18 Twenty-seventh Anmial Mecti)ig 



the results; and in consequence it may end in the abandonment 

 of one method for the other, and possibly in the uncertainty of 

 the case, the abandonment of the method which has done the 

 most to bring to us the desired increase of fish. For this reason, 

 it seems apropos at this time, that a discussion and investigation 

 of both methods be made here and now relative to the results 

 which have been obtained from Ijoth methods as employed in the 

 past at different points, together with a presentation of the argu- 

 ments for and against l>oth methods. We have considerable 

 knowledge of both methods and know something of the apparent 

 results from each. We have the experience of practical men and 

 the conclusions they have drawn, pro and con, which we may 

 discuss here at this time; and thus place on the records of the 

 American Fisheries Society our views and our knowledge of 

 these matters: which may be of benefit or at least of interest to 

 those who take up the work of fish culture after it has passed 

 from our hands and "Old Time" has applied his scythe to the 

 line which binds us to our vocation. 



Personally I have been on the various spawning grounds of 

 the whole chain of Great Lakes from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to 

 Lake Superior during the spawning seasons; and I have many 

 times watched the salnTon trout, whitefish and wall-eyed pike 

 spawn in their natural way ; and 1 am convinced that only a very 

 small percentage of the eggs so deposited are fertilized. If as large 

 a number of eggs as is claimed by some people are fertilized in 

 the natural process, I inquire, what becomes of the fish after they 

 are hatched? When we come to take intOi consideration the 

 number of eggs tiiat each female whitefish, lake trout and wall- 

 eyed pike will produce, we may well make this inquiry. A four- 

 pound whitefish will produce 50,000 eggs; a six-pound lake trout, 

 8,000, and a five-pound wall-eyed pike about 100,000. These 

 figures, considered in connection with the vast number of fish 

 of various kinds in the lakes, require no backing with argument 

 to justify the question. "What becomes of the fish after they are 

 hatched?'' 



Some years ago I had an interesting and profitable experience 

 watching whitefish spawn in ponds on the Detroit river. The 

 female ii.sh would come to the top of the water and throw her 

 eggs whether there was a male fish in her vicinity or not. To me 

 it seems impossible that the male fish can fertilize one egg in a 

 million that are thrown ofif by the female, when I know that it is 

 absolutely necessary that the milt come in contact with the eggs 

 immediatelv after they are thrown off bv the female and while 



