XXXIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH A.ND FISHERIES. 



Duluth Station. 



Legislation looking to the establishment of a station for hatching 

 whitefish and lake trout in the vicinity of Duluth, Minnesota, was 

 initiated by a petition from the fishermen of Lake Superior, who had 

 u formed themselves into an association to promote their mutual inter- 

 ests, their aims and objects being a better understanding of the fishing 

 laws of the several States, a uniform action among the fishermen con- 

 cerning the regulation of the size of meshes of all nets, and the enforce- 

 ment of the laws concerning them, and to secure the artificial propaga- 

 tion of the eggs of both whitefish and lake trout by a fish hatchery." 

 They further pledged themselves to aid, both by their labor and by the 

 use of their fishing plants and men, the work of collecting eggs for 

 propagation. This petition was accompanied by assurances that if the 

 necessary appropriation for the establishment of a hatchery should be 

 made, the people would donate a suitable site with an ample supply of 

 good water. 



The petition was forwarded to the Hon. Knute Nelson, Eepresenta- 

 tive from the district in which the city of Duluth is situated, who, after 

 conference with the Commissioner, brought the matter to the attention 

 of the Committee on Appropriations, and secured the introduction of 

 an item into the sundry civil bill appropriating $10,000 u For the estab- 

 lishment of a fish hatchery on Lake Superior at or near Duluth, Minne- 

 sota : Provided, That the city of Duluth shall furnish without charge 

 a suitable site for said hatchery." This bill became a law August 4, 

 1886. 



Of the several sites available, that offered by the Lakeside Land 

 Company on the Lester Eiver, in the northern suburbs of the city, was 

 after examination found most desirable, and was accepted. The site 

 thus conveyed to the United States in fee simple contains about 6 acres 

 lying on the shore of Lake Superior and bounded on the north by Lester 

 Eiver. In addition to the donation of land for the station, the Lake- 

 side Land Company made a cash contribution of $1,000 towards the 

 expense of introducing a supply of water by gravity from Lester Eiver. 



Jurisdiction over the land was ceded to the United States by act of 

 the State legislature, approved March 2, 1887. The validity of title in 

 the lands thus conveyed was duly certified by the Attorney- General on 

 March 10, 1888. 



In November, 1887, after personal examination of the ground by the 

 assistant in charge of fish culture, the location of the hatchery building 

 was definitely marked out, and the general plans for the development 

 of the station indicated. Plans and specifications for the hatchery 

 building and for the steam and water distributing plant were prepared 

 during the winter and following spring, and, after due advertisement, 

 the building let to contract on May 21, 1888. Work was in satisfactory 

 progress at the close of the fiscal year, and it is expected to have the 

 station completed and equipped for work the ensuing winter. 



