[5 J OPERATIONS AT NORTHVILLE AND ALPENA. 155 



Shipments of white fish egfia from the NorlhvUle Niation, il'c. — Continuod. 



The distribution of the young whitefisli by car was not attended 

 with such uniformly good results as in previous years, through no fault, 

 however, of the superintendent, Mr. Moore, or of his assistants. The 

 car made twelve trips with whitefish, in nine of which no losses worthy 

 of mention occurred. On three trips, however, Mr. Moore reported 

 quite heavy losses, and attributed them in part to the overcrowding of 

 fish that had been kept at the hatchery until they had become weak, 

 and partly to the use of air-tight cans. 



It is undoubtedly true that there should be no delay in the planting 

 of whitefish hatched as late as April, as the yelk-sac is so nearly ab- 

 sorbed that it disappears altogether in a few days. It is also equally 

 true that large, open cans are safer and better for large shipments than 

 the closed ones, although the former require much more labor and at- 

 tention than the latter. Mr. Moore reported the following experiment: 



" Tried one can without cover, and circulated water same as in other 

 cans. Found fish in better condition than in the closed cans, although 

 twice as many fish were in the open can." 



The whitefish hatched at the Alpena station were planted in excel- 

 lent condition, without any loss in the house or in transit, being near 

 the planting grounds, which are easily accessible by water, except a 

 portion of the trips to Marquette. The fish were carried in large, open 

 cans, and changes of fresh lake water were given them by connecting 

 a hose with the steam-pumps. 



