328 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



eries to carry the young fish for a few months after they 

 leave the hatcheries to insure their ability to care for them- 

 selves when transplanted to the lakes and streams. 



Some idea of the extent of the operations conducted 

 to restock our streams and lakes is given by the fact 

 that more than five billion fish and fish eggs were distrib- 

 uted by the United States Bureau of Fisheries in 1926. 



Fig. 169. Inshore with the haul of a large commercial seine on the 



Mississippi River 



Protection and Conservation. Most states have definite 

 laws for the protection of fishes. When these laws are wisely 

 formulated and obeyed they protect the fishes at the breed- 

 ing season and regulate the methods of catching. The game 

 fishes, especially the black basses and various species of trout, 

 are very generally protected from commercial fishing and 

 are thus preserved for the disciples of Izaak Walton. In most 

 regions the game fishes may be taken only by hook and line 

 and their sale is forbidden. Another conservation measure 

 is the protection of many species by making it illegal to take 



