KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 73 



and fed on the same food and under the same conditions, were not 

 diseased in any way. The superintendent is unable to account for 

 its appearance. The ponds used were 80 feet long, perfectly new, 

 and, so far as known, the water supply is absolutely pure. As a result 

 of this epidemic 457 adults and 4,450 2-year-old fish were lost. It 

 appeared again during the spring of 1900 and caused the loss of 3,470 

 yearlings that were held for brood stock. 



At the beginning of the year there were on hand 63,000 fry hatched 

 the previous spring. Of these, 55,565 were distributed to applicants 

 and planted in public waters during the fall, and 5,270 were held for 

 rearing, the loss during the summer amounting to 2,165. 



The stock of breeders at the commencement of the spawning season 

 .consisted of 5,250 two-year-olds and 057 adults. The first eggs were 

 taken on November 8, and collections continued daily till January 15. 

 From the 1,331 ripe females, 513,080 eggs were secured, an average of 

 385 per fish. Of this number 348,930 fry, or about 80 per cent, were 

 hatched, and 75,000 eyed eggs were shipped to other stations. The fry 

 were of low vitality and died in great numbei*s during the sac stage, 

 only 55,800 healthy ones resulting from the season's work. Of this 

 number, 25,000 were planted in public waters in the vicinity of the 

 station, and 30,800 are held for distribution in the fall. 



The stock of rainbow trout on July 1 consisted of 2,500 three-year- 

 olds, 4,200 two-year-olds, and 1,900 fry. The three-year-old fish com- 

 menced to spawn on December 30 and continued until March 24, only 

 216 of them yielding eggs. These produced 132,225, of which 45,000 

 were shipped to other stations and 65,450 fry were hatched. The eggs 

 appeared to be in good condition, the percentage of fertilization being 84, 

 but the fry, like those of the brook trout, were of low vitality, and only 

 15,500 healthy ones resulted. The two-year-old fish yielded no eggs. 



On the 1st of July 1,840 fry, hatched the previous winter, were on 

 hand. Of this number 1,700 were planted in the public waters in the 

 vicinity of the station during the fall, the loss during the summer 

 being 140. At the beginning of the year the brood stock consisted of 

 45 adult fish. The spawning season extended from Xovember 18, to 

 December 6, resulting in the collection of 9,100 eggs. Eight thousand 

 of these eggs were hatched, but losses during the summer reduced the 

 number of fry to 3,000, which are now held at the station for distribu- 

 tion in the fall. 



The grayling resulting from eggs hatched in June, 1898, were kept 

 in ponds at the station with a loss of 626, leaving at the end of the 

 year 824 two-year-olds, which should produce eggs next season. On 

 the 12th of May 50,000 eggs were received from Montana in good con- 

 dition, the loss on arrival amounting to only 3,100 and subsequent 

 losses to 6,450. The fry hatched, numbering 40,450, were liberated 

 with the exception of 5,000, which will be held. 



The breeding-ponds contained large numbers of young bass in June, 

 but during the next month natural food became so scarce that the 



