38 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



of the Diiliith station collected eggs at points on the north shore of 

 the lake and at Isle Royale, Mich. A few eggs of the early run were 

 taken between September 23 and October 20, but the largest collec- 

 tions were secured later. The season closed in the last week of No- 

 vember with a total take of 21,079,000 eggs. The results were disap- 

 pointing, as from the number of fish on the grounds where commer- 

 cial fishing is conducted along the north shore there was reason to be- 

 lieve that a very successful season from a fish-cultural standpoint 

 was assured. Because of the destruction of nets by storms, the collec- 

 tions exceeded those of last year by only a small margin. Conditions 

 on the south shore were even more unfavorable, and this field was 

 abandoned shortly after November 1. 



For the Michigan stations lake-trout eggs were obtained at the usual 

 points in Lakes Michigan and Huron. A large body of fish appeared 

 during the spawning season, but the fishermen were able to operate 

 their nets only at irregular intervals. A total of 31,733,000 eggs were 

 secured, most of wdiich were of an average quality, though at certain 

 points where only inexperienced help was available the quality was 

 inferior. As indicative of the changing condition of the lake fish- 

 eries, it is interesting to note that while for a number of seasons past 

 enough lake-trout eggs were not obtainable to justify the expense of 

 operations at the Alpena hatchery on Lake Huron, more eggs of that 

 species were taken during 1920 in the vicinity of Alpena than at any 

 other point on the lakes. If this situation continues, the advisability 

 of resuming regular operations at this point may be worthy of con- 

 sideration. Practically all of the lake-trout eggs collected in Michi- 

 gan waters in recent years have been obtained from the fisheries in 

 the vicinity of Charlevoix and Beaver Island, Lake Michigan. 



As in other parts of tlie Great Lakes region, the work of the Cape 

 Vincent station in Lake Ontario suffered from stormy weather. Lake- 

 trout eggs were sought at Pigeon and Stony Islands, but only a few 

 days were suitable for fishing during the time the fish were on the 

 spawning beds. While the run did not appear to be as large as last 

 season's, the total number of eggs taken from both points— 941,000 — 

 was more than 200,000 in excess of last year's collection. 



The season's pike-perch operations on the Great Lakes and on Lake 

 Champlain were on a much less extensive scale than in 1919. The 

 winter of 1919-20 was severe, and very heavy ice formed on Lake 

 Erie ; nevertheless by the end of March the lake was free of ice and 

 the pike-perch fishermen were able to set their nets earlier than usual. 

 During the first days of the season the take of fish was very large, and 

 a successful season in pike-perch hatching was anticipated. There 

 followed a period of cold weather, wHth snow and heavy winds, that 

 had the effect of destroying many nets and of breaking up the schools 

 of spawning fish. Operations for this species were continued longer 

 than usual in the belief that a change in the weather would bring a 

 return of the fish, but the season closed on Mav 10 with a total collec- 

 tion of only 116,950,000 eggs. With the exception of 1,000,000 shipped 

 to Central Station, all the eggs were incubated at Put in Bay and the 

 fry liberated in Lake Erie. 



The success attending the experiments in connection witli the 

 propagation of pike perch in Saginaw Bay last season made it advis- 

 able to resume the work this year. Some difficulty was experienced in 



