REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXI 
the interior, whence they have in many cases disappeared by reason 
of the obstructions in the course of the waters, or by the improper and 
wasteful methods of fishing pursued. 
When it was proposed by the very efficient superintendent of the Illi- 
nois commission, Dr. S. P. Bartlett, that the U. S. Commission should 
tentatively undertake the work of collection and distribution, cooperat- 
ing with the State commission and sharing expenses and results, his 
proposition was accepted, and a detail of cars and men was sent to Quincy, 
where headquarters were established, and the work of collection and 
distribution carried on for several weeks. The results have been so 
satisfactory and compensating that it has been determined to greatly 
extend operations in the future, having special reference to the needs 
of those States which receive only indirect and remote benefit from the 
work of our regular fish-cultural stations. 
NORTHVILLE STATION, MICHIGAN. 
Mr. Frank N. Clark, superintendent of the Michigan stations at 
Alpena and North ville, reports better aggregate results at these sta- 
tions during the last year than any other year since their establishment. 
In the distribution of partially grown fish the success has been most 
marked; and Mr. Clark mentions an experiment in planting yearling 
brook trout which clearly shows the wisdom of this method of stocking 
streams. The entire yield of the season was 47,771,411 eggs and fish, 
of which nearly 45,000,000 were whitefish, and upward of 2,000,000 lake 
trout. 
Whitefish . — In 1888 it was decided to devote the North ville Station 
wholly to trout and transfer the whitefish operations to Alpena. Dur- 
ing October, however, operations were authorized on Detroit Fiver in 
penning whitefish from the seines and holding them until they were 
ripe. Three penning stations were selected, and 4,500 fish were inclosed, 
from which were obtained 15,000,000 eggs of an inferior quality, be- 
cause of very warm weather. Many of the fish died before their spawn 
was secured. This was said to be the warmest season known on the 
Detroit Biver. The whitefish work has therefore not been so satisfac- 
tory as in former years. 
Von Belir trout. — Eighty-four thousand four hundred eggs of this 
species were obtained from 131 females between October 31, 1888, and 
January 4, 1889, or more than three times as many as were secured the 
previous year. Seventy of the fern ales were y earlin gs. A female weigh- 
ing 4£ pounds yielded 4,800 eggs; but the average yield was 644 eggs 
each. On July 1, 1889, there were 40,000 fry in the feeding tanks, 
which had been kept since April. 
Loch Leven trout . — From 410 females there were obtained 225,125 eggs, 
an average of 556 each. The season opened October 28, 1888, and closed 
January 4, 1889. Of these eggs 120,000 were shipped as follows: Wis- 
consin commission, Madison, 30,000; New Hampshire commission, 
