318 
fApRiL 22, igos- 
New York Hatcheries. 
The following paragraphs are from advance sheets of 
the report of the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the 
New York State Hatcheries to Forest, Fish and Game 
Commissioner D. C. Middleton, as submitted to the 
Legislature: 
During the past season the value of the fish distributed 
for the purpose of stocking the inland waters of the 
State was, at the lowest market price charged by com- 
mercial hatcheries, $119,684.67, which is a larger value 
than that of the previous season and secured without any 
great additional expense. 
Some idea of the increase in the demands made on the 
hatcheries may be had from the fact that during the past 
year we received 2,320 applications for fish of various 
kinds, as compared with a total of 1,908 applications re- 
ceived in 1903, and a total of 1,459 received in 1902. We 
filled 1,929, as compared with 1,551 during the previous 
season, and carried over 196, which were filled satisfac- 
torily during the late fall. 
Owing to the severity of the previous winter, a consid- 
erable number of the fish had to be carried over until 
spring, which is the reason for the large increase in the 
number of yearlings distributed. As a rule, the fish are 
planted chiefly as fingerlings. that being the size which 
gives the most satisfactory results. Should any yearling 
fish happen to be on hand they are planted only in the 
larger bodies of water, or in such streams as are closed 
to all fishing in the manner provided by law. Valuable 
assistance has been received from local organizations for 
the protection of fish and game in planting many of the 
inland lakes, and it is the intention to continue sys- 
tematically the work of restocking the larger bodies of 
water on applications made in the name of the Com- 
mission itself. 
The Food Fish. 
For reasons not well understood, there were unusual 
difficulties last season, attending the highly important 
work of propagating what are classed in this State as 
"food fish." These difficulties, it has been learned, were 
also experienced in other States. In our own hatcheries 
the apparently healthy eggs, especially of the pike perch, 
perished by thousands or hatched out weaklings without 
any reason that was apparent to the experienced men in 
charge. In the opinion of many fishermen the trouble 
was due to the unusually prolonged and severe weather 
of the winter preceding the spawning season. 
The run of shad in the Hudson River was also much 
smaller than usual. Several snow squalls which came 
on during the season, chilled the water at various times 
sufficiently to check the run, but the fishermen also assert 
that the pollution of the river is now so great that the 
fish do not run in any great number far above Catskill. 
It has also been suggested that the myriads of carp 
which now infest the river seriously interfere with the 
spawning of this important species of fish, and a num- 
ber of suggestions have been made by the fishermen with 
a view to overcoming these difficulties. One plan which 
has been urged is that the Commission take steps to 
raise the shad fry to a more advanced stage of growth 
before planting them. Another suggestion is that the 
Commission remove the shad hatchery from its present 
location on the banks of the river at Catskill to some 
desirable location on the banks of the Delaware River — 
either in the town of Hancock, in Delaware county, or 
lower down in Sullivan county. The water there is prac- 
tically free from pollution, and the fish run annually in 
great numbers. It would not be expensive to make this 
change and, in the judgment of experienced fishermen, 
a great many more eggs could be taken there and planted 
to much better advantage. As the failure of the shad 
fisheries is a serious matter, any reasonable experiment 
having for its object the improvement of existing condi- 
tions will recommend itself to the taxpayers. 
The output of trout exceeded that of 1903 by 584,499, 
and the grand total output of game fish was 5,045,914. 
The Commission was able during the year to restock 
many depleted streams for which applications were made 
by line fishermen, and also to supply an unusually large 
number of requests from citizens interested in public 
waters in many parts of the State. Apparently the sever- 
ity of the winter did not affect the trout to any extent, 
and good fishing was reported by those living in the very 
localities where the streams were said to have been 
frozen solid and from which doleful predictions came 
that the waters would be barren of fish in the spring. 
