FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 1 8 



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has also been authorized to move one of the small meat houses not needed 

 for its old purposes to constitute an office room attached to the hatchery 

 at one comer. He has been directed to build a water wheel to furnish 

 power for grinding fish food, thus reducing expense and economizing time. 



Caledonia station needs some radical improvements, and when these 

 have been accomplished there is scarcely a doubt that its former useful- 

 ness will not only be restored but will be greatly enhanced. Certain dead 

 waiters along the edges of the creek must be overcome by means of cement 

 walls and by drainage and filling. One of the dams at the upper end of 

 the grounds ought to be removed or modified. It is a constant drag to 

 the efficiency of the station. All corners along the stream now containing 

 dead leaves and other refuse should be renovated, and the water should 

 flow through a clean bed, and be received in the ponds in much better con- 

 dition than it is at present. Measures must be taken to destroy the sur- 

 plus vegetation, and especially the frog spittle, which constitutes a great 

 nuisance and causes heavy losses of fish. 



The waters of Spring creek seem to be now full of the crustacean para- 

 site referred to under the heading of the Adirondack station. They are 

 so badly infested that it is no longer possible to rear brook trout in the 

 station ponds. Of course it is not feasible to drain off ponds and kill 

 the parasites by means of quicklime, and even if this could be done, it 

 would not help matters in the creek. The only probable relief from this 

 parasite appears to be the introduction of the surface-feeding killy, pre- 

 viously named, and it is believed that this killy will live and reproduce in 

 the creek. 



The capacity of the small trout brook at Guthrie's is limited, and in 

 warm, dry seasons it becomes still further decreased and often causes unex- 

 pected and serious losses of fry and fingerling fish. It is hoped that some 

 day the main creek at the hatchery will be restored to its normal condition 

 with respect to parasitism and become available for brook trout. 



Cold Spring Harbor Hatchery. 



A moderate amount of money was devoted to repairs to the barns, 

 icehouse and hatching-room, for painting, and for sinking an artesian well. 

 The last is regarded as the most important improvement made at the Cold 



