5° 



AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 



could learn in our gathering statistics a year ago last fall, it 

 showed they were on the increase there. These fishermen say 

 so here in the lower end of the lake, but ntJt in the uj^per end of 

 the lake. That goes to show again that whitefish do migrate ; 

 that the whitefish planted in the Detroit River by the State of 

 Michigan and in the upper end of the lake by the United States 

 Fish Commission show the increase more in the lower end of the 

 lake. It goes to show your fish migrate. Now the fish that 

 are hatched by the Michigan Commission are caught down in 

 Erie, Pa. Is that right to do that ? 



Mr. BissELL. — I would like to ask if whitefish are migratory to 

 the extent it is claimed, why they don't migrate back to the 

 grounds that have been once fished in Lake Michigan ? 



Whereupon, upon motion duly seconded, the convention ad- 

 journed until 10:30 o'clock a, m. to-morrow. Wednesday, April 

 14th, at the same place. 



INTENTIONAL AND UNINTENTIONAL DISTRI- 

 BUTION OF SPECIES. 



BY DR. R. E. C. STEARNS. 



The geographical distribution of species is one of the most 

 inviting fields which nature offers to the student. Once entered 

 upon, every path is found to lead to new and attractive vistas, 

 and to point the way to curious and interesting phenomena. At 

 every step we receive delightful impressions, and from every 

 side, hints and suggestions as to nature's methods. 



Through the establishment of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission and of Fish Commissions in many of the States, as well 

 as by the organization of societies and various private enter- 

 prises, the propagation of food fishes has become an important 

 protective resource, and the economic aspect of ichthyology has 

 been made familiar to a great number of persons. Incidentally, 

 too, but to a smaller extent, the scientific side lias attracted in- 

 creased attention from a class of persons who would not have 



