INLAND FISHERIES. 



I. The Stocking of our Ponds and Streams vnth Suitable Fresh- 



Water Fish, Through the Distribution of Eggs and Fry. 



During the past year tlie Commissioners have purchased twenty 

 thousand yearling trout, and with the generous assistance of many 

 fishermen have distributed them in various portions of the 

 State. 



BLACK BASS. 



Large- and small-mouthed black bass have been placed in vari- 

 ous ponds and rivers during the past season. Some very good 

 catches of large fish have been reported. The United States 

 Commission has kindly contributed five hundred large-mouthed 

 black bass, which have been placed in the preserve set apart for 

 the purpose of propagating this species, near Westerly. 



LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 



Three thousand fry were liberated in Mill Brook, May 9, 1898. 



II. The Collection of Definite Data Hesj^ecting the Times of 



An'ival and Departure of Various Food Fish, and the 

 Preparation of Statistics of Exportation. 



For this purpose blank forms were distributed to the shore fish- 

 ermen early in the summer, and the data thus obtained will be of 

 practical assistance in the future work of the Commission. 



An examination of the following table will show a most gratify- 

 ing increase in the shipments by freight and express from New- 

 port. Large quantities of fish are carried directlj" to the New- 

 York markets by those owning the larger " off-shore " traps, and 

 many fish are also sent to New York and other market centres 

 from Wickford and East Greenwich. 



