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this direction has arisen, however, out of the necessities of practical 
fish culture. The hatching of the eggs of certain of the commercial 
fishes of the Great Lakes has long been an acknowledged success. In 
the case of the White Fish (Coregonus albus Les.) about ninety per cent 
of the eggs taken from the fish are hatched. Several hundred millions 
of the recently hatched fry are annually placed in the waters of the 
Great Lakes by the various state fish commissions, notably that of 
Michigan and by the U. S. Fish Commission. 
These fry have thus been subjected to conditions, concerning 
which there exists very little precise knowledge. In order to know 
where and at what time the most favorable environment is to be found 
for the young fish, it is necessary to make an exact study of the bio- 
logical conditions in the entire chain of lakes. Recognizing this fact 
the Michigan Fish Commission has started upon this investigation by 
establishing a laboratory upon Lake St. Clair. Upon the completion 
of work here it is proposed to set up laboratories at other Michigan 
points contiguous to the Great Lakes. 
The plan of establishing such a laboratory and of sending out a 
party to make a detailed and systematic study of the lake fauna and 
flora was conceived some time ago, but its execution was delayed until 
this year. The cooperation of Michigan University, promised a year 
ago, was again extended this year. After much deliberation New Bal- 
timore, Mich., was chosen as the location for the laboratory. This is a 
village on the northeast shore of Lake St. Clair, about thirty miles 
from Detroit. The location seems peculiarly fitted for the purpose. 
Here the St. Clair River carrying the outflow of the three upper lakes 
expands into a nearly circular sheet of water some twenty-four miles 
in diameter, affording variety of bottom with wide stretches of shallow 
water out of the reach of the current. 
The invertebrate fauna of these waters has never been determined, 
but it is known that many vertebrates, highly interesting from a mor- 
phological standpoint, live and breed here. The ova of at least six 
species of Teleosts may be had easily at the proper season. Petromyzon, 
Acipenser, Amia, Lepidosteus and Necturus are abundant. Ova of 
Petromyzon and Acipenser are accessible in June, and a careful search 
will doubtless discover those of the other forms. 
The upper story of a large warehouse situated on a dock has been 
fitted up as a laboratory and is supplied with all conveniences for work, 
including a considerable library lent by Michigan University. Several 
boats, among them a small steamer, are at the disposal of the laboratory. 
Small aquaria are kept in the laboratory and larger ones have been 
placed in temporary structures on the dock without. All are supplied 
