EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LXXVII 



first instalment of wliitefish eggs was received ISTovember 14 from Lake 

 Erie, and the last was received December 1. A heavy storm in the 

 middle of November made it necessary to abandon Lake Erie, and the 

 bulk of the eggs was obtained from Lake Huron, the principal places 

 being at the mouth of Thunder Bay. Some very heavy catches of 

 whitefish were made on the Canada side around Duck Island, one pro- 

 peller having on board 45 tons of whiteiish at a single time. These 

 whitefish were large, specimens weighing from 15 to 20 pounds being 

 frequently taken, and the largest weighing 26 pounds. The experiment 

 of holding adult whitefish in inclosures until the eggs were ripe was 

 renewed, and proved as successful as it had been during the previous 

 years. The fish were kept in floating crates at North Bass Island, in 

 Lake Erie, and at Alcona, in Lake Huron. The crates were anchored 

 about 20. rods from the beach, in 12 feet of water. From the fish con- 

 fined therein 5,000,000 eggs were taken, and not a fish died while con- 

 fined in the crates. 



During the season 25,000,000 eggs were brought from the fisheries 

 direct to Northville. There were transferred from the Alpena Station 

 35,000,000 eggs, making a total of 60,000,000 handled at this station. 

 Of this number 12,000,000 were sent away and 8,000,000 were lost in 

 various ways, the total number hatched at this station being 40,000,000. 

 Of the 12,000,000 eggs which were renioved 1,000,000 were sent to Ger- 

 many, 1,000,000 to New Zealand, and the remainder to State and na- 

 tional hatcheries. Those sent to foreign countries reached their, desti- 

 nations in good condition; those for New Zealand having been received 

 at San Francisco and forwarded by Mr. E. G. Creighton, and those for 

 Germany having been repacked and forwarded from New York by Mr. 

 Fred Mather.' 



The young whitefish began to hatch out on the 16th of February. On 

 the 20th, car No. 2, in charge of Mr. Ellis, was loaded with 3,000,000. 

 eggs to be taken to Manistee. The car made trips back and forth from 

 the Great Lakes until all were disposed of. 



Quite extensive operations were prosecuted at this station in brook 

 trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, and German trout, which will be treated 

 under their proper heads. 



The Alpena 8tatio7i. — This station was supplied with both the McDon- 

 ald and Chase jars, and the water supjjly obtained from the city water- 

 works. Not being, however, upon a railroad it was necessary to trans- 

 fer 35,000,000 of eggs to the Northviile hatchery in order to avoid 

 moving live fish. The supply of eggs which was derived from 68 

 pound-nets and numerous gill-nets, filled 375 jars. Of these 32,000,000 

 were hatched at Alpena, and the remainder sent to Northviile. The 

 fry hatched at Alpena were planted mostly on the west coast of Lake 

 Huron in April, 1884. 



The question has arisen as to whether it is better to deposit the young 

 fry of whitefish and other salmonidse in distant waters, as soon as the 



