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of our.State. Since 1885 we have conducted each sum- 
mer a systematic examination of our inland waters, par- 
ticularly with reference to the lakes. Each lake is 
examined, its surroundings, temperature at bottom, the 
condition of the water with reference to. food, the inlets 
and outlets, and everything pertaining to that; many 
other things I cannot now remember. In addition to 
that, practical men are asked to recommend the fish to 
plant, such as they believe will exist and thrive. It has 
been of immense advantage tous. A rude map is drawn 
upon the back of the report, with the soundings noted 
upon it. They are bound in book form, and we have 
them for every year since we began. In addition to 
that, in a general way we familiarize ourselves with the 
streams of the State. So that we can tell with tolerable 
accuracy whether the fish that are applied for are likely 
to thrive and be heard from again. That eliminated, we 
have the same difficulties spoken of here, of people 
making statements in reference to the condition of their 
waters; whether they are open or private, that is upon 
every application. Wherever we find that those matters 
are falsified, in future so far as we can guard against it, 
those applications are refused. But in this way we have 
this advantage that we had not before we adopted a sys- 
tem. It is quite a common thing for a man who has a 
‘water in which he takes a pride, to have it stocked with 
something, he does not know what, but he wants some- 
thing. We want to entertain a due regard for the suc- 
cess of our work, and after an examination of our reports 
that are filed away, if we find that the lake he applies 
for is filled with bass, he will apply for 50,000 brook 
trout to put in that lake, we will deny it, and we will say 
you are only putting the lamb inside the lion. 
We find that in this way the results of our work have 
been very much improved. We shall continue to follow 
this plan. And as it has been said here, of course there 
are times when we find people who make applications 
