FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 131 



The appropriation came just in time, as last July an unusual heavy rain raised the 

 creek to such an extent that all dams, bridges and some of the mills located on the 

 stream were carried away, the State hatchery building going with the rest. The flood 

 left the old site almost worthless. 



During September your Commission decided on a site at Constantia for the new 

 hatchery, the location being but a short distance from the old one, and on account of 

 the building of black bass breeding ponds which you contemplate in connection with 

 the new hatchery, I consider the new location much better than the former one. 



The necessary land for the hatchery and ponds was kindly donated to the State 

 by Mr. Romayne C. Robinson, of Parish, Oswego county. The deed conveys about 

 seven acres of land, the water right and privilege of erecting a dam, and the right to 

 flow five or six acres more. 



The work of building the dam and hatchery was commenced at once, and every- 

 thing will be ready for the next spawning season of the pike-perch in April. I am 

 of the opinion that at least a part of our whitefish and ciscoe eggs can also be hatched 

 at this new hatchery, which will be very convenient for plants intended for Lake 

 Ontario. The estimated cost of the new dam and hatchery ready for business is about 

 $4,000. This will leave $2,000 for the construction of the breeding ponds. 



The Shad Hatchery is located at Catskill on the Hudson. Owing to the extremely 

 high water and very cool weather during the spawning season the results this year 

 were not satisfactory, as they fell below the hatch of last year. Cold, rainy weather, 

 of course, makes considerable difference in the temperature of the river water. Shad 

 are very susceptible to change of temperature; a falling temperature retards their 

 spawning. 



I would suggest that some way be provided by law, so that, if deemed necessary, 

 your Commission could instruct me to fish for shad for propagating purposes after the 

 legal season for catching the shad had closed. 



I might mention that shad can not be caught in any kind of a net and returned to 

 the water, expecting them to live; every one of them will die. The old fishermen say 

 they die from fright. 



The present law gives your Commission a right to take fish for propagating 

 purposes, but it would seem as if some provision should be made for the lawful dis- 

 position of the shad so caught. It seems a needless waste to turn them back into the 

 river, to die before they sink out of sight. 



During the past season 2,068,000 fry were hatched and deposited in the river 

 from your Catskill Hatchery. About 7,000,000 more fry were kindly donated to the 

 State by the United States Fish Commission, and the fish car Adirondack made three 

 trips to the United States Commission's shad hatcheries on the Susquehanna and 



