VI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



For the inaiutenance of the lobster fishery, which has beeu steadily 

 declining for a number of years, it was arranged not only to cover the 

 region in the vicinity of Woods Hole and Gloucester stations, but also 

 to make systematic collections of eggs from fishermen between Rock- 

 land, Me., and Noank, Conn. The schooner Grampus was utilized on 

 the Maine coast for the collection of jeggs and the liberation of fry, and 

 the steamer Fish Hawlc was employed as a floating hatchery at Casco 

 Bay. Agents v^ere stationed at Kittery, Me. ; Boston, Plymouth, and 

 New Bedford, Mass., and points in Connecticut, who collected egg lob 

 sters for transportation to the hatcheries of Gloucester and Woods Hole. 

 As a result of this extension of the work, over 128,000,000 eggs were 

 secured and 115,000,000 fry planted. During the spring and summer 

 particular attention was paid to the food, habits, and growth of the 

 young lobster, and much valuable information was obtained at Woods 

 Hole, where experiments were conducted in the holding of the fry 

 during the molting stages. 



Preliminary to the establishment of auxiliary shad-hatcheries on the 

 South Atlantic Coast, the Fish Hawk was detailed early in the winter 

 to make investigations on certain important rivers in that section for 

 the x^^^rpose of determining their value as collecting fields for egga. 

 Proceeding to Palatka, Fla., the vessel was anchored at the mouth of 

 the Ocklawaha liiver and arrangements were made to collect eggs from 

 fishermen operating on the St. Johns between Welaka and Sanford, 

 where most of the fishing is done. Large numbers of shad were taken 

 daily in the nets and seines, and valuable information with reference to 

 their habits and movements was obtained, but only three or four ripe 

 fish were secured. At the end of March the vessel proceeded to 

 Albemarle Sound and commenced oi^erations at Avoca, IST. C, at the 

 mouth of the Chowan River. The work at that point resulted in the 

 collection of over 27,000,000 shad eggs and the liberation of 16,000,000 

 fry at the head of the sound. During the months of April, May, and 

 June the usual shad operations were conducted on the Delaware, 

 Potomac, and Susquehanna rivers, the total collection of eggs for the 

 season resulting in a distribution of 131,545,500 yearlings, fry, and eggs. 

 From the experience gained this year there is little doubt that the col- 

 lection of shad eggs can be largely increased by the establishment of 

 auxiliary stations on other rivers of the South Atlantic Coast. 



The work on the Great Lakes was attended with good results, though 

 the collection of eggs was seriously interfered with by severe gales, which 

 destroyed the fishing gear during the spawning season. Over 18,000,000 

 lake- trout eggs were secured on Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and 

 Ontario, besides 126,000,000 whitefish eggs on Lakes Huron, Michigan, 

 and Erie; 13,509,000 yearlings, fry, and eggs of the lake trout and 

 95,019,000 whitefish fry were distributed. 



At the interior stations devoted to the production of trout, bass, and 

 crappie the work of restocking inland streams and lakes has progressed 

 satisfactorily. 



