88 . U. §. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
ing States. If such a course were to be generally followed, the re- 
sults would most certainly be disastrous. If a hatchery addressed to 
the propagation of a commercial species is successful in maintaining 
the fishery against the inroads of market fishing in the region cov- 
ered by its activities, it may be fairly classed as efficient. If its 
annual output is only just sufficient to accomplish this purpose, it 
would be suicidal to divert any portion of it to other waters. Most 
of the States object, and with justice, through their fisheries authori- 
ties to the shipment outside their boundaries of eggs taken in their 
waters or the fry produced from such eggs. 
The attitude of the fishermen is also a consideration. In most 
cases the bureau is to a large extent dependent on them for its egg 
collections. Speaking generally, the fishermen are deeply interested 
and render hearty cooperation. They watch the work with jealous 
interest, and any large or unwarranted diversion of eggs or fry would 
meet with strong opposition from them, and if persisted in would 
certainly result in refusal of the fishermen to deliver their eggs to 
the hatcheries. While the bureau’s hatcheries are operated for the 
general good and the public is benefited by the increased food sup- 
ply, the local fishermen are perhaps most intimately interested, and 
they should render every possible assistance to the hatcheries. Cer- 
tain States now have laws whereby. fishermen are given permits 
to fish during the closed season, with the restriction that all mature 
eges shall be delivered to an agent of the bureau or the State for 
propagation. As the fishes are the property of the State, such a 
requirement is held to be just. 
On the other hand, if a hatchery of the bureau succeeds in obtain- 
ing large numbers of eggs, more than are required for local waters, 
an intelligent distribution of the output to other waters is then 
permissible and even desirable. Under the most favorable condi- 
tions the results of natural spawning can not be expected to equal 
from 75 to 80 per cent of the numbers of young fishes put out by an 
efficient hatchery. Nature undoubtedly provides for a rather wide 
distribution of young fishes from natural reproduction. It is there- 
fore not always advisable to limit the distribution of the output of 
a hatchery beyond reasonable restrictions, because if more young 
fishes are placed in a limited area than the waters can support they 
can not be expected to produce proportionate returns in marketable ~ 
fish. 
The following are among the points to be considered in connec- 
tion with the distribution of the commercial species in new waters: 
(1) Do the waters under consideration support a commercial fishery ? 
(2) Are the laws adequate for the protection of the fishes? (3) 
What are the conditions regarding dams or other barriers and pol- 
lution from trade or other forms of waste? (4) What is the atti- 
tude of local fishermen, and will they be willing to cooperate in the 
collection of eggs for the work of artificial propagation ? 
RESULTS OF PLANTING FISHES IN INTERIOR WATERS. 
By E. C. FEARNow, 
Superintendent of Fish Distribution. 
The question has frequently been asked whether the bureau’s work 
in stocking streams and ponds in the interior States is producing 
satisfactory results. While the numerous letters received from ap- 
