REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



33 



NORTHVILLE STATION, MICHIGAN (F. N. ClARK, SuPERINTKNDENT). 



Early in the fiscal year the outsides of the rearing-house and hatch- 

 ery were painted, a new floor laid in the hatchery, twelve new rearing- 

 ponds completed, alleys graded, etc. The water in the ponds which 

 had contained diseased fish was drawn off, the sides of the ponds white- 

 washed, and the bottoms given a thorough sprinkling of salt. The 

 main feed raceway to the large ponds was taken out and replaced with 

 new sides and bottom throughout. The severe weather of the past 

 winter did considerable damage to the ponds and raceways, causing 

 the upheaval of ties, collapse of sides, and sinking of bottoms. 



JaOcc trout. — The lake-trout eggs collected by Alpena spawn-takers, 

 amounting to 8,746,000, were transferred as usual to this station. Of 

 these, 2,750,000 were shipped to other stations of the Commission, 

 State Fish Commissions, and private applicants. From the balance 

 retained at the station (5,990,000) 1,390,000 fry were hatched and dis- 

 tributed. The poor results were probably due to the fact that it was 

 necessary to hold the eggs on trays for a number of days before ship- 

 ping at many of the field stations, owing to their being located at 

 isolated points, which could not be reached by the boats in the inclement 

 weather prevailing during the fall. The distribution of eggs and fry 

 is given below : 



Brook trout.— From October 7 to December 15 there were 198,804 



eggs taken from 812 female trout on hand. From these eggs, 177,000 



fry were hatched and shipped to parties in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, 



and Iowa, the distribution commencing March 20 and closing May 4, 



F. E. 95 3 



