25 



If the prices seem enormous now, it must be remembered 

 that a hatchery that had 100,000 eggs ranked among the 

 largest. 



Mr. Collins had the most spawning fish and had shown a 

 disposition to cut the prices. I proposed to Dr. Slack to 

 form a " trades union " to keep up prices, and this was our 

 only object in forming the American Fish-culturists' Associ- 

 ation, which is now the society which meets to-day. At the 

 first meeting, our ideas broadened and ran away with us, and 

 the " trades union " never was formed. 



Fortunately, I have every report of this society, from the 

 first to the last, bound in accessible volumes, and doubt if 

 outside the Smithsonian Institution there are two other full 

 setts. At any time that the Association should need refer- 

 ence to these volumes, I will be glad to be of service in quot- 

 ing from them. 



Very truly yours, 



Fred Mather. 



NOTES ON TROUT WORK IN MICHIGAN. 

 \Vm. a. Butler, Jr., Detroit, Mich. 



In the earlier days of the Michigan Fish Commission — 

 which was organized in 1873 — ^^ very careful attention was 

 given to the raising of Brook-Trout, and this fish occupied 

 only a small share of the time of the Commissioners, who 

 devoted themselves principally to the propagation of white 

 fish, and a few other varieties of fish that were by nature en- 

 tirely foreign to the waters of our state. 



The fish hatchery was erected at Crystal Springs, about 

 two miles from Pokagon Station, on the Michigan Central 

 Railroad, in Cass County, on the grounds of The Methodist 

 Camp Meeting Association, and here the Commissioners be- 

 gan work with a vigor and devotion that were worthy of 

 better results than they obtained. Here all the work was 



