Author: Pennsylvania Dept. of Fisheries

Title: Report of the Department of Fisheries of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Place of Publication: Harrisburg

Copyright Date: 1903/1904

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg238.4

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Jak ok Hattkkv Systkm I'oK H\TCHiN{; Fish.

REPORT

OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

FROM

JUNE 1, 1903, TO NOVEMBER 30, 1904.

WM. vSTANLEY RAY,

STATE PRINTER OF PENNSYLVANIA

1905.

REPORT

OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

OF TUK

COMMONWEAITH OF PENNSYLVANIA

■ROM

JUNE 1, 1903, TO NOVEMBER 30, 1904.

JaK ok UaTTKKV SVSTI'.M I OR II\TCHIN(. FiSH.

WM. STANLEY RAY,

STATE PRINTER (IF PENNSYLVANIA

1905.

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT,

No. 24.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT,

No. 24.

DEPARTMEIT OF FISHEEIES

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES.
William E. Mkehan, Office, Harrisburg-.

BOARD OF FISHERY COMMISSIONERS.

W. E. Meehan, President.
John Hamberger, Erie,
Hhnry C. Cox, Wellsboro,
ChaklEvS L. Miller, A 1 toon a,
Andrew R. Whitaker, Phcenixville.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF HATCHERIES.

Corrj Hatchery : William Buller, Corry, Pa.

Erie Hatchery: Abram G. Bullkr, Erie.

Bellefonte Hatchery : Howard M. Buller, Bellefonte, R. F. D.

No. 2.
Wayne County Hatchery : Nathan R. Buli.er, Pleasant Mount.
Torresdale Hatchery : John F. Bnower, Assistant in Charg-e,

Holmesburg-, Philadelphia.

1- 24—1004

CO

Hon. Samuel W. rennypaeker. Governor of Pennsylvania :

'Sir: It is with much pleasure that I submit this, my first annual
report of the operations of the Department of Fislieries for the fis-
cal year beginning June 1st, 1903, and ending May 31st, 1004. Tlie
duties which were conferred upon me by the act of the Legislature
and by you through your appointment of me as Commissioner of
Fisheries have been very pleasant and I have endeavored to fill
every obligation I undertook, when accepting the ])osition.

To carry out the plans, formulating full operations of the Depart-
ment, I have uniformly had the strong support and hearty co-
operation of every member of the Board of Fishery Commission.
In not a single instance has there been the slightest diJTerenco of
opinion. All have united in forwarding the fishery iutt^rtsts of the
Commonwealth. Wherever individual assistance has been asked,
it has been given with a heartiness, Av^'.ich exhibited their devotion
to the work.

From letters and newspaper comments from all parts of the
Commonwealth there appears to be a strong public sentiment in
favor of the enforcement of the fish laws and extensive expansions
in the work of fish propagation, also cordial approval of the work
which the Department has x>erformed in the first year of its exist-
ence. It is especially gratifying to me that even a considerable
number of those persons whom the Department was forced to
proceed against for fishing illegally have expressed themselves as
satisfied of the justice of the proceedings and avowed themselves
hereafter as willing to uphold the fish laws and the Department of
Fisheries.

I have endeavored to place all branches of the work of the De-
partment of Fisheries on a firm business like foundation and to
conduct it on business principles. I have been greatly hampered
in performing my work thoroughly and to the best advantage by
the meagreness of the appropriation to the Department of Fish-
eries. The appropriation was divided into three parts: |25,000
for general work, including the operation of the hatcheries, the
office expenses and the expenses of the Commissioners; ten thous-
and dollars for the warden services and fifteen thousand dollars
for the locating and erecting of two new hatcheries. The first sum
named was the same as that which was granted the Fish Commis-
sion which proceeded the Department and which was only suffi-
cient to operate three hatcheries. There are five hatcheries now
to be operated on the same amount of money, ])lus whatever the
State might receive as its share of fines and penalties for illegal
fishing and from license fees on Lako Erie. To add to mv difficul

(3)

'^'^•^OO

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

ties, the work of the hatcheries was necessarily much extended, but
not nearly the amount of work was accomplished, which could have
been, had tliere been more money at command.

By carefully conducting the affairs of the Department on Lake
Erie, I have been able to make that hatchery, under present con-
ditions, nearly self-supporting, it being necessary to draw^ less
than |l,nOO from the general appropriation to supply the deficiency.
The demands on the hatchei'ies from all parts of the State have
been many times greater than the present ability to supply owing
entirely to the financial stringency. There are at the present
moment on file in this office at least two thousand applications for
fish, which the Department was unable to fill during the year, and
there were in addition to that nearly as many more applications
made individually, which could not be filled. Moreover, I was unable
in the applications which wine filed to send as many fish as should
have been and which were asked for.

Tn carrying on my work, I wish to express my hearty appreciation
of the cordial assistance which was given by my office force. My
clerk, Major I?arton D. Evans, has exhibited intense interest in
his duties and in their performance has been neglectful of time.
He has been found regularly at his desk in the evenings as well
as during the daj-, and during my frequent absences through the
State on official business I have felt tlmt the office was safe in his
care. While his duties were not of such a varied character as those
of Major Evans, yet 1 can give the same measure of praise to my
stenograplier, Williard K. Black. He too hat^; exhibited an unselfish
and warm interest in the Dei)artmeut and has always ])een at com-
mand when needed.

Before entering into detail on the work of the Department for
the year, it may be well to lay b( fore you in summary form some
of the tilings which have been accomplished during the fiscal year.

The Department of Fisheries established June 1st, 1\H)^.

Began the experiment of I'earing whitefish fry in ponds, so that
when planted they may take better car(^ of themselves.

Hatched and ])lanted nearly 100,00(),()()0 of fish in Pennsylvania
waters, includin?': whitefish, lake herring, wall-eyed pike, blue pike,
yellow perch, black bass, sunfish, goldfish, brook trout, lake trout
and bvill-frogs.

Established I>(01efonte hatchery and had it in operation within
four months.

Established a hatchery at Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, for
black bass and interior lake fishes, and began the construction of
the necessary ponds and buildings.

Induced the councils of tlie city of Philadelphia to turn over to
the Department of Fisheries a tract of ten acres of land at Torres-
dale on the l^elaware river for the propagation of river fishes and
transferred the Bristol hatchery to this site.

Aroused public sentiment in the city of Philadelphia to a point
where active steps are being taken to establish an aquarium in
Philadelphia on lines similar to th(^ one at Washington, D. C.

Took part in successful efforts for a convention of Fish Commis-
sioners of Canada and States bordering on the Great Lakes for more
nearly uniform regulations governing commercial fishing in those
waters.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

5

Established the practice of sending out public bulletins, when
ever there is anything of interest to those affiliated to the advance-
ment of fish culture.

Introduced nursery ponds in the trout hatcheries the contrivance
of one of the superintendents, thereby increasing the capacity of
the State from two to three fold without appreciable additional ex-
pense, except for feeding the fish.

Introduced more economical and ellective methods for the trans-
portation of green eggs from the spawning grounds to the hatch-
eries.

Began the hatching of tadpoles with the idea of encouraging
farmers to undertake frog culture, now known to be a coming valu-
able industry.

Undertook for the first time the culture of lake trout on a large
scale, the eggs being gathered from wild fish from Lake Erie.

Undertook the propagation of goldfish for distribution in public
schools for educational purposes.

Brought to a successful conclusion experiments of the Fish Com-
missioners in small mouth black bass culture.

Began experiment in rearing Atlantic salmon to maturity in
ponds in the hope that try could be bred therefrom for stocking
the Delaware river.

Succeeded in forming a State organization of fish protective clubs
and Associations in the various counties to give wider interest in
fish protective work and to render greater assistance to the Depart-
ment of Fisheries.

lie-organized the fish warden service and placed it on a more eifec-
tive basis, with the result that the first year it was nearlv self-sup-
porting.

The Erie hatchery was made nearly self supporting from the col-
lection of license fees from fisheriuen on the lake.

Began the re-organization of the constable service in the capacity
of these officers as ex-officio fish wardens.

Conducted experiments for the extermination of German Carp
from the waters of the Commonwealth, as a dangerous and destruc-
tive fish.

I'rojected and began work on twenty-five new ponds al the various
hatcheries for breeding fish.

I am sir, with much respect, your obedient servant,

W. E. MEEHAN,
Commissioner of Fisheries.

u

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FISHERY COM

MISSION.

To th(' Hon. Saiuii<4 W. Peniiypacker, Governoi' of the Cominon-

wealtli of Pennsylvania :

Sir: The Board of Fishery Commission have the honor to submit
this, their tirst annual report.

The members, appointed with Mr. Meehan, the Commissioner of
Fisheries, on June 2d, VMK\, organized as soon as possible thereafter.
Kecogiiizing that the bulk and responsibility of the work would fall
upon Mr. Meehan, vre were yet anxious to assist him by every means
in our power to further the great and important work with which
we were charged.

One of the important functions which arose almost immediately
was the ostablishnu lit of the two new hatcheries authorized at the
previous sessions of the Legit^lature. The sum of $15,000 had been
appropriated. This, it was felt, was insullicient to complete the two
places and we accordiiigiy advised the Commissioner to divide the
money as nearly as possible and to equip the two hatcheries to a
point that they could be operated at as early a date as possible.

Ml'. Meehan had selected a site near Bellefonte, in Centre county,
for a trout station to take the place of the dilapidated hatchery at
Allentown, which we decided should be abandoned, because it was
leased property and because the purchase price asked, we considered
entirely too high, and also because it was impossible to [)ropagate
fish at the Allentown hatcherv on a scale which would meet the
ever increasing requirements of the peoi)le. Citizens of Centre
county presented a large tract of land, but there was no dwelling
house or barn on the })roperty and both are essential to a successful
( arrying on of the work of the hatchinw. The Superintendent must
of necessity dwell on the sites and the assistant should also. Fur-
ilu'rmore, we found that there Avas a restriction on the s])ring on
the properly. The restriction did not in any Avise hamper the De-
partment in its work of fish culture, but it was recognized that it
could cause some annoyance. The person who held the water-right
claim owned the adjoining tract and there was a dwelling house and
barn thereon. We recommended that the tract, including the build-
ings, be })urchased and at the same time get ril of the water restric-
tion. While the water sui)ply of the spring was anijde for the hatch-
ing house and for a large number of ponds, we felt it would be better
to have the su])])ly augmented from another source and the Board
recommended that another source be found. The property men-
tioned was ])urchased for |2,G00, and a ninety nine year lease at foO
a year was entered into, which gave us the right of the use of the
water from the Logan Branch Run through an old mill race. By
this mean^ fully 8,000 gallons of water a minute was added to the
supply of the hatchery and it became possible if desired to flood
every foot of the hatchery grounds.

No. 24. DEPARTMENT OP FISHERIES. 7

The Commissioner located a second hatchery at Pleasant Mount,
Wayne county, and as was the case in the site near Bellefonte,
Centre county, a large tract was given free of cost for hatchery pur-
poses. Like Bellefonte there were no buildings and the Board
recommended the acquirement as soon as possible of an adjoining
tract which would supply the want. This was done in October, 1904,
by the purchase of four acres of the Freeman estate for $2,000.
There is a large house and a barn, and a couple of smaller buildings
on the property, and in addition to this advantage the Department
secured some valuable water rights in two large springs on an
adjoining property, which water rights went along with the Free-
man property.

As there has been a great and growing demand for black bass
and other fishes in addition to brook trout, it was decided to make
the hatchery at Pleasant Mount, which Avas named the Wayne
County Fish Hatchery, a station for the propagation chiefly of that
type of fish with brook trout only as in incident. The Commissioner
of Fisheries in his report has given a full description of what has
been accomplished.

With the approval of the 15oard the hatching house at Bristol,
which was on leas(^d ground was transferred to a property at Tor-
resdale. turned over to the Department at a nominal rental by
IMiiladelphia. There are ten acres in this tract and it is proposed
here in addition to shad to raise black bass, white perch and other
food fishes and game fishes, among which brook trout are not in-
cluded, the water not being suitable. The Board feels that in the
Bellefonte and- Wayne county properties the State has acquired
two exceedingly valuable sites for fish hatchery purposes, and when
there is money enough to complete them, they will be the largest
and finest of the kind in the country. There is practically no limit
to the number of brook trout which may be raised at the Bellefonte
hatchery, and the little building at the Wayne county hatchery, by
the new method introduced, can turn out more trout in one year
than the old Allentown hatchery could in two years. The water
supply of the Wayne county station is of such a character that the
output of other game fishes should in the future be very large.

One of the important duties assigned to the Board of Fishery Com-
mission is to gather statistics of the fishery industry of the* State.
At the present, owing to the poverty of the Board, its opportunitv
for fulfilling this duty was limited. But it did what it could. It de-
tailed one of its wardens to gather the figures of the fishing industry
of Lake Erie. These figures show that during the year 1903 the
total amount of fish caught olf the city of Erie and along the Penn-
sylvania shore of the lake was as follows:

Herring, 5,330,000 lt)s.

Blue pike, 1,964,000 lbs.

Whitefish, 30,500 lt)S.

Mixed fishes, 247,000 lbs.

Total, 7,280,500 n)s.

The value of these fishes is about .|.JO0,000. During the year 1902
the fish caught was about double this amount, due to unfavorable

8 REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.

weather conditions in the lake in 1903. The few whitefish caught
is accounted for, because cnly a few boats were fishing for them
with their big mesh nets. Tugs don't get up whitefish (big niesh)
nets anymore; and what big mesh nets were around the last two
years were mostly used up in fishing for large herring, which the
fishermen think is more profitable than to go after whitefish ex-
clusively. There is a strong evidence that the number of whitefish
is increasing, owing to the work of artificial hatching done by
Pennsylvania and the United States. The fishermen all agree that
in a few years the whitefish will be once more sufficiently plentiful
to warrant the use of whitefish nets.

In catching the 7,280,500 pounds of fish the following nets and
boats were used:

Forty-five pound nets, 72 trap nets, 65 steam tugs with gill nets,
12 sail boats and 6 gasoline boats with gill nets.

The value of these boats is as follows:

05 steam tugs, @ |4,000, |260,000

12 sail boats, @ |300, 3.600

6 gasoline boats, @ |600, 3,600

84 boats valued at, |267,200

The steam tugs registered at Erie cost all the way from |3,000 to
$10,000 each, and there is one fine steel tug that cost $12,000.

The value of the gill nets used by the 83 boats was about |160,000.
In their manufacture the fishermen used mostly number 35-2 cord
linen. 3^ inch mesh (stretched) and four inch mesh. There was
considerable cotton twine used the last two years, but the fisher-
men are going back to the linen again, as the cotton is not strong
enough and wears out too quick, and it is not as nice to handle as
linen.

Each boat had about five miles of gill nets in the lake all the time,
with about the same amount on the reels to drv. The whole fleet

*

had about 400 miles of gill nets in the lake all the time. There were
about 350 men employed on these boats, and about 100 men in the
fish houses, as dressers and packers.

The men employed on the tugs and in the fish hous«^ all belong
to organized labor. The captains and the engineers belong to the
L. T. P. A. (Licensed Tugmen's Protective Association). Their pay
for 1903 was |105 a month for the captains and |100 a month for
the engineers. The fishermen belong to the Gill Net Fishermen's
Union, and they worked on shares. The owner took the captain's
find the engineers shares and paid them their respective wages.
For instance, if a boat cai'ried a captain, engineer and four fisher-
men, and caught $380 worth of fish in a week, one-half or |190, was
divided into six sharers of 131.07 each, th<^n the four fishermen would
get I31.G7 each, I he captain |24.50 and the engineer |23..33, leaving
the owner the balance of $205.49. Rut if the boat only caught |100
worth of fish a week, each fisherman would get one-sixth of $50 or
$8.33, the captain $24.50 and the engineer $23.33, which would leave
the owner $18.85.

Owing to the fact that some of the men on board the boats work
the nets on shares, it i& difficult to summarize the amount accu-

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

rately of the money paid out last year, as wages or stipends. The
wages of the men on the boats aggregated about $150,000. The
value of the total catch was $300,000, and, according to the way the
fishermen were paid on the share system the crew received about
one-half the value of the whole amount caught.

Now the value of |3i/0,000 for the 7,280,500 pounds of fish caught
was based on the price received by the fishermen who own their
boats and nets. There are about twenty independent boats that are
owned and operated by ditl'erent fishermen and they sell to the
dealers in Erie. This value was also the basis on which the men
on shares w^ere paid. It averaged about 4 12-100 cents a pound.

Of course the Erie dealer or wholesaler sold fish at an advance
and the retailers in Pittsburg, Cincinnati, New York and other
places were obliged to sell at a still higher price. The retailers
must have sold their stock at least 11 cents a pound, thus when the
7,280,500 pounds of fish reached the consumers the value was about
$800,855. It must be remembered that tliis statement of the catch
and its value applies only to the fish caught from Lake I^rie within
the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. When this
statement is made some faint idea may be gathered of the great im-
portance of the entire fish industry of Lake Erie.

The dressers in the house belong to the Fish Dressers' Union,
and they receive $2.50 a day. The twinu is strung by the 'Twine
Stringers' Union," composed mostly of the w4ves, daughters and
relatives of the fishermen. They get from 30 cents to 50 cents a
pound, according to the fineness of the twine strung.

The warden accompanied the data by other exceedingly interest-
ing information and the Board decided to issue his report in the form
of a bulletin, entitled 'T'he Fishery Industry of Lake Erie. Bulle-
tin No. 1." The Board decided to do this not merely because of the
value of the material furnished by the warden, but because the issu-
ance of such bulletins also was part of the duties of the Board.

'Subse(iuently, when it was decided that there should be an ex-
hibit of the fisheries at the World's Fair it issued a second bulletin
on "Pennsylvania's Fish Culture Work from the establishment of
the first Fish Commission to the beginning of the work of the De-
partment of Fisheries." The Board decided not to issue bulletins
regularly, but only wluni something of more than ordinary interest
arose. Hence the two bulletins mentioned are all that had been
l)ublished since the Department was organized. At the last ses-
sion of the Legislature a measure was enacted autlioi'izing the catch-
ing of eels upon the procuring of a license to do so, by means of
what are commonly known as fish or eel baskets.

As there had been a great deal of discussion over the value of the
eel industrv in Pennsvlvania the Board considered it advisable to
secure, if possible, some data on the subject and this was made pos-
sible by the act just noted. A warden was therefore appointed to
visit all the licensed baskets and procure all the data possible. We
regret to say that the work was not done in a thorough manner,
although it is only just to say that the warden labored under con-
siderable difficulties. A large number of the licensed men did not
understand the purpose of the inquiry. They are suspicious of the
intention of the warden's visit. There were in all 206 licenses is-
sued and of these the warden either only visited 65 licensees or se-

10

REPORT OF THE

Ofe. Doc.

cured data from that number only. From the figures obtained it
appeared that (J5 baskets eauj?ht 44,750 pounds and the prices re-
ceived ranged from seven to twelve cents a pound. At seven cents
the value of the eels reported as captured would be |3,132.50. As-
suming the same ratio for all tlie other baskets the catch of eels in
the baskets in 1903 would be 141,308 pounds and at seven cents a
pound their value would be |1),891.56. It thus became apparent that
the eel industry is a valuable one and should be encouraged, al-
though there is no gainsaying the fact that the eel basket is a dan-
gerous device. In all fairness to those who used fish baskets last
year it should be said that indications point to the fact that the
majority took out the license.

Although the wardens exercised considerable diligence the num-
ber of arrests nuide for illegally using fish baskets was only 50
arrests made last year. Of course, the Board recognizes the fact
that these were not all. There were many men who failed to take
out a license^ and who managed to escape the vigilance of the ward-
ens. For example, there were thirteen wingwalls on the North
Kranch of the Susquehanna at Nanticoke, to which nets were at-
tached. The warden cai)tured the nets, but failed to secure the men.
It transi)ired since thjit the wingwalls were all owned by seven men
and they Avere all captured this summer and punished. The pun-
ishment of those who were captured last year had a wholesale effect
and this year the number of licensed baskets considerably exceeded
that of last year.

The warden assigned to the duty of gathering statistics concern-
ing the eel industry gained some valuable information for the De-
partment. For example, he found that the act authorizing the use
of the fish basket had created a strong sentiment along the Sus-
quehanna Valley in favor of the Department of Fisheries and the
maintenance of the fish laws. A large number of the men w^ho fol-
lowed fishing as a calling, realizing that licenses gave them a protec-
tion which they never had before strongly advocated the licensing
of all devices used in commercial fishing and th(^ enactment of a
measure, which will make fish stolen from such licensed device the
subject of larceny.

While the figures gathered and the estimates indicated a large
and valuable industry, they cannot be taken as the real value of this
fish to the Commonwealth. From the data gathered by the warden
it is evident that in favorable yimrs the catch would be enormouslv
increased, seeing that the catch of 1903 was abnormally sfnall.

About th(^ time it became lawful to catch eels by means of eel-
baskets the Susquehanna valley was swept by a series of heavy
rain storms, so that with the (exception of a comparatively few
nights the baskets could not be oi)erated. From the allegations of
the licenses of the baskets there were but three in the Susquehanna
river which were operated at a profit. All the others claim to have
lost money. Two of the men claim that they each caught 4,000
pounds, whi'e the third man caught 3,000 pounds in a single night.
The season's work did not average more than 1,000 pounds to each
basket. Some were as low as 100 pounds. One or two baskets in
the tributaries of the Susciuehanna were rei)orted as having been
operated profitably.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

11

The Board feels that the Department does not possess adequate
means for the protection of the fishes of Pennsylvania. The appro-
priation is so snudl that despite the utmost care it is almost impos-
sible to make both ends meet. It was helped somewhat by the
moneys received from the licensing of eel baskets, a sum amounting
in 1903 to |1,030. Thv, Board had hoped to be able to augment the
amount available by the money received from fines for illegal fish-
ing, but the needs of the hatcheries were greater and the bulk of
that money had to be employed to eke out the small appropriation
for fish propagation. The Board feels that at least double the
anu)unt appropriated for the two years is necessary to carry on the
fish protective work of the State to good advantage. That is clearly
shown by the work performed by the wardens during the last two
years. Effective as their work was they yet merely scratched the
surface. For every man who was captured for illegal fishing at
least twenty escaped.

In concluding this report the Board desires to express its gratifi-
cation at the strong public sentiment which has been aroused in
all parts of the Commonwealth in favor of the enforcenient of the
fish laws and in favor of a greatly increased })ropagation of fish for
])lanting in the streams and lakes.

The above is respectfully subiiiitted.

W. E. MEEHAN,

President.
HENRY C. COX.
JOHN HAMBERGER.
CHAREES E. MILLER.
ANDREW R. WHITAKER.

*

12

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

13

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES.

The Department of Fisheries was created under an act of the
Legislature appi'oved April 2d, 1903. It took effect on the first
Monday of June of the same year. The act creating the Department
reads as follows:

"An act to establish a Department of Fisheries, to provide for its
proper administration, and to provide for the protection and pro-
pagation of fish by the Department of Fisheries.

''Section 1. Be it enacted, etc.. That there be and is hereby estab-
lished a Department of Fisheries, to consist of a Commissioner of
Fisheries and four other citizens of the Commonwealth, who to-
gether shall constitute the Fisheries Commission, each of whom
shall be appointed and commissioned by the Governor, by and with
the consent of the Senate; the Comuiissioner of Fisheries, for a
term of four years, two of the said citizens for a term of two years,
and two of the said citizens for a term of four years; and thereafter
all appointments shall be made by the (ioveruor, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years. The
Ijersons so appointed, before entering upon the discharge of their
duties shall each take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed
by article seven of the Constitution of Teunsylvania. The Commis-
sioner of Fisheries, and the Fisheries Commission, so appointed,
shall be clothed with all the powers heretofore conferred by law,
respectively, upon the Board of Fish (V)mmissioners, so far as the
same are consistent with the provisions of the act.

"Section 2. The Commissioner of Fisheries shall be the president
and executive officer of the Fisheries Commission, and shall also be
chief superintendent of all hatching stations and fish-cultural es
tablishments belonging to the State; and he shall have full control
and management of all such establishments, now existing or which
may hereafter be established; and he shall have full control, direc-
tion and management of all fish wardens or water bailiffs; and he
shall assume full charge of the work of the enforcement of the laws
relating to the protection, propagation and distribution of fish; and
all fish-wardens, constables, police, sherirls and guardians of the
peace, shall make prompt report to him of all cases of violation of
the laws relating to fish.

"Section a. It shall be the duty of the Fisheries Commission to
encourage and promote tlie development of the fishery interests of
the State, and to obtain and publish information respecting the
extent and th(^ condiiion of the fisheries of the Commonwealth, and
to make all rules and regulations for the enforcement of all'laws
designated for the protection, extension and propagation of fish; and
It 18 empowered to employ such legal and other service as may be

1

necessary for the protection of fish, and for the apprehension and
punishment of persons who may violate any of the laws relating to
fish, or any of the rules and regulations which, under the powers
herein given, may be adopted by the said Commission.

"Section 4. The Commissioner of Fisheries shall receive a salary
of three thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly by warrant
drawn by the Auditor General on the State Treasurer, and in ad-
dition thereto shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses in-
curred by them in the performance of the duties of their office.

"Section 5. The Fisheries Commission shall have an office in the
State Capitol, and it shall be the duties of the Board of Commis^
sioners of Public Grounds and Buildings to provide, from time to
time, the necessary rooms, furniture, apparatus and supplies for
the use of the Department of Fisheries, created under the provisions
of this act.

"Section C. The Commissioner of Fisheries shall have the power
to employ one clerk, at a salary of twelve hundred dollars per
annum; one stenographer at a salary of six hundred dollars per
annum, said salaries to be paid monthly, by warrants drawn by the
Auditor General on the State Treasurer.

"Section 7. This act shall take effect on and after the first Mon-
day of June, one thousand nine hundred and three.

"Section 8. That all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the
provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed.

"Approved— The 2d day of April, A. D. 1903.

"SAML. W. PENNYPACKER.''

My appointment as Commissioner of Fisheries took ^'ffect on June
2. 1903. With me were associated as the Board of Fisheries Com-
mission, John Hamberger, of Erie, Henry C. Cox, of Wellsboro,
Andrew R. Whitaker, of Phoenixville and' Charles L. Miller, of Al-
toona. The first two named and myself had been members of the
Fish Commission, which was replaced by the Department.

I appointed Major Barton D. Evans as clerk and by virtue of his
office he became Secretary of the Board of Fishery Commission. I
also appointed Williard R. Black, stenographer. Temporary quar-
ters were provided for the Department in Number 2G North Third
street, room 26. My first duties, of course, were to organize the
office, and this was accomplished very speedily, the routine work
running smoothly within a month.

The Fish Commission at the time of its being replaced by the De-
partment of Fisheries had three hatcheries in operation" and one
which had not been operated for some time on account of a lack of
funds. These hatcheries were as follows: A lot in the city of Erie
165 x 16.5 feet, containing a building and three small ponds, all the
property of the Commonwealth. It is known as the Erie hatchery
and is for the propagation of lake fishes exclusively.
^ A lot containing about 19 acres, two miles outside of the city of
Corry, containing a dwelling house, a barn, three hatching houses
and about forty ponds, also the property of the Commonwealth.
The hatchery which is known as the Western Station was for the
propagation, chiefly, of brook trout.

A lot containing nineteen acres at A lien town, having thertvoii a
dwelling house, two hatching houses and about thirty ponds for the

14

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

propaj^aition of brook trout was loased from tho Troxoll '^^^ato at a
rental of five hundred dollars per annum. This hatchery was foi
the propai?ation of brook trout exclusively. , . r •

A piece of -round at Bristol (280 x 60 feet) containins: hatching
house for the propagation of shad, was not owned by the Common-
wealth, but was leased from the Laing estate for one hundred and

fiftv dollars a year. , t+- „ or./i i>^

The building on the Erie property was in good condition and le-

ouired only repainting. Its batteries, however, did not ^^"tain the

full complement of jars, there being about two hundred and forty

short of the proper number. , . v u A^

At the Corrv Station the dwelling house was found to be bartiv
in need of repairs, although some imperative repairs had been made
recentlv. Number three hatching house was a new structure, not
ouite complete, there being no flooring. Number one hatching house
was in verv bad condition and was in danger of falling down Num-
ber two hatching house was in better condition, but still badly m
need of repairs as to the floors. Three-fourths of the ponds badly
needed repairs. The burn was also in bad condition.

Vandals had greatlv injured the building at Bristol. The flooring

of the porch was torn up, railings carried away and initials cut

all over the sides and front of the strn^^tnrp. Thieves had broken

in and stolen all the bedding of the men, leaving only the bare cots.

At the Allentown Station the buildings and ponds could only be

described as wrecked. .

Reference to the reports of the Fi«h Commissioners for several
vears will show that public attention was calletl to the deterioration
of the plant and the main reason given therefor was that as the
o-rounds were leased, it was not expedient to make any extensive
Repairs or to rebuild the hatchery. As a matter of fact the two
hatching houses that the Department took possession of were no
lono-er fit for the purpose for which they were intended and could
not'' be repaired. Thev were rotten throughout. Of the nineteen
acres of ground which were leased, less than three acres were avail-
able for ponds and hatching houses. ^

On report being made, the Board of Fisheries Pommission deter-
mined unanimouslv to abandon the Allentown site at the earliest
possible date and to transfer the plant to one of the two new
stations authorized in the general appropriation act.

The station selected as the site for the hatchery to take the
place of the one at Allentown was near Rellefonte at a little village
known as Bleasant Gap. Here twenty three acres of land were
available for trout work and with a vast supply of wator which is at
( ommand there was every reason to believe that a trout station of
large proportions could be established.

The work of removing the hatchery from Allentown was begun
in November bv the shipment of eggs and all the fish in the breeding
ponds were transferred by April 1st, 1004. By the payment of a
small sum the Department secured a release of the Allentown prem-
ises on June 1st and a hatchery, that had been in operation for
nearly twentv vears and which for a long time was considered one
of the largest and best equipped in this country, but which of late
vears under moderate demands proved inadequate, was abandoned.

•

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14

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

p.-npn-aCion of brook trout wns 1<'as('(l from tlu^ Troxr 1 • stalo at a
HMitafof fivo Inindrod dollars per annum. This liatcliory was for
Uw i)ro]»a<iation of l>ro(dv trout oxrlnsivtdy. , ,. i • ,

\ pio'o of -round at Bristol (2S0 x CO foot) containin- liMtclnn-
house for th(> ]>ropa-ation of shad, was not ownrd by the ( ommon^
wealth, but was leased from the Lain- estate for one hundred and

tiftv dollars; a. year. , ,. i ,..,

The bnildin- on tl.e Erie ]>ro|:(M'ty was m j-ood condition and k -
quired onlv re]^^in^HlJ.^ Its batteries, however, did not oontain the
full eomplement of jars, there bein- about two hundrcMl and lorly
short of the proper number.

\t the rorrv Slation the dwellin- house was found to be bad >
in need of re])airs, althou-h some imperative re].airs had b(Mm made
reeentlv Number thn'e hatchin- house was a new structure, not
nrite comidete. there bein- no floorin-. Number one hatching" hmise
was in verv bad condition and was in dan-er of fallin- down Num-
ber two hatching house was in better condition, but still ^;5''|'y '"
need of re])airs a.> to tlu^ floors. Three-fourths of the ponds badly
needed reiiairs. Tlu' Inn-n was also in bad condition.

Vandals had -Teatlv injured the buildin- nt Bristol. The floorin.^

of the porcli was torn un, railiufs carried awav and ii.itials <'nt

'ill ov( r the sides and front of the s^tru'-tuiv. Thieves h;id broken

in and stolen all the beddin- of the men. leavin- only the bar^ cots.

At tlie Allentown Station the buildin-s and ponds eonld only be

described as wrecked. ,

Reference to the rei)orts of the Fi«h rommissioners for several
vears will show that puldic attention was cnlle-l to th- deterioration
of the plant and the main reason -iveii therefor was that as the
-rounds were lepsed, it was not expedient to m-ke any extimsive
repair^ or to rebuild the hntchei'v. As a matter of faet the two
hatchin- houses that the Deiiartiuent took possession of were no
lon-er fit for the puri>ose for v-hich they w(M'e intended and could
not^be repaired. Thev were rotten throu-hout. Of the nineteen
aeres of -round which were leased, less than three ncrcs were avail-
able for ponds and hatchin- houses. ^

On reimrt bein- uiade. the Board of Fisiieries r^omr,iission deter-
mined unanimouslv to abandon the Allentown site at the earliest
possible dat<^ and to transfer the ]dant to one of the two new
stations authorized in the -eiuM-al apiM'opriation a<'t.

The station selected as the site for the hatchery to take the
place of the one at Allentown was near Hellefonte at a little villa-(^
known as Blead=;ant Oap. Here twenty three acres of land wer(^
available for trout work and with a vast supply of water which is at
( ommand ther(^ was vvovx reason to b(dieve that a trout station of
lai'-e pro]'ortions could be establislu^d.

The W(H-k of ivmoviu;-: the hateh(U-y from Alh>ntown was be-un
iu November bv the shi]mi'Mit of e.--s and all the fish in tlu^ breedin-
ponds were transferred bv A]tril 1st, IHOl. Bv the payment of a
v^mall sum ihe Department secured a release of the Allentown ])rem-
i«es on June 1st and a hatcherv, that had been in operation for
nearly twentv vears and which for a Ion- time was considered one
of the larrest and best e(pii]>ped in this country, but which of late
vears und(M- moderate demands ]>roved inade(]uate, was abandoned.

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

15

A careful survey of the Bristol hatchery and its surroundinjjjs
convinced me that the station was not in a suitable location. It
was nearly eight miles from the nearest shad fishery. There was ab-
solutely no room for expansion or for any other work, excepting
shad and sturgeon, and possibly to a limited extent for white perch.
At this juncture through the efforts of Hon. Henry F. Walton,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission to the Louis-
iaim Purchase Exposition, a proposition was submitted to the officers
of the city of Philadelphia to preserve the fisli exhibit at the World's
Fair by turning it over to that municipality. In order to accomplish
this it was suggested that a fish hatchery be located on the Dela-
ware river within the limits of the city of Phila(lel})hia for the pur-
j)ose of hatching shad and other river fishes. The Bristol hatchery
liaving been practically abandoned on account, partly, of its unde-
sirable location was transferred to the proposed new site, a tract
of ten acres of land at Torresdale. Here there is, in addition to
the river, a fine stream of water, two good springs and every facility
for work on a scale which would only be limited by the amount of
money which could be expended and which should yield an output
equal to, if not exceed, that at the P^rie Station, which varies from
sixty to one hundred million fish a year. Ae soon as the papers
were drawn up and signed by the Department of Fisheries and tlie
city of Philadelphia, the lease of the ground at the Bristol hatchery
was cancelled and tlie buildings moved to the new site, but too late
for This season.

An item in the general appropriation act provides the sum of fif-
teen thousand dollars for the erection of two hatcheries for the
propagation of fish, one to be located in the central part of Penn-
sylvania and the otlier in the eastern part. A larii:e number of pro-
perties were offered — some at absurdly high prices. But a number
of people in the various counties recognized the advantage of having
a hatchery located in their midst and these offered sites for the in-
spection of the Department of Fisheries, and the persons extending
the invitations offered as an inducement all the land necessary for
hatchery purposes to the State free of all cost.

The Department had determined in locating the two hatcheries,
to do so with a view of hrving one chiefly for trout to take place, as
before mentioned, of the hatchery on the leased propc^rty at Allen-
town, and to set aside the other station principally for the propaga-
tion of black bass and other important grtine fishes and with trout
only as an incident.

After inspecting a number of eligible ]>laces the Board of Fishery
Commission finally selected a site at Plca.^aut (la]), four miles from
the town of Bellefonte. There was one large spring and one small
spring on the })remises. Logan Branch creek flowing many thou-
sand gallons of water a minute, with headwateis less than one
fourth of a mih» away, and with a maximum tempernturc for the
summer of fifty degrees, runs close beside the jr/ouuds. Citizens of
Centre, Clearfield and contiguous counties purchaced eighteen acres
of land and kept their part of the agreement by presenting it to the
State. Subsequently Col. Edward Pruner, who owned what was
known as the Hartranft farm, presented three acres in addition for
the purpose of the propagation of black bass. The grounds, how-

16

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

ever, had no biiildinj,rs on it and consequently the Department pur-
chased about two acres of hind with a house, barn and a small
spring, making a total of twenty-three acres of laud, nearly all of
which could be used for hatchei'y purposes. The site was definitely
chosen on July 21st and on August 4th the deeds were turned over
to the Department of Fisheries. Within two days thereafter
ground was broken. A hatching house one hundred and twenty feet
long and thirty five feet wide, capable of holding one hundred and
five double hatching troughs and ten nursery ponds thirty feet long
and ten feet wide were built, and the third \Aeek in October the es-
tablishment was ready for operation. I take considerable pride in
the speed with which this work was accomplished. Usually it re-
quired nearly a year to put a station in readiness for work. But the
Bcllefonte hatchery, as the place was named, was in operation in a
httlc over three months after the deeds were turned over.

The su])ply from the si)rings on the ground was augmented by
water from the Kugard spring about one hundred vards away, the
owner having generously given the right to us(^ it. "^ But this water
was not suliticient to do more than supply the hatchery and about
eight or ten ponds. Consequently a iiiilety-nine year's' lease was
entered into with Mr. Simon Hoy by which the right to carry water
from Logan's Branch Creek was obtained, so that the Department
n()W has at its disj>osai at least eight thousand gallons of water a
minute, a supply that can fiood every part of the spacious grounds.
The Bel!(fonte hatchery is nearly one-half mile long and about
midway there is a railroad station adjoining the premises. The
Pennsylvania Kailroad also ran a siding on tlu^ hatchery grounds at
cost and the citizens of Centre county erected a buiidiu',^ over a
portion of the track as a barn in which to house the DepnirtuK'nt
fish car ^'rennsylvania." Hence for the first time in the history of
tlie fisheries of Pennsylvania the State has a hatchery from which
fish can be shipi)ed without any highway haul whatever.

At the close of the year 1<)()4, in addition to the hatchery building
and tlie ten nursery i)on(ls there have been constructed nine large
ponds for breeding i)ui'pos( s, capable of holding about twenty thou-
sand bi'ook trout and one large pond for gold fish. In addition to
the brood fish wliich were transferred from Allentown, the Depart-
ment of Fisheries purchased several tliousand vearlings from a com-
mercial hatchery in the State. The United States gave two thou-
sand yearlings and the IMooming Grove Park Association pi-esented
about as many more, adding about ten thousand fish to the fish of
this character in the new hatchery.

A few days after the reelection of the Bellefonte hatchery the
Board of Fishery Commission located the second hatchery at Pleas-
ant Mount. Wayne county. The ground selected covered about six-
teen acres on the headwaters of the Lackawaxen river. All but
about threi^ acres were owned by Miss Alice Stirling. Tavo were
owmnl by Mr. John O'Neill and about an acre held under deed to
Miss Stirling was not in clear title, a familv named Munrford ap-
parently having some claim, but all three, namely Miss Alice Stir-
ling, eTohn O'Neil and the Mumfords presented the' land to the State
for a fish hatcluM-y and gave deeds thereof without cost. Unfortu
nately this propeity did not reach a dedicated road. To correct this

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

17

difficulty the Mumfords, Mr. O'Neil and Mrs. Freeman opened and
dedicated a road from the public highway to the hatchery grounds
and that without cost to the State.

As was the case at the Bellefonte hatchery there were no buildings
on the grounds. A barn and a dwelling were absolutely necessary
and when the opportunity ofi'ered the Department purchased for the
sum of 12,000 a tract of land adjoining and extending to the high-
way. The tract embraces about four acres of land with a large
twelve room house and frame barn thereon, besides several small

buildings.

The State owns, therefore, in this hatchery about twenty acres of
land unusually well suited for hatchery purposes.

There is a pitch from one end to the other of about twenty-five
feet. The Lackawaxen at that point, a large and fine trout stream
fiows through the grounds. There are also a number of small
springs, one of which has a capacity of about four hundred gallons
of water per minute— water having a temperature of forty-seven (47)

degrees.

By the purchase of the Freeman property the Department also
secures the water-rights from two other springs with an aggregate
of about four hundred gallons of water per minute of the same tem-
perature. The property was secured too Inte to begin any work
before the close of the year. Plans, however, were prepared and
work begun on the 15th of July.

A contract was awarded for the erection of a hat(diery house for
brook trout, to be located close to the main spring. The hatching
house is sixty feet long and thirty feet wide and fitted up with
twenty-four of what are known as the Clark-Williamson troughs for
the hatching of trout eggs. The design at this hatchery is to care
for the fry in ponds in the open air and with that end in view a
number of nursery troughs have been built below the house. Al-
though the house is so small, by using the Clark-WMlliamson troughs
the building will have a capacity for over seven million eggs.

The plans also call for the construction, as quickly as possible.
One pond containing one and a quarter acres, one of an acre and a
third and one three-quarters of an acre, in addition to the three
ponds for yellow-perch, each 150 by 45 feet, three ponds for trout
fry, four ponds for breeding trout and one pond for pickerel, be-
sides a small pond for the holding of carp with which to feed the
breeding bass and pickerel.

The topography of the grounds is such as to render the building
of the ponds at a very small exjK^nse, much less than such ponds
usually call for. I regret to say that the a])propriation of .|1 5,000
will not be sufficient to complete the two h.atcheries, but it will be
sufficient to put them both in good working order, as will be noted
in the proper place.

It was at first decided to call the station in Wayne county the
Pleasant Mount Fish natchery, but because of the Plensant Ca])
Station at the Bellefonte Hatchery, so mucli confusion was
caused that the name was changed to tlie Wayne County Fish Hatch
ery. The station is situated three miles from the railroad station,
which is as near as is ordinarily ])ossible to fet. The road leading
thei'eto, however, is in vcMy good condition, but hilly.

2—24—1904

18

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

I cannot draw attention too stron<;ly to the public spirited action
of the citi/.ens who presented huid with which to build the Belle-
fonte and Wayne County Hatcheries. It so often happens that
when the Commonwealth desires any land the people interested
in the sale seemed to think they should receive two or three times
the amount they would ask private individuals. But here we have
a group of men and womcai who feel that thev should do something
towards the glory and benefit of the Commonwealth, and who, in-
stead of asking excessive price.s present without one dollar of cost,
the necessary land, and who assisted in many other wavs in making
the ncAv hatcheries a success. -

It may be said that the establishment of the fish hatchery is a
benefit to the community, in which it is located. While that may
be true to a limited extent, it in nowise lessens the degree of gen-
erosity of the donors. Indeed in th(^ case of the Wayne County
Hatchery had the persons Avho gave the ground cojisulted their
own personal feelings they would probably not have sold the pro-
perty for hatchery or any other purposes for any sum. Tlu^ greater
part of the property was designed by the original owners for a pri-
vate pleasure grounds and the motive which led to the gift was
purely one of public spirit. I refer particularlv to Miss Alice Stir-
ling and her ])arents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Stirling who joined with
the daughter in making the gift.

The Blooming Grove Park Association presented nearly four
hundred large trout with which to stock the Wavne county'hatch-
ery ponds. The United States Bureau of Fisheries contributed four
thousand yearling brook trout and four thousand vearling Cali-
fornia trout. The Wildwood Club of Wavne county gave two hun-
dred large pickerel and fifty large perch. In addition the Bellefonte,
Corry and Erie Hatcheries sent many thousand vearling trout^
black bass, rock bass and yellow perch, so that the ponds were well
stocked with breeding fish.

While the work of locating and starting the new hatcheries was
in progress the work of putting the Corry Hatchery buildings into
good shape and building additional ponds was taken up.

As the appropriation for hatchery work was limited, only repairs
of the greatest urgency could be undertaken. Number one hatching
house was in the worst condition, being in danger of faT^ing down on
account of the rotton sills. The building was put in thorough repair
and the work done with a view of permanancy, terra cotta being
used instead of the old wooden sills. Some repairs were also made
to number two house, but nothing like the work was done there
that ought to have been. The worst of the ponds were overhauled
and terra cotta or cement walls built in place of board sides and it
IS my purpose to replace, as rapidly as the funds will permit, all the
board sidings with cement or tile walls.

In addition to rei)airing old ponds T caused five new ponds to
be built, three for very large trout, and two for vearlings having a
capacity of about twenty thousand in all and just' before the closing
of the year the construction of five more well begun. Number three
hatching house was also completed.

The Corry Fish Hatchery is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all
the stations, under the control of the Dej)artment of Fisheries.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

19

Nearly the entire site is dotted with handsome deciduous and ever-
green trees and most of the forty-five completed ponds are within
the shade of these trees. With the exception of a portion purchased
by the Fish Commission three or four years ago the Covvy Fish
Hatchery presents the appearance of a lovely park. There are
handsonie and well-kept lawns, beds of flowers, rough bridges, well
graveled walks, seats and pavilions for visitors. Indeed the place is
regarded as a park by the people of Corry, and it is estimated that
over fifteen thousand people visit the place every year. A visitors
book was placed on the grounds in the spring and many hundreds
of persons registered. Nearly as many more, it is estimated, ne-
glected to do so. Among the names to be found on the book are
many who reside in distant states and having business within twenty
or thirty miles of Corry, Pennsylvania, paid the place a visit.

Nothing can better illustrate the interest which people are taking
in fish culture than the crowds which visit the hatcluM-y at Corry.
There have been as many as two and three hundred on a Sunday
afternoon.

The capacity of the Corry hatchery for taking eggs caii be quad-
rupled, although the capacity of trout fry has very nearly been
reached. Two of the hatching houses can care for four million trout
frv. Number three house itself can take care of nearly two million,
but owing to the lack of facilities elsewhere, number three house is
devoted to lake trout work, an industry which was started on a large
scale for the first time last fall.

Late in October or the beginning of November', 1903, the Depart-
ment received word that the fishermen of Dunkirk would give all the
lake trout eggs to Pennsylvania on the single condition that a pro-
portion of the fish hatched should be planted in Lake Erie on their
fishing grounds. As this was a fair proposition the Department
agreed, naturallv, since many of our Pennsylvania fishermen draw
their nets in that locality. It is estimated that the take of lake
trout eggs at Dunkirk often reaches ten or twelve millions a year,
but unfortunately the Department received word too late in the
season to get the full supply. But nearly a million and a half were
gathered and placed in the hat(>hery. Over a million were produced,
six hundred thousand of which were planted near Dunkirk. About
two hundred thousand were planted on the deph ted trout beds near
the city of Erie and the remainder in suitable inland lakes of the
Commonwealth. In addition to the eggs (^numerated the United
States Bureau of Fisheries sent 200,000 surplus (^ggs of lake trout,
and all trout which were hatched were planted in Lake Erie. This
fall the bureau sent 1,000,000.

I regard the beginning of this work of lake trout culture on a
large scale with eggs from wild fish as being one of the very impor-
tant efforts of the new Department of Fisheries. The Lake trout
industry in Lake Erie is a valuable one, where the fish are still
abundant. The beds within the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania have
become so thoroughly depleted that they no longer are profitable.
By planting heavily there is every reason to believe that in a fcAv
years the Pennsylvania industry can be restored. I am also of th<'
opinion, which o])inion is founded on some encouraf!:ing results, that
the lake trout can be firnilv established in n number of the larger

:i !

20

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

and deeper inland lakes of Pennsylvania, especially in the north-
eastern part— Wayne, Susquehanna, Tike, Monroe, Luzerne and
Lackawanna counties. As the lake trout is what is known as the
'bottom flsli," that is to say, a fish which lives on the bottom, they
will do little or no harm to other game fishes already established
As the fish grow to a very large size and as its flesh is highly esti-
mated for the table, ranking not far behind the delicate brook trout
and the salmon, the successful establishment of the fish would add
materially to the fish product of Pennsylvania and afford good sport
to the angler.

The arrangements which were made last year with the fishermen
at Dunkirk were renewed this year with equally good terms, but
unfortunately on account of the unfavorable weather the fishermen
were unable to put out their nets, hence it was impossible to take
any eggs and all the lake trout that will be propagated this vear at
the Corry hatchery will be from the million or more eggs to be re-
ceived from the United States Bureau of Fisheries sometime in
January. The failure of the lake trout egg crop this vear has caused
me to feel that while the Department should alwavs secure all the
eggs possible from the wild fish in Lake Erie whene'ver it is possible
to do so, that it is unwise to depend absolutelv on this source of
supply. Several years ago the fish commission' held breeding lake
trout in Its ponds at Corry, but owing to the demand of the imblic
for brook trout and the restricted facilities in the wav of hatHiin^*-
led the commission to abandon the raising of breedln- lake 'trout
and devoted the use of the ponds to brook trout. With enlarged
facilities owing to the increased ground space at the Corrv hatchery
and the larger areas at Bellefonte and Wayne I feel it is ])ossible
again to resume the rearing of lake trout and I have determined
to do so in three hatcheries. I have decided to do this after a con-
sultation with the superintendents and the failure of tho esrii; crop
in Lake Erie and a careful study as to the cost of doing so. It is
apimi-ent that while the lake trout grow to a verv large size two of
such fish do not require more food than three th'ree-vear old brook
trout. The only unfortunate circumstance connected with this
work IS that It recpiires five years to raise the fish to a breeding
stage but T shall begin the work this season of renWng the fish
Irom the fry stage.

In addition to the trout work at the Corrv Station I directed that
the experiment in black bass culture be continued. Three small
T^oiids had be(^n built under the direction of the old fish commission
and pist bc^fore its deplacement for the Department the Superin-
lendent, Mr. AA illiam Buller, had ]U'acticallv demonstrate'! his abilitv
to rear small mouth black bass. Just before the firs^ of June the
mature bass took to the spawning IkhIs a-d bv thr .ni Idle of June
1 ui^' rV i' ^'J r,V ^!i? ^''^'P^'f'^^«5on of the sn,)f.rintendent, -were black
with little fish." They were hc^althy muI livelv. But inst as the
Department was about to distribute then, there came aVloudburst
^vhlch broke axyay the outlet of the three ponds and washed the
little creaturc^s into a creek which (^mptirs into French Creek, known
«ome milc.s southward as Uw Venango Kjver. As reports came
to the Department dnrin,<> the spring of an extraordinarv large
nunibei' of small bass in the ni»i)er waters of the Venango river \t

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

21

would seem that that stream at least had been benefitted by I he
first successful experiment in small mouth black bass culture.

But while it was evident that Mr. Buller had solved the problem
of propagating small mouth black bass by pond culture, it was
equally evident the water at Corry was not well adapted to the work
and that the ponds were entirely too small. Other states have been
experimenting in bass culture and the results which they obtained
and all our observations led us to the firm conclusion that to suc-
cessfully breed the small mouth black bass in large numbers it was
necessary to have very large ponds and warm water. The available
acreage at Corry would not permit large ponds and the temperature
of the water much too low for the little bass to grow rapidly enough
for planting. Fish in the Corry Hatchery of four months old would
be two-thirds smaller than fish reared in the little ponds at Erie
where the temperature was fifteen degrees higher. It was there-
upon decided to abandon further culture of black bass at the Corry
Station and to transfer the breeding stock to the Wayne county
hatchery. The ponds built for bass at Corry, it was decided, by di-
minishing the flow of water and raising the temperature, could be
used for the propagation of yellow perch, and this will be done next
season.

