18 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
fry, as well as 426,000 young brook trout derived from eggs pur- 
chased from commercial fish-culturists, 48,500 steelhead trout fry, 
and 23,500 landlocked salmon fry, were distributed to applicants in 
Minnesota and surrounding States. The eggs of the two last-named 
species were transferred to Duluth from other stations of the Bureau. 
Lake-trout eggs for stocking the Michigan hatcheries were ob- 
tained as usual from Lakes Michigan and Huron, the spawn-taking 
season extending from October 18 to November 25. Field stations 
established at the customary points were manned so far as practicable 
by permanent employees, and experienced men were temporarily em- 
ployed to assist in gathering spawn on the large fishing tugs, while 
arrangements were made with fishermen operating gasoline boats to 
take the eggs themselves. The weather throughout the season was 
stormy and at times the wind was of such velocity that for periods of 
two to five days it was not possible to attend the nets. Notwithstand- 
ing this handicap the season was one of the most successful ever ex- 
perienced, the aggregate egg collections being 66,424,000, nearly 
14,000,000 in excess of the previous year. Of this stock 28,864,000 
green and eyed eggs were used to fill applications; the remainder 
were incubated at the Charlevoix, Alpena, and Sault Ste. Marie 
hatcheries, and the fry were liberated in the immediate vicinity of 
these stations soon after hatching. 
The gathering of whitefish spawn for the Michigan stations covered 
a period of two months, beginning October 14. Field stations for 
the purpose were located, as heretofore, in Detroit River, Saginaw 
Bay, and the upper part of Lake Michigan. Owing to unfavorable 
natural conditions, the work was only partially successful. Spawn- 
ing fish were notably scarce everywhere, and especially was this true 
in the Saginaw Bay district, ordinarily accounted one of the most 
prolific sources for whitefish eggs. The work in this field was also 
hampered by violent winds and ice formation, which made it im- 
possible for some of the fishermen to attend their nets during as long 
a period as nine days near the height of the season. The whole Sagi- 
naw Bay field is so much exposed that successful whitefish work is 
dependent almost entirely on weather conditions. 
The former prolific fishing ground at Grassy Island, in Detroit 
River, which has been available for the Bureau’s operations since 
1899, has now been destroyed by the dredging operations of the 
Government for the opening of a deep waterway. At Belle Isle, 
the only remaining whitefish field in this river, fishing was conducted 
under the supervision of the State warden, who sold the stripped fish 
to defray the expense of his work. 
The following table shows the field stations operated in Michigan 
waters, the period of operations, and the number of whitefish eggs 
secured at each: 
Locality. Season. Number. 
Belleisle,:Detroit Rivers... 222522. -ss2 2s) een a cae eee ee Oct. 25-Dee. 8....- 27,340, 000 
Charity Island, Saginaw Bay......- Reo: Meade Cie ene eee Oct. 14-Dee. 2.....| 26,280,000 
Bay Port, Saginaw Bay.....-....---.--- ...-| Nov. 9-Nov. 21...- i 
Naubinway, Lake Michigan.............-- Nov. 16-Dee. 2....| 10,680, 000 
St. James and Charlevoix, Lake Michigan. . Dec. 1-Dee. 18..-.| 35,000, 000 
Totallij5cfe es bicawetec find oe ees Raa eet Bik Ree So ee aera 99, 480, 000 
