REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 57 
quality of the eggs taken by the same person, but on different days, 
occurred in the use of both muck and starch, some days the quality 
seeming to favor the use of starch, and others the muck, but on the 
whole the eggs treated with starch were of superior quality. 
The old method of continuously stirring the eggs during the process 
of fertilization was abandoned, and the following instructions were 
issued to the spawn-takers: 
Take the eggs from one fish (if large), use plenty of milt, do not stir 
but add a little water, let stand about half a minute and then lower 
and empty carefully into the keg, which should contain about 2 inches 
of water. This process should be continued until the keg contains as 
many eggs as can be carried init. After the eggs have all been taken, 
add a little water to each keg, pouring a little on and a little off con- 
stantly until the eggs are washed clean of milt- and hardened thor- 
oughly, after which the water should be changed as often as once an 
hour. In adding water it must never be poured directly on the eggs, 
but against the side of the keg, and care must be exercised not to 
empty off enough of the water to expose the eggs to the air, as during 
the entire time they should be covered to a depth of 2 inches. No 
stirring of the eggs is to be done during the entire process, as this 
has been found to cause the rupture of large numbers. 
NORTHVILLE STATION AND SUBSTATIONS IN MICHIGAN (FRANK N. CLARK IN 
CHARGE). 
The work for the first three months of the fiscal year consisted 
chiefly in caring for the fish at Northville, maintenance of buildings 
and ponds at the various stations in Michigan, the construction of 
additional transportation apparatus, and repairs to the hatching 
equipment. The lake-trout fingerlings that had been carried through 
the spring were liberated in July. 
In August the superintendent visited Mackinaw, Sault Ste. Marie, 
Petoskey, Charlevoix, and other points on Lakes Superior and Mich- 
igan to arrange for lake-trout collections during the coming season. 
Spawn-takers were sent to the northern shore of Lake Superior in 
September to collect eggs, but the work there was discontinued on 
October 24, as only 704,000 had been obtained. At Marquette 2,375,000 
eggs were secured, and at Mackinaw City 200,000, all taken in October, 
during the open season. 
It having been decided, after conference with the State fish and 
game warden, not to attempt fishing during the closed season at any 
point except Beaver Island, Mr. H. H. Mancha was sent to that point 
on October 28, with instructions to collect under the same conditions 
as heretofore. Arrangements were made with two of the commercial 
fishermen to fish at such points and such times as might be found 
advisable, and as a result 10,500,000 eggs were obtained between 
November 12 and 28, on which date operations ceased. The height 
of the spawning season extended from November 18 to November 26, 
