REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



AIIuti»e7}i!^ of egfjs and fish to the state fin] i. commissions in 1904 — ■Continued. 



At the request of the Michigan li.sh commissioners, the Bureau has 

 continued to operate the state hatcheries at Detroit and Sault Ste. 

 Marie, directing- its ellorts there to the propagation of white-fish, lake 

 trout, and pike perch. Negotiations are in progress with a view to 

 the taking over bv the Government of other state hatcheries wliich 

 for various reasons the local authorities do not care to operate. 



In its efforts to maintain the supply of commercial fishes, the Bureau 

 has nowhere labored more assiduously and expended more money than 

 in Michigan, which state Jias most valuable fishery interests at stake 

 in all of the Great Lakes except one. For many years the fish-cultural 

 work of the government on the Great Lalces has been on an immense 

 scale, far exceeding that in any other section of the country, and of 

 the unmistakable benefits resulting therefrom the Michigan fishermen 

 have reaped the largest share. Notwithstanding these facts, however, 

 the fish wardens of Michigan have for a number of years made deter- 

 mined efforts to interfere with and curtail the work of the Bureau's 

 representatives, raising petty objections to the methods pursued in 

 the collection of spawn. Their shortsighted and unwarranted actions 

 have caused great annoyance and at times have threatened completely 

 to stop fish-cultural work in the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. 

 During several years matters were at an acute stage, but it was not 



