115 



to make the planted waters iu a measure, at least, 

 self-sustaining, and so far the Legislature has not seen 

 fit to grant to the commission the power it seeks to 

 close such waters for a time. 



The great number of applications for fish of 

 various kinds are carefully examined by the commis- 

 sion, and those for private waters are thrown out. If 

 applicants describe waters that are unsuitable for the 

 fish asked for, their applications are also thrown out or 

 filled with fish suitable for the water in question. The 

 commission has issued a circular, a copy of which is 

 sent to each person applying for fish, describing the 

 proper wa}' to handle and care for fry until they are 

 deposited. 



At the time the table from which I have quoted, 

 showing the number of fish applied for, was made up, 

 1,136,075 black bass were asked for. This is a fish, as 

 every one here knows, that is not yet hatched arti- 

 ficially, and the state can supply them only by netting 

 waters in one part of the state to supply waters in 

 another, or by purchase from waters without the state. 

 Last year with an expenditure of $500 the commission 

 purchased and caught for distribution 1,810 adult 

 black bass, and 18,300 fingerlings about two inches 

 long, a greater number than ever before distributed by 

 the state in one year. The law of the state opens the 

 black bass fishing on May 30; and as black bass 

 spawn all through the month of June and the brood 

 of young bass require the care of the parent fish for 

 some time after they are hatched, it seems like wasting 

 at the bung and filling at the spigot to expect the 

 commission to keep up the supply of black bass with 

 the few that they can buy. In fact, I have suggested 

 to the commissioners, informally, that until the close 

 time is changed to cover the breeding season it might 

 be wase to distribute no black bass whatever, for no 

 commission can perform the impossible, and 18,000 



