,000 29,837,821 1,850 722, 366 916,800 1,101,100 13,262 12,534 Landed at Gloucester in 1900 131,000 2,348 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 149 Statemr)it, hij months, of quantities and ntlucs of certain fisherij products landed at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., by American fishing vessels during the year 1901 — Continued. Haddock , fresh. Haddock, salted. Hake, fresh. Hake, salted. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. 1,641,900 2,621,600 3,862,600 1,741,900 1,520,900 1,457,800 1,838,900 1,683,650 2, 749, 300 2i 307, 900 1,669,400 1,746,600 $41,315 78, 665 81,424 62, 102 34, 528 31, 380 32, 046 58; 655 59,766 63,677 57,484 409, 800 326,300 190,500 60,000 400, 900 341,750 277, 100 390, 300 816,700 1,826,600 1,646,400 772, 500 S8,249 10,230 5, 666 1,745 4,418 3,957 6,562 8,163 13, 889 19, 987 21,231 14,340 Mnv July ( )f>tohpr \'r vomVii^r ], I 24, 731, 350 618, 236 7, 457; 860 117,327 1 411,615 689,232 1,219,310 447, 590 239, 715 233,890 180, 161 10, 179 16,795 14, 975 8,700 2,305 2; 332 1,365 46, 360 16, 515 530 49, 780 463,413 1,018,834 1,033,666 16, 930 216, 480 279,220 449, 840 71,540 697 368 9 767 5,952 10,972 9,307 153 2,131 3,347 6, 422 994 1,560 839 March .' April Mav : :::: 2,000 17, 280 8,000 13,690 S30 289 138 220 39,460 8,560 14, 200 8,000 493 June 193 July 305 August 181 27,280 211,065 236, 755 302,278 218 2,248 4, 722 7,250 5,000 150 1 76, 700 1,059 Total landed at Gloucester. 4,198,891 71,089 45,970 827 3,663,097 40, 119 148,480 2,270 28,930,241 689,324 j 45,970 827 [11,120,947 157, 446 148, 480 2,270 Landed at Boston in 1900 28,235,850 4,806,652 589, 105 71,462 6, 917, 100 4,628,466 98,119 41,830 Landed at Gloucester in 1900. 1 6,000 75 78,000 1,068 Months. Pollock, fresh. Pollock, salted. Halibut, fresh. Halibut, salted. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. 86, 000 72, 100 42, 100 9,600 45,800 116,800 119,400 153,200 296,200 510,200 326,600 416,000 SI, 189 2,084 1,041 235 377 1,044 1,432 2,587 3,770 4,548 3,420 7,955 129, 000 83,300 74,500 112, 700 215, 300 132,900 198, 400 177,200 39,050 149, 766 40,200 69,400 111,940 6,095 5,335 7,280 13, 957 9,430 16, 880 15, 943 3,712 14,476 3,804 5,117 Februiirv April Mav June July September November Total landed at Boston 2,193,800 29, 682 1,421,716 113,969 January 73,830 11, 602 28,150 30,630 99, 074 105,867 78, 965 6,410 164,900 2,077,320 739 124 210 184 838 585 478 64 1,314 16,040 16, 807 1,241 378, 736 328, 508 315. 172 567,396 572, 705 244,050 189,813 320, 105 203,586 157,238 235, 671 140,476 34,018 26, 699 23,903 31, 948 February March April 4. 3,50 $218 May 6,000 19,000 16,000 36,742 «90 239 201 467 282 June 18,451 16,010 27, 796 18,830 16, 281 22,291 13,879 July : 3,000 14,770 392, 330 42,500 150 August Serjt ember 887 35,476 4 038 October NovemhRr 2,324,620 149,882 20,000 250 Total landed at Gloucester. 5,151,140 38,614 97,742 1,247 3,643,455 286,033 462,590 1 41,051 Grand total 7,344,940 68,296 97,742 1,247 5,065,171 |400,002 462 590 41 051 Landed at Boston in 1900 . . . 1,173,500 4,104,324 13, 296 28, 967 1..588 150 104. 7,S8 180,000 i 9.900 Landed at Gloucester in 1900. 41,070 514 I ,686,505 3" 1,616 1,389,335 78,599 150 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Statement, by months, of quantities arid values of certain fishery jjroducts landed at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., by American fishing vessels during the year 1901 — Continued. Mackerel, fresh. Mackerel, salted. Other fish, salted.a January February . March May June July August September October . . . November. December . 61, 530 456, 198 446,850 295, 877 183, 200 348, 700 81,904 12, 939 23, 539 18, 143 13,430 17, 118 1,600 331,000 164, 420 112,200 23,600 164 12,638 6,115 6,732 1,039 140,000 190,000 80,000 ff3, 850 4,850 3,600 240,000 232,200 13,250 5,205 228,400 262, 100 50,200 137,440 166, 600 20, 550 23,979 6^616 2, 243 2, 711 248 Total landed at Boston January... February . March April May June July August September October . . . November December . 277,470 220, 320 200, 690 119, 430 168,930 1,275,290 71, 135 1,488,200 23, J 441,000 306,000 235,800 108,000 14, 880 11,050 13, 100 1,151,400 171,000 50,000 17,769 2,779 1,000 150 9,601 8, 222 9,410 6,369 7,722 83,000 3,479,000 3,521,400 2,351,000 1,108,000 679, 600 158,600 3,273 132, 520 150,157 141, 643 77, 378 43, 671 8,723 3,530 28,454 59, 928 339,550 178,200 218, 000 1,347 1,397 5,130 1,822 8,400 44,720 759, 400 3, 240, 200 5,282,000 49,519 81,873 Total landed at Gloucester Grand total 990,440 1,380,600 557,365 12,013,420 Landed at Boston in 1900 Landed at Gloucester in 1900 4,019,362 4, 869, 932 155, 544 234,408 1,404,300 14,561,200 68, 662 769,081 1,918,462 I 61,414 10,698,720 163,121 12,186,920 j 186,451 3,079,400 2,104,872 123, 850 65, 445 1,457,800 22,715 5,818,000 93,055 January February March April May June July August September October November December Total landed at Boston January February March April May June July August September October November December Total hiiidcd at Gloucester Grand total Landed at Boston in 1900 Landed at Gloucester in 1900. . 3,494,500 4, 164, 600 6,036,200 2, 975, 800 4,000,630 4, 270, 848 4,390,650 4, 576, 527 5,770,550 7, 055, 706 5,324,500 4,794,600 $96,372 140,441 147,375 96, 544 89, 688 100, 007 136,532 149, 437 146, 770 160, 560 121,259 134,877 240, 000 238,200 S3, 250 5, 325 1,600 341, 000 164,420 112,200 23,600 64 12, 938 6,115 6,732 20,000 996.000 325 14, 550 4, 402, 6, 036, 2, 975, 4,002, 4,611, 4, 555, 5! 