6 Report on Inland Fisheries. 



about 18 feet in average depth. Last year the pond was drawn 

 down to repair the dam, and a number of bass were taken, from 3 

 to 4 pounds in weight, and small onesinnumer ble. Quite a num- 

 ber we hear have been taken through the ice the past winter, by 

 parties fishing for pickerel, some of upwards of 4 pounds in weight- 

 Bass make a round nest in the gravel near the shore in from 3 

 to 6 feet of water, and deposit their eggs about June 1st, or a little 

 later ; as near as can be ascertained about two weeks are required 

 to hatch the eggs, and as soon as the sack is absorbed the little 

 ones retire to the grass and weeds along the shore for safety. The 

 old fish during the time the eggs and young are in the nest, are 

 watching near by, and driving ofi'all intruders, The young seem 

 to grow very rapidly. 



SHAD. 



Owing to the extreme heat of the past season we were unable to 

 get our usual supply of young shad. The source of supply is the 

 Connecticut river, where the United States Commissioner now has 

 charge of the works. The labor there was rendered almost naught 

 the past summer by the over heating of the water, and we, as 

 well as the other New England States suffered in consequence. 

 We hope the coming season to do better, for our past success with 

 shad has been very great, and these fish have been more abundant 

 and cheaper in our State for the past two years than for a great 

 length of time, and a good portion of our supply was taken in oar 

 own immediate waters. All the expense necessary to obtain the 

 young fish, is for transportation, they being furnished free. 



TROUT. 



We have done nothing with trout for the past two years owing 

 to the extreme droughts we are occasionally subjected to, our sup- 

 ply of water sometimes gives out, and then in a very short time 

 our labors and outlay are vain. We do not recommend any one 

 attempting to raise these fish on a large scale unless sure of an un- 

 failing supply of water. 



IN CONCLUSION. 



We would say as our report briefly shows that the past year has 