The wisdom of the Legislature in making timely and 
encouraging appropriations for the use of the hatchery 
system rendered it possible for the Commission to so 
improve several of the hatcheries that their condition 
is now better than it has been before in years. It is 
believed that the extensions made at Margaretville will 
now render it possible to produce a supply ample for the 
stocking of the waters in the important Catskill region, 
and that changes made at the Pleasant Valley, Cold 
Spring and Fulton Chain hatcheries will result in more 
and better work at each. The great hatchery at Cale- 
donia, and the very important trout hatchery at Saranac 
Inn Station, should have similar attention next season. _ It 
is also desirable that provision be made for the rearing 
of black bass, and the Commission has plans for this well 
in hand and will push *them to a successful conclusion 
just as soon as certain questions involving the water sup- 
ply can be settled. The demand for this species of fish 
has grown steadily for several years and is now so great 
that the importance of this work can no longer be over- 
looked. 
A very serious epidemic among the brook trout at the 
Cold Spring hatchery, a misfortune which was shared 
by one or more of the great private hatcheries on Long 
Island, has temoorarily removed this hatchery from ac- 
tive service. The Commission at the outbreak of this 
disease, commimicated with Hon. George M._ Bowers, 
the United States Commissioner of Fisheries, who 
promptly furnished one of his best experts to render all 
possible assistance. The matter was given the closest 
possible attention, but in spite of every effort not a 
single fish could be saved. With a view to preventing 
any further occurrence of the kind at this important 
hatchery, the Commission has replaced all the old rear- 
ing ponds by cement structures and has thoroughly reno- 
vated all their connections. An entirely new lot of brood 
fish— 12,000 in number— were sent to this hatchery, from 
the Adirondacks during the fall, and it is believed that 
no further trouble will be experienced. 
In connection with this hatchery it is regretted that 
the Commission has been forced, temporarily at least, to 
abandon the valuable work that was being: done there in 
lobster culture. Excellent^ progress had been made in 
this work, and the great need for continuing it will be 
apparent to anyone familiar with the rapidity with which 
the lobsfer is disappearing from our waters.- 
Very material assistance has been rendered by the 
United States Fisheries Commission during the past 
season, and thanks are due to the Hon. George M. 
Bowers, Commissioner, for his ready responses to our 
various requests. In this connection, it may be said that 
in addition to the fish planted in New York State waters 
by our Commission, the United States Commissioner has 
distributed: 1,148,000 brook trout fry, 3,375 brook trout 
yearlings, 4,470,000 lake trout fry, 10,900 rainbow trout 
fry, 1,850 black bass yearlings, 350 rock bass yearlings, 
100,000 pike perch fry, and 15,235,000 whitefish fry. 
Recommendations. 
In view of the preceding statements, and of other mat- 
ters which have come to my attention during the year, 
I would make the following recommendations : 
1. That an effort be made to have the committees of 
the Legislature, in their travels through the State, pay 
visits to the several hatcheries, for the purpose of giving 
these committees a well-defined idea of the magnitude of 
our work and its importance to the people, as well as of 
the requirements of the hatcheries. 
2. That the location of the shad hatchery be changed 
in accordance with the suggestion and for the reasons 
already given. 
3. That in recognition of the work done by the secre- 
tary in connection with the hatchery system, and more 
especially because of the interest he has taken in the dis- 
tribution of the output, the collection of specimens for 
the various exhibits, and of his knowledge of the waters 
of the State arid their requirements, the honorary title 
of Assistant Fish Culturist be bestowed upon him, and a 
suitable record of this action made in the minutes of 
the Commission. 
4. That the State hatcheries be opened in a modified 
way to scientific workers engaged in the study of fishcul- 
tural problems, and especially to those studying the dis- 
eases of fish. J. D. Lawrence, 
Deputy Commissioner. 
Secretary John D. Whish has prepared the following 
comparative statement of what was done by several of 
the States during the season of 1904. The figures are 
compiled from official reports, and furnish an interesting 
comparison for all those concerned in the work of fish- 
culture. It should be stated before considering the fig- 
ures that in Maine the game fish distributed are trout 
and ouananiche; in Minnesota, New York, New Jersey 
and Vermont they are all trout. In Michigan, Pennsyl- 
vania and Wisconsin the pike perch is called a game fish, 
but in making the comparison in the table this species 
is rated as a food fish in order to place all the States on 
the same footing. New Jersey buys all its fish from the 
commercial hatcheries : 
Total 
State. Distribution. Food Fish. Game Fish. Cost. 
