FOREST, FISH AXD GAME COMMISSIONER. 141 



Tl)e Food Fisl) 



For reasons not well understood, there were unusual difficulties last 

 season, attending the highly important work of propagating what are 

 classed in this State as "food fish." These difficulties, it has been learned, 

 were also experienced in other states. In our own hatcheries the appar- 

 ently health}" eggs, especially of the pike-perch, perished by thousands or 

 hatched out weaklings without any reason that was apparent to the 

 experienced men in charge. In the opinion of many fishermen the trouble 

 was due to the unusually prolonged and severe weather of the winter pre- 

 ceding the spawning season. 



The run of shad in the Hudson river was also much smaller than usual. 

 Several snow squalls which came on during the season, chilled the water at 

 various times sufficiently to check the run, but the fishermen also assert 

 that the pollution of the river is now so great that the fish do not run in 

 any great number far above Catskill. It has also been suggested that the 

 myriads of carp which now infest the river seriously interfere with the 

 spawning of this important species of fish, and a number of suggestions 

 have been made by the fishermen with a view to overcoming these difficul- 

 ties. One plan which has been urged is that the Commission take steps to 

 raise the shad fry to a more advanced stage of growth before planting them. 

 Another suggestion is that the Commission remove the shad hatchery from 

 its present location on the banks of the river at Catskill to some desirable 

 location on the banks of the Delaware river, either in the town of Hancock 

 in Delaware count}-, or lower down in Sullivan count}'. The water there is 

 practically free from pollution, and the fish run annually in great numbers. 

 It would not be expensive to make this change and, in the judgment of 

 experienced fishermen, a great many more eggs could be taken there and 

 planted to much better advantage. As the failure of the shad fisheries 

 is a serious matter, any reasonable experiment having for its object 

 the improvement of existing conditions will recommend itself to the 

 taxpayers. 



It is encouraging to be able to report, while on this subject, that 

 although some of the food fish did not hatch well, there was nevertheless a 

 large increase in the output of several valuable varieties. The smelt did 



