6 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE STOCKING OF PONDS AND STREAMS WITH FRESH- 

 WATER FISHES. 



The task of stocking the fresh-water streams and ponds of the State 

 with suitable fishes was undertaken by the Commissioners of Inland 

 Fisheries at its first organization in 1870. In this work your Com- 

 mission was one of the pioneers, for at this early date the country at 

 large was just awakening to a realization that its streams and ponds 

 were not inexhaustible, as they had at first supposed, and that if the 

 supply of food and game fishes was to be maintained it would be 

 necessary to very largely assist nature by continually restocking 

 these waters. 



In the forty years of its existence your Commission has distributed 

 19,583,100 fry, 575,000 fingerlings, and in addition, a great many 

 adult fish. These have been liberated in upwards of forty principal 

 ponds and ten principal sreams, besides numerous smaller pontls, 

 reservoirs, inlets, and tributary streams and brooks distributed 

 throughout the State and including waters in practically every town. 

 Furthermore, in response to applications, your Commission has fur- 

 nished advice and assistance in the construction and stocking of 

 many private ponds. 



During this period (1870-1910) the following fishes have been 

 planted in the waters of our State: 



Approximate 

 Kind. number. 



Brook trout fry 390,000 



Brook trout fingerlings 570,000 



Small mouthed black bass *22,000 



Large mouthed black bass *20,000 



Atlantic salmon f664,000 



Landlocked salmon f50,000 



Shad t!8,435,00O 



♦Some one and two years old. tFry. 



