20 Conservation Department 



smaller streams for tlie i)urpose of spawnino^. In central New 

 York it occurs in late ]\Iarch and early April, and since the season 

 on trout opens the first Saturday in April, many are caught while 

 on the spawning grounds. If there is a barrier, such as a dam, 

 natural falls or polluted condition, preventing this spring migra- 

 tion, the trout will disappear permanently from the headwaters 

 unless yearly plantings are made. 



Many small streams have been stocked which do not flow into 

 rivers and lakes suitable for adult rainbows. In such cases the 

 trout have disap]ieared a year or two after ])lanting. What has 

 become of them is not known. Good fishing for small ones of 

 6 to 8 inches may have been had, but there must have been a 

 tremendous loss among those that migrated down stream in search 

 of larger waters. 



It would seem far better to ]^lant brown trout instead of rain- 

 bows in those small streams from which the latter are likely to 

 disappear permanently, and to reserve for rainbows those streams 

 alone to which the adults may return to spawn. 



The Genesee river south of the Belmont dam has yielded a few 

 sexually mature rainbows ranging upward of 3 pounds each. This 

 would seem to indicate that this river stops some of them at least 

 on the downstream movement. A few undoubtedly go over the 

 dam, but none, so far as could be determined, have been caught 

 any great distance below. Local fishermen do not report them as 

 far down as Belvidere or Belfast. Consequently those tributaries 

 of the Genesee above the Belmont dam showing temperatures not 

 above 80 may be expected to show good results after stocking, pro- 

 viding the pollution at \Yellsville is kept under control. The 

 principal streams in which stocking may be successful are the 

 Genesee river from Belmont to source, Dyke and Cryder creeks, 

 and the inlets to Hemlock and possibly Honeoye lakes. 



Small rainbows were found in several streams near Dansville 

 and AVayland, all tributaries of the Canaseraga creek. Since the 

 latter is not a suitable stopping place for the adults, the stocking 

 of these streams must be considered ])Oor policy, more particularly 

 in the case of those suitable for brown or brook trout. 



Small = Mouthed Bass Waters. — It is inadvisable to stock a 

 stream or small lake with bass which is entirely suitable for brook 

 or brown trout. However, in the case of certain lakes whose 

 deeper parts are suitable for lake trout, the shallows may often 

 be stocked to advantage with bass. 



Small-mouthed bass will tolerate tem|)ei'a1ures up to 87° F., 

 and ])robably higher. Consecpieutly no stream or lake in the Gen- 

 esee system may be considei'ed too warm for them. They do not 

 seem lo thrixc in brownish watei* ( Silv(n' lake) noi', as stated 

 bei'orc. do wc (ind iiniiiy ol' Ihcin of legal si/e in sli-eams under 

 ap|))'o\iinat('ly ."'.O I'cd in widlli. II is hai'dly worth while to stock 

 these smaller str<'ains Immmiisc they arc nppjii-cnt ly oxer popidated 

 now with undcrsi/cd l)ass. Indeed it woidd be tai' belter fo 

 i-cmovc some of them to othei- \\;itei-s. We would, therefore, recom- 



