SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 59 



me a letter advising me of what the result has been in your section, the Commis- 

 sion would appreciate it. Thanking you in advance for any information you 

 can give, I remain " 



In response to this circular letter between thirty and forty answers were received, 

 and with scarcely an exception the replies were most gratifying, showing results 

 beyond all expectations. 



In almost every instance where fingerlings and yearlings had been planted the 

 fishing has very materially improved, and in many instances the fishing for the past 

 season had been better than ever before. As you will note from the tabulated 

 report, a very large number of fish have been sent to the Adirondacks and Catskills, 

 aside from those reared at the three Adirondack hatcheries, all of which were 

 planted in Adirondack waters. 



The question is ver.y frequently asked of the Commission and its employees, 

 " What is meant by fingerlings and yearlings?" In answer, it may not be out of 

 place to quote a clause in the Superintendent's report of 1897: 



" In referring to fingerlings it may not be out of place to explain the term a 

 little by giving the age and length. At about four to five months we commence 

 calling the young trout fingerlings, and continue to designate them as such until 

 they are from eleven to twelve months old, when we call them yearlings up to 

 eighteen months old, when they are classed as eighteen months or two-year-old fish. 

 The average length of a brook, brown or rainbow trout four months old is about 

 two inches. At eight or nine months old they will average three inches, and at one 

 year old five inches. These figures are exceeded at some hatching, stations in the 

 State. Lake trout grow faster than the other species, and at twelve months old 

 will average six inches long. Fish at the same age are not always the same size. 

 Sometimes the larger ones are capable of swallowing the smaller ones of the same 

 hatch." 



To the above it might be added that brook trout, like lake trout and brown 

 trout commence hatching about the first of January, and rainbow and black spotted 

 trout hatch out in the spring months. All of the above are called fingerlings 

 between the first of July and the first of January, after which they are called 

 yearlings. 



As a greater part of the applications made to the Commission are for fingerlings 

 and yearling fish, it is suggested that additions be made where practicable at the 

 various hatcheries to enable us to rear a greater number of fingerlings and yearlings. 

 It is apparent that the increase in applications, for fingerlings particularly, is going 

 to be very much greater than any possible increase in the facilities of the Commission 