Since fish culturists successfully solved the problem of hatching
the wall-eyed pike, there has probably been no work of <>,i(^ater im-
portance and of wider interest than the successful propagation of
the small mouth bass. Next to the brook trout, indeed, in the esti-
mation of many its equal, is th black bass. It is an introduced fish,
having first been planted in Pennsylvania waters about 1870. It
took kindly to its new home and in a few years nearly every suitable
water teemed with them, but for various reasons within the last
ten years there has been a decided decrease in the number of this
great game fish in all the water with the exception of a few places.
For the decrease the German carp, destructive methods of fishing,
water pollution and a lack of new blood are laid the blame. What-
ever may be the cause it remains a fact that with each vear the de-
mands on the fish culturists have become greater and more insistent.
It has reached such a point that last winter at a convention of Fish
I*rotective Organizations from all parts of Pennsylvania a resolu-
tion was unanimously adopted, requesting the Legislature to estab-
lish as many hatcheries which would produce black bass (M]ual to
the number of brook trout which liiight be hatched by the State.

One great difficulty that presents itself in the work of cultivating
blackbass is the fact that the eggs cannot be taken from the fish
in the same manner as eggs can be taken from the brook trout, the
shad, the whitefish and the wall-eyed pike. It was finally 'demon-
strated that the only successful methods would be to allow the fish
to spawn naturally on beds in specially constructed ponds. ]>nt
Vvhile the superintendents seem to have finally solved the pioblcm
of hat( hing small mouth bass thev have not vet discovered a means
to carry the little fish over to the fall williout an enormous loss in
number through cannibalism. For exam|de, last spring the Depart-
ment hat(died about twelve thousand frv. These Avere nlacs'd in a
pond of water of the proper temiK'rature at Erie. It was thought
that by abundant feeding the little creatures might be weaned from

22

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

23

their cannibalistic ton(lonci(>«. It was found that thcv readily and
ea^^erly took ground fish and so this food was given tlleni six times
a day. Every twenty-four hours they were given each about three
times their weight in ground fish and in addition they were very
closely watched. In spite of that, when the fish were'ready to be
distributed there were only a little more than six thousand in the
pond. The others had been devoured by their larger or stronger
brethren. Nevertheless while it is evident that the secret of pre-
venting cannibalism has not been discovered the Department con-
siders that it is more profitable to carry the little fish over the sum-
mer months until the first of September, even though the stock is
diminished by one-half.

One of the Superintendents, Mr. Nathan K. Duller, has devised a
method, which with some slight alterations proposed by me, he
hopes to minimize the loss from cannibalism, and this method will
be tried at the AVayne county liatchery. The idea is simply the
building of nursery, ponds about thirty feet long and three feet
wide with a slight tilt, to i)lace the bass fry therein and feed them
automatically with ground fish, to go over the troughs at least once
a week and separate the larger from the smaller fish. What the
result will be time will easily tell.

I have felt for a long time that to secure the greatest amount of
support in fish protection is to carry on a campaign of education.
I am also a firm believer in promoting Nature Studv in the public
schools. With these two thoughts in mind I be.'-an last spring the
propagation of gold fish for distribution amoni; the public schools
in the Commonwealth. The Department only had a few fiish for breed-
ing purposes and these were in a small pond at the Torrv station.
A very large number of little goldfish were hatched, but unfortu-
nately on account of the inexperience in that i)arti(Milar line of work
the superintendent permitted cold water to flow through the ponds,
so by that the first of October there were onlv a few thousand of a
size suitable for distribution. These were sent to those schools
which had made application in proper form. I regret to say that
owing to the demand made on the Department for the exhibit of
fish at the World's Fair, this year I have b(H'n compelled to suspend
further work in this dircMtion until m^xt vear. T am however
placing gold fish of breeding size in the Bellefonte, Wayne county
and Torresdale hatcheries and in 1900 I hopc^ there will' be a sufti-
cient number of gold fish to supply all the schools which may call
for them.

Principals who received the gold fish last fall have expressed
themselves as much gratified at the results which thev obtained
through possessing them. They kej^ I he children interested and
they obtained a broader knowledge of fish and the teachers were
unable to instill in the minds of the voung a better iden of the vjilue
and importance of Ihe fish luoducl of Ihe State and tlie necessilv
for lis j)rotec1ion.

The De]»artment considers that an unusuallv large jnuounl of
work was accomj^Iished at the Corry Hatcher'v durino- the fiscal
year— much greater than ever was accomplished before'uid it was
done without adding to the number of emploves. Hut hereafter
at least one additional man will be recpiired in the fish work for the
reason that to meet a growing demand for brook trout fifty thoue-

and young trout were saved from last winter for future breeding
purposes. They will begin yielding eggs in the fall of IDO;"). The
force in the ha\chery at that time will be entirely inadejpiate for
enlarged work. Another permanent man is also needed at the
Corry hatchery to keep the place in order to cut the grass, trim the
trees, keep the ponds clear and feed the fish.

ERIE HATCHERY.

The Erie Hatchery is near self-supporting. Under an act, ap-
proved May 29, 1901, to regulate fishing on Lake Erie it is provided
that all commercial fishermen shall pay a license fee. The cost of
operating the Erie hatchery is a little more than three thousand
dollars. The annual revenue from the license fees is about two
thousand dollars. The fishermen seem perfectly satisfied to pay
the license, because they recognize the fact that the maintenance
of the fishery industry of Lake Erie depends almost wholly on ar-
tificial propagation of lake fishes.

In former years it was the custom of Tennsylvania to take its
eggs for the Erie hatchery wherever it could find them in I>ake
Erie. The United States Commission, now the Bureau of Fisheries,
did the same thing. The results were not satisfactory. On assum-
ing charge of the Department I at once entered into corn spondence
with the United States Bureau of Fisheries with a view of bringing
about a better plan. The Ixovernment Bureau met my advances
most cordiallv. The result was that an agreement was entered into
by which the United States Bureau of Fisheries would collect or
take charge of the collection of all the eggs. Pennsylvania was to
have all of the take from what were known as the Port Clinton
grounds in Ohio. Under the agreement I'ennsylvania was to pay
its pro rata share of the cost of taking the eggs from these grounds
and also to pay its pro rata share of taking the eggs of whitefish,
which the United States kept in pens. The understan.ling also was
that the United States was to receive credit for the eggs so taken
and turned over to Pennsylvania. The plan has worked very suc-
cessfully and I hope it can be carricnl on indefinitely.

Although the site on which the Erie station stands is very small
the output of fish is the largest of any of the hatcheries, many times
larger in fact than all the other hatcheries combined, with the ex-
ception of Torresdale, as it is designed. The reason is, tiiat Lak(^
Erie is the great breeding pond— all the eggs hatched being tak(Mi
from wild fish. The method of hatching the eggs is also different
from that which is required at t\\o. Corry, Bellefonte and Wayne
county hatcheries. Instead of troughs, the eggs are placed in jars
set opposite a series of troughs, set one above the other, tlu^ whole
forming what is known as a battery. By the battery method a com-
])aratively small quantity of water is used and an enormous saving
of si)ace results. It is to be regretted that trout eggs cannot be as
nearlv successfully hatched bv the batterv svstem as by tlie fiat
trough system. There are three small ponds on the Erie grounds
and these* are used for hatching j>ui'poses. During the past season
the Erie Station turned out seven species of fish, to-wit: yellow
perch, black bass, sunflsh, whitefish, herring, wall-eyed pike and
blue pike. In addition there were many thousand frogs hatched
and distributed.

24

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

"

I *

1 Jq , T^ '''^*''f *'"' '■'""'^ '""^ ^^"^ J^™ station between May 31st
1903, an. June 1st, 1904, was a great improvement over previous
.years. Tl„« was partly due to tlie fact that the three little ponds
on the grounds were in continual use. As soon as one specFes of

all ^r" '"';'" m 'I'^P"^^'^ ''' ''""t'^^'- ^«« installed The
fall work, namely, that of whiteflsh and lake herring was consid-
erably greater than in ma..y of the previous years, but the takes of
walleyed p.ke and blue pike eggs in the spring\a"d also yellow
perch wei^ much smaller than usual. The fall-olf in the tWo first
named fishes was partly due to storms on the lake. In aH there
lllli^a^l "^"»tf i^l'^'f " ^vall-eyed pike eggs received and o these
in t?,'" '"?'' ''"^'^'r'^- T^^enty-three million eight hundred and
ten thousand were planted in Lake Erie. The remainder were de
IZf.^ ''V/r^^ams like the Susquehanna, DelawartTleghrnv Ve-
nango and kima-ed waters. A number of years ago the Fish Com

as tuey issued blank applications for trout, but this action wissooti
found to be a mistake. The majority of 'the people who were in

the hi*; /" .*'jf '""",!'"« °* the fish knew notldng^wlmteveT about
the habits of the wall-eyed pike. The result was than fulJv sevcmtv
five per cent, of the applications were for water.s in wl ch tl^e fish

rnd'Jamethe:* "a^: "' """" '"'''y ''''"'■ '^^-"a vXbl'fo^d
s 'nd?„ " ouf uc blln' ,7"?>''J".''°'" ^1^' Fish Commissioners ceased
fi^i, Vi.° 1 , appiuations an-1 instead either planted the

hsh themselves or throu.ih their authorized representatives As
the policy was undoubtedly a sound one, the DepaHment of Fish
erH.s has pursued the same methods and issues no Slicat^ns'
\Vlienever a person writes to tlie Department askin " for wall eved
.pike It the stream which is named is suitable, he is n,^tifled tint
Ihe Depar nient v.ill plant the fish where he has indicated ind w'i
authorize hnn to plant them for the Departme'it By this means
he best results have been obtained. The rivers mentioned above

; pidh-'evc'rv"; r'"' iT'l'^Tf "^^ f*' '''' ""'"^'^'^ areTn^-eash g
I ipiuo c\ti\ je.ir. In fact for the last two vears it is declared hv

the^hshermen that more wall-eyed pike have been taken thl'ibtc^

WALL EYED PIKE FRY.

Many persons interested in planting fish in I'ennsvlvnnin l,n,-«
written to the Department asking, if Tt were possuZ to l.nhi ?i
wall-eyed pike until they are several inched l.ng^^rsteL'l of 5 t m'
them when they are of almost microscopic size To Tl p«p t i *'
[.artinent has invariably replied that theran'' hrJe reCn^ wh^^^ ."
lead to the planting of the small fish instead- 'ta*'0"s \vhuh

lVWin.M!e"niu* fish Z17o *•'"" '""•" "'■^^ "" '^""-" »-«- "f

but in course of a few weeks fully ninetv ner rent H . il^ !? '
nrar!:lsl;:l^ed'"^'^'^^'-^' ''^ ""'"* ^ -- as^'l.l; ti of^thrSl'i;-

even .f there was any method of feeding it would be too expensive

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24

aiiPOHT OF ruE

Off. Doc.

Takon as a wliole the work at the Erie station between .\Jav ;{]st,
; ■;; Ti;""" '*' i"^^; ''"*' " «■■•■'"* i-np-'oveMU.nt ove,- previons

on !,■ r*" '""''^•^'' *'""■ '" ""' '■"'••^ "'"t "'^' tliive little ponds

u Ih,. ^loinu s wcie jn coniinual use. As soon as one sne.ies of
s penm..! (he,-,, were .lispose.l of, another was install^. The

;, 1, ^ nan.eiv. I hat .,f whitellsh and lake herrin- was eonsid-

ill eved"',' r:' * "".' 'i """=^ "f ^"^ '^'•^'^■'""^ >-^--«' ""t' the takes of
uall^exed piKe and bln<. ],ik,. eggs in the spring and also vellow

pereh were nnuh sn.aUei- ihan nsual. The fall-o^f in the two first

amed fishes was partl.v du,. to storms on tin. lake. In a Itliere

•-iTifi'ml) •';';"• •'•V'';''-';'''',;:""-«.v<^<l !•"«■ <■««« reeeived and of tee
;';.:,'"■ ''•"•'"^■^l- T"ent.v.three million eiglit In.ndred an.l

■IS tliev i«^„.,.) I 'V '■ ' . "■""71-u piKc m tlie same manner

lonnu lo he a mistake. ■] lie majoiitv of tlie peoiile who were in
erested ni the planlinj, of t,ie fish knew notl iiig vh ever ah, "t

five rer'rtn *!l'' "" ""'•';' 'f'' '"'" '"^"" "'"^ '^'••'" (""v sev ■ ■
hy pel oen . of the applications were for waters in « hieli th,. fish

s^iii . r he bi iV .;-'",■";;•""■'■ ""; ''^'' *•"'"""-'<>-'- -"-"

c.i, "r. > ai.iHMali.ms an I instead either iilanted the

fish fhemsolves or ,i,ro,v,li (heir anlliori.ed r<-presenf Kives \s
tlie polie.v was nnd.uibledly a sonnd on... tlu- l)iVn(im.i t of Fi;h
eries has piirsne.l the same methods and i.sae n a , l"aii,', '
\ heii,.;,e,. a person writes to the Deparliiient ..skin- fo wa 1 " "d
. Ike 11 the sdeam whiHi is named is suitable, he U notin d V U
llu. Depar inent v. ill plant the lish where he has indiea e 1 n I wi
authorize Inn, to plant i::en, for th.- Department. H t is e u s
the he.t resnits have been obtained. Th,. rivers nienUoi V' /ove
a <• anions for Iheir wall-e.ved pike and ,he nniabers aH e easi .
■aiMdI.y every vein-. In fa.-t for th,. last tuo v<.ars it is d" ar d v
|l-J.shermei, Iha, more wall-eyed pike have i.<.eii taken thin blal'i^

WALL EYED PIKE FRY.

Many persons iiilerest..d in planling fish in I'ennsvlvania have
^.l t..,i to the lieparlment asking, if it w.Me po.^sible to 1 Id |,e
"all .■.vo.l pike unlil fhey are several iie-hes long inste d f I , ,
1|<- m when ,h..y are of almost mi.roseopic siz^. To 1 lese | ^
par. men has ,nvaria!,ly replied (hat ihe'r,. are tlin.e reis.ns wi, h
l''a<l u> (he pl.nlmg of the small lish inslead- '^'i^""" ^>lll<h

lVedimMhe''li,;',I l-''n '"■"r;" '•'""■ ""■'•'• "■•" "" •^""-" '"<'^"- "f
'KliiiM I he I lile lish and keeping aiiv iiiiuiher of (hem iiiKil il„.v

hav,. ol,iaine.l si.h growth. I, has i,een fo::nd Hal" ,.■ sh

a .".; they have h«, (heir sae will (ak,. oa.meal an 1 ot le ",.

hut Ml .ours,, ol a few weeks fully nimdy p,.r eent. dh' lis |, ,'•

I^h a^eltl' .r*'^^'''-^- ''" ^

even if there was any method of feeding it woulVb; too ^xpensi;;'."''

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

<^*f-\-)

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

26

Third. And this is about as important as the first: That it is a
peculiar fact, and experiments have demonstrated, tliat the tinv
wall-eyed pike are better able to take care of themselves if property
planted than any other species of fish which are hatched by the De-
partment. If the little ereature« are planted close to the shores
after the manner of other fry, they will all be devoured bv minnows*
but if they are taken out into ^he stream and into tlie pools in
which the large fish live the little fellows will at once seek the bot-
tom and hide themselves under the stones where they are reason-
ably jjafe from most of their enemies until they have obtained some
growth.

All of the whitefish eggs hatched at the Erie Station both in the
fall of 11303 and 1904 were taken by the United States Bureau of
Fisheru^s. The bulk of the eggs were from wild fi.sh, but many were
taken trom fish captured in the nets and then held in pens built bv
the United States. The number of eggs thus furnished by the
United States in the fall of 1<JU3 was 40,280,000. The lake herrini;
eggs were taken by our own men from the boats fishing out of the
city of Erie. They number 11,300,000. The battery at the Erie
Station IS built to hold 488 jars, but at the present ti'ue there are
380 installed. If the full complement of jars had been on the racks
they could all have been filled with lake herring eggs Unfortu
nately the state of the finnnces prevented tliis, as the jars with
their fixings cost about |200 a hundred.

There was also a decrease in the number of blue pike eggs hatched
and that was due not altogether to the decrease in fish or to storms
but to the fact that last spring instead of males and females ap-
pearing at the beginning of the reason the sexes came to the nets
at difierent times, and at length when tiiev did come together most
of the fishermen had cut out their nets. As a result it was onlv
possible to secure and hatch 2,000,000, at least 12,000,000 less than
the usual number.

For the first time since yellow perch culture has been taken up
by Pennsylvania the Department distributed fingerling perch hatcli-
ed trom eggs taken from the adult fish. Hitherto thev'were planted
as soon as the sacs were absorbed. In Julv, 1903, 33,300 fin.Ierlino-s
were sent out. This year the number was not n.arly as lai-f boin'
only 9,900, because it was not possible to scMure as iLnv e4' T le
eggs of the yellow perch have heretofore been taken fronf "he wild
fish in Lake Erie. Sometimes they are exceedinglv abundant and
again they are very very scarce. Recognizing the importanc; of
the yellow perch work, the Department has secmvd a large nun b.r
of adult fish and placed them in ponds at Corrv and Wa^ne co in v
in order that it may be indej)endent of the Erie fish. The v(d w
perch distributed ln«t year and this year were mainlv hatc'hed in
one of the little ponds on the Erie hatchery. It is exceeding] v eaiv
to take the eggs from the i)erch, but it has been found tlwit c-s
which haA-e been naturally deposited by the U^nm], and impnn;.
nated by the male yield better results, a finding whic], is exacth-
opposite to all other species of fish from wbich the o^;.^ arcM^'essed
The n.e hods employed is to allow the fish to .pawn imtu ^llv on
brush placed in the ponds. The brush with tl.e (-linoin?/ s^','^^

thL"rr'ri 'u"" ^-'^ f ^"^^' ^° '^^'''^' ^^'''''' ^^'^ °« ^"''^'tur^ fish. Hv
this method fully ninety per cent, are incubated.

26

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

I

As there are no facilities at the Erie Station to care for mature
black bass, the method of cuilivatinj; this fish at the Erie Station
has been to watch the nests of wild fish in Prc^que Isle Bay \s
soon as the little fish are hatched they are taken out with nets and
transfer-ed to the little ponds on the hatchery grounds. In this
manner last year r),()()() were distributed and tliis year 11,700 I^st
year the fish were sent out when quite small, as soon in fact, as they
began to devour each other. This year it was determined to ex-
periment and see if it were not possible to hold the little bass until
fall, when they would be from fo;ir to five inches long. They were
placed in a pond by themselves and v/atched verv carefully.' Dead
fish were taken and ground up into pulp and the little creatures
were fed with this six times a day and fed each time until they
would eat no more. Every twenty-four hours each fish ate about
three times its ovvu weight of food. The pond was also visited
every half hour by one of the employes and everv precuiution was
taken to prevent cannibalism, including the sorting out of sizes.
Some 14,000 fish were placed in a pond but in spite of* all the food
given them and in spite of all the care taken, when distributing
time came nearly forty per cent, of the original number was found
to be missing. It is evidejit that the unfortunate forty per cent,
passed into the stomachs of the remainder during the night time.

While with the utmost watchfulness, care and abumlant food.
It was found impossible to prevent cannabalism, despite the verv
heavy loss from this means the Department feels that in case of the
black bass it is more profitable to stand the loss and hold the fish
until September than to plant when the sacs are absorbed This
may seem paradoxical, in view of the fact that the Department Ik-
lieves in planting brook trout in the fry stage, but as a matter of
fact the cases are not parallel. When the brook trout fry are four
months old and i)lanted properly they are well able to take of them-
selves. The little creatures which are then a couple of inches long
are active and (juick in their movementis, and in situations where
they can generally avoid their enemies. But the frv of the small
mouth bass in the first i»lace are not active and in the second place
are apt to herd together and in lo( a lilies where they are open to
attack from larger fishes. The young of the small mouth bass
moreover grow with lapidity. When hatched in June thev are four
or five inches long in September and when planted each goes his
own way and there is a better chance for a ])roportion to escape.

FROG CULTURE.

For a number of years 1 have been convinced of ihe desirability
of IVnnsylvania to eiicouragv frog cultur<' among its residents.
Statistics show that Amerieaiis lo-ihiy are the i-cal frog eaters. The
number of frog legs consumed in this couniry everv'^vear is enor-
mous. It is said tliat more are eaten in the'llnited States in six
months than are consumed in France in twelve montlis. There are
few creatures whieh possess more delicate flesli than the frog. Un-
fortunately very little is known to the method of frog culture Ex-
periments have shown that whih' the tadpole will feed on almost
anything not too large for it to devour whether dead or alive that
the frog itself will not eat anything excepting that which is alive.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

27

Moreover the frog is a great wanderer. If a frog cultarist builds a
place in every way suitable to the needs of frogs and hopes the
creatures will be contented, he finds to his discouragement that they
seem to think otherwise and that they will straightway depart for
some other locality. They will use every eiiort to escape from
pens, and it is only by the greatest ingenuity that they can be kept
confined. Many experiments were made by the Department to
keep the frogs in ponds built for them, but generally met with dis-
couraging failure. Even where they were successfully confined,
king fishers, cranes, herons and snakes played havoc with the stock
until the Department of Fisheries was ready to give uj) in despair.

One day in the spring of 1903, Mr. A. G. Buller, Superintendent
of the Erie Hatchery, while watching for bass fry came upon a
quantity of frog spawn and gathered several buckets full and
brought them to the hatchery and placed them in one of the ponds.
Knowing of the repeated failures in the other liatcheric^s he said
nothing to the Department about his find until the tadpoles came
wriggling out of the eggs and the pond was black with the little
creatures. He fed them with fish and they devoured some ninety
pounds a week. The abundance of and the warmth of the water in
the ponds brought the tadpoles to maturity so rapidly that by the
first week in August most of them had been transformed into
frogs.

Application blanks were hurriedly prepared and notice sent
throughout all the State that the Department could supply young
frogs. It expected a gv^nerous response, but it was unprepared for
the widespread interest evinced and the demand which was imme-
diately made. It is estimated that the applications covered the
supply more than twenty times. It is believed that had the De-
partment possessed one hundred million frogs instead of 31,000, they
could have been disposed of readily.

The magnitude and varied character of the work at Erie during
th(? past year and a half indicates both the desirability and evim the
necessity of the expansion of the hatchery. That this should be
done either by the abandonment of the present ground and the lo-
cation of another on a larger tract (dsewhere, or the retention of
the present place and the building of a supplementary station with-
in easy reach of the lake and the city of Erie. One point in favor
of the first is that the Department is charged a large, and it thinks
unreasonable, sum of money for the use of the water. Before the
Erie IFatchery was established the i)eople of Erie urged the Fish
Commission to undertake fish cultural work in Lake Erie and they
offered many inducements. Among other things the water was
l)romised free according to the re])orts of the l»'ish Commission.
The ])romise itself, declared in the same re]»ort, was k<'pt for tw<»
years, when notwithstanding the agicMMuent a <'haige was made.
The charge is |400 aniuially. As the bulk of the work which is ]mm*-
formed at the Eiie Hatchei-y benetits the peo]»le of Erie more than
any other locality the Depiirtment fe<ds it should not charge foi*
the water and that the ])iomise made should be kept, and that,
under the circumstances, if a more desii'able ]dace whei-e water is
obtained free could be found the De])artment would be justified in
the moving thereto and abondoning the present station. NevcM'the
U'ss the Department recognizes some difficulty in the way of re

28

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

moving and also that it might be desirable to maintain the present
station. But it emphatically recommends that the Legislature au-
thorize the establishment of another or supplementary station
within easy reach of the city of Erie, where there can be a very large
extension in lish cultural work. It is impelled to this for three
reasons:

lirst. The necessity for increasing the output of black bass;
second, the propagation of yellow perch on a vast scale for Lake
Erie and other waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth;
and third, that the reaiing of whitefish may be experimented with
on a large scale.

HOLDING WHITE FISH FRY.

Until two or three years ago there was a general impression
among lish cuiturists that whitefish could not be successfully re-
tained, but must be planted as soon as the sacs were absorbed.
There are nuinv phvsical difliculties in the wav of doing this to the
best advantage. When the whitefish are hatching ice still covers
the bays in Lake Erie and it is often necessary to cut holes in the
ice before the fish can be planted, and the best spot for planting
cannot always be selected. Ifence while encouraging results have
followed the arliticial projiagation and ])lanting of whitefish, the
results in the estimation of the Department are not as great as they
might be. A couple of years ago experiments were conil acted on
a small scale at the New York Aquiuium in rearing whitefish with
artificial feeding. Gratifying success was met with. Mr. A. U.
lUiUer, Superintendent of the Erie liatchery carried on some experi-
ments on his o.vn account. By the first of June, 19(1 i, out of sev-
<'ral hundred try, he had only lost about a dozen, and the survivors
were about an inch and a half in lengtii. It was found that thev
would take certain foods- rea'ily and thrive on them.

Mr. Buller in his report to the Department says: ''It is my true
belief that if a portion of the whit(^fish hatched w^ere retained in
sufficiently large ponds until fall it would pay the Department to
care for them until that time, ai^ tiu y would then be of a sufilcient
size to better care for themselves. If this were done I am positive
that in a very short time the catch of whitefish in the lake would
be greatly increased. To begin this work it would be necessary to
have more space, as it requires several very large ponds. The
fishermen feel it would be to the general interests if a portion of
the fry could be retained."

I heartily concur in the above and I would be glad if 30U would
recommend to the Legishiture that it appropriate a sutticient sum
of moiu\v to establish a su|)[)lementary hatchery. I believe it would
be one of the most imjioriant of all the stations under the care of
the De])artment. It should contain not less than twenty-five acres
and ouglit to be double that size. From such a station it would be
possible within a few years to annually hatch as many fish as are
now hatched at the Erie Station and that without abandoning the
latter.

The Departnu'ut feels that the experiments in rearing young
whitefish is one of the important matters undertaken during the
first year work of the Department, and the results achieved render
me exceedingly anxious to extend them on a large scale.

28

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

iiioviii<^ and also that it inigiit be desirable to maintain the present
statical. But it enipiialically reconinuMids Ihat the Legislature au-
thorize the (Establishment ot' another or su[)i)lenientary station
within easy j-each oi the eitv of Krie, where there can be a very lari;!*
extension in iish euliural \york. it is impelled to thi« for three
reasons:

birst. The ncctssiiy tor inereasing the output of black bass;
s<*cond, the proi)aj;ation of yello^y perch on a yast scale for Lake
Va-'iv and other waters under the jurisdiction of the Coinmon\yealth;
and third, that the n^ariuj.;' of \yhitefish nniy be experimented \yith
on a larj^e scale.

HOLDING WHITE FISH FRY.

Tntil two or tlirtie years aj^o there \yas a j^cneral impression
amon,^' Iish culUirisls that ^yhitelish could not be successfully re-
tained, but m.st be planted as soon as the sacs were absorbtnl.
There aic many i>hysl-al dilliculties in the way of doin!"- this to the
best advantage. \\ Ik n the whiteliish are hatching ice still coyers
the bays in J^ake VaIc and it is often necessary to cut holes in Wm
ice before the iish (an be planied, and the best Sjiot for [»lanling
cannot ahyavs In seiecteil. i!enc-e while encouraging results haye
f(di<>\yed tlu* auili:-iai proj a.-ation and planting id' ^yhitelish, tin*
results iii lli:* esii!i:ation of the i)epaiime:it ai-e not as great as they
mighi b.". A conjde of years ago experiments \yere conilucted on
a isniall s;aie at I i;e Ne\y \ ovk A(i;iaiiuiu i:i rearin,; wiiilelish with
aifiliciai ftcaing. (Iratifying success was met with. Mi'. A. (J.
i»uller. Superintendent oi the JOrie iijitcheiw carried oi.: seme exjieri
mcnts on his o.n aii-oant. By the iirst of June, 11)01. out (d' sey-
cral hun;!r( (1 ii y. he iia;! only lost about a dozen, an;l the suryiyoi-s
were aboni a.; inch and ;i hilf in hsir^iii. h was found that they

* •

would take cm iain foojis r( a ily and thri.c on them.

Mr. IJuller i.: ids iiiiorl lo liie Dei-art hsent savs: "It is my true

1. • • «

b(di(d" that if a portion (d" ihc whitchsh hatclied were retained in
snnici(nily large pom.s u.ilil fall it would pay the l)"partnH'nt to
cai-e ioi- ihem until tliat iimc. nr- tiuy ^\()u](l then be of a sutlicient
size lo better care for ih<'.;isel\( s. If this were (h)n(' I am ])osiliye
that in a very short rinu' the catch (d' \v!:iieiisii in the lake would
be greet Iv inci-eased. To be?;in this work it would be necessaiv to
ha'. e eteic s|.a;(', as it rsMpslres se/eral \ery large ponds. The
tiSiiermen i.el it wonl-i be to tiie general interests if a portion (d'
the fry coniJ be i-clained."

I h( aid ily cor.cur in the a'io.e and I would be ghid if \oii would
recommend io (be Lcgish: I uii lliat il ;!ppro]ni:ile a suhiclent sum
oi' nioT'.ey to establish a saiplementary hatchery. I believe it would
be OIK <»r the most imp( riard n\' all tin* stations under the care of
(iic ncpjutmcrM. It should con lain no! les;'- than twenty li\-e acres
and ouglii to l;e doidsle that size. I'rom sncii a sta.lion it would be
possible wiihin a few years to annually hatch as many tisji as are
no\v hatched at the Krie S(:ilion and that without abandoning the
latter.

Tho l)ei)artiia'nt feels that the expeiiments in I'v-aring young
whitelish is one of the important matters umh'rtaken during the
first year work of the Department, and the results aeidevod render
me exceedingly anxious to extend them on a large scale.

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

Naturally it is not expected that a great deal of work could be
accomplished at the Bellefonte Hatchery, owing to the fact that it
was not located until July and not ready for operation until October,
1903, but I am happy to say that the station has taken its plac(» as
an etfective one; that a gratifying amount of work was accomplished.
There was not a fish in the new ponds in October and those which
were sent by the United States Government and the Blooming Grove
Park Association, and those which were purchased from the Tenn
Forest Brook Trout Company and install-d in November could not
be breeding fish until the fall of 1904. But the Penn Forest Brook
Trout Company, the Weissport Brook Trout Company and the
Blooming Grove Bark Association promptly came forward and gave
their surplus trout for the new hatchery. ' Through these concerns
many millions of eggs were placed on the Bellefonte troughs and
the output last spring was nearly half as manv as that of Corry,
the oldest established hatchery in the State. It would have been
very much larger had it not been for three causes:

First. A natural loss throu^iih the transporting of green eggs.

Second. The loss of several hundred thousand eggs through the
carelessness of the express comi)any in allowin"; them to freeze, and

Third. The death of several hundred thousand fry bv the acci-
dentally turnin:>- off of the water running through tlie troughs and
through inherited weakness of others hatched from eggs taken from
the Allentown fish.

By these three means the output was diminished bv about a mil-
lion and a half. At the end of 1903 there was a hatch'ing house and
one large pond. A second pond had been started. As soon as the
fish were distributed in tlie si)ring the incomplete pond was finished
and divided into four. Three other hnndsome ponds were laid out
and finished by the first of August and by the first of October, 1904,
two other ponds were completed for fry to be retnined for breeding
purposes. The grounds surrounding these pon's were carefullv
graded, sown with grass seed and trees planted. Another spring
was o])ened up and sui'rounded by cement walls so that bv the early
fall that portion of the nvw hatching grounds present a [U'ettv ap-
pearance. With the trout from Allentown, the trout received from
other sources mentioned gi'own to mnturity and nearlv r)0,000 frv,
^^hlcll will produce eggs in lOO:*, tlie Belh'fonte hatc'herv in oiie
short year has been placed on a firm foundation. The Pcnn Forest
Brook Ti'ont Company through its Treasurer, Mv. Butler, in the
fall of 1904 ai-ain tendered all its surplus eggs and all but 500.000
were sent to the Bellefonte Hatchery. More than 500,000 eggs were
taken from th(^ breeding fish in the ponds. Hence the large hatching
honse is now filled with eggs and in Januarv or Februarv the ten
nursery ponds should all be occupied. This fall the Peiin Forest
Brook Trout Conifiany again presented all its surplus eggs to the
^tate, and over 4,300,000 were thus obtained and distributed to the
Bellefonte and Warren Hat(dieries.

ATLANTIC SALMON.

Many years ago Mr. Thaddeus C. Norris and other noted Penn
sylyania anglers conceived the idea that the Delaware river was
snited for the support of Atlantic Salmon, unquestionablv tlie

30

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Kroatost food and ji^amo fish known. Many thousand oj^^gs were se-
cured from Canada, hatched in New York and planted in tributary
streams near Easton and the experiment was repeated for two or
three years in succession. To the delii^ht of those interested for
four or five years some mature fish were cauj^ht ascending the Del-
aware river, heretofore barren of Atlantic Salmon. Rut the number
caught was so few in proportion to the number of fry planted that
the experiment was abandoned. This was early in the 70's. Early
in the 90's Henry C. Ford, then President of the Pish Commission
resumed the experiment. He held that the first failure was due to
the fry having been planted r\ tributaries too far down the Dela-
ware river; that they shonld be ])lanted in streams leading into the
Delawere in Pike arid Wavne counties. He secured eggs from the
United States Fish Commission, hatched them at Allentown and
planted Ihe fry in streams like the Hlooming (Jrove and Pig and
Little Equinuiik and i-he Dyeberry. His faith was rewarded by a
catch five years later valned at over five thousand dollars. Unfor-
tunately Mr. Ford did not live to see the result of his good w^ork. Tt
was impossible to F.eci i e eggs every year from the United States
Fish Commission, becarse of the scarcity of eggs from the fish in
the New England ri-eT-^ and further planting on the Delaware
therefore had to be abandoned.

As I have assisted I^Tr. Ford in his experiment and w^as a firm be-
liever in the possibility of making the Delaware river a great salmon
river, I naturallv felt great regret that the work of storking ceased.
Learning Inst summer that the Ignited Stntes Bureau of Fisheries
had succeeded in domesticating Atlantic Salmon and taking eggs
(herefrom in some numbers, T at once determined to attempt the
same thing. Expressing my desire to the Hon. George M. Powers,
TTnited States Fish Commissioner, tliat gentleman ])romptly sent
me several thousand salmon eggs, which were incnbnted at the
Pellefonte hatchery. About two thousand were cared for in one
of the nursery ponds through the summer and on th(^ last of Sep-
tember were sent to tlie Wayne County Hatchery to be cared for
in ponds there to maturity.

Very great interest has been evinced throughout the eastern part
of Pennsylvania in this experiment as its success means a great
deal to tiie fishermen of th(» Delaw\are river and to the anghn-s of
Pennsylvania. If, by domesticating the salmon fry can be hatched
in sufficient numbers the Dcdaware river can be made into a great
salmon stream, it Avill meaTi a large sum of money added to I»enn-
sylvania's fish industry. There are many streams tributary to the
Delaware river which would make ideal salmon streams and much
American money which now goes to Canada and New Foundland
might be retained in Pennsylvania.

The salmon fry sent to the Wayne County Station for two reasons:

First. Because the spring wixfor nt thnt station is two or three
degrees colder than that at Pellefonte. Moreover the best streams
for the young fish tributary to the Delaware river are in Wayne
county and the upper part of TMke county, wUhin easy reach of the
hatchery. The Department feels that every effort should be made
to stock the Delaware river, it having beim clearly demonstrated
that the fish will thrive there; that it only requires persistent
efforts and heavy stocking to make it a givat salmon stream. H

30

RICPORT OF THE

Off. Uoc.

?'■

, rcalcsl food and j-anic lish known. Many (lionsand c^-^s were sc-
cnrod fi(Mn (^anada. liatclnd in New York and ]danU'd in tiibniary
sli'canis lu'ar Kasion and ilx' cxix'rinicnl was ro])(»ated for two or
Ihrco years in snccossicni. To llic d(di,ul>t of ilioso intcroslcd for
fonr or five vcars some malnro fisli were can^lit astvndin^^ tlio l>(d-

of Allanli;- Salmon. V>u\ the nnnd>er

aware I'ivor, lieretoforc bai reii
('anj;lil was so few m pro] mI ion to llu^ nnnibor of fry planted that
the ex]»ei-iinent was ahandoiied. This vas early in the TiTs. I'^arly
in the !M)'s Ilenrv (\ Ford, then President of Ihe Fish (Commission

I'esnnn'd Ihe ex])erim<

■n1. lie held that tlie first failure was dne to

ihe fry haviiiii- been ])lanled i'' iribn}ari(>s loo far down the I)(da-
liiat they shmi! ] be planl-'d in streams leadinj^- into ihe

ware I'lver

l)(dawei'e in Pik<' an;l Wavne eonnties. lie secnrcMl e<i}.»s fi*o"i Ihe
Fnited Sjat<'s Fish ('onnnissio?». hatched them at Allentown and
idanted the fry in streams like the IJloomini^- drove and !*.iji' and
Little Fqnininik and {-hi' l)y(d)erry. I!is faith was rewarded by a
eat(di five years later \alned at ovcm' five thousand dollars. Fnfor-
tnnat(dy ^Iv. Ford did not live to see the rc^sult of his i;ood work. Tt
was impossible t^s '.'V(\ v e.Tjjs eveiy year froii» the Fnited States
Fish Commission, bee:'.; r-'e of tlie srarcitv of e5r.L;s from the fish in

the New Fie-hind ri -e''^' and fnrther ]>hintin;': on the D(daware
(heri'fore had to be abandoned.

As 1 have ar>sisted 3fr. Ford in his experin»ent and was a firm be-
liever in the ]u)s^ibility of makin.«;- the D(d?nvar;' river a irreat salmon
i-iver. T naturally f<dt 'j',rea.t ro rret that the work of sto(d<inJA' ceased.
b<'arnin,i;- h'st sujanner that the Ignited States ]*»nrean of Fisheries
had sn<'ceeded in domesiif'ntin'i Atlantic Salmon smd takiii'^- ejiiis
therefron' in some nur.dK'rs. I at once det"rmi!>ed to attem]>t the
saiue thinjA". Fxpressin-:^ mv desire to the ITon. r.eorr/(^ M. F.owcn'S,
Fnited States Fish (^>]n!nissioner, that jrcntleman ])romptly sent
me several thonsand '^ab'on e;.'.j';s, wh.i'di v,<M'e incnb'»ted at the
Ii.(dlefont(^ hatcdiery. Abo-H two thonsnnd were cared for in one
of the nursery ]}onds throu^'di the summer aiid on the last of Sep-
tember were sent to the ^^'a.yne County Tlatcdiery to b.e cared for
in ]>onds there to maturity.

Very ji.reat interest has been evinced thron:;hont the eastern ])art
of INmnsylvania in this experiment as its success means a <ireat
deal to tiie fishermen of the D(dawai'e iImm- a.nd to tlu^ ani^lers of
Feiinsylvania. Tf, by domest icatinj': the salmon fi-v can be hatched
in sufficient numbers fi'e Dcdaware iMvei- can be made into a ^reat
salmon sti'cam. it will mea". a larjre sum of money added to Fenn-
sylvania's fish industry. Tliere ai'e many streams tributary to the
Delaware rivei- which wonl'l n)ake \(]o\\] s:!lmoi» sti<sams and much
American money whi<d) nov; <ioes to Canada and New Fonndland
mijiht be i'«dained in l*ennsylvania.

The salmon fry sent to the Wayne County StatioTj for two reasons:

First. !?ec;inse the si»rin" water at thrt station is two or three
deuroes coldei* than that at Hidlefonic. AToreover the best streams
foi' Ihe yonie.'- fish tril>ntary to the l)(dnwa.r^' riv<r ai-e in Wayne
connty ami the up]»ei' ]»art of Fike (*ounlv. wi^^dn easy i*each of tin*
liat(dn'ry. The l>e])artnH'nt feeds that every elTort should be nmde
to stock the l)(daware riv<M-. it havini; brvn rh'jndy (h'monstrat<'d
that the fish will ihi-ive there; that it only i-eqiiires persistent
efi'orts am! heavv sto(d<in<i' to make it a i^reat salmon stream. Tt

•~3
n

>

CD

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

31

f(H'ls that even though it is possible to domesticate the sahnon, that
the ej»:j?s which will be obtained in that manner .from such fish will
not be sufficient to do the work properly and that the domesticated
ej-jjis should be supi)lemented by the purchase annually of a large
quantity of eyed eggs from Canada. Unfortunately the finances of
the Department at the present time does not warrant any such pur-
chiase. In order to make the river a good salmon stream and witliin
the shortest possible space of time there should be not less than
two million fry planted in the tributary streams every year. To
do that would cost about two thousand dollars a year for the eggs.
It is not a large sum and that it would be weli expended is my
honest belief.

WAYNE HATCHERY.

There was no fish hatching work accomplislied at the Waym*
County Hatchery at the close of the fiscal year, as the work of put-
ting it into shape was not begun until July, 11)04, and the jireliminary
ponds and hatching house not completed until October, but by the
close of the calendar year there were over l,r^()0.000 trout eggs in
the hatching house. On that date in addition to the hatching house
there was practically finished one pond of an acre and a quarter for
black bass, one pond 150 feet long by 30 feet wide; one pond 50 feet
long by 30 feet wide; one pond 100 feet long by 50 feet wide, two
ponds 35 feet long by 200 feet wide for yellow perch, and three ponds
averaging about 75 feet long and 200'feet wide for breeder trout,
three trout fry ponds and one pickerel pond of half an acre. During
the summer a few yellow perch and sunfish and trout were caught
from natural waters and deposited in the ponds and on the 30th of
September all the ponds were filled with fish sent from Corry and
Bellefonte and the Station is now ready for work next spring. The
hatchery is now filled with eggs of trout from wild fish and from
fish in the Penn Forest Brook Trout Company, and the Blooming
Grove Park Association preserves, which were given freely to the
State. Hence all the trout hatching houses in the State were in
full operation at the end of the calendar year.

In addition to the fish already enumerated, one vcrv large pick-
erel pond has been constructed and three ])onds GO feet long each
by 20 feet wide have been built for trout in the Wayne County
Hatchery. The first named ])ond has been stocked by over a hun-
dred fish averaging more than two and a half pounds each, given by
the Wildwood Club of Wayne county; and that organization has
promised a further supply for breeding purposes.

The demand for brook trout has alwavs been much larger than
the supply, and last year it was greatei' than the capacity of all the
trout hatcheries of the State in operation under the old method of
hatching. There is also the certainty of a largely increased demand
for 1905, and there is reason to believe that the annual demand
will greatly increase.

In order to nn^et new conditions the De])artment has begun a
n\dical chaiiL'-e in all the ti'out hatching* houses bv ordering the in-
trodn-tion of what is known as the Clark-Williamson trough
method of hatching. Tn form<'r years it was tlu^ custom to care for
the trout fry in the troughs in the hatching houses. It is needless
to say that the output was greatly reduced. The No. 1 hatching

32

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

house at Corry could not accommodate more than 2,000,000 eggs and
fry. By introducing the Clark- Williamson method and by trans-
ferring the necessary hatching fish to specially constructed ponds
outside and devoting the troughs entirely to eggs the capacity of
the hatching house became practically unlimited. Each trough will
hold 48(),()(m eggs as against less than one-tenth of that number
under the old system.

The s})ecially Constructed ponds on the outside are known as nur-
sery ])onds. Of these we have established three types. One, the
simplest, but probably the least effective, is at the Corry hatchery.
This is simply one pond 100 feet long by 20 feet wide with the water
about eight hiches. The difficulty with this type of pond is that
the fry cannot be placed there until nearly a month after they have
lost their sacs. The second, and a very effective type, was installed
at Bellefonte. This consists of ten ponds, each 30 feet long and 10
feet wide, extending from the side of the hatching house, the water
running through a faucet from the inside supply troughs. Each
pond is covered with boards at the house end, and thereupon was
erected a box, on which was set automatic feeders made of a water
wheel, a piston rod and a porcelain jar about the size of a tomato
can, holding ground liver. With each revolution of the water
wheel the piston rod threw a minute quantity of ground liver out
and dro])ped it into the pond, so that the fish could feed if they de-
sired all day long. As a result of this type of pond there were
manv thousand frv hatched in Januarv, 1904, which reached the
length of from six to seven inches by the first of October. A few
even obtained the size of eight inches. There was not a trout under
four inches in length and the bulk were five inches.

The third type of nursery ponds was erected at the Wavne County
Hatcherv late in the fall. It consisted of a series of three tiers of
troughs, each about 20 feet long and 3 feet wide, supplied by water
from the hatching house, also each regulated with an automatic
feeder. The advantage of this particular type of nursery pond is
that the little fish can be placed therein, if necessary, before the
sac is absorbed and thev can be cared for much easier than even bv
the nursery ponds, established at Bellefonte.

By the establishment of nursery ponds it is possible to care for
as many fry as can be produced from the egg capacity of the hatch-
ery. The future output, therefore, of brook trout in Pennsylvania
will depend entirely on the number of breeders it is possible to main-
tain on the hat^dierv grounds, and the amount of monev available to
distribute them. As it is the intention of the Department of Fish-
eries to set aside each year between seventy-five thousand and one
hundred thousand fry for breeding purposes in each hatchery, in
five years from now, the Department should be in a situation to
supply an enormous number of trout, at least twenty times the
present output.

It is the intention of the Department also in view of the experi-
ments conducted by Mr. A. G. Bailor, at the Erie Station, to intro-
duce the Wayne county system of nursery troughs for the culti-
vation of the young of black bass. By ])lncing tlie fry of this fish
in the nursery troughs and detailing a man exclusively to their
care and in their sorting and feeding, it is hoped to diminish can-
nabalism and hold a large percentage for the fall output.

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No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

33

In gathering eggs from Lake Erie or (elsewhere it liad formerly
been the custom to transport them in a green stage by means of
cans or jars, but the results were not always satisfactory, in fact
the loss was generally heavy. At the suggestion of one of the Su-
perintendents, a change of methods was made in this particular.
Boxes twenty inches square each containing trays covered with
heavy canton flannel were devised. About two quarts of lake eggs
are spread evenly over each tray. A space near the top was left
for crushed ice. In this manner the green eggs w^ero transported
in a much better condition, with far better results to the hatcherv.
The same methods Avill be adopted for the carrying of brook trout
eggs as soon as practicable.

TORRESDALE HATCHERY.

As already stated the two considerations which led the Depart-
ment to remove the hatchery from Bristol to Torresdale, wei-e:

First. At Bristol it was too far from the main fisheries, from
which shad eggs could be obtained, and

Second. The property was too small to do anything other than
shad work.

As soon as the property' at Torresdale was turned over to the
Department of Fisheries by the city of Philadelphia, the building
at Bristol was put upon scows and carried to its new quarters and
put in good repair. The cost of moving was $175.00, which includt-d
putting it in place.

The more the new site was examined the more evident it became
that it was in every particular an ideal spot for a fish hatchery. Tlie
stream of water which flows beyond Eleven Mile Lane through the
ravine in the property to the river was found to be punctuated witli
springs, and later a bunch of springs was found, which will jiro-
bably enable the Department to do a limited amount of trout work.

There were two ponds already on the pro})erty. One was en-
tirely filled with half dried muil, through which the stream had cut
a channel. The lower pond was filled in within about a foot or two
of the surface with soft mud. A contract was awarded to clean the
upper pond and when this was finished early in October there was a
bodv of water 350 feet long and 50 feet wide for a distance of 300
feet, and 75 feet wide for the remaining 30 feet, and a pond with a
depth of 6 feet in the kettle hole and from one to two feet for the
remainder. It is an ideal pond for the cultivation of black bass, to
which purpose it is to be devoted.

When the water from the lower pond was drawn off for the pur
pose of cleaning it, it was found to be alive with fish: black bass,
calico bass, pickerel, catfish, whitefish and suntish — in all nearly
four thousand fish were taken from this pond, which is about 400
feet long. When removing tluMu it became necessary to place them
altogether in the up])er pond, where I am sorry to say nearly three
thousand of the sunfish became food for the voracious black bass
and pickerel. Some idea of the immense voracity of these two
species may be obtained by the statement that the total number of
black bass and pickercd was less than 100 and the 3,000 sunfish were
devoured in less than 30 days.

3—24—1904

34

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Owing to the supply of money becoming exhausted, the cleaning
of the lower pond could not be completed, but sufficient mud was
taken out to enable the ponds to be used for the breeding of white
catfish and yellow perch, and a number of these lish were placed
therein late in the fall.

In addition to these ponds a third pond, triangular in shape and
about 100 feet across the breast and 200 feet to the point of the
triangle was built. This body of water is to be devoted to the pro-
pagation of yellow perch.

The hatching house is equipped with a battery and a table and
the two have a capacity of over 400 jars. Unfortunately the house
at present only contains 100 jars of the McDonald pattern and there
is no money available to purchase enough to till the battery.

The city of riiiladelphia has evinced a decided interest in the Tor-
resdale hatchery and in addition to providing the grounds, has made
an appropriation of |5,00t) with which to erect a building, which is
to be used as a dwelling house. As this sum is more than will be
needed for the purpose, an amendment was introduced into the city
councils authorizing any moneys which weie left over from the
building to be expended on the hatchery grounds.

The interest which the city of Philadelphia has shown in the trans-
fer of the Bristol hatchery to Torresdale and its liberalitv in placing
at the disposal of the Department of Fisheries a large tract of land
and in appropriating |o,000, must giatify every friend of fish cul-
ture in Pennsylvania. This innovation of a municipality taking a
practical interest in the State's work of propagating fish cannot be
too highly praised and it cannot but luive a strong infiuence in ex-
tending the interest to all parts of Pennsylvania.

At pres(mt the station is under the charge of assistant J. F.
Brower, but will be under the superintendency of John P. Creveling,
as soon as spring arrives.

\Mien this hatchery is in operation it should be one of the most im-
portant under the control of the State. The shad fisheries of the
Delaware constitute a great industiy and it is possible, i)rovided the
eggs can be secured, to hatch 50,000,000 or more shad for planting
in the Delaware river and the Susijuehanna river. In addition, if
it is found possible to impound white ])erch, many millions of these
little creatures can be hatched; and with the other fish-s the outjmt
of the Torresdale hatchery in the near future should be not less
than 100,000,000, or as many as is now propagated by all the other
hatcheries in Pennsylvania combined.

CONDITION OF THE FISHERIES.
The reports of the fish wardens and the various fish protective
associations from all parts of the State exhibit on the whole an
increased condition of atlairs as to the fisheries, both angling and
(ommercial.

The Erie commercial fisheries, while there was a falling olf as
compared with former years, it was not due to a scarcity of fish,
but to weather causes, storms or heavy swells.

