l66 ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



each. I was favored with a 15^ pound fighter and landed him successfully 

 with a 10 oz. Bristol rod. He made royal sport. 



As a whole the fishing during the past two seasons has been very poor. 

 I think it was worse this season than last. We do not get many small 

 maskalonge of late years, showing that there is some grave depreciation 

 in the fry. Some claim that the hatchery is a failure. Others say that 

 the carp and bullheads eat up the spawn and destroy the beds. We feel 

 as though the State should give us some aid in getting rid of the carp. 

 These fish were let into the lake about fourteen years ago by the breaking 

 of a private dam. Since then they have increased to an alarming extent. 

 If something is not done to exterminate them they will run the other fish 

 out. Is there not some way to remedy the evil? 



It is an acknowledged fact that the catch of longe has been getting 

 less each year for the past six or seven years. I attribute this mostly to 

 the infamous spearing law which we were successful in getting repealed 

 last spring. Old fishermen claim it will take ten years for the lake to 

 recover. This lake is full of food and all the bass and maskalonge taken 

 are hog fat. We have put in two batches of pike perch — are they a good 

 fish for this lake, and how will they affect the bass and maskalonge? 



The fishing in the other lakes in the county has also been poor. A 

 twenty-eight pound 'longe was the largest heard from at Bear Lake with 

 several that weighed ten and twelve • pounds each. Findley's Lake fur- 

 nished some, and the largest I heard of weighed a little over twelve pounds. 

 •I am always pleased to give the Commission any information I can and 

 hope you will call upon me whenever you want anything. 



Very truly yours, 



W. H. Knapp, 



Secretary. 



What the Commission has done for Chautauqua Lake in the way of 

 endeavoring to keep up the maskalonge fishing may be judged from the 

 stocking record. During the ten years beginning with 1896 and ending 

 with 1905 the number of eggs taken, of fry hatched, and the plant in Chau- 

 tauqua Lake and in other waters has been carefully kept and is shown by 

 the following table: 



