Author: Pennsylvania State Commissioners of Fisheries

Title: Report of the State Commissioners of Fisheries for
the year...

Place of Publication: Harrisburg
Copyright Date: 1898

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg237.2

Ani)Ki;\v M. Spangi.kk.

REPORT

OF THE

STATE COMMISSIONERS

OF

FISHERIES,

FOK THB

YEAR 1898,

WM. STANT.EY RAY,

STATE PRINTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

1898

REPORT

OK THK

Amiki;\v M. Sr.\N(.i.i.K,

STATE COMMISSIONERS

t)F

FISHKRIES.

von THK

YEAR 1898.

WM. STANLKY KAV.

sTATK iM;iN'n:iJ nr im:nnsvlvania.

INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE

FISH COMMISSIONERS

OF

PENNSYLVANIA.

PRESIDENT :
S. B. Stillwell, Scranton.

SECRETARY:
D. P. CORWIN, Pittsburg-.

CORRESPOIsDIKG SECRETARY :
Jamks a. Dale, York.

TREASURER :
H. C. Demuth, Lancaster.

IjOLIs Streuber, Erie.
James W. Correal, Easton.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND STATISTICIAN TO THE

BOARD :
W. E. Meehan, 600 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

SUPERINTENDENTS OE THE STATIONS :
John P. Crevelinci, Allentown.
William Ik ller, Corry.

1-48--98

.^

Official Document,

No. 18.

P^EF^OI^T

OF THK

STATE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES.

(2)

To His Excelleucy, Daniel H. Hastings, Governor of the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania.

Sir: The State Commissioners respectfully make you the following
report of their labors during the year. When we had the honor of
submitting our last report, we thought it would be impossible to be
confronted with more difficulties or to encounter greater i)erplexities
than were then before us; but those troubles were light in comparison
with those which we have had to meet since. In fact, had it not
been for the generositv of i^ublic spirited citizens and your own active
personal aid and sympathy, the work of the Fish Commissioners
would have come to a stand-still and the thousands of dollars' worth
of valuable brood fish belonging to the Commonwealth would have
been irretrievably lost. This serious state of affairs was brought
about through the Legislature overlooking and adjourning without
making its usual appropriation for tish cultural work. We have no
reason whatever for l)elieving or thinking that this failure to make
appropriation for the work of the Commission was other than an
oversight for the Commissioners had had more than the usual as-
surances of earnest support of the two approi>riation bills presented
while the Legislature was in session, and since adjournment have
received general expressions of regret from a large number of mem-
bers. In anticipation of the passage of an expanded fish warden
service and greatly increased facilities for hatching and distributing
fish fry, the Commissioners had asked for a slightly increased amount
for the next two fiscal years. This was, we understand, entirely ap-
proved of by a majority if not all the members of the Committee.

W^e hiul felt that the State should own the leased property at Al-
lentown or that a site should be purchased elsewhere, and we had
prepared and introduced a bill appropriating |15,000 for one of the
two purposes. A delegation from the House .and Senate visited the

(3)

REPORT OF THE

Off. Do«.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Il
I

Station at Allentown and unanimously agreed to the importance
of the purchase of this or another site. They approved the bill
appropriating the |15,000 and we heard no opposition to the measure
in either House.

Less than a week before the Legislature adjourned, members of
the Commission and its Assistant Secretary', Mr. Meehan, were as-
sured that both bills wei-e safely in the General Appropriation bill.
It was the general impression and belief in both House and Senate
that the appropriations would be inserted in the General Appropria-
tion bill when it came from the Conference Committee. When the
omission was discovered it was too late to send the bill back to have it
printed in time to be acted on before the time fixed for adjournment.

As soon as we realized the misfortune which had befallen the work
of the Commission, we sought an interview with your Excellency
to see if anything could be done to sustain the Commission until the
next Legislature should meet or at least to save the loss of the brood
fish in the Allentown and Corry ponds. A few days prior to this
interview, the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, the head-
quarters of which are in Philadelphia, hearing of the trouble, called
a special meeting for the purpose also of considering the situation
and to devise sonn^ method of coming to the relief of the Fish Com-
missioners. This body, after a discussion, came to the conclusion
that it would be best to have a convention of Fish Protective Asso-
ciations and friends of fish culture through out the State called for
the purpose of raising funds.

