174 TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



eral years past. There have been more fish caught in the river this season 

 than in years before." 



Local incidents of this kind serve an excellent purpose in calling atten- 

 tion to the very great importance of the fisheries of New York State. 

 According to the carefully collected statistics of the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries, New York State is easily the first of the middle Atlantic States 

 in the extent and importance of its fisheries. This fact alone should impress 

 itself upon our Legislature when matters connected with the hatcheries, 

 which keep up the supply of fish in our waters, are brought to their atten- 

 tion. Millions of dollars are invested in the fishing interests, and upwards 

 of 12,000 people in this State secure a livelihood from this business. It is 

 estimated that the total catch of all kinds of fish in our waters, on an average 

 year, is about 300,000.000 pounds, which have a cash value of over six and 

 one-half millions of dollars. This, briefly, is what our fisheries mean to our 

 State, and the success of these fisheries, beyond a doubt, depends very 

 largely, if not almost entirely, upon the work which the State Hatcheries 

 do in keeping up the supply in our waters. 



The actual work of the hatcheries may be readily understood by a 

 comparison of the number of applications received for fish and the dispo- 

 sition made of them during the year. In 1905 the total number of applica- 

 tions received for all kinds of fish was 2,216. During the past year we have 

 received a total of 2,591. Of these, 2,424 applications were filled promptly, 

 123 were rejected for various reasons (100 for trout, 20 for pike, and 3 for 

 maskalonge), and 44 were carried over for next season's work. The number 

 rejected a year ago was 145, we carried over 50, and the total number of 

 applications filed was 2,021. 



Rather more than the usual attention was given to the exhibit at the 

 State Fair, and as a result the Commission received many compliments for 

 the display made. The fish were all in good condition, and the variety 

 shown included examples of all those most commonly met with by our 

 fishermen. As usual, at the close of the Fair the fish were distributed in 

 nearby waters. 



From the United States Commission we received a total of 5,000,000^ 

 whitefish eggs, 4,250,000 lake trout eggs, 5,000,000 pike perch eggs, and 

 170,000 brook trout fry during the year. The eggs were hatched and the 



