260 AGEICULTURAL REPORT. 



neigliborliood start for them and cat up all tliey can find, wliile the 

 parents tliemselves are not backward about taking their fair propor- 

 tion. Only a few out of every thousand escape being eaten. I have 

 found three thousand eggs in the stomach of one fish. Of those which 

 remain, by far the largest i)art are covered up by sediment, or fall 

 into places vvhere there is no change of water, and never x^rodiice fish. 



The method of artificial impregnation and hatching i:>ursued with the 

 white-fish eggs is very ranch like that in use for the eggsof the brook-trout. 

 So many arc taken at one time and in one pan that, as a measure of pre- 

 caution, the pan is gently shaken at frequent intervals, in order to secure 

 contact of the milt with all tlie eggs. This motion prevents the adhe- 

 sion to the pan and to each other which is seen in the newly-impreg- 

 nated eggs of the brook-trout. But, even if left at rest, the eggs do not 

 exhibit the same tendency to stick as the trout-eggs. After being 

 washed they are laid in gravel troughs, or on trays similar to those 

 used for hatching salmon-trout. (M. G. Holton has invented a new 

 hatching-box, for hatching white-fish, that is a great success.) For im- 

 mediate transportation packing in moss is the best method, but is not 

 practicable 5 and the eggs are either carried in water or brought " dry," 

 that is, on trays arranged in layers in a pail or box, and without the 

 use of water or any pacldng material. If jars are avoided, and a low 

 and even temperature can be preserved, they will very well bear dry 

 transportation. The period of incubation is about the same as that of 

 the trout and salmon, being about sixty-five days at a temperature of 

 forty-five degrees. 



Yv''hen the young fish break out of. the sljell very fine wire-cloth is 

 required to keep them. The eggs are only about one-eighth of an inch 

 in diameter, and the young fish when first hatched about five-eighths 

 of an inch long. The umbilical sac is small, and in about ten or twelve 

 days it apparently disappears. The fry have no period of helplessness 

 like the young of the trout and salmon, but commence to swim as soon 

 as they emerge from the shell. These facts show that it is a good va- 

 riety for propagation in large quantities, inasmuch as it is able, like the 

 shad, to take care of itself at once, and does not need the thirty or 

 forty days' care required by the brook-trout, salmon, and salmon-trout. 

 As soon as set free it heads for deep water, where it is in comparative 

 safety and finds food enough for its wants. 



With regard to the question of food, the small fish live on the minute 

 forms of animal life found in abundance in the lakes. The experiment 

 of raising the young fish on artificial food has been tried several times, 

 but never successfully. The reason seems to be simply that the food 

 cannot be finely enough divided. The young fish is almost transpar- 

 ent ; and, by keeping a few in a glass jar or tank, you may see them 

 take the food, may see it in their stom.achs, and see the droppings pass- 

 ing from them. A few may be thus fed very easily ; but such feeding- 

 is not ]>racticable on a large scale, nor is it from any reason necessar3\ 



Their growth varies of course, but they may be said to be of age 

 when three years old, although they will increase in size until four or 

 live years old. In the lakes their average size is about two and one- 

 half pounds. 



The question may be asked, Yv^hat waters are suitable for white-fish, 

 and should be stocked with them ? They require deep, clear water, with 

 gravelly or rocky bottom. These conditions are fnlfilled in all the large 

 lakes, and also in very many of the inland lakes. For instance, in New 

 York State alone, we have six hundred and forty-seven lakes, of which 

 at least one hundred are well adapted to the growth of this fish. Of 



