FISH-CULTURE IX MICHIGAN.  209 



The appropriation for 1891 and 1892 exceeded $27,000 a year, and those just 

 granted for the years 1893 and 1894 are $25,000 a year. The inventory of the property 

 has increased to nearly $38,000. 



Never till the fall of 1892 had the Detroit hatchery been completely filled with 

 eggs. In that year the commission controlled all the fisheries on the Michigan side 

 of the Detroit Kiver, and instead of letting them out to others to fish, hired the fish- 

 ermen and absolutely controlled and directed the fishing. 



Through the energy, persistence, and skill of the superintendent, W.D.Marks, in 

 conducting this work, more fish were caught and more eggs taken than ever before. 

 The total of whitefish caught was 13. 074: the total eggs taken was 4,544 quarts, or 

 142 bushels, making 173,630,400 eggs. It was a beautiful and inspiring sight to look 

 upon the tiers of jars in the Detroit house, more than a thousand in number, all filled 

 and in active operation. It was a sight never equaled elsewhere' tmd but once there. 



The whitefish hatchery at Detroit is undoubtedly the largest, best arranged, best 

 equipped, most economical, and most efficient in the world. 2STo other has begun to com- 

 pete with it in output. And there are few if any brook-trout hatcheries that excel the 

 one at Paris. The whitefish eggs are placed in the jars in November and December, 

 and remain from 130 to 140 days, or until March and April, before they hatch, and the 

 fry are no more than out of the way before the same jars are filled with the eggs of 

 the wall-eyed pike, which are placed in the jars in April and May and hatch in 28 

 or 30 days, coming out the last of May and first of June. 



It has been the habit of the board for the past few years to hold regular monthly 

 meetings and such special meetings as may be found necessary, and full records are 

 kept in writing, in bound volumes, of the proceedings, including everything of interest 

 in fish-culture which comes to the attention or knowledge of the members from time 

 to time. Fnll books of account are kept of all the money transactions. All payments 

 are by checks signed by the member of the auditing committee who certifies to the 

 account, and vouchers in duplicate are taken for all payments. William A. Butler, jr., 

 of Detroit, has been treasurer of the commission since about 1883. 



Bound volumes arc kept of the statistical reports and examining crews. All appli- 

 cations for iish are in writing on printed blanks furnished, which describe the location 

 and character and temperature and soundings of the water, and the surroundings 

 where it is proposed to plant the fry. 



In January, 1893. the term of Dr. Parker expired and Horace W. Davis, of Grand 

 Rapids, was appointed his successor. 



In December. 1892, an international fish conference was held at Detroit under the 

 auspices of the Michigan Commission. There were present Samuel Wilmot, of Ottawa, 

 Canada : Edward Harris, of Toronto : Thomas Marks, of Port Arthur, and W. B. Wells, 

 of Chatham. Ontario, and members of the fish commissions of New York, Ohio, Minne- 

 sota. Maine, and many others from different States, including some fishermen. The 

 subjects discussed were connected with uniformity of legislation protecting fish and 

 game, and more particularly the vital question of a close season for the commercial 

 n-h. The main results of the meeting were embodied in a report of a committee which 

 was adopted, as follows: 



1. That all small fish and other- unfit for food, of all kinds, when taken in net*, should be replaced 

 in the waters when taken alive: that fishermen should not be allowed to take such fish on shore nor 

 expose them for sale, 



F. C. B. 1*93—14 



