368 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The Woods Hole, Mass., station made no attempt to propagate 

 cod, and its operations with tlie winter flounder were seriously ham- 

 pered by the severe winter. A considerable proportion of the 

 400,000,000 fry hatched were distributed in the waters of Long Island 

 Sound. The personnel of this station has as usual expended con- 

 siderable effort in maintenance of the extensive plant, also in assisting 

 in the laboratory work conducted by the Division of Scientific Inquiry 

 during the summer. 



At the Boothbay Harbor, Maine, station, following the installation 

 of a new^ electric pump, considerable overhauling and changing of the 

 piping system w^as necessary. Severe winter conditions also affected 

 the propagation of flat fish or flounder during the early part of the 

 season. Later results were more favorable, yielding a production of 

 1,000,000,000 fry. The propagation of cod exceeded that of the pre- 

 vious year. Haddock operations were a minor activity in connection 

 with other major work. 



For some years there has been frequent expression of doubt as to 

 the exact value of propagating marine species. This activity is now 

 increasing in popularity and if carried on as an adjunct to commercial 

 fishing operations and not as an end in itself, it appears highly 

 justifiable. 



GREAT LAKES SPECIES 



With the exception of the Put in Bay, Ohio, station, the handling 

 of the commercial species of the Great Lakes is at a low ebb. Changes 

 in the fishing season in Michigan waters several years ago virtually 

 eliminated the production of whitefish and lake trout at the Michigan 

 hatcheries and at the Duluth, Minn., station. 



At the Cape Vincent, N. Y., station, changes in the spawning habits 

 of the fish, particularly concentration in Canadian waters, have greatly 

 reduced the potential egg supply. Consequently, these stations have 

 either been closed or are emphasizing the production of game fish, 

 the commercial varieties being handled as a side line. 



The Duluth, Minn., station handled less than a million lake trout 

 and whitefish eggs, but incubated a considerable number of game trout 

 eggs for transfer to rearing stations in the national forests. 



During the spring, in cooperation with the State of Minnesota, 

 approximately 10,000,000 pike perch were hatched. 



The Put in Bay, Ohio, operations are on a joint basis with the State 

 of Ohio. The Bureau is supervising the collection of the eggs at 

 designated areas and the hatching is being carried on in the nearby 

 State hatchery with the assistance of the Bureau's personnel. The 

 Federal hatchery, however, is maintained in readiness to handle any 

 excess quantity of eggs which might be beyond the capacity of the 

 State establishment. Our egg collections for the year exceeded 

 52,000,000 whitefish and 500,000,000 pike perch. 



The activities of the Cape Vincent, N. Y., station, as regards propa- 

 gation of game fish and operations of its substations, will be discussed 

 elsewhere in this report. An output of w4iitefish and lake herring 

 slightly better than last year was obtained. Over 1,000,000 lake trout 

 eggs w"ere also secured from local fishermen. The production at this 

 point could be moderately increased were funds available for the 

 hiring of an adequate number of spawn-takers. 



