242 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



products of the State's eleven hatcheries, representing an annual 

 commercial value of over $200,000.00, be distributed and cared for 

 in such a way as to insure the maximum return for the money and 

 labor expended. 



Concerning the proposed study. Dr. Bean wrote ('16) : " In order 

 to devise more intelligent and effective methods of stocking and 

 protection, based upon a thorough knowledge of the actual condi- 

 tions obtaining in the streams and lakes, the Commission has under- 

 taken an intensive investigation of the waters of the State. Some 

 of the principal subjects for investigation are the following: the 

 distribution and habitats of the fish found at present in these waters ; 

 their food habits, as determined by analysis of their stomach con- 

 tents ; the supply of natural food available, such as insects, mollusks, 

 crustaceans, worms, and aquatic vegetation ; the spawning seasons 

 of the various fish ; their natural enemies ; stream pollution and 

 methods of controlling it ; proper open and closed seasons ; methods 

 of cooperation between the Commission and associations and indivi- 

 duals interested in propaga,ting or protecting fish. It is confidently 

 believed that this investigation will lay the foundation for a marked 

 increase in the quantity, as well as for improvement in the quality, of 

 the fishing in New York State." 



The Sixth Annual Report of the Conservation Commission for 

 1916, says : " In the last annual report attention was given to the 

 importance of making working plans for stocking the fishing waters 

 of the State, in order that the waste of the product of the state 

 hatcheries, which has gone on heretofore [italics the present 

 writer's] after the fish have left the control of the state, might be 

 checked. During the spring and summer and part of the fall two 

 men, of the proper scientific attainments, were engaged upon such 

 a study of the running waters of Oneida County. In this county 

 alone there are approximately 2,000 miles of running streams, all 

 of which were covered during the season with as much thoroughness 

 as was necessary for the purpose of laying down working plans. 

 The adaptability of the various streams for dififerent kinds of fish 

 was investigated, scout work to determine the proper planting points 

 was done, and other data necessary for developing those streams to 

 their highest efficiency as fish producers were obtained. 



" These data include such facts as the degree of pollution, the 

 temperature of the water, the food supply for fish life, the extent 

 to which the streams are fished, and the local agencies that are 

 available for carrying on the stocking. It was discovered that while 

 some very fine work is done in certain sections, other large sections 

 of the county have been totally neglected as far as fish stocking is 

 concerned. At the same time the drain upon the streams, because of 

 the increased use of automobiles has reached a point where they 

 have become practically fished out. The results of the study of 

 Oneida County are being embodied in a report to be published 

 shortly. Systematic stocking in accordance with the plans given 

 in the report will then ht undertaken. This study opens a new field 



