48 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



1899. The young which should have arrived at maturity' and reentered 

 the sounds and rivers in 1902 were then but a few inches long and were 

 outside the inlets and subject to the breakers. 



The spring w^as very late, both air and water being far below the 

 normal temperature. 



A feature unobserved before in this region was the deposition of 

 eggs by the shad 20 miles or more down the sound to the eastward of 

 Edenton Bay. The superintendent attributes this new condition to the 

 excessive rainfall of the previous j^ear, which freshened the waters of 

 Albemarle Sound throughout its length, consequently when the shad 

 reached the fisheries where the spawn-takers were located they were 

 largely spawned out or were carrying overripe eggs owing to low 

 temperatures. A large percentage of loss followed in the process of 

 hatching the eggs. 



The whole number of eggs brought to the station was 37,987,000, 

 and from these there was a production of 21,662,000 ^^oung fish, the 

 liberation of which is shown in the table of distribution. 



Erwin Station, Tennessee (Alex. Jones, Superintendent). 



The fingerling fish on hand at the beginning of the year were dis- 

 tributed as yearlings during the fall and winter, 19,670 being supplied 

 to applicants in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina b}^ the 

 regular emploj^ees of the station. The remainder were shipped by 

 the Fish Commission cars to more distant points. The total product 

 of the station for the season amounted to 133,925 yearli»g rainbow 

 trout, 12,075 yearling brook trout, 1,050 black bass. 



The brood rainbow trout began spawning on November 12 and con- 

 tinued to February 7, the total collections of eggs being 329,100. There 

 were also received from Wytheville Station 50,000 rainbow-trout 

 eggs, and from Neosho 171,710 rainbow-trout eggs. This stock of 

 eggs produced 280,000 fry. 



The purchase of 200,000 brook-trout eggs was made from a com- 

 mercial hatchery in Massachusetts and produced 161,180 fry. 



The rainbow trout were transferred from the hatchery to outside 

 ponds as soon as they began to feed nicely, and they grew rapidly 

 with little or no mortality until the approach of warm weather in 

 April. At this time they were attacked by a peculiar disease, and 

 until the warm weather was over there was an unusual mortality 

 among them. This disease is not fully understood, and no remod}^ has 

 yet been found for it. The first symptoms may be described as fol- 

 lows: Contraction of the stomach, general weakness, rising to the 

 surf ace with spasmodic contortions, and inability to take food, although 

 inclined to do so. Microscopical examinations failed to reveal any 

 signs of affection of the stomach, throat, or gills, although the latter were 

 at times greatly inflamed. The disease attacks the fish whether in the 

 hatchery or outdoors, in deep or shallow ponds, and with or without 



