42 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



During December and January 314,000 brook-trout e^gs were shipped 

 to State fish commissions and private applicants, including one ship- 

 ment to Scotland. The lake-trout fry hatched in March and April, 

 producing 180,000, which were distributed in suitable waters in Ver- 

 mont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The distribution of the brook 

 trout commenced in April and was completed the last of June, 534,100 

 being distributed during that period by employees of the station. 



At the close of the year there were on hand the following: 



Species. 



Rainbow trout 



Steelhead trout 



Brook trout 



Hybi'id brook and lake trout 



Grayling 



Landlocked salmon 



Total. 



Calendar year in which fish were hatched. 



1900. 



1899. 



1898. 



1896. 



1895. 



5,411 

 23,981 

 16, 018 



77 



348 



470 



13 



73 





245 





39 



9 









3,550 

 30,914 























79,874 



981 



39 



245 



9 



It has been found here that brook trout thrive best in a temperature 

 ranging from 55° to 60° and grayling in a temperature from G5° to 70°. 

 Both grayling and trout have been tested in temperatures ranging 

 from 48° to 70° during the last two months of the year, and from the 

 observations it has been possible to make with the varying conditions 

 it is believed that landlocked salmon, steelheads, and rainbow trout 

 all do best in temperatures most favorable to the brook trout, while 

 grayling thrive best in water somewhat warmer. One trough of gray- 

 ling kept in spring water at 48° (the same in which they were hatched) 

 did not take food readily and nearly all of them died. AVhile the 

 landlocked salmon have endured the highest temperature of any 

 variety tested, they do not take food readih^ in water above 70°. 



Nashua Station, New Hampshire (W. F. Hubbard, Superintendent). 



On July 1 the personnel provided for by Congress, consisting of a 

 • superintendent, a fish-culturist, and two laborers, was appointed. 

 Tlie superintendent relieved Mr. W. F. Page, who had been in charge 

 of the construction work, on July 12. 



During the summer, with the assistance of a temporary force, con- 

 siderable work was done on the grounds and ponds. All of the ponds 

 were dried, the mud removed, and the bottoms covered with sand. 

 Eleven wells were driven on the south side of the hatchery building 

 to furnish water. These are of 2-inch iron pipe, driven from 14 to 20 

 feet deep, and when completed, in August, they furnished 192 gallons 

 of water per minute, or an average of 17^ gallons per well. The 

 wells discharge into a wooden flume on the outside of the building, 

 which connects with the hatching-troughs by means of iron pipes 

 through the sides. The grounds around the hatchery and the walks 

 between the ponds were graded and sown with grass, and various 

 other minor improvements were made. 