794; 7, 055, 6,344, 5, 790, 199, 622 145, 766 147,375 96, 544 89,752 113,545 142, 647 156, 169 148,409 160, 560 121,584 149,427 56, 855, 111 1,520,462 2,137,020 58, 992, 131 1,571,400 1, 824, 987 1, 713, 666 4, 134, 744 2, 909, 911 3,496,007 4,485,988 4,224,751 2, 655, 929 2, 600, 524 5, 146, 343 4, 377, 101 2, 014, 226 72, 507 (•)7, 347 102, 342 79,462 88,452 88,805 81, 036 77, 977 63, 979 85, 147 70,030 56,235 1,773,865 228, 040 283,539 283, 650 1,070,422 5, S92, 554 9, 422, 627 7,189,113 5, 400, 258 5, 510, 858 9,190,843 0,343,114 3, 698, 852 1,941,706 4,418,283 3,193,561 4,566,429 10, 378, 542 13,647,378 9,845,042 8, 000, 782 10,657,201 13,567,944 8,357,340 112, 007 72, 191 111,361 89,301 127,346 302,640 415,760 386,625 306, 256 267, 927 307,548 175, 589 3, 584, 17 ,319 52,588,883 1,741,232 92,173,060 74, 551 96,439,288 2,453,781 I 54,725,903 1,792,170 151,165,191 | 4,245,951 63,647,812 43, 535, 583 1,495,379 1,119,490 3, 173, 100 51,862,426 103,127 66,820,912 1,598,506 1,667,106 95,398,009 2,786,596 a Includes herring fromNewfoundland, 1,718,800 pounds frozen, 163,630, and 10,029,600 pounds salted, 8161,511. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 151 FISHERIES OF UTAH. The fisheries of Utah in 1900 employed 505 persons, most of whom fished in Utah Lake. The capital invested was $52,985; 133,100 of this amount is credited to Utah County. Seines and hand lines constituted the principal forms of apparatus in use. The products amounted to 1,081,863 pounds, valued at $17,158. By far the greater part of the catch was derived from Utah Lake, in Utah County. Weber, Rich, and Garfield counties are next in regard to the quantity of fish taken. The principal species taken were, carp, 353,885 pounds, valued at $1,191; trout, 115,798 pounds, $21,678; black bass, 104,800 pounds, $11,105; suckers and mullet, 152,780 pounds, $1,833. Mr. E. A. Tulian reports that black bass, carp, trout, and bullheads have greatly increased in Utah County since 1895. The bass, carp, and bullheads were nearly all taken in Utah Lake and its tributaries. Bass weighing 7 to 8 pounds are sometimes taken, and are said to l)e of excellent quality. The bullheads introduced into the lake four or five years ago are increasing and find a ready sale at good prices. The black bass and carp are also introduced species. It appears that an important quantity of fish is taken and sold con- traiy to law, so that the yield of fish from the waters of Utah is larger than the present figures show. Most persons engaged in fishing in these waters carry on the busi- ness in a desultory manner. Considerable quantities of fish are taken by farmers living in the vicinity of Utah Lake, many of them spearing carp in the winter time for their own use. Tahh showing, hy counties, thenumher of persons employed in the fisheries of Utah i r 1900. Counties. Fisher- men. Shores- men. Total. Utah 295 24 4 20 12 20 47 5 47 1 342 25 Piute 4 20 Salt Lake . - 25 37 20 Weber ... 49 3 Rich 5 430 75 505 Table shovmuj, hy counties, the apparatus and capital employed in tJie fisheries of Utah in WOO. Designation. Utah. Garfield. Piute. Sevier. Salt Lake. No. Value. No. Value. No. 1 Val. No. Val. No. Value. Apparatus: 100 70 11 200 82,150 350 825 200 27,275 2, COO 15 15 2 $75 115 30 30 100 $150 500 Hand lines 15 »75 5 2 825 Spears Shore and accessory property . . Cash capital 575 350 1 000 Total 33,400 ... 1 1.145 75 650 15,825 152 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Table showing^ apparatus and capital employed in the Utah fisheries in 1900- -Continued. Designation. Cache. Weber. Morgan. Rich. Total. No. Value. No. Value. No. Val. No. Val. No. Value. ^Sf"'= 2 31 $50 155 120 ""io" $50 3 $55 150 266 25 1 200 $2, 480 20 $100 1,370 1 45 15 1,120 Gill nets 15 200 500 800 43,050 4,750 Total 100 1,625 50 115 62, 985 Table showing, hy counties and apparatus, the yield of the fisheries of Utah for the year 1900. Apparatus and species. Utah. Garfield. Piute. Sevier. Salt Lake. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Seines: 3,000 $1,500 Bullheads 10,050 194,685 $603 2,434 4,200 1,800 5,400 85 900 387, 880 3,879 3,000 1,000 $150 100 108 592,615 6,916 4,000 250 14, 400 2,593 Lines: Black bass 92, 300 9,230 12, 500 10, 200 1 875 Black-spotted trout 39,500 3,950 3,500 $350 2, 900 $290 2, 050 Trout 40,098 6,015 410 ^ Total 136, 49 15, 655 39, 500 3,950 3,500 350 2,900 290 22, 700 3, 925 Spears: Carp 150,000 879, 113 1,875 Grand total 24,446 43,500 4,200 3,500 350 2,900 290 37, 100 6,518 Apparatus and species. Cache. Weber. Morgan. Rich. Total. