1 16 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



The policy adopted by the Commission of planting larger and older fish 

 in addition to fry, is meeting the approbation of the fishing fraternity. From 

 the numerous reports received in regard to the fishing in streams and lakes, 

 where fingerlings or yearlings have been planted, it is satisfactorily shown 

 that the work should be continued, as the results fully warrant the additional 

 expense. 



Reports have been received regarding streams and lakes stocked within the last 

 two years with fingerling and yearling brown and rainbow trout (waters that never 

 before contained these varieties), that during the past fishing season specimens varying 

 in weight from one-half to one and one-half pounds have been taken. From all over 

 the State comes encouraging reports of better fishing. The Commission has done 

 more in the way of restocking the streams in the past two years than was ever done 

 before. 



An actual count is always made of the fingerlings and yearlings sent out by your 

 Commission. Ten thousand fingerlings or 8,000 yearlings make a large carload. 

 Three hundred and fifty thousand fingerlings (thirty-five carloads) have been sent out 

 by your Commission inside of three months, and 40,000 yearlings (fifty carloads) will 

 be ready for distribution next spring. 



It is pleasing to know that the Fish Commissions of other States have commenced 

 the planting of fingerlings and yearlings. 



With the continued efforts to have our hatcheries increase their output of finger- 

 lings and yearlings comes the question of expense. Two of the principal items 

 entering into the cost of producing this sized fish is the food„and the time taken to 

 prepare it. Recent experiments with new food lead me to believe that the cost of 

 production can be materially reduced. 



Experiments in the mode of hatching and rearing young of some varieties of fish 

 previously considered impossible to raise have been successful. I refer to the hatching 

 and rearing in confinement of the red-throat trout. About 100,000 fingerlings of this 

 variety are now at the Caledonia and Pleasant Valley Hatcheries. The eggs were 

 taken from the adult fish confined in the hatchery ponds. 



We have also been successful in hatching mascalonge eggs by the glass-jar 

 method, and the rearing of the young fry to the length of four and four and one-half 

 inches in three months. 



It has also been found by actual work and experiment that our inland lakes can 

 furnish whitefish eggs in sufficient numbers for the restocking of Lake Ontario and 

 inland waters with this valuable food fish. Over 20,000,000 of whitefish were hatched 

 and planted during the past year, and the supply of eggs were obtained from inland 

 waters of the State. 



