352 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
burlaps which are arranged to fit into it. This apparatus could be used for hatching if desired, 
but this year was utilized only for hardening. The eggs are left to harden from twenty-four to 
seventy-two hours, at the end of which time the spawn may be transported, but has not reached 
the eyed stage. 
The burlaps were shipped to applicants by express prepaid, packed in baskets of sphagnum 
moss, which holds the moisture and maintains an even temperature. This method of shipment 
proved satisfactory only for nearby waters. Considering the slowness of transportation by express, 
and the present condition of railroad facilities, distribution by automobile would be the best 
method. Planting is accomplished by the simple method of selecting a place where the water has 
a fairly swift current, and placing the burlap on the bottom, weighted down with stones at each end. 
The report for 1921 states that “ several bushels of spawn-covered grass were 
planted in the Jones River, Kingston, as has been done yearly since 1917.” 
While considerable success has attended the attempts to stock New England 
waters with smelts, it appears that some difficulty has been encountered in efforts to 
stock waters at a greater distance from the source of supply. While living adult fish 
possibly might be transported, it would hardly seem feasible to transfer them in 
sufficient numbers to stock a lake, especially one in which predatory fishes occur, for 
it is likely that all would be devoured before they could breed, although an initial 
stock of smelt in a small pond might be established if there were no other fish to 
eat them. To transport fish in breeding condition would be still more difficult, and 
even if they endured the journey and did not spawn on the way they would not be 
likely to spawn after they were planted. The most practicable way appears to be 
by transfer of eggs, in which the difficulty lies in the shortness of the incubation 
period and the danger of the eggs hatching before arrival at their destination. 
The most signal success in stocking distant waters that has come to our atten- 
tion is that of Crystal Lake in Michigan. It appears that of 20,400,000 eggs shipped 
to the Michigan Fish Commission from the Green Lake station of the Bureau of 
Fisheries in April, 1912, 16,400,000 were planted in a tributary of this lake. 
In 1922 the result of the introduction was manifested by the appearance of breed- 
ing fish in tributary streams of the lake. The Rev. J. Warren Leonard, of Lansing, 
who was interested in stocking the lake, informed the writer that the smelts ascended 
one of the streams tributary to Crystal Lake to spawn in such quantities that they 
were drawn away by wagon loads to be used as fertilizer. This seems like “old times” 
in the East. The size of the fish was reported to be as large as 9 inches in length. 
The smelt eggs in this case were of the “large” smelt of Green Lake. 
Creaser (1925) shows that on April 4, 1912, 6,000,000 eggs were deposited in 
Torch Lake, Antrim County, and on April 6, 1912, 16,400,000 eggs were placed in 
Crystal Lake, Benzie County, Mich. Eggs were planted elsewhere in Michigan, also, 
of which there is no definite information of locality or results. About 200,000 eggs 
were sent to the Huron Mountain Club of Marquette County, which were planted 
in Howe and Trout Lakes in that county. According to Creaser, specimens have 
been taken or recorded from the following places in Michigan : 
1. Crystal Lake, Benzie County, Beulah, Mich. Specimens have been taken in 
the lake proper in summer and winter and at a great range of depths; from a tribu- 
tary, Cold Creek, at the village of Beulah; and from the outlet, East Betsie River, 
which runs into Lake Michigan. 