The fishermen report an enormous number of whitefish and
other fishes, and some report the capture of a fish wliich they call
herring, but which partakes mor(^ of the nature of a whitefish, and
it is believed these are hatchery planted fish from whitefish eggs,
impregnated by herring milt.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

35

The report of the Erie warden shows that for 1008 the total catch
of fish in Lake Erie within the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania was
7,280,500 pounds, of which 5,330,000 pounds were lake iierring, and
blue pike 1,964,000 pounds. There were only 36,500 pounds of white-
fish taken. This, it is stated, not because there are no whitefish,
but because the fish are yet too small to warrant the fishermen going
over them with their large meshed nets and the capture of small
fish would yield only herring prices, which are considerable less
than that of whitefish.

Reports from the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers indicate a
marked increase in the number of pike-perch, commonly called Sus-
quehanna salmon. This fish which was introduced into the Sus(pie-
hanna in the middle of the 18th century, it is said, by a Jesuit priest
and an Englishman, has always found a congenial home ^n the two
waters named; but the supply, once very abundant, decreased
rapidly until the Fish Commission began stocking heavily every
year. A million or more were planted in the two streams and their
tributaries annually and the result is an overwhelming triumph
for the artificial propagation and planting of fish. It was i-^tated
that in the year 1903 and 1904, that more pike perch were caught in
the Susquehanna river than black bass, once the predominant fish
in the Susquehanna. Pike-perch are said also to be quite abiindant
in the Upper Delaware, but so far as the Department can learn
there are no particular eft'orts made to fish for them. That they
are in such quantities has been abundantly proven and it is believed
that if the pools from Trenton Falls to above the New York state
line were fished as enthusiastically and as methodically as on the
Susquehanna river, it would be found that the fish are there in
great abundance. The pike-perch is also abundant and increasing in
the Juniata, and encouraging reports were received from the Ve-
nango river, also called French Creek, as to the number of this
species of fish.

BLACK BASS.

It is reported regretfully that the returns are not quite as sat-
isfactory as regards the black bass. There is overwhelming evi-
dence to show that in nearly all the waters of the Commonwealth
the black bass is decreasing in numbers at an alarming rate. There
are a few notable exceptions, namely, the extreme upper waters of
the North branch of the Susqu(dianna river in Pennsylvania. The
Venango river from its mouth to well within Crawford county and
in the upi)er Allegheny. Apart from these few places and perhaps
a few other isolated streams the reports are of the most discour-
aging character. Even most of the mountain lakes show a marked
fall-off in the number of fish caught. There are a number of reasons
assigned for this unfortunate state of affairs, to wit:

1. The (lerman carp.

2. Water pollution.

3. Discontinuance of stocking by the State.

4. A parasitic worm.

5. A falling-off in fertility.

While I cannot, and very naturally, prove it beyond dispute, I
am inclined to believe that all of these agencies are working harm.

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Bv this I do not moan that thov are all combined in all parts of the
State. There are places for instance, from which there are no re-
ports of the paiasitic worm. In others where there is absolntely no
pollntion; and aj^ain there are waters in which certainly no more
than one of the ajj;encies named can possible be at w^ork.

For example, in the lakes of AVayne county, it is very unlikely
that the carp are playing havoc among- the bass. Certainly there
is no pollution and in a majority there are no signs of the parasitic
worm. On the other hand in some of the mountain lakes in the
Northeast Pennsylvania nearly all the fi-sh are infested with the
parasite. The parasitic worm in large quantities in tlie fish of the
Susquehanna river and its tributaries. The carp are also in vast
numbers in the same stream. The river is often filthy from pollu-
tion and there is not the slightest doubt that pollution, the cari)
and perhaps the worm play havoc among the bass.

It w\as unfortunate that the old Fish Commission was compelled
a few years ago on account of a cut in its appropriation to cease
planting black bass. Although it must be confessed that the num-
ber which they were enabled to place in the waters was ridiculously
small, when compared with the thousands which were captured
every yc^ar by fishermen; but the new fish undoubtedly gave an op-
portunity to ])ut new blood into the stock in the streams.

It is a well known fact among biologists that it often happens
that when a particular form of animal or vegetable life is taken
from its natural enviro-nments and trans])lanted to new surround-
ings the tendency is to infertility. Even though the new home may
ap})arently be the same as the one formerly occupied, there seems
to be somethiiij^;, which does not exactly fit the requirements of
the new occu[>ancy. The creature may produce young and they may
have progeny and so on from generation to generation, but it is
noticed tliat very often the progeny from generation to generation
decreases in number. It has been noticed for instance that the
California or rainbow trout do not thrive well or seem to increase
naturally to any great extent in our Pcnnsylvaniti waters. Even
in the hatcheries, where the most favorable conditions exist it is
rare to find more than fifty jter cent, of the females, which produce
perfect *\ggs, which can be fertilized, or more than fifty per cent, of
the males, which produce perfect milt. I cannot recall a single
stream in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in which indis])u-
table proof can be produced that California trout propagated natui*-
ally. A few years auo it was stated in one of the reports of the
Fish Commission, that two streams seemed to be an exception to
this res])ect. but later, certniii ])arties confessed to me that they
had been annually stocking the rtream with young California trout,
and in one of the two streams, since that annual stocking ceased,
there h?is IxMm no showing of young California trout. If the qm^s-
tion of clian<»:e of environment be accepted without res(»rve, it may
be that this is one of the causes of a diminished su])ply of black bass.
As is well known, the bass is an introduced fish, and not a native of
Pennsylvania waters. Prior to 1870 it is doubtful if th'^re were any
black bass anywhere in the Commonwealth. When first introduced
they seemed to take eagerly to their new home, but for ten years
past there have been reports of a diminishing supply from nearly
all parts of the Commonwealth and these reports were accompanied

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

by statements of fewer and fewer young fish. Hence it, may well
be, that growing infertility is one cause of a lessened number.

But there are one or two localities in Pennsylvania where the
reports would apparently indicate that the theory of increasing in-
fertility due to change of environment is not as strong as it might
be. For example, Warden Shoemaker reports that during the sum-
mer of PJ04 there were thousands of black bass in the North Branch
of the Susquehanna river and that they are of greater abundance
than for many years. He says, that people in that locality attri-
bute the increase to the greater protection that has been given the
river at that point. While this unusual increase in the number
of small black bass in the upper parts of the Susquehanna river ap-
parently weakens the theory of gro\\ ing infertility, it does not nec-
essarily do so. It may well be, that the increase this year is due
to the increased protection and the enforcement of the fish laws,
as is claimed by residents, and if that be so it is possible that the
decreased supply will become apparent later and be traced to infer-
tility.

The pollution of streams is no doubt a factor which will operate
against a natural increase of black bass. The filthy mud from the
culm banks settles on the spawning beds to such a depth that the
black bass cannot build nests, or if they do build them, cannot keep
them clean so that the eggs can hatch, the eggs coverc^d with mud
"smother" just as hen's eggs VniU "smother'' when covered with
grease and will not hatch.

There is an alarming increase in a parasitic worm, which finds a
lodgement in the black bass, chiefly during the late spring and early
summer. A few years ago it was comparatively unknown. To-day
there are few waters in which it appears the bass are entirely free
from the pest. It should be said that tliis gives weight to the belief
that the worm is responsible somewhat lor the decrease in fish, as
the parasite is most abundant during the early and middle summer
months. One correspondent who evidently has been a close obser-
ver, writes concerning this parasite as follows:

"For vears 1 have summered at Lake Carey, I'ennsylvania. A
few years ago there w(>re a great many black bass in this lake. In
short, it seemed that it had more black bass in it than any other
lake about this section. Now there are few, if any, black bass
there. Within a few years I have noticed that the bass that W( re
caught were swollen, caused by a growth within them, somewliat
resembling a white spongy mass. Upon close examination this
mass is composed of a small white worm, having no head visible to
the naked eye, but when stretched they will expand about a quarier
of an inch and when they are not pulled tliey contraf't. The spa .mi
in the fish is found full of them. In the creekt; about the lakes t iie
bass are free from the parasite, but I also noticed the same tlii:ig
in the large bass caught at Harvey's Lake this summer (19(14).''

In another l< tter th(» saiue correspondent writes:

"The number of worms in a badly alTected bass is almost beyoiul
computation. The bunch of spongy white substance containefi in
this fish being in size suflicient to cause the bass to be swollen.
Upon oi»eniug tlie fish it is found lliat these snuill and apparently
headless worms are about a (luarler of an inch long and can be, in
some instances stretched to a half an iu( h and they have penetrated

38

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

the lungs„tLe liver, the spawn of the fish and fills the inside of the
fish giving it a swollen appearance. 1 have not noticed that they
penetrate the flesh of the bass. 1 am of the opinion that the worms
ail'ect the spawn, since I have seen some of them with the spawn
almost entirely gone. The bass in the Tunkhannock Creek flowing
into Lake Carey is without this affection. In the lakes of Wayne
county I have not found anything like it, but in Harvey's Lake, Lu-
zerne county this summer 1 noticed it was similarly affected, though
not so badly as I have described. Further investigation has shown
that suutish are atlected with it in Lake Carey, and in some instances
the catfish.

''I am led to believe that it is the cause of the depletion of Lake
Carey of bass and if careful, investigation were made it will pro-
bably be proven to be the cause of the extinction, or at least the
depletion of game fish in other lakes. I am satisfied that the fisher-
men at Lake Carey could not have been the cause entirely of the
almost total extinction. In that lake there are some big mouth
bass. I noticed that they are in some instances attected, though not
so much so as the small mouth bass.'^

I have placed the matter in the hands of a specialist and hope
to have a greater light on the subject before long. At present it
appears to me to be somewhat analogous to tlie worm which is
found in the rabbit in the summer time, although on the surface it
appears to be doing evidently more damage. This thought it borne
out by the statement of many fishermen that while fish badly affected
are caught during the summer montlis, there are no affected fish
caught at the beginning of the open season, or late in the fall.

While the worms, pollution, loss of fertility and cessation of
restocking are frequently given as causes for the decrease by far
the most prevalent cause assigned is the German carp, commonly
called the hog of the waters. There is no doubt in my mind that the
German carp is a dangerous fish and should be exterminated, if it
were possible to do so. Although the bass are fully as destructive
as the (Jerman carp, it is a more valuable fish, both from a sports-
men and a food standpoint, and therefore should not be considered,
when the preservation of the bass is considered.

GERMAN CARP.

There are two methods by which the (Jermari carp work destruc-
tion to the black bass. It does not destroy the young fish, because
its mouth it not arranged for feeding on them. It is a spawn eater
and feeds variously on the beds of the bass and sunfish. As the
carp hunt in groups, it is impossible for the bass to successfully
repel tlieir attack. The capacity of a carp for devouring spawn is
enormous. One of the L)ej)artment's war;leiis rf^ports tlie capture of
a carp in Lake Erie containing more tl.an iliree quarts of the spawn
of other fislies. In tlie rejmrt of the Commissioner of Fisheries for
the rro\ince of Ontario for 1891), it is stated that from one 18 pound
carj) there was more than three gallons of «])awn of other game
fishes. It can be easily understood, how, with such an api)etite,
all the sj)av> ning beds in a stream could easily be cleaned up by the
carp therein. Moreover the carp has another method to get rid
of the young black bass and that is by destroving the water plants.

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REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

the lungs,, the liver, the spawn of the fish and 1111s the inside of the
fish giving it a swollen appearance. 1 have not noticed that they
penetrate the fiesli of the bass. 1 am of the opinion that the worms
allect the spawn, since I have seen «ome of them with the spawn
almost entirely gone. The bass in tlie Tunkhannock Creek fiowing
into Lake Carey is without this allection. In the lakes of Wayne
county I have not found anything like it, but in Harvey's Lake, Lu-
zerne county this summer 1 noticed it was similarly alfected, though
not so badly as 1 have described. Further investigation has shown
thatciunfish are aitected with it in Lake Carey, and in some instances
the catfish.

"I am led to believe that it is the cause of the depletion of Lake
Carey of bass and if careful investigation were made it will pro-
bably be proven to be the cause oi the extinction, or at least the
depletion of game fish in other jjikes. J am satisfied that the fisher-
men at J.ake Carey could not iuive been the cause entirely of the
almost total extinction. In that lake there are some big mouth
bass. 1 noticed that they are in some iuislances alfected. though not
so much so as tlie small mouth bass.''

1 have placed the matter in tbe hands of a speciaiicst and hope
to have a greater light on the Siibjcct before long. At present it
aj)i)ears to me to be somewhat analogous to the worm which is
found in tlie rabbit in the summer time, although on the surface it
ai»peais to be doiiig evidently more damage. This thought it borne
out by the siatement of nmny fishejiiien that while fish bjidly alfected
are caugiii during tiie sumuh'r moiirhs. then^ are no alfected fish
caught at the beginning ol' the op;']! si-ason, or late in the fall.

While the worms, polluiion, loss ol" fertility ami cessation of
restocking are freciuentiy given as causes for the decrease by far
the most prevalent cause assigned is the (ierman car]), comnionly
called the hog ot the waters. There is no doubt in my miud that the
(lernuin caip is a da.igerous lish and should be exti rnnnated, if it
were possible to do so. Although the b:jss ar<' fully as destructive
as the (Jerman carp, it is a more vuluabie iisli, bcMh from a sports-
men and a food slauilpoint, and therefore should not be considered,
v.hen the i»res<'rvjilion of the bass is <'onsidere<l.

GERMAN CARP.

There are Iv.o methods by whir-h the (brumi. caip work destruc-
tion to the bla<-k buss, it does jiot destroy the young fish, because
its mouth it not arranged for feeding on them. It is a spawn (niter
and fee.is Viirior.sly on ihe beds of the bass iunl suufish. As the
car]) hunt iu gro -.ps. it is im].ossib!e for tlie bass to successful! v
re]M'! iheii- atluck. The capiirity of a (ar)» for devouiing s])awn i's
eiioi-mous. (nie of the l)e]»;iit luent's wur.':i;s rej)oi'ts t-je capture of
a carp in Lake Va-'u^ containing mo!<' than !hi'<'e (puii-ls of the si)awn
of other fislu's. in the repoi-l ot tlie Couimission<'r of Fisheries for
the Pro\inre of Ontario for lsi)!J. it is sta1<Ml tliat froiu one IS pound
curj) there was more than thi-ee gallons of .^itawn of otlier game
fishes, it can b<- easily uiKh'i stood, how, with su<-h an a])i)etite,
all tin* spaviiing beds in a stream could easily be ch-aned uj) bv the
car]) therein. Moreoviu' the car]) has anotl'ier nndhod to get rid
of the young black b.iss an<I thai is by destroying the water plants.

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

39

on which is found water life necessary for food to the young bass
and also thus destroy the hiding places and shelter place:: for the
little creatures from mature carnivorous fishes.

As it seems to me impossible to exterminate the German carp,
there seems to be only one means to restore the black bass to the
streams and that will be by artificial propagation and rearing. This
will ri'quire numerous and spacious hatcheries.

There is no doubt whatever that there is a tremendous increase
in the number of carp in all waters. Changed environment has cer-
tainly not affected this inferior food fish. That it is an inferior
food fish is generally declared in Pennsylvania. It seems almost
impossible to eliminate a strong muddy taste and otherwise make
it palatable. The majority of people who claim taste in the mat-
ter of food exclude it from the table. Yet there is undoubtedly a
very large industry in Clerman carp, and strange to say, that not-
withstanding its muddy taste and otherwise inferior food quali-
ties it commands a comparatively high price at all times in the
markets. Indeed there are periods when the live fish bring as much
as the Kennebec salmon. They have been known to sell as high
as 23 cents a pound and it is said to be exceedingly rare for the
price to fall below 8 cents. In Philadelphia last year 3,490,000
pounds were sold with a total value of |174,700, and in Allegheny
county the industry Avas proportionately large. In fact the carp
industry in Philadelphia ranks second to that of shad. So readily
do the fish sell that there are fishermen who eagerly offer to pay
$5.00 a month for the privilege of catching them under the title of
authorized representatives of the Department of Fisheries for re-
moving undesirable fish from the waters, and were it not that the
carp is certainly so distinct of other more desirable and more valu-
able food and game fishes the Department might well hesitate to
advocate its extermination.

There are two classes of our people who freely purchase the Ger-
man carp. One does so because the fish can be purchased alive and
killed according to their religious observances. The other pur-
chases the fisli because, notwithstanding its high price, the (juan-
tity of meat is so great lliat by cooking it with bread and onions,
and garlic, and greens and potatoes, a food can be produced, which
in bulk vvould be much less in cost than any other spec-ies of fish or
of meat.

I can understand how in other states where high classed game
and food ii^^lies are scarce tliiit the German carp might be a boon
to the mass of people. Hut in cur Pennsylvania waters formed of
mountain spring water, and usually fine rocky bottoms and waters
in which the very finest types of fish, not even excluding the great
Atlantic salmon may find a congenial home, there should be no
place for the inferior and destructive German carp. In fa<'t the
demand for ils extermination is so wid;»spread throughout the Goni-
monwealth. a denian 1 which meets the very sympathy of tlie Depart-
ment of Fisheiies, that I have been ex])erinienting as to menus to at
least decrease the number. I feel thnt the extermination is im-
possible. Under section 20 of the act of May 20, 1001, the D('])art-
ment of Fisheries is em}»owered to remove by means of nets any fish
which may be considered as injurious to other game or food fishes.
Acting under that authoritv I have from time to time appointed

40

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

authorized representatives to remove carp by means of seines or
other nets; and the number of fish of this species captured was
enormous by this means. In the Schuylkill river, where tlie plan
was tried liberally, carp became very scarce inside of twelve months.
1 feel so encouraj>ed that I feel justified in recommendini,^ the enact-
ment of a measure similar to section nine of the act of May 29, 1901,
repealed two years ago, but surrounded with i*r strict ions such as
will lessen the danger of the destruction of other fishes and which
will do away with the objection which caused the repeal. I feel
also that there should be some other legislation, which will allow
a greater freedom for the capture of German carp.

SUNFISH.

With the last four or five years there has been a strong interest
exhibited in behalf of the sunfish. That interest was so strong
that in 1901 this excellent little fish was placed among the list of
game fishes and given a closed season when it was unlawful to catch
them. l»eople residing in the extreme northeastern part of Penn-
sylvania, in what is known as the mountain lake region, cannot
understand the cause which led to the demand in other })arts of
1-ennsylvania to make the sunfish a game fish. In most of the
mountain lakes the sunfish is so numerous as to be almost a nuisance
to the anglers for other fish, and many which are liooked are de-
stroyed in anger because they interfere with the angler in liis pur-
suits of what he terms better fish. But while the sunfisli is un-
questionably very numerous in the mountain lakes of the northeast
and noi'tlnvest Pennsylvania, it is rapidlv disappearing from all the
streams in every other part of the State and unless they did receive
protection and unless there is heavy replanting, the once familiar
sunfish will in a few years entirely disappear, except in the lakes
just described.

There are three species indigenous to the eastern parts of Penn-
sylvania: the river sunfish, the long-eared sunfish and the yellow
sunfish. The two first grow to a considerable size, but tln^' third
sometimes called ;i '^pumpkin seed" rarely obtains a quaiter of
a pound weinlit. There is another and ve'rv fine s})ecies ha vino- a
large, marketable Nalue, which is indigenous to Lako Erie and^is
variously known as the blue sunfish or Lake Erie sunfish. This
particular si)ecies sometimes obtains a Aveight of a jiound and a
half, and fish from one-half to three-quarters of a pound are not un-
common.

Several years ago efforts were made by the Fish Commission to
introduce the blue sunfish into eastern waters. In the majoritv of
instances there were no good results from the planting, due'possiblv
to the fact that like its cousins they did not seem salisti -d exceptin'--
when biting at a hook. This summer om^ of niv Avarh^ns rei)orted
an exception to this rule. This is on the north branch of the Sus-
quehanna river and there the blue sunfish, it is said, has establisluHl
itselt firmly. It is also found in some numbers in the up])er Dela-
ware nyer. It would be a good thing, if the blue sunfish could be
successiully introduced into all our eastern wat<M's, for it is not
only a good an^Jing fish, especially for young anglers, but it is a pan
lish not excelled by the yellow perch and black bass

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REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

niitliorizcd representatives to remove carp by means of r^eines or
inner nets; and the nnmber of fish of this species captured was
enoi-mons hv tliis means. In Ww Sclinylkill ri-.<M\ where Ihe ]>lan
W{is tried lihei'ally, carjj heeame very scarce inside of j w(dve montlis.
i fe(d so enc()ura-(Ml Mint 1 feel justified in recommendin-- tlie enact-
ment of a measure similar to section nine (d the i\r\ of Mav '2U, I'MIl,
repeah'd two yi^ars a^o, hut surrounded v/illi r- stridion's sucli as
will lessen tlie tlan^^cr of (he destrn<dion of ..dlnr fishes and whicli
will do away with the objection which caused the n'peal. 1 feed
also tha" there should be some other lejiislation, whicli will allow
a greater fi-eedoni for the capture of German carp.

SUNFI8IT.

With the last four or live years there has been a strong interest
c-xnibitevi In l^dialf of the suiiMsii. That interest was so strong-
liiat in I'.MIl this ox( client little lish was j.laced amoiig the list o7
game lishi s and given a closed season Avhen it was unlawful to catidi
them. ]*(•(»{, It' residing in the extreme n.orlheasiern part of IVnn-
sylvjinia, in what is known as the mountain lake reuion, cannot
uudersla-Ml the cause which led to the demand in otiier }»arts of
l-ennsylvajila to nuike the sunJish a game lish. In most of the
mountain lakcs the sunlish is so nmnei-ous as {o be almost a nuisance
(o the anglers tor other lish. and many whicli are hooked are de-
stroyed in anger because they interfere with \hr an.- lei' in his pur-
suits of what lie terms better lish. JJnt while the sunhsh is un-
HHcstionably very numerous in liie moiintjMn !ak( s of the northeast
;?mi ncjlhwest rennsylvanla, it is riij^idly disa].i>earing fro-r, all the
streams in i^wry other }>art of the State and unless thev di<! receive
protectinii and unless there is heavy replanting, the once fannliar
sunlish will in a few years entirely disaj^pear. except in tlie lakes
just des< rilfed.

'liicre ;r. e ihice sjiecies indigvnous to the eastern i)arts itf JVnn-
sylvnnia: the river suniish. the long-eared sunlish and the V(dlow
sunlish. ';he twe tirst -.low i) a considerable t^ize, but the" tiiird
sometimrs called a -iMimj.kin seed" randy obtains a <iuaiier of
a j)oiiiij] v.ei :ht. Tiiere is another and \ei-y line sjx'cies liaving a
large, iiiarkeiahle \alue, which is indigenous to Lako Kile amfis
variously known as the blue sunhsh or Lake Krie sunlish This
particular sj.ecies sometimes oidains a weight of a ].ound and a
halt, and iish from one-half to three-rpiarters of a iMUin;] 'ire n(d un-
common.

Several years ago efforts were made bv the Fish ( 'oiimission to
introdm-e the blue stmiish into eastern waters. In tiie majoritv of
instances there were no good results from the i>':nilin-, due'oossiblv
to the |;;ct ihni Ihce its ( onsiiis they did not S( em sa-isli -d e\;-eplin*r
wnen Inting at a hoc:k. This summer one of mv war l<^ns reported
an ^':v(('ption to this rale. This is on the noit h' branch of the Sus-
Miii'lainna river and iluu-e the blue sunlish, it is said. Las established
itselt tirmly. It is also found in some nnmlx'is in the upi»er Dela-
ware nver. It w<Mild be a good thing, if tli<' bPie sunlish could be
siiccesslullv iKtroduced into all our easl^'in wal.-rs. for it is not
on y a goo 1 aniiling jish, especially fuy young anglers, but it is a i>an
hsh not excehed by theycdiow perch and black bass.

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

SHAD.

41

Among the commeidal fishermen on the Susqiiehannii and the
Delaware rivers interest centres chiefly on the shad. From colonial
days to the present time it has been rej;arded as the best and most
valuable food fish in those two waters and their tributaries. The
building of dams on the Susquehanna river many years ago de-
stroyed the industry on the Susquehanna above Columbia, and de-
structive methods of fishing impaired the industry below. The
Susquehanna shad fisheries were at one time far more valuable
than that of the Delaware, but the fisheries on the latter stream were
nursed by the iishermen themselves and within the New Jersey and
I'ennsylvania limits the fish protective laws were supported by
these men. In addition on account of a treaty which exists between
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, requiring concurreni legislation on
ail'airs concerning the Delaware river, it became imitossible to erect
any dams thereon and in consequence the fisheries of the Delaware
increrised \asLly, which those on the Susquehanna decreased in the
same proportion. Artificial propagation of shad was carried on
for both rivers. The fisheries of the Delaware grew to average from
a quarter and a half million dollars a year in value to ^he fishermen,
while those of the Susquehanna sank to at one time less than |.jO,UOO.
The destruction of the Columbia dnm by ice a few years ago allowed
the shad to ascend the river f r( e as far iis Clark's Ferry dam and
up the Juniata to above Newport. The destruction of dams on the
Juniata have cleared the way for the fish and for many miles above
for the past two of three years shad have been caught annually in
increasing numbers. There is no doubt that if the destructive
methods of fishing which are in use in the State of Maryland could
be done away with the Susquehanna and Juniata shad fisheries
would very shortly be more valuable tlian they were fifty years ago.

Th(^ Department has had gratifying evidence that shad have suc-
ceeded in v.orking up through the raft chute at Clark's Ferry dam in
some numbers within the last two years. Early in the Autumn
of IJHKJ there were found in a number of nets seized at Nanticoke
dam forty to fifty young shad. As no young shad has been planted
by either the United States or Tennsylvania in that part of the river,
it was evident that mature shad had passed, not only above dark's
Ferry dam, but through the chute at the Nanticoke dam also and
spawned somewhere in the river above. This may be tak(Mi as a
fact for the reason that the nets in which the young shad were
found were taken from the vast waters just below the Nanticoke
dam and in a spot where the young shad could not have ,';()ne of
their own volition, because of their lack of strength. They must
have been carried down from above the dam. Again iu the autumn
of 11)04 rei>orts were sent to the office of thousands of young shad
in the Susipiehanna river above Selinsgrove. For ihe same reasons
thes(^ fish must have Ikhmi hatched from mature lisli ihnt had paissed
abov(i Clark's Ferry dam and above the wrecked dam at Suubury.

As accumulative eNidence, Warden TTolland i-eports tliat on the
West Branch of the Suscpiehanna brtween Muucy and Williams-
port dams a number of mature dead sjuMit shad were found. It has
generally been supposed tliat there were no shad whatever above

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

41

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SHAD.

Aiiioiij; I he (•onimcrciiil lislicniKMi on the Susiiiichaiiiui and iIk*
DclawaiM' liNcrs iuicicst ccntivs cliii'llv on the shad. From colonial
days U) Ihe present lime it has lu-i^n re;4ai(l<'d as the l)e«t and most
\aiiuil)le Too i lisli in those two waters and their tributaries. The
huiidiii- of dams on the Sus^niehainia river nmnv years aj»o de-
stroyed the indiistry on the Susiiuehanna above Columbia, and de-
strucriNC nn tliods of iishin;.; iinpaire<l the industry below. The
Susqueliauiia shad li^sheries were at one time far nu)re valuable
than that oi tli(^ Delaware, but the lisheries on the latter stream were
nursed l.y the lishermeii themselves and within tiie New Jersey and
i'ennsyl' aula limits tiie hsh protective laws were su[)j)orted by
thesi' men. In aildition on account of a treaty which exists between
Xew Jeisey ami i'ennsylvania, reipiirin;^ concurrcni le.i'.ic^lat ion on
aiVairs c<'nc( ; nint; tin- Delaware river, ii became impesvilile (o ere<-t
any dams liH'i-eoii and in (•onseiin<'nce the lisluM-ies of the Dehiwaie
incre;!se.l \asily, which those on the Sns(inehanna decreased in I lie
same proporiion. .\riilicial i)roi)a^ation of shad was carried on
for both riveis. The lisheries id' riu' Delaware ;.;rew (o average from
a (juarier a;.(i a h;ili million <l(dlaris a yeai- in value to the lishernu'u.
while iho.se of the Susquehanna sank i<> ai eae tijiie less than .S.")0,()il(i.

'i'he iiesini. lion of l!i(» (.'obimbia dam \\\ \

;i few vears a;'<> alh)wed

the shad to ascend llie ii\{'r fr< e as fa:- a.s Claik's Ferry ilam and
up the Jujiiaia lo a'uove Xew})ort. The destruction of i'ams on the
.fuiuata have cleai'ed the way for lln^ tish and for many miles above
for the i»ast two of three years shad h.ave been cai!.L;lit annnally in
increasin;-' numbers. Thei-e is no doubi that if tlie destrnciive
UKihods of lishin-;' wiii(d) are in use in the Stale of Marvla.nd could

be doiie awav with the S

usipieiianna and .Tuniata shad tislieries

vears au'o.

W(Mild vvvy sliortly be mere vaiaabh' than ilay were lif

The Deifisrlmeii! has luid iuratifyin<4 eviden< e that shad have suc-
cee<led in v, <»r]:in,u ui* thr(»u^vh the raft cliule at daik's Ferry dam in
some niu.nb( rs williin Ihe lasf two years. r:arly in the'.\nlun)n
of VMY.) ;iiere >\('re foaa.i in a innnber of iielis seized at Xanlicoke
<lam toi-iy (o k.iiy yeun;^' siiad. As n.o youni"; sliad has been j)lanted
byeilher ilie Fnited States or I'ennsyhania in that part of lln^ river,
it was evident that mature sliad had jKissed. not (uily abov<' dai-k's

FVrry dam. but lhroui;h the <-ijute at the Xanticoke dam al

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spawncrl soujewhere in the rivei- a])o\('. This may be taker, as a
fact for the rejison ihat the neis in which the you m' slmd were
found were talien froi!i the vast watc res jnst below Ihe Xanticoke
dam and ia a spol v. licre ihe sounj^- slmd conld noi h;i\e < one of

the

II' (»vji voiiMon. because of Iheii' lack of streniiih. Thev m

USi

have b( en caiiie;! down rr<aa aitove (he dai

n.

.\;:ain in • he autnmn

of lIMIi rej.nris \,vrr- sent to liie ollice of thousamls of vonn?^- slmd
in ihe SuKineliaana, rivei* above Scdinsj^rove. Vuv ihe s!Hm» reasons

ihese lisli mnsl liavi' b<-en haJcSif: fron nuttu;

e li^li ! ir.ii had. pai<se<l

abo\c (Maik's I'e] i-v dam and above Ihe wicckcd «;;!m al S«n;burv

As accumuialive :'\ i(le».,.<., Wardeii Ilollaiw" jcporls (lia.t (Ui Ih.e
West I>ran<li of Ihe Sus<jU(dianna bdween Mnncv ainl A\'illiams-
p;>ii dams a nnndM'i' <d' malure dead spent shad were found. It has
;;em'rally been sij|>pos<'d that ih(M'e weie no shad whatever above

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

4^

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

Clark's Ferry dam. The reports received sliow conclusively that
this is ill! error, though they un<»ht not have })een in sutticient num-
bers to warrant the use of seines or dip nets for their capture. It
is hoped, however, that the flshways which have beim built in the
Clark's Ferry dam will cause this valuable food tish to pass up in
numbers suliicient to make fishing for them profitable. Too much
reliance, ho vv ever, must not be placed in these fishways for two or
three years until they have become water worn and the sills covered
with green. The shad is an exceedingly timid fish and experience
has shown that in all fishways hithei'to placed in dams seem to be
regarded by shad as traps and they do not ascend them freely. The
fishways in Clark's Ferry dam are of a different pattern and so ar-
ranged as to make a more natural passageway and it may be that
the shad will not hesitate to pass through as they have in some of
the other forms of fisliwavs.

The shad fisheries on the Delaware river during the spring of
1004, while a little better than the fisheries of the previous years
it is stated was not up to the average catch in the yt^ars previous.
Much of this is attributed to the inability of the Fish Commission
on account of the lack of money to propagate shad for the Dela-
ware river since 1898.

It has been a matter of surprise to tlie Department that the
herring indiistry on the Delawaie river is not of greater proportions.
Relatively it is not as large as it was fifty years ago, although the
actual annual receipts are greater. There has been no diminution
whatever in the supply of herring. Every spring tlie Delaware is
alive with them as far north as Trenton. It is said to be nothing un-
common for a net fisherman to return thousands to the water, for
which no market could be found. There is an en.tiiely different story
to be told of the herring industry on the lower .Susquehanna. FoV
every herring that can be captured a market can be found. It is
claimed by the Susquehanna river herring fishermen that their fish is
of better (juality and firmer fiesh than those on the Delaware. There
may or not be any truth in this assertion, but it is doubtful, since
what w(4'e known as I^nrlington heiring were a few years ago in
good favor in the markets. AMiatever the reason may b(^ it is
c(M*tain that the supply of herring in the Delaware river far (^xceeds
(lie local deniand.

Thei-j' are indications that tlie striped bass are again increasing
in nund)ers in the Delaware river. A few years ago there was
a vast sui)ply and at some of the fisheries there were as nmnv
striped bass or rock fish caught as shad, but for some unexplaiii-
able reason which cannot be attributed to overfishing, they de-
creased in numbers and very few large fish Avere found above Penns
drove on the New «Iersey shore, but within the last two or three
years quite a number have been taken in the nets and bv hooks and
lines as far north as Lambertville, New Jersey. It is said that the
eggs and milt of rockfish cannot be obtained in the Delaware river,
but from some intelligence Avhicli has been received bv the Depart-
ment of Fisheries, I am inclined to think that this is a mistake, and
it is my intention, as soon as there is money available, to make a
thorough and exhaustive search for ''mamy" or large rock fish in the
lower Delaware. It is claimed by some tliat they are to be found in

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

4S

the shoals in the neighborhood of Bayside on the Jersey side of the
river and if they are found, to hatch tlie eggs at the Torresdale
hatchery.

PIKE PERCH.

There are a few people who still doubt the efficacy of artificial
propagation as a means for restoring depleted streams with fish,
but the results which have been obtained are of the most convincing
character in the country. Equally convincing have been the results
(obtained from the artificial propagation of pike-i)erch, sometimes
called wall-eyed pike or Susquehanna salmon. There are com-
paratively few waters in the Commonwealth which are suited to
ihis fine game and food fish. The most notable waters which are
so suited are the Allegheny, Monongahela, the Susquehanna and
its branches, the Juniata, the Venango, the Delaware and the Schuyl-
kill. In all of these streams hundreds of thousands of voung pike-
perch have been planted every year for the last twenty years and
with the possible exception of one or two of the suitable \vaters in
which they have been planted the pik(^ perch are now exceedinglv
abundant. Indeed as already stated it is declared that there are
more ])ike jterch caught in the SuL«;(iu(»]i;inna river at the present
time than black bass. Unfortunately outside of the Susquehanna,
Juniat^i and Allegheny regions the people do not seem to understand
how to fish for them. There is little doubt that the Dcdaware river
teems with pike-jx^rch, but they ar(^ so rarely caught that compara-
tively few know the fish when they do see it. The pike-perch mav
be termed as a destr.ictive fish, that is to say, it lives almost ex-
clusively on live food; but its habitat is such that its destructive-
ness is confined within bounds and like the bass it is such a valuable
food and game fish, its table qualities are so high that we can for-
give its desti'uctiveness and encourage its propagation.

TROUT.

The trout naturally is a fish to which the Department of Fisheries,
and before tliat the Fish Commission, has given si)ecial attention
on account of its beauty, its fine food (lualities and its superior
gameness, which makes it easily one of the leading game fishes.
Many hundred thousand are ur.doubtedly caught every year from
the pure mountain and meadow streams of Pennsylvania, and thou-
sands of dollars are expended by visiting anglers in searcli of the
game trout. There have been com}>laiiits mad(^ that the trout
are decreasing in Pennsylvania waters, but the facts as rc^ported bv
the ward(^ns do not bear out the complaints. It is true that there
are sections of the State in which streams have been made barren, or
which contain fewer trout than formerlv. On the other hand there
are hundreds of creeks in which the suyVi)ly is fairly well maintained
and in some of the counties trout are appnMiablv on the increas<\
According to the reports of the wardens, that is noticeably the case
in Wayne. Pike, Tioga, Potter and contiguous counti'^s.' Warden
White of AVayne county declares that the trout fishing in that
county is better to-day than it was thirty-five vears ago. A per-
sonal inspection of a number of the streams in Wavne county leads

44

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

•\

me to believe that bis claim is well foimded. The little runs empty-
ing into tbe main streams were during tbe past summer filled with
fry.

It must be confessed that it is all the department can do to main-
tain the bulk of the streams and to cause an increase. For there are
to-day one hundred anglers to one which w^hipped the streams thirty-
five or forty years ago, and there is likely a greater number who
fish for trout illegally. Despite a widespread opinion to the con-
trary the' brook trout is one of the easiest of fish to catch, and it is
a comparatively easy tusk for three or four persons to completely
clean out a meadow of trout in two or three years at the most.
Until last year the annual output of trout was only from three and
one-half to' four million and it must be regretfully said that a large
proportion of these were improperly planted, the applicants not
l.aying strict attention to the instructions sent. Last year the
usual output was nearly double and there is reason to believe that
a greater proportion v/as properly planted.

There are nmny people who have an idea that it is a mistake for
the State to send out trout in the spring in the form of fry and
they believe that the fish should be retained until the fall of the
year, when they have obtained tingerling size. Curious enough this
sentiment is iwi scattered but is generally held in communities. It
almost invariably has been that on investigation, where it is found
that the bulk of people of a community hold that greater success
may be achieved by planting fingerling trout are those who are in
a community where the instructions for planting fry are generally
disregarded.

My experience, which covers a period of at least twenty years,
proves to me conclusively that where properly planted trout fry
placed in the waters early in the spring, yield far better resultis than
lish which are kept in liatching troughs or necessary ponds until
the fall. Apart from any personal experience there are several
(;ogent reasons which favor spring planting, as against retaining
ponds until autumn.

In the first place, when fry are planted in small spring runs early
in the spring th( y find an abundance of naturjil food awaiting them
and which tliey nmy get without any trouble whatever, and they
turn to it from the artificial food in the hatchery naturally and
without any trouble. Trout which are kept in the hatchery during
the summer months learn to herd together and to rely entirely upon
man for their food. AVhen they are distributed in tlie fall into the
streams the habit of herding is likely to renu\in with them some time.
Naturallv food in the streams is also scarce and their habit of
being fed has not led them to se(dv food for themselves. The con-
sequence is they become weak and thin and when the spring opens
they fall an easy prey to the trout fisherman. Moreover it would
be inexpedient and in fact i)ractically impossible for the State to
appropriate a sufficient sum of money to establish, operate and main-
tain hatcheries that could turn out as many fingerling fish as can
be turned out with a snuili sum of money in the fry stag(^ The fact
of the matter is that wherever the instructions of the Department
of Fisheries is strictlv <'arried out there is marked success in stock-
ing the streams in which the water is suitable for trout life.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

46

According to reports from wardens the trout season of last Spring
in the greater part of the State was generally favorable and most
of the trout caught were said to be in a very fine condition.

Although the Department of Fisheries has doubled the annual
output it is not satisfied and believes that in order to meet the an-
nual increased number of anglers and to successfully maintain the
streams that the new output of six millions is not near I v adequate.
It is therefore exerting itself to the utmost to increase the number.
As already stated the troughs in the different hatcheries have been
changed to the Clark- WiUiamson system, the nursery pond system,
introduced into the Corry, Bellefonte and Wayne county hatcheries^
and a large number of .additional ponds either built, under construc-
tion, or contemplation. In addition to this an unusual heavy stock
of fry was retained last year, and if nothing happens bv 190G the
output should be double what it was last season.

There were not enough breeding fish to stock the existing ponds
in the Bellefonte jind Wayne county hatcheries this vear and the
Department not wishing the supply of fry for next spring to be less
than it was last year again sought the co-operation of some private
hatcheries in the State, the result of which was that the Penn
Forest Brook Trout Company, of Mauch Chunk, and the Blooming
Grove Bark Association once more generouslv give their surplus
trout eggs, amounting to several millions. The Dei)artment' de-
sires to retain, if possible, nearly 800,000 of frv, which will be
hatched this winter for breeding purposes, and these will produce
eggs in the fall of 1900 in vast quantities.

In connection with the trout work of the State I feel it my duty
to call atiention to the fact that in the Forestrv Reserves there are
large numbers of magnificent trout streams. ' Last year the De-
partment of Fisheries and the Department of Forestrv made everv
elTort to plant trout fry in these waters. Unfortunatelv they are
both handicapped for lack of money, which could be applied to this
purpose. Tli(^ Department of Fisheries could ship the fish to the
railroad stalions nearest the streams in the Forestrv Reserves, but
had not money or facilities for planting the frv in the waters. The
Department of Forestry had no monev which could be expended
for transporting the fish from the railroad station to the streams
The most it could do was to supply men to plant them. Some of the
diflicultns were overcome last winter through the Pennsylvania
Fish Protective Associations, and the Norristown Fi«^h and Game
Protective Associations coming forward and voting money to pay
for the transportation of fish where individual sportsmen could
not be found to carry the fish to the Forestry Reserves at their own
exi)ense.

While it is eminently proper that si)ortsmen should pav the ex-
p(Mis(^ of trans})orting fish for wkich they theiDsc^hes apply to be
planted in ])ublic waters in which they are particularly interested
it is not just, and it seems to me that the Slate shoubl not ask either
individual sportsmen or State Fish Protective Associations to spend
their private funds for planting trout in the streams in the Forestrv
Reserves. It is a dutv I feel which should devolve entirelv upon
the State and T trust that a small appiopriation be made 'at the
commg session of the Legislature for the express purpose of plant-
ing fish in the Forestry Reserves.

40

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

EELS, CATFISH AND BULLHEADS.

The result of legalizing- fish baskets in the waters of this Common-
wealth for the capture of (^els has been a complete surprise to the
Department of Fisheries and to a large number of peoph^ interested
in the fisheries throughout the State. The fish basket is undoubted-
ly a dangerous device for catching fish. There are none in fact as
dangerous, with the exception of the explosives or poison, nets fas-
tened to wingwalls and gigging. It is so dangerous a device that
it was ])rohibited by law in Pennsylvania for more than one hun-
dred and twentv-five vears. For manv vears bills were introduced
into the Legislature to legalize the device, but Fish Commissioners
and anglers objected so strenuously that the bills regularly failed
of passage. The bills wove very properly defeated, because no safe-
guards were placed around them and under the provisions of those
l>ills had thev been legalized the destruction of the fish in the
streams would have inevitably followed. In 1003, however, an act
was passed which seems to throw reasonable safeguards around the
baskets and a measure was enacted to permit eels being captured
by that means. After two seasons' experie:ice T am of the opinion
that with some slight changes in the law the fish basket should be
allowed to remain a legal device. Through its establishment an
important industry has been established, an industry which prom-
ises to increase year by year and attain a position nearly as import-
ant ar, the shad. From figures obtained from sixty-five baskets
licensed in the winter of 1003 there were 44.750 pounds of eels
caught, which realized at least $3,132.. 50 to the fishermen and the
State realized |1,030..')0 from licensing the fish baskets. From the
returns from the sixty-five baskets it is fair to assume that if the
eels caught from the 141 additional baskets for 1003 would have been
at least 141,308 j)Ounds with a value exceedin": |0.801.00. While
the figures for this year are not yet made up, I am quite satisfied that
the catch of the fall of 1004 will be at least three or four times as
large as it was in 1003. First, because the conditions of the river
were more favorable, and second, because there were 100 baskets
more licensed. Such an industry should be encouraged, especially
since the bulk of the fishermen appear disposed to obey the law.
The legalizing of the fish basket for the capture of eels has also
undoubtedly created a better sentiment along the Susquehanna
Valley towards the work of fish protection than anything which has
been done for several vears.

9

T feel, however, that the law should be amended. In addition
to eels the law should permit the capture of carp and suckers in
the devM-e. The slats in the bottom should be rounder). The name
of the licensee should be paint<^d on the side of the device. And
there should also be one or two other amendments of a like natur<\

While there is no doubt in the minds of the Department that a
])erson who violates any of the provisions of the fish basket law
is liable to the penalty provided for under Section 2 of the act of
May 20, 1001, or of Section 15 of the same act, several county courts
have held that there is no penalty, at least under Section 2. There-
fore, it is important that at hast in this particular the bill be
amended and a si)ecific penalty provided.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

47

The Department notes with some concern that it is said there is
a decrease in catfish and bullheads, excepting the latter, in the
mountain lakes. Both fish arre highly esteemed for food and the
Department proj^oses as (juickly as it can to be provided with facili-
ties to undertake the propagation of these two fishes. It also feels
that in the catfish and the bullhead there is an opportunity for the
farmers to utilize waste swamp land and small ponds by their culti-
vation. The white catfish brings steadily from four to five cents
a pound dressed in the markets and the bullheads nearly as much.
The fecundity of the two fish is enormous and thev require absolu-
tely no attention. All that it would be necessary for a farmer
to do would be to place a supply of catfish and bullheads in a pond,
which he might build and occasionally feed them with cut liver,
and in every other manner the catfish and the bullhead will care for
himself. They will hunt their own spawning bed, hatched their
own eggs and rear their own young. It is unlike the carp which
was years presented in such glowing colors as a fine table fish,
the fish of the catfish rarely having a muddy taste. It is also a
fact that where catfish are taken from polluted waters (and they
will grow and thrive in pollution), and placed in clear spring water
for a couple of months, they will lose every particle of taint which
liiav be in the fiesh.

PROTECTION.

The work of fish protection has been conducted with the same
vigor and given the same attention that wa,. devoted to fish culture.
Indeed it is just as important a phase of the work of the Depart-
ment of Fisheries as fish culture. Almost immediat dy after the
establishment of the Department it became evident that the work
of fish protection was going to assume very large proportions and
this branch has largely under the supervision of mv chief clerk.
Major Barton D. Evans, while all the responsibility was assumed
bv me.

There are three important sul)-divisions in this branch of the ser-
vice, namely: the purification of the waters, the abolition of illegal
and destructive fishing and the establishment of fishways in dams,
where the migration of fish ave obstructed. By far the most im-
portant of the three is the task of getting rid of the water pollu-
tion.

The contamination of the streams in the Commonwealth has
become one of the most serious and vital questions which to-day
confront the ]M'()i)le. P^egun, without doubt, by individuals and cor-
porations the extent of ]K)lluli()n of our waters has become greater
every year, unlil to-day not only (he existence of the fish, but the
health of the people are becoming seiiously endangered Streams
which once teeuied with finny life are now, owing to filth and chem-
ical wast« , entirely bare of both fish and vegetable life, and in addi-
tion nmny of these streams are so badly polluted that it is declared
cattle have died from drinking the water and people with small
wounds bathing th-rein have had their wounds turned into dreadful
sores.

Public sentiment long dormant on this question of water pollu-
tion is becoming strongly aroused not only against its further ex-

48

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

tension, but in a demand for the purification of the waters both in
the interest of fish and public health. Strong and numerous appeals
have been made to the Department of Fisheries to lend its aid to
the abatement of this great and growing evil. Unfortunately the
existing laws which relate to fish and fish protection and which
refer to water-pollution are few and totally inadecjuate to meet the
issue. I have given very much time and attention to this subject
and I feel that it is one of the greatest and most difficult problems
to solve given to any official. While public sentiment m very strong
and is daily growing stronger in favor of the abolition of water
pollution there is a very strong element resisting any change in
the presen.t conditions. When the subject is broached and manu-
facturers are asked to abate the pollution, and the question of the
enactment of laws looking to that end are discussed many of them
place themselves in violent opposition and tliat is especially the
case where the fisheries interests are brought forward. They point
out the great value of their particular industry to the State and
themselves and minimize the value of the fisheries industry. To
quote one man, ''What are the value of a few fish as compared with
the millions of dollars which our manufacturies produce every year?-'
Fortunately the number of those who are standing out against any
law whatever to abate the water pollution nuisance does not appear
to be as great as formerly. There are many large thoughtful manu-
facturers who admit the evil and express their willingness to take
any action towards stopping ])ollution, which lies within their power
and which will not prevent their carrying on their business. I have
investigated a large number of cases of water pollution and I find
many of them cannot be abated excepting at practically a prohibi-
tive expense. I have not been in full sympathy with many of the
bills which have in past years been presented for the abolition of
water pollution, for I am convinced that if some of them had be-
come laws they would have been the means of wiping out many
valuable industries. I recognize the right and need for industries
to prosper and I feel that the Commonwealth should not enact any
measure which will destroy any existing industry. On the other
hand I believe that no existing industry should be allowed to de-
stroy the fish or injure public health or animal health. Much of
my time since my appointment as Commissioner has been given to
an effort to devise some means by which a law will be enacted which
will not injure existing industries and at the same time protect
the fish from water ])ollution. It is certain that some legislation
is necessary to abate the growing evil of water pollution.

FISH WAYS, ETC.

Another (piestion of serious import confronts me, namely, the
large number of obstructioris to the migration of fish which ex-
ists in the streams of the t'ommonwealth through the existence
of dams. It is recognized as a fact that the dams are often-
times ne(vssary in the industrial develo]>ment of many industries
in Pennsylvania. Many manufacturies require the damming of
water for their business and there has come into existence
within the last few years a new and important industry
namely, th(» furnishing of light and power by means of elec-

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

49

tricit.v, and it often happens that the power for generating the
electi'icitv can be best had by means of water either from natural
fall or bv nieans of damming the stream. These conditions of course
must be recognized and met. Under Section 13 of the act of May
2J), 11)01, it is obligatory on any person or corporation who should
thcu-eafter erect any dam to place therein a fishway on demand of
the Department of Fisheries and in case of refusal the Depart-
ment is empowered to enter upon such dam and place such fishway,
chute of slope as may be deemed necessary and charge the construc-
tion of the s:ime to' the owner. As under the decision of the Su-
preme Court persons who erect dams prior to the passage of the act
could not Ih^ compelled to build fishways, slopes or chutes at their
expenses. The same section provides that where such devices are
needed they may be built by the Department of Fisheries from any
unexpended balances in the State Treasury.

A number of complaints were received at the office of this Depart-
ment tlia: manufacturers and others were not conforming to this
law. An investigation was made in each case and wherever the
complaint was shown to be Avell founded the owners were ordered
to erect the fishway. There were found to be seven or eight cases
in which the owners were believed to be responsible and notices were
therefore sent to each. All gave affirmative answers and most of
the fislnvays have either been completed or are stated to be under
construction. The patterns were not all alike. The width of the
stream, the character of the dam and other conditions were taken
into consideration. In a dam in Brodheads creek and McMichaels
creek chutes were permitted and other modifications of what is
known as the Cail fishway were adopted.

