28 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



plications are referred to the kState commissioners, and no applica- 

 tions are filled without their consent. Being impressed with the im- 

 portance of safeguarding State waters from the damage that may 

 result from the introduction of unsuitable fishes, the Bureau has, for 

 a number of years, in cooperation with the States concerned, sought 

 to discourage the planting of basses, perches, pikes, and other fishes 

 of known predatory habits in the Pacific States, because of the injury 

 that may be done to the young salmon and trout, which already 

 have enough natural enemies with which to contend. This policy 

 meets with some opposition from sportsmen and from persons who 

 wish to stock private or small public waters with fishes that are 

 different from those occurring locally. It is well known that there 

 exist in the Pacific States numerous waters not inhabited by salmon 

 and trout in which basses and other spiny-rayed fishes would thrive, 

 but it appears unwise to make exceptions, because there is always the 

 possibility of the introduced fishes escaping at times of flood or 

 becoming established by other means in trout or salmon waters. 

 The results that would be liable to follow are such that the Bureau 

 would not wish to share any responsibility therefor, and its proper 

 course undoubtedly is to continue refusing to entertain applications 

 of that character even if State officials should be inclined to yield 

 to strong importunities. 



PROPAGATION OF PACIFIC SALMONS. 



While the egg collections at the Pacific salmon stations for the 

 year showed a decrease of approximately 7,000,000 as compared with 

 1919, the net results of the year's Avork must be regarded as satisfac- 

 tory. There has been no abatement of the serious handicap imposed 

 on this work by the excessive cost of materials and the scarcity and 

 cost of labor. Increased appreciation of the Bureau's work by the 

 extensive commercial interests in the salmon fishery is indicated by 

 their requests for its further extension and by the cooperative as- 

 sistance they have rendered. 



At the Afognak station the spawning season of the sockeye salmon 

 began July 26, and by August 22 eggs to the number of 73,133,000 

 had been laid down in the hatchery, filling all available space. A fur- 

 ther collection of approximately 6,000,000 eggs was made on Sep- 

 tember 8, and installed for incubation in boxes of gravel in accordance 

 with the method developed by A. Eobertson, at the Harrison Hot 

 Springs hatchery in British Columbia, bringing the total egg collec- 

 tions to 79,178,000. 



Unusually favorable conditions prevailed during the spawning 

 season, the Litnik River and its tributaries being at a stage to permit 

 of the easy ascent of fish and at the same time allow the installation 

 of the racks. The winter was also mild, with but little snow, and com- 

 munication between the station and the village was rendered snnple 

 by the absence of ice in the bay and snow on the tramroad. The egg 

 collections exceeded those of the previous year, and it was estimated 

 that the fish taken for artificial propagation did not represent more 

 than 50 per cent of the s])awning salmon that entered the lake. After 

 the completion of the egg collections, the racks Avere removed in order 

 that the remaining fish might have free access to the natural spawning 



