64 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



NORTHVILLE AND SUBSTATIONS IN MICHIGAN (F. N. ClARK IN CHARGE). 



The results attained at Nortliville and auxiliary stations in Michi- 

 gan the past year have been most satisfactory, the output far exceed- 

 ing that of anj^ previous j^ear. The failure of the State legislature 

 to provide the necessary funds made it impossible for the Michigan 

 Commission to propagate any of the commercial fishes of the Great 

 Lakes; hence arrangements were made early in the year for the U. S. 

 Fish Commission to operate the Detroit white-fish hatchery, including 

 fishing rights on Belle and Grassy islands, and later on it was also 

 decided to utilize the State hatchery at Sault Sainte Marie for hatch- 

 ing a part of the eggs collected at Detroit. 



Under the provisions of the Milliken act, passed by the Michigan 

 legislature the previous year, the U. S. Fish Commission was author- 

 ized to collect lake trout and white-fish during the close season, which 

 extends from November 1 to December 15. Although fishermen from 

 all parts of the lakes applied to the agent of the Commission for per- 

 mission to fish during the close season, he determined, after careful 

 consideration, to confine lake-trout operations to three important 

 spawning-grounds in Lake Michigan — Charlevoix, Beaver Island, and 

 Manistique. It was feared that this decision would arouse the 

 enmity of infiuential fishermen in other sections of the State, but 

 the difficulty was overcome by a candid statement of the facts by the 

 superintendent, and the pleasant relations which have always existed 

 between the U. S. Fish Commission and the lake-trout fishermen of 

 Lakes Michigan and Huron still continue. 



The agreement entered into with the fishermen provided that after 

 October 30 they should fish under the direction of the superintendent, 

 at such times and points as he might designate, they to pay the 

 expenses of the men and furnish tugs and fishing paraphernalia, 

 receiving all of the fish taken, while the Commission was to have the 

 eggs free of expense. About the middle of October, Mr. B. G. Fil- 

 kins proceeded to Charlevoix and arranged with the fishermen for 

 fishing and spawning operations at that point. After getting every- 

 thing in satisfactory condition there, the work was left in charge of 

 Mr. R. K. Robinson, and Mr. Filkins went to Beaver Island to make 

 similar preparations. The fish at the latter point commenced spawn- 

 ing on October 24, but only 10 gallons of eggs were taken during the 

 balance of that month. The fishing was continued until November 

 10, and resulted in the collection of over 7,000,000 eggs. Of the total 

 number secured here only about 700,000, or 10 per cent, were taken 

 during the open season; consequently the work would have been a 

 failure had operations ceased on October 31. 



At Charlevoix the fish were very late in making their appearance 

 on the spawning-grounds and no eggs were collected until after Novem- 

 ber 1. From that time to the 8th, 1,842,000 were obtained, and on 

 that date Mr. Robinson was directed to discontinue fishing in view of 

 the fact that large numbers of eggs were being taken at other points. 



