[REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 7 



were so poor — only about 17 per cent of the eggs delivered having been 

 hatched — that in March the assistant, accouipauied by Mr. I. S. K. 

 Eeeves, proceeded to Woods Hole and Gloucester to obtain data for 

 the comparison of methods and facilities at the two stations. The con- 

 ditions existing at the two were found to be entirely unlike in the most 

 important essentials. At Woods Hole the eggs are taken from penned 

 fish, whereas at Gloucester they are collected from iish caught by the 

 regular fishing vessels on the banks and transported by rail from 

 Kittery to Gloucester. 



The Gloucester Station is at a serious disadvantage with regard to 

 water — the next most important element in fish-cultural operations — 

 as it is not only likely to be roiled after storms, occurring at frequent 

 intervals during the hatching season, but is also heavily charged with 

 sediment and contains much animal life (chiefly crustaceans) which 

 interfere seriously with the working of the hatching boxes. The hatch- 

 ery is also poorly lighted. After careful consideration the assistant 

 recommended that steps be taken to i)rovide storage for brood fish, as 

 at Woods Hole, and that the hatchery be improved and arrangements 

 made to filter the water by means of sand and gravel, so as to eliminate 

 the trouble arising from the presence of sediment, crustaceans, etc. 



The importance of regular inspections of the fish-cultural stations 

 can not be too strongly urged. They should be made at least once a 

 year by the Commissioner or the assistant in charge of the Division of 

 Fish-culture. 



STATION OPERATIONS. 



The total number of fish and eggs distributed by the Commission 

 during this fiscal year was 619,915,852, which far exceeds the output 

 of any previous year. The same stations were oj^erated as in 1893-91, 

 with the addition of the one at St. Johnsbury, Yt. This was not com- 

 pleted in time for the collection of eggs, but a few fish were hatched 

 there from eggs transferred from other stations. 



Following is a list of the stations operated during the year: 



Green Lake, Me. Fish Ponds, Washington, D. C. 



Craig Brook, Me. Central Station, Washington, 



St. Joliusbury, Vt. D. C. 



Gloucester, Mass. Bryan Point, Md. 



AVoods Hole, Mass. Wytheville, Va. 

 Steamer Fish Hawk (Dela- Put in Bay, Ohio, 



ware River). Northville, Mich. 



Battery Island, Md. Alpena, Mich. 



DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES. 



The number of eggs, fry, and adult fish furnished by each of the sta- 

 tions is shown in the following table; also a summary of fishes dis- 

 tributed, arranged by species. This includes 30 species of fish and 1 



Duluth, Minn. 

 Quiucy, 111. 

 Neosho, Mo. 

 Leadville, Colo. 

 Baird, Cal. 

 Fort Gaston, Cal. 

 Korbel, Cal. 

 Clackamas, Oreg. 



