REPOET .OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 67 



6,000 to Prof. W. A. Locy of the Northwestern University, Evanston, 

 111., for experimental work. The balance were hatched in February, 

 and after being fed for several weeks 8,000 of the fry were distributed, 

 and there remained on hand at the close of the year 8,590. 



Of the 5,000 steelheads on hand from the hatch of June, 1899, 4,500 

 were planted in September in Baldwin Creek. In May, 1900, the 

 2-year-old steelheads numbered 1,633 and the 3-year-olds 469. These 

 fish showed no signs of spawning. 



The hatchery at Detroit, which was turned over to the Fish Com- 

 mission, is located in the center of the city and is a frame structure 

 80 feet long by 40 feet wide, with a wing 48 by 36 feet. The build- 

 ing belongs to the Michigan Fish Commission, and the grounds on 

 which it is located to the estate of John Pridgeon, the rental being 

 1425 per annum. The hatchery is equipped with 1,000 Chase jars, 

 which have a capacity for about 162,000,000 eggs, estimating 162,000 

 per jar. The water, which is well adapted for this work, is furnished 

 by the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners, at the rate of If cents 

 per 1,000 gallons. Its average temperature in March was 33°, and in 

 April it ranged from 33° to 50°, reaching that point on the day the 

 hatching was completed. 



The three fisheries included in the transfer are the East Point, 

 Willis Ground, and Grassy Island, the two former being located on 

 Belle Island, and the other on an island about 8 miles southwest of 

 Detroit in the Detroit River. At the time of the transfer the hatchery 

 was in only fair condition, as new sills had to be put in two sides of 

 the building, the floor needed repairing, and the tanks painting. 



To simplify the work arrangements were made with the Wolverine 

 Fish Company, of Detroit, to operate the fisheries and to receive as 

 compensation the fish captured after the eggs had been stripped and 

 turned over to the Commission. Fishing commenced in October and 

 continued to December 20, resulting in the capture of 33,112 white-fish. 

 Of these 6,046 undersized ones were liberated, and the balance were 

 held in live-cars until ripe. The apparatus used at all of the fishing- 

 grounds was the ordinary haul seine, operated by means of capstans 

 and horsepower. Fishing was conducted night and day by separate 

 crews, and the catch was unprecedented, the most successful work 

 ever recorded before only aggregating about 14,000, less than half the 

 number captured this year. This is believed to be attributable to the 

 large plants of white-fish fry made in past j^ears by the National 

 and State Fish Commissions in Lake Erie and the Detroit River. 



The fish caught at East Point were transferred to the Willis Ground 

 fishery, where the live-boxes and ponds were established. The live- 

 car was a boat about 14 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 14 inches deep, 

 pointed at both ends, with slats on the bottom running lengthwise. 

 Two water-tight bulkheads were fitted in either end to keep the water 

 from rushing through and crowding the fish into the rear end and 

 smothering them. One of these boats can safely carry 200 fish from 



