REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 47 



were all liberated in the waters of the State from which they were 

 obtained, care being taken to plant them, well out at sea so that they 

 would not be recaptured immediately. 



As in previous seasons large numbers of dead lobster fr3^ were 

 sometimes found in the cans, special attention was paid to this mat- 

 ter on each trip, and on the completion of the work the messenger in 

 charge rejjorts that there was practically no loss. The new eggs 

 made their appearance fully two weeks in advance of any previous 

 year, w^hich was attributed to the mild winter and to the fact that 

 the water offshore during the winter and spring was several degrees 

 warmer than has been the case for several years. 



Cape Vincent Station, New York (Livingston Stone, Superintendent). 



During July and Auj^ust a part of the force was engaged at Swan- 

 ton, Yt., in cleaning up the fishing-grounds prex)aratory to collecting 

 pike perch there the following spring. Early in April operations 

 were commenced on the Missisquoi River 3 miles below Swanton. A 

 substantial shed 11 b}^ 27 feet, with a platform 17 by 27 feet, was con- 

 structed on the river bank as a spawning-house, and three pens for 

 holding fish were placed in the river near by. In the middle of the 

 spawning-shed, and running lengthwise of it, a trough 12 feet long and 

 15 inches wide, divided into two compartments, was provided for 

 holding ripe fish. This was supplied by a constant stream of water 

 from tanks located on the platform. Fishing commenced April 14, 

 but no rii)e fish were found until the 22d, when they began coming on 

 in large numbers, and from that time to the end of the month opera- 

 tions were pushed vigorously and large numbers captured, as manj^ as 

 657 male pike perch being landed at one haul of a seine 22 rods 

 long; 1,859 spawning fish were taken, which yielded 130,300,000 eggs, 

 according to measurements made on the grounds, although when 

 remeasured at the hatchery there were less than 116,000,000. Of these 

 85,225,000 were transferred to Cape Vincent and 30,500,000 were 

 hatched at Swanton for distribution in Vermont waters, i^roducing 

 12,600,000 fry, or about 41 per cent of the number of eggs retained. 

 The fry were planted under the direction of the Vermont Fish Commis- 

 sion during June. 



The hatchery is a small wooden building located near the Missisquoi 

 River, in the town of Swanton. It was fitted with a battery of two 

 tiers, containing 28 jars each, and a tank for the reception of the fry. 

 The building was provided with heat and light and was leased at a 

 small rental, the water supply being furnished b}^ the village of Swan- 

 ton at the rate of $1 per day. It was very unsatisfactory, however, 

 as it was filled with sediment washed down from the mountains in 

 which the river rises, and tliough two men were kept bus}^ night and 

 day changing the filters and cleaning the jars, very heavy losses ensued. 

 It is believed that under ordinary conditions a much larger percentage 

 of fry would have been hatched. 



