36 FISH AND GAME. 



spawning grounds. Only by this means can the smelt fisheries 

 of our coast be maintained and replenished. 



We have continued the successful experiment of propagating 

 the smelt in the large fresh-water ponds by planting the eggs 

 in the tributary brooks. The landlocked smelt furnishes a 

 most excellent form of food for the larger fresh-water fish, and 

 in this respect is of great advantage for the ponds stocked with 

 salmon and bass. During the year 1916 approximately 34,000,000 

 smelt eggs obtained from East Weymouth and from the spawning 

 grounds in the large ponds were planted throughout the State. 



During the ensuing year we plan to conduct experiments in 

 stripping and in the artificial hatching of smelt eggs, with a 

 view to determining the practicability of handling the eggs at 

 our hatcheries. 



FISH DISTRIBUTION. 



Your Commissioners are firmly of the opinion that the best 

 results can be secured by planting both fingerlings and excess 

 fry, especially the former, as well as by the exercise of judg- 

 ment and care in distribution. This latter problem is in 

 process of solution by an examination of all the ponds and 

 streams, so that first-hand information as to the suitability of 

 any body of water for stocking will be available. 



Of special interest is the use of automobile trucks in stocking 

 streams and ponds. In many cases fish are taken directly 

 from the hatchery without shipment by railroad. The advent 

 of the automobile has added much to the speed and convenience 

 of fish planting. 



To insure smooth operation in the actual work of fish dis- 

 tribution entails many exacting details which have to be met by 

 the messenger in charge of the consignments, and for this 

 reason specially trained men only can be employed. 



The process of distributing fish can be outlined briefly as 

 follows: - 



(1) Lists containing names of persons to receive fish, ad- 

 dresses, names of different bodies of water, etc., are delivered 

 to the superintendents of hatcheries, who, in turn, make up the 

 shipments and assign them to the messengers who are to handle 

 the fish. 



