31 



Much has been said and written upon this subject detri- 

 mental to the work of feeding fish that are to go into wikl 

 streams. It has been suggested by many that the trout, 

 after their introduction into the stream, w^ould naturally 

 be in search of the food they had been accustomed to, while 

 in the feeding-tanks or i^onds, and before they acclimated 

 themselves to other food, would starve. 



I would ask our fish culturist friend if it is not a fact, 

 beyond satisfactory contradiction, that in nine cases out 

 of ten that the stream adjacent to any fish-culture estab- 

 lishment wdiere trout are bred, and where trout partially 

 grown are invariably escaping, does not become, in a few 

 years, better stocked than streams where perhaps 100,000 

 have been planted. 



I call to mind a stream in Michigan that was planted 

 with 500 yearling brook trout in 1887, and again in 1888 we 

 visited the stream and planted 500 more of the same 

 variety, and from my own observation at that time I saw 

 and counted twelve large trout near where we made the 

 plant. These fish were " also seen bv our own car-men as 

 well as train-men. 



I have no doubt that many of the State Commission 

 think it necessary to plant fry in order to satisfy their con- 

 stituency, as applicants with whom I have corresponded, 

 when we notify them that their application has been passed 

 upon and an allotment of 100 or 500 trout have been 

 assigned to their stream, seem to feel insulted, and expect 

 from 3,000 to 25,000. This w^e have no difficulty in over- 

 coming, after they have received the fish and have noticed 

 the size as they are planted. 



In this connection it would, perhaps, be well to give a 

 slight description of our§)lan of rearing trout at the Nortli- 

 ville establishment. Not that we think it any better plan 

 than others, or any different than many, but that it may 

 bring out discussions at this meeting that may be valuable 

 to ail. 



