LXXVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tliose in the vicinity of Toledo, 2 1,348,000; North Bass Island, 21,762,000; 

 Middle Bass field, 2,331,000; Kelly Island, 7,866,000; Catawba Island, 

 720,000; from Put-in Bay, 18,000,000 whitefisli eggs and 27,786,000 of 

 the eggs of the cisco; from other points, 162,000 whitefish eggs. Of 

 these eggs, 10,000,000 were transferred to Alpena Station; the balance 

 were hatched and distributed during March and April on the spawning- 

 grounds from which the eggs were collected, the cisco fry being planted 

 in the vicinity of Put-in Bay. 



During the winter 1,000,000 lake-trout eggs were received from North- 

 ville, which were hatched and planted in the vicinity of the station. 



It having been determined to resume the propagation of pike perch, 

 steps were taken to secure a force of spawn-takers and arrangements 

 made with the fishermen for attending the pound nets in the vicinity 

 of Put-in Bay, Toledo, and Port Clinton. The warm weather in March 

 raised the temperature of the water to 42.5°, which advanced the spawn- 

 ing season a week. The first eggs were taken on March 31, earlier than 

 ever before in the history of the station. A small lot was brought in 

 by the fishermen in this neighborhood. The regular spawn-takers were 

 not put on until April 4. On April 5 a severe northeast gale set in, 

 accompanied by snow, the temperature falling from 42.5° to 38°. This 

 not only interfered materially with the work, but the eggs taken were 

 poor. The weather continued unfavorable throughout the spawning 

 season, gale following gale in rapid succession, which not only seriously 

 reduced the collections, but aifected unfavorably the work in the hatch- 

 ery. The water pumped at the station was loaded with dirt, causing 

 much extra labor and continual handling of the eggs. Dead eggs, 

 which ordinarily fungus in a few days and are drawn off, were coated 

 with dirt so that they were of the same weight with the others, and 

 failed to rise to the top, necessitating not only constant handling, but 

 the passing of the eggs through fine screens, in order to remove those 

 which were fangussed. 



As a result of the season's work, 221,062,500 eggs of poor quality 

 were collected; 87,112,000 from the Toledo field, 111,900,000 from the 

 Port Clinton field, and 22,050,000 from the vicinity of Put-in Bay. 



In the beginning of the season starch was used to prevent adhesion of 

 the eggs; but complaints were received from every section that this 

 material was not satisfactory, as was proved by the fact that all of the 

 eggs came to the station more or less adherent. Swamp muck, which 

 had been used with success three years before, was substituted and 

 sent out at once but, owing to delays en route the season was nearly 

 over at Toledo before it could be used. Not more than 2 tablespoon- 

 fuls of the muck solution to 5 gallons of water was needed to prevent 

 adhesion. Experience has also shown that it is advisable to put 

 the muck in the water in the keg in which the eggs are poured after 

 impregnation, rather than to mix it with the eggs in the i)an prior to 

 fertilization. If a small amount of water is added to the eggs imme- 

 diately after fertilization and the milt washed out quickly, adhesion 

 does not take place for a minute or two. 



