PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 89 



obtained from fishermen and people living in the immediate vicinity who 

 were acquainted with the pond. In the rapid survey it was manifestly 

 impossible to obtain this information" in any other way, and for this reason 

 the question of the quality of the fish and the present production of any 

 pond were determined only in a very general way, as the term "good 

 fishing" is but relative, varying with locality. 



(9) Fish Food. The study of fish food was undertaken in two ways: 



(1) the examination of stomach contents of various species, both of the 

 small and the large fish, under various conditions and at different seasons; 



(2) the determination of the character and amount of the floating organisms 

 (plankton) in the different ponds, by means of a silk bolting cloth net. 



Coastal Streams. The second step was a survey of the coastal streams 

 in connection with the alewife or branch herring fishery. Formerly the 

 alewives ran up these streams and their tributaries to spawn in the fresh- 

 water ponds. In this work the coastal streams and their tributaries were 

 examined by a representative of the State commission. Every dam, ob- 

 struction, fishway, cranberry bog, mill or possible source of pollution 

 was accurately charted and described. The physical characteristics of 

 the streams and the animal and plant life were recorded. The method 

 of catching the alewives, the history of the fishery from old records and 

 the possibilities of restocking were studied for the purpose of formulating 

 proper measures for the development of this fishery. 



Inland Streams. The third step in the survey of the inland waters 

 comprised a record of the smaller streams. It was manifestly impossible, 

 from the standpoint of time and expense, for any one man, or even several 

 men, to attempt to examine personally a large number of brooks. The 

 solution of the problem was achieved by enlisting the services of the various 

 State fish and game wardens, each covering a district with which he was 

 thoroughly familiar in regard to the streams. The employment of these 

 men, for the most part not trained scientists, necessitated simplifying 

 the examination, but from a practical standpoint the warden could find 

 out many points concerning the various brooks in his district even if he 

 were not familiar with them from past experience. Many of the wardens 

 had been located for years in their districts, and in the course of their 

 duties had become familiar with most of the streams. 



Each warden was given typewritten instructions as to the desired in- 

 formation, and the manner in which he could co-operate was explained 

 by a personal interview. The warden, in connection with his regular 

 duties, gradually accumulated the necessary data, and after several months 

 was able to describe, with the aid of a map, every stream in his district. 

 Naturally more information was available upon some brooks than on 

 others, as certain wardens showed greater aptitude hi the work. In ad- 

 dition, many important facts were obtained from local rod and gun clubs. 



The information thus obtained was systematized and recorded in the 

 form of a card catalogue (8 by 6 inch cards) in which the names of the 

 brooks were arranged alphabetically. Each stream had two cards, 



