148 American Fisheries Society 



(10) The opinion of the warden as to whether the 

 brook is worth stocking, with what kind and size of fish, 

 and what places afford the most desirable points to liber- 

 ate the fish. 



The method of obtaining information recommends it- 

 self for its cheapness, the entire expense consisting of 

 the salary and traveling expenss of the person compiling 

 the information, and for clerical services. Nearly every 

 state employs a force of deputies, who are available for 

 collecting this information, and a record of its brooks can 

 be conveniently and cheaply obtained in a similar man- 

 ner. Likewise, the same plan may be applied to the ponds, 

 instead of the more complete examination previously 

 described in this paper. In any event, it suggests a con- 

 venient plan for compiling practical information upon 

 public waters. 



The records, it is true, show frequent errors, and in 

 many particulars are incomplete, owing to lack of detailed 

 information on certain streams, but these gaps can be 

 filled in the future, since each warden is supplied with 

 duplicate records in order that he may correct or add to 

 the information at hand. In this way ha will know 

 exactly the information on file at the central office, and 

 can receive shipments of fish or definite orders without 

 any mistakes arising from a confusion of rames. It is 

 believed that the compilation of these records will be a 

 great aid to Massachusetts in carrying forward a definite 

 and intelligent policy of stocking. Not only will the state 

 department be in a position to dispense information to 

 numerous fishermen, but it can more readily classify the 

 petitions for stocking. 



But the program for the future considers a broader ap- 

 plication than a mere bureau of knowledge. It aims to 

 utilize this information so that a plan of systematic stock- 

 ing may be devised whereby the commission will no 

 longer wait, as is now often the case, until a petition for 

 stocking a stream is received, but will know for several 

 years ahead just what brooks are to receive their stated 

 allotments of fish. With the proper knowledge at hand a 



