12 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



Originally existing only in the head streams of the Missouri River, 

 the Montana grayling prefers cold clear streams of pure water with 

 sandy and gravelly bottoms. It grows to a length of 20 inches and 

 a weight of two pounds, but the average length is ten to twelve inches 

 and a weight of from a pound to a pound and a half. It is fairly 

 prolific, one fish producing from 2,000 to 4,000 eggs. At the spawning 

 period it will migrate long distances if necessary to find suitable 

 spawning grounds. It spawns from April to May, depending on 

 the temperature. 



As a game fish it is the equal and in some respects superior to the 

 brook trout and puts up a good fight, often leaping above the surface 

 when hooked. It will rise repeatedly to the same fly if missed at the 

 first cast. In contradistinction to the trout it will, when in deep 

 pools, lie out in plain sight in schools. It will take artificial flies, 

 caddis larvae, grasshoppers, angle worms and similar bait. Small 

 flies should be used. (Nos. 10 to 12.) It can be taken from May to 

 September, but summer is the best time. 



THE COLLECTION OF DATA AND STATISTICS RELATING 

 TO THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



As mentioned in previous reports, every effort has been made to 

 make this branch of the Commission's work reliable and trustworthy, 

 but the absence of laws making returns compulsory has prevented 

 us from making this data complete. 



General Conditions of the Fisheries in 1914. 



The fishing in Narragansett Bay in 1914 was, in general, no better 

 than the previous year. The presence within the Bay in the late 

 fall of numbers of small mackerel was about the only thing worthy 

 of note. Handline fishing within the Bay was poor. Off Newport 

 it was very good, especially the tautog fishing. The first tautog 

 was caught with a handline on April 29. Rod and reel fishing off 



