52 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



the head of Letnik Lake, on Afognak Island, but it is believed there 

 were many more, as some were doubtless entirely covered with ashes. 

 This eruption subjected the station employees to great hardship, but 

 there were no casualties and the Bureau sustained no property loss. 

 Reports submitted at the close of the fiscal year indicated that sal- 

 mon were again ascendmg the streams on Afognak Island, and fish- 

 cultural work, though it may possibly be curtailed to some extent, 

 will be resumed. 



Atternpted work in Nevada. — Fish-cultural operations on the 

 Truckee River at Derby Dam, Nev., maugurated by the Bureau in 

 1909 to demonstrate as to the feasibility of propagating the black- 

 spotted trout of that region, were contmueci in 1912, with results of a 

 negative character. It has so far been impossible to find a desirable 

 site for an eymg station within reasonable distance of the railroad 

 where an adequate flow of spring water can be obtained under gravity 

 pressure. The several locations tried have not proved satisfactory. 

 Even under the adverse conditions encountered in this field it is 

 believed eggs of the black-spotted trout might be obtained m profit- 

 able numbers were it not for the restrictions placed upon the Bureau 

 by the Nevada Fish Commission, which limits the Federal operations 

 to the vicinity of Derby Dam. This site is also occupied by the State. 

 The work can not be made a success until the State commission aban- 

 dons its present narrow and distrustful attitude and permits the Bureau 

 not only to construct racks for intercepting the run of spawning fish, 

 but allows it to extend its operations to such points on the river as 

 may be most advantageous for the collection of eggs. Unless such 

 authority is obtained it will be advisable to discontmue the work. 



WTiitefish egg resources in Minnesota lakes. — Within the limits of the 

 forest reserve m Lake County, Minn., there are numbers of small 

 lakes said to be stocked mth a whitefish closely resembhng the white- 

 fish of the Great Lakes, and it is reported that two of these lakes can 

 be reached from the Northern Minnesota Railroad without much 

 expense. It may be well for the Bureau to acquire absolute control 

 of the lakes within this reservation with the view of establishing an 

 additional field station at some accessible point for the collection of 

 whitefish eggs. It would not be necessary to pen large numbers of 

 fish to secure the eggs that can be handled advantageously in the 

 course of a season, and with proper care it may be that the Duluth 

 station can be supplied with whitefish eggs from this source in future. 

 It is believed the disposition of the fish when stripped of their 

 could be arranged for through State officials without difficult3^ 



