85 
this loss has been during the history of the Neosho Sta- 
tion. In 1890, on rainbow trout, 9 per cent. ; in 1891, on 
rainbow trout, 7 per cent.; on Von Behr trout, 34 per 
cent. ; on brook trout, 26 per cent. ; in 1892, on rainbow 
trout, 6 per cent., and on brook trout, 8 per cent. The 
average of these six instances is 15 percent. This is 5 per 
cent. too high, and was occasioned by the excessive loss of 
34 per cent. and 26 per cent. respectively, in the Von Behr 
and brook trout of 1891. In the report of these two lots 
of fish, written before this loss occurred, it was stated that 
they were very inferior lots of fish, with low degree of 
vitality, and unlikely to reach maturity. But the rainbow 
eggs of the seasons of 1890 and 1891 were strong and 
healthy, and their fry suffered a loss of only 9 per cent. 
and 7 per cent. respectively. The lowest loss, 6 per cent., 
was in the lot of rainbows raised from eggs spawned at 
Neosho—from eggs which had never undergone transporta- 
tion. I havea belief that the very best results in fisheul- 
ture will be attained by hatching from eggs which have 
not been subjected to transportation. 
The successes which have attended our methods of rais- 
ing trout fry to yearlings in pools are in the nature of a 
guarantee or proof that in principle it is very near correct. 
How different it is from the practice of planting several 
thousand fry at one time in one place. Some eighteen 
years ago, when we were getting ready a shipment of Cali- 
fornia salmon fry, an old gentleman who frequently visited 
the hatchery asked, ‘‘Who’s going to stay down at the 
river to care for those minnows and chop liver for them 2?’ 
The question at that time provoked asmile ; but to-day, in 
all seriousness, I ask it of the advocates of fry planting. 
Who is to take care of your fry after they are planted ? 
In this connection, it was well pointed out in the last 
meeting that the condition of the fry when planted was 
such that they must have food at once or they perish, 
while, on the other hand, the yearlings are in condition 
