2 2 ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



small last year. Hence, less work was accomplished in repairing and 

 improving than should have been done. The Saranac Inn hatchery was 

 very much improved; the others, very little. 



Substantial repairs and improvements should be made at the Caledonia 

 hatchery. It should be fostered and grown until it is unsurpassed by any 

 in the United States. It has every natural facility, — water, location and 

 surroundings. Because of easy access and its proximity to large centers of 

 population, it is visited by many thousands of people each year. If put in 

 proper condition, it will be an object lesson to all who visit it, creating and 

 stimulating an increased interest in the propagation and protection of fish, 

 and will become very profitable to the people of the State. Liberal appro- 

 priations should be made for its improvement, and for acquiring all of 

 Caledonia creek above the hatchery. I sincerely hope that this may be done. 



The Commission has made arrangements for, and expects to produce, a 

 largely increased number of fish of all kinds during the year 1906. The 

 facts and figures in detail are fully set forth in the following pages under the 

 " Report on State Hatcheries." 



The State has never engaged in the propagation of small mouthed, 

 black bass, although there is a strong sentiment in favor of it. There is no 

 better game or food fish than the black bass. It seems to me very desira- 

 ble that an appropriation should be made for hatching ponds for this pur- 

 pose, and that the same be established at an early date. 



ai)eUfisf) 



The report of Mr. B. Frank Wood, Superintendent of Shellfisheries, 

 which is submitted herewith, is very interesting and full of valuable infor- 

 mation in relation to that important industry. A very large number of 

 acres of land under water belonging to the State have been leased to oyster 

 planters from time to time under the law providing for such leases, but 

 always at a very low rate per acre as the leasing must be done and is done 

 by advertisement and public sale. The present rate is about twenty-five 

 cents an acre on long term leases. In years gone by the Commission gave 

 psrpetual grants at a purely nominal sum. 



The property interests of the oyster planters have become very large. 

 The total product in bushels and value is remarkable as compared with 



