REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 59 



The collectinj2: season lasted from April 25 to May 10, and the 

 6,590,000 fry hatched were distributed b}^ May 15 in the Albemarle 

 Sound and tributaries. The loss during incubation was 3,814,000, or 

 about 36 per cent. In view of the fact that there were only four 

 trained spawn-takers available for work, and of the incomplete con- 

 dition of the station, the results are considered very satisfactory. 

 Moreover, there is no question as to the entire suitability of the water 

 of Pembroke Creek for hatching purposes ; the only possible objection 

 that could be made to it is that it is i-ather warm, making it risky 

 to hold the fry, but this is unnecessary, and it need not be considered 

 an adverse factor. The water was clear throughout the season, 

 without a trace of sediment. 



Erwin Station, Tennessee (Alexander Jones, Superintendent). 



On July 3 Mr. S. G. Worth was transferred to Edenton, N. C, as 

 superintendent, and Mr. Alexander Jones was appointed in his place, 

 with Mr. J. E. Guard as fish-culturist. During the summer the bal- 

 ance of the special appropriation was expended in the erection of a 

 five-room cottage on the northwest corner of the reservation for the 

 occupancy of the fish-culturist, and other minor improvements were 

 undertaken, the most important of which was the laying of a 12-inch 

 terra-cotta pipe in the south berm ditch to carry off the waste water 

 from the depression at the back of the residence. This added materi- 

 ally to the effectiveness of the station and improved its appearance. 



At the beginning of the year there were on hand the following fish : 





Calendar year in which hatched. 



Species. 



1900.. 



1899. 



1897. 



1896 or 

 earlier. 



Brook trout 



76,588 

 48,545 



991 

 2,975 



764' 



866 



Rainbow trout - 









These were kept in troughs and ponds during the summer as usual 

 and fed on ground beef -liver and mush made from wheat shorts; 

 herring roe being also used for feeding the fry. The rainbows are 

 especially fond of this, taking it greedily from the beginning, but the 

 brook trout do not seem to relish it, preferring the beef-liver. 



In August the distribution of rainbow trout commenced and was 

 continued until the 9th of December, 43,110 in all being shipped. Of 

 the brook trout on hand at the beginning of tne year 31,126 were 

 available for distribution. These were shipped to applicants in Vir- 

 ginia and Tennessee. From the beginning of July to the time of 

 distribution the death-rate was exceedingly heavy, both in ponds and 

 troughs ; a great portion of the loss was due to popping of the eyes, 

 though snakes and frogs destroyed quite a number of the fry. 



The brook trout spawned from October 27 to December 16, yield- 

 ing 79,100 eggs. As these fish refused to ascend the raceway it was 



