FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 339 



Excess Air in Artesian Water 



The same difficulty observed at Bemus Point and Cold Spring Harbor 

 in the use of artesian water for the hatcheries was again observed, and 

 it was overcome by holding the supply in a box outside of the hatchery 

 long enough to allow of the escape of the excess air, after which it passed 

 into the hatchery and became suitable for use. 



Early in February, Mr. Brown noted the effect of this surcharged 

 water on brook trout hatched from Long Island eggs. The fry stood on 

 their heads and some of them lay on their backs. Some would feed, but 

 others would not, and some of them were dying. There was a good deal 

 more air in the water in 1909 than there was in 1908. 



Notes on New York Fishes 



The Lake Lamprey 

 On July 19, 1909, Foreman Scriba wrote that there were a great many 

 dead fish on Oneida Lake, chiefly ciscos but some whitefish, and almost 

 all the fish had been killed by lampreys. On August 20th there were still 

 a goodly number of dead fish along the lake and along the shore, but not 

 so many as in July. 



Gar Pike 

 A petition signed by thirty-three citizens of Whitehall and vicinity 

 was forwarded to the Commissioner, requesting him to appoint some person 

 to oversee the removal of the gar pike, or bill fish from the water of Lake 

 Champlain, in the vicinity of Whitehall. This request was made because 

 of the destruction of small fish by the gar pike, which breeds near White- 

 hall, at the extreme southern end of the lake. According to the petitioners 

 an immense spawning ground is located at Whitehall, and the pike feed 

 entirely on fingerlings of bass, pike and pickerel. 



Carp 

 The Sportsmen's Association of Chautauqua County has been much 

 interested in the destruction of the carp in Chautauqua Lake, believing 