Among the complaints received for the lack of fishways in dams
were where the dams were built many years ago. Of these two
seemed to demand early consideration. One was in the Venango
river, at Franklin, the property of Johnson & Co., the other v.as in
Clarks Ferry dam, on tlie Suscpiehanna river, the property of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Petitions aggregating several
thousands of names for the erection of the fishway in these two
structures were sent to this office. The first dam selected was the
one at Franklin in the Venango River, sometimes called French
Creek. Not desiring to antagonize the owners the Department en-
tered into correspondence with Johnson & Co., and had personal
interviews with them, and the result was that they gave their assent
to a fishway being constructed in the dam without interposing any
legal obstacle. Bids were asked for in the summer of 1008, but
when they were opened it seemed to me that even the lowest bid
was excessive, it being in the neighborhood of .13,500. T, therefore,
rejected all the bids and the matter was laid over until the suc-
ceeding year. I do not believe that the State should W called u])on
to ]>ay any more than ]>rivate individuals should ])ay for the same
kind of work. In the summer of 1004 I again advertised for bids
and awarded the contract to a Meadville firm for the sum of $1,000
on special ])lans drawn of a fishway closely resembling a Cail fish-
way, a device adopted by the Ignited States Government. Work
was comuKMiced about the first of Se])tember and the structure was
completed before the middle of October.

4—24—1904

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

49

ii

Irk'ily, ;in<l it often happeiKS that the power for ov^ncratin

<»•

clectiicil V <:in

the
be besl had hy mejiiis of water eitlu'r from natural
fall or by uieans of <l;nnniin«;- the stream. These conditions of course
mnsi be' recoj^nized and met. irnder Section \:\ of tlie act of May
IJ'J, l!)(ll. 11 is obli.ualory on any person or corporaiion \n ho should
thereafter erect any dam io j)lace therein a tishway on demand (d"
the I)( >i>artmeni of Fislseries and in ease of refusal the Depart
nient is empo\\<'red

io entei' ui)en sucii dam and phn-e isuch fishway,
ehute of slope as may he deemed necessary and char<»e the construc-
tion of the same to* the owner. As under the decision of the Su-
I)r(Mne Court ]»ersons who erect dams i)rior to the }>assaij:e of the act
could not be comi>e]l(Hl to build tishwayus. slopes or ch-.iles at their
expenses. The same section ]>iovi(les that where such devices are
needed thev mav be built bv the Department of Fislierics from any
unexpended balances in the Stat<' Tre:jsuiy.

A. mnnbev of com]»laints wci f receiv<M] at the ottice of this ])e]>art-
ment tlia: manufacturers and oth.crs were not conforming- to this

law. An ii'.vesii'jatien was ma

ile in each case and wherever tin

com]>laint v,as shown to he well founded the owners were oi'dered
to er<M't tlie tisliway. There were found to be seven or ei^ht cases
in which the owners were believed to l)e responsible and noticet> were
Ihend'ore sent to each. All j^ave ailirmative answers an<1 most (if
tln^ tislnvays have either been com])leted or are stated to be under
construction. The patterns wovo not all alike. The width of the
sti-eam. the clnn-acler of the dam and other conditions were taken
into consideration. In a dam in Urodheads creek and T^IcMich.aels
creek chutes v;er<' ]M'rmitted and other modilications (d" what is
known as the Tail tishway were ado]>ted.

Amon<i- the com]>laints i-eceived for the lack of tishways in dams
were where the daniis were built nmny years au'o. Of these two
seemed to deniand early consi;l(M*ation. One was in the Venan.^o
rivei*. at Fir.rddjn, tin' |!ro]terty of dohnson ^: Co.. th<' other v,as in
(Marks Fen-y dam. on th(^ Sus(i(iehanna river, the ])roperty of the
F(»nnsylvania Ixailroad romjKiny. Fetitions a?^'^r<'ji;itin«Li- several
thousamls of munes for the erection of the tishway in these two
structures v.ere sent to this ofVice. The first dam select e<1 was the
oiu' at Fianklin in the Venanuo Kiver. sometimes called French
Or<'ek. Not desirin?.: to antaiionize the owners the I)e]>artnn^nt en-
ti'H'd iirio correspomlence with Johnson & Co.. and liad ixM'Sonal
interviews with them, ami the result was that ihey «;ave tlndr ae^scnt
to a tishway beini;- const laicted in the <lam without inter])osin«j: any
h'lial obsta«'le. F.ids wci'c asked for in the summer of lOO:^., but
wiien they were opened it seemcjl to me that even the lowest bid
was excessive, it bein<r in the n(>iehborhoo(l of .«j:1.."')0I). 1. thcref(U*e.
rejected adl the ])i(ls and th(» nmtter was laid ov(M' until tln^ suc-
<<'edin.n year. 1 do not believe ihat th<' Stale slH)idd he called n]*on
to \)\\y any more than ]»rivate individuals should ]>ay for the sj'.me
kind of work. In the sumiuer of inOl T ai^ain advertised for bids
and a\>ai*d4'd the contract to a ^b'udvilh^ fii'iu for th<» -^um of .«!. !)!)()
on special ]>hins drawn of a tishway closely resemblini: a Call fish-
way, a d<'vi<-e ado|)te<l by the Tainted States Oovernment. \\'ork
w;is commciH'ed about the tirst of Se]>t(Mnl)er and the structure was
com]»h'ted befoi'e th(^ ndddle of Oct(d)ei'.

\ 24 1904

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

50

REPORT^OF THE

Off. Doc.

Followiiij;' the same ronrse that I piirsiuMl with Johnson & Co.,
having- received a petition of nearly two thouisand names to buihl
fisliways in the Chirk's Ferry (him I negotiatcMJ with the Tennsyl-
vania Railroad ('omi)any. As sooji as ofiieials were satisfied that
the State would do all in ils power to safegnard the intej.»rity of tlie
structure a cordial assent was given to the proposition and engi-
neers of the Railrcad Company were dircM-led at my request to
draw plans and specifications for three iishways to be set side by
side in the Clark's Ferry dam. The plans and specifications followed
<*los(dy the Call fishway. liids were advertised for and a contract
was awarded to a rhihidelj)hia firm for .f4,2.'>7.r)(). The woi'k was to
be completed within sixty days. In accordance with an understand-
ing with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, I appointed Mr. T. W.
Weil-man inspector of the work. Before it had progressed far it
was found that the specifications under th(» plans as fui-nished l)y
the United States Crovernment Avere in some respects inadequate
to provide^ a inn-fectly safe structure in a river like the Siisquehanna
where winter ice gorge^^ form and create a power wliirh is almost
irresistable in destructiveness. Accordingly some changes were
authorized to strengthen the device adding some |G6:} to the cost.
The work was finished a week later than the fishwav in the Venanijro
river. I insi)(M*ted the fishway personallv after the in«T)octor had
made his re])ort, and I concur in his judgment that all the require-
ments of the specifications had been faithfully carried out; and the
bills of both contractors wei-e ])aid by the State Treasurer*.

(In former years the few lishways that were ca-ectc^l were of the
Rodgers pattern of ladders, under rights conferred by the inventor.
But after examination a number of other devices invented since,
I felt that the Cail fishway adopted by the United States met the
requirements of migratory fish much better than the devices hith-
erto used by Pennsylvania. Instead of a ladder, which formed
zig zag currents the Cail fislnvay consists of a series of boxes set
staggered obli(]uely across the fishway. There were S(juare holes
at the bottoms at alternate corners and tlie entrance holes were
so gaged that water also flowed over the top of the box, thus per-
mitting the fish to either swim from box to box through the holes
or leap over the top. I5y staggc^ring each compartment the water
was made to swirl in such a manner as to foi'm eddies and almost
still water, so that the weakest fish could find no difficulty in passing
up one of the fisliways. The structure on the Clark's Ferry dam and
the dam at Franklin were made of heavy timbei's, securely bolted
into the dam, which were cut for the purpose. The work was done
so well in the Clark's Ferry dam that ex])erts declare their belief
that the dam has actually been strengthened and that other parts
would be torn out before that on either side of the fishwav. The
structure in the dam at Franklin is I f(>el (Mviallv well built and it is
inconceivable to me that either can ])ossibly be torn out. Since
th(» fishway was finished in the dam at Franklin people have reported
seeing large nu^nbers of fish working their way up. The fishway
at Franklin was designed ]M'imnrily to ])eri]>it tlie game fishes to go
up from the Allegheny river or io'ro down from the Venango river.
That in the Susquehan]\a was primarilv intcMided for shad, and the
experiment will be watchcMl with great interest. The shad is an
exceedingly timid fish and it seiMiis to locdv upon former tvpes of

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

51

fishways as traps, naturally, when they were new and few would
venture to enter them until after they had become old, weather-
worn and covered with green.

The pattern of the Cail fishway, however, is so different from
that of former contrivances that I feel encouraged to believe that
they will be freely used by the shad as soon as the timber becomes
darkened and stained by the water and water plant growth. Should
it appear in the spring that these hopes are verified it is my inten-
tion to build similar fishways in the dam at Muncy and the one at
Williamsport on the West Branch, thus allowing the shad to reach
the upper reaches of that river and thus re-establish the shad in-
dustry in that section of Pennsylvania.

There are a large number of dams in the State in wliich fishways
should be built, but I feel that the power which is vested in me
to erect such structures should be used conservatively and my feel-
ing is to build no more than one or two fisliways a year, and then
only after becoming convinced entirely of their efifieiency.

Section 14 of the act of May 29. 1001, authorizes the Department
to order screens placed at the head of raceways where it is advisable
to do so in order to prevent fish from entering and being ground
up in water wheels. Fully 200 complaints were received during
the first year and a half of the existence of the Department. I am
sorry to say that investigation shov.ed tliat a large number of the
complaints were due to personal antagonism towards the owner of
the raceway and the complaints were apparently more by a desire
to use the State as a means to "get even," than to protect the fish.
In most of these cases it was found that either very few fish en-
tered the racewav or that the owner alreadv had screens at the foot
of the racewav instead of the head, screens which generallv an-
sw^ered the purpose of the law 'if not exactly the letter. In such
cases the Department declined to interfere. There were found,
however, four cases in which the owners had made no provision for
the protection of the fish and where fish were being destroyed. In
those cases notices were served and the screen built.

DYNAMITE FOR ENGINEERING PURPOSES.

Between June 1st, 1003, and December 31st, 1004, ihorv were five
applications made to the Department for permission to use dyna-
mite for engineering ])urposes, as follows:

The Monroe Power and Supply Co., Stroudsburg, to destroy a
dam.

Dr. Joseph Kalbfus, to remove rock in Susquehanna river at Per-
dix. Perry county, obstructing navigation.

Through Will J. Keffer, fish warden, removing rock in a quarry
pond near Wernersville.

Bivermen's Association of Harrisburg, for the removing rock in
Susquehanna river near Steelton, etc., obstructing navigation.

West Fairview and Harrisburg Steam Ferry Co., removing rocks
from the Susquehanna river near West Fairview, obstructing navi-
gation.

In each case in giving the permit the Department provided that
due care was to be taken in destroying no more fish than necessary
and that any fish which might be destroyed should be transferred
to some charitable institution.

52

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

In the nntmmi of 1903 two moii undertook to dynamite the Sus-
qnehanna river near Middletown, claiming that it was for the pur-
pose of clearing awav rock for a shad battery. The men had ap-
plied for no permit, however, and they were promptly arrested.
The ea«e was prosecuted and dropped on the pai'ties paving all the
costs and promising thereafter to observe the laws.

SUNBURY DAM.

The gi-eat ice gorge in the latter part of last winter, 11)08-4, de-
stroyed (he dam at Snubury, thus removing one great obstruction
to the })assage of fish. It is stated by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Co., which owns the structure, it is not to be rebuilt. Any ehad
therefore which i)asses beyond Clark's Ferry dam will now find its
way clear as far as Nanticoke dam.

It is sai'l, however, that citizens of Sunburv, who desire slack
water in front of their town are considering the advisability of re-
building the dam at their own expense. No confirmation of this
report has been received at this office, but if it should transpire
that the movement takes form and accomplished, the parties >vill
be required under the law to place fishways therein

Referring again to water pollution, I desire to call attention to
a dangerous practise by some of the conl washeries on the nortli
branch of tlie Susquehanna river. Many of the companies engaged
in washing coal from the culm banks take great precaution tS pre-
veiu the refuse filth from flowing direct into the river but I am
sorry to say that there are some companies which exhibit no re^-ard
whatever for the public in this respect and no care to prevent" the
refuse material from flowing into the stream is taken. Last autumn
It was reported to me that one company near Schickshinnv was
flowing their refuse culm into the river and rapidly filling the bed
with a nasty black deposit. It is stated that where a vear ago
there was a depth of thirty feet of water there was at the 'time the
comidaint was made only about six feet depth. As this is a matter
which does not come under the jurisdiction of the Department of
iMsheries no personal investigation was made bv me. It is not
under the junsdiction of tlie Department of Fisheries because there
IS no law on the statute books giving the Department power to

onlTconid lu 7;;^^'^f ^\th^ complainant and pointed out that action
onlv could be taken by them as citizens and charged them with com-

^!^T H ''ir'"?- / ""^^^'^'^^'-i^^^l that citizens ^f the towns alon^
'nd^bo ' wr'p' ^^-/^"-I-'^-"-- for a long distance below
and abo^e A\ ilkes-Barre have organized and entered suit against
offending com])anies, with what results I havc^ not heard

Complaint has also been made to me of the existence^ of a dam
built, I understand, by the York Haven Power Oonn)anv It has
been statxnl that the dam has b(.^n erected without a uflioritv of
law and I was importuned to proceed against the clpanyto^
the dam rcMiioved or to order fishwavs built therein ^ '^ ^^ "'^'^

I nm unable to take action in either particular. I investigated
the cascyind found that the dan. is a wing dam, w nVrdoe; not
cxtcM.d cdcar across the rivcM-. It does not touch whas known as
the channel on the Lancast(M' side of tlie river. As the dam is a
wing dam only and as the passage way is left ope.i on the llnca ter

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

b3

I

county shore, I am of the opinion that I have no auihority to in-
terfere. It is my duty to see that there is no o])struction in the
passage of the fish and as long as the struc(ure does not extend
clear across the river and obstruction of the migration of fish cannot
be claimed, and I think would not hold good in the courts for the.
same reason. I do not think I am justified in ordering fishways
placed in the wing dams and I doubt my power to collect the bill
from the company should I build fishways therein, or compel the
company to pay the bills should I order it to do so. It does not
seem to be within my province as Commissioner of Fisheries to
consider whether or not the wing dam is there in accordance with
the law.

Complaint was also made against tlie Power Company that their
turbine wheel ground up tons of fish. Although I investigated the
matter personally, I was unable to verify this charge. The company,
however, at my request, placed screens in the raceway where tlm
water leaves to enter the wheel. It would be a physical impossi-
bility to build the screen at the head of the raceway,. as provided for
in the act. Apart from other considerations I can imagine no
screen could be built of sulficient strength to withstand the rush
of water entering the raceway, the width being several hundred feet.
Moreover the raceway, it is said, is frequently used by boats passing
down to the paper mill.

WARDEN SERVICE.

The Department of Fisheries is charged with the (Miforceinent of
all the laws relating to fish and fishing in this Commonwealth. To
enable it to do so the Legislature has provided two classes of war-
dens, one class known as fish wardens, who shall be paid a r(^gular
salary, and expenses; and the other class, known as special fish
wardens to whom the Department is not liable to [)ay compensation
or expenses, but they are expected to rely on one-half of the lines
imposed and received from persons who they arrest for violations of
the fish laws, for their compensation.

The number of salaried fish wardens wliich may be appointed is
limited to twelve, but it is within the power of the DeDartment to
appoint as many special wardens as in its judgment it"is d( sirable
to have either on its own vollHon or on the written application of a
properly orgajiized fish luotective association, or of anv association
of individuals with established hatching houses. Tlie 'commissions
of the regular salaried wardens hold at the ])leasure ol" the J)e])art-
ment. The commission of all Ihe special wardens expire on the
81st of each Mav.

The appropriation made at the last session of (];(» Li^ jislature for
salaried wardens and their expenses for Ihe Iwo years was .t^lO.OOO.
To this should be added whatcn'er moneys might be received from
license fees for eel baskets, and this sunl amounted lo a little over
12,000.00 during 1003-4. Hence the sum available for wauIvu service
was a trifle over |12,000.

The sum was entirely too small to permit the api)oin(ment of
nill twelve wardens and consequently onlv live were commissioned
Even then the expenses did not warrant paving them for the entire
twelve months. In the winter of 1903 the salaries of all but two had
been discontinued, and in November 1904, all but one.

54

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Tlironji-li recoiniiu'iulatioiis and other authorities as provided in
tlie act from June 1, 1J)();5, to December 31st, ll)(f4, tlie Department
appointed 145 special wardens covering,' most of the counties in th(»
State. 1 am ^orry to say that less than one-half of the total num-
ber appointed have exhibited any great activity. On May 81^ 1904,
when the Commissions of the first lot appointed expired,! dropped
most of those who had done absolutely nothing and from time to
time appointed others in their places, sometimes with success and
sometimes with no better results. I have found it extremely diffi-
cult to secure active special wardens in the western, southern and
northeastern parts of Pennsylvania. There were many men ap-
parently anxious to serve but few who once appointed did anything.
There have of course been a few notable exceptions. I am, how-
ever, convinced that the chief reliance of the Department must be
placed on the special wardens. The greatest results by far have
been achieved by them, as will bo seen by a subjoining table. As
far as I have been able to ascertain the bulk of the men appointed
as special v/ardens or regular wardens, even where they have not
performed any active duty, having done nothing calculated to bring
discredit on the Department, and it is creditable to tlie force as a
whole that only in live instances have any charges been made of
improper conduct. In each of these five instances a rigid investi-
gation was made. In two cases it was found that the charges were
absolutely without foundation. In two other cases, however, I
regret to say the charges were only too true. In both, the Depart-
ment ordered warrants sworn out for their arrest on charge of ex-
tortion and embezzlement.

One, the case of Harry F. Shoop, a special fish warden for Mifflin
county and adjoining counties, was charged with having taken
money imposed for fines and appropriated it to his own use. Other
reports of proceedings not creditable to himself and calculated to
bring discredit on the Department were reported. The Depart-
ment, howevei*, proceeded against him only on one special charge.
He was tried before the MitlHin county court on November Kith, and
after a full hearing the jury convicted him of extortion as an officer
but recommended him to the mercy of the court. '

The Department felt that the utmost severity should be shown
these culprits. A fifth case was one of gross impropriety rather
than criminal action. In this instance by the talk of the warden
the Department was likely to be held up as prosecuting cases for
the sake of revenue, rather than for the puri)0se of suppressing
illegal fishing. In addition the warden put the Department rather
in the attitude of perseculion tlian prosecution, by taking his pris-
oners a long distance and comjielling to i)ay excessive costs, when
they might have been taken to a iiearbv jus'ti<-e of the jieace where
the cases could have been as creditably heard. In this instance the
Department contented itself with summarv dismissino- the warden

Although as will be se(Mi by tlie sub-joining table that wardens
exhibited great activity, and caused tli(» arrest of a plKmominallv
large number of illegal fishermen, I am hapi)v to sav that ^liere w(M-e
but two cases in which the DepartnuMit felt that had it been ad-
vised i)roseculion would have been dropped. In these cases while
there had been a clear violation of the law there was apparently no
intention whatever. Unfortunately the cases were not reported

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

55

until too late. That is to say, until after the money had been paid
into the hands of the justice of the peace and apportioned accord-
ing to the act. In all other cases as far as the Department has been
able to determine the parties arrested were rightfully punished,
and a large number of them might have been fined for much heavier
fines than they were.

RECORD OF ARRESTS FOR ILLEGAL FISHING.

The following is a record of the arrests made from June 1st,
1903, to December 1st, 1904, with the causes and final dispositions
thereof :

Total number of arrests, 783

Total number of acquittals, 79

Total number of convictions, 704

Total number of boats confiscated, 12

Total number of nets confiscated, 31

Total number of wardens making arrests, 74

Total number of wardens, HC

Total amount of fines collected and paid into
the treasury, |4,508.51

The above-named moneys are five per cent, less than one-half
the total amount originally paid by the convicted parties to the
justices of the peace. One-half the original fine moneys were paid
to the wardens and fiw. per cent, of the other half were retained
by the county treasurers as their fees. Therefore, the sum total
of fines collected to November 30th, was nearly |9,G00.0().

The following statement shows the number of arrests for the
various character of offences:

Having short trout in possession, Gl

Gigging or spearing 33

Using illegal devices, i^'")

Using outlines illegally, 47

Using dynamite, 47

Illegal fyke nets, 1 1

Set devices, 1

Tij) ui)s 4

Having gain(» fish out of season ()3

Seine in trout stream 11

Short bass in ])ossessioii 7

( 'ast nets, 21

Di]) nets, illegally 33

Illegal eel baskets, 85

Fish baskets in Delaware river 4

Sunday lishing 27

Resisting an officer 7

Constable refusing to obey request, 1

Sturgeon out of season, 2

Seining illegally, 36

66

REPORT OP THE

S!iO()tiii|j[ fish,

J*olIution,

Nets ill wing walls, [[ [

Game fish in eel baskets, *

Justice of the peace,

Stir nets,

Quick lime,

Assault and battery, . . ...,,[

Failure of constable to prosecute, ........

Snaring-,

Drawing otf dams,

Short trout for eel bait, y. ........ .

Buying trout,

Selling trout,

Larceny of fish,

Netting sturgeon out of season, . . * . ' .' * * . *

Obstructing immigration,

Kefusing to testify,

(rill net without license

Hand lines,

l^ass in lake,

Trap net in lake, . . . . , .[]

Extortion as an officer (fish warden),. ......

Total,

Off. Doc.

5

1
19

1

1
31

5
11

1

5
41

3
2
4

1
2
8
1
1
2
1
1
1

783

The following is the statement of the expenses of the various
hatcheries by quarters: >aiious

August 31. i 5.,i2 59

November ZO, gg^ CS

W

o
m

m

01

February 29,
May 31

1904.

830 31
818 34

$3:t 91
370 2.-.

1,162 14
1,401 56

n.523 71
1,2 ;3 52

8f9 18
1,409 22

$S10 22

577 38

1,615 90
S31 7S

$37 50 ,.

67 50 !.

'^^^^^ $3.523 92

$2,973 8C , $.3,065 63 $3,865 ZH

37 50
37 50

$180 00

The total cost of the hatcheries for the year ending May 31, 1003

Office expenses, 73~ Si

Commissioners' expenfi(>s . [ . . .* •/(]() 9^

Commissioner's traveling expenses, . . .' . . . as8 T'^

Total,

117,003 43

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

5T

c

iJ

0)

0

0

>.

m

C

Q>

(-,

01

>>

>-<

.^^

a

•-^

«

0

t-l

0

<

n

0

H

H

f^

August 31, ..

1904.

$137 50

$1,814 74
1,898 72

$1,207 57
1,012 21

$2,219 7S

$794 46
1,75S 45

$43 00
1,357 53

November 30,

$417 88

-

Total, .

$137 50

$3,713 46

$2,552 91

$417 SS

$1,400 53

The total cost of the hatcheries for the six months ending No-
vember 30, 1904, was |10,442 06

Office expenses, 587 42

Commissioners' expenses, 210 00

Commissioner's traveling expenses 323 20

Total, |1 1,562 78

The office expenses and the expenses of the Commissioners were
as follows:

o

to
I-,

c

o

'in
tn

O

U

c
eS

.c

August 31, ..
November SO,

1903.

February 29,
May 31

1904.

Total,

$252 74
203 95

159 70
119 42

$146 50

13G 19

77 52

August 31, ..
NDvembcr ^0,

1904.

$735 81

$3(50 21

Total,

$32n 93

-.iiiij i!»

$5S7 42

$190 63
19 47

$210 10

$100 93
84 19

114 53

89 07

$388 72

$235 92
87 2S

$323 20

Of this money < xpended for hatcheries, office and commissioner's
expenses |4,17S.0S was foi* money received from lim^s and Stf3,642.06
was from T^ake Erie licenses.

58

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

The following are the amounts paid for wardens service and fish
protection and the sources from which the mon(\v was derived:

ci

c

■<->

(d

(h

a

o

u

ft

e.

w

ce

0/

c

c

c

o

rr^

u

■ — '

rt

«

0-

p:

1— '

November 30,
November 30.

February 29,
May 31

1903.

1904.

Total.

$S.Vj 19
1, 155 58

flT.I 17
2,0L<i 38

$4,994 32

$757 45

116 57

75 00

August 31, ..
November 30,

19C4.

?l,55i. 50
93'3 )>3

Total,

$2,4S7 ;j3

$149 0:;

$75 00
1.415 82

$1,490 82

DurinjT the yc^nr ending May 31, 1904, 200 licenses were issued for
eel baskets.

During the year en(h"ng May 81, 1!)()."), 310 licenses w(M'e issued.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

59

Keceivetl from State Treasury for the hatcherit-s and general
expenses of the Uepartnient for year ending May 31, l'.tU4

lleceived from Lake Krie lieenscu for the year ending May
31, 1904

Received from <M conimiPsiDn

Received from hn( s for the year
Received from old Commibsion. .

ondiny May 31, 11>04

$1,929 93
1,267 14

$2,258 37
217 07

$12,500 00

3.207 07
2,475 44

$18,182 51

Received from State Treasury, for hatchoiies. etc., for the six
months ending November 30, I'.^QA $6,250 00

Received from State Treasury fur hatcheries, etc., for quarter
ending February 28. 19')5, 3.125 CO .

Received from I^ake Erie licenses lor si:: months ending Novem-
ber 30, 1904

Received from lines for six months endirg Njvembor 30, 19(j4,...

$9,375 00

748 00
2,558 55

$12,681 55

Received from State Treasury for the i>ayment of wardens for
the year ending May 3i, VMi, ! $o,C00 CO

Received from eel basket licenses for the year ending Ma>
31. 1904 1,03. 00

$C,O30 00

Received from State Treasury for wardens for six months end-
ing November 30. 1j04

Received from fines for six nn-nths ending November 3i. l!i t

.i2,.j'!0 00
1,5S0 25

NEW HATCHERIES. |

Received from the State Treasury for the purpose of purchasing
and erecting new hatcheries

$4,080 25

$15,000 00

Paid for the hatchery at Bellefonte:

For house and ground $2,610 00

For hatching house, ponds, etc., 5.480 24

Paid for the hatchery in "NVayne county:

For house and ground $2,000 00

For hatching house, pinds. etc.. 2,943 04

Paid for hatchery at Turresdale:

For hatchery and ponds,

^8,080 24

4.91.^ 04
1.976 72

FISHWAYS.

Received from State Treasury for erection f)f fishways, under
the provisions of Section 13 of the Act of May L9, 19U1,

Paid for fishway at Franklin:

For advertising

For erecting fishway, —

Paid for fishway at Clark's Ferry dam:

For advertising,

For erecting fishway,

$14 60

1,8':0 00

$17 45
4,801 43

$15,000 00

$6,733 48

$1,814 60

4,918 8S

$6,733 48

The output of fish from the various hatcheries from June 1st, 1008,
to December 31st, 1004, is as follows:

Trout fry, r..:i07,r)00

Troul fingerlings 0,000

Black bass, matured 420

lUack bass rmi»('i-lings IT.HOO

Rock basis, . . .' 000

Frogs, 8:^000

Hullhends, 75

Spotted catfish 10

(^irass pike, 8

(^arp (for bi-eeder food for hatchery) 00

Suckers, (for bi-eeder foot! for hatclnM*y), ... GO

6« REPORT OF THE Qff. Doc.

Calico bass, 20

Velhnv pmli, '.'.'.'.'.'.'//.['.] 43,200

Sunfish, . 11^^

J.arge month bass, fiaj^erlin^s, ... 80

whSh ^''''' : : :i«,«oo,ou()

T oi t '• 39,200,000

Lake herrmg, 5,600 000

i*'"f P'"^*^' ••• '... 2000000

Loch Levau trout, 30 000

Goldfish, 'oA(j

Transferred from one water to another under

the supervision of wardens:
Catfish, ,,...

Yellow perch, .........'.'.'.['. fj^q

Sunfish, ; ; ■ ■ 3g^

Eock bass, «„

Trout, '.'■'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 18

'''°*'''' 78,985,807

Number of hatcheries is five, in oiu-ration, and the~li;7i^r from
which fish were distributed is three.
Number of applications for brook trout received and filled, «,024.

WORK OF FISH PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS.

vL^vl^, "l-™^^» believed thoroughly in the ellectiveness of the
Fish Protective Associations, Rod and Gun Clubs and Sportsmen's
- ssomtions ,n assisting in fish protective and fi.sh cultura work

•el ''"" •"■'/•' '''''',"""' *'* ""■ '"'I'"''""" and in.:leed ess,.ntia Ittit
these or.vaii.:^a1.,.„s shouM be brought to-et!,, r into one head or

clubs by themselves, while they have stren-th and iiifinen-e in the
county, in which the organization might be, won d "eces« u i v
restricted in it^ intlu..nce. AVith one or two exc, j tVon , ol^b ' the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, and the b. n hes of e
State Sportsmen's Association, and tlie League of Vmeri>i i%,,oi.H
men, the influence could not 'extend far beyond a co intv or two'
Moreover one association can not under onlinary circu „st u . es'
be thoroughly cogui.ant of what was going ou in another 01- iiz':
t on, and it might easily happ,.„ that the two assoriaHons ith
tlie same laudible object in view, migl,t p„li i„ the op osUo'd r c
tions. Furthemore county organizations bv th.MusehTcould not
be m as close touch with the Department of Fish<.ries as i s le
arable they should be. It wa« sometinu.s dim.ult for fl e I)ep. t

^a'd al on« " uT. o' ^'^V,'"" ''T ^""'" ^^"" ""'ividuai count o -
gaimations. It s a well known fact (hat wh<>n small or-anizitio.K,

Impelled by these considerations so<m all,.r mv api., rr,?! • is
Commissioner of Fisheries I ..ntered into .orrc^poi d ^e w I m' e
officers of all the county organizations, whose , u.u's M.oVsess d
requesting their views on (he formation of a Sta(.. or.^nni/'uw.n
composed of ivpresentatives from each .ountv o 'aX; n,t T
was much gratified by the almost unanimous stand and ordial sup

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

81

port of the proposition. I then took up the matter methodically and
on March 24, lli04, there was begun a two day convention in Harris-
burg.

Your Excellency gave countenance to the proceedings and opened
tliem with an address of welcome. The convention lasted two days
and it was decided to organize into a chartered body to be known
as the "State Fisheries Association of i»ennsylvania" with the fol-
lowing objects:

First. T(» aid in the enforcement of the laws concerning fish and
fishing in Pennsylvania.

Second. The preservation and increase of food and game fishes
in the Commonwealth.

Third. To increase public interest in the Fisheries of Pennsylva-
nia.

Fourth. To give support and assistance to the Department of
Fisheries of l-eiins^ Ivania.

Fifth. To encourage the formation of fi«h protective organizations
in each county of the State.

It was decided that each association having one hundred members
or less should be entitled to one delegate and one additional dele-
gate for each additional one hundred members or fraction thereof.
Officers A\ ere elected and a number of valuable papers were read on
fish culture and fish protective subjects.

The delegates evinced much enthusiasm and there is every reason
to believe that the new organization, which is in the nature of an-
nual convention of associations will prove a great success and be a
vast benefit to the fisheries interests of Pennsvlvania. The pur-
poses of the organization are so manifestly for the benefit of Penn-
sylvania's fislierics and so closely associated with the Fisheries De-
partnu^nt that I feel that the proceedings should be made part of
this roport and I have tlierefore appended the full minutes and the
papers which were presented.

Since my incumbency the Department has received far more sup-
port from all (quarters of tlie Commonwealth than I expected. Every-
where individual corporation and association S(»ems to feel that the
Department of Fisheries should have their co-operation an<l support.
Fish protective associations have especiallv given valuable assist-
ance. The Blair county branch of the League of American Sports-
men, the J5ellewood Kod and dun Club, the Warren (N)untv Fish
Protective Association, the Bradford Countv Fish Protective Asso-
ciation, th(^ Pcmnsylvania Fish Protective Association, the Norris-
town Protective Association, and the McAdoo Rod and Gun (Tub
lave been especially prominent in their labors in behalf of fish pro-
tection and propagation.

I particularly desire to express my appreciation also of the cor-
dial attitude of the railroad companies. Without exception these
corporations have done everything in their power to facilitate the
transportation of fish from the hatcheries to the applicants. Sev-
eral of the railroad companies have issued si)ecial orders to their
employes to give i^articuhn- att(^ntion to the transportation of fish
and to ren(?er (^very assistance ])ossible to the messengers who are
in cuirgv. It IS true that railroad companies have a direct interest
H! the uiainienance of fish life in the streams of Pennsvlvania- but

i

62

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

at the same time their interest and their co-operation are the in-
terests of public spirited corporations and thoroughly deserves and
calls for my hearty thanks.

CONCURRENT LEGISLATION FOR LAKE ERIE.

For a number of years there \\a\e been complaints on the part of
the fishermen, fish companies and Slate Fish Commissions and the
(Canadian authorities that the laws protecting the tish in the Great
Lakes were both inadequate aiKl confusing owing to the fact that
each State or government maile laws without any reference to the
others. From tinu^ to time elTorls were mside to bring the States
and Canada together for the purpose^ of trying to correct the trouble
and the arrangement for a cone urrent hnv. But until last year ef-
forts to arrive at a proper conclusion failed. Late in the autumn of
1003, Mr. S. T. Bastedo, Deimty Commissioner of the Dominion of
Canada communicated with me and earnestly requested my co-opera-
tion in an effort to hold an international convention, recommending
to the various States, etc., concurrent legislation.

Being in svmpathv with the movement I agreed and a convention
was called last March and lield at Detroit, Michigan, in which nearly
all the States bordering on the Great Lakes were represented, as
v/as Canada also by the ITon. S. T, Bastedo.

Trior to holding the convention. I visited Erie and had a long
conference with representatives of all the dealers in that city as
to what they deemed would be the best to be done. I found that
the dealers were all in full accord and most of their suggestions
as to proposed changes were in a line with my own sentiments.
Among other changes they advocated a closed season during the
winter months and later a minimum size of mesh for nets to be used.

I am glad to say that the conference at Detroit was entirely
harmonious and an agreement was reached, which if carried out by
all of the States will secure better protection for the fisheries of
the Great Lakes and put an end to many of the troubles which now
exist. I hope to present to the legislature in session this winter
a bill in accordance with the agreement of the Detroit Conference,
and the desire of the deahu'S in the city of Erie.

PENNSYLVANL\ FISHERIES EXHIBIT AT ST. TX>UIS.

Shortly after my appointment the Pennsylvania Commission to
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition asked me to prepare and take
charge of an exhibit exemplifying the fisheries interests of the Com-
monwealth at the World's Fair in St. Louis. For a short time I
hesitated to undertake the work. The problems connected with
the organization of the Department of Fisheries were so many and
great that I feared to add more to my undertaking lest I would be
unable to do full justice to the Department work, and the exhibit.

My hesitation was the greater because I learned that the head of
the other Departments of the State government had decided not to
take charge of the exhibits. I felt, however, that the Department
of Fisheries occupied a peculiar position. In all other branches of
the State government material for exhibit could be readily gathered
as there were hundreds of people in the State who w(^re experts in
all the prominent industries. The fisheries were different. Three-

CJ

REPORT OF THE

OIL Doc.

at the «aiuo Linit' ihcir intATcst au:? their «o oporiMioii arc the iii-
lerc^sts of piiljlic s])irit(Ml <'oi-i.orati()iis ainl thoiuiU.^lily deserves and
calls lor iiiv liearty thanks.

CONCTRREXT I.EOISLATION FOR t. AKE ERIE.

Foi' a nuuibci' of ycais Ihi'ic hnw been coinplaiins on the part of
the fisliei-nien, iish (onrpanles and State Fisli (^^nnMlssions and tlu'
Canadian anihoiitics lliat th(^ laws pi-oiectinji tho iu<h i!i the (Jroat
Lakes wei'e both inadc'inale a:i t eonfiisi]!*;- owiiiL. to Use faet that
each State ov .uovernnient nni 'e lax^s witlioitt a!iy reference to the
otluM-s. Froiu time to time (MVo'ts w;'re niiule 1o brin<': the States
and (^inada tojzether f«a' the Ttin:!Os<' (^f tryiti;; to coireei the tronble
and the arran.uenient for a conriirrent lav- . iUit until last year ef-
forts to arrive at a pi'oper conchision failei'i. Late in the ai.tnnm of
1!)0;?, !^rr. S. T. r>astedo. Itepnty Cn!Mn;i<sio!icr of (h<' Domirnon of
Canada coninuinicat<Nd witli nie j'nl earnestly requested my c(*-opera-
tion in an eftort to hold au internaJional convention, recommendinjj;
to the various Slants, (4c., concv.rre:-.! le-islation.

Bein.!'- in symj^athy with tlie i;>ove!>icr:i I !e.;reed and a convention
was cafled la'st :^rarch ard eebi ;■ ( H -troit. Michif-an. in wlii'h nearly
all the States b-oi-derin;,' on the (hi'PA Lakes were r(^])resented, as
v.as Canada also by tlie Hon. S. T. r>a«tedo.

l»rior to l;oldin;!: the convention. I visited Lrie and had a lou<.j
conference with re|)rese]itativ( s of all the dealers in that city as
to what they deeuM'd v.ould b" the best to be don(\ T found that
the dealei's were all in full aecord aiul \uo^{ of their suixjJ:estions
as 1o ]!ro])osed (dian^^es wer(^ in a line with my own sentiments.
Amon<^: other <'hanires they advocated a closed season during the
winter nsonths and latcM* a minimum size of nu^sh for nets to be used.

I am «ilad 1o say tl'at the conf'M'cnce at Detroit was entirely
harmonious and au a.if:i'eement wac< I'eached, whi<di if carried out by
all of the Slates will seraire better ])roter-tion for the fisheries of
tlie Great Lak<'S and ]ait an end to nr^iny of the troubles whi(di now
exist. 1 ho])e to ]>resent to the le.'^islatm'e in session this winter
a bill in ju-ordance with the a-rrcMMueat of the D(4roit Conference,
and the desii'e of the dealers in Ihe city (d' Erie.

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

68

fourtlis of the material would liave to be supplied by the plants
operated by the Department of Fislierie« and the exhibit after being-
installed would have to be cared for by employes of the Department,
skilled in fish culture for skilled fish cultnrists are very scarce.
Under these conditions I felt it was my duty to accede to the re-
(luest of the Pennsylvania Commission to Uie Louisiana Purchase
Kxposition, and do my ntmoiSt to make a display which would be
a credit to this j^reat Commonwealth and properly set forth the
important fishery interests.

I notified the Commissioners of my willin«'ness to take personal
charge of the collection of nmterial, the installation of the exhibit,
and the care after being put in place. The Commission set aside ten
thousand dollars (|1(),()()()) for my use in the work. Application
wa« made to the Exposition authorities for space in the Forestry,
Fish and (iame Palace, and nearly 4,000 square feet were alloted at
the north end of the building. It extended from near the east
entrance to half way to the west entrance at a distance of 97 feet
on each side of a fift(HMi foot aisle and at the east end about 40 feet
southwardly to another aitsle, and nearlv the same distance west
ward to a space allotted to the State of Missouri.

I decided to make an exhibit apportioned as follows:

1. Prominent example of live game, food, inferior and destructive

fi(Shes of Pennsvlvania.

2. Mounted sj)ecimens of extraordinary large examples of Penn-

sylvania game, food and inferior fishes.
:?. Mounted sju'cimens of animals, birds and reptiles which prey
on fish.

4. Of nets confiscated under the laws of Pennsylvania for being of

illegal construction or illegally used.

5. A series of large photographs completely illustrating the

methods employed by Pennsylvania in rearing brook trout.
G. Water-color drawings of the' more important Pennsylvania
fishes.

7. A complete collection of a]>plian('es u^ed by anglers not merely

for show or of extraordinary value, but such as would be
exhibited by dealers in sporting goods and purchased by
anglers.

8. Photographic transparencies illustrating picturesipie fishing

waters of the State.

J). Dis])lay of jdiotographs of live animals.

Contributions to the above wer(^ nuule as follows:

Water-color drawings, by the Pennsylvania Fisli Protective Asso-
ciation, Frank W. Taylor, Marji^aret J. M<dlinger and W. E. Meehan.

Mounted si>eciuiens of larg(> fish, by William Baird, of Cambridge
Springs, Ernst Weisbrod, Philadelphia, and Edward Freedman, of
Norristown.

Photographs of live wild animals by the ITon. George Shiras, of
Allegheny.

Collection of anglers' apjdiances bv E. K. Trvon, Jr., & Co., Phila-
delphia.

A contract was awarded to a Philadelphia taxadermist for mount-
ed-specimens of mammals, birds and reptiles which prey on fish, also

A contract for the erection of grotto of yellow pin/' over the fif-
teen foot aisle for the ninety feet extending from east to west and

64

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

for the installation on the space allotted on each side of massive
stagings for the placing of the heavy iron tanks for the accommoda-
tion of the live fish.

Spac(^ was provided for the thirty-five tanks for aquaria; sixteen
of which were six feet long, thi'Ce feet wide and thrf^e feet deep;
five were five feet long and two feet ten inches high and two feet
ten inches wide, and fourteen were four feet long, two and one-half
feet wide, and two and one-half feet deep. The glass of the two
largest sized tanks w(>re five-eights of an inch thick, for the small
tanks, three eighths of an inch thick.

It was held by a number of the exhibitors, before the aquaria
were placed, that the glass to be used was not of sufficient thick-
ness to stand the tremi'udous pressure of water in the tanks; but
long before the Department and the Superintendent had studied
the problem very carefully and experimented on a lar;_r(^ scale, and
arrived at tlie determination that the thickness decided on was
quite sufficient, provided plenty of play was given. The results
fully justified the findings of the Department and its Superintend-
ent. Throughout the entire seven months of the fall only one pane
of glass was broken, and that was caused not by water pressure,
but by a f;light settling in the floor of the Forestry Fish and Game
Talncc. T undf'rstand, indeed, that the only state which failed to
have a glass broken by water pressure was Pennsylvania, and the
other states making live fish exhibits used one inch glass, but did
not give abundant play to the glass.

The tanks were placed on the massive trestles before mentioned,
three and one-half feet from the floor, with the glass front facing
the aisle, and they were then surrounded by pine boarding to con-
form to that used in the building of the grotto. The fulh^st amount
of light ])ossible was thrown into the water of the tanks so that
people walking through the grotto could plainly obscTvo the move-
ments of the fish. Over the top of each tank was a paper label
neatly framed and fronted by glass, giving the common and the
scientific name of the exhibit, together with a brief data of its
value arranr:ed in chacteristics.

On each side of the label a transparency of fishing streams were
set in frames. When this was all coi]i])leted the grotto, the trans-
parencies and living fish formed a scene of great beauty and attract-
ed enormous crowds. Indeed at tiines it became necessary for guards
to walk westwardly along the aciuaria to the end and then east-
wardly on the other side.

At the east end of the space extending southward is constructed
a circular pool, twelve feet in diameter and five feet d<H'p, fed bv
water falling over an eight foot cascade at the east end of the
aquarium, and along a winding stream bordered bv living ever-
greens, ferns, cat-tails and vines. The stream contained live fish
and in the pool were huge specimens of some of the inferior fishes
of Pennsylvania, weighing from twenty to thirtv pounds each. The
pool attracted scarcely less attention tlian the anunria itself. All
day long the projecting railing was overhung hy large and curious
crowds, who watched with interest the movements of the huge fish.
The confiscated nets and the mounted fish on jmnels were artisti-
cally displayed on a board petition tw(dve feet high and natural
wood oiled. The photographs and wafer color drawings were dis-

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

66

played on a neat wall of oiled yellow pine, guarded by the wings of
a huge trap-net set upon the floor. In the centre of the space was
a large railed inclosure completely filled by two huge specimens of
sturgeon and a porpoise caught and killed in the Delaware river.
The angling appliances and mounted specimens of birds, mammals
and reptiles which prey on fish were inclosed in handsome quar-
tered oak cases on the southern side of the exhibit. Subsequently a
magnificent aquarium of aluminum, glass and nmrble was placed
in the exhibit space on the request of the Chief of the forestry,
Fish and Game Palace for ornamental and not exhibition purposes.

The water for the tanks was supplied free by the Exposition offi-
cials through a two-inch pipe extending above the tanks on each
side of the aisle and for the full length of the exhibit space. The
water flowed through four-quarter inch pet-cocks for each tank,
and from thence through a rubber tubing terminating with brass
sprayers with such force that the water was driven clear to the bot-
tom of the tank, even when it was full of water. Thus the most
perfect form of aeration was given. Sometime in August a refriger-
ating tank was installed by the Exposition authorities, free of
charge, to furnish chilled water for the fish. Unfortunately the re-
frigerating plant did not supply chilled water through all the tanks,
but only to a small proportion. Hence the temperature during the
entire summer was much too high for most of the fish in the greater
number of tanks.

The work of installing the exhibit began on the 15th of March,
and, by hard work, desi)ite many great difficulties, and extortionate
prices made by labor, both skilled and unskilled, and unreasonable
exactions by these people, on the morning of the 29th of April the
work was concluded and ready for live fish. On the afternoon of
the 29th the live fish arrived from Corry in the Department Car
Pennsylvania, in charge of Nathan R. Buller, Superintendent of
the Wayne County Hatchery, with four assistants.

I was assisted in the work of installation by Mr. William Buller,
the Superintendent of the Corry Hatchery, and at this point I wish
to express my deepest appreciation of the splendid service he ren-
dered. Day after day he was on the exhibit space hours before the
laborers arrived and hard at work. He was the last to leave at
night. He scarcely took time for his meals, such was his anxiety
and concern for the success of the exhibit. For the last five or six
days he worked every night until after midnight and for the re-
maining hours of darkness slept on the space.

On the day before the opening of the Exposition, when the fish
arrived, he worked for the whole twenty-four hours. It seems to me
that such devotion deserves the fullest publicity and recognition.

Nearly five thousand fish were brought in the first shipment and
it was attributed to the skill of Mr. Nathan R. Buller that on that
one thousand two hundred miles journey only three died. It is to
be regretted that this condition could not continue, but they were
scarcely placed in the tanks before my fears of the unsuitable char-
acter of the water furnished by the Exposition authorities were
realized. The water instead of being clarified by subsidence as it
should have been was filtered first by the city of St. Louis with lime
and again on the Exposition grounds by means of alum water; water

5—24—1904

66

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

67

filtered by any process is not well adapted for the maintenance of
fish life and that which was supplied was so heavily impregnated
with lime and alum as to form a heavy deposit on the iron pipes,
was necessarily fatal to nearly all the high-grade fishes. The trout,
])ike-perch, whitefish and blue-pike died within twenty-four hours.
Yellow perch and several other species, notably blue catfish, died
within a few days. At the expiration of ten days there were not
more than fifteen species of fish alive, although curiously enough
among those which seemed able to accept filtered water were sev-
eral thousand lake Erie minnows. Under the circumstances I
felt it my duty to refuse to send another load of fish until the water
was put in a better condition. After several weeks this was done
by materially reducing the quantity of alum. T then shipped the
second load, taking charge of the car myself. This was early in
June, although the water was very warm, less than one dozen fish
were lost in transportation. I regret to say that on mv arrival I
found that the Exposition officials had not kept their pledge to
install the refrigerating plant to supply clear water. The conse-
quence was when the fish arrived the 'water in the tanks had a
temperature of over eighty degrees. The trout and manv of the lake
fishes consequently died very quickly. The refrigerating plant was
installed in August and on the 18th of August Mr. A. G. Buller,
Superintendent of the Erie hatchery brouo-ht down a third lot, losing
less than a dozen on the way. Owing to the chilled water in several
of the tanks and by heavily icing the water in other tanks we were
able to carry no less than thirty-six specie of Pennsvlvania fishes
until the middle of September. This was the last carload sent,
because the appropriation would not permit the <'xpense of sending
more. Each trip cost in the nei'>-hborhood of three hundred dof-
lars. -Notwithstanding the difficulties which were encountered with
the water, I think I can confidently and truly say that the exhibit
was a credit to the resources and work of Pennsylvania. From the
opening to the closing day there was constantly a dense crowd of
people in front of the aquaria and around the pool and the exhibit
space was nearly always comfortably full.

The judges of the Exposition awarded the exhibit one grand prize
and four gold medals, or for everything which was distinctly classi-
fied, with the exception of the display of the confiscated nets.

The prizes were as follows:

Grand prize, for aquaria of live fish and accompaniments.

Gold medal, for angling appliances of E. K. Tryon, Jr., & Co.

Gold medal, for mounted specimens of mammals, birds and rep^
tiles which prey upon fish.

Gold medal, display of photographs of wild animals bv Hon
George Shiras, TIT.

Gold medal for Tennsylvania woods by Philadelphia Lumber-
man's Exchange.

The Fair closed on the afternoon of December 1st, and within fif-
teen minutes the work of packing the exhibit for return to Pennsvl-
vania was begun under my direction and bv the 14th everything was
completed and given into the hands of the freight companies for
shipment.

I have endeavored since my inception in office to keep within the
money which has been appropriated to the Department. The new

system inaugurated by the last Legislature and the passage of an
act creating our Department has been most cordially received by
the citizens of the Commonwealth and many tasks have been im-
posed upon the Department, the execution 'of which was merito-
rious. I am unable to say in nearly every instance it has resulted
in good to the fisheries interests of the State. Extra-ordinary labor
was imposed and has been imposed upon everv warden that I was
enabled to employ. But I arfi sure that a careful examination of
their work will at least justify the expenditure of every penny it
has taken to operate that branch of the Department.

A final review of the Pennsylvania fisheries work shows, in the
main, them to be, I think, in a very satisfactory condition. When-
ever the Department was not embarrassed by storms on Lake Erie
the take of eggs of all classes of fish which have been propagated
for years was largely increased, a decrease showing only in wall-
eyed pike, blue pike and yellow perch. The old established hatch-
eries are in better repair and the new hatcheries at Wayne and
Bellefonte are to-day in good working condition. The Torresdale
hatchery it is hoped will be ready for good work in the spring.

There are some difficulties and obscurities in the existing fish
laws, but none which are not impossible to be remedied. The work'
of the great majority of the fish wardens has been satisfactory and
some of extraordinary merit. Public srntiment in favor of eniforce-
ment of the fish laAvs has grown and s' ows signs of increase. With
the appropriation adequate to the proper operation of the hatcheries,
there is no room to doubt a rapid increase in the number of fish in
the streams of the Commonwealth.

Respectfully submitted,

W. E. MEEHAN,
Commissioner of Fisheries.

'Tim

68

REPORT OF TFIE

Off. Doc.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

CORRY HATCHERY.

REFOKT OF WILLIAM BULLLEK, SUi'EKINTENDENT.

