206 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The commission in 1884 obtained control of one of the fisheries on the Detroit 

 River, and this policy has been extended until now they control all the fisheries on 

 the American side of the river. 



The sixth report sums up the condition of fish-culture in 1884 as follows: 



The present aspect of this subject is far different in many respects from what its advocates and 

 promoters of ten or more years ago believed it would be at this time. The general enthusiasm of the 

 early movement, as it seized upon the naturalist and sportsman often or fifteen years ago in the blush 

 of its first successful experiments, has not entirely faded away, but has ripened into a deep conviction 

 on the part of an ever-increasing number of intelligent men that fish culture has solved one-half of 

 the question, "Can the fisheries be preserved?" and has now settled down upon business-like principles 

 ami methods to do its part. The other half of that question must depend for its answer upon wise 

 measures for protection. This is true of almost every State and Territory in the Union. 



The appropriations for 1883 and 1884 were f 10,000 for building and equipping new 

 stations, and $10,000 a year for current expenses. 



In August, 1885, Mr. Lyman A. Brant was appointed statistical agent for the board, 

 and visited all the commercial fisheries of the State and made a full report in writing 

 of his work, which was much the best of its kind that had thus far been done, and 

 afforded the commission much needed information. 



The whitefish plant for 1885 was 40,000,000, and for 1886 was 61,620,000. A few 

 Loch Leven trout were planted and the plants of California trout were continued, but 

 the adult fish did not do well in the stock ponds and many of them were liberated. 

 Further experiments with grayling were made; a large portion of a grayling stream 

 was stocked with them and barriers erected to prevent their escape and every induce- 

 ment provided for them to spawn in a semiwild or natural state, but the experiment 

 was a failure. Additional ponds were built at the Paris station, and the grounds other 

 wise improved by grading and sodding. Further agitation was given to the question 

 of the Upper Peninsula whitefish station. A scheme of systematic examination of all 

 the inland waters of the State, seriatim, was inaugurated. For this purpose a double 

 crew of men was sent into the field and charts of each lake examined were made and 

 filed in the office, to be bound into books. These charts contain a rough sketch of the 

 shape of the lakes, give their name and location, dates of examination, kind of bottom 

 and shores, temperature at top and bottom, soundings, number and kinds of fish 

 caught and how, their condition and what feeding upon, the kinds and condition of 

 fish food in the water, and recommendation as to kinds of fish to plant. This work has 

 been continued each year until at present there are complete records of upwards of 

 400 lakes which have been examined, the reports of which are bound together in vol- 

 umes indexed and easy of reference. These volumes are consulted in passing upon 

 applications for fish plants in the waters. 



The capacity of the trout-hatching house at Paris has already reached 1,500,000, 

 and a new house is recommended to increase the capacity to 3,500,000. 



The hatching and planting of whitefish, brook trout, lake trout, wall-eyed pike, 

 carp, Loch Leven trout, landlocked salmon, and California trout continued through 

 the years 1887 and 1888. In 1887, the first plant of German trout was made and the 

 rearing of this fish has been continued ever since and much increased in later years. 

 It seems to thrive in Michigan waters and has every appearance of being a hardy and 

 vigorous importation. 



In 1887, an additional trout-hatching house, 40 by 82.} feet, was built at Paris at 

 a cost of about $4,000 for the house and fittings. The old hatching- house was dis- 





