17 



as well in raising- as I did those above referred to, 

 and I am satisfied that the former had but little 

 if anything, to eat, but the animalcule contained in 

 the water. Now is it reasonable to suppose that 

 had these fish been hatched out by December ist 

 as is sometimes done, they would have survived 

 longer than the time of their self-sustenance or the 

 period of the absorption of the umbilical sac— a 

 term of about sixty days at most. I will relate 

 another incident in my experience, which is of very 

 great value as an aid in arriving at correct conclu- 

 sions as to the conditions of growth and well beino- 

 of fish. About October ioth, 1873, through the aid 

 of Professor Baird, U. S. Fish Commissioner, there 

 were sent to our State Fish Commissioners some 

 30,000 of the salmon ova from California. These 

 were placed in charge of Jackson Crouch, near 

 Jackson, Michigan, who was then breeding brook 

 trout quite successfully. 



These were hatched in apparent good condi- 

 tion about November ist following, and some time 

 early in January they were all placed in the pure 

 streams of that vicinity, except 2,000 which were 

 taken by Commissioner Jerome and placed in the 

 spring at the State Hatchery, at Pokagon, the State 

 Hatchery being at this time already erected at that 

 place. Now for the result. I have recently visited 

 and seen both lots, and find on close inspection and 

 inquiry that those which have been under the care 

 of Mr. Jerome have measured from six to seven 

 inches in length, while those left with Mr. Crouch 

 are only from four to six inches long and not in as 



