PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923. 43 



just prior to the hatching stage with the view of effecting some 

 economy in the distribution of the product. Owing to a delay in 

 starting the phint the use of the chlorine was not discontinued, and 

 t-o avoid the threatened loss of the entire stock all eggs and fry in 

 the hatchery were liberated on March 23 on the local spawning 

 grounds, after which the hatchery was closed. 



PUT IN BxVY (OHIO) STATION. 

 [S. W. Downing, Superintendent.] 



The season's arrangement for the collection of whitefish eggs 

 in the Lake Erie fields having been completed by early November, 

 it was deemed advisable to place men in the collecting areas around 

 Toledo and Port Clinton in advance of actual spawn-collecting 

 operations to give instructions to the various fishermen as to the 

 proper manner of taking the eggs and caring for them until they 

 could be turned over to the bureau's agents. Between November 

 14, when the first eggs were taken, and the close of the season on 

 December 4 the collections amounted to 242,720,000, approximately 

 143,000,000 less than were secured last year. Of this number 104,- 

 000,000 were obtained in the Port Clinton field; North Bass Island, 

 the field of next importance, yielded 75,000,000; 17,720,000 were 

 taken in the vicinity of Middle Bass Island; while collections only 

 a little in excess of 15,000,000 for each field were secured in the 

 neighborhood of Toledo and Catawba Island. Slightly more than 

 11,000,000 were taken in the vicinity of Put in Bay, while at Pelee 

 Island, Canada, 3,440,000 were secured. 



The comparatively poor results of the work are attributable to 

 the natural conditions existing during the spawning season. The 

 water seemed to contain a great quantity of slime, and the spawning 

 fish and the eggs had a decidedly soft, slimy feeling. The eggs failed 

 to harden properly even under the most careful treatment. Infor- 

 mation was received to the effect that the same conditions were met 

 with throughout the Great Lakes region, but the situation is be- 

 lieved to have been intensified in the Lake Erie fields, both by the 

 unusually high water temperatures prevailing and by the steady 

 westerh' winds, the latter resulting in such low water stages at the 

 western end of the lake that the sediment and slime at the bottom 

 were washed up and mingled with the general supply. Late in the 

 spawning season, after the winds had subsided, the water cleared 

 and there was a noticeable improvement in the quality of the eggs 

 taken during that period. 



Of the eggs collected, 28,000,000 were shipped direct from the 

 field to the Erie hatchery of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, and 

 22,400.000 fertilized eggs were planted on reefs near the Put in Bay 

 hatchery ; 3,000.000 eyed eggs were forwarded to a])plicants and 

 other hatcheries of the bureau, and from the remaining stock 100,- 

 000,000 fry were hatched and liberated on the spawning grounds. 

 On account of the poor quality of tlie eggs as a Avhole, the percentage 

 of luitch was about the lowest ever recorded at the station. 



Early in the spring all pi'ospects for a good collection of pike- 

 perch eggs appeared favorable. The ice disappeared from the west- 

 ern end of the lake earlv in March, and for the first time in several 



