296 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



The late Seth Green, who for many years had charge of all the fish hatcheries 

 of this State, wrote an article in 1885 from which the following extract is taken. 

 "Another curiosity which is sometimes seen in the propagation of fish is the 

 albino, as perfectly as could possibly be imagined, pure white with pink eyes. 

 They are quite rare, probably not more than one making its appearance among a 

 million fry. On several occasions Ave have kept them until they were several 

 months old, and four until they were two years old, when all but two were caught 

 by kingfishers. They are such a perfect mark and can be seen so much easier than 

 other trout that they are easily caught. One was raised until it was three years 

 old when unfortunately it died, much to the regret of all as it was a great curiosity 

 to visitors. From this fish we took 300 eggs and impregnated them with ordinary 

 brook trout. A good percentage of the spawn hatched, but the young showed no 

 differences from the ordinary fry. 



Albino brook trout were raised at the Sacandaga State Hatchery from eggs 

 taken from wild fish. At least one of these fish lived to be two years old. 



At the Adirondack Hatchery, Saranac Inn, albinos have hatched nearly every 

 year. In March, 1902, there were about fifty of them from an entire hatching 

 of 800,000 eggs taken from both wild and confined brook trout. As there were so 

 many they attracted attention and were put by themselves. They received the 

 best of care, but only four lived. Two of these are typical specimens, con- 

 forming to my description, while the other two are without the colored spots. 

 Color, silvery ; black eyes, and appear to be barren fish. They have all been 

 kept in the races at the hatchery and fed on ground liver. One of the pure albinos 

 is a male and the other a female. November 10, 1903, when the two albinos were 

 twenty months old, they were stripped for eggs and fertilization. At that time 

 their combined weight was approximately one half pound, the female being much 

 the larger. 



Foreman Winchester made the following experiments in fertilization: First 

 cross, 527 eggs from female albino x albino male ; second cross, 103 eggs from 

 female albino x natural male; third cross, 424 eggs from natural female x albino 

 male. The eggs, after fertilization, Avere placed in the hatchery races the same as 

 done with all brook trout eggs. The hatching began March 1, 1904, and continued 

 until the thirteenth of the same month, the period of incubation being the same 

 as that for the other trout eggs. The results of the hatching were as follows: 



First cross, . . 32 hatched, . . approximately 6 per cent. 

 Second cross, . ..' 4.3 hatched, . . approximately 42 per cent. 

 Third cross, . . 416 hatched, . . approximately 98 per cent. 



