REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 65 



Mr. George Platts, who has been in the employ of the Commission 

 for a number of years, was placed in charge at Manistique, and as the 

 fish had been observed to spawn there in the past much earlier than 

 at any other point in Lake Huron or Lake Michigan, it was supposed 

 large numbers could be collected during the open season, but none 

 were taken until October 26. From that time to November 10, when 

 work was discontinued, over 6,000,000 were secured. 



As the result of operating at these three points 15,250,000 lake-trout 

 eggs were obtained and shipped to Northville, packed as usual on 

 canton-flannel trays, the first shipment reaching the station on 

 November 2 and the last November 13. From North ville 1,500,000 

 were transferred to the State Fish Commission, 1,000,000 were sent 

 to Alpena, and 4,117,000 were consigned to other stations of the 

 Commission, State fish commissions, and private applicants, leaving 

 8,633,000 to be hatched. These produced about 7,000,000 fry, 6,535,000 

 of which were planted in Michigan waters in February, March, and 

 April. The balance were retained and at the close of the year they 

 number about 145,000. They are between 2 and 3 inches long and 

 are apparently healthy and strong. 



Although the hatchery was overcrowded with eggs, no heavy losses 

 occurred from disease or other causes. On December 21, the creek 

 water ceased to flow about 5 o'clock in the morning, but the incident 

 was promptly discovered by the watchman and the spring water 

 turned on. There were a great many eggs in the house at the time, 

 and but for his prompt action heavy losses would have ensued. 



The wisdom of limiting the work to the three points mentioned was 

 clearly demonstrated by the results, the eggs being collected and deliv- 

 ered at North ville for less than $700, or about 5 cents per 1,000. 



To guard against all of the eggs hatching at once and overcrowding 

 the hatchery, the development of a part of them was retarded by the 

 use of creek water, which is colder than that from the spring, the 

 creek water at this time averaging about 35° and the spring water 45°. 

 In this way the distribution was extended from the middle of Febru- 

 ary until April, whereas had the warmer water been used they would 

 all have come out at the same time, and it would have been impossible 

 to have handled them. The first eggs hatched on January 17 and the 

 last on March 8, a difference of fifty-one days. 



At the beginning of the year there were 90,000 lake-trout fry on 

 hand; when distributed in August they numbered 88,000, and ranged 

 from 3^ to 4^ inches in length. 



On July 1, 1899, there were on hand at Northville 31,493 brook trout. 

 These were held in ponds which had been lined with stone cement, but 

 they commenced dying in July, though special attention had been 

 given them and the ponds had been kept perfectly clean and were 

 exposed to the sun and air before they were introduced. On August 

 7, when the distribution commenced, there were only 8,000 fingerlings, 



F. C, 1900-5 



