FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. I49 



The demand for Black Bass also continues, for which reason the suggestion made 

 a year ago, as to the desirability of providing suitable rearing ponds, is repeated. 

 Other improvements necessary at the several hatcheries are indicated in the 

 abstracts of the reports of the hatchery foremen, which are appended. 



Advices received from various parts of the State show that the work of the 

 Commission in stocking inland waters is thoroughly appreciated by commercial 

 fishermen and the sportsmen. In fact, it would not be a difficult matter to 

 demonstrate to the average citizen that the fish planted in the waters of the 

 State form a valuable asset in every community. Game fishermen annually spend 

 many thousands of dollars in the localities in which they seek their favorite 

 sport, and a fair livelihood is earned by thousands of men who pursue the business 

 of fishing for the markets. Without the continual replenishing of the State 

 waters with fish from the hatcheries to meet the demands of our steadily increas- 

 ing population there would be but little sport and much less income in a very 

 short time. 



Approximately, whac the work of the Commission means in this connection 

 may best be, judged from the figures which show the commercial value of the 

 fisheries of the State in an average year. These figures, which are authenticated 

 by the United States Commission, are as follows: 



Value of the Hudson River fisheries . .... . $150,000 00 



Fisheries of inland lakes and streams .... 80,000 00 



Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the Niagara and 



St. Lawrence Rivers 250,000 00 



The coastal fisheries 3,700,000 00 



These figures are given in round numbers and the totals do not vary to any 

 great extent from one year to another, the tendency being toward an increase 

 rather than a decrease, as will be apparent from the fact that the actual com- 

 mercial value of the fisheries of the inland waters during the year 1902 was 

 $87,897 instead of $80,000, as given, which sum represented 1,530,918 pounds of 

 fish of all kinds. Further argument would not seem necessary to show how 

 highly important is this portion of the Commission's work, which, statistics show, 

 has been one of steady progress along the lines indicated ever since the Legis- 

 lature created the first Fisheries Commission, thirty-five years ago. 



A very attractive and satisfactory exhibit was made at the State Fair at 

 Syracuse, where permanent aquaria have been constructed for this purpose. The 



