Robo Ocky hp 
OF THE 
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 
FOR THE 
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1901. 
I have the honor to submit a report of the operations of the United 
States Commission of Fish and Fisheries for the year ending June 30, 
1901, together with the detailed reports of the assistants in charge of 
the different branches of the work, and to eall attention to some of 
the more interesting features. 
PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES. 
The fish-cultural operations for the year show an inerease of over 
9,000,000 over 1900, 1,173,853,400 fish and eggs having been distrib- 
uted, the principal species being shad, salmon, lake trout, white-fish, 
pike perch, lake herring, cod, and flat-fish, besides lobsters. 
The results with salmon on the Pacific coast, though creditable, 
were inferior to some years, for while the runs of fish were good in 
the Sacramento and in the Columbia and its tributaries, the numbers 
reaching the headwaters, where the hatcheries are located, were com- 
paratively small. Pursuing the policy mentioned in the last report, 
the fry in several instances were held for a few months and. fed, so 
that when liberated they were 2 to 3 inches long and in vigorous con- 
dition. About 23,000,000 quinnat-salmon eggs were secured in Cali- 
fornia and Oregon and nearly 4,000,000 blueback eggs in Washington. 
On the Great Lakes the aggregate results were satisfactory, and besides 
the usual work in those waters plans were matured to begin the prop- 
agation of lake herring. The severe weather in January limited the 
results with this species to about 61,000,000 eggs, but greater success 
is expected during the coming year. 
The collection of lake-trout eggs in Lakes Superior and Michigan 
nearly doubled that of last year, amounting to 22,400,000, from which 
19,000,000 fry were hatched. Advantage was taken of the Michigan 
State law which permits the capture of fish for purposes of artificial 
propagation after the close season has begun, and a large proportion 
of these eggs were taken between November 14 and 28. The plan of 
impounding white-fish to insure a supply of spawning fish was again 
followed out successfully on the Detroit River and at several points 
on Lake Erie. The eggs were hatched at the stations on Lakes Erie, 
i 
F. C. 1901——1 
