86 FISH AND GAME. 



the young fish, and the resulting methods for the successful handling of 

 large and small quantities; (3) the selection of the waters into which the 

 fish are to be placed. In this last respect our perspective has been at 

 fault, since, first of all, it is important to obtain a thorough knowledge of 

 the waterways as a ground work upon which to establish an intelligent 

 system of stocking. The need is the same in all States, and the results 

 should approximate those expected in Massachusetts. 



Biological Survey. The first step toward forming a systematic basis 

 for future stocking is a biological survey of the inland waters. A complete 

 biological survey would include a detailed study of each pond or stream, 

 with its intricate correlation of plant and animal life extending not over 

 one year but over several years. With a State commission the extent and 

 thoroughness of such a survey are necessarily limited by expense and 

 practical results. In Massachusetts the following plan of work has been 

 followed in order to obtain the necessary information for practical stock- 

 ing with the least expenditure of time and money, and for this reason 

 completeness has been sacrificed. Nevertheless, a thorough biological 

 examination of the important waters of any State is of special value when 

 carried on in a systematic way for a series of years, especially when it is 

 connected with experimental work upon fish in type waters. 



Three years ago a survey of the inland waters was undertaken to obtain 

 necessary information for systematic stocking. For this work a method 

 of obtaining a knowledge of the ponds and streams at a comparatively 

 slight expense was evolved. The work was divided into four parts, and 

 was carried on during the summer months, when time and funds were 

 available. The first step, a study of the ponds and lakes, was followed by 

 an investigation of the coastal streams up which alewives or branch 

 herring once ran in large numbers. The third step was the classification 

 and description of the smaller brooks and streams, while the fourth, as 

 yet incomplete, comprised a study of the fishing potentialities of the larger 

 rivers, and is ultimately connected with that great bugaboo of the 

 anglers, pollution. The following account is given of the methods of 

 work on each, in order to show how all four form practically a preliminary 

 survey of the inland waters of Massachusetts. 



Type Waters. This preliminary study by no means completes the 

 problem. Succeeding it should come more careful and detailed work, 

 designed to increase ultimately the supply of food and game fish by (1) 

 a study of the food, growth, spawning and habits of the different species 

 of fish inhabiting various waters; (2) the determination of the species 

 best adapted to certain classes of water by an experimental study of type 

 waters. There are, therefore, two parts: first, the preliminary general 

 work, consisting of an extensive biological survey of the waters in regard 

 to their general conditions to form a guide for future stocking, and a 

 classification of these streams and ponds into certain groups, according to 

 the similarity of the natural environment; second, an intensive study of 

 various type waters, representing the groups above mentioned, as regards 



