FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 6^ 



into the Great Lakes or into tributary waters vvliicli are not in- 

 fested with bass or pike. 



Upon the formation of the Michio^an Fish Commission the 

 merits of the grayling were recognized, and the fact that it was 

 a fish peculiar to Michigan, appealed strongly to the Board to 

 investigate its possibilities of artificial propagation. Lack of 

 funds and the knowledge that the commercial fish of the State 

 demanded its first attention, compelled the Board to postpone 

 attempts to solve this question. Not until the year 1877, was an 

 attempt made to experiment in this direction and test the possi- 

 bilities of success. In the spring of that year a camp was estab- 

 lished upon the headwaters of the Manistee, and an effort was 

 made to secure a stock of eggs, to be transported from the camp 

 to the hatching station Owing to the lateness of the season, 

 the spawning period having passed, this attempt failed of any 

 result, and the expedition returned with no further light. This 

 party reached the Manistee April 14th. The following year an 

 earlier start was made, the force arriving at Manistee, March 30th, 

 but again found themselves too late, the fish having again passed 

 the spawning period. A few fish were obtained which yielded 

 a very small quantity of eggs and milt, but the eggs were imper- 

 fectly impregnated, the fry produced died early, and in the Ian- 

 gauge of the superintendent, " much lamented." Before leaving 

 the stream, however, it was decided to procure as many adult 

 fish as possible, convey them to the station, and make the attempt 

 to handle the fish in the succeeding year when the proper per- 

 iod should arrive. A number of fish were procured, but for un- 

 explained causes no success was obtained. Adult fish have 

 been obtained at three different times with the same object in 

 view, but up to this time with no satisfactory results. The diffi- 

 culties surrounding the taking of the grayling during the spawn- 

 ing period are very great. The fish spawn in about February 

 and March, perhaps even earlier. The rivers in v^hich they 

 abound are remote from civilization, the roads almost impass- 

 able, and the streams filled with logs and ice, rendering it ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to procure the necessary fish. Experience has 

 proven very clearly that the grayling will not stand domestica- 

 tion or confinement in ponds in which trout may be successfully 



