WORK OF THE PENNSYLVANIA FISHERIES 

 DEPARTMENT. 



By N. R. Buller, 

 State Commissioner of Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 



Efficiency and economy are the greatest factors in suc- 

 cess in the business world and they should be the greatest 

 factors in the work of the officials that have charge of 

 the fishing interests of the Government and the various 

 States. Efficiency and economy are only attained by the 

 use of the best possible methods and the best contrived 

 plans. It was in view of this that the Department of 

 Fisheries of Pennsylvania decided that the way to get 

 the best results at the least expenditure of money, was 

 to concentrate the work on a few plants and make those 

 complete in every detail and up to the highest type of 

 the requirements of fish lore. 



There were eight hatcheries in Pennsylvania when the 

 present Commissioner assumed control. One of these had 

 been badly torn up by floods, and at another the water 

 supply and the situation unfitted it for the work it was 

 called upon to do. It was decided, therefore, with the 

 advice of the Board of Fishery Commission, to abandon 

 these two hatcheries and concentrate the work upon 

 the other six, using each one for the propagation of the 

 fish to which it is peculiarly fitted. 



Engineers were employed to lay out the grounds and 

 to draw up plans showing the capabilities of each hatch- 

 ery in the way of the ponds adapted to its water supply. 

 Architects were employed to draw up plans for hatching 

 houses, to be of brick, concrete and steel with an absence 

 of wood except in the window frames. This will make 

 them almost indestructible and obviate constant repairs. 

 The dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

 demands that the buildings and the hatcheries shall be 

 of a substantial and ornamental type that will make them 

 a credit to the State. 



From these plans the Department, during the past 

 year, has gradually worked out the solution of the prob- 



