Stocking the Waters 



Dr. Tarleson H. Bran, New York State Fish Culturist 



While upon the subject of fry planting it may be well to quote the latest 

 authority upon this subject, Dr. Tarleson, H. Bran, M. S. M. D., the State Fish 

 Culturist of the State of New York, who says: 



Under natural spawning conditions, eggs and young fish are exposed to multi- 

 tudes of enemies. Freshets bring down sediment that covers up and smothers 

 eggs resting upon the stream bottoms. Certain fish, including minnows, suckers, 

 and sculpins, devour great quantities of eggs of other and more valuable species. 

 The larger predaceous fish prey upon the young of practically all species. Dis- 

 eases may attack fish at any stage of their existence, especially in polutted waters. 

 Consequently it is quite safe to say that a mere fraction of one per cent of all the 

 eggs naturally deposited ever become mature fish. In artificial propagation, on 

 the other hand, the percentage of loss in hatching has been reduced to trifling 

 proportions. The very high state of efficiency attained in the hatcheries makes 

 this phase of fish culture profitable. 



It is in the highest degree desirable that this same efficiency should be ex- 

 tended to the planting methods. The Commission itself plants practically all of 

 its food fish, but at present direct supervision over the game fish practically 

 ceases when the cans of fry or fingerlings are delivered on the platforms of the 

 railway station. In many cases the lack of special knowledge and experience on 

 the part of those who transport the cans to the streams and do the actual planting 

 results in great loss. Thus certain waters that have been stocked with thousands 

 upon thousands of fry and fingerlings during a long period of years still produce, 

 for one reason or another, very indifferent, if any, fishing. The planting of food 

 fish by the Commission, however, is uniformly successful, indicating that proper 

 attention to details will bring results. 



Home of the Native Trout 



(13) 



