4b REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The distribution of the stock of j^oung- was be,o^un October 5 and 

 continued until December 13, the output amounting to 208,100 year- 

 ling and 385 adult rainbow trout, 13,124 brook trout, 3,815 black bass, 

 8,700 rock bass. In addition to the above the following fish were 

 received from other stations and distributed: 3,450 brook trout, 2,142 

 black bass, 9,650 rock bass, 7,310 crappie. 



The spawning season of the rainljow trout began November 6 and 

 closed February 10. During this period of ninety-seven days 1,099,000 

 eggs were collected, of which number 802,000, or 73 per cent, were ferti- 

 lized and brought to the eyed stage, 246,000 were shipped on assign- 

 ment, and 556,000 were hatched at the station. The fry resulting from 

 them were strong and vigorous, and when four months old 145,000 

 were distributed to various applicants by the station employees, and 

 at the close of the year there remained on hand 200,000 fingerlings to 

 be reared for the fall distribution. 



In January 304,000 eyed brook-trout eggs were received from one 

 of the commercial hatcheries at Plymouth, Mass., in good condition 

 and hatched out well. Owing to an unusual period of nu^ddy water 

 during the hatching stage, there was a loss of 18,000 alevins, caused by 

 smothering, and the mortality among the young fish during the sac 

 stage was considerable, presumably from the same cause. The fry 

 began feeding when about four weeks old and have grown rapidly. 

 At the close of the year there were 105,000 fingerling fish on hand, the 

 largest weighing 134 ounces to the thousand. The brook and rainbow 

 trout fry were fed on canned herring roe for the first six weeks, when 

 the food was gradually changed to a mixed diet of liver and mush. 



Early in the spring the brood stock, consisting of 53 large-mouthed 

 and 11 small-mouthed black bass, were transferred to the breeding 

 ponds. Large beds of creek gravel were provided for their nests, 

 and a light paling fence was built around the nesting-ground to keep 

 the brood fish within its limits. The fish commenced nesting early in 

 May, and by the middle of the month several large schools of young 

 were observed. When the fish were from one-half to five-eighths of 

 an inch in length, which is about the time of the breaking up of the 

 schools, a few thousand were netted from the ponds and placed in 

 rearing-troughs for the purpose of making some experiments in arti- 

 ficial feeding. These fish were first given minute insects collected 

 from the warm, shallow parts of the pond. Only enough of this 

 natural food was given to keep them alive, and while their appetites 

 were only partly satisfied in this way, prepared artificial food was 

 offered them. Ground fish, crawfish, beef heart, and herring roe 

 were all tried, })ut the experiment was not sufiiciently successful to 

 warrant continuing it for more than a few daj's. If craAvfish could 

 have been secured in sufficient quantities, it is believed that l)etter 

 results would have followed, as the fish preferred it to the other food. 

 As soon as it became evident that the experiment would not be sue- 



