ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



FISH CULTURIST 



Hon. Thomas H. Guy, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Fish 

 and Game: 



Sir. — Herewith is presented my report upon the fish cultural 

 work of the Conservation Commission during the fiscal year ended 

 September 30, 1912. 



This report includes statements from the foremen of the nine 

 hatcheries with additional remarks based upon inspection trips 

 made by me in regard to the condition of the stations, their 

 needed improvements, the habits and diseases of the fishes and 

 other aquatic species propagated by the State. 



The output of the stations was 730,434,933 fish, an increase 

 over the yield of 1911 of 28,986,539. The money value of the 

 fish distributed in 1912 was $210, 934.79, which shows a very 

 large return for the investment for maintenance, repairs and 

 improvements, purchase of eggs and miscellaneous expenses. 



The number of species of aquatic animals, chiefly fish, propa- 

 gated by the Commission in 1912 was 39, which includes a great 

 variety of valuable food and game fishes besides lobsters and blue 

 crabs. 



In estimating the value of the fish produced it is necessary to 

 add the brood stock at the stations which is increasing from 

 year to year. At this time the brood fish are worth fully $10,000, 

 if not more. 



The marine auxiliary hatchery at Montauk, Long Island, dem- 

 onstrated its usefulness in the development of eggs of the lobster, 

 sea bass and scup. The auxiliary building at Cold Spring 

 Harbor will also provide retaining tanks for live cod, and thus 

 enable the Commission to renew its important work with that val- 

 uable food fish. 



The experiments with short-nosed sturgeon and calico bass in 

 ponds at Linlithgo were continued. While it is probable that the 

 sturgeon will not lend itself readily to pond culture, there is. no 

 doubt that the fish will spawn naturally, and the only remaining 



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