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Seines: Brook trout 3,000 10, 050 203, 886 1,500 1,800 451,280 1,000 $1,500 603 Bullheads 5,000 1,500 $100 40 2,619 40 Chubs 900 Suckers and mullet 4,500 115 50, 500 $558 4 810 White-fish n 100 11,000 255 50,500 558 672, 515 10, 572 Gill nets: 1,500 100 23 8 1,500 100 23 Trout 8 Total 1,600 31 1,600 31 Lines: Black bass 104,800 100,800 40, 098 12, 050 11,105 Black-spotted trout . . Trout 13,500 $3,375 27,400 5,480 3,800 $760 16, 255 6,015 White-fish a 6,950 1,045 1,000 150 1 605 Total 13,500 3,376 34, 350 525 4 xnn 910 267 748 34 980 Spears: Carp 150,000 1,875 Grand total 13, 500 3,375 45, 350 6,780 4,800 910 52, 100 589 1,081,863 47, 453 "The species called white-fish in this table is Coregonus wiUiamsmii, commonly kuown in this region as mountain herring or Rocky Mountain white-fish. REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 153 The viholesale trade in carp in New York City. — During the progress of tho, canvass of the fisheries of New York City for the year 1901 Mr. Cobl) made inquiries respecting the trade in German carp. The item of carp in the fish supply of the city is quite important, amounting to (),!)O(),950 pounds, valued in New York at 1197,451. While small quan- tities are received incidentally by most dealers, the handling of the greater part of the supply is done by a few firms only. Carp in the New York markets are mainl}^ from the Illinois River and from Lake Erie, the balance coming generally from eastern points, notably p]ast Bay, L. I., tho Delaware River, Havre de Grace, Md., and Washington, D. C. Most of the carp are received from April to Septem])er, inclusive, the remainder arriving in the winter months. Hebrew retail dealers and peddlers dispose of the greater part on the P^ast Side, some going to Philadelphia and to points in New England. As the Hudson River contains many carp, it is probable that New York will in time be supplied with cheap fish from that source. The following table shows the quantity and value of German carp handled in the wholesale markets of New York City during 1901 : Seasons. Lbs. Value to fishermen. Value to dealers. Jan. 1 to Mar 1 . 354, 950 589, 500 2, 040, 000 1,485,000 2,032.500 405, 000 »10, 649 7,370 20, 040 29, 700 51,813 13, 163 $17, 748 Mar 1 to Apr 15 11 790 Apr. 15 to June 15 34' 000 44, 550 Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 71,138 18, 225 Total for the year G, 906, 950 132, 735 197 451 The above values represent the selling price in New York. The value of this quantity of carp to the fishermen was 1132,735, which does not include freight or express charges. The carp trade in general. — The carp industry of the Illinois River has been important for several years, the catch in 1901 amounting to 5,780,200 « pounds, valued at $173,406. The catch in Lake Erie in 1900 was 4,598,090 pounds. The quantity marketed in the United States is, according to the latest statistics available, 17,160,873 pounds, valued at $407,633. As the figures for some sections of the countiy are over three years old, and as the consumption of carp is increasing, the quantity put on the market annually is probably over 20,000,000 pounds. Where dealers have worked up regular markets for carp, and handled them in quantities large enough for profit at the low prices obtained, hopeful opinions will be heard; where these fish are received incidental!}^ they can not be handled with profit, and opinions just the reverse will be expressed regarding their presence in the fish trade. "Report of the Illinois Fishermen's Assoeiation for the year ending December 31, 1901. 154 BEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. HOOK-AND-LINE FISHING FOR PACIFIC SALMON. Mr. A. B. Alexander, of the steamer Albatross^ has furnished some interesting notes relative to the taking of Pacific salmon with hook and line. Trolling for salmon in Monterey Bay has increased steadily each year since its beginning, and in 1901 there were taken by this method, approximately, 190,786 pounds of salmon, or about 10,000 fish in num- ber, most of which was placed in cold storage and shipped to various Eastern markets. About 100 boats were engaged in the fishing. Previous to 1893 few salmon were taken in Monterey Bay by any kind of apparatus. In that year trolling for them was found to be very successful and the discovery was quickly taken advantage of by anglers and commercial fishermen. It was not known t?iat salmon could be taken with the hook in this bay in paying quantities, the reason being, doubtless, that the fish do not aj)pear leaping at the sur- face, as is the custom when entering fresh water. Most of the fishing is done in the summer time, but a moderate number of fish can also be taken in Monterey Bay during the winter months. The fish appear in numbers about the first week in June, when the sardines are most numerous. The salmon are also found feeding on smelts and squid. The fish are taken in two ways, by trolling with the spoon with and without bait, and with the baited hook used at a considerable depth with a heavy sinker. Previous to the arrival of the sardines and other species on which the salmon feed the fishing is done mostly by trolling with the rod and spoon, but as soon as bait is to be had this method is abandoned for the sinker and hook. As a substi- tute for bait the baited spoon is sometimes used, but the baited hook is preferred by the commercial fishermen. Sportsmen who visit the bay from San Francisco and elsewhere use split bamboo rods ranging from 10 to 12 ounces. Both silk and linen lines are employed, varying in length from 150 to 200 yards. The spoons vary in size from Nos. 5 to 7. The average hook used in con- nection with the spoon corresponds in size to the No. 14 cod trawl hook, with a slightly longer shank. Some fishermen use the brazed treble hook, but it is not a favorite with sportsmen. All the fishing is carried on from skiffs and small rowboats. As the numerous commercial fishermen do not often use a spoon, many more salmon are taken with baited hooks. A common bamboo pole is used by the fishermen, with a cotton line of 32 thread, from 80 to 100 feet in length. The hook is 5 inches long and shaped like a halibut hook, with a longer shank. In baiting the hook care is taken to have the shank entirely covered, leaving the barb and point bare. The sinker is ((uitc heavy, being about 4 pounds in weight and fast- ened to the line 25 feet a})ove the hook. When the salmon is hooked the pole is dro[)ped and the line is hauled in hand over hand, great BKP.)irr OK OOMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FTSIIKRIKS. 