554 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



of Alinnesota, were also incubated at the Diiluth station. In the 

 Michigan field the handling of eggs of the commercial species was on a 

 limited scale at the Alpena substation. On the other hand, quite 

 satisfactory egg collections were obtained for the Charlevoix hatchery, 

 though the quality of some of them w^as below^ normal, thus curtailing 

 the year's output. Operations at the main station at Northville, 

 Mich., were confined to the propagation of game fishes, including the 

 trouts and the smallmouth bass. This w^ork was conducted on the 

 usual basis with a normal output, notwithstanding the fact that the 

 trout rearing operations were somewhat complicated by an outbreak 

 of disease. The two large cooperative trout nurseries supervised by 

 the Northville station yielded satisfactory results. 



Alarine species. — From a numerical standpoint the three marine 

 stations in New' England handled more eggs and fish by far than the 

 remainder of the bureau's hatcheries combined. An outstanding 

 feature of the year's work was the unfavorable season for pollock 

 propagation at the Gloucester (Mass.) station. The prevailing low 

 market prices discouraged fishing and prevented satisfactory egg 

 collections. The cod output in this field was somewhat below normal, 

 but a very successful season was experienced in the propagation of 

 haddock. It is the practice at Gloucester station to detail spawn- 

 takers to the commercial fishing vessels operating in the oft'shore 

 waters for the purpose of fertilizing eggs of the cod and haddock and 

 planting them on the fishing grounds of the region. During the season 

 over 130,000,000 eggs of these species were thus salvaged. The 

 attempts made to handle flatfish or flounder at Gloucester failed to 

 produce average results, due to the destruction of fishing gear by 

 storms. 



At the Boothbay Harbor (Me.) station an extensive program of 

 overhauhng and renovating the plant, including residences, docks, etc., 

 was carried on throughout the year. The output of flat fish was lower 

 than that of the previous year, due to the smaller average egg yield, 

 which amounted to 181,000 per fish in comparison with an average of 

 250,000 in previous years. The same conditions which curtailed 

 pollock operations at Gloucester restricted the output of the Boothbay 

 Harbor hatchery, the prevailing low prices discouraging fishing and 

 making it difficult to obtain eggs in satisfactory numbers. 



The propagation of cod, winter flounder, and mackerel is only one 

 of the numerous activities carried on at the Woods Hole (Mass.) 

 station. The station personnel is responsible for the upkeep of the 

 extensive structures and equipment needed for scientific investigations 

 and the fish-cultural work. During the year a new concrete floor was 

 installed in the hatching room, replacing an old wooden floor in bad 

 condition. Considerable work was also required in connection wdth 

 the upkeep of the station residences and water supply system. The 

 output of cod closely approximated the average production over a 

 period of years. A satisfactory season was experienced in the prop- 

 agation of winter flounder and nearly 17,000,000 mackerel eggs were 

 secured from local traps and incubated. In connection with flounder 

 propagation over 1 ,000 adult fish were marked or tagged for scientific 

 purposes before being released. 



Commercial anadromous species of the Atlantic coast.- — Several of the 

 Atlantic coast stations propagate commercial anadromous forms in 

 addition to the cultivation of other species of fish. These stations 



