ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



FISH CULTURIST 



Hon. James J. Fox, Deputy Commissioner: 



Sir. — The report upon the work of the Bureau of Fish Culture 

 of the Conservation Commission for the fiscal year ended Septem- 

 ber 30, 1914, is herewith submitted. 



The reports from the foremen of the ten hatcheries which were 

 open during the year are included in this account, also the obser- 

 vations made during inspection trips as to the condition of the 

 properties, the methods employed in taking and hatching eggs 

 and feeding the fish, the improvements suggested in the routine of 

 operations and such additional subjects as are related to better- 

 ments and increased efiiciency in general. 



The total number of fish distributed during the year was 

 566,543,016. This shows a decrease from the yield of 1913 

 which was due chiefly to natural causes. In 1913 there was an 

 enormous influx of large blue crabs in Shinnecock bay which fur- 

 nished to the Long Island hatchery a very great number of eggs 

 for development. In 1914 this source of supply was lacking. It 

 is not uncommon to flnd such variations, due to the migratory 

 habits of the species. The marine work is susceptible of very 

 great extension with increased facilities for collecting eggs. A 

 substantial motor boat, able to go to the Race and Fisher's Island 

 sound for berried lobsters would enable the Commission to swell 

 the output of lobsters to an enormous figure. It would also be a 

 great aid in discovering the spawning grounds of the weakfish, the 

 eggs of which should be hatched in great quantities in order to 

 keep up the supply of a valuable food species. 



The number of species propagated and distributed during the 

 fear was thirty-nine; but several of these were obtained simply 

 for exhibition purposes and not for stocking waters. The most 



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