60 Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 



they were intended on account of the magnificent supply- of water 

 of the most uniform flow. Owinar to the conformation of the ground 

 also, the troughs could be built high enough from the ground that the 

 men employed in the building could work without undue weariness. 



The new acquisition was named the Western Hatchery on account 

 of its being on the Pacific ocean side of the Allegheny mountains, and 

 Mr. Weeks, the former owner, was made superintendent. 



During the first year there were hatched and distributed from this 

 new hatchery one hundred and fifty-four thousand brook trout, and 

 eighteen thousand five hundred salmon trout. Besides these there was 

 planted in the ponds on the grounds three thousand adult brook trout 

 and two hundred and fifty salmon trout. 



Soon after Colonel Gay became one of the Fish Commissioners, Mr. 

 Weeks resigned his position of superintendent. But there was no diffi- 

 culty in filling his place. For some time Colonel Gay had been observ- 

 ing the work of Mr. William Buller, Mr. Creveling's assistant, and it 

 was characterized by so much intelligence and faithfulness that he was 

 at once offered the vacant position. Mr. Buller, however, was an ex- 

 ceedingly modest man and had but little faith in his own ability. He 

 would, therefore, have refused but was finally prevailed upon to accept. 



Mr. Buller is a native of Maytown, Lancaster county. When the 

 hatchery near Marietta was erected, Mr. Buller assisted in its construc- 

 tion, and on its completion entered the employ of Mr. Creveling, the 

 superintendent. Here he gave such satisfaction that when the Marietta 

 hatchery was abandoned, and the Eastern, or Allentown hatchery, was 

 established, Mr. Creveling took him with him, and kept him until Mr. 

 Weeks' resignation as superintendent of the Corry hatchery created a 

 vacancy which he was admirably fitted to fill, and which gave to the 

 state two officials of which the commissioners of fisheries of other states 

 exhibit good natured envy, as being among the very best in the country. 



Although a delightful situation with a good house and barn thereon, 

 magnificent springs and handsome trees, when the commissioners first 

 purchased the tract it bore the appearance almost of a primeval forest. 

 Fallen trunks of trees were all over the place, sound and rotten stumps 

 abounded, not only on the grounds but in the ponds, where submerged 

 logs were also. The growing trees overcrowded the place, and tangled 

 vines clambered about at will. To the right of the entrance the tangle 

 was so great and the mud and marsh so plentiful that one could scarcely 

 penetrate it. 



The appropriation for improvement had not gone very far beyond the 

 erection of a hatching house, and like necessary matters, so that when 

 Mr. Buller arrived at Corry to take charge it seemed like an endless 

 task to make an orderly place of it. 



Colonel Gay accompanied Mr. Buller to the hatchery and the two 

 undismayed by the Augean stable-like appearance of the place, went 



