96 American Fisheries Society. 



have nothing definite to offer on this. It can readily be seen 

 that the average cost of the fry was greatly decreased. 



At present, we have twelve hatcheries equipped for 

 handling pike-perch eggs. Seven of these are operated 

 during the season for this work only. Last Spring we plant- 

 ed 353,647.000 fry. Nearly all of these hatcheries are in 

 the noi-thern part of the state. 



Besides this added propagation work we have succeeded 

 in extending the close season on these fish to May 15th, with 

 a days limit of ten and a limit in possession of twenty fish. 

 The buying or selling is prohibited, 



A hatchery was constructed in the Rainy Lake region, 

 and put into readiness for operation in 1922. During that 

 year 89,100,000 eggs were taken and from these 75,07^^,000 

 fry were produced. During 1923 eggs to the number of 

 136,140,000 were secured from which 61, 940,000 fry were 

 produced and 10,000,000 eyed eggs were forwarded to other 

 hatcheries. Besides this 20,000,000 eggs were taken and 

 shipped in a green state. 



Though this lake extends for a distance in a direct line 

 east and west for about forty miles and has many bays and 

 inlets we have operated one trap only in Rat Root River, 

 During the last season no attempt was made to take spawn 

 from all the fish coming into the trap and many thousands 

 of spawning fish were allowed to pass above the nets and 

 continue up the river. The percent of hatch was not so good 

 in 1923 as in 1922 due to one large lot of very poor eggs. 

 We did not determine the cause of this condition. There is 

 no reason to believe that many times the number of eggs 

 secured could not have been taken had we been provided 

 with jars to care for them and men and equipment to take 

 them. 



The total hatch for the season ran 42% on eggs shipped 

 green and 60% on eggs hatched where taken, which is a 

 little lower than is sometimes the case. The opportunities 

 for this work in Northern Minnesota are almost unlimited 

 and it is only lack of money which prevents the work being 

 increased. 



The loss of eggs is one of the most interesting details of 

 the work. My observation leads me to believe that in 

 normal years when temperatures hold right during the 

 spawning season eggs of this species can be fertilized with 

 almost the same degree of success as with trout or salmon. 

 The great delicacy of the egg is our great source of trouble 

 but besides that we often meet conditions which we are 

 absolutely unable to explain. From one of our stations we 

 receive eggs well fertilized and they eye up a good percent- 



