EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIOl^rER OF FISHERIES. 25 



beloAv, A large number of lake-trout eggs were taken, but adverse 

 weather during the spawning season curtailed the collections of 

 whitefish and cisco eggs. 



In the Lake Erie field pike-perch propagation was seriously cur- 

 tailed by the late spring and the large accumulations of ice remain- 

 ing on the spawning grounds be^'^ond the usual time. On the other 

 hand, a remarkably good showing was made in the propagation 

 of carp at Port Clinton, Ohio. The carp fishery of this region is 

 an important industry, yielding an annual product valued at approxi- 

 mately a million dollars, and the local fishermen are very apprecia- 

 tive of the bureau's efforts to maintain the supply. As a result of 

 their hearty cooperation, the collection of eggs last season was the 

 largest ever made by the bureau. The fishermen take carp in large 

 numbers in the course of their ascent of the Portage River during 

 the spring to spawn and transfer them to ponds from 5 to 15 acres 

 in area, where they are held and fed on shelled corn until September 

 and are then shipped alive to the New York markets. The buffalo- 

 fish, a species which the commercial fishermen regards as more valu- 

 able than the carp, was introduced into the Portage River by the 

 bureau several years ago and appears to have become established 

 there. 



A successful season was experienced in the collection of buffalo- 

 fish eggs in Louisiana, but owing to pollution of the water supply 

 from floods in the Ouachita River, very heavy losses were sustained 

 -during the incubation period, thus reducing the output. The bureau 

 received considerable assistance in the collection of the eggs and the 

 distribution of the fry through the cooperation extended by the 

 Louisiana Conservation Commission. 



The collection of cod eggs on the Atlantic coast was the largest 

 ever made by the bureau, but there was a considerable reduction in 

 the output of other species from the marine hatcheries owing partly 

 to adverse natural conditions during the spawning season and partly 

 to lessened activities of the commercial fishermen on account of the 

 low market prices prevailing for the species in question during the 

 spawning period. 



Shortage of funds necessitated the omission of the usual purchase 

 of adult Atlantic salmon as a source of egg supply for the Craig 

 Brook (Me.) station. Thus far the Penobscot River fishermen have 

 refused to cooperate with the bureau on a reasonable basis in its 

 efforts to maintain the supply of salmon in that river, and unless 

 they can be prevailed upon "to adopt a more favorable attitude a 

 large measure of success can not be expected. It is essential that the 

 fishermen turn over brood fish to the bureau at the prevailing 

 market price without requiring a bonus for handling, as at present. 

 The maintenance of the salmon supply in this region is of far 

 greater importance to the local fishermen than to anyone else, and 

 they should lend the bureau a reasonable amount of assistance in 

 connection with its efforts in their behalf. 



The shad-spawning season on the Potomac River was unusually 

 late, no eggs being available until near the end of April, fully three 

 weeks beyond the usual time. Scarcity of snow, slight rainfall, and 

 unseasonablv low temperatures undoubtedly had their effect in delaj;- 

 ing and shortening the spawning period. Shad are extremely sensi- 

 tive to the temperature and quality of water, and they will enter those 

 streams only where the conditions are favorable. 



