Report on ffye estate Matcfyeries for t\)z 



^ear 1906 



Hon. J. S. Whipple, Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner: 



SIR. — You are already advised, in a general way, as to the very great 

 advances made in the work of the State Hatcheries during the past 

 year, and it but remains for me to call your attention specifically to 

 existing conditions, and to describe where necessary the work that has been 

 done, and to make such suggestions as have occurred to me for the better- 

 ment of the service. The commendable liberality of the Legislature, to 

 whose attention the requirements of the hatcheries were called last season, 

 has had its effect. The result should amply warrant the further attention 

 of the law making body until appropriations fully adequate to the neces- 

 sities of fish propagation and distribution are procured. There is no apparent 

 reason why the State Fish Hatcheries should not be kept up to as high a 

 standard as private property would be, and there are very many reasons 

 why every dollar asked for the improvement and enlargement of these 

 hatcheries should be given. If the Legislature would, as has been many 

 times suggested, send a committee to look into the hatcheries and their 

 work, and to note the increasing demands made upon them, there would 

 be no doubt as to the result of an application on the part of this Commis- 

 sion for funds for hatchery purposes. 



The distribution of fish during the year just closed has been far greater 

 than ever before. A total of 225,909,360 food fish have been raised and 

 distributed, as compared with a total of 164,930,400 during the previous 

 year. At the same time, the total output of game fish has been 9,764,900 

 as compared with 6,540,620 the year before. The very substantial increase 

 in each case is at once apparent. This great increase is in part due to 



enlarged facilities made possible by the increased appropriations furnished 



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