88 U. S. BUEEAU or FISHERIES. 



inor States. If such a course were to be generally followed, the re- 

 sults would most certainly be disastrous. If a hatchery addressed to 

 the propagation of a commercial species is successful in maintaining 

 the fishery against the inroads of market fishing in the region cov- 

 ered b}'^ its activities, it may be fairly classed as efficient. If its 

 annual output is only just sufficient to accomplish this purpose, it 

 would be suicidal to divert any portion of it to other waters. Most 

 of the States object, and with justice, through their fisheries authori- 

 ties to the shipment outside their boundaries of eggs taken in their 

 waters or the fry produced from such eggs. 



The attitude of the fishermen is also a consideration. In most 

 cases the bureau is to a large extent dependent on them for its egg 

 collections. Speaking generally, the fishermen are deeply interested 

 and render hearty cooperation. They Avatch the work with jealous 

 interest, and any large or unwarranted diversion of eggs or fry would 

 meet with strong opposition from them, and if persisted in would 

 certainly result in refusal of the fishermen to deliver their eggs to 

 the hatcheries. While the bureau's hatcheries are operated for the 

 general good and the public is benefited by the increased food sup- 

 ply, the local fishermen are perhaps most intimately interested, and 

 they shoukl render every possible assistance to the hatcheries. Cer- 

 tain States now have laws whereby fishermen are given permits 

 to fish during the closed season, with the restriction that all mature 

 eggs sliall be delivered to an agent of the bureau or the State for 

 propagation. As the fishes are the property of the State, such a 

 requirement is held to be just. 



On the other hand, if a hatchery of the bureau succeeds in obtain- 

 ing large numbers of eggs, more than aie required for local waters, 

 an intelligent distribution of the output to other waters is then 

 permissible and even desirable. Under the most favorable condi- 

 tions tlie results of natural spawning can not be expected to equal 

 from 75 to 80 per cent of the numbers of young fishes put out by an 

 efficient hatchery. Nature undoubtedly provides for a rather wide 

 distribution of young fishes from natural reproduction. It is there- 

 fore not always advisable to limit the distribution of the output of 

 a hatchery beyond reasonable restrictions, because if more young 

 fishes are placed in a limited area than the waters can support they 

 can not be expected to produce proportionate returns in marketable 

 fish. 



The following are among the points to be considered in connec- 

 tion with the distribution of the commercial species in new waters : 



(1) Do the waters under consideration support a commercial fishery? 



(2) Are the laws adequate for the protection of the fishes? (3) 

 What are the conditions regarding dams or other barriers and pol- 

 lution from trade or other forms of waste? (4) What is the atti- 

 tude of local fishermen, and will they be willing to cooperate in the 

 collection of eggs for the work of artificial propagation? 



RESULTS OF PLANTING FISHES IN INTERIOR WATERS. 



By E. C. Fearnow, 

 Superintendent of Fish Distribution. 



The question has frequently been asked whether the bureau's work 

 in stocking streams and ponds in the interior States is producing 

 satisfactory results. While the numerous letters received from ap- 