155 C!in^ IxMiio- tiikiMi that the lish does not ))reak iiwii}'. Fre([uciitl3' the ii.shino- is done witliout the use of the rod. When the sinker is used the trollino- i.s done at a depth of at least 20 feet. The usual sailing speed in trolling is 4 miles an hour, and the average size of the salmon taken is a little over 20 pounds, although 5()-pounders arc sometimes caught. The best tishing is usually to be had during the afternoon, and 25 tish are considered a good d:i3'\s catch for one hook. Monterey is the most southerly point where salmon are taken, either commercially or for sport. Very few salmon are taken with the hook in San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River. In the Eel River there is good salmon trolling to be had in the fall. The fish are taken in tide water chietlv by professional fishermen, using from 20 to 30 boats, but many anglers visit these waters for the sport fishing. It takes the angler an hour on an average to land one of the larger fish. Similar fishing is done b}^ anglers in a number of the smaller coast rivers, such as the Russian and Nevarro, the Olema, and about the head of Tomales Bay. Stcelhead salmon are frequently taken in these waters with artificial flies. The Indians of Neah Bay, Washington, do considerable trolling for silver salmon and have been known to take as man}^ as 4,000 fish in a day. The principal fishing-grounds lie off the mouth of the bay and in the vicinit}" of Tatoosli rock off the coast and some 2 or 3 miles farther south. The catch is usually disposed of at Port Townsend. The Indians repair to the grounds early in the morning, remaining out all day and sometimes after dark if the weather permits. The spoons employed are larger than those used elsewhere on the coast. The lines are usually of 30 thread and about 150 feet long. Pieces of salmon and small herring are used for bait. In trolling the canoe is paddled, except in very light breezes, when the sail is set. Salmon trolling has long been practiced in Puget Souna, where sportsmen use the rod and reel. At Killisnoo, Alaska, the king salmon take the spoon readil}^ the fish coming in to feed on the herring which annually visit these waters in great numbers. Spoons and lines of the same pattern as those used at Neah Bay are employed by the Killisnoo Indians. The same bait is used and the fish taken are for their own consumption. When salmon will not readily take a spoon at the surface, a baited hook towed near the liottom frequentl}" induces them to bite. There can be no doul:)t that there are many other places along the west coast where salmon could be taken by trolling. They have recentl}^ been taken from vessels 10 or 12 miles off' the coast of ^Vash- ington, the })ait l)eing towed at 30 fathoms where the soundings were 40 fathoms. It now seems probable that a thorough trial by deep trolling all along the west coast will show that the salmon are "on soundings"' and not far from the coast during most of the time they spend at sea. 156 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OB^ FISH AND FISHERIES. THE LOBSTER FISHERY. During the summer of 1901 a canvass was made of the entire lobster fishery of the Athmtic coast of the United States. The number of persons engag-ed this fishery was 4,318, including 1,059 fishermen and 289 shoresmen. There were 191 vessels employed, aggregating 1,888 tons, valued with their outfits at ^i216,671. The boats in use, with launches and steam vessels under 5 tons, numbered 3,960, and were valued at $261,918. There were 208,563 lobster pots employed, worth $221,111. Shore and accessory property was valued at $151,157, and the cash capital amounted to $510,900. The total investment in the fishery was $1,668,060; of this amount $960,529 is credited to Maine, $570,923 to Massachusetts, $51,516 to Rhode Island, $59,133 to Con- necticut, $11,589 to New York, $5,960 to New Hampshire, $2,320 to New Jersey, and $90 to Delaware. The total yield of the fishery was 15,767,711 pounds, with a first value of $1,390,579. The yield is credited to the States as follows: Maine, 12,316,150 pounds, worth $1,062,206; Massachusetts, 1,805,012 pounds, $171,825; Rhode Island, 660,017 pounds, $58,026; Connecticut, 550,150 pounds, $51,481; New York, 156,260 pounds, $21,221; New Hampshire, 205,122 pounds, $19,078; New Jersey, 10,800 pounds, $6,400; and Delaware, 3,600 pounds, $336. Table showing details of the lobster fishery of the United States in 1900. Persons employed. Ve.ssels fishing. Vessels transporting. States and counties. Fisher- men. Shores- men. No. Tonnage. Value. No. Tonnage. Value. Maine: Wasliington 542 600 6 553 488 88 417 170 33 19 10 56 65 417 S3, 750 22, 235 I 00 94 $6,890 6,465 Waldo Knox 37 25 1 161 5 io,5i6 365 3 31 22,560 51 7 5 33 2, 103 37 601 106, 275 Total 2,870 165 97 681 38, 963 53 786 142,190 New Hampshire: Rockingham 45 178 34 22 