Conservation Commission. 207 



species. Mr. Conkling wrote that the fish were taken from the 

 shore of Beacon reservoir. The caretaker said he had picked up 

 about 3,000 in three weeks. Mr. Conkling further states that 

 the reservoir was full of small catfish. In walking across the 

 dam he saw as many as 100 of them, about 5 inches long, swim- 

 ming on top and all apparently after the sunfish. 



FISH PRESERVATIVES* 



Numerous inquiries concerning fish preservatives have been 

 received by this Commission. Anglers and other fishermen who 

 capture curious or unidentified specimens wish to know how to 

 ship them safely to some museum or to the office of the Commis- 

 sion for examination. We have found that common salt will 

 answer this purpose in almost every case, although it is not well 

 to leave the fish in salt very long, as it makes the fibres too brittle 

 for permanent preservation in alcohol or some other medium. 

 After a short period in salt, not extending over a few days, it is 

 practicable to freshen the fish over night in water and then put 

 it into alcohol or formalin. Many students of fish prefer alcohol 

 to formalin because the latter injures the hands and alcohol does 

 not. The usual proportions for a preserving fluid are three parts 

 of alcohol to one part of water. A less percentage of alcohol re- 

 quires such frequent renewals as to make it unsafe as a preserva- 

 tive. Another very useful fish preservative is commercial ace- 

 tate of soda, an inexpensive material which can be used in the 

 same way as salt; but salt has the advantage of being harmless. 

 For large specimens of fish it is necessary to make an opening in 

 the belly and fill the cavity with salt or other preservative. 



EXAMINATION OF WATERS. 



In accordance with a request of Commissioner Austin I went 

 to Twitchell lake, three miles from Big Moose, in Herkimer 

 county, on October 21, 1910, and remained until the night of 

 October 23d for the purpose of reporting on the character of the 

 lake and the question of screening its outlet. 



A number of property owners around Twitchell lake, resi- 

 dent and nonresident, wished to place a screen at the outlet, to 



