66 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



lines were drawn somewhat closer, and when in doubt as to whether a 

 fish was spawning- for the first time or not it Avas put aside without 

 takinj>' the eggs. Asa result the loss on each lot of eggs was from 20 

 to 50 per cent less than on lots taken from the same places last year. 

 Undoubtedly a very much larger percentage of eggs would produce 

 strong, healthy fry were it possible to secure the eggs from wild fish 

 without confining them for a considerable period, during which time 

 it is necessary to handle them over and over again; but the conditions 

 under which the collection of eggs is made in Colorado are such that 

 there is no other practicable way, and most of the wild fish must be 

 caught early in the season and penned until ripe. 



After the eggs were eyed 675,000 were shipped on assignments, and 

 in every instance the assignments reached their destination in good 

 condition. One case of 25,000 eggs was sent to Tokyo, Japan, Avith a 

 loss of 12 per cent en route and a subsequent loss of 2,000 during the 

 period of incubation. 



Although the total number of eggs taken was somewhat less than 

 the nuin})er taken last year, the percentage of fr}^ hatched was greater 

 than last year, and the number of fish available for distribution propor- 

 tionall)" greater. On Maj' 20, when all the brook-trout eggs had been 

 hatched, there were on hand 2,664,440 fry, of which 1,087,115 belonged 

 to the Commission and 1,577,325 to the parties who had furnished 

 the eggs. Between this time and the end of the fiscal 3^ear there was 

 a loss of 6i per cent of the fry belonging to the Commission; 745,000 

 were planted, and there remained on hand 271,000. 



Of the QS adult Loch Leven trout on hand at the beginning of the 

 year 33 died, and during the months of November and December 

 30,600 eggs were obtained from the remainder, from which 18,500 

 fry Avere hatched; 3,000 of the fry were distributed in June, and tho 

 balance on hand at the close of the year amounted to 2,450. The 

 eggs were of inferior quality, as the parent fish were past their prime. 

 The introduction of the Loch Leven trout has not proved A'er}' suc- 

 cessful, and its propagation will be discontinued. 



Of 1,525 two-year-old rainboAV trout on hand July 1, VMM, ♦175 died 

 and 200 were shipped on assignment, leaving 650 on hand at the close 

 of the 3'ear. There were also 6,790 fry in the rearing-ponds, of which 

 5,(100 were shipped and 1,790 died. During the months of P\»bruary 

 and ]Marcn, 109,800 eggs Avere collected from Ridgway's ponds, 50,000 

 were acquired from the station at Manchester. Iowa, and 100,000 

 were purchased from J. P. Morrill, Verdi, Nev. These eggs produced 

 227,075 fr}^ of Avhich 160,000 Avere distributed during the month of 

 June, 41,550 were returned to the owner of the ponds, the balance 

 being lost. 



In FebruarA^ 25,000 lake-trout eggs were received from the Dulutli 

 Station, and hatched with a loss of 900. The fry from these eggs did 

 not do Awll, 16,<]00 of the young dying l)efor(^ the close of the year. 



Out of 76 three-year-old grayling in stock at the beginning of the 