To the Depaitmeiit of Fisheries:

Gentlemen: I beg to submit this my annual report from June 1st,
1903, to June 1st, 11)01. I stated in my previous report there were
yet several hundred thousand brook trout fry in the house to be
distributed. These were shipped in the fore part of June. The
pond on west side of .^rounds known as the carp pond, was filled
with suntish for breeding. In the month of June they spawned,
but when the pond was drained in tlie fall there were only one thou-
sand young fry, which were? removed and shipped to Dauphin and
Cumberland counties. I had constructed three large bass ponds.
They are about five feet deep at one end and shallow at the other.
The bottoms were covered with five inches of gravel, both fine and
coarse, also had water plants in the pond. The spawning fish were
put in the ponds in the fall and in the spring before spawning time
I placed a number of boxes in one pond, built on the same plan ae
those used by the Michigan Fish Commission, for the fish to build
their nests in. I had gravel in each box for the fish to work upon,
but I could never see any of the fish working in the boxes, and I
have my doubts as to their using them while the two ponds without
the artificial nest boxes were alive with small fry. This leads me
to think I have my ponds properly constructed, and that the fish
prefer building their nests to their own liking. When I discovered
the pond filled with small fish I felt well satisfied with the results.
They worked along the shallow part of the ])onds and around the
plants. It was my intention to remove the large bass in a few
days after noticing the fry, but before I could find time to attend
to it there was an unusual heavy rain, causing a large amount of
surface water to flow into the jjonds from the hill, resulting in the
ponds overflowing, carrying away the fry, of which were many thous-
ands. I now have a large ditch along the north Side of ponds to
carry off any surface water in the future. I now know it is possible
to hatch the fish in large numbers, and hope we will not meet with
any misfortune this coming season.

Mr. Meehan had requested me to make a special effort to hatch
gold fish, as he wished to supply the different public schools in the
State for the purpose of helping scholars to understand fish culture
more fully. We were not abh^ to make a large showing in this
work as we only possessed a few S|>awning fish which were in pond
east of hatching house No. 2. After the fish had spawned they were
removed to the aquarium. The fry remained in a healthv condition
until they were of sufficient size to ship, which was in January.

Late in the fall Mr. Meehan secured fifty Japanese fantail gold
fish, and we hope to be able to have a larger supply of young'^fish

i

the coming year. The trout fry which we retained to stock our
ponds were assorted according to size and placed in different ponds.
Ihe spawning trout were healthy and strong during the entire
season.

Owing to my hand being in a disabled condition, my efficient as-
sistant Wm. F. Haas attended to the taking of brook trout eggs.
The spawning began about the usual time and the amount of eggs
taken this season was larger than any previous year, being 4,000,000
The percentage of eggs lost during hatching period was very siiiall.
1 attribute the success to the additional ponds, which afford us bet-
ter facilities for holding a larger amount of breeding trout. Eggs
began hatching on November 29th, and continued during the month
of December and January. The fry remained in fine condition
trom beginning until shipped.

,.'^^^'/.^®t «*iipi^<^nt was made on March 15th, the counties being
divided into two districts; Belief onte Station to fill the applications
m one district and Corry the other. On account of Bellefonte Sta-
tion being recently established, it was not able to fill its entire con-
signment of applications, so after Corry Station had shipped its
district, applications from the Bellefonte Station were filled making

^o'!ww J"""?"';^ ^! .^■''•>' distributed 3,892,400, besides having about
lyO,000 fry to be shipped after June 1st, 1904.

By request of Mr. Meehan, I have retained 100,000 to supplv mv
own stock and furnish the other hatcheries if necessarv

On December 1st I received word from mv brother at the Erie
Station, to be prepared for lake trout eggs,' as arrangements had
been made to collect eggs at Dunkirk, N. Y. From that time until
SmnH?. 9th there were l,oOO,()00 eggs gathc^red. I also received
200,000 eggs from the United States Commission. On account of
the interest and willing help the fishermen gave in collectino- the
eggs at Dunkirk, Mr. Meehan considered it advisable and iu'^t to
plant a portion of the fry in Lake Erie at that point, while the bal-
ance was planted at Erie, with the exception of 102,000 which were
distributed to suitable lakes in the State. When the frv were re-
ceived at Dunkirk, the Co Operative Fish (^o. furnished 'their own
tc^ani and tug in planting the fish without charge to th,^ Department
which proves the interest taken in the matter. '

The improvements made at this station during the vear are as
lollows: 300 feet of G-inch tile pijK^ was laid from spring to resc r
Noir at No. 3 hatching house; a concrete fioor was also put in the
same building, and four new ponds around the buiklin- which were
boarded on the sides and heavily graveled on bottom. There was
a gravel walk built from No. 3 building to meat house, with bridges
crossing ponds the ground around the buildings was graded iuid
t ees phmted to improve the appearance and also to help furnish
shade lor the ponds. There was a course of 8-inch tile blocks
placed under No. 2 building, also new uprights. The main pond,
known as the show pond, was tiled around the sides, which adds
to the appearance There was concrete sides ])ut into pond on left
side of main pond. Also a new frog ,,ond built <'ast of the barn.
Ihere were also a few necessary alt(Mations made at the dwellin<'

70

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

On April 4tli, 1 started for St. Louis to get the exhibit in shape
for the opening- of the World's Fair, leaving my assistant Wm. F.
Haas in charge of the hatchery.

Trusting the work done at this hatchery during the year will be
satisfactt)ry,

I am, respectfully yours,

WM. FULLER,
Superintendent.

LAKE TROUT FRY PLANTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

190:!-04.

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

Counties.

Crawford

Lackawanna

Luzerne,

Pike

Wyoming

Wayne

Planted in Lake Erie

Total

>Jo. shipped.

17.000
67,600
24,000
24,000
24,000
13.000
1,200,000

1,369,500

GOLD FISH FURNISHED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO

JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

Jan.
Jan.
.Tan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.

11.
11.
11.
11.
11.
11.
11.
11.
11.
11.

Name of School.

Where Located.

No. shipped.

Z'y,^^.^^^^^ School I Towanda. Pa.

Millville Borough Public School i Millville Pa

Paschalville , Paschalville. Pa.

Landreths . j Philadelphia. Pa.

Special School No. 5 Philadelphia Pa.

ganiel Webster : Philadelphia" Pa.

Websters Primary : Philadelphia Pa.

Belview | rjermantown" Jet.

F. D. Pastorius. CJermantuwn

Andrew G.

Curtin. i Germantown] Pa.

Total,

300

SUN FISH DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

1904.
Jan. 11,
Jan. 11,

Name.

Wm. J. Rose. ...
Wm. H. Earnest.

Total.

Postoffice Address.

Tlarrisburff, Dauphin county ^.

Hummelstown, Dauphin county

No. shipped.

600

500

l.OOO

LOCH LEVEN TROUT FRY PLANTED JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

Counties.

June 1, 1903-04, i Philadelphia,

No. shipped.

60,000

I

No. 24. DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 71

BROOK TROUT FRY DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

June

, 1903-04,

June

, 1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-4J4,

June

1903-04,

June

*l

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

■*■!

1903-04,

June

-ll

ia03-04;

June

•'■>

1903-04,

June

li'03-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

■A(

1903-04,

June

■*•»

1903-04,

June

•^f

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

19U3-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1UU3-U4,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

19a3-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04,

June

1903-04.

June

1,

1903-04,

June

1,

1903-04,

June

1,

1903-04,

June

1,

1003-04,

June

1.

1903-04,

June

1.

1903-04,

June

1,

1903-04,

June

1.

1903-04,

June

1.

1903-04,

June

1.

1903-04,

June

1,

1903-04,

June

1.

19<.i3-04,

June

1,

19U3-04,

June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June

1, 1903-04,
1, 1903-04, I
1, 1903-04, I
1. 190::-04, j
1. 1HO3-04,
1, 1903-04, !
1, 1903-04,
1, 1903-04,

Allegheny,
Arnisitrung,

Adams

Butler

Beaver

Berks,

Brad lord, ...

Bed lord

Blair

Columbia, ..
Cameron, ...
Cameron, for

Department of Forestry,

3,yO0
13,000

Cambria, . .
Clearfield, .
Crawford, .
Chester, . . .
Cumberland,
Clinton,
Carbon,
Clarion,
Delaware, .
Dauphin, ..
Erie

Elk

Fayette

Fulton '.'.'.'.'.".'.'

Forest,

Indiana

J uniata

Jefferson ....'..'.

Luzerne .!!!!!!!.!

Lawrence

Lackawanna

Lancaster ..!!..!

Lycoming

Mifflin '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Monroe

Montgomery ......*.

Montour

McKean !.!!!!.!,..

Northumberland !.!!!!!!!!

Northampton

Potter

Potter, for Department of Forestry,

173,500
208,000

Perry

Philadelphia .'.".■;

Pil^g

Pike, for Department' "of Forestry ,' ' .' .' ." .' .' .* .* .".';; .' .' .' .' '. '. '. ] ',',',_, ^7 ' ^J

Somerset

Susquehanna

Sullivan

Schuylkill

Tioga,

Tioga, for Department

of Forestry,

131, IK!

13,000

Union

Venango

Washington, .

Warren

Wayne

Wyoming

Westmoreland,
York,

Total,

13,000

13,000

2,000

4,000

22,000

7,000

58,900

27.000

13.500

36,100

16.900
56,200
40,300
32,300
24,000
5,000

129,100

31.00<J

62,400

3,000

12,0C0

108,000

39,500

37,000

3,000

9,100

2,000

16.900

314,400

6,9uil

115,200

11,000

94,300

1,000

231,800

16,000

35.100

143,000

86,500

31,900

381,500
4,000
6.300

41,800

74,400
106,. ^(H)

42.900
134,000

152,400

3,000

61,800

5,200

191,300

199. 700

38.600

53,700

12,000

3.412.500

I Jfi

72

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

WAYNE COUNTY FISH HATCHERY.

NATHAN R. BULLER, SUPERINTENDENT.

Hon. Wm E. Meehan, Commissioner of Fisheries, Harrieburg, Pa. :

Sir: The following is my report of work done at the Wayne
County Fish Hatchery, from June 2, 1904, to January 1, 1905.

I was appointed Superintendent of the Wayne County Fish Hatch-
ery, in October, 1903, but owing to my being acting superintendent
of the Bellefonte Station during its construction and other labors
you had for me to perform, I was unable to begin operations at this
station until June 2d.

Upon my arrival I went over the grounds with you very care-
fully, locating the hatcher^^, the house for brook trout and pools
for the breeding of perch, pickerel and black bass. After locating
and getting the tools for our different operations, I started to
work on walling up and developing the spring and building the
hatching house, which was completed in August. I consider that
we have a model house. Whilst it is not so large in proportion as
the houses at the other stations, it is equipped with the Clark-Wil-
liamson troughs, and while being in dimensions only sixty (60) feet
by twenty (20), still has a capacity for developing 7,000,000 brook
trout eggs.

I advised against building the house any larger, as T prefer to
place the fry in small pools out of doors as soon as hatched, consid-
ering that by using that method, I can grow a larger percentage of
the fish hatched than if they were kept inside the building.

The plot that the building is on, is surrounded by about one acre
of ground, admirably adapted for nursery work. I have discovered
a spring in our main stream larger than the spring now furnishing
the house. I would respectfully suggest that you allow me to pipe
the water of this spring a distance of two hundred (200) feet into the
spring we are now using for the hatchery. This would double our
capacity for raising fry.

I would also advise and suggest to you, to allow me to extend pipe
line, six inches in diameter, from the main stream, following the
mountain to the hatchery, which in addition to our spring will fur-
nish an ample supply of water for all hatching and nursery pur-
poses. By going a distance of 900 feet from the hatchery, w^e give
a fall of eleven feet, which Avill furnish us water for our contem-
plated battery and at the same time will furnish water for all trout
and salmon work.

After we are finished shipping trout and salmon, these same nur-
sery pools, used for the propagation of trout and salmon, if the
spring water be cut out, can be utilized for the rearing of perch,

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OP FISHERIES.

73

pickerel and bass, the creek pipe line alone furnishing the water.
The rearing of pickerel, perch and bass is still in its infancy, but by
employing the method 1 have spoken of to you, I feel assured the
work will turn out successfully and satisfactorily.

There has been to date constructed for trout work, a hatchery
house, with a capacity of 7,000,000 eggs, three nursery pools and
three pools for adult trout, sixty feet long by twenty-five feet wide.
Our next line of work was on perch pools, three of which I have com-
pleted and consider them models for the purposes they are to be
used. Their size is 150 feet long by 45 feet wide.

I am very much interested in the perch work. You are well aware
that all of your superintendents have been experimenting to ascer-
tain the best and most economical method of hatching yellow perch.
Of course, an economy in this matter is necessary on account of the
limited sum of money at our disposal. I have decided the most
economical way to hatch these fish is by pond culture. The method
I propose to pursue, is to use one of the three ponds for the purpose
of collecting the eggs, which will be done by planting branches of
trees thickly through the pond, leaving the 'tops extend at least a
foot above the water.

After the eggs are deposited on these branches, I propose to move
them to the other ponds, free from the parent fish. The object in
having the branches a foot above the water is to let the wind sway
them gently and keep the eggs free from sediment. The fish when
first hatched are almost microscopic, and unless planted intelligently,
would be sure to be devoured by minnows and other small fish, and
as we have the facilities for keeping the fish, I would suggest that
they be not planted until fall, as I feel assured I have a method of
feeding that w ill produce great results.

I regard perch culture as a very necessary feature of fish work
from now on, as many of our stre^ams in the southwestern part of
the State are practically denuded of trout, and on account of the
destruction of timber, the waters have become of such a tempera-
ture, that perch will be the coming fish.

The perch is not only a gamey fish, but will become of great com-
mercial value.

Our next work was on black bass breeding pools, one of which I
have completed, covering one and one-third acres. Another I have
under way, is an acre and a half in area. Of all the stations I have
visited in various parts of the United States, none has anvthing to
compare in extent and water supply, with the black bass pools, we
shall have at the Wayne County Station.

The artificial propagaticm of black bass is also in its initial stage.
Under the method I intend to pursue, the rearing of the fry will not
be begun until the fall of the year. Of its successful outcome, I am
so confident, that I invite all fish culturists, interested in the pro-
pagation of bass, to visit our ])lant.

I have also under way, within a few days of completion, a pickerel
pool, covering half an acre. In this pool lam (^specially interested. It
is an experiment, but a most facinating one to lovers of fish culture.
While I shall try these different methods to hatch the eggs, I feel
confident that eventually we must have a battery station to produce
pickerel successfully.

'f"'*"

74

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

In this connection I would emphasize the necessity for the creek
pipe line. By having this we can malve our trout pools perform du-
plicate service. That is to say, after the trout fry has been shipped
by the end of May, we can empty the trout pools of spring water,
and introduce through the pipe line creek water of a proper tem-
perature for propagation of pi( ..erel, perch and bass.

Conditions prevailing with the advent of cold weather, convince
me that a supply dam is an absolutely necessary equipment for the
Wayne Hatchery, situated as it is, in the northeastern and coldest
part of the State. Observation has taught that the intense cold
which prevails forms pin ice on the creek and freezes up our run-
ways, making it imperative to have an underground source of supplv
for the pools.

As the question of feeding pickerel, after they are first hatched,
IS one that has not yet been solved, 1 propose to use the same method
as with perch. This, I believe, will prove satisfactory.

The pickerel problem is a very important one. Especially to the
northeastern portion of our IState. Wayne county alone has 103
lakes, all suitable for pickerel, and waiting only to be planted to
make them alive with the desirable fish.

Another interesting experiuient will be the attempt to raise At-
lantic salmon, for stocking the Delaware river. I got 3,000 eggs
last March from the U. S. Fish Commission, shipped from the
hatchery in Maine to our Bellefonte Station. These I hatched there
very successi'uUy, and on last September 1,500 of the fry were
shipped to the Wayne Hatchery. So far they have done very nicely
averaging three inches, and their vitality is astonishing. So far as
1 have observed, not one has died. I am feeding thein like brook
trout, but after the plant is in full operation, I propose to use a
dilierent food, which 1 have every reason to believe will make them
grow faster. This experiment to raise Atlantic salmon is one I
am watching very carefully, and is one I have grc^at hopes for I
believe it will make a splendid commercial fish for the Delaware
river, and this river can be made to vie with the Kennebec as a
salmon stream. U takes four years to mature an Atlantic salmon,
but since then it weighs 15 to 20 pounds, it is a fish worth having

1 expect to have at least 20 of the brook trout pools completed
by spring, half the number necessary for the plant. When we
stop to consider the roughness of the ground and the many disad-
vantages we had to contend with, as well as the small appropriation
available for this plant, I feel proud of the work accomplished

Ihe site to-day consists of 23 acres, all available for pond pur-
poses, and practically all a gift from public-spirited citizens of
Wayne county For the results it is intended to show, it is magni-
hcently located and most beneficently endowed by nature. Situated
out three miles from the source of the Lackawaxen, it enjoys all the
benefits of the marvelously pure water of that stream. It is far
enough from the headwater springs to allow the water to come to a
warmth proper for the culture of bass, pickerel and perch, while
the colder water necessary for trout and salmon, is furnished by
springs on the spot, which have a temperature of 47 degrees

\ our action in buying a twelve room house on a four acre lot at
the entrance to the grounds donated by citizens, was most commend-

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

76

able. The house will make a desirable home for the superintendent,
and being located below the springs, there is admirable opportunity
for the establishment of fountains and aquariums.

Mount Pleasant has long been an educational centre, a fact in
which the citizens take great pride. I would suggest that with
the establishment of a hatchery at this place, a museum go with it,
of which the aquariums and fountains would be a part. In addition,
I would request you to have several rooms of the house set aside
for the exhibition of fish and appurtenances; the whole to form a
valuable object lesson in fish culture and fish protection.

The plans you have already formulated in regard to the Wayne
Hatchery, are admirable, and those you have in view, are all in line
with making this the banner station in Pennsylvania, equalled by
few and surpassed by none in the United States. That your plans
for the extension of fish culture by the adoption of new*^ species in
addition to trout, will bring excellent results, I verily believe.

The following is a summary of the stock at the Wayne Hatchery.

1,227,000 brook trout eggs; 23,000 fingerling trout; 350 three-
year-old trout, 200 pickerel, 400 black bass, 200 yellow perch and
900 rock bass.

Respectfully submitted,

NATHAN R. RTTLLKR,
Superintendent Wayne County Hatchery.

7«

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF CORRY STATION FROM JUNE 1

TO DECEMBER 31, 1904.

WM. BULLER, SUPERINTENDENT.

Gentlemen of the Department of Fisheries:

Dear Sirs: I wish to submit this my report from June 1st to De-
cember 31st, 1U04. The number of llsh distributed during this period
was 248,108, 10,108 of this number were sent to the Wayne County
Hatchery for breeding purposes. Following are the different species
of fish which were eent: Brook trout, black bass, rock bass, bull-
heads, spotted cat-fish, grass pike, German carp, and suckers. The
two last named fish will be hatched to supply food for black bass.

Mr. Meehan decided to have the bass transferred to thp Wayne
county hatchery, as the bas« work is to be one of the special features
of that station.

The ponds which were used for black bass work will in the future
contain yellow perch and rock bass.

On November 30th I shipped 2,000 tadpoles. I was compelled to
use tadpoles for feeding bass at times, otherwise the output would
have been larger. Minnows are the usual food for bass, but it is
impossible to secure them at all seasons of the year

After the shipping of trout fry was finished, we began to make
repairs on ditterent ponds. We widened several of the spawnin-
races ^ order to give more space, and it also makes it more attrac-
tive for the hsh to enter. We replaced the «ides of pond, which were
in bad condition, with tile. I have always boarded the sides of
ponds, but find tile will last longer and is more substantial, as we

0^.1.^^ i^i^-l"^ ^""f ^^ ^'^""''^^ ^^'^ ^^^^'«- ^^^^' ^Iso built three ponds
on the additional ground purchased some time ago, which are to
be used for : olding fry, the fence which encloses the grounds was •
NNhite washed, roofs of all the buildings were given one coat of tar
new sliades were built over show pond, and new cover over reservoir'
trout eggs ''" ^""^ ^^'"^ hatching house in shape for the take of

The trout began to spawn at tlie usual time. There were 4 500 000
brook trout eggs taken this fall. This is the largest amount of

ifec'eml t^'.t TT"" ^'. ''^ ''^^*^""- ^^''^ '^^' ^^^^^ to hatch on
December 1st, and up to tlu^ present time there are as yet onlv a

litlon^^ W: h^H "r^^'r' ^''' '''' '''-' ^" ' ^^''-^^ ^-^ health'cL
dition. ^Ae had made arrangements and fullv expected to take a

arge amount of ake trout eggs at Dunkirk, but on account of con

tinned high winds at the time of spawning season, the fislK^rmen

would not risk setting their nets on the reef We experienced S

adding a few million eggs to the already large number.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OP FISHERIES.

77

We have lately received encouraging news from Mr. Meehan who
has made arrangements with the U. S. Fish Commission, stating
they will supply ue with 1,000,000 lake trout eggs. I realize the
good success we have had in the large collection of eggs, is largelv
due to Mr. Meehan's suggestions and foresight on all matters '^

On November 29th I started for St. Louis, being directed' by Mr
Meehan to attend to packing the exhibit which was sent to Phila-
delphia. During my absence my able assistants Wm. F. Haas
and JR. Berkhous attended properly and with care to the work.
1 feel they are entitled to a great deal of credit for their close at-
tention during my absence. I deem myself fortunate in having
good, reliable men, and owe a good portion of the success to the
continued interest taken by them in the work.

We have met with many pleasant and interested visitors during
the season The number of visitors who have registered their names
111 the book IS 3.562. This surely proves the interest the people of
this vicinity take in the hatchery. We know there were a great
many who did not register their names.

I find we are in need of more help. With the work we have to do
It IS impossible to keep the grounds in proper condition. There are

"'•^.^•^'.,! V'^^ V''"''"'''^ ^^'^ P^^^^^ '^'^^^'^^ ne^^l ^are and attention, but
v»ith the help I now have we cannot take time to attend to all thinee
necessary. If we had sufficient help it would be a great relief to

Since the additional ground has been added to the hatcherv one
horse IS not sufficient to do the work. During shipping season it
IS quite an expense to hire the hauling done, as we must do, one
horse not being able to do the work. We are also badlv in need of
a new wagon. '

There are repairs that should be attended to. Number one and
two hatching houses are in a dangerous condition. I have spoken
before of the dilapidated condition of the barn which is really not
worth repairing, and is quite unsafe in its present condition

/ ai'^^ m need of lumber to replace a number of shades over the
ponds, and many of the ponds require new sides. I should like to

hnfwffVrl?f ^'^"^^ ""^ ^ ^'"^^'' '^ ^'"^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^"^'^ble than boards,
nut \\ ith little more expense.

When the new ground was purchased several vears ago, there
was more land in the plot than the Commission felt thev coiild afford
to purchase at that time. As I had a little readv monev, I agreed to
buy three acres. I felt that later on the Commission would need
the land and probably buy it from me at the same price I paid for it
I should hke^ to ask the members of the Department to kindly -ive
this matter their consideration. ^ ""

A new house for the superintendent has been su-gested the
present one to be used by the assistant, who would boanl the men
Having the help close at hand would be so much more convenren"*
It IS impossible to secure a boarding place close to the hatcherv I

hone'tT r^vi" '''1 "' T '"'^^''^ "" ""^-^^ '^^^ ^ncce,,n,, season and
hope to have good results with the voung frv. TTopin- this renort
will meet with your approval, ^ • '» Pi".. niis repoi t

I am, respectfully,

WM. BULLER,
Superintendent.

ir-^pi

78

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

DISTRIBUTION OF TROUT FRY FROM JUNE 1, 1904, TO DEC. 31, 1904.

Date.

1904.
June 1,
.Tune 1,
.fune 10,
.Tune 10,
.Tune 2,
.Tune
.Tune

10,
14.

Counties.

No. shipped.

Bedford, .

Blair, ....

Bradford,

Clinton. .

Columbia,

Ijyconung,

Ijycoming,

16 000
8,000

.Tune
.Tune
June
June

2,
6,
7,
8,

Mifflin,
Potter,
Potter,
Potter.

29,000
EH.OOO
33,000

.Tune 2, : Snyder,

June 10, I Sullivan,

June 3, 1 Union,
June 10, Warren.

21,000
21,000

1.000
10,000

2,000

24,000
12.000

87,000
26.000

1,000
32.000

1,000

Total,

238,000

DISTRIBUTION OF TADPOLES FROM JUNE 1, 1904, TO DECEMBER 31, 1904.

Date.

1904.
Nov. 30,
Nov. 30,
Nov. 30.
Nov. 30.

Ka me.

->-.!

E. B. Hendricks, ...
G. H. Kobler. M. D.
Edward Hess, Jr.,..
J. Simms Wilson. ..

Total.

Postofflce Address.

Philadelphia, Philadeli.hia county,

Philadelphia, Philadelphia county,

Philadelphia, Philadelphia cnuntv,

I'hiladelphja, I'hiladelphia county,

No. shipped.

500
500
500
800

2,000

NUMKEK OF SPAWNING FISH IN PONDS.

1,500 Four year old brook trout.
3,000 Three year old brook trout.
2,800 two year old brook trout.
7,000 Year old brook trout.

75 Yellow perch.
100 Rock bass.

35 Gold lish.

FISH SENT TO WAYNE COUNTY HATCHERY.

0,000 Fingerling brook trout.
200 Large black bass.
200 Fingerling bhick bass.
500 Rock bass, large fry.
60 Large German carp.
60 Large suckers.
75 Bullheads.
10 Spotted catfish.
3 Grass pike.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

79

BEIvLEFONTE HATCHERY.

REPORT OF N. R. BULLER, ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.

(From June 1, 1903, to May 31, 1904.)

To Hon. \V. E. Meehan, Commissioner of Fisheries:

Sir: In making my report of the work done while I was actinir
superintendent of the new Bellefonte Hatchery, I have the honor
to state that I took charge August 21, 1903, having been directed
by you to go there from the Corry Hatcherv. At that time what
IS now a superb hatchery was simply a site beautiful for one which
had been donated to the Commonwealth bv public spirited citizens
of Centre county. After looking over the ground with vourself it
was decided to use the Hoy spring as the basis of operation, which
has a capacity of 500 gallons of water a minute. It was also decided
to tap the Schugert spring, lying on the northwest side of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad, 12 inch conduit being laid under th^ tracks The
use of the water from the Schugert spring, which is a splendid
source of supply with a capacity of 800 gallons a minute, was the
personal gift to the State of Mr. John Schugert, cashier of the
Centre County Banking Company. His generositv is in line with
his enthusiasm as a fisherman, and with the patriotism of his familv
Mr Schugert being closely related to the late ex-governor Andrew'
Ct. Curtin.

The joining of the waters of these two springs made a reservoir of
considerable size on the site of the Hoy spring, there being 1,300
gallons of water a minute. That being deemed sufficient for imme-
diate needs, we began work on the hatching house and aurserv pools
which It was required to complete by October 13, 1903. This re-
quirement was complied with by the timo mentioned, when the house
was ready for the reception of the eggs. The hatching house I
consider a model, being 125 feet long by 40 feet wide and of neat
architecture. Its equipment, including a solid concrete floor, first
class hatching troughs, and thirteen nurserv pools attached the
last^new feature, I consider superior to any*other hatching house
in the State. Each nursery pool is fed inde])endentlv from the main
supply trough in the buildings. The pools are each eight bv thirtv
feet, twenty-eight inches deep and every one has a concrete' bottom
and sides and is furnished with an automatic feeding arrangement
Each of these ponds has a capacity to feed from 150,000 to 200 000
trout until the fish are four months old. While doing this work
we also made pools for the reception of breeding trout from the Ab
lentown hatchery, then about to be abandoned.

80

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

In this connection, I wish to record the thanks of the Fisheries
Department for the kindness of the faculty of the State College,
w hose students under the charge of Professor Shattuck, gratuitously
surveyed the site and placed the stakes for the various pools and
other improvements, besides furnishing a complete and most satis-
factory draft.

Three of the breeding pools which are each 250 feet long by 40
feet wide and four feet deep, with concrete bottom and sides, were
finished by November 15th, when cold weather forced a suspension
of operations.

By this time an increased water supply was required and we
availed ourselves of the use of the water of the Ross spring, with
a capacity of 300 gallons a minute. It was also deemed advisable
to secure a home for the superintendent. This was done by your
buying the S. 11. Hoy property, which then had a very comfortable
eight-room house, which was improved to aM that could be desired,
by enlarging the kitchen, adding a laundry and installing a bath
room, besides being repapered and repainted.

While this improvement was in progress you made a most ad-
mirable move, showing commendable foresig'ht, by leasing for 99
years the magnificent Blue Spring with a capacity of about 8,000
gallons of water a minute. By laying a 20-inch conduit this will
furnish an inexhaustible supply of water for this hatchery, no mat-
ter to what extent it is enlarged. The fall being 20 feet, the water
can be conducted to any part of the property and the supply will
always be sufficient for the bass, and the salmon pools and other
extensions contemplated.

On October 26, the day the hatchery was dedicated, the first con-
signment of 5,000 eggs was placed in the troughs.

Of the dedication, which was attended by a large delegation of
fish culturists and several hundred neighbors and citizens, it is un-
necessary for me speak, as that occasion is historic from' the fact
that it recorded the formal oi)ening of tlie first hatchery built on
donated ground. From that time on, until November ITtli, we were
extremely busy preparing the place for receiving eggs in quantity,
and the active work of hatching From the Allentown Hatcherv
there were received fifteen different shipments, aggregating 1,500,000
eggs. Owing to the extremely cold weather and the carelessness of
the express companies, I regret to state that about a half million
of these eggs were lost, being frozen in transit.

Through the generosity of the Penn Forest Brook Trout Company
we received a donation of 1,000,000 eggs, and the Blooming Grove
Park Association, likewise donated 150,000. These two companies
deserve and have the sincere thanks of the Department for this act
of good will towards the State. The period during the hatching of
the eggs and the care of the fry up to the time of distribution in
March, in an excei^tionally severe winter, was a season of very
hard work. I found after w(^ began feeding the fry that the loss was
greater from the (^ggs which came from the Allentown Hatchery
than from those donated as aforementioned. This fact I attributed
to the aenemic condition of the parent fish, since the loss of a total
of about 300,000 fry was almost entirely among those hatched from
the Allentown eggs. The period of shipment began March 8th con-
tinuing until May 20th. The distribution of fry by counties is shown
in the f ollow ing tabulated statement :

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

Cumberland, 24.500

York, 79*000

i^'ulton, 6,000

Schuylkill, 136,500

Philadelphia, 19.500

Leliigh, 25,500

Clearfield, 54,000

Union 259,000

Montgomery, 4^500

Blair, 84,000

Lebanon, 45.000

Center, 111,000

Dauphin, 21,000

Berks, 73.000

Franklin, 42,000

Huntingdon, 78,000

Bedford, • 100,500

Franklin, 111,000

Northampton, 24,000

Chester, e'ooo

Carbon, 120,000

Lancnater, 3,000

Total, 1,727.000

81

But for the eggs received frozen and those from fish improperly
conditioned, the loss of fry in developing process would have been
less than 10 per cent., showing that this plant is favored with an
exceptionally excellent quality of water.

With the end of the first season of shipment my connection with
the Bellefonte Hatchery ceased, since by your direction, I was trans-
ferred to become superintendent of the new Wayne County Hatch-
ery.

The outlook for the Bellefonte Hatchery I regard as little short of
brilliant. Kstablished under your wise administration, and far-see-
ing policy on the broadest scientific and practical basis, and situated
in an ideal location, its possibilities are limitless.

For trout hatching I pronounce it unequalled and black bass
ehould be propagated with distinguished success. I am.

Your obedient servant,

NATHAN R. BIJLLER,
Superintendent.

6—24—1904

82

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF THE BELLEFONTE HATCHERY.

HOWARD M. BULLER, SUPERINTENDENT.

(From June I to December I, 1904.)

To the Hon. W. E. Meelian, Commissioner of Fisheries:

Dear Sir: I bog herewith to submit my first report as Superin-
tendent of the Bellefonte Hatchei;y from tlie first of J„ne to the first
of Deeember, ]904. On the first named d;,te I received mv appoint-
ment from you as Superintendent, liavins i.reviouslv served vonr
Department and the Fish Commission as an assistant, first at M-
lentovvn and then at Bellefonte, for a period of two rears and a haJf
When I took charge of the hatchery tlie trout fry for 1004 had
all been shipped and the troughs empty. In the nursery ponds at-
tached to the house there were about 21,000 frv which had been re-
served for breeding purposes, both for this hatchery and the Wayne
county hatchery. In addition to the eleyen nurserv ponds iust
spoken of. there was one large pond between the hatching house
and the spring, 1.^0 feet long and 40 feet wide, and a partially com
pleted pond a little below the hatching house and a little to the l,>ft
lo4 feet long and 40 feet wide. I immediately began the completion
of tjiis pond and then believing it too large, divided it into four

nf^r"5 ".'''* '?f """ -- ""-' ^'""^- From time to time
built other breeder and fry pond«, until at the close of the year there

rifh<f l^li""^ ^^ Pr*^"- "''*' "^ "-'"'•" '""•^ ""'.^ h« called temporary
?ion ;!f ^^^ '^^ w" ''" ""'".^"'' ''" '■"<"^finit<^ tK^riod of time. In ..dd^
tion to the eighteen mentioned, there are the nurserv ponds which
are arse enough at a pinch to carry breeder fish in ;4ll numbers

nSeryTZ"i;'nine.'""' " '""" '"'"' "' '^"""^ "* ^"« ^""^^-t"

The nursery ponds are fitted out with automatic feeders so thnt

when fry are placed therein, it is not necessary for the men Z feed

Tr I freneral pon.ls are constructed of concrete and the walls

oth .?« ^''^ '""rr^" ^y^"^ '""""^ ""-^^ ""•l ""'^ »>••'« two end. and^t '
others have earthen sides with either concrete or board ends

fi«h 7B90^r"i • '■'' u"^,^^ ^'"' '■'"'"' "^ ^^"' y''^^ «-fi20 breeder
fish 7,620 of which are brook trout and 1.000 California trout In

W?i-h"i^ ^'^^•'V"''^ "^T'- 12.000 flngerlin.« held for breeding purposes

Bedsides the brook trout, th<Te are (if! plain and fnntail <^old fish
which should breed next summer. Had it not been for the f"ct thit
T had no established pond until autumn they would h.ive b-ed ,^ J
August, .\mong the fish at the hatchery when I took charge there

WW

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82

REPORT OF TiJE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF THE BELLEFONTE HATCHERY.

IIOWAHII M. liUM.KK, SUl'KKIXTKNDEXT.

(Prom June 1 to December 1. VHH.)

To the lion. \V. K. Mcclmn. <'(Miiniissioii(i- of Fisliciics:

Dear Sir: 1 l.cj; liei'CwiOi to siibniil niv first rciiorl iK Suncrin
tou.lci.t ol I lie Ticllofonto rLitcliciiv from lli,. lirsf of .I,,-,.- (o the first
of D.ToiiilHM-, 1!M(4. On the first liamod ,UU- I recoivcl imv aimoint
IlKMit Iroiii you as Snpcriiiteii.loiit. havln;; pr.'viouslv scrvc'l voiir
l)(piirt.ii..ii( inHl the Fisli Coimnission as an assislant, first at \I-
l.'iitowu and tlicii at ]5.-llefont<., for a jierio,! of t^^ o ,,;ivs n,.,| a liivJf
When I tool; charir.. of the hatchory (!„• trout frv for 1!MU ha,!
all been shji.ped and tl„. trou-hs ..Tupty. !u f!,o nurs-rv i)„nds at-
tach.'d to tlir house then- were about 21.(1(10 frv ,vlii.-]i ha<l been ro-
S(>rve(l lor bree<liu- purjioses. boll, foi- this liatHierv and the W.ivne
eounty hatelHTv. Tn addition to the eh.yen unrs,.rv ,,on,ls jusl
spol;en of. tlu.re was one lar^e pond l>etw<.en th,. hat.hitu'- houw
a..d the spnnsr 1.,0 foot lonj: and 10 feet wid,-. and a parti.Vllv ron.-
pleled pond a liKle below the hatehiu- house and a little to tin. I,.ft
1.,t feet lon^r and 40 feet wide. I in.u,..diatelv beuan the eomplefion"
of this pond and then beli,.vinjr it too larse. divided it into four
ponds, earl, 77 feet lon^^ and L- feet wide. Fron, tin,e to tin,e
huilt other breeder and fry p.in.l*.. until at tin- elose of the rear there
was a total of 1,« ponds, five of whi.-h n,ay only be ealh.! ten.porarv
a.thou,.], tliey ean be used for an indefinite p..ri..d of time. I, addi^
don to tlie e,^d.t..en nientione,!. (here are the nurserv ponds whir,
re ar,'e enough at a pineh to earry breeder fish in ^^',11 number

mt'd:';;rr„"'ty:nir.'"''^ " •'^•■""" """' -^ "-'"^^ "^ *'"■ '^-^'"^^-'te

The nur,sery ponds are fitted out with antomatie feeders so that

'rs The tn!.' " ;■'"'-' ""'"'''"'^ -onstantly by the aulon.atie
.l.irs. The freneral ,.on.ls are eoe.struet.Ml of .oncrete and the walls
of ten Imv,. eouerete sides and ends and o.e has two end. .and He
others have ea.-tln.n si.ies with eith..r .on.rete or board ends

rJ!'7%7 T'" • ,"'"'" T"'"'' "* *^"' '•'""'■ "f t'"' ^•'^^"' «-«2n breeder
(.si, <.(,.0 of whieh are brool; trout and 1.000 Paliforuia trout Tn

..dd>t,on there are over 12.000 finirnrlin-.-^ Indd for b.e.di.u/purpo.e"

es^s nexr;;ii '"' • "" ""■ '"'"''^ ''■■■'' ^"""'" >■'"'' =• --1 "'-P "f

Resides the brook (rout, there ar<. Cr, plain and fantail irold fish
wine , should breed next snnuner. Had it not been for the fa • tint
T bad no established pond nnlil anliinn, lh..v would have I red I- sf
\nf:nst. .Xmon^r the fish at th.. haleherv when T tooK ehar< e tin re

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No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

83

were 1,000 Atlantic salmon fry, but these, together with 3,000 fin-
gerling trout, were shipped on your order in September to tlie
Wayne County Hatchery to assist in stocking the ponds in that place
with breeding fish.

When I took charge the only completed pond and the hatching
house were supplied from the hatchery and Sugard springs, and the
four ponds which I completed below the hatching house as well as
the five temporary ponds are to be supplied from that source, also
• the eleven nursery ponds. A small spring near the house I utilized
for the gold fish pond.

I opened and developed a large spring in a swampy piece of ground
above the hatching spring and built around it an o^'togonal cement
wall. The waters from this spring I used to supply threc^ i)()unds.
The remaining ponds receive their suyiply from the raceway h^ased
from S. H. Hoy, running from Logan Branch Run.

Wliile on the question of water supply for the hatcherv, I would
respectfully urge you to take the earliest oi)portunity of increasing
it from the Logan Branch Run tlirough the raceway, and if possible
from one of the springs above the head of the raceway. Although
there is usually an abundant supply of water from the hatchery
spring and the Siigard spring, there are times when both are insuffi-
cient. This was the case last fall. Everywhere springs fell off. At
one time the water supply became so low from the hatcherv spring
that I was forced to remove the large trout from the pond between
the hatching house and spring and utilize all the water in the hatch-
ery. In fact, even at the present time, there should be more water
flowing through the troughs than is available.

The twelve thousand fingerlings now in the ponds will next fall
need additional quarters. Owing to the shortage of the water sup-
ply, I lost at least one million trcut eggs this fall, the most of which
would undoubtedly have hatched had it not been for the reason I
have given. Since th(m I have experienced a shortage of water with
a resultant loss of at least three hundred thousand trout frv, nearly
all during the sac stage. There is water enough in Logan Branch
Run and in the springs above to run half a dozen hatcheries of the
capacity of Belief onte, and with the raceway, which vou with great
foresight leased from Mr. Hoy, in full operation, there will be abund-
ant water for all our needs.

Most of the time during the summer months was naturallv devoted
to the building of ponds, but whenever I had a little spare time T
devoted it to beautify the place. In around the group of ponds
between the hatching house and the railroad I seeded with grass
and planted with trees presented to the hatchery by Mr. John Fisher,
of Bellefonte, or taken from other parts of the propertv. I also
j)lanted along the front and side of the dwelling house and sodded
it. I built a new fence around the barnyard. Also raised the stable
a foot and equipped it with stalls for horses and cemented the walls.
I concreted the cellar of the house and concreted the floor. I also
built a shed for the storaj'e of wagons and shipping cans. I also
ran a water pipe froin the house to the spring and made a number
of other minor improvenu nts.

I regret to say that seven shipping cans wrc^ not returned bv the
people who received them with fish and all efforts to frof them'back
have failed. I also completed the car barn. The car was returned

84

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

to the l)arn from Corry in December, it haviiijr been employed during
the sninmer in convejins fisli from the Corrv Hatchery to the
World s Fair in St. Louis, and in taking fish from the Erie and Corrv
Hatcheries to the Hatchery in Wayne connty. It was returned to
the barn in -ood condition. There were several tanks missinj? from
the car, bnt my brother William Duller, Superintendent of the Corry
station, told me that with your permission he had retained them
at his hatchery for the purpose of usinj- them for holdinj? ripe trout
or the Qcrcrs which were ready to be taken. '

The Hatchery at Bellefonte has proved to be a source of j^reat
attraction to the people living? in the neio^hborhood. The railroad
station on the hatchery grounds and the fine highwav leading to
Kellefonte have afforded fine opportunities for scores of people to
satisfy their curiosity to visit the hatchery. From the first dav of
May until the close of the season, 2,792 people registered, and that
IS probably less than one-half the number who have actually been
to the hatchery within the period named, for manv came to the
grounds without signing the visitors book. While bv far the <-reater
number of visitors were Pennsylvanians. there were manv from
other states. There was one from Tokio, Japan, two from Russia
one from Dawson City, Klondike, and one from London, England'
Some from other states named as residences of the visitors were
Indiana, uhio, Hlinois, New York, California. Texas, New Jersey
^rl ^i'"!^^^^^^- ^t is safe to say that at least 5,000 people have
yisited the Bellefonte Hatchery during the last six months. It is
noteworthy that as the hatchery has developed bv the increase of
the number of ponds and breeding fish and as it becomes better
known the number of visitors have increased.

On the 10th of November, Governor Samuel W. Pennvpacker with
Mrs. rennypacker, paid an official visit to the hatchery with yourself
and Fishery Commissioner Charles L. Miller, of Altoona Tho Gov-
ernor inspected the hatchery minutely and was shown the process
of taking and fertilizing trout eg-s, filling the travs and placing
the eggs in (he troughs. In fact the whole process of the early
m^'^'^'ti^ n ^''^^"^^^- ^'"^l"^"^^^- the cleaning of the eggs was shown
him. The Governor expressed himself as woll pleased with the con-
dition of the hatchery and dined in the hatchery dwelliiirr

About the 1st of October I was notified by vou that the Penn
I^orest Brook Trout Company had presented its surplus eggs to the
Department of Fisheries and that the bulk of them would be sent
to the Bellefonte Hatchery, and that Mr. John P. Creveling my
predecessor in the superintendency, would take the eggs and ship
them over. I began taking eg-s from my own fish about October
17th, and secured m all about 700.000. The Penn Forest eggs began
to arrive on the 14th of November and the boxes arrived in rapid
succession, until when the last shipment was made there was re
cen^d from Penn Forest about .^180,000 eggs. The eggs from the
^rnono'^'"^''^''^^/^" ^''^^^ shipment spoiled on the lourney, about

S 700 OOo'f ' "^ T ?• /^^'" ''''' ''""'''''''^ ^^^' ''^'^'^ ^ith about
.^,700,000 eggs. T lost a number of eggs through the failure of the

water supply, but all the loss was not due to that cause as a large

percentage was due to the transporting of green eg-s There is

always a considerable loss in such eggs

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to llie hai-n from Coivy iii D(M'omI»(M% il havii.o- ^.^n omi^loved (liin'nff

!'' r[;"'!'^-T ''' '■<>'• vf\vin- fish from flio Corrv Hatelio'rv to the
\N orld 8 Pair m Sf. Louis, and la takino fish from the Erio and Oorrv
ITatrlierios to tho llalr-hory in Wayne eoniitv. Tt wa« returned to

he barn m -ood condition. TheK^ were s- veral tanks missin- from
f h(^ ear, hnt my brolluM- William Biilh^, Sni)erintend(mt of the Oorrv
Mation, told me that witli your ].ermission lie liad i-etained them
;H his hatchery for the jmrpose of nsin- them for lioldin- riT)e front
(»!• the eno-s whicli were ready to be taken.

Tho TT;!tc]i(>ry at Bellcfonte lias ]>]'ovct] to b(^ a sonrce of .-reat
aHrnction to the peonle livinnr in th(^ neiohborhood. Tlie raiFroad
"^y^V'T T y^'^ ^i^'tcliery -rounds and the fine hi-liwav leadin- to
I.eilefonte l.avr airordcHl fino 0])])ortnnities for scores of ])eo])le to
satisfy thew curiosity to visit the hatcherv. From the first dav of
May nntil tl.e close of tlie season. 2.792 people re-istereri, and that
IS probably loss than one-half the number who have actuallv been
to the hatchery within the ])eriod namc^i. f(,r manv came to the
ti-rounds without si-ninn: tho visitors book. While bv far the ^n-eater
nnmbei' of visitors were Pennsylvanians. there were manv from
other states. Th.ere was one fmm Tokio, JaiMin, two from Knssia
on(^ from Dawson City. Klondike, and one from London. En-land'
Some from other scales named as ivsulences of the visitors were
T.Miiaiia, Ohio. Illinois, \ew York. Oalifornia. Texas \ew Jersev
and Tennessee Tt is safe to say that af least .1.001) people have
visited the nelh^fonte natcherv durin- th-^ last six months. It is
not(>worthy that as the hatchery has devcdoned bv the increase of
the number of ponds and breedin- fish and as it becomes better
known the number of visitors have increased.

On the lOfii of ::ovember. Governor Samne'l W. Pennvnacker with
Mrs. I ennvpacker. paid an official visit to the hatcherv with vours(df
and Fishery (Mmmissioner Pharhs L. Miller, of Altoona The Oov-
ei'Tior inspected th(^ hatchery minutely and was shown the process
of takin- and fertili/mo- trout epos. finiTi<r t],,. travs and placino-
the eo-.s Hi the trou-hs. In fact the whole process of the earlv
sta-es of the hatchino, iuclu.iino- th(^ cleanin- of the e-.s was shown
him. Fhe Covornor ex]»ress(wl bi,ns(Of as well pleased with the eon-
(lifion of fh,. hatchery and dined in the hatchcTv dwelli-n.

About fhe 1st of October I was notified bv von that the Penn
Fores P.rook Trout Tompanv had presented its surj^lus e--s to the

o '11' p'n f r-^^l':'-^-? '''''^ '^'^' ^^''' ^'^'^^^ ^^ ^^^^^"' woulTbe sent
to the P.ellefonte ITalcherv. and that Mr. John P. Prevrdin- mv

predecessor in the superintendencv. would take the o-os and" ship

them over. I be-an takin.- e-,rs from my own fish about October

1 rth, and secured in all about 700.000. The Penn Forest e--s beo-an

to arrive on the 14th of November and the boxes arrivedhi rapid

succession, until ^^^,eu the last shipment was made there wa^^re-

ceived from Penn Forest about .'l.L^O.OOO er..«. The ec,.s from the

fir tsdnpnnmt and the last shipmcmt spoiled on the joiirnev, abo t

.?,d 0.000 (^<:ffs. T lost a nipuber of o<r.^ throuirh the failure of the
wnter supplv. but all the loss was not due to that cause as a lar'e
perc(.ntao;e was due to the trans])ortin- of oroen e--s Therein
always a considerable loss in such oirirs. ^^ • • im m is

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

85

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The eggs began hatching in forty-five days. Most of them hatched
in that time and none exceeded fifty days. The temperature of the
spring water is admirably adapted for tlie hatching of trout. Tlie
temperature is an e.en 50 degrees all the year round, and the sum-
mer temperature of the Logan Branch Kun is the same, while the
winter temperature is so little below that of the summer that it
requires the very coldest weather to freeze a scum of ice, and nothing
better can be said of the ponds supplied from the spring excepting
that the freezing is confined to the lower ends. Aftc subtracting
the eggs which were lost and thu small fish which died at the end of
the year, I have about two million trout in the troughs and nursery
ponds ready for distributing in the spring.

I have been bothered a great deal by kingfishers and house rats,
these two enemies of the fish hatcheries fairly swarming around
the place. It seems to me that all the kingfishers for miles around
gathered about the hatchery. 1 have killed as many as four and
five kingfishers in one day. 1 know of few birds in this neighbor-
hood that are as destructive to the small trout as the kingfisher.
A good healthy kingfisher will certainly gi^t away with at least 100
trout in a day. Taking his size into consideration he can do more
damage in a hatchery pond tiian a crane. He is onlv matched in
my experience at other hatcheries by the night heron. ' The bittern,
hfi-ons and cranes are scarce here as 1 have scarcelv seen one-half
dozen of tluse birds since I liave had charge of the hatchery. The
house rat has caused me a great deal of trouble. Tlwy seek the
ponds and have caught a great many fish. Few people realize what
expert fishermen the house rats are.' They have sought the hatchery
grounds in such numbers that in one day We caught twentv in traps
Altogether v>e liave caught in the neighborljoed of one hundred!
Fortunately I have been able to keep the pests from the trout eg«»s'
of wiiich they are passionately fontl. Mr. Creveling informed^ue
that while he was superintendent at the hatcherv at Allentown he
lost large numbers of brov. 11 trout, some California trout and a few-
brook trout through the lightning. J am sorrv to sav that I have
lost quite a number of biook trout from the hatchery from the same
cause. During one storm I lost 37, anl during another an even
two dozen. On each occasion it was the largest trout which were
killed, and most of tlicse were females, and in none of the storms
did the ightning strike the water.

On one occasion the lightning, which killed the fish, struck a tree
on a hill about four hundred yards from the hatcherv. I do not
know where the lightning struck on the other occiision, but it was I
believe still further away. The fish that were killed were all fish
that wer^ resting on the bottom or near the bottom, and few of tliese
were killed outright. They seemed to be stunned or paralvzed
Some died within an hour, and some lived nearlv a we(dv. Sonu> of
tlKMu would lie on their sides, swimming irreguhirlv in thnt manner
while others would lie molionlcss or nearlv so on the bottoie. I
believe you gave a good exjilanation of the causes of bciiio- killed
by lightning m one of the annual reports of the Fish Oommission
I think about ISOS. If I remember lightlv vou said then tliat iii
the cases wlare the fish were struck, the fish were near a stone or
touching a si one at the moment the lightning struck the o-ronnd
near the pond and tlien comi)leted the circuit and it was for that

'A

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No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF EISHERIES.