101 100 14 61 35 Massachusetts: 2 16 825 ' Suffolk 110 1 25 1,250 Plymouth 1 5 300 Nantucket 1 3 5 17 800 2,100 Bristol Total 605 110 7 43 4,025 3,408 1 25 1,250 Rhode Island: 163 45 11 6 32 Washington Total 208 11 6 32 3,408 Connecticut: 19 39 1 13 10 795 New Haven 398 Middlesex 141 3 19 180 18,020 222 3 22 203 19,213 — RPJPORT OF COMMISSIOKER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 157 Table showing ddailx of the hthstn- Jishrri/ of the VtiUed States i„ i^yrW— Ctuitimied. Persons employed. Vessels fishing. Vessels transporting. Stiitcs iind rountios. Fisher- men. Shores- men. No. Tonnage. Value. No. Tonnage. Value. New York: 20 14 18 5 26 Kichmoiid Surt'olk 2 18 11,725 New York 3 100 5,900 Total 83 20 6 5 118 7,625 New Jersey: Moiimonth Delaware: 289 137 73,234 Grand total 4,059 1,077 54 811 1143,440 Boats.* Lobster pots. Shore and accessory property. Cash capital. Total invest- ment. Lobsters caught. States and counties. No. Value. No. Value. Lbs. Value. Maine: Washington 608 »36,431 29, 740 37, 560 125 31,335 30, 280 3,300 15, 5.55 7, 720 $29, 740 37, 560 125 31, 335 30,280 3,300 15,605 9,515 118, 310 10,530 60 30, 416 35, 740 890 95,475 2, 461 121,200 23, 500 1116,321 134, 545 275 165, 899 132, 818 5, 455 3S0, 230 24,986 2, 116, 350 2, 865, 600 5, 175 2, 937, 175 2,353,4.50 268, 500 1,211,600 588, 700 S148,039 252, 153 517 Waldo 6 578 603 88 330 183 90 27, 879 34,433 1,265 18, 272 9.010 43,200 32, 000 260, 014 213,770 23, 770 Lincoln Cumberland York 142, 500 4,000 114,262 49,681 Total 2,957 161,635 44 1,520 155,615 157,460 193,881 266, 400 960,529 12,346,450 1,062,206 New Hampshire: 2,501 3,515 '925 5, 960 205, 122 19,078 Massachusetts: E.ssex 137 31 24 155 94 15 90 6,690 1,175 1,665 14, 220 9,470 1,365 9, 165 5, 140 6, 953 2, .385 2,250 9,127 3,488 672 2,388 1,390 7,141 2,385 2,250 11,904 3,488 672 2, 388 1,390 2,340 235,625 375 3,015 2, 780 100 625 280 16, 996 480,435 4,290 29, 139 16, 038 2, 137 12,978 8,910 465, 561 163, 136 85,454 766,291 110, 375 16, 083 129,990 69, 162 47, 721 Suffolk 240,000 Norfolk. 9,200 63 .5.53 Plymouth 11,987 Nantucket 1 930 Dukes 13 174 Bristol 25 7,010 Total 571 48,890 28,653 31,618 245, 140 240, 000 570,923 1, 805, 042 171, 825 Rhode Island: 153 38 21, 582 2,137 9,175 1,470 11, 330 1,784 9,350 425 4,500 50, 170 4,346 575,492 84,526 50,860 7,176 Total 191 23, 719 10, 645 13, 114 9, 775 4,500 54,516 660,017 58,026 Connecticut: Fairfield . . 16 39 30 65 1,025 2,045 1,810 17,675 459 1,240 669 4,594 676 1, 921 1, 180 9, 027 219 303 135 3,874 2, 745 4,667 3,125 48, 596 13,350 46, 260 26, 150 465, 700 2,001 New Haven Middlesex 2,746 New London 40, 799 Total 150 22,555 6, 962 12,804 4,561 59,133 550,450 61 484 New York: 10 7 11 4 700 610 900 375 1,020 8.50 725 51 810 895 760 1,241 73 1,235 1,595 1,370 3,866 623 7,135 24,530 19, 170 29, 860 6,300 76,400 3,120 Richmond 2 300 Suffolk . 3,084 1 260 Westchester 175 New York .... 11 460 Total 32 2, 585 3,456 4,204 175 14,589 166,260 New Jersey: Monmouth 12 3 990 24 665 66 1,330 66 2,320 90 40,800 3,600 6 400 Delaware: Sussex 336 Grand total... 3,960 261, 918 208,563 224, 111 454, 457 510, 900 1,668,060 15,767,741 1,390,679 "Includes sailboats, elc: .nc and naphtha launches, and steamboats under 6 tons. 158 KErORT OF COMMISSIONER OP^ FISH AND FISHERIES. YIELD AND VALUE OF LOBSTERS IN VARIOUS YEARS. The following table showing the yield and value of the lobster fish- ery in former yeai'S is compiled from the reports of the U. S. Fish Commission, and shows the jdeld and value of lobsters in each of the lobster-producing States on the Atlantic coast in all years for Avhich the fishery has been investigated from 1880 to 1898. No lobsters were reported for Delaware in 1880, but, with this exception, the omission of statistics for any of the States in any of the years enumerated is due to the fishery not being canvassed. The total yield of lobsters for all the States in 1880 was 20,128,033 pounds, value $483,891; in 1887, 28,882,180 pounds, value $799,717; in 1888, 28,108,970 pounds, value $836,617, and in 1889, 30,771,573 pounds, value $861,297. Complete totals can not be shown for other years because the fishery was not investigated in all the States. The total yield in 1892, omitting New York, was 23,559,132 pounds, value $1,016,647; and in 1898, omitting Delaware, it was 15,118,062 pounds, value $1,318,299. Yield and value of the lobster fishery informer years. Years. Maine. New Hampshire. Massachusetts. i Rhode Island. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. 1880 14,234,182 22,916,642 21,694,731 25,001,351 17,612,677 10,300,880 11,183,294 12,346,450 1268,739 512,044 515,880 574, 165 663,043 683,082 992,855 1, 062, 206 260,000 142,824 136, 360 ■ 137, 175 196, 360 90, 300 108,515 205, 122 $7, 500 6,268 6,256 6,416 11,700 5,493 9,372 19, 078 4,315,416 3,511,076 3,743,475 3,353,787 3, 182, 270 2,089,502 1, 693, 741 1,805,042 f 158, 229 156,204 172,936 148,492 206, 638 157, 330 147, 702 171,825 423, 250 570,039 588,500 456,000 774, 100 1887 . 27 r'8 1888 28, 047 1889 21 565 1892 53, 762 1897" 1898 578,066 660,017 43 ''90 58, 026 Years. Connecticut. New York. New Jersey. Delaware. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. 