BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 3G9 



our trout ponds. Both of these species spawn in this latitude during 

 the spring months. 



An important departure in the method of obtaining whitefish eggs, 

 and one which from the very outset has been signally successful in a 

 number of instances, is a system of operations by which the fish nearly 

 ready to spawn are confined within certain prescribed limits until their 

 eggs have been secured. The whitefish is not adapted to continuous 

 confinement in artificial ponds, like the trout ; and as they are usually 

 caught in very large numbers from their natural habitat during the 

 spawning season, it has been the custom heretofore to depend for our 

 supply of eggs of this species upon the "ripe" fish found in the nets 

 when lifted by the fishermen ; no opportunity was given to handle the 

 " lifts" a second time 5 and as a great majority are either "spent" or 

 "unripe," but a comparatively few individuals are found in which the 

 spawn is in proper condition for fertilization, and hence but a small 

 proportion of the spawning fish actually captured were manipulated. 

 However, almost fabulous numbers of eggs can be secured even from 

 this source, with fair weather prevailing during the brief period that 

 whitefish naturally spawn ; but this period is usually cotemporaneous 

 with a series of violent storms for which our Great Lakes are noted, and 

 which compel a discontinuance of fishing operations; so that more or 

 less uncertainty must attend all efforts in this direction, and much labor 

 and expense may produce only the most meager results. 



The improved method referred to holds a large number of the adult 

 fish in confinement only during the spawning season. Pens of the re- 

 quisite size are constructed in those parts of the lake where the fish are 

 caught in great numbers and where there is protection from heavy wind 

 and sea. Being thus imprisoned they can be handled and rehandled at 

 pleasure, regardless of wind and weather, until every egg is secured. 



Thus far this season eggs have been shipped from Northville as fol- 

 lows: Whitefish: To Washington, D. C, 1,000,000; Maryland, 150,000; 

 Germany, 500,000 ; France, 200,000 ; Minnesota, 5,000,000 ; California, 

 500,000; New Hampshire, 200,000 ; North Carolina, 250,000; Pennsyl- 

 vania, 2,000,000, and Cold Spring hatchery, New York, 1,000,000 ; total, 

 10,800,000. Brook trout: To Washington, D. C, 150,000; Germany, 

 45,000; Bogota, South America, 10,000; France, 20,000; England, 

 10,000 ; Ohio, 15,000, and Cold Spring Hatchery, New York, 150,000 ; 

 total, 400,000. Lake trout : To Washington, D. C, 50,000 ; Germany, 

 100,000, and France, 50,000 ; total, 200,000. 



So far as reports have been received the above shipments have reached 

 their destinations in excellent condition. 



FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE NORTHVILLE HATCHERY. 



From very moderate beginnings the work here has assumed very fair 

 proportions, and has, in some respects, surpassed the hopes at first en- 

 tertained. Six seasons of work under private auspices placed the in- 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 82 24 May 1 8, 1883. 