During the interview between your Excellency and us, you sug-
gested that a circular explaining the situation be prepared and citi-
'/iQUfi be asked to subscribe money to keep the work of the Commis-
sion going until the next meeting of the Legislature on the under-
standing that the Legislature should be asked to refund the money so
subscribed.

We then informed you of the public spirited action of the Fish Pro-
tective Association and its proposition. You cordially approved the
plan except that you suggested it would be better that the formal
call for the convention be sent to the Fish Protective Association
through the authority of the State Fish Commissioners. It was also
decided to endeavor to raise sufficient funds in this manner to keep
all the stations going but not to purchase fish for distribution. It
was thought this might be done with ^20,000. This sum necessarily
did not include any money for warden service. It was felt that it
would be impossible to accomplish anything in this direction.

Immediately after the interview with your Excellency, a formal re-
quest was made to the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association to
nssist in the work of holding a convention in Harrisburg. That or-
ganization responded promptly and warmly. Circulars were sent to

all known fish protective organizations in the State, and a conven-
tion called to meet in the Koard of Trade rooms, Harrisburg, Sep-
tember 15, 1897.

It is to be regr-etted that there could not have been given more
time between the sending out of the circulars and the date of the
convention. Nevertheless, there was a gratifying attendance and
much interest taken in the proceedings, a full report of which is
given elsewhere. A sum aggregating $11,000 was pledged and there
seemed no doubt that the balance of the |20,000 would easily be
raised. The majority of those pledged subscriptions have faithfully
made payments when due, but it is to be regretted that some of the
organizations failed to do so.

Apart from the organizations, many citizens contributed liberally
and to all were given receipts prepared and approved by the Attorney
General. Unfortunately, it was soon made manifest that in spite of
the active efforts it would be exceedingly difficult to raise the full
sum of 120,000. It was thereupon regretfully determined not to
operate the Erie and Bristol Stations, the two used for the propaga-
tion of purely commercial fish, but confine our operations to the trout
Stations. We felt we could the more proi)erly do this because with
the exceptions of a few subscriptions from Erie, not a dollar was
pledged or furnished by those mainly interested in the maintenance
of the commercial fisheries. The few interested in the commercial
fisheries who did subscribe, were perfectly satisfied under the circum-
stances that we should take this course.

With the money furnished by Fish Protective Associations and
public spirited citizens, and through some to whom the Commission
were indebted generously agreeing to hold their claims, we would
have been able to hatch and distribute about the same number of
trout as in former years, except for casualties among the fry in the
Allentown hatching houses due to the warm weather in the early
winter, but the lack of funds is painfully apparent in our whole work.
We find ourselves at the close of the fiscal year heavily in debt to the
Superintendents of Stations, to persons who furnished supplies, be-
sides to those who generously advanced funds without assurances
that they would be reimbursed. Before us is at least six months
before we can hope for any relief whatever, and beyond that again
another half year before a i-egular appropriation can be made avail-
able. Only by the continued aid of generous citizens and of the
fish protective associations can we hope to successfully surmount the
difllculties ahead. For the help given and for the assurances of
future aid, we feel the deepest gratitude, for with the warm interest
which we feel for the maintenance and furtherance of fish culture,
we would have gn^atly grieved if the work had come completely to
a standstill. As it is, serious injury has been done to the propaga-

6

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

tion of some of our valuable commercial food fishes through the un-
fortunate oversight with respect to the regular appropriation which
is likely to be felt three years hence. This is particularly the case
with the lake fisheries, where we have been in the habit of planting
from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 whitefish, pike-perch and lake trout
everv vear. This vear we have been able to hatch and distribute none
of these fishes.

The misfortune will not be so severely felt in the Delaware river for
two reasons, first, because we had only been doing shad work there
for two vears and because the United States Commission, on account
of the misfortune, planted in the Delaware not only all the fish
hatched from the eggs of that fish taken from that stream, but
planted several million more taken from other waters.

Early in the season it looked as though the United States Fish Cora-
mission would be compelled to stop work and very little be done for
the river. The war with Spain had scarcely been declared when the
Commission was notified that its vessel, the Fish Hawk, would be
required for war purposes. Hearing of this and being desirous that
the work of shad hatching should be continued, we at once offered
the use of the station at Bristol. The United States Commission
promptly accepted the otter and for the remainder of the season
operated the plant, restoring it when the work was done in splendid
condition. Although the United States Commission occupied the
Station, the delays incideni to the transfer materially reduced the
annual outj)ut of that body which was not nmde up by the fry brought
from other rivers. In conseciuence of this and our inability to operate
the station fully 2."), 000,000 less shad fry were planted in the Delaware
this year than usual. This means at least 2.'),00() mature fish.

