

Belding. — Stocking State Waters 147 



the various fish, with which it had been stocked in the 

 past, the other a typewritten description, comprising the 

 information obtained from the wardens. 



Information upon each brook was compiled on the fol- 

 lowing plan : 



(1) The collection of all names, general and local, 

 under which the brook is known, is essential for reference 

 to locate petitions for stocking, and answer requests for 

 information. 



(2) Tie location of the brook by towns or sections of 

 a town is necessary for identification, as two brooks with 

 the same name often may be found in the same town. The 

 brook is then charted properly and named on the U. S. 

 Geological Survey maps, which are cut into small num- 

 bered maps of a suitable size for filing with the cards. 



(3) The source, whether in spring, swamp, bog, pond 

 or elsewhere is noted ; likewise into what body of water 

 the brook flovs. 



(4) The length and direction of its flow; the width 

 and depth of the stream at certain places along its course ; 

 the character of the land through which it flows, i.e., 

 meadow, tilled land, pasture, swamp, hard wood, etc.; 

 the rate of flow, volume and clearness of water, the pres- 

 ence of springs and character of the bed. 



(5) The abundance or scarcity of vegetation, with the 

 names of the various water weeds known to the examiner. 



(6) The nature and character of any pollution, 

 whether sewage, sawdust or manufacturing wastes, and 

 a description of the source of this material. 



(7) It is important to know whether the land border- 

 ing the brook is posted and the public denied the right of 

 fishing, in order that no private brook may be stocked 

 by the state. 



(8) Information as to whether the stream dries up 

 during the summer is an important consideration in 

 stocking. 



(9) The species of fish in the brook, the results from 

 past stocking, if any, and the popularity of the stream 

 with fishermen. 



