76 Tiucnty-scvcnth Annual Meeting 



the main structural characteristics, which are capable of measure- 

 ment, so that they can tell in a moment what the average is and 

 how the animals distribute themselves within the range of varia- 

 tion. There is often a great difference in this distribution, so 

 that while the average may be very nearly the same, and the 

 amount of variation may be very nearly the same, the curves 

 may be very different as in some of these diagrams. It seems to 

 me that there is a point of very great practical value. I don't 

 think very much of your matters of general form in connection 

 with black bass and the shape of black bass. I think that would 

 be too variable and too indefinite. 



Mr. Clark: It is a fact that in the Great Lakes we can pick 

 out fish that we are almost positive were artificially hatched, from 

 the looks of the fish. Now, for instance, and I think the super- 

 intendents here will bear me out, we find in upper Lake Michigan 

 and Lake Superior, fish that we at once say, is a Lake Erie 

 whitefish. 



Mr. Whitaker: There is no doubt about it and it has just 

 the appearance of the Lake Erie whitefish as to its form, and 

 general color. We, of course, as practical fish culturists, have 

 not entered into this question of structural differences that you 

 speak of. We distinguish the difference by the form and color 

 of the fish. 



Mr. Nevin: It is the same thing between the Lake Michigan 

 and Lake Superior fish. 



Mr. Whitaker: The work of the Michigan Fish Commis- 

 sioners is a pretty fair practical test in the determination of that 

 question. (3ur commission gets its supply of ova largely from 

 Lake Erie whitefish. These fish are distributed by us all through 

 the other lakes, and we frequently receive reports from fisher- 

 men which show there is a variation in form and color between 

 the planted and indigenous whitefish which distinguishes them. 

 Thev say "these are Lake Erie whitefish because they are dif- 

 ferent from ours;'* that is, the difference is so marked as to be 

 noticeable. 



Mr. Nevin: In 1889 we planted about 10,000,000 whitefish in 

 Lake Superior; in the last three years they have been getting 

 them by tons and tons. Fishermen will go out and catch them 

 in great quantities. 



Mr. Stranahan : Mr. J. N. Dewey tells me that he catches 

 fish at West Sister Island that are verv different from the Lake 



