28 RPJPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



temporarily', and as a result the Gloucester station was enabled to dis- 

 tribute 97,200,000 lobster fry, the largest product of this species in 

 the history of the station. While the mortality among- the lobsters in 

 the pound was great, the unusually severe Ayinter was particularly 

 unfavorable for the experiment, conducted as it was in a small shallow 

 pound. Persons in Portland and Boston who impound lobsters on the 

 coast of Maine reported an unusually heavy loss in stock and attributed 

 it to the intensel}' cold and stormy weather. 



More than three-fourths of the lobsters impounded for this experi- 

 ment were of Nova Scotia origin. During the spring months the 

 Maine lobster dealers send both sailing and steam smacks to Nova 

 Scotia to secure cargoes, and this work is continued until June, when 

 interi'upted ])y the close season in Nova Scotia. Upoji arrival on the 

 Maine coast nearly all of the lobsters are impounded and held for the 

 high prices of the summer trade, and as they la}^ their eggs while 

 confined in the warm water of these inclosures, large numbers of 

 egg-bearing lobsters are taken out. The stock for this experiment 

 was obtained at the time the impounded stock of the fishermen was 

 transferred preparatory to being marketed. 



In making the collection of lake-trout eggs in Lakes Superior and 

 Michigan the extremely cold weather and high winds prevailing the 

 greater part of the season frequently prevented the lifting of nets for 

 several days in succession, and considerabl}' reduced the quantit}^ of 

 eggs collected. Many of the eggs became water hardened before they 

 were fertilized, while others were frosted in the spawning tanks. 

 Another obstacle to the success usuallj^ attending this work was the 

 interference of the Michigan game warden, who claimed the right to 

 supervise the Bureau's operations during the close season. It is the 

 practice to employ tugs, engaged in commercial fishing, for the pur- 

 pose of collecting spawning fish in these waters, and in the controversy 

 the work of these tugs was interrupted for several days. The question 

 was appealed to the courts, which enjoined further interference on the 

 part of the game warden; but the time lost was sufficient to materiall}^ 

 affect the quantity of eggs taken. 



It is necessary to record also that the output of white-fish on the 

 Great Lakes was much below that of the two previous years. On the 

 other hand, this shortage is largely compensated for in the fact that 

 the output of pike perch exceeded that of any previous year in the 

 history of the Bureau, Put-in Bay station alone producing 214,275,000 

 eggs and hy. 



The work of propagating the sniall-mouthcd black bass, begun last 

 yeai', has been continued experimental!}^ at several stations with very 

 encouraging results, and it is believed it will be possible another 3''ear 

 to meet all demands for this very desirable game fish. Its propaga- 

 tion has now been taken up at NorthA'ille, Mich.; White Sulphur 



