, 1889-11-03
A FISH STORY.
The Annual Report of Commits
si0ner Miller.
Work Accomplished by the Officer
During the Year.
A Series of Recommendations and
Suggestions Made.

er Miller has reached the Office Of Gov
ernor Warren. The document opens
with a quotation of the law creating the
Office, establishing the hatchery near Lar
annie and providing for its maintenance.
He says:
THE LAND.
THE appropriation of $1,000 for the
purpose Of en~larging the present Matching
house and the construction Of a residence
for the superintendent was not available
owing to failure to secure title tn the land
on which the plant is located, the same
being section % of the abandoned Fort
Sanders military reservation. The tract
was granted to the Union Pacific and then
sold to a land company. The latter offers
to give to the territory forty acres occu-
pied by the hatchery when it secures title.
Under act of congress this territory is en-
| titled to $40 acres of land on the military
reservation.
WORK OF II HATCHERY.
Owing to the failure to secure addi-
tional buildings the work of the commis-
sioner last season was less than he ex-
pected to accomplish. w. d. Tanner,
superintendent. took 400. 900 eggs from
Nov. 10. to Dec. Is. 1888; highest num-
Der of eggs taken on any one day was 81
900 on Dec. 6; number of females stripped
was 752. giving an average for each fe-
male of $40 &
THE hrst fish Matched on Jan. 9, and
by the 18th day OF February all were out.
To hatch the eggs required fifty seven
days. average temperature of water 430
Fahrenheit.
I'VE received Dec. % from the United
States hatchery at Worthwhile, Mich,
100, 900 lake trout eggs and on Jan. l
1889 received an additional 100, 1000 lake
trout eggs from the same place.
Jan. 25 the eggs were all hatched.
On March IL received from the
United States hatchery from Wythe-
vile. Va, 1900 California rainbow
trout eggs which were in poor shape on
arrival, having over 5000 dead eggs
when unpacked. They were undoubtedly
kept too warm in transportation and
roughly handled.
This is the second season eggs were
taken at the hatchery. which has been a
saving of 81 per 1000 formerly paid and
running transportation risks. The num-
Der of eggs taken could have been doubled
but for want of room to handle them.
The loss of q z during incubation
last season was about 10 per cent and
the loss of young trout 8 per cent. The
total is a very good average considering
our crowded condition.
Mr.. Miller remarks that the greatest
difficulty in trout culture is In handling
very young fry. They require more room
and care than eggs and batcheries are on
structed with this law in view. By en-
larging the hatchery the commissioner
would be enabled to increase the number
of eggs taken to more than 81 200, 900
and to keep the fry at least six months in
the rearing ponds, Thereby greatly in
creasing the usefulness of the institution.
Col. Marshal Mcdonald holds that the
best method Of introducing fish is the
planting of fry a year old at least, as they
are then well able to care for themselves.
DISTRIBUTION.
The young of the season of 1889 were
sent from this hatchery to Laramie, Al
pany. Carbon, Sweetwater. Unita. Con-
verse and Fremont counties. johnson
and Sheridan did not receive fry owing
to the long distance from the railway"
The commissioner hopes that lines will be
extended next year to enable each section
of the territory to receive its just proper
ton OF fish.
SUGGESTIONS.
Commissioner Miller recommends:
Appropriation of $4,000 to improve
and enlarge the hatchery.
Establishment of a branch hatchery at
watered counties in Wyoming and 10, 200
brook trout planted there have done re-
markably well.
Strict enforcement of fish laws and
prompt punishment of violators.
Encouragement oftish culture and pub
LEGATION of reports to inform the public on
the importance of propagation.
Increase OF appropriation, which was
but S., 200 for two years.
PLEASURE AMI REVENUE.
The hatchery is visited by hundreds
every season and all are interested and de-
lighted.
A fish costing the territory 10 cents will
return about $40 if caught by a sports
man.
The fish and gam clubs assist the COM
missioner in protection work.
PRODUCT.
The product of the hatchery since 1885
was 1,743.O0 fish and all have thrived
where planted.
A Cut in Prices.