PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE 



SYSTEMATIC STOCKING OF 



STATE WATERS 



By David L. Belding, 



Biologist, Massachusetts Department of Fisheries 



and Game. 



Introduction. — This paper considers one phase of fish 

 propagation, that broad subject which forms the ultimate 

 aim of the activities of the American Fisheries Society. 

 Its purpose is to sound a note of warning, not necessarily 

 of alarm, to persons who are satisfied with the present 

 conditions and methods of fish propagation, by pointing 

 out certain important facts which have been overlooked 

 in the past, but which are essential for the best develop- 

 ment of our inland waters. 



Although its nature renders the subject of general in- 

 terest, the facts are presented solely from the standpoint 

 of the State Fish Commission. The paper deals with the 

 selection of suitable grounds for stocking, and the text of 

 its message to each state is "know thyself." Unless a 

 state fish commission has a thorough knowledge of its 

 waters, the environment in which the fry and fingerling 

 fish are to be placed, promiscuous stocking will eventually 

 lead to considerable loss. Extensive hatchery production 

 increases rather than decreases this error. A systematic 

 method of stocking, based upon an accurate knowledge of 

 the waters to be stocked and a satisfactory method of dis- 

 tribution are essential for the success of a state commis- 

 sion, and form the basis for the entire system of fish 

 propagation. 



Several years ago it was evident in Massachusetts that 

 the haphazard methods of the past should be abolished 

 and that a definite system of stocking should be adopted, 

 in order to obtain the best financial results. Under intel- 

 ligent stocking, whereby fish are put into waters suitable 

 for their best development, it may be estimated that the 

 production of the inland waters of Massachusetts may 



