438 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



portant enterprise conducted so successfully by Mr. Atkins, 

 and an additional number were presented by the United States 

 Fish Commissioner. Ten thousand young salmon were hatch- 

 ed out in the spring of 1872, and the greater part of them 

 placed in the Pawtuxet River. 



In the conclusion of their report, the Commissioners ask for 

 an appropriation of one thousand dollars for the purpose of 

 constructing a model fish-way at Pawtucket, proposing to use 

 the newly invented device of Mr. E. A. Brackett for that pur- 

 pose. 



KEPOET OF THE FISH COMMISSIONEKS OF NEW TOEK 



FOE 18'72. 



The report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State 

 of New York for the year 1872 has been published, and gives 

 a gratifying account of the progress efiected in that state in 

 the way of restoring the fish supply to its rivers and lakes. 

 The work has been prosecuted under the direction of Messrs. 

 Roosevelt, Seymour, and Smith, as Commissioners, with the 

 well-known Seth Green as director of operations. The liberal 

 annual appropriations, which we believe exceed those of any 

 other state, have enabled these gentlemen to make great prog- 

 ress toward realizing the plans that they originally laid out 

 for their action. 



The shad-hatching during the year was as satisfactory as 

 could have been exj^ected, in view of the difiiculties caused 

 by the unexpected hot weather, the operations on the Hud- 

 son beginning on the 17th of May and ceasing on the 2d of 

 July. The total number of mature fish caught during this 

 period was 4527, from which 8,736,000 spawn were extracted, 

 and from these nearly seven and a half millions of young shad 

 were hatched and turned into the waters. As the entire catch 

 of the Hudson River did not exceed a million of full-grown 

 shad during the year, the addition of this number of young 

 fish must undoubtedly have an important bearing upon the 

 future supply. 



The Commissioners earnestly renew the recommendation 

 they have heretofore made for the establishment of a close 

 time, in order to enable the fish to reach the upper portion 

 of the river for the purpose of spawning, the number of gill 

 nets and other obstructions at present in operation rendering 



