REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



17 



1889-1)0. 



During tliis year the fish-cultnrul work embraced the propagation of 

 the xVthiutic aiul laiulloeked salmons and the brook and rainbow tronts, 

 the Swiss hilve trout, the saibling, and the Loch Lcven trout. The 

 adult Atlantic salmon, i)urchased jointly by the United States and the 

 State of jNIaine in the summer of lH8t), AlO iu number, were inclosed at 

 Dead Brook, and in the following October, the commencement of the 

 spawning season, liDU were recovered. Of these, ISG were females, which 

 produced 1,904^,000 eggs. In February, 1800, there remained l,73o,()75 

 good eggs, which were divided between the subscribers, Maine receiv- 

 ing (100,000 and the Uuited States 1,137,150. Of these latter, 800,000 

 were consigned to various State and other hatcheries, and 247,150 re- 

 tained for hatching and subsecpient liberation in local waters. 



Besides the Atlantic salmon eggs produced there were received and 

 developed eggs as follows: 3,500 of tiie saibling and 7,400 of the Swiss 

 lake trout, i^resented by Ilerr Max von dem Borne, of Germany; 1S,;;00 

 of the Loch Leveu trout, transferred from the Northville Station, Mich- 

 igan, and 50,300 of the laudlocked salmon from the Schoodic Station, 

 which were hatched aiul reared for the stations at Green Lake and 

 Craig Brook. To accommodate the fry anticipated from this large num- 

 ber of eggs from June till October, 1890, 100 new troughs were built, 

 increasing their total to 103. These trou£;hs were 8 inches deep, llii| 

 inches wide, and 10 feet long, with a capacity of 2,000 fry. Only 1 1 of 

 the troughs were under shelter, but those in the open air were provided 

 Avith double lids, which form a peak when closed. 



The incubation of the eggs was without event until the yolk stage 

 was reached. May, 1890, when they were attacked by a disease hitherto 

 unknown here and by which 30 per cent of the stock was destroyed in 

 sixty days. The epidemic first api)eared among the Atlantic salmon, 

 but ultimately affected, and with greater fatality, the landlocked sal- 

 mon, saibling, and Swiss lake trout. Prior to the appearance of the 

 disease the fry had been counted and set apart in lots of 1,000 to 1:,000, 

 and while some lots were wholly destroyed, others were but partially, 

 and still others escaped entirely. 



The rearing operations were successful. Of the original stock of 

 144,256 fish, chiefly of the i)revious year's hatching, 113,139 were on 

 hand October and ISTovembei-, 1889, when most of them were liberated 

 in local waters. The percentages saved are shown below : 



Kiud. 



Atlantic salmon . . . 



Do 



Landlocked salmon 



Do 



Rainbow trout 



Brook trout 



Total 



H. Mis. 113- 



Age at start. 



One year.., 

 In tlin v.<^g 

 (Jne vfUT-. 

 In thcccf; 

 ...do..... 

 ...do 