Another matter which gave us much concern was the unfortunate
shape in which our bill for the better protection of the valuable food
and game fishes i»assed the Legislature. So many amendments cal-
culated to undo the labor of years were incorporated that we were
reluctantly compelled to ask your Excellency to veto it. That you
did so was of great benefit to fish culture.

The fish laws as they exist on the statute books are very defective
and in many cases so obscure as to be scarcely understandable. There
are other through defective and hasty amendments in the Legislature
which have been declared unconstitutional. There are others again
which through imperfect knowledge at the time of their drafting are
a positive hindrance to the increase of the fish sought to be protected.
Notable instances of this jire the minimum size of brook trout and
black bass which may be legally caught. Under the present laws,
it is legal to capture a brook trout of five inches in length, and of a
black bass of six inches. It is now known that these two fish do not
spawn at that size. The spawning size of the brook trout is six inches

j^Q Ig FISH COMMISSIONERS. "^

and of the black bass from eight to nine inches. A trout of five
inches long is never over one year old and it does not spawn until it
is three; years old. Indeed, a trout one year old is oftener six inches
long than five, and there are cases on record where natural trout
will attain a size of eight inches the first year. By artificial breeding
it is possible to force the growth in a single year to ten and even
twelve inches. A black bass also is not over one year old when it
is six inches long and it is not until it is full two years and sometimes
three years 6ld before it begins to reproduce its kind. Thus every
trout of five inches caught and every black bass of six inches killed is
actually taking seed from the water and a step towards the depletion

of the streams. ,

The law to permit the killing of a trout of five inches long and the
law allowing the killing of a black bass six inches long are each
therefore simplv legalizing the depletion of the streams and making
more diflicult the work of a State body formed for the purpose of in-
creasing the food fish supply for the use of the people. Farmers
take care to preserve seed of their grain for growing and increase;
they carefullv nurture their young cattle to prevent extinction of
the kind, and whv should not measures be taken to prevent the ex-
tinction of valuable food fishes? Artificial propagation of trout
alone has prevented the wiping out of the brook trout in this State.
There is indeed in many waters a slight increase due -to this work,
but the work is seriously hampered by the law which allows this spe-
cies of fish to be captured a few months after planting and before
there has been a chance for a single spawning. Pennsylvania is the
only state undertaking fish culture which permits a five-inch trout
to be taken and legally killed. No other state paying attention to
this kind of work allows less than a six-inch limit and some make it
seven and even eight inches. It is this care over the minimum limit
which gives New York, Maine and Vermont such superior fishing
streams. The waters of these states, even in the cultivated districts,
teem with trout, yet not one of the three hatch and distribute as many
fry annually as Pennsylvania.

There is an impression in some quarters that the Pennsylvania
brook trout do not naturally grow.as large as those in the State named
or' in other commonw(»alths for that matter. But this is an error.
It is quite true that the majority of the trout caught in Pennsylvania
waters are smaller than those caught in others states, but that is be-
cause thev rarely have a chance to grow to maturity. The trout of
Pennsylvania are both the same s]>ecies and variety as the trout in
the streams of Vermont, Maine and New York. If allowed to live
they will grow as large in a stream like the Sinnemahoning as in one
like the Beaverkill, New York. Thirty-five years ago, trout of two,
thite and even four pounds were not uncommon in the Tobyhanna

8

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

creek, Monroe county. They are not often found there now. Yet
these large trout are of the same species and variety as the finger-
lings which many proudly bring home as exhibits of their, skill as
anglers nowadays during the open season. We earnestly appeal to
your Excellency to urge the Legislature to enact at least a six-inch
limit as the minimum limit of size for the legal killing of any spe-
cies of trout.

What we have said with respect to trout applies with equal force
to black bass. It is quite true that this species of fish does not
grow to as great a size in the smaller streams as in large ones like
the Susquehanna and Delaware, and it is for this reason that we
have stated that black bass do not as a rule spawn before they are
at least eight inches long. Ili water like the two specifically named
it may be said positively that it is exceedingly rare for this fish to
spawn before it has reached a length of nine inches. As evidence of
this we would respectfully call your attention to the report of Mr.
Weightman Stelwagon, made to and published in our report of 1897.
The present law makes the minimum size which may be killed six
inches the minimum limit ought emphatically to be raised to nine.