1880 613, 385 1,487,020 1,477,226 1,501,290 $23,002 82,594 85,723 83,099 135,000 114, 000 248,000 124, 023 160,400 166,093 15,062 6,860 13,900 12, 780 14,754 15,655 166,800 101, 580 181, 688 188, 347 186, 321 165, 664 143, 905 79,230 99, 230 123, 876 40, 800 S5,488 7,719 12,965 14,301 13,683 12, 463 10,861 6,197 8, 673 11,097 6,400 1887 39,000 39,000 9,600 7,200 8,200 5,600 910 1889 1890 360 1891 410 1892 1, 614, 530 101,358 285 1897 fi 130,610 381,020 332, 378 1.56.260 10, 913 31,458 30,235 21, 224 5,095 1898 1,098,192 550,450 83, 748 51,484 1900 3,600 336 NOTES ON THE LONDON FUR-SEAL TRADE. While en route to The Hague, where he was detailed in connection with the arbitration of whaling and sealing claims against Russia, INIr. Townsend made inquiries in London respecting the trade in fur-seal skins, which has long been centered there. The prices of fur-seal skins have been subject to considerable fluc- tuation for several years, owing to the cft'ect of pelagic scaling in Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean on the sealing industries of the Pribilof and Commander islands. Frequentl}^ the majorit}^ of the seal skins on the market has consisted of the low-grade skins yielded by the pelagic fisheries. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 159 The followiiif? tabic, showing the num])ers aiul vahies of salted fur- seal skins from all sources placed on the London market durini^ the period from 1871 to 1901, was procured from Messrs. C. M. Lampson & Co., of liondon. It is interesting chiefly on a(^count of comparisons presented ])etween the prices of the miscellaneous skins resultinj^ from the ^vasteful pelagic sealing, and those of seals taken under the best conditions. The classification of the skins is that customaril}^ used in the f'jr trade. The numbers indicate the catch of salted skins received from each source, not the yearl}^ sales, as in some cases catches are not all sold during the years in which they were taken. Yearly catch. 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 issy 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 104,899 96,283 103, 724 99, 150 99, 634 90,276 76,410 99, 911 100,036 100, 161 99, 921 100, 100 75,914 99, 994 99,874 99.947 99, 949 100,037 100, 031 25,152 13,494 7,554 7,500 16, 030 15,002 30,004 20,762 18,032 16,804 21, 924 22,672 Average price realized. $10. 26 10.91 12. 65 12.77 12.35 8.35 9.71 16.83 20.62 22.24 19.40 13.04 20. 13 12.59 14.01 16.85 13.61 18.96 16.28 33.72 30.50 30.50 26. 40 20.90 19.89 16.42 21. 13 38.08 33.54 27. 54 C) Copper. 30, 349 34,479 33, 198 25,380 18, 686 28,215 38, 900 45,209 39,311 36,480 26, 675 48, 929 41,760 54,684 46,296 47,411 62, 766 59, 746 30, 681 31,380 32,832 27,298 17, 721 14, 416 13, 727 9,487 9,786 13, 237 11,298 Average 19.73 9.98 6.04 6.43 9.41 14. 05 19.47 14.60 11.05 9.33 14.38 9.02 9.73 9.73 9.33 12.29 14.16 20.01 16.67 19.73 17.48 13.87 13.14 10.99 13.67 16.76 29.97 19.65 23.34 Northwest coast. 1,728 40 5,071 2,224 3, 104 772 2, 698 14, 609 13, 501 15,887 22, 886 8,704 19,357 10, 148 49,079 39, 419 30,285 39,884 47, 467 63, 733 72,973 102, 460 71,033 40, 280 31,407 42,857 44,379 31,476 Average price realized. 13.32 16.69 12. 47 8.66 10.66 7.79 10. 34 10. 89 15.44 15.09 13.99 11,353 13,066 12, 301 12, 295 14, 865 13, 569 13, 200 12,422 14, 680 10,862 16, 049 14, 831 17, 774 13,206 14,241 13,634 12, 202 13, 624 12, 145 12, 017 19, 172 16, 926 14, 422 14,918 15,116 12,831 83.53 3.45 8.37 9.91 9.81 7.50 4.07 4.56 3.61 4.34 4.40 3.97 4.99 6.73 8.52 8.15 6.45 7.38 5.13 4.87 5.19 4.38 5.07 7.36 4.89 8.05 Cape Horn. Yearly catch. Average price realized. Cape of Good Hope. Average price realized. Australasian. Average price realized. Average price realized. price realized. 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1894 1895 1S06 1 x'M IS'JS 1899 1900 1901 2,171 2,867 4,662 3,812 3,627 4,389 6,386 2,131 62 1,888 2,510 3,451 4,204 $3.36 4.96 5.37 7.79 10.03 10.91 10'.28 5.47 7.81 7.28 4.09 6.14 7.40 6.49 6.91 3, 166 1,439 4,794 3, 195 2,308 4,005 1,397 1,127 1,628 1,394 3.080 467 2,337 651 1,379 4,773 88.41 3.55 4.87 5.70 7.64 8.70 6.45 7.91 10.20 8.74 6.77 3.91 3.91 3.55 4.11 73 16 2,354 2,011 747 619 617 87 5 $4.28 7.54 6.97 5.51 9.77 8.31 5.66 6.08 8.74 6.49 3.45 3.20 3.16 2.92 1.96 4,214 4, 706 1,416 3,333 $1.90 1.60 4.80 $37. 43 21.57 13.38 2,276 5.33 1,329 1,272 1,148 2,602 556 . 571 3.67 6.86 2.87 1.70 2.89 1.32 26.79 21.39 26.40 Besides the above, data exist as iollows: Robben Island, 1886, 1,832 skins at $7.87; Galapagos, 1886, 93 skins at $1.70; 1887, 99 skins at $1.46. Sundry sources; 1887, 239 skins at $4.14; 1899, 64 skins at $0.44, a Figures for August not obtained. &Not yet all sold. 160 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The sources from which fur seals are derived are as follows: The skins known to the trade as "Alaskas" are those of surplus male seals killed on the Pribilof Islands, under United States government super- vision; " Copper" and " Robben Island " are similar in character, and are killed on the Commander and Robben islands, respectively, under direction of oiBcers of the Russian Government; "Lobos" skins are those derived from the Lobos Islands in the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, and are killed under supervision of the Government of Uruguay. The term ''Northwest coast" is used to designate the entire pelagic catch of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. Skins known as "Cape Horn," " Cape of Good Hope," "Australasian," " Galapagos," and "South Sea" are the result of irregular sealing in all of these