XXVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



larger one had at first been j)roposed, but it became necessary to reduce 

 the size owing to the discovery of quicksand. The reservoir was sur- 

 rounded by a wall made of local stone and Eosendale cement, the dimen- 

 sions being 2}j feet thick at base, 2 feet at top, and 5 feet in height. 

 The sides of the reservoir and the wall were covered with Portland 

 cement and plastered with a mixture of 1 part cement to 2^ parts clear 

 sand. The filter to the reservoir is so constructed that it can be cleaned 

 by reversing the current. A roof was constructed over the reservoir, 

 four doors being i)rovided in it to permit access to the reservoir. On 

 January 23 the overflow from the reservoir was broken by an earth- 

 quake, wliich interfered materially with its use until the weather per- 

 mitted of its being repaired. 



Considerable work was done in grading the grounds, building plank 

 walks around the ponds, installing a steam-heating jilant, and in repair- 

 ing the ponds constructed the previous year, frost having injured them 

 to such an extent that it became necessary to rebuild all of the supply 

 and stand pipes. A large amount of work was also done in the interior 

 of the hatchery, comjjleting unfinished rooms, etc. 



At the beginning of the year the stock on hand was as follows: 



L>u~ring the summer field stations for collecting brook-trout eggs from 

 wild fish were established at 1 failings Pond, Caspian Lake, Greensboro, 

 Willoughby Lake, Groton, Fairbanks Pond, and Pico Pond. 



Darlings Pond is about 36 miles from St. Johiisbury, 30 by rail and 

 6 by wagon road. The fish there were captured by means of a V-shaped 

 slat trap or weir and held in retaining pens until ripe. A shanty was 

 erected near the trap for the accommodation of the attendant. The 

 first run of trout occurred on the 23d of August, 1,650 being taken in 

 the brook during a heavy rain storm. Very few were captured from 

 that time until September 6, when 1,000 more entered the trap. The 

 fish continued to run in schools during the rainy weather, and on 

 October 15, when the trap was removed, 7,138 had been captured. 

 During the season it was discovered that large numbers of trout were 

 ascending streams which dry up in summer. At the request of the 

 owners of the pond they were not disturbed, but it is doubtful whether 

 their spawn ever matured. The first eggs were taken on September 

 24 and the last on October 26, over 900,000 being secured. The loss in 

 hatching was very heavy, only 25 per cent producing fry available for 

 distribution; but these wer6 vigorous, and no definite reason can be 