In some respects the low limit for the black bass is a greater handi-
cap to our work than the existing limit for trout. In large rivers,
owing to the wonderful fecundity of the black bass there does not
seem to be a diminution of the supply, but in the smaller streams in
spite of our utmost etforts the number of bass are annually diminish-
ing. Hitherto we have been in the habit of replenishing smaller
streams with bass at least six inches in length, and we know from
reliable sources that anglers have taken from the same streams
within a few weeks after in the aggregate more fish of the same size.
Any attempts to replenish a stream under such circumstances is a
waste of time, monev and effort.

We have under consideration the propagation of black bass for
distribution, by pond culture, as soon as the finances of the Board
will permit, and when this is done with the hundreds of thousands
of young fish which we can thus distribute, with the aid of at least
an eight-inch limit, we are satisfied there will not in three years
thereafter be many complaints of a diminishing supply of this mag
nificent game fish.

One of the greatest annoyances which we have in the proper per-
formance of our work is the unsatisfactory character of the warden
service now provided by law. Under it we have done the best we
could, and the best we believe that could be done. Indeed when
we point put how crude the present sj'stem is, the limitations of our
powers with respect to the service we may require, the compensation
which is allowed wardens and the liability to systematize the ser-
vice as it should be, the wonder is that there is as much accomplished
as there is when in operation.

No. 18.

t^lSH COMMISSIONERS.

In the first place we have no power to send a warden to any part of
the State we may desire to do for service, because the Act authorizing
the existence of the wardens does not permit us to pay a salary suf-
ficient to engage his whole time. The law restricts us to salaries of
from $50 to $100 a man per year, and the maximum figure may only
be given in certain specified situations. We have very many excel-
lent wardens who labor more from a sense of duty than for the
money, but it is not to be expected that we can in all cases secure
the best grade of men for any such figure as |oO a year, even though
we pay him reasonable expenses and a per diem allowance from the
general fund when detailed on special duty requiring his whole at-
tention for the time being. The power which is given us to appoint
wardens at the request of citizens without salary is the best feature
of the law, since many public spirited citizens who hold a deep interest
in fish protection avail themselves of the privilege and work for it
without cost. The general tendency of the present system of warden
service, if system it can be called, has a tendency to tempt war-
dens to seek out only the easiest cases of infractions of the law, and to
ignore those that require patient, skillful work. Our practical power-
lessness to send a warden out of his ^'district" is hurtful to good ser-
vice for several reasons, chief among which are that he soon becomes
known to the fish law breakers and their friends so that he can scarcely
begin a movement against illegal fishing without the fact becoming
at once known, and also becaus^e when a man is doing duty of that
kind among friends, acqauintances and neighbors, there are many
temptations to perform his work with partiality.

We believe the whole warden system should be changed. We ad-
vocate the ai)pointment of a specified number of wardens at a salary
that will be sufficient for the State to demand their whole time. We
believe there should be power to send or locate a warden to or in
any part of the State where it may be felt his services would be the
most useful. We believe there should be a chief warden to take
charge of and see that tho men perform their duty, and who should
have powers of a decided character over the special wardens.

During the last Legislature a iJame and Fish Warden bill was in-
troduced and passed but we were reluctantly forced to oppose it and
ask your Excellency to veto it. -Our opposition to the measure was
not to the principle which underlaid it, as we clearly explained in
the hearing which you gave us at the time, but because we felt the
bill was improperly drawn and gave such powers to the Chief Game
and Fish Warden that it would be almost impossible to secure his
dismissal in case he failed to properly perform his duties. The bill
as drawn i)resented the strange anomaly of a man to be appointed by
bodies who afterwards had practically no control over him. and to
whom he was in no wise responsible. Certain sections also were

10

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

clearly uucoustitiitional, and were so indicated in your veto message.
We hope to present a measure correcting. the errors of that bill and
providing g^enerally for an ellective warden service, to the next Legis-
lature which will meet with the approval of the Executive, the
Legislature and friends of fish and game protection.

