Report of the commissioner for 1875-1876.

  • United States Fish Commission
Date:
[1878]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the commissioner for 1875-1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the land, by Mr. Charles G. Atkins, the assistant in charge, the work was begun under the joint auspices of the United States Fish Commis- sion and those of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Maine participated in the benefits of the enterprise, under the State law which requires one- fourth of all the eggs taken from fish within her borders during the close season to be hatched out and turned into the waters. Between the dates of October 25 and November 25, 1,055 males and 1,571 females were secured and impounded. From these 1,077,500 eggs were taken and impregnated, of which GG8,500 were distributed to the subscribers pro rata, in February aud March, 187G ; while 2G5,000 were introduced into Grand Lake Stream, on account of the State of Maine. The operations during the year 187G were continued under the same general principles and at the same locality as in 1875, the eggs being sufficiently ripe to be taken on the Gth of November, and the season lasting until the 22d of November, 530,000 eggs being obtained from 272 males aud 719 females; aud 12,500 eggs in addition were obtained from adjacent waters. Owing to various causes beyond the control of Mr. Atkins a number of the eggs secured proved unproductive, and only 4G0,000 serviceable eggs were distributed. Of these 115,000 w^ere sent out by the United States Commissioner, 200,000 by Massachusetts and Connecticut, and 115,000 were placed in Grand Lake Stream. The commissioners of the States mentioned, as usual, received the eggs, and after hatching them out distributed them to localities within their own borders. The distribution on the part of the United States Commission will be found in the tables in the appendix of the present report. Tlie Whitcfisli. There is no species of American food-fish superior in economical im- portance to the whitefish, aud its multiplication in localities especially favorable to its growth is deserving of the utmost effort. It is to this species especially that the attention of the State commissions border- ing on the great lakes has been particularly drawn, those of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and of Canada, being alive to its importance. The utmost effort has been put forth to secure an abundant supply of eggs, and after hatching them out to introduce the young fish into ad- jacent waters, the total expenditure by the States in this direction being nearly equal to the appropriation for the United States Commission. The fact that the States are so active in this direction has rendered it less necessary for the United States Fish Commission to take any special action in the matter. Its efforts have therefore been confined merely to securing a sufficient supply for distribution to appropriate localities outside of the region of production, especially to the State of California, where there are numerous lakes suited to the growth of this fish, and which are now destitute of anything corresponding to the gen- uine whitefish, Coregonm albus. Arrangements have usually been made either with the States or with
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