The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-06
FISH COMMISSIONS WORK.


DCCs - eau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Probably never
in its history has the United States Fish
Commission accomplished nearly as much
work in eight months as it did during the
period from April l to Dec. ! of last year.
The annual report of the commission made
by Commissioners Brice directly to the Pres
ident shows that not only has the ordinary
work been steadily pursued on an enlarged
scale. bat the field has been much broad
ened, especially in the direction of propa-
eating fish not before subjects of extensive
cultivation. and all of these attempts have
been followed by marked success. If Con-
gress approves a bill submitted providing
for a few auxiliary stations. the commits
sioner says he will be enabled to immensely
increase the output of shad and lobster in
the near future. In the line of new work
steps were taken to propagate the mackerel.
which valuable fish is constantly failing. and
"A. O00. 900 eegs were collected. The work was
largely experimental. but il is believed that
IN the approaching season valuable results
will follow.
The salmon work on the Pacific coast has
received comparatively little attention dur
ing the past few years, but the past season
Commissioner Brice made a new departure
and located auxiliary stations on some of
the streams tributary TO the Columbia
river TO operate in connection with the per-
manent station at Clackmas, Ore, with the
astonishing result of reducing the cost per
thousand of salmon eggs from s1.S to IL
cents. Enough eggs were taken To run the
hatcheries TO their full capacity and to send
5000. 900 to the East for distribution. The
total take of salmon eggs-S1, 900. 600
amounted to three times as many as were
ever collected before in one season. En-
~couraged by the success of this experiment.
the commission propose the coming season
to supplement all the central hatcheries in
the country by small egg collecting stations
TO be run only during the spawning season
at small expense. Undismayed by the mys-
ferrous disappearance OF the splendid lot of
Western salmon placed in Eastern rivers
several years ago. the commission is about
to make another attempt to COLOMBO the
Pacific salmon in the East. To accomplish
this 100000 eggs will be transferred from
the California station to New York, Yer
mont and Maine, where they will be
Matched and the fry liberated in Penobscott.
kennebec. Merrimac. Hudson. Delaware
and Susquehanna rivers. The output of At
lantic or land-locked salmon has been large
~ increased and the lake fisheries have
been fostered. the collection of lake trout
eggs being increased by two or three mil
lion. The whitefish work was set back by
the destruction of the fish in the height of
the season, but ii is hoped that the collec-
ton of eggs will amount to 40, 600. 600.
To give the Pacific coast people the OPP
portunlty TO feast on the best fruits of At
lantic waters the commission made start
towards introducing there the Eastern lob
ster, oyster and diamond-back terrapin. The
oysters arrived i'm excellent condition and
were planted i'm Vaquima bay, Oregon, and
Humboldt bay. California. without loss.
The Holsters were very difficult TO trans
port, but ninety egg-bearing females were
safely deposited in Monterey bay. an equiv
alent TO 100000 fry. The terrapin were de-
posted in suitable waters i'm San Francisco
bay. In return the commission felt that the
Atlantic coast and the lake jewellers would
like TO have the great steel-head trout. one
of the finest game and food fish OF the
Pacific coast. where il attains "A weight of
thirty pounds on a maximum and an aver
age of ten pounds. so plants aggregating
fry TO the number of $780, 900. 900 were de-
posted i'm the waters of Lakes Superior and
Huron.
summing up the work of the commission.
the report shows that i'm the case of the
twelve more important food fish, the in
crease in planting has ranged from 10 per
cent. to Sc per cent. The Tennessee station
authorized by Congress last session is TO be
located in Unicoi county. near Erwin. and
steps are being taken TO investigate the adj
visibility of establishing a station near
Spearfish, i'm the Black Hills. Dakota.