85

Tho eggs began hatching in foitv-five d

in that time an(i none exccMMhcl til'tv d

ad

lys. Most of them hatelied

lys. The tenipciatnic of th(

pnng vvalcr is admirably adai)t('d for (he hatchinu- ot

tcmperatui-e is an e,(>ii :,{) devices all tl

ll'OU

Th(

mer temiK'iaiure of tlic Logan IJianch Hi

n* year round, and the sum-

winter temperature is so little below lliat of the

in is the same, while the

requires the very coldest weather to free

sumnnu' iliat it

better can be said of the ponds supplied from the spr

tliat the freezing is confined t

ze a scum of ice, and nothing

ing excepting

c eggs wliich were lost and (he small lish which died at il

th

the year, 1 have about two million li-out in tl

l)onds ready for distributing in. the ^jiring.

o liic lower ends. Aftc' subtract!

ni

ic v\\i\ of
le troughs and nm-serv

th

I have been bothered a great deal b

y kinglishercs and hous<^ rats,

ese two enemies of (he iish halcheries faiilv swari

the place, li seems to ine that all the 1>

ning around

athereil about the hatcheiN. I have killed

inglishers for miles around

live kinghshers in one da v. i ki

as manv as foui' ami

hood that are as destructive lo tl

i<»w of few !)iid.< in t'lis neighbor

K' siaall (r(nit as i\\it kiuiifisher

A good healthy kinglisher will •.•( rtainly get av.av with at I

trout in a da\

1 <

ikini: his si;

damage in a hatchejv \am\A tiia

east KM)
inio consi. aeration he can do more

n

cjane. He is oniv matched

my ex])erience at other hatchei ies by the night heron. The bitt

in

herc»n> and (i;ua
dozen of i Ik c<e

[i-e siai'-e here as I ha\e scarcelv seen

i'rn.
one-Jialf

oirus sinre I l.a.c ha;i charge of thr hatcherv. The
house rat has (aus<'(i me a ,;rcai de;J of n-ouble. They seek the
ponds and ha\e caught a great many fish. Fev. jM-opic realize what
exj>ert tishermen the house rais are. Th

grouncis in such numbers {\\;\\ in one dav \

ey navr sought the hatcherv

\'e (•

Alt

ogetlM-r we iiavi- cr.ughl in i!ie neiuiiberhoed ol

ugiit twenty in traps.

one

Fortunately i have be(Ui able lo keep I he p<'sis from the t

of whi

that while 1

ch they are passioisatelv frmd. Mr. I'rexili

hundred.

rout eggs,

iig inf<unied mr

n

Aas ^;uperinten'h'ni at ;li<' hatcherv at Aljcni

some Califiunia troiit an<l a f

lost lariic numbers of bro\vn I rout
brook ti-oui throauli (jic light nlnj.-
lost quite a numbei' of iuook trout from (lie h.atcherv f

own Ue

ew

i am s(u-ry to say that I have

cause. During one sior;n ! lost :{?. an I rn,i;,;: ;i,ioil
two dozen. (;ji eacji o;-casion it w
killed, and most o;

rom the same

cr an cmmi

iar'csl (!•<)

i i ' w

hich

ll:<se were fcMuales. and in none uf
did the ightning strike tin* water.

On one occasion the lightning, wideli killed ilie iisli. «t
on a hill abo ;i four hnndred yards fr(»m the liatchelv.
know wlicic I he lightning' struck on the oil

were

st oj-ms

I

a. tl

<'C

lo not

Ixdieve still further awa

Tl

that

'.•' tish thai w 'i-e !;i!h'd

ler (K-e.ision. I ,ii ji vas I

wer.' resting on tlu' bottom or near the botto

'r<' all lish'

were kilhwl outright. Tlnw seemed to b
S<mie (^ied within an hour, and soim^ lived
Ihem would li<' on t Ihmi' sid
while otln'is \voul;! li.- m(»!w>nr
b(d

111. auv]

iC X i

)f tl

H'se

c siunned or ])aralyzed.
nearly a week. Some of

< s. swinnnnur irreii

ulai I

> ill <ha! maiinei'

'ss or iK^arlv so (»n ili

i '<

leve you gave a go .d explanation of the can

t O i 1 1

I

by lii;hlnini.» in om' <d' il;e a

seis of In i-ii: kille<l

1 t

tl

milk aiiout 1>>!)S. If I icmemlxM li^^htlv \

inual re|»oi'(s of the I'^ish ( '.(niniission

le cases \v!m r<' the lish wt re sti

ou said tlien that i

n

in

touchiui;- a siop.e jit the in

i^, (he lish were m-ar a stone or

near the ]M)n<l and then coinpletetl tl

oment th<' lightning strm-k ll

IC L^romnl

H' circuit and it was for that

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INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

86

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

reason that the fish that were swimming free in the pond were un-
harmed. Under those circumstances it was not strange that the
greater number of the fish that Mr. Creveling lost in that manner
were brown trout, because that fish has a habit of resting on the
bottom of the pond, but brook trout when in full vigor never rest
on the bottom, but swim free. As I have noted, nearlv all those
which were killed by lightning during the fall were old fish, and
when brook trout reach a certain age, that is to say have passed
the prime of life, they become sluggish and follow the example of
the brown trout and rest quietly on the bottom.

I feel I should not close my report without some reference to the
young men who are employed on the hatchery. They are intelligent
active and painstaking young men who seem to be desirous of learn-
ing the business thoroughly. lu all the months they have been with
me, I have never had a complaint from any of them. No matter
how severe or long continued the work might be, I always found
them rea^y in every emergency which arose, to help me to the best
ot their ability. It happened on more than one occasion, when the
trout eggs arrived from Penn Forest, after these men had left for
their homes, they came back to the hatchery and worked far into
the night until all the eggs were safely placed in the trays or in
the troughs. One of them has so far advanced that in another six
months I think you would be justified in promoting him to the posi-
tion of first assistant, which position is at present vacant

I would suggest that before the spring work of the hatchery begins
that another horse be purchased. No doubt vou have noticed from
the vouchers I have rendered you that I have'freiiuentlv had to hire
extra teams. An additional horse would pav for himself before the
summer is over. In view of the number of i>oiids which must be
built in lUOo, to accommodate the large number of trout which are
accumulating for breeding purposes, another horse would pay for
himself before the summer has fairly begun. Besides, the additional
horse would certainly save the employment of one man, at least
through he summer, and oftentimes two. I take pleasure in sub-
mitting the above report.

Resi)ectfully,

HOWARD M.BULLER,

Superintendent.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

87

REPORT OF ERIE STATION FROM JUNE 1, 1903,

TO JUNE 1, 1904.

A. G. BULLER, SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Department of Fisheries:

Gentlemen: I beg to submit this my annual report, beginning
June ist, 11)03. The species of fish distributed from this Station
were as follows: Yellow perch, black bass, sunfish, whitefish, her-
ring, wall-eyed pike and blue pike. In many respects the work has
been an improvement over the previous year, owing to the ponds
being in continual use during the season. The value of having the
ponds on the hatchery grounds has been proved. This has been the
first season we have distributed finger ling yellow perch from our
own hatching. I find better results are obtained by holding the
fish until thev are several months old.

I have distributed 33,300 fingerlings during the months of July
and August. 1 have also used the ponds to hold small black bass
until they become of sufficient size to distribute in September and
October.

There were 5,000 healthy young bass taken from the pond, run-
ning in size from three to three and one-half inches, and planted in
suitable waters.

After this work was completed, I began to make improvements
around the hatchery. I gave the one side of building two coats of
paint, also painted the batteries and fry tanks, placing new faucets
in batteries, and other small necessary improvements towards get-
ting the house in proper shape to receive whitefish and herring egge.

From November 17th until December (>th I received 40,280,000
white fish eggs.

The arrangements for collecting the eggs were the same as tlu*
previous year, and the ova were of a good (]uality. I was able to
secure 11,300,000 herring eggs from the boats fishing out of Erie.
After receiving these eggs I had then filled all the jars that were in
the hatchery. The batteries as they now are will hold 488 jars; the
number of jars on hand are 380. It is iniporlant that the number
to complete the batteries be installed.

During the months of January and February, I made fifteen v*r<!^
cases, to be used in transporting eggs from spawning grounds to
the hatchery. The cases were made on the same plan as those used
by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. The eggs are received in better
condition than when shipped in cases: I Imve been wanting to ad()]>t
this plan for some time, and the Commission have given permission
to do so, as it is of great importance to the Department. I feel it
will materially add to our work.

The whitefish and herring eggs began to hatch on the 14th day of

88

REPORT OF THE

Off. Uoc.

March. The bay at that time was covered with ice, preventinL' our
fe'cKiii),' out with a boat. We (oolv tlie iish cans on sk'ds some dis-
tauce out on the lake and planted the try through the ice. By March
the 22d the ice had left the bay, we were then able to i)lant the bal-
ance by taking them out with a tug. The total number of whitelish
planted was 39,200,000 and 5,000,000 herring.

Karly in the fall I was instructed by Mr. Jleehan to collect the dif-
ferent specie* of lake fish for the flsh exhibit at St. Louis

A three hundred foot seine was purchased, to be used for catching
the hsh. A\ e made several efforts to secure them, but were not suc-
cessful, as at that season of the year the weeds prevent usin"- the
seine, so we decided to defer tiie work until spring. As soon as
the bay was free of ice in the spring we again took up the work

1 wish to speak here of the excellent service my assistant Thilip

H Hartman has rendered the Department. He is familiar with the

ake and knows where the different species can be found. He gives

ofVis servfce"''"""" ^° "'°'''' ""^ ''" "'"'''"' ''"'^ ^ appreciate the ntlue
The sutlicient number of fish were secured and sent to the hatchery

at Corry, where they were retained until needed at St. Louis.

ihe last of ISovember I noticed an article in the Fishing Gazette

stating th(. Co-operative Fish Co. of Dunkirk, N. Y. weit making

larger catches of lake trout. Knowing the I>epartment of Fisheries

with mT Gu,rt .m'* h""^ """' *'•""* ^■-^' ' ■'' ^"'^'^ communicated
«..!w„ T H ) *" uianager, and learned I could secure the

bpax n. I then informed Mr. Meehan who instructed me to secure

lectiag the eggs, ^^•l,lch were sent to l,he Corry hatchery The
amount collected was 1,300,000. Owing to the continued hi'^ winds

spawn ng. Had the weather been more favorable we would have
b.-en able to secure a larger amount of eggs, as there were spawitng
flsh among those caught. This is our first season for coUec'tb^rS
trout eggs, and we feel encouraged with what has been done "

Iho fishermen were very enthusiastic over the interest the De-
partmen was taking, and expressed their willingness to do ^11
they could to assist us, as they feel that ia time it will benefit then

On April l!)th the first wall-eyed pike eggs were r«.e"ve 1 T u^

spawn was c.Ue.te;] by th,. M. S. Fish Commission, at To edoO

Ihe arrangem..nts being the same as in previous years The t^tnl

amount received was :55.000,0(iO. The ..ases which I h,t,^ niade dS

he winter, w.ne used for the first time in transporting these e-s

y^siU'i Ihe size of the cases is twenty inches sriu ire Each r s
contains eighteen trays <overed with heavy canton I'mn.d llout
two .marts of eggs are spr..ad evenly on ea.-h trav. Th ''toi, trn
the case contains a s„m..i,.nt amount of .-rushed- i,-,- which' n, Us
gradually keeping th,. eggs in a moist condition until th.-v e .0 t ,
hatch., y Kggs are not as apt to smother .arrie.l in this wa Of

s-uitabirilr; In'St'ate:"'" '''''' ""' '''' '""""*- •"^''•'•""^-' '"
In May I filled one of the ponds with yellow i...,-ch ready to snawn
The fish were wat.hed closely and as soon as' eggs wc-re deSd

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

89

they were removed to another pond, which had previously been
supplied with branches upon which (he e<j;gs clun^ until hatfhod.
The fry have a healthy and strong appearance. They will be re-
tained in the pond until fall, by thiit lime they wilTbe advanced
sufficiently in size to distribute.

I take pleasure in referring to the large amount of tadpoles J now
haN-e in one of the ponds. This is the first season I have undertaken
to hatch frogs. I feel very well satisfied with the results. Until
the tadpoles become frogs they take dead food readily. I feed them
principally on dead fish, it is quite interesting to watch their
habits. When first hatched they feed upon the mass of apparent
gelatine substance which surrounds the eggs. When that is gone,
they separate and look for other food. A minute after food is given
to them it will be entirely covered with the little fellows, feeding
upon it. They have attracted unusual attention to the Station.

On May Dtli, the fishermen at Erie began to take blue pike eags.
The catch of blue pike was \ery light this year, during the spawning
season. Consequently few boats were fishing. We were onlv able
to secure 3,000,000 eggs.

An unusual noticeable feature was the large amount of ripe male
fish in the catch, and very few females. As a rule it is a hard mat-
ter to secure a suiiicient number of ripe male fish to fertilize (he
eggs. Out of the three million eggs taken, two million v/ere hatchf^ i
and planted in Lake Erie.

Mr. Meehan requested me to hold a few whitefish fry to be t^ent
to St. Louis. After shipping there were about one hundr(>d left in
the tank, which I placed in a pond about the first of Mav. Thev
were then about five weeks old. There was little change in tiieir
growth from the time they were hatched, they are now about nine
weeks old and measure from one to one and one-half inches in len< I h

It is my true belief that if a portion of the whitefish hatched vrere
retained m sufficiently lar-e ponds until fall, it would pav the De-
partment to care for them until that time, as thev would be of suffi-
cient size to better care for themselves, and [ am positive tint in
a very short time the catch of white fish would be greatly increased
To begin this work it would be necess.'lrv to have more space as
It would require several large ponds. The fishermen feed it would be
to the general interest if a portion of the frv could be so retained
until they become a larger size. The fry are of immature size h;it
as yet there has been no other way provided for their care and we
are compelled to plant them as soon as hatched.

I should like to sjjeak of the sturgeon wliidi is one of the i-.^st
valuable fish on the nmrket. The amount of sturg(M)n cau-iii is
diminishing (Mich year. I have made repealed ell'orls to secure ei;s
but have failed, as it ln!.s been impossible (o obtain ripe male and
female at the same time.

A remarkable incident occurred a short time aj'o at A. Hooth iV:
(^o.'s Iish house Avhich gives one an idea of the viialitv of the stur-
geon. A sturgeon twenty inches in len-th had beeii can-ht in -i
gill net, remaining in center of large box of whitefish. S^niMiosed
to have been d(Mid before being placed in box. Pi(»bablv seven houis
Inter while lying on the fish house lloor. Mv. Spran, the foreman no-
ticed there was life in the li.sh. He put tlie stnr.^-von in tank with
running water and later gave it to me, a rinived strong fish which
I sent to Corry to be placed in pond. '

90

REPORT OF THE

Off. Etoc.

The register which has been phiced in the hatchery but a short
time ago, contains three hundred names. There were many who
were indifferent about the matter, and did not register, but it has
been generally approved. The building is in good condition, but
the fence on the north and west side of grounds is badly in need of
repair. I hope thi^ report will meet with your approval'.

Very respectfully,

A. G. BULLER,
Superintendent.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

91

WALL EYED PIKE FRY DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE

1, 1904.

lyo-i.

May IG,
May 13.
May J3,

May 14,
May 14.
May 14,
May 14.
May 14,
May 14.
May 14,
May 16,
May 17,
May 17,
May 17.
May 17,
May 17,
May 17,
May 17,
May IS.
May 18,
May 18.
May IS.
May 17,
May 17,
May 12,
May 13,
May 12,
May 12,
May 12,
May 12,
May 12,
May 16,
May IG,
May 16,
May 16,
May 16,
May 16,
May 10,
May 16.
May 16,
May 16,
May 16,
May 12,
May 14,
May IS,
May 18,
May 18.
May 18.
May 18,
May IS,
May 14,
May 14,
May 14.
May 14,
May 14,
May 14,
May 18,
May 18,
May 14,
May IS,
May IS,
May IS,
May 18,
May IS,
May IS.
May IS,
May is.
May is,
May 18,
May 17,

P. Donelley.

John Keister

J. S. Matson. Supt.
L. E. Railroad.

Robt. Humes

Miles Crosley

Wm. Balrd

F. M. Siggins

J. H. Dickson,

VVm. Heclt!ey

Theo. Moyer

L. A. Fleck.

John Kirk

J. W. Gross

A. Fletcher.

G. W. Devue

E. G. Brandt.

Ed. V. Leeds.

J. Li. Grove

John Pettigrew

J. A. Anderson

Gus E. Evans.

James McCrea

A. J. Fore

A. V. Kelly.

W. H. Myers, P.
H. F. IM.kton. .
M. Z. Sleinlnyer,
V. S. Ritter. ....
J. F. Stetler. ....
(}. M. Shindle, ..
Thos. Rathfon. ..
G. C. Howell. ...
H. F. Esterbruoli
Wm. Main,

B. &

R. R. Co.

R. H. Rose. ....
A. B. Burns. ...
G. N. Watrases.
N. A. Warner, .
David Gardner.
Geo. VVo(idruf. .

Wm. Bouk

A. Bastriek. ...

A. G. OrPiff

F. Miller.

W. Lovvry

G. W. Rocss. ...
Jac. Saltznian. .

B. C. Simp.son. .
P. D. McCrea. .

Snndgrass. ..
S. Strong. . . .

E. Ent;lish. .

Groat.

Griiat

Vainarsdale.

Biackmore
A. Fue'.lhnrt.
Ij. Dunn, ...

F. Bowman.
W. Smutz. .
H. Tarner, .
W. Phugert.

A. Slddins, ..

F.

J.

J.

E.

M.

R.

S.

II.

R.

G.

R.

W.

N.

G.

A.

A.

J.

I..

W.

Ander.snn.

J. Brown. ..,

I{. Binder

J. Gibb

W. Kember.

Jno. Khonlv

H(.n. J. A. Dale.
Ek-'pt. of Fishery

Cannelton, Butler county

Keister, Butler county

Conneaut Lalie. Crawford county.*!/,!!

Cambridge Springs. Crawford county

P^^i^K^'fl?^^ f^''^"^^- Crawford county!!

Cambridge Sprmgs, Crawford county,.

MeadviUe, Crawford cunty

Meadville, Crawford county

Meadvilie, Crawford county'

Meadville, Crawford county,

Little Cooley. Crawford coiintv

New Cumberland, Cumberland county'

Harnsburg. Dauphin county

Steelton, Dauphin county

Steelton, Dauphin county! .!!

Steelton, Dauphin county

Steelton, Dauphin county! !!!!

Steelton, Dauphin county

Hickory, Forest county

Hickory, Forest county

Hickory. Forest county

Tionesta, Forest county .

Burnt Cabins. P\]lton county

Burnt Cabins. Fiiiton count"

Willlamsport.' Lycoftiing' county

bnaron. Mercer county

Middleburg. Snyder county

Middleburg. Snyder county

Middleburg. Snyder county

Middleburg. Snyder county

Paxtonville. Snyder county

Nevv Milford. Susquehanna" counVy

Hartord. Susquehanna county

bl ver Lake. Susquehanna county

Silver Lake. Sus<iuehanna county

Montrose. Susquehanna county

Montrose. Susquehanna county

Montrose. Susquehanna county

Mon rose. Susquehanna county

Montrose. Susquehanna county

Montrose. Susquehanna county

Montrose Su.squehanna county

Milton, Union county

-?.'■* City, Venango county."!

r n\l^' !j:«'"''^"fe'o county. .....!!!!!!;•■;

u c ty, Venango county

Ul C ty, Venango county

Oil City, Venango county .

Eagle Rock. Venango county

President. Venango county. .'..!

Kinzua, Warren county.'.!...!!!!!

Kinzua. Warren county'

Kinzua. Warren county! !!!!!!!!

Kinzua. Warren county! ■•

Kinzua. Warren county' .

Kinzua. Warren (ounty! !!!!!!

Tidioute. Warren county, ..!!!!!

Tidiiute, Warren cuunty! !!!

Tidioute, Warren county, !!

Tidioute, Warren countv!

Tidiciute, Warren count!v' !

Tidioute, Warren county-

Tidioute, Warren county.

Tidioute. Warren county. ..

Tidioute. Warren county! ..!!

Tidioute. Warren countv

Tidioute. Warren countv,
Tidi(tute, Warren countv.
Tidioute. Warren lounty.
York. Y.rk county

Lake Erie.

Total.

75,000

15.000

165,000

30,000
30.000
60.000
30.000
30.000
30.000
30.000
30,000
350,000
120,000
15,01)0
15,0CO
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
30,OCO
15,0<.0
15,000
4l 0,000
65,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
15.000
65.000
30.000
15.000
45.000
15.000
15.000
15.000
15.000
15.000
15,000
l.j,000
120. 0O<)
65.000
30.000
3o, 000
30,000
30. 000
30.000
30,000
30,000
."M.OOO
SO.OOi)
30.000
30,000
30,00<)
15,0'10
15,000
15,000
15.000
15.000
15.000
15,000
15.0i,i0
15.W10
15.000
15.000
15.000
15.WI0
l."0.0"»(>
23,810, 00»>

26.660.000

92

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

WALL-EYED PIKE PLANTED IN LAKE ERIE FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO

JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

1904.

Place.

May, Planted in J^ako Erie,

Number.

23,810.000

WHITE FISH FRY PLANTED IN LAKE ERIE FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE

1, 1904.

Date.

1904.
March,

Place.

Number.

Planted in I^ake Kiie,

39,200,000

LAKE HERRING PLANTED IN LAKE ERIE FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE

1, 1904.

Date.

1904.
March,

Place.

Plant< tl ill Lake ICiit

Number.

5.600,000

YELLOW PERCH FINGEKLINGS DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903 TO

JUNE 1, 1904.

Date.

1003.
.Tuly 14,
•luly 14,
.luly 14,
.Tuly 14,
July 14,
.Tuly 14,
July 2;!,
July 14,
Oct. 1,
July 14,
July 14,
July Vi.
July IX.
July V.i.
July i:3.
July 13.
July 22,
July l::.
July 13,
.luly l:{.
July i:;.
July 27.
July 27.
July 27,
July 25,
July 23.
July 27.

Name

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped.

MoFGN Haro \ Gettyf-buru:

('. W. ITiilizworth.

Wni. DeGroit.

J. 1j. Shea<ls

C. W. Myers. r.

Dr. II. Stewart

I'.ronilt^y Wharton,

Dr. S. K. Ualston

Fred. Ikeler

H. J. Hruckerhoff

W. It. I'^ntrikin.

J. 11. iJeiirdsley

A. H. Keinor

.Ji)S«'iili liiines

I). J.
W. ('.
H. K.
Thos.
M. K.
F. D.
J. E.
Frank
F. D.
l'\ VV.
James
Hon. ]
lUm. ]

Drisfoll. .,

ITanes

Culhertsi n
Hiovvn,
cr Ma Hoy.

M. G.iw .11,
White. ...
E. M.yl'-.
McGriwnM,
T?a!c!av ..
M. McKe(!

i. C. r IX.

i. ('. Cox,

GettysbuiK.
Gfttysbiir^:,
Gettysbuij;,
Gettysbur>4,
(JettysburR,

county,
county,
county,
county,
county,
county.

Total,

Adams
j\ilams
Adams
.\dains
Adams
Adams
Dristol, Bucks county,

/.elienople, P.utler county

IJIoomsburg, Columbia coiintv ...
LeesburpT. Cumberland couiit'v' ...
ShiijpensbuiK, Cumberland c.'.untv

St. Marys, Elk county

county

county

county

t ounty

county

Lackawanna
Lackawanna
Lackawanna
Lackawanna
Lackawanna
La<ka wanna
MoniHfUiiery
ew P.loomfleld. Perry" county
Wellsboro. 'I'ioga county. ....'.
Wellsboro, Tio^a county

St. Marys,

St. Marys.

St. Marys,

St. Marys,

Edinboro.

S(rant<m,

.Scianton,

.Scianton,

Scrauton,

Sci;inton,

Sv'ranton,

HavLrlfird.

Elk
Elk
I-: Ik
Elk
Erie

county.

eoiint.v,
■Hint.v
ount.v.

( Dunt.v.

count.v.
connly

1,000

1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,200
2,500
1,600
1,500

i,.noo

1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
2,000
2,000
2,000

33,300

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

H'd

BLACK BASS FINGERLINGS DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE

1, 1904.

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

1!»03.

Oct.

7.

July

2.5,

Sept.

H.

Oct.

1,

Sept.

14,

Sei)t.

14,

Sept.

14,

Sept.

14,

Sept.

14.

F. A. Seitz.

Bromley Wharton,
Bromley Wharton

Fred. Ikeler ,

D. Sharp

Geo. E. Minor. ...
A. K. Spurrier. ...
Gov. S. W. I'ennjpacker

Freeport. Armstrong county,
T?ristol, Bucks county ..

Bristol, Bucks county." .'.".■.

Bioomsburj?. Columbia county
Phoenixville. Chester county" '
^^ aynesburfe'^ Greene county'
Lancaster

ROM. M ^ Sn;^"''^^'''"'' ' «|hwenksvilfe^'M:SSon;.^y'^;.uuty:

• ^"y"^' I Holmesburg, Philadelphia county;

Total !

No shipped.

600
SCO
600
300

900
800
600

1,000
600

r,.cm

LARGE SUN FISH SHIPPED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1. 1904.

Date.

Name.

1904. '
April 15, Hiram Peoples.

Postoffice Address.

New Providence. Lancaster county.

No shipped.

ao

BLUE PIKE FRY PLANTED FROM JUNE 1, 1903, TO JUNE 1. 1904.

May 31, Planted in Lake Erie,

2,000,000

91

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF ERIE STATION FROM JUNE 1 TO

DECEMBER 31, 1904.

A. G. BULLEK, .SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Members of the Department of Fisheries:

Dear Sirs: Followiii<^' is my report from June 1st to December 1st,
1004. The number of fish distribnted during this time was 32,179,
namely, bhiek bass and yellow perch, also 31,900 tadpoles. I did
nut bej^in to ship the small bass until October. I find there is con-
siderable loss in holding; them any lenji^th of time, as I have stated
in my previous report. The loss is largely due to cannibalism.
The loss would naturally be greater in small ponds, as large ponds
will alTord better protection.

There were 11,700 baeis distributed to different parts of the State,
ranging in size from two to five inches in length.

It is interesting to watch them feed as they seem to have a con-
tinuous appetite, and learn to know those who are accustomed to
feeding them. One of the ponds was used for yellow perch fry
which were put in, in May and remained until the latter part of
September, ^hen I began shipping. The last distribution was on
November 4th.

I find there is less loss in retaining perch fry than there is with
bass fry; they take gi'ound fish quite readily, but do not require food
as often as the bass.

The number of i)erch fry shipped to different parts of the State
was 9,900, running in lenglli from 2 to 3| inches.

This is the first A-ear I have been successful in obtaining frog
spawn. The spawn was gathered on the 23d of A])ril in marsh
land on the opposite side of the bay. It being my first experience
with frog spawn, my estimate of the amount of egg was rather high,
for when I shipped the tadpoles in August I found the amount very
much less than I have estimated.

I placed as much spawn in the pond as I tli ought could be conve-
niently carried, but from my experience in the work I find I will
be able to place double the amount of spawn w^e carried this year in
the pond, and have the same good results, if we are successful in
obtaining spawn next spring.

Hatching the spawn and taking en re of tadpoles when hatched is
very sim])le and interesting. After they became frogs I placed
boards in the ponds for the little fellows to rest upon.' Also put
two-foot wide mosquito netting around the pond in order to prevent
their get ling away. After they became frogs they require live food,
}>i'inci])ally insects, I began to distribute in August, had in all 31,700.
From the large amount of applications I received from Mr. Meehan
to be filled, there is a large demand for frogs. I hope I will be suc-
cessful in oecuring a large quantity of eggs next spring.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

96

Mr. Meehan directed me to get by hook and line a number of
Wr4e TountT nitT ^^^--"V^P-^-^ if Po-ible, to'b: s'enT to the
filK^^ht /iL^^i /^ ^r ^'''^i°^ purposes. There were 345
mLnn K V ""^ ^^"^"^^ ^''^^ confiscated, which had been cauirht

Illegally by fishermen near Moorheadville. Fiftv fish of those cau-ht
by hook and line were planter! in a lake in SusquehLna ounty^

rhe usual amount of work was begun at the latcherv preparatorv
to receive whitefish and lake herring spawn. The first consignment

Vt ->o^ ember 19th. There was an extremelv severe blow wOiPn

dfepwatei Thorp Jnl'o^ " '''^f''"™ *''^ spawninff srounds into
of eJV Th»;^r eonseqnently some foar of a small amount

Port riintn % • " ''<^*"*'"''"^ previous seasons lias been collected a

taken at that point was small. Mr. S. W. DowninR, Sunt Put-in Bav
Station kindly made arranRement to give „s a ibe?-ii snnn^v of
both white fish and herring egfrs from his station There was an
unusual amount of ejvRs received this year. There were 4100 000
lake herrinses?r« taken from boats fishing oO' Erie Port On ™^^^^

to ^n^rZ: "^ "■*'" "^ ''''' " '"* "' ^'^•'^"•"- -^ ^"'"^ nble

41 680 000 HlTC"- "^ '^Y-'' ^""^ ""^"^ '••"""'^''''J ^-as 44,6.52.000, and
fl,i« ?„ V. ''u"''"^ mnkms; a jrrand total of 86.332,000 We feel

th^ has been a banner year for collectiuR eji^s

^JaV" t /"'!"'' ^"'^ '"'''■'^ Kettins the largo supplv of e-<'s I noti
field Mr. Meehan who instrncted me to fiTl the jars wo had in the

5 7ro'ono"r1 '1'^ ^^^ ^"'^"''•^- ^^■'"'''' ^•''« •'^•"!>« "00 white fish and
1. M 60,000 lake herrinff ejrRs to Torresdale Station to be hatched

there, and the fry to be returned to Lake Erie. Ho considered thi.

plan preferable to having the jars transferred o tw" s nHon as

they wil he needed for the spring hatching at Torresdale "'

should like to speak of the few white fish wo have been success-

ful in raising from last spring's hatching. T placed a sma nunXr

venie;t'"to"bo'7:od"''? ?'^ '"K^'r' ^'"'^ ^''"'«- ^'^ -" ponro;":
^enienr to bo usc'd. Later on T transferred the little fellows f,.

one of the^fry tanks in the hatcherv. whore thev 'til remain T

AS a rule fish will remain in the same place while feediu"' then,
nntil their hunger has been satisfied, but the wh tefish take th^
food gradually while moving around in the nomi «„ .
n^clied the length of six incires. TTthe "wl'^ n"^" urin.^ iuTla':;;
body of water they wonld natnrallv be lamer in size ' \s T M^o
stated hefor-e had wo a pond of sufficient size to hold the frv for
several months before planting them in the lake I feel no«Hive the
OSS would not be as great as when ,.lnntod as soon as bntchod nnd
the catch of whitefish would surolv be multinlied in a ew vears

T must not forget to .^ive my able assistant Phil TT Rartman credit

m.^seir fortunate in securing n trustwortliv man Tip minife^f*, n

z^:.:Tz:i.z:\:;,r''- -^-^ '^ '-"■-•« --iv an!/;.nii:?7;^d;^

hJ.lr''^ "■« n •loticonble interest taken bv the people of Erie in the
Imtchery this year as we have had numorouJ^ visitors Th^re are

96

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

070 uames registered and many call who do not care to register. Dur-
ing the summer mouths there are few callers, as it is generally known
work at the hatchery is quiet at that time. I will mention a few
repairs and changes needed at the hatchery. Tart of the fence en-
closing grounds needs repairing. The building and also the fence
should have a coat of paint.

We are also badly in need of more light in the hatchery. By
placing a window in Avest end of building the difficulty would be over-
come. 1 have spoken before of the lack of working space, and sug-
gested the removal of porch on st)uth side of building, which would
afford us ample space inside. 1 feel rather encouraged with the
work done at the hatchery this season, and hope my service has
proved satisfactory.

Respectfully,

A. G. BULLER,
Superintendent.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

97

DISTRIBUTION OF TADPOLES FROM JUNE 1, 1904, TO DECEMBER 31, 1904.

a.

9.
9.
30,

0,

1904.
Aug. 11,
Aug. 11,
Aug. 11,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31.
Aug. 31,
Sept. 9,
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug.
Aug. 30,
.\ug. 30,
Aug. SO,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,

Alio* OA

Aug. 30,
Aug. 30.
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30.
Aug. 30,
Aug. .30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 23,
Aug. 11,
Aug. 11,
Aug. 13,
Aug. 13,
Sept. 13,

Aug. 13,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 13.
Aug. 31.
Aug. 31.
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29,
Aug. 2.0.
Aug. 29,
Aug. 20,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29.
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 11.
Aug. 11.
Aug. 11.
Aug. 11,
Aug. n,
Aug. 11.
Aug. 11.
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29.
Aug. 29.

S. A. Hamilton

H. B. Aaron

J. S. Brown & Son.

J. M. Shappell,

R. W. McLcnegan

W. K. Shalter,^ . . .'

E, E. Squibb

C. A. Miller.

Robsonia Iron Co.. Ltd

Hon. Wm. P. Snycior. ....

E. H. Wachner

H. H. Stefton.

Cassius Smith

W. E. Smith,"

N. W. Eby

D. A. Boozer.

H. F. McManaway

W. S. Williams

H. J. Schuchart

O. J. Harm. ...'.,

J. H. Crandall

J. B. Yarnell

D. H. Meredith

H. E. Leathers

H. W. Faus

R; E. Kecle

»». A. Sickel.

J. W. Neff

A. S. Kech

R. E. Gilliland

S. N. Brown

E. Bartley

C. C. Bartges

W. C. Gramley.

S. Sowers. Jr

R. Katherman

W. Smith.

John Smith

V.'. E. Ream

T. M. Granley

J. P. Osman

S. Ward Gramley

C. W. Brown

J. K. Light

D. v. Spangler.

C. B. Chidester, M. D

Daniel Widler

Carl M. Gage. Gen. Mgr. H.

& B. T. R. R.

W. S. Opp

J. L. Miller.

Mrs. A. B. Koons ,

W. A. Everltt

Mrs. Ann Soaife

Pittston Ice Co

C. B. Johnson

Megargee Bros

F. E. Boyle, . .'

H. Kennedy

M. E. O'Malljy

Morgan Lewis

Thos. Brown

R. Robertson. ...

C. S. Lowerv.

J. r. Blatter

J. E. Whitp

W. C. Haupton

A. L. Cranmer

H. W. Kistler

W. r. Henrv.

A. F. Taylor

Geo. Fertig

Geo. P. Kepslor

Geo. W. Smith.' "

A. Walker

E. r. rianev

G. H. Koofer

F. Martin

M. K. Watklns

E. E. White

M. A. Marshall

L. Sr-hoek

Roaring Springs, Blair county

Loysburg. Bedlord countv '.

Loysburg, Bedford count V

Hamburg, Beri<s cninty. *

Reading, Berks county,

Reading. Berks county

Birdsboro, Berks county

Fleetwood. Berks county. .............

Fiobcsonia. Berks Ciunty

Spring City. Chester county .[...

Aieadville, Oawford county.

Meadville, Crawford countv

Meadville. Crawford countv

Cambridge Springs. Crawford county

Woodward. Centre county.

Centre Hall, Centre county.

Wolf's Store. Centre county

Martha Furnace. Centre countv

Snow Shoe, Centre countv, ....".'

Snow Shoe, Centre county

.Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre count.v

Snow Shoe, Centre c-ounty

Snow Shoe, Centre countv

.Snow Shoo, Centre county,

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre countv

Snow Shoe, Centre cramty '..

Snow Shoo, Centre county

Snow Shoe. Jantre countv

Spring Mills. Centre county

Sj.ring Mills. Centre county

Spring Mills, Centre county '.

Spring Mills, Centre countv i

Spring Mills, ''entre countv '

Spring Mills. Centre countv

Spring Mills. Centre county

Siiring Mills. Centre countv

Siiring Mills. Centre countv ]

Spring Mills. Centre countv

Spring Mills. Centre county

Spring Mills. Centre county!

Catawissa. Columl)ia cuunty.

L"ck Haven, Clinton c. untV,

Rcnovo. Clinton county, ..'..' .'

Erie, Erie county

i:ri'\ Erie county

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county. ....

Opp. Lycoming count.v.

Montgomery, Lycoming countv ."

Montgomery. Lycoming count.v^

.Mlenwood. Lycoming county,

MontoursviUe. Lycnm.ing county. !!..!!

Pittston. Luzerne county "

West Moor. lAiy.erne county

Scranton. Lackawanna county

Scranton. Lackawanna county!

Scranton. Lackawanna county

Scranton. Lackav.anna county.

Scranton. I^ackawanna county!

Sfranton. Lackawanna county!

Scranton. Lackawanna county!

Scranton. Lnckawanna count!v!

Scranton. Lackaw.-.nna county!

Scranton. T-ackav.-.nnna county!

Alirams. Mi nttjoniery county.

.\ni.=;.\ Montgomer.v count.v.

T-' n-^:^ Pruid. Monroe count.v !!!!

Park Side, Monn e, count.v!

T.cuistown. Mifflin county. !!.!!

.N'crthumberlnnd. Northumberland Co..

Northumberland Co..

Northumberland Co..

Northumberland Co..

Northiiuilierland Co.,

Northumberland Co..
_ Northumberland Co..
Mt. Carmel. Nortliuml>erland county...
^'t. Carmel. Northumberland county,..
Shamokin, Northumberland county....
Stone Church. Northampton county.

Northumberland
Noi thumberland
.VorthuiMbei'land
Northuinli'M'land
N()rtbu'i^1)erland
Northumberland

300
300
3C0
3G0
300
300
300
300
300
1.000
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
30O
300
SOO
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
100
100
700

300
300
300
300
300
600
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
SOO
300
300
800
300

7—24—1904

98

REPORT OF THE

TADPOLES— Continued.

Off. Doc.

Aug. 13,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 31,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 30,
Aug. 9,
Aug.
Aug.
Aug,
Aug.
Aug.
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,
Aug. 2».
Aug. 29,
Aug. 29,

9.
9.
9,
9.
9.

H. W. Rosengarten,

Lyman Norton

P\ McCann

Edw. Holconib

Ed. McCann

S. T. Galough.

Chas. Haas

Chas. R. Ruhl

D. L. Miller.

S. N. Raniage

C. M. Holbrojk. ....

E. W. Ingrahani. ...

W. W. Splane

Thos. M. Blockwell,
B. C. Simpson '. .

H. Eilenberger, .
V. Eilenberger, ..
L. Harvey. .......

E. Eilenbei'ger, I).
M. Foster

Postoffice Afldress.

No shipped.

Pottsville.

Ilillsgrove.

Hillsgrove,

Hillsgrove,

Hillsgrove,

Hillsgrove,

Hillsgrove,

Milhnont,

Millmont

Schuylkill county.
Sulli\an county.'

Sullivan
Sullivan
Sulllviin
Sullivan
Sullivan

T'nion

Union

county,
county,
county,
county,
cdunty.

county,
county.

L.

r>.
w
c.
w.

R. W. Drake,
T. R. Harvey

D. S.

D. D. S.

Total.

Oil City. Venango county,
Oil City. Venango county.
City, Venango county.
City, A'enango county.'
City. Venango county,
<^ity, Venango county,
Houldsbdro, Wayne county
C.ouhlsboro, Wayne cnuntv
Wayne
\\'ayne
Wayne
Wayne
Wayne

Oil
Oil
Oil
Oil

Oouldshoro

Oouldsboro.

Gouldsboro,

GouUlsboro,

Gouldsboro,

c >unty.
county,
county,
county,
county.

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

3QQ

300

300

300

300

300

30d

30O

31.900

YELLOW PERCH FLNGERLLNGS DISTRIBUTED JUNE 1, 1904, TO DECEM-

BER 31, 1904.

Date.

1904.
Oct. 17,
Nov. 4,
Sep. 7,
Oct. 17,
Oct. 17,
Oct. 19,
Oct. 17,
Oct. 19.
Oct. 20,
Oct. 17,
Nov. 4,
Oct. 17,
Sep. 2S,
Oct. 19,

Oct. 17,
Oct. 17,
Oct. 17,
Oct. 19,
Oct. 20,

Adams,

Allegheny, ..

Bucks

Bei-ks

Carbon

Centre

Chester,

Columbia. ...
Crawford,
Columbia, ...

Greene

Lancaster, . .
Lackawanna,
Lackawanna.

Lebanon

Montgomery,
Philadelphia.

Tioga

Tioga

Total,

Counties.

No. shipped.

600

200

1,800
900

300
1,000
90O
216
400
67S
226
600
000
250
075

800
300
300
625

2,700

9,900

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

99

LARGE FINGERLING BLACK BASS DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1904,

TO DECEMBER 31, 1904.

Date.

1904.
Aug. 11,
Sep. 9,
Sep. 7,
Aug. 31,
Sep. 7,
Aug. 9,
Aug. 11,
Sep. 9,
Aug. 9,
Sep. 7.
Aug. 29,
Aug. 31,
Aug. n,
Aug. 11,
Aug. 31.
Aug. 31,
Aug. 29,
Sept. 9,
Aug. 29,

Counties.

Blair

Bradford, .....

Bucks,

Berks ,

Chester,

Crawford,

Clearfield, ....

Erie

Forest

Lehigh

Lackawanna,

Lycoming

Lawrence

Mercer

Montgomery, .
Northumerland

1

J Pike,

Susquehanna,

. Total

No. shipped.

1,

600
300
500
300
900
20O
600
900
900
500
30O
30O
300
300
300
300

90O
300

11,700

LARGE BLACK BASS DISTRIBUTED FROM JUNE 1, 1904, TO DECEMBER

31, 1904.

Date.

County.

Oct. 28, [ Lackawanna,

No. shipped.

50

FISH SENT TO WAYNE COUNTY HATCHERY.

Date.

1904.

Nov.

9,

Nov.

23.

Nov.

9,

Nov.

9.

Nov.

9.

Nov.

9.

Kind of Fish.

Large black bass

Large black bass

Total

Pingerling large mouth bass,

Fingerling rock bass

Fingerling calico bass

Fingerling sunflsh,

Number.

25
154

179
80

100
20

150

100

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

ALLBNTOWN HATCHERY

REPORT OF JOHN l\ CKEVELING, SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Department of Fislieiies, Hon. W. E. Meehau, (%)ininissioner.

HaiTisbur^^ Pa.:

Dear Sir: I herewith respertfiilly submit mv report for the fisrnl
year endinjj^ May 31st, 11)04.

About the month of July, in08, I was notified that the Allentown
Hatchery would be abandoned in the spring and the plant removed to
the new hatchery at Bellefonte. At the ^ame time I received notice
that I was appointed Superintendent of the new station

At the close of the last fiscal year, I had nearly all the applica-
tions for brnok trout, on file in the Allentown stati-.n, filled but
there was still a lar^e surplus there remaininjr in the trou^'-hs at
least 500,000 fry. The youn- fish were larj^e, stron- and healthy
and required a ^reat deal of food— much care and work to keep the
troughs clean. The fry did nicely and developed rapidly until
about the first of July. At that time tliev apparently stopped -row-

f r .1'^ ^^ ^^'"^ ^'^"'^ *^"^^ ^''''^' ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ "^ii*-^! "ntil abor t Auo-ust
1st; then m some trou-hs tht^ fish showed sij^ns of jjcrowin- weakness
and refused to take their food as they had been do'in^--. The trou-hs
had been kept perfectly clean and -reat care exer('ised in feeding
as I knew it was a difficult matter to hold the frv in tlie trou"-hs all
summer. I did my very best. There wae no relief v^iteyer'in the
situation, on the contrary every day or two would find the trouble
extendinjr to a few more additional troughs. This continued until
every trough in the two houses were affected and the fry refused
to take their food, as they should. The loss at first was yery li-ht
but in a few days those that were first affected commenced to'^die
very rapidly and as the days passed, the daily loss was still £?reater
I prepared seven nursery ponds and placcnl lai-e numbers of fry
therein, thinnin.ir from the house trou-hs. hopin- that the chan-e
mi.o^ht^ prove beneficial, Ihouj^h I had serious dmibts. My y"ew
proved well founded. The decrease could not be checked and the
loss in the ponds was about as j^reat as in the house trough/ T
took on many of the fry and examined them carefully under a 'lass
but could not find anything, unnatural on the bodies, but all he
fish appeared to have very pale j^^ills. Tt apr>eared that every fry
tha refused to feed had li^^ht colored ^ills, showing that tZ wiiole
trouble orip:inated from a lack of blood

Professor Millard Marsh, of the TTnited States Bureau of Fish
erie«, and an expert on fish and their diseases, visited ^he statron
Z^ "'^1\ .T,^^'^^^^'« ^" oxperimentin^. He examined those t^nt
died and killed many that were affected. He examined tC blood

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

101

trying to find out the cause of the trouble. He found that the whole
trouble originated from unhealthy blood, or weak blood, which did
not contain a sufficient amount of red corpuscles. But he could not
find out the cause, if I remember.

After considerable trouble, I was able to get out the fry in the
ponds, but they continued to die right along, until there was not
more than 30,000 living. These, I suppose, were not affected' so
badly and being in the ponds, got a certain amount of natural food
and also took the artificial food better. Consequently they -rew
to be very strong and healthy fish.

To take care of these fingerlings, which required a great deal of
time to feed and remove the dead ones, in fact it took up nrariv all
the time of myself and men until September 15th. Then 1 had to
get the ponds cleaned, which ponds contained the spawning trout
and graveled the spawning races and generally made ready for the
spawning season, which opened October 12th.

It should be remembered that the spawning fish on hand were few
Hi nuniber, but I succeeded in taking about 800,000 eggs, which were
placed on the trays as taken and kept in the hatchery until they
were nicely eyed. Then as a eufiicient number was old enough for
shipment, they were packed and shipped to the Bellefonte hatriiery.

After taking all the eggs that could be taken at this Station and
being anxious to gather all the spawn I possibly could for the Belle-
toiite hatchery, I asked permission of Mr. Charles Walters, of Phila-
aelphia who has a brook trout hatchery at AVeissport, Carbon Co
to handle the trout, which permission he readily granted, and about
November 20th I visited his station and Mr. Wert, the Superintend-
ent, assisted me in taking eggs. In one day we succeeded in getting
about 140,000 eggs, which I brought home the same evenino- and
placed on the hatchery trays to be eyed before shipping to Belle-
fonte. ^

My first eggs commenced to show eyes on November 1st, and the
1^^'^ony?''^^^''^^''^ ^^ follows: On November 17th, 80,000; on Novem-
wo nnn ' ^^^J^^^^^^^' ^^^'^ "^th, 10th, 15th, 18th, 2.3d and 25th, I shi,>ped
80,000 each time. On the 29th I shipped 160,000 and on the 30th I
shipped 3o,000.

The 160,000 eggs shipped on the 29th of December were, throu-h
the negligence, or carelessness on the part of the employes of the
express company in not following the instructions on the cases
must have been allowed to stand in the oi)en air for some time for
the whole shii)ment wa« frozen and the eggs lost. '

After the last shipment of eyed eggs, I cominenced cleaning up
and getting ready to ship the (spawning trout, which shipment was
delayed on account of the excessive cold weather and I was afraid
that after holding at the station in cans, and then put in cold tanks
the water would freeze and the fish be lost.

I made arrangements about AFarch 7th to ship the firc^t carload
but was detained again and could not ship on account of the hi'di
water and washouts along the road, until two davs lati^r The
Beading B4iilway Company and the Pennsylvania Railroad Coin])any
generously gave free transportation for the ear over their line's
between Allentown jind Pxdlefonte.

There was a great freshet in the Susquehanna river at the time
and much ice, and I was advised not to start until the ice had moved

102

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

or the water fallen, which delayed my making shipment one week,
until March 21et. On that day 1 went through the car and made the
last shipment on March 25th.

There were a few yearlings left, and these I shipped by messenger
on April Ist.

The fish were all moved in good shape and carried with very slight
loss. After all the fish were removed to the new station at Belle-
f onte, most of my time was spent at the new station until May 16th,
making shipments of fry and caring for the fish, removing old build-
ings, digging out the cellar under the dwelling house, etc.

The Allentown Hatchery was formally abandoned as a hatchery
on April 1st, when as per arrangement, I assumed charge at Belle-
fpnte. Under the terms of the lease with the owners of the Allen-
town property 700 two-year old trout were left in the ponds.
Thanking you for courtesies extended, I remain

Kespectfully yours,

JOHN P. CREVELING,

Superintendent.

REPORT ON A MORTALITY AMONG YOUNG TROUT AT THE ALLEN-
TOWN STATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA FISHERY COMMISSION
DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1903.

BY DR. M. C. MAKSH, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.

Under orders of September 24, 1903, the writer proceeded to Al-
lentown and began work on September 30, 1903.

During the summer of 1903, abnormal losses on the brook trout
try held at Allentown Station began to occur in the month of
August. For about a month prior to this the fry had not fed as
well as usual. In July they numbered 300,000, this representini;
the number left after the spring distribution of 900,000 to be reared
at the station. They had been held in the troughs an unusually
long time, about 30,000 being put out in ponds the last of July, 75,000
in August, and the rest in September. During July the fry were
noticed to be -oU their fcH3d," but the mortality did not begin until
August It began in the troughs and continued in the ponds.
Sixty thousand were estimated to be on hand October 1, and there-
iZ^im^T'7 """^ ? ^r\ thousand distributed during July, about

Sw 'r,l 'T^ i^'f ^"''"- ^^''^ ^'^^ ^^''''^ ^^^1^« of the disease.
Most of the trout fry recently dead of lae disease did not have

conspicuous external lesions, but might have been taken for fry

which had died during health. Some had the protrusion of the

nf^frlivr^'' T^ "P^J^^'^'^'" r ^^"'^"-^ ^* ^^''' Allentown Station
nf fiilli • 1 ^^ Z^^ "^"''^^•'' associated with some distention

to h. «..n'''^'"^^^.'''^'i^'- ^"* ^^'^ "^^^'^ significant appearance was
to be seen in dying fry. Their gill showed a diminution of the

dd

CD
O

CD

102

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

or the water fallen, vvbicb delayed my making shipment one week,
until March 2l6t. On that day 1 went through the car and made the
last shipment on March 2oth.

There were a few yearlings left, and these 1 shipped bv messenger
on April Ist. xr . &

The hsh were all moved in good shape and carried with very slight
loss. After all the lish were removed to the new station at lielle-
fonte, most of my time ^^ as spent at the new station until May l(jth,
making shipments of fry and caring for the hsh, removing old build-
ings, digging out the ceiiar under the dwelling house, etc.

The AUentown Hatchery was formally abandoned as a hatchery
on April 1st, when as per ui-rangement, 1 assumed charge at Belle-
fonte. Under the terms of the lease with the owners of the Allen-
town property 7UU two-year old trout were left in the ponds.
ThanUingyou for com usies extended, 1 remain

Kespectfully yours,

JOHN r. CKEVELING,

Superintendent.

REPORT ON A MORTA].ITY AMONG YOUNG TROUT AT THE ALLEN-
TOWN STATION OF THE PENNSYLVANL4 FISHERY COMMISSION
DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1903.

iiV UK. M. (J. MAK8H, U. S. Hiireau of Fisheries.

