438 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



of May, and terminated on the 1st of July, making a period 

 of about six weeks. 



The Commissioners, after a careful consideration of the 

 facts, are decidedly of the opinion that the experiment of 

 introducing shad into the great lakes has been a success, 

 and that there is every reason to believe that when deposit- 

 ed in the rivers the young will mature in the lakes and re- 

 turn to their starting-point. 



The distribution of black bass, which has been going on 

 for several years, has been continued during 1874, amount- 

 ing to 365 in number; of the Oswego bass, 533 ; while 1279 

 of other allied species have been sent out. These operations 

 have already resulted in a greatly increased yield in the 

 general fisheries of the state, so that lakes where nothing 

 could be taken but a few years ago now furnish satisfactory 

 fishing to many persons. 



In regard to other fish, the Commissioners report the ad- 

 dition of 527,000 whitefish, and 180,000 salmon-trout, with a 

 large number of eggs sent to many parties who desire to 

 make experiments upon them. The Commissioners speak in 

 terms of approbation of the efforts now making on the part 

 of the United States to introduce the California salmon into 

 such waters as are not suited to the species of Maine, and 

 cite several instances where the young have been taken aft- 

 er introduction into the streams of New York, showing sur- 

 prising vigor and rapidity of growth. 



The report contains some reference to the action taken by 

 the Commissioners in regard to the propagation of the gray- 

 ling, and they think that the addition of this species may be 

 one of some practical importance, as it certainly is a matter 

 of much interest. A considerable portion of the report is 

 devoted to the consideration of the injurious effect of pound 

 nets and other modes of trapping fish, and they strenuously 

 urge the passage of laws to prohibit their use entirely, or at 

 least to regulate their employment at certain seasons and in 

 certain localities. They point particularly to the use of 

 these nets in the great South Bay of Long Island, where, in 

 their opinion, in consequence of the multiplication of nets 

 within the last few years, line fishing has been almost en- 

 tirely destroyed. 



In conclusion, the Commissioners state that, without re- 



