THE WHITEFISH PRODUCTION OF THE GREAT LAKES, 695 
held in crates by the fish culturist, and used when the females come on, nearly every 
egg is saved to be turned loose later as a lively young fish. Our tally sheets which are 
on file in the Fish Commissioner’s office show these statements to be true. So I do 
not think we ought to compare the brook trout with the whitefish in this discussion 
at all. 
Mr. FrYER. I would like to ask one question, which is, What was the condition of 
the whitefish fisheries of the Great Lakes say sixty years ago, before there were many of 
the mischiefs that exist now, such as pollutions and pound nets and other wickednesses 
on the part of man, and when also there was no such thing as protected reproduction? 
One other question on the point of the illustration given us from Colorado. I am 
in doubt whether the speaker from that State wishes us to infer that the native trout 
had died out because there was no protected reproduction in its case, or whether we 
are to assume that it had succumbed to the superior numbers and greater voracity of 
the alien fish imported into its water. 
Mr. Pau Nortu (Ohio). I do not go back sixty years, but Mr. Fryer would know 
the difference in conditions on Lake Erie now as compared with sixty years ago if he 
could realize that we have in Lake Erie on the American side a fleet of nearly 300 tugs 
with 6 to 8 miles of gill nets to the tug. Hecould appreciate that, if the same conditions 
which existed sixty years ago with regard to replenishing the lake were present to-day, 
we would not have a fish of that kind in Lake Erie. 
The PRESIDENT. Now, in regard to the question about the native trout. Mr. 
Thompson will reply to that question. 
Mr. THompson. I intended my hearers to infer that it was owing to lack of artificial 
propagation that the native trout had died out to so great an extent. I will state that 
we have in recent years commenced an extensive work with the natives, with the inten- 
tion of again making them a factor in our streams. The lake Mr. Titcomb mentioned 
this morning, where the fish circulate around the island in countless thousands, is one 
of our native trout-spawning fields. It is about 200 acres in extent and has yielded 
over 6,000,000 eggs in a single season, this quantity being limited merely by our exist- 
ing facilities. ¢ 
[The discussion of the whitefish question terminated at this point but was briefly 
taken up again on the following day.] 
The PresIDENT. Mr. Fullerton has just spoken to me about a matter of general 
misunderstanding in regard to the whitefish question, and it seems to me to be of suffi- 
cient importance to be brought again before the attention of the congress. I will ask 
him kindly to make that statement made to me a moment ago. 
Mr. FULLERTON (Minnesota). A misunderstanding has arisen in regard to the open 
season of whitefish, that we had the discussion on yesterday. I have talked with several 
gentlemen who did not understand the position that we took in regard to letting the 
fishermen fish in the closed season. 
We did not for a moment contemplate letting any fishermen fish in the open season, 
except it be under the jurisdiction and under the control of the state or federal authori- 
ties, both of Canada and of the United States. I hope this explanation will clear away 
a misunderstanding that existed, that the fishermen are allowed to go to the spawning 
beds and fish at will. That is not at all intended; that would not be tolerated for a 
moment. They must do their fishing and taking of the eggs only under the control of 
the authorities. 
The PRESIDENT. The chair requests, then, that those who are here will explain to 
any members who are interested in this problem that this explanation has been made, 
because I can see how it is perfectly clear to those who are connected with our national 
hatcheries in the United States. It is so clear, indeed, that they did not emphasize it in 
the discussion yesterday afternoon. 