Connecticut 7,250,450 7,135,000 115,450 $4,237.11 
Maine 1,084,504 None 1,084,504 25,000.00 
Massachusetts 26,411,337 22,100,000 4,311,337 5,800.00 
Michigan 48,904,460 39,875,000 9,229,460 32,000.00 
Minnesota 72,700,000 67,800,000 4,900,000 8,000.00 
New York 111.667,830 106,617,466 5,050,364 52,000.00 
New Jersey ' 27,100 None 27,100 6,045.00 
Pennsylvania 85,000,000 77,293,000 7,707,000 17,000.00 
Rhode Island... 3,040.500 3,000,000 40,500 7.50O.OO 
Vermont 880,000 None 880,000 2,000.00 
Wisconsin 83,837,850 20,375,000 63,462,850 30,413.06 
The History of a Fly. 
Seattle. — This is the story of a new fly invented by 
Mrs. Chet Belding, one of the most expert fisherwomen 
on the Pacific Coast. Its killing qualities were tested 
on Cedar Lake last fall and found to be better than any 
of the other artificial lures in use at that time of the 
year. 
It is impossible to give a name to the new fly, be- 
cause the original, so far as investigation has gone, is 
not classified. It is found only in the lakes of high 
altitude, and makes its appearance about the middle 
of August. For three weeks the water along late in 
the afternoon is well covered with this species of fly, 
and the trout feed on them almost exclusively. 
In general appearance it resembles the devil's darn- 
ing needle, but it is a distinct species, even if it should 
belong to that family. Its body is rather long and 
yellow; its wings are of good size, gauzy and of a drab 
color. It rests on the water by means of four legs. 
One of the most peculiar things about the odd 
creature is that it does not move about, after once 
settling for the night, or, at least that is the deduction 
made from observations by both Mr. and Mrs. Belding. 
It does, however, twist its body back and forth with a 
sort of spasmodic action. 
Its birth takes place in the mud at the bottom of the 
lake near the shore. About 9 o'clock in the morning 
it slowly works its way to the top of the water, where 
it rests perfectly motionless for eight or ten minutes; 
then it slowly spreads its wings and flies directly into 
the rays of the sun. Nothing more is seen of it until 
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when it returns to 
the water and remains there for the night, unless some 
hungry trout ends its existence. 
The length of the fly is about one inch, and it comes 
out of a cocoon, wherein it lives during the chrysalis 
state.^ The cocoon collapses and appears on the sur- 
face of the water in the form of a brown scum. 
Mr. Belding says that from his personal observa- 
tions in Idaho and California he believes that this fly 
is not foimd in either of these States; from inquiries 
made among sportsmen he is inclined to doubt its ex- 
istence in Oregon, although he does not feel like mak- 
ing a decided statement to that- effect.^ Eastern fisher- 
men of years' experience in all parts" of ■ the United 
States have told Mr. Belding that "Washington is the 
only place they have ever seen this,fly. 
The story of how Mrs. Belding happened to com- 
mence her investigations which resulted in the mak- 
ing of the artificial Ay is out of the ordinary. A party 
was camped on the shore of Cedar Lake in August. 
All of a sudden the trout ceased biting and nothing 
in the way of bait or flies would tempt them to action. 
One evening Mr. and Mrs. Belding went out on the 
lake 'and commenced casting. Now Mr. Belding is 
candid enough to admit that his wife can handle a 
rod better than he. She can stand with her back to a 
tree and, without apparent effort, place a fly within 
a six-inch circle four out of five times, 'at fifty feet. 
How she makes the line circle gracefully into the air 
over her head and then commence its journey at right 
angles to the ground is what stumps Mr. Belding. Mrs. 
Belding has attempted to initiate her husband into the 
mystery of the delicate wrist action which produces 
this result, but he says that it is beyond him — and Chet 
is a mighty good fly-caster at that. 
On the evening in question Mr. Belding cast his 
fly in vain, but every time Mrs. Belding tipped the 
rod there was a splash and in came a firm-meated 
mountain trout. 
"What have you got there?" inquired Mr. Belding; 
"I don't see why you should be such a favorite." 
"Why," replied Mrs. Belding, with a laugh, "I have 
a fly of my own manufacture." 