Under orders of September I'l, llj();j, the writer proceeded to Al-
lentown and began work on Sep (ember 30, VMi'A.

During the summer of l\)m, abnormal losses on ihc brook trout
Iry held at Alhnlown Station began to occur in tlie month of
August. For about a mcmth juior to this tlie frv had not fed a«
well as usual. Jn July they numbered :j()0,(l(l(), tjiis representing
the number left after the spring distribution of DOO.OOO to be reared
at the station. They had been held in the troughs an unusuallv
b)ng time, ab(uit 3(1,(1(10 being i,ut out in ponds the last of July, 7o,00b
in August, and the rest in Septenib'cr. Durinir Julv the frv were
noticed to be "oh their U^vdr but the mortalils- did not begin until
August. It began in the 1 roughs and continued in the ponds.
Sixty thousnnd w(Me estimated to be on hand October 1, and there-
^^uuu!T'J '^"^ f ^r\' <!^^^"^^^^^^^ distributed during Julv, about

Most oi the trout fry recently dead of i..e discnise did not have
eonsp.cuous extenial lesions, but might have becMi taken for frv
which had (iHMl during health. Some ha<l the protrusion of the
eyeball known as^-popeye,- or locally at the Alleulown Station
as lrog(.ye. I his was usually associated with some distention
of he abdominal cavity. Hut the mon^ signilicant api>earance was
to be seen in dying fry. Their gill showed a diminution of the

■-T-t

CD
P^

CD

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

103

natural red color of the blood often to a degree so extreme that not
a trace of rod remained. This anemia in nearly all cases of djins
trout and of trout apparently atiected by the disease, but resting
quietly on the bottom of pond without loss of equilibrium, was too
great to be estimated by the Dare hemoglobinometer, being much
below 10 per cent., 100 per cent, on this scale representing normal
human blood. Even the apparently unaffected fish were below the
normal in hemoglobin, nine examples taken at random from the
actively feeding brood in the diseased ponds giving reading rang-
ing from 2o to 8, with an average of IGJ. Healthy finger ling trout
as represented by six examples from a commercial station at Weiss-
^?^ ;» ^;,^"^^'^\^"ia^ ^i^^e readings from 21 to 38, with an average
of 2J Ihe whole body of tingerliug trout at Allentown may be
considered to be anemic, notwithstanding an occasional individual
tally up to normal, the degree of anemia varving from the normal
down to complete absence of the blood color in the still living
gills this extreme degree representing fish dving or soon to sue
cumb. - o

Examination of the blood by the Zeiss hemocytometer shows that
tae anemia is not merely a loss of the hemoglobin from the cor-
puscle, though this probably occurs, but consists also in an actual
falling oil in the number of red corpuscles. A normal fingerling
brook ti-out has about one million red cells per cubic millimeter of
blood. Of eight examples of the most active Allentown fingerlings
only one reached one million, the others ranging down to 503 000
he average 828,000. The inactive, dying and recentlv dead finger:
lings had a much lower count, the lowest observed being 38 000
per cubic millimeter, the gills in life without a tinge of red co'lor
a faS'Snir "^'^'"''^^^ ^'" '"^'' millimeter the gills^begin to show

The only othcj symptom of importance was the presence, in some
of the affected fish, of a pathologic exudate behind the eve causing
the protrusion of the eyeball known as "popeye," or in the abdom
inal cavity causing ascites. These conditions were often associated
Ihe exudate was a clear, colorless lymph which presumably comes
trom the blood. *^

The dorsal aorta of these ascitic fingerlings with pale gills upon
puncture usually gave forth blood abundant in volume, but color-
ess or with a slight tinge of red. The low blood count was pro-
bably in part due to the dilution of the blood as well as to actual
loss of corpuscles.

The -popeye" among these fish should not be confounded with
the same appearance occurring in the ''gas disease" caused bv water
supersaturated with air or with one of its constituent gases In
the latter a gas is present and causes the protrusion, while in the
other ease It IS a liquid alone, tlie lymph or exudate, which pushes
the eyeball from its socket. The disease has caused an increased
permeability of the blood vessels, allowing the liquid portion of
the blood to accumulate in various cavities, nnd while the eve mav
be protruded from this cause before death, the accumulation of
Inpiid continues after death and the popeve increases In fact
any of the anemic fry which die without having developed popeve
may be able to acquire this symptom by leaving their bodies in the
water for some 24 hours, more or less. Likewise, the living anemio

101

REPORT OF THE

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fry, without popeye, may be killed and popeye induced by soaking
them iu water, and even active, red-gilled fry of the diseased brood
will act in the same way after a more prolonged immersion. Possi-
bly perfectly healthy fry would to some extent show the same ten
aency.

Accompanying the anemia there is a certain degree of leucocy-
tosis which can not be very accurately expressed in figures on
account of a lack of knowledge of the leucocytes of normal trout.
Counting one type only of white cell in fingerlings of the normal
number of red cells and in those markedly anemic, the latter have
an increased number of white cells. While leucocyte counts were
made on only a few examples, it seems fairly certain that there is
a real leucocytosis, though not of high degree or as far as known
particularly significant.

The disease is then an anemia, or lack of red blood cells. It was
not due to any condition of the water with respect to its aeration.
The Allentown spring supply contains no excess of dissolved oxv-
gen or nitrogen. Neither was it deficient in dissolved oxygen. A
few hundred of the fingerlings were transferred from the ponds to
the raceway close to the supply spring, where they received water
direct from the spring and before it had been used upon any other
fishes. The death rate continued as in the ponds. A similar lot was
transferred to the creek, or Little Lehiah river, which was a little
better supplied with oxygen than the ^spring water, without any
amendment in the mortality during some four weeks. Moreover,
adult trout upon Allentown spring water were sutfering no loss'
nor were they anemic. ' '

With a view to collecting observations on the number of bacteria
in spring waters supplying hatcheries, whether or not they have
any immediate bearing, several plate cultures were' made on dif-
ferent days using the spring water. Following are the results in
bacteria per cubic centimeter:

October 14, .
October 15, .
October 17, .
November 15,
November IG,
November 17,
November 20,

Average.

18

31

101

23

85

290

176

There is considerable variation in the count from dav to dav The
average is about 103 per cubic centimeter, and is not excessive.
Ihe Erwin, Tennessee, Station of the Bureau of Fisheries had an
average of about 81 per cubic centimeti^r. It mav be said that the
water of the Allentown spring has about the usual bacterial content
of cold spring water. The last two observations were made on
water on tap inside the hatchery, and, as usual, the water has
gained some organisms during its passage thereto.

As anemia is one of the results of infections of various sorts an
organism was sought by microscopical examination and by cultures
for bacteria. The culture media usually remained sterile and in the

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

105

wn^or ^^'^^''^ growths resulted they were reasonably due to
^ater bacteria contaminating the abdominal cavity. The cultures

tYe abZ Lr^^'-I''"^ '/>""' '^"" ^^^ ^^^'^^^ ^^^ta pierced from
the abdomina cavity, without searing the site of the puncture

tirhlnnV'^'^^r! ^^* ^"^'^^^^^^ ^^^^"^^ organisms not present 7n
the blood, yet plates made in this way were usually sterile Plates
were also made from the peritoneal cavity and^ from the Ihei
Bacteria not strictly the cause of disease do doubtless <^ain access
to and multiply in the blood of some of these voung t?out in the
ust stages of the disease. But there is no infection of acnob c bac-

port's tha? o'fM'' ""Jr^ ^'^•. T.^^ '''^'^''^ ^' the microscope su^-
fnfection '"^ indicating the absence of any bacterial

The question of a protozoan infection or of an infection bv anv

eafriv's'ttfe'd ^''^'^r^ ^" '''''''''^'^ ^'^^t-'^' medium is n^^t a's
easily settled. Here the microscope does not give a very definite

answer. The white cells of the blood, particularly in the^ diseased

the'bfo'Jd 'Xr"""".f"^^^^'^"^- ^^^''^^-^ '^^''--' parasites o'
the blood, binding nothing definitely recognizable as such an in-
oculation experiment was begun to determine the presence of Infec-
tion by transferring it from the diseased to healthv fish. Two lots

in seTi' l^'^t^^^ ^ "n^ 'f' '^'"^^^^^^ ^"^^^ Weissport were pla'ed
m sepaiate trougns. One lot was fed ground liver iu th(^ ordin-irv
way; the other lot, liver with which was mixed 1 e bh od of ?ii
dying and dead fry. The diseased blood was fed on 17 dit?erent
days during a period of about four weeks airrtient

On January 13, 1004, nearly 12 weeks after the beginninir of this

S'\"^r '> o'f th^ 'tl^' ''^' ''' ^"^^^^^^^^^ ^^' feeding "^er'/ stm
werew tl.n,i o ^^^.^^^^^^^ ^^' ^'^"trol lot. All the trout which died
^^eIe without anemia as far as they were observed and their denth
appeared to be due to an affection of the tail and ^a del p^^^^^^^^
which caused sloughing of the skin and flesh of this region and some
times the loss of most of the caudel fin. This is possibly due toTn

sTon'^tirthlt"' '"' -"^^ r. ''''''''' ^^ t^- ^--- under dil'cus"
wf'.r^ these experimental trout appeared active and healthy
had thrived and grown well during these 12 weeks, and the lot
which had eaten of the blood of the anemic fishes avera "ed consM
erably arger than the others, though thcv were not select^f r
size at the beginning of the experiment. Of the 12 remaiiiim from
he control lot one was alfected with the tail disearand^
present y have died, so that the loss may be considered ?o bJ ron
the controls and o on the inoculated fish. This leaves no room fm
supposing that the feeding of the diseased blood hid ai^v u.Xvor-
able ellect upon the fish that ate it. Moreover, it tends 1 o s 1 o w
that there is nothing constant iu the natuie of the water itsef^S
causes aneniia, for both these lots of trout have rema neTin k or
12 weeks without the slightest sign of anemia. It was not m^ssible
to examine them with th(^ aid of the hemoglobinometer at t e end
of the experiment, but to the unaided eve the gills had every an
pearanre of reaching the standard of redness of'normal fry ^ ^"
Direct inoculation were also made in adult trout, one bv "iniectin-
the diseased b ood bem.ith the skin, another bv placing it eh nd
th^ eyeball. These were controlled by siniilar' inoculations us n^
blood from healthy trout. None of these fish showc^i any efiecU

106

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

fi'om this treatment; the wounds healed and the trout are still
alive. Adult trout may of course be insusceptible or less suscep-
tible to the disease than the iinger lings.

The results of these inoculations being negative, failed of thor-
ough conclusiveness, but indicate strongly that an infection is not
concerned. Taken together with the evidence of the cultures and
the microscope, it makes this conclusion altogether probable. The
anemia then is not to be considered among those caused by para-
sites, or secondary, but as primary, or "causeless," using this latter
term in its medical sense as applied to an anemia looked upon as a
disease and not a symptom. The usual and frequent causes of
anemia have not operated in this case and no immediate cause ap-
pears. In fact, the conditions obtaining during the fall among the
lish seem to be such as to tend to correct the trouble rather than
cause it, for the death rate was gradually diminishing. Looking
over the history of these trout, it is found that thev have been under
unusual conditions. They were kept in the troughs in the hatcherv
for an usually long time. In July about 300,0(10 fry were on hand.
The transfers to the out-of-door ponds were not made until August
and September, save 30,000 which were put out the last of Julv.
The fry began to die in the troughs and continue to die in the ponds.
To prolong the period during which fry are confined in troughs is
recognized by fish culturists as an unfavorable procedure. During
a period of development they are largely deprived of exercise, light,
some natural food, and are confined within very narrow bounds.
This restriction of the natural instincts and habits has onlv to be
enough prolonged to express itself in some visible way. This may
reasonably, but not necessarily, be as an anemia. Even healthy
domesticated trout are anemic as compared with wild ones of the
same species. The confinement of fry in troughs within a building
is the extreme of domestication. It may plausibly be argued, then,
that this tendency toward anemia has gone so far in the Allentown
fry so long held in troughs as to amount to a disease and cause
death.

By this view the brood of anemic trout would be expected to be
favorably affected by the removal of the conditions alleged as the
cause of the anemia. Precisely this occurred. That the disease
and the mortality persisted for some weeks after the transfer to
ponds rather bears out this idea than otherwise. For the anemic
condition does not occur nor disappear suddenly. The disappear-
ance of corpuscles or diminution of hemoglobin is a gradual process,
as is the corresponding regeneration. During Septeniber the last
transfers of fi-y from hatchery to ponds were made and bv the last
of November the mortality was practically at an end, with a con-
siderable remnant of the original stock surviving and with a promise
of reaching the adult stage. These fish nearly all had red gills
and though not yet up to standard, showed an improvement over
the strongest fish examined early in October. On the 13th of Jan-
uary the Allentown hatchery was again visited bv the writer and
these trout again observed. They were active, feeding well and
steadily growing, though rather smaller than usual at this station
at this season. The gills of a number were examined and appear
as red as those of any healthy domesticated trout. The mortality
had entirely ceased and the disease is at an end. These fish will

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

107

make healthy adults and it is not believed that any danger is to be
teared trom them either in carrying the disease t^o an/othei fish
ZTnZ^'"''' deterioration in eggs and fry obtained'^from hem
Attention is called to a great and sudden mortality occurring
among Allentown fry during the latter part of the win teioT 1899
This was investigated by Mr. W. E. Meehan, Commissioner of Fish-'
enes ot Pennsylvania, and Dr. C. M. Blackford, who agree in attri-
buting the .OSS to long continued inbreeding This subject was

^ertd .'nd'" '^" ''''T '' '^^ i'ennsylvania^^ommission'fo this
period and appears also in a paper by Mr. J^eehan in the Trans
actions ot the American Fisheries Society for ro99. Anemia is men-

Sble"tharr."r"H ^'^^'r? ^--^^'^--^ ^^y, and itTat "ast
possible that the epidemic ot 1899 was caused bythe same disease

Witi n^.TI"^^ ^'''' ^^^^^"^^^ ^^^ ^'«™^^- progressed far more vSy
VV ithout taking up the question of inbreeding, save to remark that

to'tlir'^v'?^ "' "'""^^^ '^'''' ^-«"S trout is Lidlyanalogous
to that ot higher mammals as the term is commonly used and that
1 IS very difficult to show a relation between a given disease and
such inbreeding, it may be said that the present disease is not
havf. .^^ inbreeding, on the single ground that the fish concerned

svlvani^'^n' /'^'''.V^^ ^^^' ^'^^^"^ ^'^''^y ^^'^^ Weissport, Penn
sylvania, and partly trom Allentown Station, whilt., guino back

another remove, these Allentown breeders ^ere der&immc^
diately from two or more sources. On this and on general grounds
inbreeding IS not believed to play any part in the presen frouble
fro^t th! ^'^^^'^^^/^^^ ! S^^^^'^ll^' recognized cause of losses among

darned nnn^'T''*./"'*^''"^' ^^^^'^^^ "1^^° ^^« "^«^^ Satisfactorily ex
plained upon the theory of a forcing of some of the necessarv hnf

unfavorable conditions which constftute domestication? ^ '

ever onH^ffi'^''°y.f T^^-^^Kf "^^ ^"'^"^^ ^^ ^ demonstration, how-
ever and it IS highly desirable to determine by experiment whether
the anemia can be induced by intentionally reproducing the condT
tions which are supposed to cause it. The Allentown Station is to
be abandoned and the trial can not be tried then^ Pres^^^^^^^^^^
the same result should occur at any station. The PenLyhan i
Commissioner has expressed his willingness to set aside the neces
foni T^i'^r^'/^'^V'f ^-'l^-^^ -t his new station at S-

Bure.'n of Fi!^"^ ""^'ri^^ "^""''W^ ^^"'^^^^^ ''^ ««"^^^ ^^ation of the
Buieau of Fisheries. The procedure may be about as follows:

Iwo troughs should be selected in the spring, or at the time

sin e 'number o??''"' \\ '''!'' P^"^^' ^''''^ ^^^^'^ ^ou^uZ
same number of fry as the other troughs and should have been fed

and otherwise treated like all the others. The number of frv in

each will presumably be approximately what the flow of water in

the troughs will support. These fry are to be left in the trouUs

o'nlTas f.:f r%r "^""''M' '''' P^°^^«- ^^^^^ «^-"^^ be thinned
only as fast as their growth makes the water supply insufficient
the Idea being to keep the flow taxed about to its capaci ^ A^the
summer progresses the appearance of the anemia wHl '"be fooked

Ivu^ iinfi f^T ''^'^''^'''' ^^''^y "^^^"^^ be beld until fall, or per-

ihm^iH i becomes necessary to use the troughs for eggg again,

an a tte nnV tl'^VT r''^ 'T' '^ ^ ^^'' "^* ^"^ '^ ^^"^m't begin
tnnln 1 ^- r'^u ^'^ "'-'^^^ *^ determine its nature. The write^
would desire to observe the progress of this experiment occasion

108

HEf ORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

ally. Should the anemia and loss appear it should be studied
briefly in comparison with tlu^ present Allentown mortality, to pass
upon the question of their identity.

The disease here discussed is a very interesting^ one and has not
hitherto been seen by the writer. It will be a distinct ^ain if it
can be plainly ^shown that it is caused by confinement and is not
infectious, for its control will tlu^n be more securely in the hands
of the fish culturist.

M. C. MAKSII.

PROCEEJ>IN(IS OF THE STATE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION OF
TENNSYLVANIA. AT 1IAKKISI5UK0, MARCH 24 25, 1904.

The Association in form of a convention was called to order at
11 o'clock A. M. by \V: E. Meelian, Commissioner of Fisheries.

Commissioner Meehan then introduced the Governor of the Com-
monwealth, the Hon. Samuel AV. I'ennvpacker, who welcomed the
delej^ates in the followin^^ words:

Mr. Chairman, j;entlemen and fishermen, and Mr. Fleitz: It be-
comes my duty as the Chief Executive of tht^ Commonwealth to j^^ive
you greeting and to extend to you welcome. I fear I shall not be
able to fill the program which apparently has been mapped out for
me by the chairman, but I shall endeavor to say a few words to you.

Unfortunately I cannot claim to be one of your crowd. I am very
little of a fisherman, and yet it does not need much of the philosophy
of Izaak Walton to be abb to appreciate the importance of fish and
incidentally the importance of fishermen. Man including all men is,
as you know, a vertebrate. Xow, we are told by tln^ scientists that
the earliest vertebrate had its origin in the sea. Some stiff bony
thing went pushing its way through the water and the effect of the
for(-(^ of the water was (exi>:aining the movement) in this manner
until finally that mass of bone was divided up into fragments and
hence we had the origin of all vertebrate, including men and fish-
ermen.

You remember that when our Saviour started out upon his career
Jilong the shores of the Sea of (ialilee He found I'eter and Andrew
and the two sons of Zeb(Hlee, and tliev cast aside their nets and
followed Him as Apostles. I regret that that early example so set
forth has not becm more generally followiul by fislierm.-n, since, so
far as I can learn they have established their reputation of perhaps
a vigorousness of language and slight exaggeration in what thev
have to tell of their achievements.

The history of the v>orld shows that all civilized life came uj)
out of the sea. Long ago the herring were v(M'v ph-ntiful in the
northern seas and soiik^ of the early fellows who were living in
Sweden, Norway and Denmark thougiit it would be a .'rood thino- to
get the herring and they started out in their boats. Many of them
were drowned. Thousands of them went to the bottom of the sea.
But they developed a hardiness, force and vigor which made them a
power in the world. Like some others it mav be said, through their
pride they had not the high regard for other ix^ople, and they poured

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

109

pS'ii" V <um ;.r, , t" f S"™«i» dwelt In ll„t coualp, ."3

partment "'' ''"'"''^ '""fi'l-'i^'e in tho h.oa.l of this De-

On^nl.'fi'T-f^'Ti* "■*? '"^' I'l' ■'«'"•<■ to visit one of its l.atclieries

The object he has had in view iu bringing vou tooelher -is T ,in

r>e/.a:.f.v^,;r;\:..o[,i;;-;^r;^oS;;;:^^^^
='::i;^;a;:rn-.:r;-:;''^^^^^^^

«sh l.avo „u,.... ..n.ins than iuL wh^ Z.^'^nZr"^]^^^

mat er ot p-eat jonseqnonoo an.l I a,n «„,.o wo \via,„^edte -.nd
all tlK- p,.oi,le w,II ai,p,e.iato, the ConHn-mwalth tlu. (ov . .n„,en

ria^^tTerA'.v^onT'i': tKit """^•-- -" -" i^'' -'-0^

Convention to.^ether at tl,e suo-,,,.stio,' of Mr. Chase «re"went f
the ]'e„n<..vlva.»a Fish l',.ot,.etive Assoeialion. &o * ^

Air. l.l.Mti'. was intiodnred and addi'ess<Hl tlie Convention

Mr. Howard .\. Chase. I',.,.si,!,.u( of (h,. I>ennsvlvaMia Fish I>ro
IZlZ^'V'""" "^ ''l"'!'"'"'!-'^!"- "ns then Monm te , as elnir
laiv, and Milliard ll. Hlack stenograidier

In taking the chair Mr. Chase spoke as follows:

Gentlemen: I thank you for the honor you have conferred unon

nni-etw n T^ " ^I^y^-'"-' -^^^^ views and nM.mr^ V ha "^ t

1. . \^ <l^^fer unt.I cMir afternoon session. WV will nroceed

now to the completing of our organization. ^

110

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

I would suggest that at this time a roll be made, each delegate
coming forth and giving his name and the organization he repre-
sents, if any.

Following is a list of delegates and members of the Convention:

A. J. Feelj, Hazleton. Ilazleton Game and Fish Protective As-
sociation.

Hugh Malloy, Freeland, Luzerne county. Freeland Fish and
Game Protective Association.

H. A. Roat, Harrisburg. ITarrisburg Rod and Gun Club.

I. N. Gilham, Jr., Philadelphia. Fishwarden.
^ Charles Wetherill, Esq., Philadelphia. Pohoqualine Fish Protec-
tive Association.

G. Dal Fox, (Oakland) Milton. Oakland Rod and Gun Club.

P.. F, Fulmer, Dingman's Ferry, Pike Co.

W. n. Reed, Norristown, Norr'istown Fish and Game Association.

J. M. Mills, Warren; W. C. Watson, Warren. Warren County
Fish and Game Association.

E. C. Beck, York; H. A. Zigler, York; J. L. Boose, McAdoo. Me-
Adoo Fish and Game Association.

Maurice C. Eby, Harrisburg. Iroquois Fishing Club.

J. W. Hague, Pittsburg. AVestern Pennsvlvania Fishing Club and
Fish Warden.

J. W. Criswell, Steelton. Fishwarden.

Hon. C. L. Miller, Altoona. Pennsylvania Fish Commission.
Blair Co. Branch, League of American Sportsmen.

Hon. A. R. Whitaker. Pennsylvania Fish Commission.

Hon. Fred. Fleitz, Scranton.

Frank Flynn, Easton, Fishwarden.

Howard A. Chase, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Fish Protective
Association.

Officers, Pro tem.

Howard A. Chase, President.

A. J. Feely, First Vice President.

W. C. Watson, Second Vice President.

Barton D. Evans, Corresponding Secretary.

W. H. Reed, Treasurer.

Hon. W. E. Meehan, President, ex-offlcio.

Williard R. Black, Stenographer.

Committee on Organization.

J. W. Hague, Chairman.
Charles Wetherill, Philadelphia.
W. H. Reed, Norristown.
J. M. Mills, Warren.
E. C. Beck, York.
Convention took a recess.

The Committee on Organization met during the recess at noon
and recommended the following at the afternoon session, which was
called to order at 2 o'clock P. M.

^°- ^^* DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. m

Name of the Association.

STATE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

- It was moved by Mr. Malloy, seconded by Mr Meehan thnt fh.
above name be adopted.- Agreed to. -vieenan, that the

Objects of the Association.

fishP^rjbJ'p'''""""""' fi^t'-'l*"" ""<! inc'-ease of food and game
t,^! Tn ? <^°'"""»"^^^"'tl' "f l'<-i.uMlvania. AdoiHod. ^

Sth To encom-ase the formation of Pish I'lotwtive \fiso.intinn«
in oach touuty of the State of Pennsylvania. Adopted

Officers of the Association.
Lst, President.
2nd. Two Vice Presidents.
3rd. Corresponding Secretary.
5th. Treasurer.

Thr':b;t: was" adapted" '' ^'""^"'"^'^^ "'"^ '^^''"'"- '^-™'"-

JmZif Arso!:Lrio^.'^"!>[:;; s^^ '■"■"'•-^'^ ^^ --' ■»-^-

Duties (as usual).

Membership.

Any regularly organized association having for one of its ohie,.t«
the prof eefon of the fishery interests as one of its ob.Vets shall be
eligible to membership in this Association ' ^"-

deRfte'foreaehtldtf 'i'"'^" "T ''?"'«'''**' ''"" ""^^ ■•additional
?l^reof Adopted. "'^•'•^■""«' ""« '"""'■■ed members or fraction

On motion of Mr. Wetherill the officers of the Association mmed
were authorized to apply for a charter in Dauphin couX

Paper read by Mr. Charles Wetherill: "Relation of the Demrt
ment of Fisheries to the Waters Privatelv Owned" ^

^^Discussion by Mr. Meehan. Mr. Malloy, Mr. Wetherill and Mr.

Paper by M. Luther Michael, ivad by Mr. Mchan- "Cause of the
Disappearance of the l^la.k Hass in the Delaware River "
Remarks by Messrs. Meehan, Mallov and Dr Reed
(-.onrention adjourned to meet Friday morning at 0.:!0.

Friday, March 2.5th, 1905.

pi°M''''/''«*'°^*' "^ *^'' Chairman. Mr. H. A. Chase, the First Vice
President, Mr. Feely was called to the chair.

112

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

The discussion of the disr.ppea ranee of the bhaek-bass in the Dela-
ware river was continued by Mr. Ha^nie, Mr. Mills, Mr. Miller, Mr.
Fox, Mr. Wetherill, Mr. Meehan, Dr. Keed and Mr. Apple.

Mr. Wetherill offered the following resolution:

Resolved: That the Legislature at its next session be respectfully
asked to appropriate an adeciuate sum of money to propagate black
bass on the same basis as trout are now propagated and to allow
the Department of Fisheries to distribute as many black bass as
are distributed of brook trout.

The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Mr. Fox who seconded the motion spoke verv strongly in favor of
the resolution. He said that all the statements made and the
papers read, and the evidence of the Commissioner of Fisheries,
show that the black bass are decreasing and must be replenished bv
hatcheries' work; that it was important that black bass be put on
the same basis as tr<mt; that th(>y occupied at least as important
a place among the game fishes of the State.

Paper by Mr. W. E. Meehan: 'Trout Frv vs. Fingerlin^^s for
Planting." " ^

This paper was extensively discussed bv Mr. Me^ehan Mr- Apple
and Mr. Fox. ' '

It was moved by Mr. Apple, seconded bv Mr. Fox that the paper
read In Mr. Meehan be printed in pauiplilet form, and that the Secre-
tary be directed to send a copy of same to all persons interested

The motion was agreed to.

Paper by Mr. \Allliam BuUer, Supt. of Corrv Hatcherv read bv
Mr. Meehan: "Experiments in Rearing Black JBass '^ ' '

Paper read by Hon. Charles L. Miller, written bv Nathan R Bul-
ler, Supt. Wayne County Hatcherv: "The Fish for the People "

Paper by E. W. Campbell, read by Col. J. W. Hague: -The Causes
Leading to the disappearance of the Small-Mouth Black Bass "

Paper by (Anonymous), read by Mr. Fox, of Milton: '-Fish Pro-
tection."

All the above papers were earnestly discussed and with unusual
int(^rest.

On motion the Convention adjourned to meet at the call of the
Chairman.

Af 1 o- inn. JOHN W. HAGUE,

March 2o. 1904. Secretary.

THE DEPLETION OF OUR STREAMS OF SUNFISH.

BY W. H. KEED, M. D.

My paper applies largely to the depletion of streams located in
Southeastern Pennsylvania -the neighborhood of mv home- and
such streams I i.^ach in my nearby fishing trips, and my information
comes largely from personal observation.

Through the southwestern portion of Montgomery count v this
State, passes the Schuylkill river, and tributary to it on its'north
east, and almost totally within the county's borders rises the Perkio-

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OP FISHERIES.

113

men and its numerous branches— all of which from time immemorial
have been noted for sunfish and the numbers here found The

as haunts of this little gamey wonder, and here under natural con-
ditions he grew, thrived and multiplied u^iLurai con

int^^fhi"'^ ^'''*- ^K P^^Pf I'^tion of this paper being too short to go
'tream^^^ '""^ species of sunfish indigenous to theL

streams, but suffice to say here he has been found in variety and

ance'Vro^d^'^^ """^' ^'""^^^"' P^^^P- -^ t>- i"^-d

hL'anTt^lTSent.""'' '' '""" ^" '^^^'"^^^ ^^^^^' -^ ---^

^Jfi^r"^^^''^ ^'^ "^^^'"^ ^" *^^^^^^ ^^^^'^^^ are favorable to the
sunfish's existence, reproduction and multiplication. But since
the advent of game fishes from other waters into these streams
vast changes have taken place and somewhat to the detriment aTd
extermination of these little fellows

With the introduction of these new varieties of game fishes de-
veloped an increased interest in piscatorial sports; with tMs in-
creased interest came modern and scientific Snethods of taking
the same, and it was not long before the little -sunny- was discov
ered a wonder in this line; being a ravenous feeder; toTthe fly
minnow helgramite crawfish, etc., readily, and fell a prey to moJ
ern methods applied by the angler for larger fish

As the sunfish is more easily found dispersed throughout the
nhWn T^'' T f ^'r ' possessing flesh that is pleasing fnd agree
able to the palate, of a solid and excellent keeping quality his im-
portance and good qualities were soon discovered by he average
angler, and now as such is much sought after by our fisherman and
Z'^ri'lT' in preference to the bass and other choice vadeties of
fishes that have been planted in these streams

Most all new fishes that have been introduced into our streams
?eZf nn!?; ^^ ^^^ detriment of the sunfish. These new sp^ies e^h^

down .1^ ' 'P^"^"' ^' ?° *^" ^'^' *^^^^^.^ *« ^ ^^rt«in extent keeping
down their propagation and multiplication. This we class as a
natural sequence-a provision made by the Almighty, by which cer

wonldT '" "'*r ""'' "^''^^^ *^ ^^"^'^"'^^ ^^^ harmonise. If there
would be no such arrangem^mt nature's affairs in time would be

come very much disarrarged. Nature has provided thisTtt le fel
low too with means of , rotection and safety; in case of peril i? not
caught napping, or cornered, he can retreat to a place of safety-
being fleet and wary, he readily scents and can%sLpe Ser
There are also other natural enemies of the streams which thTs
little fellow suffered from, such r.s indigenous fish eatin^. fish w^ter
snakes, animals, birds, fowls, etc. But with the ad.^nt of the wh Ue
man-settlement and cultivation of lands-these natural enemas to
a large extent have been destroyed and disappeared

'Jnm-lfo^'* ^"'""I '""^ ^^^"'^ ^^P^^^^« *^^ ^^^^^^ '"ore of the
..?"• -^ ^ J'l ^""^ ""^^^"^ '^'^^ ^^^"^ ^" ^y estimation, is the indis
criminate fisherman-the fisherman that exercises the function of

fhp o^'- '^^"A!!" o '^ ^^'""^ ^"^^"^« ^^ P^" ^^- «o and so--?as put bv
the editor of the Recreation.) We have them ; they visit our stream

power t-.at does not visit these poor fellows-while engaged in the
8—24—1904

114

REPORT OF THE

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art of destruction — with some sort of restraint or woe. Above all
of the natural enemies of this little lish, 1 believe there are none
worse than mankind for their annihihition and extermination, with-
out it be a polluted stream — out«>^ide of the Schuylkill river with inky
waters at certain seasons — its tributaries with us are, at the present
time, I am thankful to say, free of such. This man enemy in the
brutal sense has no re^jject, < orisideration or humane feeling for
this little wonder and his b('auty; but with his onslauj^ht propen-
sities, he exercises no wisdom, consideration or forethouj^ht, but
recklessly prodis alon<;- the stream, castinjj; both rij^ht and left in
his effort at destruction and (^'pletion. AVhen these little fellows
are in biting humor he is. drawn from the waters in wholesale num-
bers, and the little and the big fellow alike, fall prey unmercifully
at the hands of this criniMial in this slaughter.

I poissibly may be, right here, by the critic, accused of dealing
liarshlv or severelv with these enemies and destrovers of this little
wonder, but if the facts were familiar to you all, known to you in
detail and viewed as I from an unbiased standpoint, you would sim-
ply say I am treating tlie subject lightly and in my criticiism have
not UK^ed out justice to these indiscriminate fish destroyers. ]>y all
fishermen — I now speak of fishermen in a true sense — those of mercy
and conc^ideration who spend a day of enchantment in piscatorial
sports along nm' streams, it is but <'nnnnon with th^^m, whilo on
these jaunts, to observe these unscrujuilous fishermen at their
wholesale, destruction of sunfish. Some of these enemies of this
fish come with fifteen and twenty pound capacity creels, and into
these go everything they draw from the waters — small and large
"sunnies" — oftimes including small bass and other game fishes.
If chance before the dav is over and the creel is full, its contents
are em])tied on the banks of the stream, the snuiller sunfish are
weeded out and returned to the stream dead, or left on the banks
dead; the larger fish are returned to the creel, therein' giving ca-
pacity, and the terrible work of onslaught and destruction is re-
sumed, continued until darkness com])els him to relinquish his
efforts for the dav. Can there be anv chivaliv in this? As manv
as one, two and three hundred arc thus taken from a stream in a
dav bv a single* fisherman. Sometimes a dav or two after vou read
in his home ])aper something like this: ''Mr. l*»ig Hog spent yester-
day along the pictures(pie stream D('i)lelion, and lu* mad(» a won-
derful catch of fish. He succeeded in binding two hundred and
thirty-five choice sunfish. He is certainlv a master of the art and
deserves ])raise for his eminent success. He is without a doubt
Izaak Walton's peer, and as such, is an adept and is always rewarded
with fine catches."

The possibilities are that some fishermen wlio destroys fish so in-
discriminately, do so through simple thoughtlessness— -a lack of
forethought or consideration. With him it is a sort of a superior or
personal ])ride he glories in because he has excelled his friend or
neighbor in skill in numbers of fish he has caught; and thus lost in
enthusiasm in his work, never stops to thiidv or realize that in this
self glorification, he is committin'r wholesale destruction and anni-
hilation of his little friend, thereby rapidly d(»stroyinc: his future
pleasures through this present blind enjoyment. T^ntil education
and inculcation through newspapers or other such means, or the

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

115

enforcement of some severe penalty of a suitable law, that will in
a general way forcibly impress or teach the unscrupulous to a reali-
zation of these facts; this evil of destruction will continue and in
a moral or humane sense hard to overcome, and if not checked it will
not be long before our streams will be entirely dei)leted.

The last Legislature of our Commonwealth while in session enact-
ed a new fish law; the law wisely contains a clause making a closed
season for sunfish. I am afraid, so far, the law with this fish has
not been a success. The public in general is not familiar with its
character, particularly to the clause referring to the protection of
sunfish. Largely from this lack of knowledge, not with criminal
intent by the general public, this feature of the law has not accom-
plished its intended purpose. This clause is an all-important one
to this law, and was wisely incorporated by its promoters; but
should be further supplemented with provisions that are more
sweeping in their character — such as limiting the size and the num-
ber of fish to be taken from the stream in a single day by one per-
son. Penalties should govern these violations the same as that
which applies to game fishes already i)rotected. Thus this little
wonder, the sunfish, would receive but deserved protection; and
have consideration and respect shown him at the hands of all, who
ply with rod and line, wherever found in his favorite haunts in our
beautiful streams.

FISH PROTECTION.

The most reckless wastefulless and disregard for the future dis-
tinguished the first settlers of this country and tlu^ir ])osterity. The
first colonists found the country covered with magnificent timber,
which they promptly set out to cut off*, with the result that the lum-
ber problem is now staring the people in the face and denuded moun-
tain sides have become constant menaces of floods, which at last
science has set out to remedy and forestry has become a concern
of the State. Over the plains of the west roamed immense herds
of buffalo, which were exterminated in the same reckless manner
that the forests were cut down. Then it was tried to replace
them with cattle, but it has been found that the plains will not sup-
port nearly as many cattle as they would buffalo, which had been
placed there by the master hand of the world. The economic value
of the buffalo is now appreciated when it is perhaps too late. A
few years ago the writer met on a railroad train a man from Ohio
who told a story that well exemj)lifies the wastefulness of our old
methods. During the fifties he had moved to Ohio and taken up
one hundred and sixty acres of land. On it were fine groves of
walnut trees which he proceeded to destroy by girdling. For over
forty years he had worked and struixgled to build himself a home
farm and to-day the place is worth about ten thousand dollars. On
the farm were left standing twenty of the ginnt walnut trees that
once covered the ground and he had just sold them for five thou-
sand dollars. If he had never cut a tree on the place but had

116

REPORT OF THE

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earned his liviuj,^ by work, no harder than he had done on the farm,
the more tlian two tliousand walnut trees on the place would have
brought hiiii over a million dollars as compared with the ten thou-
sand he now can sell the farm for.

W' :derful are the stories that are told bv the first comers to this
count rj of tlie immense numbers of fish that dwelt in the waters.
That they were not exaggerations anyone who has been to Oregon
or Alaska not many years ago and seen the salmon in the streams
there \\ill readily concede. With tlie same disregard of posterity
that clmracterized the sw^eeping away of the forests an;! the buifalo,
the colonists and their descendents began to exterminate the fish.
The mosi wasteful methods were employed and fishermen vied with
each other in devising ingenions nets and traps that destroyed many
times as many fish as those flat were utilized bv the takers. Even
dynamite and other forms of explosives were resorted to and
streams and lakes were swept bare of every sign of fish or other life.
Gradually it began to dawn upon the thinking people that it was
time to do something or tlua'e v.ould be no fish left in the streams
if the fish were not given some chance. Commercial fishermen and
anglers took up the matter and Legislatures were appealed to for
remedial measures. The result was protective statutes and the
recognition of the fact that the fish industry was a most important
one. The artificial propagation of fish has been taken up by both
the National and State governments and the re stocking of the
depleted streams begun. But for the government to go into the
business of hatching all the fish that the people require would be
paternalism of the baldest kind, and therefore has sprung up the
demand for fish protection that the fish in the streams can do their
share of repopulating the waters.

First and foremost came the establishment of close seasons when
the fish would have an opportunity to spawn. Then a limit to the
size of the fish that could be taken! for it should be manifestly plain
to the most ignorant that if the fish planted by the government
are not allowed to grow to spawning size the work of replenishing
the streams will depend on the government hatcheries. Then the
ban has been placed on the destructive devices that destroy far more
fiph than they take. It is a very selfish man wlio will use a device
that will kill numbers of fish in order that he may get a small mess
for his table. But because his grandfathc^r used a destr active net
many an American citizen thinks his rights are infringed if he is
told that he cannot use the same device. The constable of a neigh-
borhood can rarely be depended uj>on to enforce the laws in regard
to fishing for the chances are he has been a mendier of a gigging
party many times and he does not like to go back on his friends and
neighbors. Speaking of gigging, there are few more destructive
foi'ins of fishing than this, for the gigger can rarely distinguish the
variety of the fish that he is goin^: to strike and once a fish is im-
])aled on the barbs it is idle to talk about putting him back unharm-
ed. A resort must then be had to regular wardens and a State as
large as Pennsylvania is a broad field to cover wn'th the amount of
funds that is available. The best that can be done is to make ar-
rests here and there and endeavor to impress the violators of the
law that there is no telling when a w^arden may descend upon them.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

117

Much good has been done by the Department of Fisheries during
the past year and the illegal fisherman is getting very wary, which
means that his catches are much less than formerly.

But the best fish protection is education, and it is this education
that you gentlemen are engaged in disseminating. Impress upon
the rising generation why the fish protective laws are made. Teach
him that if the young fish are allowed to grow to spaw^ning size, for
every pair of fish there will be hundreds of little fellows to take
the places of the big ones when they happen to get caught. Teach
him the reason for a close season, show him a nest, say of the sim-
fish, and let him see what it means to catch such fishr's when thev
are nesting and it will not be long before the wisdom of fish pro-
tection will be appreciated. The same information should be given
to the grown up generation, but it will not fall on such good soil,
yet there will be good results. Show a man in the Susquehajiuti
valley who is howling for fishways that the shad mav get up the
stream and then call his attention to the net that he sets in a wing
wall, to catch eels, he says, and it is commendable to catch eels!
But show him that net in which he has caught a few eels and point
out to him the hundreds of dead small shad that have become en-
tangled in the meshes. He will then see that fishwavs will avail
him little if he is to keep on using a contrivance that decimates the
schools of little shad as they try to get down to salt water.

Some of the men who have been arrested and fined for using illegal
devices have become the warmest friends of the Department %f
Fisheries when the rer.sons for the law has been fullv explained
to them. The protective measures of the Department 'have reallv
been in the line of education for tliey have set people to ihinkin-
U ith the co-operation of the associations whose representatives are
here to-day, the Department hopes to give manv more etfective les-
sons until public sentiment is trained to such a pitch that the fish
pirate dare not ply his trade any more openlv than the thief who
phes his trade by night, and will find it as diflicult to dispose of his
pirated fish as the thief does his booty. When this time conies
there will be no difficulty in having the streanis as full of fish as
when the first settlers landed, the angler will be sure alwavs to
get a string, and the man who wants a mess of fish for supner cin
go and get them. ^

RELATION OF THE DEPAirr^IENT OF FISHERIES TO TITF

WATERS PRfX'ATELY OWNED.

BY CHARLES WETHERILL.

This is the second State (Nmv(>ntion of Associations devoted to
the interests of the fisheri( s of Peiinsvlvania for commerce and for
sport.

The first convi^ntion called by Oov<Mnnr Hastings came to the
rescue of the State Fish Commission whi.h bv a ^uistakc^ of the
copyist who wrote the general approi)riation bill, was left without
money with which to carry on its public work.

118

REPORT OP THE

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At that convention the general opinion was that it would be un-
gracious and improper to make any suggestions to the Governor
or to the Commission as to the interests or the work of the Fish-
eries , that we came together not to ask for anything either for
ourselves or for any one else, but to contribute promptly and gladly
as the Governor might suggest. At the same time the hope was
expressed on all sides that at some future time, and when it would
not be unbecoming to do so, a convention of the fishermen might be
called to review the course of the Commission, not with any un-
kindness of criticism, and deliberate on any suggestions proper
to be made.

Tennsylvauia stands alone in her course as to the angler. In no
other state of the Union has the government called on the sports-
man either for financial aid or for kindly advice and counsel, and
I, for one, deem it a great and gratifying compliment to the public
spirit of the Pennsylvanian tishernmn to be called upon, and am
happy in the remembrance that I attended the first State conven-
tion of fishermen, and that I am here again to-day. We are here
in no spirit of unfriendly criticism. We rejoice that recent law has
remodelled the Fish Commission, given it an established place in
the public service, with a permanent ofiice in the Capitol, and placed
its supervision in the care of one official, employing his whole time,
and we would express our appreciation of the independence of the
Governor, who turned away from the temptation to reward politi-
cal services and appointed a recognized expert in the science of fish
culture, a good fisherman, and a true sportsman, as the head of the
remodelled department of the public service.

And what may be asked is the object of this Department of the
l>ublic service, nmintained with such care and expense? Clearly
the first object of all is the protection of the commercial interests
the improvement of the food supply, the plentiful stocking of the
nmrket with good, cheap, wholesome food, within the easy reach of
the poor, so as to remove, so far as possible the temptations of want
and hunger, and also to give i)rofitable emph)yment to the people.

To this end the propagation on an adecjuate scale of the standard
food fish, such as the whitefish, shad, herring, sturgeon, rock fish
and black bass, the placing of a proper supply of them in the public
waters and their preservation when planted by proper laws, rigidly
enforced, plainly comes first and before all. But it may well be
doubted whether the State's duty to the commercial interests ends
here. There are in our State many streams and ponds which flow
or stand over lands which are privately owned, and on which the
owners, generally farnu^rs, i)ay taxes, but receive litth* or no return
for the outlay, the adjoining fields are tilled with anxious care, but
the waters lie idle. We are accustomed to think of the Chinese as
an inferior race, but in their country the ponds are as diligently cul-
tivated as the gardens, and yield thiMr crops of marketable produce
with the same regularity. If after caring for the existing commer-
cial interests the Fish Commission has any available funds remain-
ing unexpended, it would be well to use at least a fair share of it
in conducting experiments looking to the encouragement of the
practical cultivation by the farmers of the waters owned by them.
The Fish Commitision by careful woik on tin's line mav add to its
present knowledge, the means of succi'ssful propagation and rearing

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

119

Oi fish or animals suitable to the warm water creeks and ponds
usual in the farming districts; there are several of these for which
there is a steady demand in the market at prices which are suffi-
ciently high to justify the State in experimenting upon them.

Frogs command a high price, and are very justly considered a
delicacy, and the eggs can be gathered and allowed to hatch almost
without care or expense. If some cheap food could be found for
the tadpole and the frog, the small warm water ponds of the State
could be made to produce a valuable crop.

The red-legged terrapin of the spring water creeks lias a deli-
cacy of flavor which when they are carefully cooked, can hardly be
distinguished from that of the famous ''diamond back." It com-
mands a good price, and it should not be very difficult to find out
how long it takes them to grow to a marketable size; how to pro-
tect and hatch the eggs, and what their natural food is. The same
experiments might with advantage be tried on the snapping turtle,
which while it does not connnand (juite as high a price in the mar-
ket, is in steady demand, and grows to a much larger size. One very
good point about these animals is that they are very tenacious of
life, and could be easily and safely cari'ied to market and sold
alive. This would not only save the j)roducer the trouble and ex-
pense of killing and preparing them for the market, which is a
serious item as to the ordinary domestic animals and fowls, but it
would insure to the consumer the fact that the meat inn-chased is
absolutelv fresh.

Of all the fish native to the warm cr(«eks flowing thiough the
farming districts, the best for food is the <atflsh, and tlie next is the
sunfish. There is no better flsh than the cattish taken from clean
water, and in the smaller streams they could undoubtedly be grown
profitably if the hatching of the eggs and the rearing of tiie fry were
better understood. In such streams as the PerkionuMi and the
Brandywine, wherever in fact they are naturally found, they could
I>robably be cultivated with advantage. It may be objected that
such streams are many miles in length and that no single "land owner
would be likely to possess a sufficient length of the creek bed to
nmke it worth any one owner's time to go into the business, but this
difficulty could easily be met by the co-oju'ration of the owners.
Farmers have for years sent their milk to creameries operated on
joint stock plans to their mutual advantage, and it would be equally
easy to operate a fish hatching plant for an entire stream upon a
ju-oportionate division of the expense and jirofit, or for all the
owners to join in leasing the creek to a fishery, on a division of rent
in proportion to the area owned by each farmer.

P^xperiments, scientifically con<iucted. may also discover opi»or-
tunity for the profitable cultivation of the waters with other fish;
the above are merely suggested as examples that occur to me.

It is undoubtedly true many of our finest streams have been ren-
dered unsuitable for these works by the diainage of mines, the
washing of minerals, the escai)e of waste ])roducts fiom mills and
factories, and the sewerage of towns. It is no ])art of the scheme
of this paper to discuss the many sided (]uestion of the right of the
government to interfere on this point. So far as th(» jmblic health
is involved th<' question is in the care of another dei»artment of the
public service. It is only mentioned here to indicate that in my

120

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

121

opiniou the experiments of cultivation above mentioned can pro-
bably be tried with the best chance of success in waters which most
nearly approach the natural conditions of purity. But in all this
care of the commercial interests, the supply of the lish market and
the education of the farmer in new industries, the sportsman may
ask: ''Where do I come in?" The only approach to criticism which
occurs to my mind as I review the past work of the Fish Commis-
sion, laboring as it does under the old law under very great disad-
vantages, is that the angler for sport has had more than his fair
share of the care and labor of the Commission.

Year by year in the annual report appears the long list of persons
and fishing clubs to whom millions of trout fry are presented by
the government with great trouble, in a car specially made for the
purpose, and at very considerable expense, and it is undoubtedly
the fact that most of these fish are planted in waters that are not
public streams and that in some instances they are even privately
preserved. In my view of the subject this is an unjust discrimina-
tion in favor of the angler to which he is not entitled, and which
men actuated by the proper spirit of sportsmen should be
ashamed to ask for. The angler has no more claim on the State
irovernment for trout frv to stock his brook with than he has for
fiy rods or wading boots, or any other appliances of his favorite pas-
time. If his waters are insufiiciently stocked he ought to gather
trout eggs and hatch out fry for himself. Live trout eggs cost
about a dollar a thousand, a trough similar to an ordinary horse-
trough, set in a spring house, with sieves pegged into it, set four
inches below the water line, would easily hold fifteen thousand
eggs. Six layers of flannel across the fall of water is a sufficient
filter and wiHi these simple and cheap a})i)liances trout fry can be
hatched at a cost very much less than is commonly supposed, pro-
bably about three dollars per thousand for the first seven thousand
and the cost of the eggs oji all over that number. Surely this expense
is not a burdensome one to a fishing club, and if the State should sup-
ply the anglers for sport with live trout eggs instead of fry, and
charge the proper cost of producing and parking them for ship-
ment. This is the utmost assistance that they ought to expect. In
return for this it ought to be stipulated that the fry be planted in
waters free from fixed obstructions to prevent their wandering, so
that the fishing above and below the place where they are planted
might be gradually improved. Many of the best anglers are not
owners of streams and do not belong to fishing clubs, but when they
go fishing, they usually stay at a hotel near their favorite stream,
and thes(^ hotels are well known. It would be perfectly easy for
the owners of the more prominent of them to maintain hatcheries
for trout or bass and adequately stock the streams their patrons
come to fish, and it would pay them well to do this. It is not gen-
erally done only because it is easier for the hotel keeper to apply
to the Fish Commissioners than to set up hatcheries foi- themselves.

There is, however, one exce])tion. The State is forming Forest
Reserves, which now aggregate in area one million acres, and are
being increased. These reserves are generally on the water sheds,
and abound in springs, brooks and small (oIjI sti-eams, which can
easily be made ns good trout fishing as any in the Stnte. The im-
provement of these waters is entirely within the proper function of

the Fish Commission, and as the lands are public property, it will be
entirely right to allow public fishing in these waters under proper
restrictions. In this way every one, rich and poor alike, may have
a fair share of good sport at moderate expense, and the Forest Re-
serves will become popular places of sport and recreation, where all
may enjoy out-door life, amid healthful and happy surroundings.

What the sportsman needs is not free distribution of trout and
bass fry so much as proper protection of the water itself. I have
seen streams which in my younger days were famous resorts for
anglers dry up into small channels of warm water, as the splendid
forests which shaded them and protected the springs were cut down,
leaving the banks and mountain sides bare open wastes.