It will be noted that in this report we have made no detail of the
work of wardens this year as in (lie past three years. This is because
we have han no regular service, owing to there having been no funds
therefor. A few of the wardens holding commissions when the ap-
propriations gave out retained them and performed duty under tliem.
But for tlie most part the work was j>ureiy voluntary or under the
direction of some Fish Protective Association over which we have no
control. An occasional report was made to us of work done, but the
total w^as so small .as not to be an object to publish.

A number of the sheriH's were notified under the Act of 1873 to clear
the Susijuehanna and Delaware rivers of fish baskets or wing walls
iand thev carried out their instructions as far as we can learn, but
as thesis officials are not reipiired to make rc^port to the Board of Fish
Commissioners when their work of this kind is compleled, we have
with few exceptions no ofticial reports.

The unavoidable suspension of the warden service' brought about
for the time being at least, a very bad state of atl'airs on the Sus-
quehanna river. At all times there is a disposition among a large
class of people on this river to resist the enforcement of any and all
laws for the proper protection of food and game fish. This lesistancu
indeed has on several occasions gone to the length of attempted mur-
der of the wardens. In general the wardens and some of the sheriffs
acting under instructions, while not able to suppress illegal fishing,
have at least been able to keep it within some sort of bounds aud
make such to some extent expensive and dangerous. The most de-
structive form of illegal fishing is with the device known as the fish
basket, weir, or eel pot. The news was scarcely abroad that the
warden service was at a standstill than the users of this device be-
came bold and within a few weeks many hundreds were added oi»enly
lo those already in use in out of the way spots on the river. It is
estimated that between Fites Eddy and the Maryland Stat<» line alone,
there were more than a hundred of these fish baskets in opernlion,
and in th" neighborhood of Duncaiiiuin qu'iio us in;iny wer • added to
those ab" ady in existence. In fact, it was impossible to iio far any-
where along the river without seeing one or more of this form of device
for catching fish. At (nie place at Pea<h Bottom, the wing walls of
five baskets joined and extended clear across the river. This state of
affairs was s])eedily brought to our attention, and as we could not
order our ward(*ns to clear the river of the obstructions, we notified
the sheriffs of the counties along the river to issue proclamation call-

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

11

ing on the owners to remote them, and on their failure to personalljr
do so at the expense of the county, under the provisions of an act of
the Legislature passes in 1873.

These officials generally acted promptly and made a reasonably
clear sweep. Unfortunately, under the law noted, there is too much
discretion given the sheritls with respect to how much of the device
must be destroved. The act merely provides that the device shall be
rendered incapable of catching fish. It is therefore within the pro-
vince of a sherilf to destroy the basket only, the wing walls, or both.
Frequently a sherill, in his anxiety to save the county expense, or per-
haps in some instance wheie he sympathizes with the law breaker,
tears out onlv the basket. It seems almost needles to say that there
is no permanent etticiency in this. Of the fish basket and its appur-
tenances, the basket itself is the least expensive. In fact the cost
of the woodwork of most of the baskets is so small that it is not an
uncommon thing for an owner to cut it away from the wing walls
and let it tloat away, when by chance the coming of a warden or
when a sherilt's proclamation is issued, in the hope that the wing
svalls would bi' spared. It is gratifying to be able to state, how-
.ever, that in the last raid on the baskets by the sheritls, many wing
wall's were dstroyed that before had escaped destruction.

I»erhaps we ought to say here that at least two of the sheriffs did
not wait for notice to destroy these illegal devices, but acted from
their own sense of duty. For obvious reasons we think it best to with-
hold their uames, but take this opportunity of expressing our appre-
ciation of their act.

We have no greater problem in fish protection to deal with than
the one concerning the use of the fish basket. There is no more de-
structive device known for catching fish. We have the most posi-
tive evidence that where they are emi)loyed the catch of commercial
food fish speedily falls off, and that where they are not used the catch
is soon doubled and even (piadrupled. We have presented this evi-
dence over and over again and former Commissioners have also regu-
larly plainly proved their over destructive character. Yet one of the
causes of opposition to the work of the Fish Commission is its unfal-
tering opposition to any legislation which will permit the use of fish
baskets in any form. \Ve know that under no restrictions can a de-
vice of this character be used in a manner to prevent injury to young
fish that are unfitted by age for food purposes. The most that can
be said for restrictive and not prohibitive legislation that destruction
is minimized to som<^ extent. Bounded slats will not prevent the
bruising of young shad, and a bruise means death, and a watcher,
while he may keep the slats clear of debris, cannot prevent the

bruising.