She had taken an ordinary hook, lined the shank with 
very fine strips of cork, and then covered it with a 
yellow body. The drab wings had been made of yarn. 
The cork kept the artificial fly on top of the water in 
imitation of the original, and in order to prevent the 
leader from sinking close up to the hook she had taken 
bits of cork and attached them to it. 
In reality it was still-fishing that made Mrs. Belding's . 
success. She aimed to imitate the fly which she had 
observed on the water, but realized that her aim would 
be destroyed if she dragged the fly over the surface, 
because the real fly does not move about. Having the 
fly stationary and on top of the water and the leader 
also on the surface, she had an exact imitation of the 
conditions she sought to imitate. Her creel was filled 
without trouble and the party humbly acknowledged the 
wisdom of woman. Portus Baxter. 
A Night at Headquarters. 
"Heh, there!" My friend Brown, originator of the 
Shenandoah Rod and Reel Club, was just turning Bell's 
corner when I called to him, and, catching up, we 
went on up to the quarters of the club. 
"Give the countersign, Cline." "Right you say." I 
knock on the door, and presently we hear the measured 
tread of the quartermaster, Dorsey Yeakley. 
"Don't light the'gas. Dorse; let's light up the pipes 
instead." 
"Well," says Brownie, "only three more months." 
"Hush, Brownie; don't mention it, please; I'll be 
catching fish all night." 
"Hello! somebody at the door. That's all right, 
Dorse; let him in; his knock is all right." 
The sturdy form of Carson Yeakley stands in the 
doorway. Bless his old soul. Without old Carse and 
Brownie the Shenandoah -Rod and Reel Club would 
be like a ship without a rudder. 
"Well," says Dorse, "how long are we going to stay 
this time?" 
"A whole month!" spoke up a voice. 
"Good! an excellent idea, if every one can do the 
same," says Carse. Its is none too long, and the time 
will slip by quick enough." 
"I understand," Carson continued, "that Mr. Van 
Alstyne, the song-writer, musician and all-round 
camper and fisherman, is to be with us this year." 
"That's the calculation," says Brownie, "and we'll 
never regret taking him with us, and, by the way, that 
gentleman desires us to bear in mind that he doesn't 
go as a guest, either." 
"Say, look here, Mr. Quartermaster Dorsey Yeakley, 
I want to make a motion that we be allowed to stay 
up until 10 o'clock this year." 
"Well, now," says Dorse, "we'll see. If Squire 
Grant doesn't get too obstreperous and doesn't shoot 
too many buckshot at Cline's cork we might change 
the rules a little." 
"That's all right about the Squire," spoke up a voice, 
"I'll fix him all right when I get him out in Van 
Alstjaie's canvas boat." 
"Let him in, Dorse; I'll bet that's the Squire now." 
"I told you so!" 
"Hello, Squire; we were just talking about you. 
Dorse here says if you are right good he'll let you 
go out in the canvas boat with me, and then I'll do 
the rest." 
"Well!" says the Squire, "I'll be with you at the go- 
down." 
The club will pitch their tents this year on the banks 
of the Shenandoah, in the valley of Virginia, where our 
little mascot, Jack Greenwall, can once more hear the 
distant rumble of the "double hitter" and the "double 
single." He says he has almost forgotten the whistle, 
but is ready to bet with Dorse on the first one that 
comes along. He caught his first bass last year, and 
his only regret is, that he landed it "nigger" fashion. 
He is now the possessor of a rod and reel, and says 
he will land his next fish like a gentleman. 
A. T. Cline. 
WiNCHBSTBR, Va., April 8. 
A Hudson River Striped Bass* 
A thirty-seven-pq-und striped bass was caught one 
afternoon last week in the Hudson River off Grant's 
Tomb in the nets of A. J. Fertenbach, of West 125th 
street. This is said to be the largest striped bass ever 
caught in the Hudson. It measured 48 inches from tip 
to tail. The fish was exhibited last night at the Clare- 
mont, and will be stuffed for the Museum of Natural 
History. 
To Pteserve Minnows. 
Vancouver, B. C— For preserving minnows try forma- 
lin, diluted of course. This will keep even the eyes 
bright, and the fish will last better on an archer spinner 
than when fresh from tilt water. J. C. 
