
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XLII 
D.—STATIONS FOR PROPAGATION OF CARP. 
_ Washington, D. C.—Many improvements were made in the carp ponds 
on the Monument Lot, in Washirgton, and a new and more commodious 
office’ building was constructed. Congress directed the filling in of 
Babeock Lake as an additional precaution looking toward the safety of 
the Washington Monument; but as this work was ordered not to begin 
before December, it did not interfere with the year’s operations. This 
lake was drained and the fish removed for the last time on November 
11. The Monument Lot ponds are chiefly used for the propagation of 
the several varieties of the German carp, but tench, golden-ide, and 
gold-fish are also produced in limited numbers. They are in charge of 
Dr. Rudolph Hessel. 
Two or three ponds on the Arsenal grounds in Washington are still 
used for the rearing of scale carp. They are cared for by an employé 
of the Arsenal. 
E.—NEW HatTcHING STATIONS PROPOSED. 
Duluth, Minn.—The following petition from the fishermen of Duluth 
was forwarded, under date of April 18, 1886, to the Hon. Knute Nelson, 
“member of Congress from Minnesota: 
The fishermen of Lake Superior, whose market and shipping point is at Duluth, 
Minn., feel the need of some relief being obtained for them from the U. 8S. Fish Com- 
mission, and a careful consideration of the facts as presented to Prof. Spencer F. 
Baird, Commissioner, and do hereby petition you to use your influence in securing for 
them the favors herein set forth. 
They have formed themselves into an assoviation to promote their mutual interests; 
their aims and objects being a better understanding of the fishing laws of States; a 
uniform action amongst the fishermen concerning the regulation of the sizes of meshes 
of all nets, and the enforcement of the laws concerning them. 
To secure the artificial propagation of the eggs of both whitefish and lake trout by 
_ a fish hatchery. 
To this end we have pledged ourselves to aid, by manual labor and by the use of 
our fishing plants and men, to procure eggs in the season for such a fish hatchery. 
Realizing that the capital invested in the fishing industry is uot proving remuner- 
ative under existing circumstances, and realizing from our past experience that the 
continual diminished catches both of whitefish and lake trout are decreasing one- 
third of the previous year’s catch year by year, we therefore feel the necessity of 
providing for larger deposits of fry of these fishes, and assure you that a better senti- 
ment is prevailing to-day amongst fishermen concerning the production of such fry. 
While gratefully acknowledging the good work done by the Minnesota fish com- 
mission for us as fishermen, and the kindly interest evinced by Prof. Spencer F. Baird 
in the welfare of the fishermen of Lake Superior, yet we pray you to introduce a bill 
asking for an appropriation to establish a fish hatchery, under the instruction and 
charge of the U. 8. Fish Commission, and have assured Professor Baird that we will, 
by such manual labor as may seem fitting to the U. 8S. Fish Commission or the assist- 
ants, place our apparatus and fishing plants to aid them in collecting and procuring 
eggs for this hatchery; and your petitioners will ever pray, ete. 
This petition was accompanied by a letter from Mr. C. H. Evans, of 
Duluth, in which it was stated that if the Government would build a 