We assert that no person who has made a study of the eflfects of

n

REPORT OF THE

Oft. Doc.

different devices for catching fish can coasistently advocate the use
of tishbaskets, even though (he^- be desired for the sole purpose of
catching eels. We would be glad to get rid of the eels or to encourage
in every manner possible consistent with the preservation of the
supply of other food fish, the use of any device which would reduce
the supply. We recognize also the fact that eels form an important
commercial industry and that it is our duty to encourage the growth
of all branches of the commercial fish industry, but we do not think
we have any right to encourage the extension of an industry in an
inferior food fish to the injury of another much better. To do so
would be a violation on an obligation of our office. To subscribe to
the use of fish baskets, particularly in the Susquehanna and Dela-
ware rivers, in order to permit the extension of the eel catching
industry would be an encouragement of this character. Numerous
as are the eels, and readilv as thev are sold in the markets and
sought after as they are by residents along the Susquehanna for
winter and table use, the fish is still an inferior article of food and
of much less value commercially than the shad.

It is unfortunate that at the time the eels run best the mature shad
are running up stream to spawn or the young shad are working
their way down to the sea. Thus to set a fish basket to be most ei-
fectively done to catch the former fish, it would have to be at the
time it would work the most harm to the shad. That fish baskets
do work harm to the shad is shown mv the results in the Delaware
and Susquehanna rivers. In the former stream the shad industry is
worth hundreds of thousands of dolhirs a year, while the catch of the
Susquehanna river annually does not amount to the few thousands
of dollars that are over and above the hundreds of thousands in the
Delaware. In the Delaware a fish basket cannot exist for many
hours because from its peculiar coiistruction any such device can at
once be seen and destroyed and because the majority of the public sen-
timent is against it. In the Susquehanna the baskets are persistently
used, and are hard to discover on account of the many islands, and
because public sentiment refuses to accept the evidence of plain and
irrefutable figures.

It is rare that anything has atforded us greater gratification than
the defeat in the last Legislature of the proposed act known as the
Delaware dam bill. Nothing could have been more disastrous to
fish culture in Pennsylvania than the passage of this act. Efforts
had been made in |)revious Legislatures to pass a concurrent act with
New Jersey to |XMinit corporations to erect dams in the Delaw^are
river, but until last session it was impossible to get the matter beyond
the committee to whirh it had been referred.

The sentiment in the State was overwhelming against the bill, for
it w^ould, if it had become effective, have endangered many indus-

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

13

tries beside that of fish and interfered with the rights of several mu-
nicipalities. Soon after the Board of Fish Commissioners sounded
the alarm, the newspapers of Philadelphia and other parts of the
State began a vigorous crusade against the bill, the United States
Fish Comn»ission lent its powerful aid, Philadelphia City Councils
and Councils of Easton passed resolutions in opposition. Every trade
organization in Philadelphia, Easton, -Stroudsburg and many other
places openly denounced it, and the Academy of Natural Sciences,
one of the greatest scientific institutions in the world, passed strong
resolutions condemning the proposed measure.

Patient hearings were given against the bill by the Governor of
New Jersey and the Committee of the Senate of Pennsylvania and
the final result was the defeat of the bill. It was the salvation of
the shad industry in the Delaware river.

During the year we have received a large number of complaints
from all parts of the State against persons who are emptying acids
and other refuse from industrial establishments into streams to an
extent that destroys the fish life. One correspondent from Altoona
writes that in consequence of this pollution in a tributary of the
Juniata ''there can be seen large quantities of all kinds of dead fish,
eels, etc. The water has become so foul that the farmers are afraid
to allow their cattle to drink from the stream.'*

Another correspondent from Falls Creiek writes: *'The Elk Tan-
ning Company operates a tannery at this place and runs all their
refuse in the stream which has killed all the fish and the odor that
comes from the stream caused by this nuisance is awful."

These two are but a sample of the letters we are constantly receiv-
ing. In consequence we asked the Attorney General for an opinion
whether there was any law by which we could proceed against those
who so polluted a stream, but he informed us that there was no rem-
edy where the pollution was destructive to fish only.

