76 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



specimens supposed to be whitefish were accidentally caught by the State hatchery 

 employes, and at my request were sent to Dr. Tarieton H. Bean for identification. 

 The doctor pronounced them whitefish. This fall I directed that at about the 

 whitefish spawning season a net should be set for them, which resulted in the cap- 

 ture of about 12,000 whitefish averaging nearly two pounds each, from which almost 

 18,000,000 eggs were obtained. These eggs are now in process of hatching at your 

 Adirondack, Caledonia and Oneida hatcheries. Only about seventy-five of these 

 whitefish were injured by handling. The balance were all returned to the lake, 

 and I hope that with proper management the take of eggs from this lake will be 

 doubled next year. 



During the past year whitefish eggs were also obtained from Canandaigua and 

 Hemlock lakes, and were hatched at the Caledonia and Oneida hatcheries. The fry 

 were largely planted in Canandaigua, Hemlock and Ontario lakes. By artificial prop- 

 agation Lake Ontario can again be made to furnish plenty of whitefish, but to insure 

 this the greatest care must be taken to protect the present stock found in Canan- 

 daigua, Hemlock and Little Clear lakes, as they are the only waters wholly under 

 the jurisdiction of the State from which whitefish eggs can be obtained in paying 

 quantities. 



The past summer was remarkable for the long-continued drought, and before the 

 fall rains came, many small streams went lower than ever before known and many 

 fish died for lack of water. On this account it is safe to say that the demands on 

 your Commission for the next season's output will largely increase, and I intend 

 that the hatcheries shall be prepared to meet it. On account of this drought it was 

 found necessary to provide means to obtain more water at some of the hatcheries, 

 and several improvements on this line were made at the Adirondack and Caledonia 

 establishments. At the former hatchery the work was finished and it permanently 

 places the capacity and standing of that hatchery in the front rank of the kind in 

 the country. 



Special mention of the work of propagation of both fish and game birds at the 

 Pleasant Valley hatchery must not be omitted. By consulting my report as to the 

 output from each hatchery, you will see that Pleasant Valley stands second in the 

 list for the propagation of fingerling and yearling trout. 



At present this hatchery is the only one where attention is paid to the breeding 

 or rearing of the Mongolian or ring-necked pheasants. From a very small beginning 

 of only twelve birds in 1897, the stock has rapidly increased, requiring more coops 

 or inclosures each season, until over 400 birds were successfully reared the past year. 

 A suitable appropriation is required to enlarge the breeding inclosures and carry on 



