90 FISH AND GAME. 



one, a record of the various fish with which it had been stocked; the other, 

 a typewritten description comprising the information obtained from the 

 wardens. 



Information upon each brook was compiled on the following plan : 



1. The collection of all names, general and local, under which the brook 

 is known is essential for reference in locating petitions for stocking and 

 requests for information. 



2. The location of the brook by towns or sections of a town is necessary 

 for identification, as two brooks with the same name may often be found 

 in the same town. The brook is then charted properly and named on 

 the United States Geological Survey maps, which are cut into small 

 numbered maps of a suitable size for filing with the cards. 



3. The source, whether hi spring, swamp, bog, pond or elsewhere, is 

 noted; likewise into what body of water the brook flows. 



4. The length and direction of the courses; the width and depth of the 

 streams at certain places along their courses; the character of the land 

 through which they flow, e.g., meadow, tilled land, pasture, swamp, hard- 

 wood, etc.; the rate of flow, volume and clearness of water, the presence 

 of springs and the character of the bed are obtained. 



5. The abundance or scarcity of vegetation, with the names of the 

 various water weeds known to the examiner, is desirable. 



6. The nature and character of any pollution, whether sewage, sawdust 

 or manufacturing wastes, and a description of the source of this material, 

 are recorded. 



7. It is important to know whether the land bordering the brook is 

 posted and the public denied the right of fishing, as no private brook may 

 be stocked by the State. 



8. Information as to whether the stream dries up during the summer is 

 an important consideration in stocking. 



9. Species of fish in the brook, the results from tune of past stocking, if 

 any, and the popularity of the stream with fishermen should be con- 

 sidered. 



10. The opinion of the warden as to whether the brook is worth stock- 

 ing, with what kind and size of fish, and what places afford the most de- 

 sirable points to liberate the fish, are desirable facts to have on record. 



These records., it is true, show frequent errors, and hi many particulars 

 are incomplete, owing to lack of information on certain streams, but these 

 gaps can be filled in the future, since each warden is supplied with dupli- 

 cate records in order that he may correct or add to the information at 

 hand. In this way he will know exactly the information on file at the 

 central office, and can receive shipments of fish or definite orders without 

 mistakes arising from a confusion of names. It is believed that the com- 

 pilation of these records will be a great aid to Massachusetts in carrying 

 forward a definite and intelligent policy of stocking. Not only will the 

 State department be in a position to dispense information to numerous 

 fishermen, but it can readily classify the petitions for stocking. 



