64 REPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



losses to 50,250,000 eggs after the eye spots had been developed in 

 the Detroit hatcher^^ In accordance with the terms of the lease 

 granting the Bureau the use of this hatchery, 40,500,000 eyed eggs 

 were turned over to the Michigan Fish Commission. Part of the 

 fry hatched from the balance were planted in inland waters of Michi- 

 gan and the remainder were deposited in Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay, 

 and Detroit River. 



Prior to the opening of the fishing season in Lake Eric the force of 

 the Put in Bay station was engaged in repairs and improvements to 

 grounds and buildings and in getting the equipment in shape for 

 field operations. Preparations were made for conducting whitefish 

 propagatioa on the largest scale commensurate with the funds avail- 

 able; and, in order to save every possible egg, men were detailed to 

 the various fisheries in advance of the spawning season, in November, 

 to see that the fishermen were supplied with all necessary utensils 

 for taking and fertilizing eggs, and to give the uninitiated instruc- 

 tions as to the proper method of procedure. A force was assi^ed 

 in due season to the important fisheries at the west end of the Lake 

 near Monroe Piers to install crates for the holding of unripe fish 

 pending the development of their eggs. However, a severe storm 

 prevailed during November 15 and 16, just when the fish had com- 

 menced to congregate in numbers on the reefs and in the shoal 

 waters around the shore, causing the water to recede to several feet 

 below normal and starting such a strong current in the Lake that 

 nearly all the commercial nets were wrecked. The fish were driven 

 into deeper waters, where they remained so long that most of the 

 fishermen removed their nets from the Lake, fearing to trust them 

 out so late in the season because of the destructive effects of ice. 

 Through the hearty cooperation of the fishermen, 2,218 partly ripe 

 fish were obtained and penned after the storm had subsided, and the 

 egg returns from this relatively small brood stock were satisfactory, 

 thus redeeming the operations from complete failure which at the 

 height of the spawning season seemed inevitable. 



In other portions of Lake Erie the collections averaged up to the 

 records of past years and in some instances exceeded them. Of the 

 eight fields occupied, the largest measure of success was obtained at 

 Port Chnton, Toledo, and Isle St. George, which yielded 115,760,000, 

 69,680,000, and 66,440,000 eggs, respectively. The collections from 

 all portions of the Lake amounted to 357,240,000 eggs, and had the 

 nets been in good condition after the storm it is believed the take 

 would have broken all records, as the fish must have returned to the 

 spawning gromids in great numbers, judging from the quantities 

 taken in nets that were afterwards found to be badly damaged. 

 Assignments of green eggs to State hatcheries and stations of the 

 Bureau, aggregating 121,700,000, were forwarded direct from the 

 fishing fields. The remainder were hatched, producing 208,500,000 

 fine, healthy fry for return to the spawning grounds. 



As the Ohio Fish Commission was able to satisfactorily care for all 

 eggs of the cisco, or lake herring, available in Lake Erie, no attempt 

 was made by the Bureau's men to obtain eggs of that species, this 

 being in accordance with an agreement previously entered into with 

 the State authorities. 



Notwithstanding the exceedingly cold and prolonged winter expe- 

 rienced in this region, a few warm days near the end of March sufiiced 



