R^eport of tf)e 3^P^t'ii"iter^dent of 



Matcl)erie^. 



To the Commissioners of r'i'^I)eries, Ciame and Forests : 



Gentlemen' : I herewith submit my annual report oi the work done at the 

 different hatcheries and collecting stations for the year ending September 30, 1896. 



The purpose of the Commission to turn out in future an increased number of 

 yearlings and fewer fry has made it necessary to provide additional facilities, such as 

 nursing ponds and general equipment, which, together with repairs needed at the 

 different Iiatcheries, have kept the hatchery employes unusually busy during the 

 entire year. 



Good reports from the few plants of yearlings already made in the different 

 sections of the State are coming in, and from the numerous letters received from 

 people interested in the stocking of our State waters, it can be readily seen that the 

 people appreciate the efforts of the Commission to send out fingerlings and yearlings 

 instead of the small fry. The reports from the different hatcheries will show the 

 number of fingerlings, yearlings and larger fish that have been turned out during 

 the past year. 



These reports will also show that the number of fingerlings turned out during the 

 year exceeds the total previous output of such fish since the organization of the first 

 Fish Commission in this State. When the many improvements now going on are 

 completed, the Commission will be able to turn out each year a largely increased 

 number of these fish. 



In view of the good results obtained by the planting of j'earlings and fingerlings, 

 and notwithstanding the increased cost of rearing and distributing them, I recommend 

 that, as soon as practicable, the Commission discontinue the practice of planting 

 trout of any kind less than three to eight months old. 



Great care has been taken to see that no State fish were planted in private waters. 

 Commissioner Babcock, Chairman of the Hatcheries Committee, has personally scru- 

 tinized every application before it has been granted. After it passed from his hands 

 into mine to fill, if I was not familiar with the waters, I made careful inquiries as to all 

 conditions of the same. All applications for fish for private streams have been 

 rejected. I gave our men accompanying the different shipments of fish instructions 

 to see whether the stream, lake or pond was posted or not before depositing the fish. 



