TROUT PROl'AGATION 



The State hatches a greater number of fish each suc- 

 ceeding year, but the appHcations for fish more than 

 keep pace with the increase, and the applications have 

 to be sifted and examined carefully that the best results 

 mav be obtained by the Commission in planting fish 

 only in suitable waters, judging from the information 

 furnished. If this information is defective or unrelia- 

 ble or the exact condition existing unknown, the result 

 of fish-planting may be disappointing. 



To show what may be done in the way of stocking 

 a pond intelligently with trout-fry, Mr. W. C. With- 

 erbee, of Port Henry, obtained 5,000 brook-trout fry 

 from the State and planted them in a small pond in 

 Essex County. The pond had once contained trout, 

 but was so thoroughly fished out that no one thought 

 of fishing it at the time. It contained an abundance 

 of fish-food, with a fine inlet stream, spring-fed, and an 

 ample supply of water. In fact, all the conditions 

 were favorable, as the result shows. The fry were 

 planted and allowed to grow for several years, and the 

 pond was not fished, for there was no boat on it and it 

 was not generally known that it was restocked. Mr. 

 and Mrs. Witherbee, concluding that the pond had had 

 time to recuperate, went there for a day's fishing and 

 caught five trout, the weights being four and one-half, 

 four, four, four, and three and three-quarter pounds 

 respectively, or a total for the five trout of twenty and 

 one-quarter pounds. The pond was, of course, public 

 water, and at once it was fished without ceasing. One 

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