PKOPAOATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923. 41 



1(H),()()() in number — arrived at the station early in October, and ap- 

 proximately 5 per cent of the 70,000 fry hatched from them were 

 albinos. So far as could be learned there was nothing unusual in 

 the appearance of the parent fish. The albinos were reared with 

 the colored fish without undue loss. 



NORTHVILLE (MICH.) STATION AND SUBSTATIONS. 



[W. W. T'HAYKit, Suixnintendent. ] 



NOUTHVILLE (MICH.) STATION. 



Distributions of smallmouth black-bass fingerlings Nos. 2 and 3 to 

 the number of 14,475 were made during the first month of the fiscal 

 year, and in October the brood stock of this species was increased to 

 a total of 500 by the addition of 100 adult fish derived from collec- 

 tions in Lake Erie. In the spring, when the water in the ponds 

 containing these fish was drawn down, only about 300 could be found. 

 It is impossible to account for the shortage, as no such loss of brood 

 stock has ever occurred heretofore. The available adults were in- 

 stalled in spawning ponds on May 3 and began nesting a few days 

 afterwards. On the evening of May 8 a heavy snowstorm of 24 hours 

 duration set in, causing a drop in water temperature from 65° to 41° 

 and destroying all nests of eggs in the ponds at the time. As soon as 

 the temperature returned to normal spawning was resumed, and in 

 the course of the season 75 nests of eggs were deposited. At the 

 close of the year 48,500 bass fry and fingerlings No. 1 had been 

 gathered from these ponds and distributed, and it was estimated 

 tliat about 50,000 were still available. 



To relieve the conditions existing at the Alpena substation in 

 connection with an unsuitable water supply, part of the green lake- 

 trout eggs at that point were transferred to Northville and carried 

 until they were near the hatching stage, when they were returned to 

 Alpena. 



During the winter 345,120 eyed brook-trout eggs were received 

 from a commercial dealer in Massachusetts. These w^ere of fine 

 •quality and produced a good percentage of healthy fry. All but 

 28,000 of these fish had been disposed of before the end of the year. 

 The station also handled 120,000 eyed rainbows-trout eggs furnished 

 by the Michigan fisheries authorities. The fry produced from these 

 were still on hand at the close of June. 



A brood stock of adult bluegill sunfish, collected from a lake near 

 Ticksburg, ^Nlich., was installed in a spawning pond early in May. 

 A few nests were observed in this pond during the spring, but the 

 results of the experiment can not be determined until the water is 

 lowered in the fall. 



CHARLEVOIX (MICH.) SUBSTATION. 



In arranging for the collection of lake-trout eggs for filling the 

 "Charlevoix liatchery the procedure of past years Avas followed so far 

 as was possible, experienced men being stationed at the best fishing 

 ports on J^akes Michigan and Huron to instruct local fishermen as 

 to the proper manner of taking spawn and caring for it during the 

 early stages. However, a sufficient number of men experienced in 



