before it is treated, and is subsequently pumped up 50 feet in the 

 air to reach the hatchery. This water is suitable for hatching white- 

 fish and herring, but the hatching of yellow perch and pike perch 

 in it is practically impossible because at the time these eggs are taken 

 in the spring the water is so cold that they will not hatch. So the 

 investment has to lie idle at the time of year when these two im- 

 portant species of fish ought to be handled and could be handled in 

 perhaps larger numbers than the herring and whitefish. The de- 

 cision as to whether this hatchery should be put on a promontory 

 adjacent to a lighthouse, or located down on the shore of the lake, 

 was not left to the recommendation of a practical man, hence the 

 tax payers will bear the burden for all future operation of a $50,000 

 plant which under the circumstances must lie idle for half of its 

 proper life. 



Mention might be made of another fish-cultural station repre- 

 senting an investment of about $50,000, for the propagation of 

 bass, with an expensive pumping plant and a lot of holes in the 

 ground on the bank of a big river where there is an entirely unsuit- 

 able water supply. Similar examples may be observed in practically 

 every state where there are hatcheries, and include federal as well 

 as state institutions. 



This is not said to discredit any hatchery or person, but is merely 

 brought to attention in the hope that the situation and its needs will 

 be realized by those who may be in authority. It is hoped that when 

 it comes to a question of locating hatcheries, advice may be sought 

 and taken from those who have had most experience, also that 

 proper tests of the water will be made, no matter what kind of a 

 hatchery is proposed, before expending the people's money. Much 

 more might be said on this subject, but it seems impressive enough 

 when one stops to think that the public funds are being spent more 

 or less in this unintelligent way all over the country. 



Discussion. 



Mr. G. C. Leach, Washington, D. C. : Mr. Titcomb spoke about feeding 

 the fish and bringing them to No. 3 fingerlings in May, rather than later 

 in the season. This presumably means that we first should select water 

 in which the fish will thrive, and then feed them very heavily in order that 

 they may grow as much as possible. 



Mr. J. W. Titcomb, Albany, N. Y. : I would feed them normally, but as 

 in suitable water they hatch so much earlier, they are fed the same length 

 of time. The other fish are in the sac stage at a time when they are feed- 

 ing, in June and July, rather than in March, April, or May. 



Mr. Leach : If brook trout eggs are collected in October or November 

 and held in suitable water, about 50° F., they will hatch probably sometime 



66 



