REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 9 



The number of cod fr}^ produced at these stations was nearly 

 100,000,000 greater than in 1909, the greatest gain being at the Glouces- 

 ter station, where more eggs than could be handled were obtained from 

 fishing grounds in the vicinity. 



. The collection of flatfish eggs was the largest ever made by the 

 Bureau, numbering 1,195,911,000, from which 930,755,000 fry were 

 hatched and distributed. At Boothbay Harbor, where this work 

 has only recently been undertaken, the output was increased 100 per 

 cent over that of the previous year. 



Other marine species propagated included pollock at Gloucester, 

 haddock at Boothbay Harbor, and mackerel and sea bass at Woods 

 Hole. 



In view of the steady decline in the shad fishery in rivers tributary 

 to the Atlantic for the past fifteen years, it is gratifying to be able 

 to record an increased egg collection of this species and a correspond- 

 ing increase in the output of fry. The results are attributable partly 

 to recently enacted legislation regulating the methods of fishing in 

 the Albemarle Sound and partly to an exceedingly early spring, 

 which started the run of fish in the Potomac River before the pound 

 nets could be equipped, each factor permitting a larger number of 

 fish than usual to ascend to the spawning grounds. 



On the Susquehanna River, at one time the Bureau's most produc- 

 tive field, there was no improvement over recent years, emphasizing 

 anew the destructive influences of unregulated fisheries and the neces- 

 sity for concerted action by the States concerned if any practical 

 results are to be obtained in the rehabilitation of this important 

 fishery. 



White and yellow perch were again produced in considerable 

 numbers at the station on the Susquehanna River, and on the Potomac 

 River the output of yellow perch exceeded all previous records, due to 

 the enlargement of facilities for propagating the species. 



Owing to the passage of a state law prohibiting the capture of 

 striped bass by commercial fishermen during the spawning season, 

 the Bureau was unable to secure eggs of this species at its California 

 station in 1909, and as this law remains in force no attempt was 

 made to conduct operations in 1910. The prospects are good for 

 effective work with the striped bass in this field, and its propagation 

 will be resumed in the event of a change in the law. 



As in previous years, most of the brook-trout eggs handled at 

 the fisheries stations are purchased from dealers, this course having 

 proved more economical in most sections of the country than reliance 

 upon collections from waters available for the purpose. At present 

 only two stations — one in New England and one in Colorado — 

 obtain their supplies of eggs from wild fish, and the fields heretofore 



