American Fisheries Society. 191 



t)ut was a basis on which to make up reports, because we did not 

 wish to individnalize th.e age of the fislies from each of the sta- 

 tions. We had to adopt the same plan in designating the year- 

 lings or fingerlings resulting from the black, spotted or rain- 

 bows, Rock}' Mountains, etc., taken in the spring. 



General Bryant: You cannot keep a register of births in 

 these cases. 



Mr, Eavenel : It would be impossible in distributing a 

 billion four hundred million fish to indicate the age of the fish. 



Mr. Atkins : However, the salmonidae are nearly all of them 

 hatched in the spring and would be a year old the next spring, 

 and not until then. 



Mr. Titeomb : In the last report the fish have been classified 

 under one column of fingerlings and yearlings. That brings the 

 fish from six months to a year old in the same categor\^ in regard 

 to distribution. 



Mr. Atkins : I think in no other animal is it considered the 

 rule to reckon the age from the time of conception rather than 

 the time of birth. (Laughter). 



Mr. Eavenel : We admit that. 



