Evening star., 1902-01-03
THE HATCHlNG OF FISH
REVIEW OF WORK OF THE CoMMIs-
SION.
Decrease In Number of Lobster Eggs
Found-The Conditions In the
Hawaiian Islands.

A review of the operations of the United
States fish commission during the past
year. together with table of statistics in
dicating the results of the commissions ac-
tivity and comparative statement de-
signed to set forth the growth of the COM
mission, has been prepared by George Nj.
Bowers. the head of the bureau. The re-
port notes a serious decrease in the num-
Der of lobster eggs found and decline Of
lobster iishing. No results Of the work
done in the ponds near the Monument or
in the report, the operations at those es-
Establishments having been limited to the
routine work of Matching stations.
'The fish cultural operations for the
year." says Commissioner Bowers. show
an increase of more than 100000 over
1900, I, ,173, S33, 400 fish and eggs having been
distributed, the principal species being
shad, salmon, lake trout, white fish, pike
perch, lake herring. cod fiat fish and Job
sterS.
On the Great Lakes.
'On the Great Lakes the aggregate re-
suits were satisfactory, and in addition to
the usual work in these waters plans were
matured to begin the propagation of lake
herring. This was somewhat interfered
with by the severe weather Of January,
which prevented taking more than 81 $780,
600 eggs, but it is expected to continue dur
ing the coming year. The collection of
lake trout eggs in Lake Superior and Michi-
gan, which nearly doubled that of last
year, amounted to 224 100000, from which
10, 100000 fry were Matched.
THE canvass of the Great Lakes has
been taken up only to 1869, when the yield
and value were nearly equal to those of
1880, the largest on record The total yield
was 113,12S,OOO pounds, worth $2,611. 400
There were $50 persons employed in the
fisheries and S6,617, 900 was invested. The
value Of the fishes in the different lakes
varies considerably from Lake Erie, where
they are worth 81, 10000, to Lake Ontario,
which yielded products valued at $1O1 600"
AS far the commission has been able
to do SO. says Mr.. Bowers. it has endeav-
ored to comply with all the requests re-
ceived for stocking inland lakes and rivers.
To that end 60,00e 600 eggs were placed in
eggs were taken from Lake Erie to Michi-
gan and Missouri, and 299,0O0.OO0 eggs were
held in Put-In-Bay. Out of these hauls
24U, ,SS7 fishes were Matched.
isfactory,'' continues the report. though
fewer fish were Matched than the previous
year, owing to weather conditions, which
caused the runs on the Potomac and SuS-
quehanna to be much smaller than usual.
The total number of shad fry distributed
was 193, ,2S7 600
Hawaiian Fisheries.
1.-THE investigation of the fisheries of the
Hawaiian Islands, required by the act of
Congress which provided government for
Hawaii, was begun in June, 1901. 1t was
recognized at the outset that a satisfac-
tory study of this subject, as contemplated
by Congress, would involve thorough in
auiry into the variety, abundance. distribu-
tion, habits, etc, Of the fishes and other
aquatic products of this archipelago. and
1t was decided that the preliminary investi-
cations should be directed toward the ma
rine zoology of the territorial waters. The
investigation was placed under the charge
OF DIR. b. w. Evermann and DR.. David 8.
Jordan, president of Stanford University,
and a report on the subject will be made
shortly.
The Lobster Hatchfng Industry.
ut becomes each year more difficult to
secure lobster eggs along the coast says
Commissioner Bowers, speaking of the
work in New England, notwithstanding
that agents are stationed at all the inn
portant fishing centers. The continued
steady decline Of this important fishing in
dustry renders 1t the more important that
efforts should be made to re-establish it by
artificial propagation. The decrease Is
most noticeable south of Cape Cod. Dur
ing the year there were Matched and plant
ed in New England waters 202, 0OO0 cod.
1900. 900 fiat fish and 60.oeooo0 Holsters.
Fishery Products.
"At Boston and Gloucester there have
been landed during the last calendar year
162, ,21S 900 pounds Of fishery products, val
ued at $4,3S5, 600 a decrease of Ii, 500 600
pounds from the previous year, but an in
crease of $191 45O in value. Boston is
credited with an increase, both in quantity
and value. while in Gloucester there was
falling off in quantity.
1.-The mackerel fishery for 1900 amounting
to 81, 1861 barrels, was larger than for any
year, except 1888, since the marked de-
cline Of this industry, which began In 1885
that this industry might regain it's former
Importance, although the results up to
this time have not been so encouraging.
mississippi River and Tributaries.
''1n recent years the fisheries of the Mis-
sissippi and its tributariesshave developed
to such degree that in 1899 they exceeded
in quantity, and nearly equaled in value,
the entire yield of the remaining interior
waters Of the United States, except the
Great Lakes. Mussel shells. extensively
used in the manufacture of pearl buttons,
were a valuable item, some As, 500, 900
pounds being gathered, for which the fish
ermen obtained $241, ,000."
Commissioner Bowers notes the award of
the following prizes in recognition of the
ton:
The grand prix for the collective exhibit.
Gold medals for exhibits of published
works on piscatorial subjects-Dr, H. NJ.
Smith and DR.. r. W. Evermann.
Silver medals-Dr. ]. A. Hereshall. Mr.. c.
H. Stevenson and Mr.. w. A. Wilcox.
Bronze medal, DR.. w. c. Kendall.
Honorary mention, Mr.. John w. Titcomb.
Additional awards for exhibits allied with \
that Of the commission-Gold medal to
Commander u. L. Tanner, L. S. N; Dr. D.
8. Jordan, DR.. T. H. Bean, and Dr. L.
Stejneger; silver medals to DR.. w. o. At
water and Prof. Edwin Linton; bronze med
ais to DR.. H. G. Bumpus. DR.. S. E. Meek
DR.. A. j. Woolman and DR.. P. H Kirsch:
silver medals for water color drawings of
fish to Mr.. A. H. Baldwin and Mr.. G. B.
Hudson.
THE COURTS.
Criminal Court No. 1-Justice Anderson
U, 8, agt. Forrest Elmore, George Tay-