REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. XLIII 

 D. — Stations for Propagation of Carp. 



Washington. D. C. — Many improvements were made in the carp ponds 

 on the Monument Lot, in Washington, and a new and more commodious 

 office building was constructed. Congress directed the lilliug in of 

 Babcock Lake as an additional precaution looking toward the safety of 

 the Washington Monument; but as this work was ordered not to begin 

 before December, it did not interfere with the year's operations. This 

 lake was drained and the fish removed for the last time on November 

 11. The Monument Lot ponds are chiefly used for the propagation of 

 the several varieties of the German carp, but tench, golden-ide, and 

 gold-fish are also produced in limited numbers. They are in charge of 

 Dr. Rudolph Hessel. 



Two or three ponds on the Arsenal grounds in Washington are still 

 used for the rearing of scale carp. They are cared for by an employe" 

 of the Arsenal. 



E.— New Hatching stations Proposed. 



Duluth, Minn. — The following petition from the fishermen of Duluth 

 was forwarded, under date of April 18, 18SG, to the Hon. Knute Nelson, 

 member of Congress from Minnesota: 



The fishermen of Lake Superior, whose market and shipping point is at Duluth, 

 Minn., feel the need of some relief being obtained for them from the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, and a careful consideration of the facts as presented to Prof. Spencer F. 

 Baird, Commissioner, and do hereby petition you to nse your influence in securingfor 

 them the favors herein set forth. 



They have formed themselves into an association to promote their mutual interests; 

 their aims and objects beiug a better understanding of the fishing laws of States; a 

 uniform action amongst the fishermen concerning the regulation of the sizes of meshes 

 of all nets, and the enforcement of the laws concerning them. 



To secure the artificial propagation of the eggs of both whitefish and lake trout by 

 a fish hatchery. 



To tb is end we have pledged ourselves to aid, by manual labor and by the use of 

 our fishing plants and men, to procure eggs in the season for such a fish hatchery. 



Realizing that the capital invested in the fishing industry is not proving remuner- 

 ative under existing circumstances, aud realizing from our past experience that the 

 continual diminished catches both of whitefish aud lake trout are decreasing one- 

 third of the previous year's catch year by year, we therefore feel the necessity of 

 providing for larger deposits of fry of these fishes, and assure you that a better senti- 

 ment is prevailing to-day amongst fishermen concerning the production of such fry. 



While gratefully acknowledging the good work done by the Minnesota fish com- 

 mission for us as fishermen, and the kiudly interest evinced by Prof. Spencer F. Baird 

 in the welfare of the fishermen of Lake Superior, yet we pray you to introduce a bill 

 asking for an appropriation to establish a fish hatchery, under the instruction ami 

 charge of the U. S. Fish Commission, and have assured Professor Baird that we will, 

 by such manual labor as may seem fitting to the U. S. Fish Commission or the assist- 

 ants, place our apparatus and fishing plants to aid them in collecting aud procuring 

 eggs for this hatchery ; and your petitioners will ever pray, etc. 



This petition was accompanied by a letter from Mr. C. H. Evans, of 

 Duluth, in which it was stated that if the Government would build a 



