[7] PROPAGATION OF WHITEFISH AT NORTHVILLE, MICH. 559 
appear. Instructions were left with Mr. Wiers to keep a close watch, 
and report by telegram the first appearance of mature spawners. 
Meanwhile, correspondence with some of the leading fishermen of Al- 
pena elicited information from which the conclusion was reached that 
jarge numbers of eggs of the whitefish could be secured at that point, 
although no precedent for this conclusion had been established by pre- 
vious operations of private parties or State commissions. The fisher- 
men, too, here, unlike many at the islands, were not only willing but 
anxious to render all reasonable aid to the State and United States com- 
missions in their efforts to propagate the whitefish. 
Large numbers of the lake trout (Salmo namaycush) are also caught 
at this point, but the fishermen, claiming they are a deadly enemy of 
the whitefish, a much more valuable fish, strenuously object to, and will 
not permit, so far as they have the power to prevent, the collection of 
their spawn for the purpose of perpetuating the species. But this claim 
of the fishermen is not supported by the investigations of the late Mr. 
J. W. Milner (Report of United States Commissioner of Fish and Fish- 
eries, 1872~73, pages 38 and 39), and it is altogether probable that the 
destruction of the young whitefishes to any great extent by the trout 
exists only in the imaginations of the fishermen. Nevertheless, the 
opposition of the latter, including the boat and net employés, as well 
aS proprietors, is an element to be conciliated by the spawn-gatherer, 
as the net-lifters have it in their power, and with but little effort on 
their part, to greatly increase or decrease the numerous difficulties 
against: which the operator must always contend under the most favor- 
able circumstances, it being an easy matter to carelessly or accidentally 
(2) overturn the pans or pails of spawn when throwing the fish from the 
pound-nets into the small open pound-boats, or likewise equally as easy 
to assist by throwing the spawners near the operator and avoid cover- 
ing the same with subsequent “dips” of other kinds of fish. 
Notwithstanding the favorable outlook for collecting spawn of the 
whitefish at Alpena, it was thought best not to place teco much conti- 
dence or reliance in this direction, as its remoteness and inaccessibility 
as compared with the Lake Erie islands were sufficient reasons for de- 
pending mainly on the latter to furnish the desired supply. Accord- 
ingly but one man was stationed at the former place, Mr. A. W. Root, 
who was instructed to engage the aid of one or more assistants, as cir- 
cumstances might require. 
At the time of the first visit to this place, November 3, the gill-net- 
ters were catching many whitefish, but no ripe spawners were found. 
Leaving operations here under the immediate supervision of Mr. Root, 
I returned to Northville, arriving November 6. Arrangements were 
made with the porters of the Bay City line of boats to receive the boxes 
of spawn of Mr. Root and deliver the same to messengers previously 
sent on to meet them at Bay City, who would of course bring them on 
to Northville with all possible dispatch. While at Alpena word came 