regions, seals being killed indiscriminately on their breeding-grounds. "Unalaska" skins are those of young seals of the j^ear, commonly known as " Gray Pups," and are killed by natives, in the passes of the Aleutian Islands during their first southward migration. THE SPONGE FISHERY OF FLORIDA IN 1000. joii:Nr X. COBB, Afjcnt of the Lhdted Slides Fkh Conunissiini. F. C. 1902 11 161 Report U. S. F, C. 1902. Plate 6. BRINGING SPONGES FROM THE VESSELS TO SPONGE WHARF AT KEY WEST. A SPONGE AUCTION AT ANCLOTE. THE SPONCE FISHERY OF FLORIDA IN 11)00. By John N. Cobb, Agent of the United States Fish Commission. In IDOi the writer wan detailed to make an inve.stigation of the conimcrcial aspects of the iisheiy, and the following notes give com- plete data showing its condition in the calendar year 1900: GROUNDS, VESSELS, METHODS OF THE FISHERY, ETC. « There are two well-detined areas of the Florida coast in which spong- ing is prosecuted. A chain of ''keys," or islands, starts from the mainland at a))out Miami, on the east coast, and extends, in the shape of a horn, far into the Gulf of Mexico, the Dry Tortugas being the westerimiost point of the horn. In the waters surrounding most of these ke^^s, and also between the ke3's and the mainland as far as Cape Sable, sponges are found. This is called the "key grounds" and is worked exclusively by spongers from Key West and the few inhabitants of the many keys. The earliest sponging was on these grounds. The "bay grounds," which are the most prolific, are on the west coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and extend from Johns Pass, a few miles north of the entrance to Tampa Bay, to St. Mark's light-house, a distance of a])out 200 miles. Sponges are also found in the Gulf between Tampa Bay and Cape Sable, but not in sufficient quantities to justify making trips specially to this region. The sponges taken from these grounds are classified as follows by the spongers and buyers: Sheepswool, yellow, grass, velvet or boat, and glove. A few other unimportant kinds, such as " wire," "hardhead," etc., arc generally included with those previously mentioned. Vessels of a schooner or sloop rig, ranging from 5 to 46 tons (aver- aging sliglitl}' over 11 tons), operate chiefly on the " baj^ grounds," while small sloops, usuall}^ of less than 5 tons burden, work mainly on the "key grounds." The larger vessels, which average about |1,168 «No effort has been marte to give these subjects in detail, as they have been covered in other reports, to which the reader is referred as follows: The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States. Tenth Census of the United States. The Fish and Fisheries of the Coastal Waters of Florida. Rep. U. S. Fish Com. 1896, pp. 203-342. The Florida Commercial Sponges. Bv Hugh M. Smith. Bull. U. S. Fish Com. 1897, pp. 22.5-240, 19 pis. Notes on the Florida Sponge Fishery in 1899. By Hugh M. Smith. Bull. U. S. Fish Com. 1899, pp. 149-101. • ■ 163 164 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER ■ OF FISH AND FISHERIES. in value, exclusive of outtit, earrv from 5 to 13 nicii, while the smaller vessels, which average in value about $780, includino- outfit, carr}^ crews of from 3 to 5 men. The larger Key West vessels make three to four trips per year to the "bay grounds,-' and some of them make one or two trips to the "key grounds." Each "bay" trip occupies about two months, while the "key" trip is made in about a month. The Tarpon Springs and Apalachicola vessels average about live trips each year, each trip occu- pying about two months. None of these latter vessels visits the " ke}- grounds." The "bay" trips are usually arranged as follow^s: The first trip begins about the first week of Januaiy, and ends from the 10th to the 20th of March, the spongers working from the mouth of Anclote River to St. Martins Reef, about 10 miles. Man}'- of the vessels do not make this trip, as the weather is usually cold and windy. The second trip begins about April 1 and ends from the 10th to the 20th of June. The grounds between Johns Pass and Cedar Key arc visited during this trip. The next trip begins about July 1 and ends from the middle of August to the 1st of September, and is also carried on between Johns Pass and Cedar Key. This is usuall}^ the best trip of the year. The fourth trip is called the "hurricane trip," from the fact that it is prosecuted during the hurricane season, and lasts from the middle of August to about the 10th of October, the same grounds being visited as on the two previous trips. The last trip usuall}^ begins the earl}^ part of November and ends December 20, the Rock Island grounds being visited. A number of the vessels refit previous to the last trip, while others wait until the first two months of the year for this purpose. The crews work on shares. The owner, or "outfitter," furnishes the food, fuel, boats, apparatus, etc., for the trip. While sponging in the "bay" each member of the crew is assessed 35 cents per trip for watchman's fee at the "kraals," and 50 cents per trip for wood. After deducting these two items from the gross proceeds of the trip, the vessel takes half of the remainder, and the other half is divided up equall}" among the crew. Besides his regular share with the crew, the captain gets 10 per cent of the vessel's share, and each "hooker" gets one-fourth of one share from the vessel's portion. Should the captain also be a "hooker," which is generally the case, he only gets his regular 10 per cent. The same division of proceeds is followed on the "key "' trips, except that there are no charges for watchmen and for wood. I'he luen gen- erally camp on the keys where wood and water are convenient, and as settlers are scarce in this region the "kraals" do not have to be guarded. The only apparatus used in this fishery is the sponge hook, a three- toothed curved hook attached to poles of varying lengths, according THE SPONGE FISHEUV OF FLORIDA IN" li)00. 