LXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



received from a private liatcbery at South Wareham, Mass. These 

 hatched within ten days after arrival, and the fry appeared to be strong 

 and vigorous until about the Ist of April, when they began to deterio- 

 rate. Their gills became badly swollen and inflamed, and heavy losses 

 occurred. This disease was thought to be due to the muddy condition 

 of the water in April. By actual count on May 10 there were found 

 to be only 11,800. The poor results were not unexpected, as several 

 attempts bave been made to rear brook trout at this station in past 

 years without success, but as such fine results had been more recently 

 attained in rearing rainbow trout, it was thought that good work might 

 now be done with brook trout, especially as the water supply had 

 been increased. 



The brood -ponds for the black bass were prepared early in March, 

 gravel suijplied for building the nests, and the adult tish introduced 

 on the 31st. On April 25 they began to show signs of nesting, and on 

 May 10 the first eggs were observed. A number of other nests were 

 noted on May 17, and all indications point to a good crop of young. 



The rock bass were transfen^ed to breeding-ponds on March 24, 

 and nesting commenced late in April or early in May. Owing to the 

 dense growth of water-plants it was impossible to remove the adult 

 fish or to make any estimate as to the number of young hatched. 



Of 85 three year-old crappie placed in the retaiuing-ponds during the 

 year, only 12 remained when the pond was drawn in the spring. This 

 loss was probably due to poachers, as no dead ones were seen in the 

 pond during the winter. Those remaining were placed in a small 

 breeding-pond provided with nests in March, but there is no indication 

 that they have spawned, and as it is impossible to train crappie to take 

 liver and food of like character, and as it is very difficult to obtain live 

 food, it is doubtful whether it is advisable to continue experimenting 

 with them. 



Of the 1,350 quinnat salmon on hand at the beginning of the year, 

 the result of eggs shipped to the station in the winter of 1897, 500 were 

 released in Tate Kun in February and 730 more on May 17, leaving 100 

 on hand. During the past year they have grown very little, though 

 they consumed a large amount of food, and at the age of 2 years they 

 were only irom 7 to 9 inches in length. The 100 referred to will be 

 retained at the station in order to note their growth, but will be placed 

 in a larger pond than heretofore. 



The propagation of carp for distribution was discontinued several 

 years ago, but a number of the fish have been retained, with the view 

 to rearing young ones as food for bass. These were lilaced in a pond 

 25 by 30 feet early in Ajjril, where thej'" remained until June S, without 

 showing any signs of spawning. On that date they were transferred 

 to two shallow narrow ponds, and on the following day deposited a 

 large amount of spawn on the plants and moss growing in the ponds. 

 As soon as the fry hatched they were transferred to the bass ponds as 

 food for the yoimg fish. 



