140 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



be had from the fact that during the past year we received 2,320 applica- 

 tions for fish of various kinds, as compared with a total of 1,908 applications 

 received in 1903, and a total of 1,459 received in 1902. Of the applications 

 received, we filled 1,929, as compared with 1,551 during the previous season, 

 and carried over 196, which were filled satisfactorily during the late fall. 

 We rejected 195 applications which were either defective, or duplicates, or 

 called for fish not suited to the waters for which the application was 

 made. 



Owing to the severity of the previous winter, a considerable number of 

 the fish had to be carried over until spring, which is the reason for the large 

 increase in the number of yearlings distributed. As a rule the fish are 

 planted chiefly as fingerlings, that being the size which gives the most 

 satisfactory results. Should any yearling fish happen to be on hand they 

 are planted only in the larger bodies of water, or in such streams as are 

 closed to all fishing in the manner provided by law. Valuable assistance 

 has been received from local organizations for the protection of fish and 

 game in planting many of the inland lakes, and it is the intention to con- 

 tinue systematically the work of restocking the larger bodies of water on 

 applications made in the name of the Commission itself. 



As indicating the value of the State hatchery system in a manner 

 which cannot be misunderstood, I quote from the recent report of Mr. John 

 M. Cobb, Agent of the United States Fish Commission, who, in giving a 

 detailed account of the commercial fisheries of the interior lakes and rivers 

 of New York, says: 



"The interior waters of New York produce more maskalonge and 

 smelt than the waters of any other State in the Union, and they lead all 

 others, except the Great Lakes, in the catch of bullheads, pickerel, wall- 

 eyed pike (except Minnesota), yellow perch, and suckers. In 1895 the 

 total catch was 754,730 pounds, valued at $60,068, while in 1902 it amounted 

 to 1,530,918 pounds, valued at $87,897, a gain of 776,183 pounds and 

 $27,811." 



Undoubtedly, judging from the increase in our population and from 

 the number of applications for fish as previously stated, the amount and 

 value of the fish taken from the inland waters of the State have increased 

 in a similar proportion during the past two years. 