1()5 to the (Icplhof water in which tlic sponoiM- is workino', :ukI the .sp()ni>-e <^-las,s — a coiiimon water buckot witli tlic bottoiu knocked out and a l)aneof window o-lass substituted. The latter is used for sceino- ])elow the sui't'ace w^hen the water is disturbed b}' ripples. A spono-e " kraal," or pen, is generally about 1(> feet s({uare, built of wattled stakes, and is placed in shallow water in the shelter of some key or island. Each vessel usually owns one, and for better protection from thieves, a number of them are congregated at some convenient place and a watchman employed to guard them. For a number of 3' ears many of the "bay" spongers had their kraals at the north end of Anclotc Key. As these were exposed to the full force of the wind when blowing from certain directions, considerable loss was sus- tained on several occasions by the storms washing the sponges out of the kraals and carrying them out to sea. Owing to this the kraals were removed in 1890 to Bailej^s Bluff, on the mainland al^out 2 miles north of the mouth of Anclote River. In 1900 certain of the spongers l)ecame dissatisfied and established kraals at Sawyers, about half a mile nearer the Anclote River. The latter are sometimes called the "Cabbage kraals," from a largo cabbage palm standing on the beach just opposite the kraals. At Baile\"S Bluff' there are about 85 kraals, while at Sawyers there are about -10. A few kraals are also located at North Key, close to the town of Cedar Key. This was at one time a very important kraaling place. "Kraals" were also located at Rock Island and near St. Mark's light-house at various times. The key spongers build their kraals at various places, no effort l)eing made to keep them together, as in the "bay." The spongers usually select a convenient key and make their camp on shore, and build their kraal in some sheltered cove close to the shore. They suffer very little from thieves, so do not require watchmen. Should the key have any inhal)itants, these usually w^atch over the kraal. When first brought to the surface the sponges are black and slimy. As soon as a dingy has secured a load it is sculled to the vessel, unless the latter is too far awa}", when she sails down to the boat, and the load is transferred to the deck of the vessel. They are then spread carefully over the deck in their natural upright position so as to allow the slimy matter, or "guny," to run off easily. At first the}^ have a strong ammoniacal smell, exceedingly disagreeable to those unaccus- tomed to it; but this is soon succeeded by a scent very similar to that of decaying seaweed. After several daj^-s' exposure on the deck the sponges die and a good part of the " gurry " runs off. In the "bay " the vessels usuall}^ return to the kraals every Friday. The sponges are then transferred from the vessel to the kraal,- where the}' are allowed to soak until the vessel returns from the next week's trip. Those brought in the previous week are then beaten out with a short, heavy stick, which removes most of the slime and animal matter still 166 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. remaining in them, while those to which the black scum still adheres are scraped with a knife. The sponges are then squeezed out quite thoroughly with the hands, after which they are removed to the shore and strung on pieces of coarse twine about 6 feet in length, in which shape they are ready for sale. All sponges are sold by auction. SPONGES GATHERED IN FOREIGN WATERS. In September, 1900, the schooner Serajiita C.^ of Key West, made a trip to the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, and l)rought back about 1,016 pounds of sheepswool sponges and 41: pounds of velvet sponges. Most of these were taken in water shallow enough to permit of the sponges being secured b}" wading. No effort was made to gather other kinds, as they would not have sold for enough to pay for the collecting. The sheepswool and velvet sponges were of an inferior grade. On land- ing the sponges at Key West they were compelled to pay duty on them. Owing to the success of the Semfina C. several other vessels have since been working on these grounds. For some years past Key West vessels have made occasional visits to these grounds, the schooner Sea Gull having been wrecked while returning from such a trip in 1886. Shortly after the close of the Spanish war one or two of the vessels visited Cuba and brought back a few sponges. These were not gath- ered by the crew, however, but were purchased from the natives. As the}^ were of an inferior grade, and duty had to be paid upon them, no effort was made to continue the business. PREVIOUS ABUNDANCE. The four tables given below show for a series of years the catch of the sponge fleet b}^ places, by kinds, the average price per pound, and the relative importance of the different kinds in