We need to have the mountain ranges well timbered. We need
protection from forest fires. It ought to be as punishable to burn
growing timber as to destroy growing wheat. The banks of streams
ought to be shaded with the oak, ash, walnut and other harl woods,
systematically cut and carefully replanted. In this. Penni«^ylvania
may well follow the example of other countries. The famous Black
Forest in Germany is made up entirely of trees which have been
artificially planted and cultivated; the Bavarian trout streams
would long since have warmed and their game fish become extinct
species, if it were not for the shade of forests grown, not as parks,
but for profit.

Much as the Fish Commission has done, and much as I hope for
its future, I believe that its labors will be in vain, so far as the trout
streams of the State are concerned, until the wholesale destruction
of the shade is controlled, the timber allowed to grow and forest
fires be lawfully restrained. To reach these results, we must hope
for the education of the landowner of the mountain districts to a
more enlightened selfishness, and this is being done by the good
example and earnest precepts of the Forestry Commission.

These remarks may invite tlic^ criti(*ism that they advise a course
which gives nearly everything to the fisherman for the market, the
farmer and the lumberman, and sacrifices the claim of the angler.

No one here love« the sport more than I do; to no one is the de-
light of life and sport along the streams and in the fields and woods
greater; no one's heart answers with truer sympathy than mine to
the call of the Dame Berners. written nearly five hundred years ago:
"Come forth then to ye sporte of anglynge. If ye catche fishe
welle; but if ye catche no fishe, ye have ye holsom walke, ye syghte of
ye freshe flowers, and ye sweete songs of fowlis."

The love of sport springs from the love of nature and of fair
play. The feeling that avoids taking an unfair advantage, prompts
earnest advice against an unfair discrimination.

The public interest should be considered before all. ''Business
first and pleasure afterwards" should be recognized as Ww truth.
The State calls on us for ndvicc jind counsel; let us give it freely,
unselfishly and honestly; confidently relying ot? ;» return of good-will
and fair dealing on the ])art of the governuKMU of Tennsvlvania, the
great Commonwealth which lias rcco^uizcd nioro than any other
state of the Union the interests of the sportsman.

ClIAS. WETHERILL.

January 1st, 11)01.

II.

122

REPORT OF THE

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CAUSES LEADING TO HIE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BLACK

BASS.

UY E. W. CAMPBELL.

"PROLOGUE."

"Gentlemen: Let noi ])rejn(lic(; prepossess you; I confess my dis-
course is like to prove sailablc to my recreation, calm and quiet.
So much for the proloo-^f of what f mean to sav."

ISAAK WALTON.

Pittston, I*a.,
March 3, 1904.

Gentlemen and BrotluMS of the "'Anj'le:" I am asked to write a let-
ter to be presented lo your convention. I hardly know where to
begin, but I think a few words on the subject "the lack of public
interest in the protection of game and tish/' would not be out of
place.

You know the old saying, '"what is everybody's business is no-
body's." Now, let me ask this pertinent ({uestion, what have you
done? I mean you individually, not collectively. ''Oh, our club
did so and so," you say. lirother that won't do. What part, I mean,
did you do? Did you contribute anything to Jiclp the good work
along? Did you give cash, valuable time, or sleepless hours, to try
and protect our tish and game? Or have you experienced such indig-
nities as arrest, prosecution or commitment to your county jail?

I say, have you? Did I hear you say, I have? Then" Brother,
kindly let me take you by the hand and thank you for what you have
done to protect our game and fish; that you may know there is at
least one i)erson in all our gi'eat Commonwealth who appreciates
your efforts.

Well, gentlemen, I have been a game and lish ])rotertor for more
than fifteen years. I have had many and varied ex])el'iences. hav-
ing ex]>erienced all the above or before mentioned indignities, be-
sides having faced the muzzle of a loaded gun in tlie hands of viola-
tors, no less than five times. I have been shot at twice, and for
what? Simply Ixn-ause 1 was tiying to enforce the law. Surely
the meagei- com])ensation has nevei- been ecpial to the amouiit of
labor and risks taken, and yi^t T have been accused of doing this work
for what there wa*s in it; and by whom? Why by that too "generons
public," who as a rule are too greedy, indolent or inditTer(Mit to
enforce our hiws, but yet have much time to spare in finding fault

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(^M'SKS 1.EA1)1X(; TO TIIK 1 USA I'TKAKAXCK OF TIIK I5T.A(Mv

iiASS.

BY E. \V. CAMPBET.T..

•'Pnr>T.()OUK."

^'Ociil IciiMMi: L(-( It- ])ri'jiH!iir iircjjosscss you; I coiif'.'ss my dis-
couisc is like (() proM- suihiljlc to my recitation, cnlm ;iml <iui('t.
So miicli for ihr proiM':".. of wh.jj | mraii lot^av."

ISAAK WALTON.

IMitstoii, Ta.,
March 8, 11101.

(leiillciiuMi ami IJi-oilicis of the •Amilc:"' I am asked to wiitc a let-
ter to l>e i>reseiite<i to ; oai- con\ cut ion. I iiar<lly kjsow where to
bej^iii, hut 1 tliink a fe\\- Nxords ou the snl»jeet "the hick of juihlic
interest in the protection of j;ame and lish/' would not he out of
idace.

Vou know the (»l<j K.uini;', "what is e\('rvho<lvV hnsiness is no
hody's." Now, h't me ask this peitinent e,uestion, wlial have yon
done? I mean von indlNidmiliv. not <-olIect ivelv. "Oh our cjuh
did so ami so," you say. IJrolher tliat won't do. W lial part, I nu*an,
did ycMi do? Did you contrilmte any tiling to help the jjood \\<u*k
alon*;? Did you ^ive casli, vaJnahle tinu', or slee[dess hours, to ivy
and ]>r()tect (uir lish and uame? Oi- hav<' you experienc<'d such indii;;
nit ies a« arrest. pi-ose<'ui ion oi commitment to voui- countv iail?

I say, have you? Did 1 hear you say, I li i\e? T!ien llrothei'.
kindly lei me take yon hy the iia.ml ami thank you for what you ha\'e
done to ]H'otect our i-ame am! lish; Diat _\ou ma\ knov\- the?*' is at
least one person in all our j^i-eat Commonwealth who a|»ii?e(iat es
vour eiVorts.

Well, gentlemen, 1 ha\!' heeii a name and lish ]>roi<'i'toi' for laoi-e
than tifieen y-ars. I lunc lia^l nmny and \aried experiences. ha\-
inii' expei-ieneed .-ill the a.heve nv hefore nu'ntioned indi|ij:nil ies. he-
sides haxinu f;ice<l Ihe muzzle cf a loaded iliuu in llie hands of \i(da-
t(U's. no leiss tiian ti\e tinus. I have heen shot at twice, and f<u'
what? Simply h(M-;',iise I was tryinu I e, enfoice the law. Surelv
the mea^ei- compensation has neNer heen cijual to tln' amount of
lahor ami lisks taken, and yet I have Immmi a<'cused of doinjji- this work
for what there was in It; and hy whom? Why ]iy that ioo "j^cmM'ous
puhlic," who as a ruh' are too ^i'(M'dy, imhdent or indilVei'ent to
enforce onr laws, hut yet have much time to spare in finding;- fault

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123

with those who do try to have said laws enforced. Now, gentlemen,
there is one point in our trout season I wish to call your attention to,
namely, an inconsistency. The season opens April loth, in Penn-
sylvania. Now, this is to say the least ht'teen days too early. My
reason is this, our law says, a trout lees than six inches must not
be retained, but returned to the stream unharmed. Now the rub,
how can this be done? He or she (the trout, I mean) has been taken
on a worm, a ("garden hackle"). Now mark me, it does not measure
six inches, what will the fisherman do with it? You say, why put
it back in the stream;" "what for?" The fish has swallowed both
worm and hook. This means throwing dead trout back into the
stream. Now mark me, well, had this fish been taken after May
1st, by an angler, who uses a "tty," the fish will be found to have
been hooked only in the mouth or jaw. A trout does not leap for
a "fly" and swallow same at once; a trout leaps for the "fly," makes
a snap and grabs it. But, give him a chance to once discover your
"fly" is a deception he ejects it on the instant. Now I am not writ-
ing on hearsay, but on observation and experience. A trout swal-
lows a worm, but not an artificial "fly." So this being the case, of
two evils, I say, choose the less. Cut out that part of our "open
season" which is, so to speak ''the fish hog's season."

He who cares not as to the means used to procure same, but sim-
ply any way or means to obtain the fish. Now, gentlemen, ask any
one ol this too numerous class of our "general public," to contribute
funds to help restock our forests and streams, depleted by them, and
the answer you would receive, is, "Oh, that is not my atlair, let the
State see to that." Now, gentlemen, we are fighting an uphill fight,
our streams are growing less each year, so are the trout. J3ut the
great army of fishermen increases day by day. Our forests are fast
disappearing. The trout (Salmo Fontinalis). our woods fish, along
with them. Our rulled grouse, our woods birds, are going the same
long road, never to return. Same old story, extinct, or gone all gone
Gone where the "wild pigeon" buffalo and antelope have gone.
Kindly permit me to quote a refrain from "Woodcraft," by "Ncss-
muck :"

"Never any more
Can it be,

Unto me (or anybody else)
As before."

PROGRESS.

Of course the world moves on — this is progress. But, whether
backward or forward, let some one decide HO yea is hence. And just
what is happening to our own State to-day is happening all over our
land. It is the same old story of "grab and greed." Let's go on
the make to-day and whack-up to-morrow, cheatin;:; each other as

villianously as we may and posterity be d d. "What's all (lie

world to a man when his wife's a widdy?"

"THIS IS THE MORAL."

From Maine to Montana, from the Adirondacks to Alaska, from
the Yoscmite to tlie Yellowstone, the trout hog. the deer wolf, tlie
netter. the skin hunter, each and all have their own way, and the law

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is a farce, only to be enforced when the game has vanished forever.
Perhaps the man child is born who will live to write the moral of
all this; yes, when it is too kUe. Now that you may see these facts
in the same light as 1 see them, and see lit to make this improve-
ment, or change in our trout season, is my only request. Remem-
ber it is not all hunting, to kill game, nor all of lishing. to catch
fish. Especially is this so to the true angler or sportsman.

FJ.su IX) U THE MASSES.

BY NATHAN 11. BUl^LEK, Superiutendeut of ineasant Mount Fish Hatchery,

The complaint is frequently made and it is one worthy of consid-
eration that the laws relating to tlie propagation and protection of
tish are not made lor the masses. That the attention of the pro-
pagators of the hnny tribe has been directed chiefly to the cultiva-
tion of game fisli to the neglect of the food varieties. While this
complaint has some foundation it is not a serious one, when we
consider the immense number of shad, whitelish and herring and
other food fishes, tliat are annually propagated. But it is true
that some of the minor food fishes that would aiford valuable food
supply and much sport to farmers and amateur angh^rs have not
been propagated largely, but this is due to the fact that artificial
propagation of these species has not been fully understood. With
the advance of knowledge it is now possible to propagate fish that
will atlord sport to the people not proiVssional anglers and at the
same time furnish much delirious food.

Among the species that are most worthy of attention are the
sunfish, yellow perch and catfish. These fish will dwell in streams
and ponds in which the trout, black bass and other so called game
fish will not thrive. As the rabbit furnitshes sport for the boys in
hunting, so will the above-named fish furnish the sport for the boys
and girls in fishing. As a pan fish there is none better among the
American fresh water fishes llum the yellow perch. Some persons
will say that the perch is sweeter jind more deliciouis than the bass
and wall-eyed pike and other aristocratic sj^ecies.

As a game fish the yellow perch can be commended from tlie fact
tliat anybody can catch them. It ran be taken with a hook anl line
any month in the year with any sort of bait. It can be caught by
women anil children, alToiding them much sport and a delicious
meal when the string is taken home. Its usunl length is from ten
to fourteen inciies and itn weight from one-half to two pounds,
though larger sani])les have been kuown. Next lo the yellow perch
come the sunfish. As a pan fish it is excelled only by the yellow
l)erch, its fiesh being firm and flakey and jjos^-^esses delicious fiavor.
Both of these fish are exceedingly prolifie and begin si)awning wlH»n
a year old. The sunfish and the yellow lercli are fo;ind in nearly
all the waters of rennsylvania. It is good to eat, is always hungry,

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is a farce, oiilv to be eiifoicod wiuai tlie game has vanished forever.
Perhaps the man child is boi u Vv ho will live to write tlie moral of
all this; yes, when ii ici too la.<'. Now that you may see these facts
in the same li«j;hl as 1 see I hem, ami se(» lit to make this improve-
ment, or change in our trout season, is my only reijiiest. Kemem-
l)er it is not all hunting, to kill game, nor all of lishing. to catcli
tish. Especially is this so to tl-.'; true angler or sporisnuui.

FiSlI VOU 1 ill-: MASS]:S.

IJY NATHAN i:. BUi.MOU, Sapcriutendeat of Pleasmit xMount Fibih Hatchery.

The <om}(laint i.s frefjueiuly nmde and il is one worthy of consid-
eration thai tli(> laws relating to {\iv pr(»pagatioii and protection of
llsh ar4' not made lor the masses. TiiaL tiie attention of the pro-
pagatcus oi tlie linny tribe has been directed cidelly to the cultiva-
tion of game lish. to the neglect of the food vari(»ties. ^^■]^i!e iliis
complaint lias some f(tundatioii it is not a serious one. when we
consider (he iuimense uund)er of shad, whiteiish and herring a.nd
other food tishes, mat are annually prupagated. Hut it is true
that some of the miiu>r food fishes that wouKi aiiord \alua'i>l(' food
supply and uiuvh sjiort to farmers and anuiteur anghrs Innc not
been jU'Opagated largely, but this h\ <lue to the fa-'i that ariilicial
propagation of these sjfccies has not been fully underslooii. With
the advance oi' knovviedge it is now possilde to jnojuiga.te tish that
will atlord sj:<)i i lo i'le jieeple not prei( kssioiuil anglers and ;i1 I lie
same tiui*' furnish mu( h d< iivieus food.

Among I he spcv-ic s thai are nost worthy of attention are the
suniisii, yellow jierch and v-aliish. These lish will dwell in streams
and ponds in whi<-li the trout, blark bass and other so railed game
lish will not thrive. As the labbit furni^sln s sporl I..'- i!i<- boys in
hunting, so will tlie ab(>ve-n;5me.| lish fui nish the spovt for the l)nys
and gills in lishing. As a pan lish thtUi- is n-uie Im lur among tiie
A.merican fresh v\ai<*r lish.es iiian ihe y, ilow p<'r<-]L Som<' jiersons
will say iliat the pi rrji is sweetei- ;.nd lUJi^' ^lelicij-r.c^ than tiie bass
and wall-eyed pike and other aiisnxrai i • xjm civs.

As a gaiiie li^h the yrllow pcirii ; ,iu ]m" comniJiKh'd from (iir fact
that ajiylsody can <'at(h th.M!.. 1 1 (lin i; ia'vcn uiMi a liook :r.! ] iine
any nnmin ijj the yeai- with :{ny v,(,i-| .>f bait. It can be cauglii by
wonuTi and chihb-en. a'io'-'.idi- \\\i]\\ iiiuch sjiort and a (ielicious
meal when the ^■i^ii:g is la/Ueii honi!-. Its usiiai ]en«;th is fiT-m ten
to fourlccti incacs an;! i(;; v.(*ight from one-half to i wo ])ounds,
though iai'ger sanijuc^j have !)<M*n kiiown. X(>\t to the yidlow perch
ccune tii<' snTiiish. .\s a ] an lish ii is <'.vci]l('<] only bv t^i" vellow
percj), its liesh being fii-m an.l 11a key and }'irs*<'ss"s delicious llaNor.
Hoth of these fish are (-xceecbngly prcdif'w and bcjiin sp;nviiing when
a year old. The sunlish and the yellov, { ercli ju-e foand in nearlv
all the watiM's of renntsylvania. It is good to eat, is alwavs hunLrrv.

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DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

125

biting at anythinf": that moves, which renders it easily to catch.
There are plenty of streams in Pennsylvania which would afford ex-
cellent habitations for these fishes.* At the new Wayne County
Station it is proposed to provide a battery for the hatching of these
fish, and I can think of no project which promises more fruitful re-
sults than the vigorous propagation of the perch family, for their
marvelous reproductive powers will enable them to be produced
in enormous quantities. A stream once well stocked will keep well
supplied, if the streams are protected against illegal devices for
fishing. A single female less than three pounds in weight has been
found to contain 125,000 eggs. If the farmers will only give their at-
tention to stocking their streams with these fish, they will always
have a pleasant addition to the dining table and an additional source
of revenue at their market stands. The third fish to which I desire to
call attention is the catfish. Half a century ago this was a great
fish, and catfish and wafles were advertised as a meal fit for a king.
They have been largely exterminated, but it is to be hoped that the
efforts of the Department of Fisheries may result in once more re-
stocking the streams. They are tenacious of life, indifferent to en-
vironment, can be transplanted to any distance, placed in a ditch of
tepid water and with care will increase wonderfully. It would be
almost an insult to tell any boy how to catch them. Their eggs
hatch in about five days and during this time the mother fish stands
guard like the faithful Roman sentinel. When incubation takes
place, she assumes all kinds of maternal watchfulness and anxiety
until the little ones are able to take care of themselves. They have
the bright and shining virtue in that they are not cannibal; they
do not eat their young. Any farmer who has raised these fish un-
derstands that they are more easily taken care of and more pro-
ductive financially than poultry. The description of the habits of
the catfish or bull-head, as it is sometimes called, written as a
burlesque by George W. Peck, gives a vivid and truthful idea of the
life history and game qualities of this fish. After speaking of the
aristocratic habits of the brook trout, he says:

"There are fish that should be propagated in the interests of the
people. There i« a species of fish that never looks at the clothes
of a man who throws in the bait, a fish that takes whatever is thrown
to it, and when once hold of the hook never tries to shake a friend,
but submits to the inevitable, crosses its legs and says, 'Now I lay
me,' and comes out on the bank and seems to enjoy being taken. It
is a fish that is the friend of the poor, and one that would sacrifice
itself in the interest of humanity.

"The bullhead never went back on a friend. To catch the bull-
head it is not necessary to tempt his appetite with porterhouse
steak or to display an expensive lot of fishins: tackle. A pin hook,
piece of liver, and a cistern pole is all the capital required to catch
a bullhead. He lies upon the bottom of a stream or pond in the
mud, thinkincr. There is no fish that does more thinking, or has a
better head for grasping great questions, or chunks of liver, than a
bullhead. His brain is large, his heart beats for humanity, and if
he can't fxet liver a piece of tin tomato can will make a meal for him.
It is an interesting study to watch a boy catch a bullhead. The
bov knows where the bullhead congregates, and when he throws in
his hook, it ia dollars to buttons that Mn the near future' he will
get a bite.

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an

The bullhead is democratic in all its instincts. If the boy's shirt
is sleeveless, his hat erownless, and his pantaloons a bottomless
pit, the bullhead will bite just as well as thouo;h the boy is dressed
in purple and fine linen, with knee breeches and plaid stockinj?s.
The bullhead seems to be dozing? on the muddy bottom and a
stranger would say that he would not bite. But wait. There is a
movement of his continuation, and his cowcatcher moves gently
toward the piece of liver. He does not wait to smell of it, and can-
vass in his mind whether the liver is fresh, it makes no difference to
him. He argues that here is a family out of meat. 'My country
calls and I must go,' says the bullhead to himself, he opens his
mouth and the liver disappears.

''It is not certain that the boy will think of his bait for a half an
hour, but the bullhead is in no hurry. He is in the mud and proceeds
to digest the liver. He realizes that his days will not be long in
the land, or water more properly speaking, and he argues that if
he swallows the bait and digests it before the boy pulls him out he
will be just so much ahead. Finally, the boy thinks of his bait,
pulls it out, and the bullhead is landed on the bank, and the boy cuts
him open to get the hook out. Some fish only take the bait gin-
gerly, and are only caught around the selvage of the mouth, and
they are comi)aratively easy to dislodge. Not so with the bull-
head, he says, 'if liver is a good thing, you can't have too much of
it, and it tastes good all the way down.' The boy gets down on his
knees to dissect the bullhead and get his hook, and it may be that
the boy swears. It would not be astonishing, though he must have
felt, when he gets his hook out of the hidden recesses of the bull-
head, like the minister who took up a collection and did not get a
cent, though he expressed thanks at getting his hat back. There is
one drawback to the bullhead, and that is his horns. We doubt if
a boy ever descended into the patent insides of a bullhead to mine
for Limerick hooks that he did not, before his work was done, run
a horn into his vital parts, but the boy seems to expect it, and the
bullhead (Mijoys it. We have seen a bullhead lie on the bank and
IxM'ome dry, and to all appearances dead to all that was going on,
and when a boy sat down on him and got a horn in his elbow and
yelled murder, the bullhead would grin from ear to ear, and wag his
tail as though ap]>lauding for an enchore.

"The bullhead never complains. We have seen a boy take a dull
knife and ju-oceed to follow a fishline down a bullhead from head
to the end of his subseouent anatomy, and all the time there would
be an expression of sweet jjeace on the countenance of the bullhead,
as though he enjoyed it. If w(^ were preparing a picture represent-
ing 'Resiurnatioii.' for a chromo to give to subscribers, and wish to
represent a scene of suffering, in which the sufferer was light
hearted, seeming to recognize that all was for the best, we would
take for the subject a bullhead, with a boy searching with a knife
for a long-lost fish hook.

"The bullhead is a fish that has no scales, but in lieu thereof has
a fine India rubber skin that is far ahead of fiddle string material for
strength and durability as possible. The meat of the bullhead is
not as choice as that of a mackerel, but it fills up the stomach just
as well and the Department of Fisheries should give the bullheads
u chance."

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

127

It is the intention of the Department of Fisheries that a large
part of the land at the Wayne County Hatchery shall be devoted to
the propagation of the three species above cited. It will thus be
possible to furnish these fish by the millions to the citizens of the
State, so that the farmer devoting the same amount of time and
attention to the fish in the streams and ponds on his farm as he does
to his poultry, will have plenty of fish at all times for his table, a
considerable amount for the market and a large amount of fun for
himself and his family in catching the fish. With the proper amount
of money appropriated for the carrying on of this good work the
Department will send out bulletins telling how to arrange the
ponds and streams on the farms which are numbered by hundreds,
so they can be made suitable for the growing of fish.

The present appropriation for the Wayne County Hatchery is
enough to begin the work for which it is intended. I suggest that
the farmers build a series of lakes or ponds for the accommodation
of the fish and with the increase of facilities that may be expected
in the future the Dei)artment will be able to supply all demands
which will be made upon it for fish to stock the waters in question.

By doing this we will not only reach the end of having the fish,
but at the same time instil in everybody's mind the fascination of
raising fish. Several years ago, when the boys would discover
a fish their first idea was to destroy it, but the day is coming, when
the boy is beginning to learn the usefulness of fish, the wastefulness
of destroying the small ones and the desirability of protecting them.

Another fish which is to be raised at the Wayne County Hatchery,
and of which I have not previously spoken is the gold fish. This
fish will be introduced in all the schools of the State, where it will
serve as an object lesson. It will show how fish grow, give an idea
of their habits and teach the growing youth to protect fish instead
of destroying them.

TROUT FRY VS. FINliERLlNliS FOR PLANTlNiJ.

By W. E. MEEHAN, Commissioner of Fisheries.

Fishermen and fish cultnrists have for years discussed the ques-
tion of which yield the best results, the planting of brook trout fry
or fingerlings. With the advocates of the first method it was for
a long time, in a measure, a campaign of education, for twenty years
ago it was difficult to find a person who believed iho best results
could be obtained other than by planting fingerling troat, that is to
say trout which were hatched in the winter and retained in the
hatching houses until the following autumn. As time passed a
decided change was noticed in public sentiment, and to day the num-
ber of advocates of planting fry, or fish of from three to four months
old is vastly greater than those who still believe in fingerlings. I

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am free to say that I am among those who for more than fifteen
years have been a firm believer in planting fry, and have been a mis-
sionary in the cause. I am more than gratified when in surveying
the field of Pennsylvania, I find irrefutable evidence of the strong
sentiment in favor of planting trout in what may be termed their
childhood, or soon after the egg sacs have been absorbed. There
are sections of Tennsylvania where experienced planters of brook
trout expressly ask for fry and those who have not been in the habit
of applying for State fish still request fingerlings.

The iposition which I take is not the result of mere theory, but
of actual experience, extending over a period of many years. I have
been a planter of fish since 1874, and I have planted both fry and
fingerlings. Mv most marked successes have been w^ith the former.
Success or failure in planting trout fry depend entirely on the
manner in which they are planted, the time they are deposited in
the stream, and the suitability of the stream for the fish.

Apart from all other considerations, it might be said that it
would be impossible for any State to begin to supply the demand
on the hatcheries for trout, if fingerlings only were supplied. The
Department of Fisheries this year had applications which called
for upward of eight millions of trout fry, or more than two millions
more than were incubated in the hatcheries, and even then, to supply
the applicants who forwarded their papers before January 1st,
it was necessary to order the delivery of a less number of fish to
each than the Department felt should properly be sent. If the De-
partment were to retain its trout in ponds until the autumn, or
until thev became fingerlings, the cost and the acreage of the hatch-
eries and the facilities for transportation would have rendered it
impossible to have reared more than one million, probably a lesser
number. Such a state of affairs would not for a moment satisfy the
great army of men who are anxious to have the trout streams well
stocked with fish.

There are many arguments in favor of planting fry. Briefly
stated they are; first, fry are necessarily planted early in the spring,
as soon as* the streams are reasonably free from snow and ice. Con-
sequently when the fry arrive at the stream side the water in the
cans and the water in the stream are nearly of an equal temperature,
a very important consideration where full success is desired.

Second. Bv early shipping it is not necessary to use much ice in
the cans during transportation, only just sufficient to maintain the
temperature of the water in the cans at the .normal spring water
when first shipped. Every intelligent planter of fish will at once
recognize the importance of this point.

Third. By planting early in the spring, the fry are deposited in
their new home at a time when insect life is beginning to become
abundant, and when the fry can secure food without any particular
effort, and without their missing the change from being fed to hav-
ing to hunt their own food. It does not require much reasoning
to show that fish which have not yet come to rely exclusively on
artificial feeding, will more easily learn to seek their own than a
fish which has been fed for months in a hatchery.

Fourth. From three to four times the number of fry can be de-
livered to an applicant than fingerlings.
The objection to planting fingerlings are several.

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

129

First It frequently happens that the weather is yet warm when
they are received, which necessitates constant use of ice in trans-
portation, so that on arrival, the water in the cans have a tempera-
ture of ten to fifteen degrees lower than that of the stream To
plant the fish under such conditions would be fatal to .most of them,
and to bring the water to the proper temperature before planting
entails a long and wearisome task.

Second. The fish after being kept during the entire spring, sum-
mer and early fall in hatching troughs and in ponds on the hatche-
ries become accustomed to schooling or keeping together m large
numbers, and when the spring arrives the entire planting maj
easily be caught by a conscienceless fisherman.

Third The fish by being retained in the hatcheries until they are
nearly a year old become accustomed to being fed, and when they are
liberated in the stream in the fall at a time when wild food is be-
coming scarce, the fish scarcely know how to seek and capture that
which is still in existence. The result is that the fish are half
starved and do not present the same good appearance in the spring
as their brethren which were planted in the spring.

Fourth. Trout reared on wild food are believed to be stronger and
grow faster than those which are fed on artificial foods in the

hatcheries.

Whatever may be the merits of the arguments of the two sides,
there is one factVhich remains clear and distinct, namely that given
two streams, which are barren, and planted one with fry and the
other with fingerlings, and both properly planted, the one in which
the frv are planted will outstrip the one in which the fingerlings
were planted. I will give an illustration. A number of years ago,
I selected one stream and a friend another, both of which contained
no trout, and both of which it was mutually agreed possessed about
equal qualifications. The stream which I chose was a meadow brook,
that which my friend selected ran for the most part through wood-
land I received five cans of fry, each can containing 1.000 trout, my
friend secured, if I remember rightly, about the same number of
cans of fingerlings, perhaps 2,000 trout in all. Each of us planted
our fish according to rule. One year later, I had a trout stream
abounding in young trout from four to seven inches long, and it was
maintained for several vears in the same condition. It was n^t^mg
to catch half a dozen trout within a hundred yards, trout which
would run from six to ten inches long. My friend's planting was
not a failure, but he frankly admitted that the results were far
below those which I had achieved. I had stronger, better and more

I have since planted stream after stream, many of which had
previously been barren or almost entirely so, and the results have
invariably been very satisfactory.

Some of those who object to planting fry give as a reason that
they are washed away by floods. I wish to say, and with the em-
phasis which comes from knowledge, that there is probably not a
flood vet been found big enough to move a trout fry an inch from a
spot it did not wish to leave. There is more brain power also in
the heads of the little creaturt^ than the average man gives it
credit for. As soon as waters begin to rise, boil and become unduly

9_24— 1904

130

REPORT OF THE

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boisterous, the trout fry simply slips into an eddy, behind a piece
of brush, some grass or a stone and there it rests quite quietly
until the waters resume their normal condition.

If with still rising waters, the spot becomes uncomfortable, the
young trout moves into shallower and quieter water. Sometimes,
and indeed often, in very high water, this action will carry them into
meadow lands, where ordinarily the ground is above water. It
sometimes happens that when the water recedes, the little creatures
do not get back to the bed of the creek fast enough, and they perish;
the proportion of those which escape to those which perish is vastly
the greater. . I had a remarkable example of the power which small
trout possess in maintaining themselves against floods.

Some years ago I undertook to stock a stream for a gentleman
in the suburbs of Philadelphia. There was but one good spring run
flowing into the stream to be stocked, and there I planted 3,000 trout
fry. The distance was perhaps a little less than a quarter of a mile.
1 visited the little brook every few days, and soon came to know
the favorite spots. Suddenly one day there came a furious thun-
der storm. At the rear of the spring two streets came together,
and a little groove was the remains of an old and long dried up
water course. Both streets and the old water course poured tor-
rents of nastv yellow water down over the route taken by the spring
run. The little rill disappeared and in its place was a roaring
stream fully fifty feet wide, and from four to six feet deep. A
mile lower down on the main stream which in its normal condition
v^as from two to three feet wide, a man and two horses were
drowned.

I was young then in the business of fish planting and I had no
thought of ever seeing my little fry any more. It was more than
24 hours before the little spring run resumed its normal condition,
and when I went thereto, instead of a depopulated run, I found the
little trout all as far as I could see in exactly the places they were
accustomed to be.

The fact of the matter is that if properly planted, one need not
fear the result. A stocked stream is a reasonable certainty, bar-
ring unusual accidents, such as a sudden visit of ducks or other
deadly enemy of fish. The question then which is paramount is,
what is the proper method of planting trout fry.

First. When the stocking of a stream is contemplated, the initial
proceeding is to determine whether trout will live therein. Fortu-
nately this is a problem easy of solution. If the usual creek min-
nows, particularly the striped dace, are found in the creek, it is a
suitable stream for trout. The striped dace, and most of the creek
minnows require almost exactly the same water conditions as
brook trout. If the minnows are absent, the next step is to ascer-
tain whether the fish have disappeared through water pollution or
netting. If after becoming satisfied that the water conditions are
all right, the next important rule to observe is not to plant the
trout fry in the stream from which it is expected to catch them,
but in spring runs which empty into it.

It does not matter how small the spring run is. The rill may
only be six or eight inches wide and an inch or two deep, with here
and there tiny pools of four or five inches. Indeed such a rill is
often better than a run a foot or two wide and with a greater

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

131

volume of water. Insect life is usually more abundant on a tiny
rill overhung with grasses, and hiding places from enemies more
effective. The trout planter should go to the very head of such
a rill and scatter the fish along the whole distance, a half dozen here
and a dozen there. A rill of the character described will safely
hold a thousand or more trout; but five hundred would be the better
number, if there are many other rills like it.

Under no circumstances should trout fry be dumped out of a can
into one spot. Although if they are so dumped, the little creatures
might, if they had time and opportunity, scatter themselves along
the entire length of the rill, but the chances of their living to seek
roomier quarters are very small, the many enemies, ducks, snakes,
frogs, field mice, cats, various species of birds, and other creatures
would soon make short work of them.

The fry will live and thrive in the rills until about the first of
October, when they will find the water supply inadequate and move
into the stream which is to be stocked and it will be found that the
number which managed to get through the first and most dangerous
portion of their lives, remarkably large.

It sometimes happens that there are streams in which there are
no verj^ small spring runs, and where the spring runs are themselves
respectable sized streams. In that case the fry should be i)lanted
.1 few here and there in the back waters and out of the spots usually
occupied by larger fish. When such streams are come upon, it is
advisable wherever possible to plant a slightly larger supply, say
one-third more than where the spring runs are mere lills

If the directions given are followed closely, there need be no fear
that trout fry are too young to plant, the results will be of such
a gratifying character that the great majority will prefer them to
the larger but weaker and in every way less desirable fingerlings.

CAUSE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BLACK BASS IN THE

DELAWARE RIVER.

M. LUTHER MICHAEL.

In 1873, if I remember rightly, black bass were introduced into
the Delaware river in all the upper waters. (I helped empty the
cans that contained them, in Shoemaker's Eddy.) By 1876, the bass
had multiplied to such extent that they afforded good rod and line
fishing. They couid be caught readily on the Delaware and all its
tributaries not obstructed by dams and falls. For a period of 27
years, namely from 1873 until 1900, this greatest of fresh water
game fishes held its superiority and sway against all enemies, in-
cluding man. But in 1900 there was a perceptible decrease in the
catch of bass. In 1901 the catch was even smaller. In 1902 he
was a lucky fisherman that filled his creel, and in 190.3, to capture
a small mouthed black bass in the Delaware river was a rare oc-
currence.

During these years of 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903, observing anglers
noticed the almost absolute or entire absence of small fingerling

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No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

133

black bass in the most likely haunts of the young bass. In the rocky
eddies bordering the edges of the swift rifts, where prior to 1900
young bass existed in countless numbers, it was rare if not impos-
sible to find a small bass, and if one was seen or caught it was in-
variably an old mature fish of several years of age. This in the
face of protective laws prohibiting the taking of bass by all methods
excepting rod, hook and line.

During these years of the falling off of the hitherto unconquer-
iable bass the German carp made their appearance. They multiplied
by thousands, and to add to their numbers a series of unfortunate
accidents took place. A number of farmers in Monroe county. Pa.,
and in other localities had been taught from government sources,
particularly from the Washington Fish Commission, that there was
millions in growing carp, and hence many dams were constructed
on small creeks and stocked with carp. Almost every heavy rain
in my locality brought word of these dams going out, and pouring
their contents into the Delaware. A large dam owned by Kerr
Bros., near Stroudsburg, Pa., that contained many thousands of
carp, was washed away, and carried into the Delaware.

In addition to these accidents, carp had escaped from ponds in
New Jersey, and prior to their appearance above Delaware Water
Oap, Pa., had taken possession of the Raritan river in New Jersey,
and many other confluent streams below the Gap. When they first
appeared above the Gap, they came in schools; all mature fish.
They could be seen in all the deep waters containing mud banks, or
deposits of decayed vegetable matter. I saw five acres behind
Pocono Island in a deep cove, the bottom of which I judged was cov-
ered from three to six feet deep with carp. The time of year was
November, when the first shore ice was forming. They seemed to
be in winter quarters, hibernating. I have seen them everywhere
on the Delaware in single pairs and numbering many thousands.

May 22d, 1903, 1 was interested in a shad fishery, seven miles above
Delaware Water Gap, Pa., on the Delaware river. The fishery was
located on the head of an island in mid-stream. The river was very
low, the water in the haul being no where over five feet deep. The
bottom was a solid paved cobble stone bottom, the water running
swiftly over the whole course of the fishery. The first drag of 100
vard seine landed three large roe shad and six carp. The respective
weights of the carp were 6, 9, 12, 16f , 23^, 29} pounds. The hauls
were continued until morning , and the same ratio in numbers of
the two species was maintained. These carp were taken in a fishery
in which they were never taken before, showing their spreading
proclivities. "The decline of the bass is contemporary with the rise
of the carp in the Delaware."

We have often observed the clean habits of the small mouth black
bass. He loves pure water, and fails to properly multiply in con-
taminated streams.

The carp destroys all other embryonic fish life in the Delaware
river. The sunfish are as much affected as the bass and the "goggle
eye," which in 1900, could be taken with an angle worm in goodly
numbers, entirely disappeared in 1903. The horned chub and com-
mon sucker, which ordinarily spawn in the swiftest waters, alone
escaped.

\

All fishermen know of the paternal habits of nearly all varieties of
fish making nests or spawning beds. Many of these beds show a
great deal of labor and ingenuity, and we observe that each species
of fish has a ditferent method of spawning, its characteristics, its
locating, constructing, spawning, caring (some fish, as the black
bass jealously guarding their spawning beds), with jaw and fin.

The small mouthed black bass, when they can have a choice in
locating their spawning beds, will usually choose a site near a
couple submerged logs, or old sunken trees, limbs, brush, frequently
between two spreading limbs or behind a rock or a shelving bar.

The bottom chosen is generally, of course, gravel, mixed with
course sand, should any material be lacking, it will be found near
b^^, and the bass will carry the necessary materials in his mouth
and add them to the bed. The beds will as a rule be in calm water,
placed behind an object that divides the current, or shoots the water
over the bed. In a natural season, by the time the bass begin to
spawn in earnest, the river declines to such an extent that the bulk
of all bass beds lie in calm waters, and these calm waters are the
eddies lining the sides of the stream. The carp is properly a calm
water fish, for in this calm water thev find their sustenance, and
hence their occupying them. The accumulating sediments, mud,
rich in decayed matter, they feed upon. No matter whether the
mud is thick or thin, whether it lies in ridges formed by wind and
current or is a sediment settling in the interstices of the stones.
He is not handicapped by such obstructions for he has a peculiarly
formed proboscis that he can extend out and draw in for fullv two
inches on more without moving his body, and further this proboscis
has the power of great suction and expelling force, so that he can
draw the muds in his mouth without much exertion and retain what
he wants and expel any objectionable muds.

Before the carp's appearance in the Delaware river the black bass
had possession of all the waters. But the carp came (not as the
bass had come in the waters of the Delaware in cans of tin, midgets
in size), but in bands — vast schools. They swam up and down the
eddies, veritable giants in size, polluting the pure waters with their
very numbers, and plowing, rooting, turning the river bottom into
an unsightly mud hole, like a drove of hogs. One can imagine the
consternation with which the bass must have viewed these ruthless
invaders, and the despair that seized the bravest of them, when
these hordes of vandals began the destruction of their old habita-
tions.

Day after day the pollution of the crystal waters continued. True,
nature occasionally had in the past and would continue in the
future from heavy storms to rile the water, but this only lasted a
few days at a time, and only added to the greater stamina and
longevitv of the bass familv and made them set their houses in order
as it were. Nature's riley water was not perpetual, but the carp
were. So day after day the sediment falls upon the bass' spawning
beds, like the lava and ashes that covered up Pompeii, and the
spawn of the bass is encased in cyts of mud and smothered.

In these muddy carp befouled eddys you will see the knowing farm
lads at nightfall (frequently accompanied by their elders), anchored
in a batteau and running a straight pole up and down rapidly
through their hands into the water, with a wad of angle worms

134

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

tied to the smaller and bottom end of the rod. These boys and
men are bobbing for eels. Prior to the advent of the carp, bobbing
for eels when there had been no rains to make the river rise and
rilev, was unknown. The presence of the eels in such numerous
quantities, attracted to the carp befouled waters from many acres of
clearer water round about, make them a great factor in adding to
the general ruin of the bass spawn. The eel which is more at home
in mud than in water, wriggles and squirms his slimy body through
the smallest aperature, greedily devouring whatever remains of the
bass spawn.

So on the carp we will place this crime, for the bass are very
jealous of their beds and woe to the despoiler of them who exposes
his presence, and wei-e it not for theriley waters, made such by
the carp, the bass would challenge every eel approaching their bed,
but the eel under cover of the riled water is secure. To establish the
pugnacitv of the small mouthed black bass I recite the following:
June 5th, 1901, three Philadelphia gentlemen in company with my-
self viewed a struggle along the shores of the Delaware river in
three or four feet of water between a bass of perhaps four or five
pounds in weight and a three foot water snake. The battle lasted
about five minutes, and would have continued longer but for the
curiosity of some of the party, who wishing to make closer obser-
vations frightened the combatants, but it wa« conceded by all that
the bass would have won out eventually and killed the snake. Later
the snake was dispatched.

An examination of the bottom in the locality of the battle dis-
covered a bass' spawning bed, over which the identical bass fight-
ing the snajve a few minutes before stood guard, as the scars, loss
of scales, etc., indicated that he had been in the recent conflict.
What I desire to keep before you is the fact that the black bass
held their own for twenty-seven years against all enemies, and only
succumbed to fate when the carp moved on them in unison with
their old time enemies, forming too powerful a combination for our
friends the baes. Bear in mind also that the natural muddy waters
in the Delaware is only seen when there is a freshet, and the waters
high either in the river itself or some of its tributaries, and the
mud sediment so injurious to the spawn of our game fish under dis-
cussion is wafted along with the current and deposited in Delaware
Bay, instead of in the quiet river waters. These sediments may,
before they reach the bay finally have been in many mud bank for-
mations, and in the numerous mud and sand bars lining the stream,
but when they moved on their way to the bay, step by step, by slow
degrees, no matter how often tiiey settled to the eddy bottoms,
they settled permanently, until disturbed by a rise of water, and
the' riled conditions only last a cou])le of days from storms ordi-
narily. But carp keep the same eddy's riled for 60 to 00 days with-
out any cessation, and during low water when there is no current
to draw otT the stirred u]) sediment, and then it hap])ens that as
fast as the sediment settles, it is re-stirred up again and again, and
this is constantly serving but one single purpose, to make the water
muddy and drive all other fish that [)refer pure clear water to those
parts of the streams where pure conditions exist, but the condi-
tions outside of the pure water itself is uncongenial and unsuitable
to the best welfare and complete propagation of bass. Further it is

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES.

135

a natural inference that inasmuch as the bass prefer moderately
quiet waters (in which there are quantities of vegetation, grasses,
weeds, etc.), in close proximity to their beds, or at least skirting
the waters near their beds, that their youn^ at a v^t\y early stage
of their existence must depend for their subsistence upon minute
larvae and diminutive breeds of amphibious creatures that thrive
among this water vegetation.

I have noticed that where certain eddies abounded a few years ago
in several varieties of water plants, in the nooks and small coves,
and where the mating bass could be found in quantity every May,
with numerous spawning beds, not only have the bass entirely dis-
appeared from these choice black bass spawning grounds, but these
various species of plant life thriving so luxuriently in the same
waters practically have entirely disappeared, and I believe these
plants to have been destroyed through the constant mud in the
water not permitting the sunlight to stimulate them, or that the
carp uprooted the plants and used them for food. Certain it is,
that these plants held their own until the carp came and that with
the disappearance of the bass these plants simultanoously disap-
peared from their favorite waters.

EXPERIMENTS IN REARING BLACK BASS.

BY WILLIAM BULLER.

By request of Hon. W. E. Meehan, I will give the following re-
port of my limited ex])erience in bass culture, having begun the
work in 1800. I was instructed by Mr. Meehan, who was at that
time secretary and statistion for the Pennsylvania Fish Commis-
sion, to l)egin the raising of small mouth black bass. T was ready
and willing to do my l)est, and had it not been for my time being
almost fully occupied with trout work, I would have been able to
give the bass work closer attention.

Notwithstanding misfortunes which will be mentioned later, I
feel we have been reasonably successful. In the first place we
were somewhat limited for space, as we did not have tlie additional
ground which has since been purchased.

I decided to convert several abandoned trout ponds which
when located in the deer park, into my idea of what was necessary,
as near as possible for the breeding work. These were as follows:
two ponds twelve by thirty feet, with race at upper end eight
by twenty-four feet; depth of water in race being eight inches and
in pond three feet. The bottoms were covered with four inches of
loose gravel. The ])onds were so built that there was a drop of
two feet from one pond to another. I placed a water tight gate
with slide to regulate the flow of water and raise or lower the
temperature when needed.

136

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

When we had completed the work of construction, I secured
seventy-eight mature black bass, taken from Lake Erie, which were
placed in the ponds. Although by this time it was past the spawn-
ing season, I considered it advisable to secure the fish to be pre-
pared for work the following season. This could have been de-
ferred until spring, but I have found better success with fish which
have become accustomed to their surroundings. They become do-
mesticated, and naturally better results follow.

I began feeding the bass with tadpoles which I was fortunate to
have on hand, giving them about one fjint three and four times a
week. I would also cut up dead fish and feed to them. I tried to
feed them beef liver at different times, but they refused to touch
it. They did nicely with the food they received during the winter,
and were in a healthy condition in the spring when they entered
the race which was graveled and began to make nests. Whether
male or female I could not tell, as at this time they are very timid,
and on account of a great many visitors to the hatchery, they were
frequently disturbed.

After the nest was completed the male and female, whichever it
was would leave and return v/ith a mate. I felt certain that they
spawned and removed the fish to another pond, which I have since
learned was a mistake, having no young bass to show for my work.
By leaving the i^arent fish in the pond they remain on the nest and
by motion of the fins and tail they keep the spawn free from sedi-
ment which would smother the eggs.

The following winter I lost all of the breeding fish, and it still
remains a misterv what has become of them, but thev gradually dis-
appeared. Thinking probably they were hiding in the grass on the
bottom, I drew the water from the pond, but much to my surprise
and disappointment there were not any fish to be found, alive or
dead. It could be possible minks or coons had carried them off.

Thus far my bass work had been a failure. It takes time to ex-
periment in this work, and one almost gives up in despair, but you
finally cocide on another plan and start out with hopes for better
success. I secured some more breeding fish, which I placed in what
was formally my carp pond, which is oval in shape, forty by seventy
feet, depth of pond in centre four feet, the water being shallow
around the edges of pond, which are thickly grown in places with
cat-tails, pond lillies and water grass. The open spaces were heavily
graveled and upon this they made their nests. I retained the large
fish in pond after they had spawned. Late in June to my joy and
satisfaction, I discovered the pond full of little fish. I felt more
encouraged. I could not give very much attention to the work
at this time on account of shipping trout fry, which keeps us very
busy, so I left the small fish remain in the pond until fall without
feeding them, as the pound was well supplied with water plants, fur-
nishing plenty of food for them. The large fish as before were fed
on tadpoles and dead fish. When I drew the water from the pond in
the fall, I did not have the amount of young fish expected, but was
able to fill a few applications.

One disadvantage in raising bass is that they are of a voracious
nature. Even though sufficiently fed they will devour each other.
To illustrate their habits, my brother, who has charge of the Erie
Station, put four thousand fry into a pond ranging in size from

No. 24.

DEPARTMENT OP FISHERIES.

137

one inch to one and one-half inches in July. They took the food
readily a few days after being put into pond. They were fed on
beef liver ground up, also fish prepared in the same way. He noticed
they took the food more readily when not cut so fine. They will
take food every few hours, yet it was plainly seen they would prey
on each other.

During the time they were in the pond there were not more than
fifty dead fish taken out, and no possible chance for them to escape.
Out of the four thousand there were only two thousand seven hun-
dred fish left to be shipped. In three months time they devoured
twelve hundred and fifty fish, besides the food given them, which
averaged about four pounds of liver and fish ground every day.
When the fish were shipped they were from three to three and one-
half 'nches in length.

The Fish Commission purchased a tract of land adjoining the
hatchery grounds. As soon as they had possession I began to con-
struct three large bass ponds. They are about five feet deep at
one end and shallow at the other. I put five inches of gravel on
the bottoms and planted water plants. The spawning fish were
placed in ponds in the fall. Before spawning time began in the
spring I placed a number of boxes in one pond built on the same
plan as those used by the Michigan Fish Commission, for the fish
to build their nests in. I had fine and coarse gravel in the boxes
for them to work upon, but I could not see any of the fish working
in the boxes, and I have my doubts as to their using them. The
two ponds without the artificial nest boxes were alive with small
fry. This leads me to think I have my ponds properly constructed,
and that the fish prefer building their nests to their own liking.

When I discovered the ponds filled with small fish, I felt well satis-
fied with the results. They worked around the shallow parts of
the ponds and around the plants. It was my intention to remove
the large bass in a few days after noticing "^the fry, but before I
could find time to attend to it, there was an unusual heavy rain,
causing a large amount of surface water to fiow into the ponds from
the hill resulting in the ponds overflowing carrying away all the
fry which were many thousands.

I now have a large ditch along the north side of the ponds to
carry off any surface water in the future.

I know it is possible to hatch the fish in large numbers and hope
we will not meet with any misfortune this coming season. There
are many things to be learned in raising the fry, but it is my opinion
the fry should be kept in large ponds, well supplied with water
plants, as they furnish food for them to feed upon. It also affords
them hiding places, which are a protection from eating each other.
I hope to be more successful in the future.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.

No. 24.

inide:^:?^.

^y^i'^

(13S)

Page.

Atlantic Salmon, 29

Arrrests for Illegal Fishing 55

Allentown Hatchery, Superintendent's report 100

Blackbass Culture 26-35

Bullheads, 46

Bellfonte Hatchery, Superintendent's report 79

Condition of the Fisheries, 34

Carp, German, 38

Catfish 46

Concurrent Legislation for Lake Erie 62

Corry Hatchery, Superintendent's report 68

Causes leading to the disappearance of the Blackbass, 122

Cause of the disappearance of the Blackbass in the Delaware River 131

Dynamite for Engineering Purposes 51

Depletion of Streams of Sunfish 112

Erie Hatchery , 23

Erie Station, Superintendent's report 87

Eels, ■ - 46

Expenses of Hatcheries 56

Expenses of Wardens, 58

Experiments in Rearing Blackbass, 135

Frog Culture 26

Fishways 48

Fish Protective Associations, Work of, 60

Fish for the Masses 124

German Carp , 38

Holding White Fish Fry 28

Letter of Transmittal 3

Lake Erie , Concurrent Legislation 62

Mortality Among Young Trout, M. C. Marsh's report 102

March, M. C, Report on Trout Mortality 102

Output of Fish 59

Pike-perch 43

Protection 115-47

Report of Board of Fisheries Commission , 6

Report of Commission of Fisheries 12

Receipts and Expenditures 59

Relation of the Department of Fisheries to Waters Privately Owned, .. 117

Sunfish 40

Shad , 41

Sunbury Dam, 52

(139)

IM

INDEX

Off. roc.

Page.

St. Louis Exposition, Pennsylvania Fisheries Exhibit, 62

State Fisheries Association, Proceedlngrs of 108

Torresdale Hatchery, 33

Trout Fry Versus Fingerlings for Planting, 127

Trout 43

Wall-eyed Pike Fry 24

Wayne Hatchery, 31

Wayne County Hatchery, Superintendent's report, 72

Wardens' Service, 53

Work of Fish Protective Asssociations, , 60

END OF YEAR

«k.^