190 Tliivly-iiintli .liiiiital Meeting 



iiiarshcs that connect with the river, and coves where vegetation cannot 

 be carried away. 



Mr. Meehan : We are nearly rid of refuse from tanneries along that 

 stream, and this is one of the worst forms of pollution. A large paper 

 manufactory has received notice to put in a separation vat within sixty 

 days. 



OuE.STioN 7. — Are applications for lisli incrcasini;' or de- 

 creasing annually ? 



Mr. Titcomb: In the year 1902 when I hrst took my position in 

 Washington, D. C, we averaged something like 2,500 applications for 

 fish annually. The number received each year has steadily increased 

 until the fiscal year just ended showed something over 10,000. Had wc 

 recorded them as we did in 1902 the number would have been much 

 greater, for at that time it was common for a dozen or twenty applica- 

 tions to be filed for a single lake, while today we file only one applica- 

 tion, cancel the others and notify the applicant of the action taken. 



Mr. Fullerton : That is the case in Minnesota. Applications have 

 increased fifty per cent in the last ten years. In regard to applications 

 received by tlie government I lieHeve it would lie a good plan for the 

 Bureau of Fisheries to refer them to the l)oards of fish commissioners 

 of the several States for recommendations. The Bureau of Fisheries 

 may not be in a position to know as well as local fish commissions what 

 kind or kinds of fish are best adapted to the waters applied for ; hence 

 I believe that the local boards should be consulted. 



Mr. Titcomb: We are taking more and more precautions every year 

 to see that fish are not wasted. When there is any doubt about the 

 suitability of a particular species of fish for any definitely named body 

 of water, as described on the application, it is referred to the commis- 

 sioner of fisheries of the State in which this water is located. In addi- 

 tion to tin's precaution of referring the applications to State fish com- 

 missioners where there seeius to be some doubt as to the advisability of 

 granting a request, or where the applicant is very persistent and is dis- 

 satisfied with the species assigned, the Bureau is making a card index 

 of all the important waters for which fish are supplied. To the extent 

 that we can secure the information the results of plants are entered in 

 the card index three or more years after the fish are delivered. To 

 obtain the information special inquiry blanks are distributed to those 

 who applied for or planted the fish. This, of course, is a big undertak- 

 ing, but I believe that the government can well afford to devote consid- 

 erable time and money to the compilation of such an index. In the 

 course of time the Bureau will thus have a valuable record of the results 

 of its work. I think when you appreciate the amount of work being 

 done in this direction you will realize that the Bureau is taking' every 

 possible precaution to see that the fish are not wasted. 



Mr. Fullerton: What I said about the Bureau was not in a spirit of 

 criticism as I think it is doing a great work. I suggested the reference 



