LXXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Owingtotheunfavorable conditions above enumerated, only 71,110,000 

 fry were hatched. These were planted in the waters of Lake Erie at 

 the following points : 



It is believed that the daily examination of eggs under the micro- 

 scope will prove to be an important factor in the future operations of 

 the station, as it is thus possible to keei^ track of the work of individual 

 spawn-takers, i)Oor results being very frequently due to carelessness 

 in handling the eggs. The superintendent made photomicrographs of 

 the normal impregnated egg sho^ving segmentation, of the unimpreg- 

 uated egg showing the germinal discs with no nodules of segmentation, 

 and of an egg with ruptured yolk-sac, destroyed by rough handling. 

 These were sent to the spawn-takers, so that they could understand 

 how easily the three classes of eggs are distinguished one from the other 

 under the microscope. 



During the year a number of improvements were made to the grounds 

 and in the adjacent harbor. A sea wall, 115 feet long and from 4 to 6 

 feet high, was constructed on the south side of the hatchery parallel 

 with the shore line, and the space back of it filled in with dredgings 

 from the lake bottom in front. The ground was graded and seeded 

 and beds of plants set out, improving greatly the appearance of the 

 station. The space adjacent to the docks was also dredged out, so that 

 the steamer could come in and out at low water, and also to provide 

 sufficient space for wintering the vessel. 



The following table gives the maximum, minimum, and mean tem- 

 peratures of air and water in the hatchery during the year: 



NORTHVILLE STATION, MICHIGAN (F. N. CLARK, SUPERINTENDENT). 



During the summer the station employees were occupied in improving 

 the grounds, ijainting and repairing the fish-cultural apparatus, and 

 caring for the tigh on hand. Early in September the lake trout carried 

 through the summer were distributed in Lakes Huron, Michigan, 

 Superior, and interior lakes. As the cars of the Commission Mere occu- 

 pied at other points at this time, the distribution was made by means 

 of a baggage car, obtained through the courtesy of the officials of the 