There is a rule of the State Board of Health, we believe, which
reaches one class of offenders and we have entered into correspond-
ence with that body in the hope that some relief at any rate can be
obtained. We have tried at almost every session of the Legislature
to have a law passed that would cover cases like this, but the difficulty
of framing an act that would not work serious injury to other vested
. interests have prevented passage. We hope this autumn to have a
meeting of the ditferent bodies that are interested in maintaining
the purity of the water supply and endeavor to there have drafted a
bill that will meet the approval of the Legislature and which at the
same time will not interfere seriously with valuable industries of
either individuals or corporations. It is certain that the evil has
reached such a point that some decisive steps must be taken and we
hope that the vested interests will assist us in the work we are aiming
at, namely the purification of the water supply.

14

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

The run of shad in the Delaware river, according to the fishermen,
was very large this year, although it was the heaviest early in the
season and rather light towards the close. This was. natural under
the circumstances, because of the peculiar state of the weather.
Early in the season the weather was very warm and in consequence
the shad entered the river in vast multitudes; a little later the weather
and w^ater became cold and almost immediately the catch fell off
appreciably. It was a noticeable fact, however, which speaks well
for the care which is taken in the protection of this great food fish,
that the size was unusually large. Eight pound shad were very
common, and ten and twelve pound fish attracted little remark. One
very large dealer in the lower Delaware pronounced the catch "enor-
mous, both in number and size, due to artificial propagation." Con-
sidering the vast catch, the prices realized by the fishermen were very
satisfactorv.

The catch of shad in the lower Susquehanna was also greater than
usual and in the Chesapeake Bay is said to have been unusually
great, but it is to be observed that in the river within our State lines
it is very insignificant as compared with the Delaware or lower down
in the same river. The devices used in Maryland and Pennsylvania
are responsible for this, as we have heretofore pointed out.

While the catch of shad in the Delaware river was very large, that
of sturgeon was very small and unsatisfactory. In a communication to
the Board, one of the largest dealers in sturgeon and a man who
watches the trend of the business very closely, says that the season was
the worst ever known to any atid all fishermen. He states emphati-
cally that with the exception of five or six firms, the sturgeon fishermen
on the Delaware river have lost this \vi\r from |300 to f 1,000 each. Ac-
cording to his statements, which are certainly true, in 1890 the aver-
age catch of sturgeon ]>er net was 60; in 1891 it was about ^nr, in 1892
it was 43; in 1893 it had fallen to 32; in 1894 the number decreased
to 26 to a net; in 1895 it rose to 32; but in 1896 it fell again to 27;
in" 1897 the catch was 22 to a net, and this year outside the half dozen
nets mentioned in the beginning the average to a net was only 13.

In 1885 caviar sold for from |9 to 9^A2 a keg of 135 ])ounds net, but
this season on account of the scarcity of sturgeon it brought |82.50
a keg. In 1887 the price was f52 a keg.

It is not possible to average the value of sturgeon caught by simply
knowing the number, for a female is worth far more than a male,
and the number of eggs which a female will yield varies greatly. A
female will often yield as much as a k(*g of caviar, and when, as this
season, the fish were so scarce that the price of caviar leaped to
$82.50 a keg. it is readily seen how valuable the fish are. Even with
caviar at |15 a keg when the fish were abundant the sturgeon is a
valuable industry.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

15

The correspondent of the Board says that all over the United States
there is the same evidence of the growing scarcity of this valuable
fish. In 1889 there were 5,000 kegs of caviar packed in the Delaware
bav and river; in 1897 there were not quite 2,000, while this year only

1,442 kegs were packed.

These figures are sufficient to alarm any one interested in the
perpetuation and extension of fish valuable for food and compels
thought as to the reason of this rapid and steady fall off in the an-
nual''catch. It is a well known fact that anadromous fishes vary
considerably in number in their annual visits to fresh water. One
year or perhaps several years in successsion anadromous fish will
enter their spawning rivers in vast quantities and then perhaps for
a year or two there will be a. marked fall off. But this explanation
cannot apply here. Our correspondent, than whom there is not a
more reliable authority, reports a steady and persistent decline in
the*sui)ply for eight years and other authorities show that this decline
has been in progress steadily for many years before in the Dela-
ware river. It is a historical fact that within the memory of the old
inhabitants, large schools of sturgeon passed up the river daily dur-
ing the sason for them to be in fresh water. It was not an uncom-
mon sight fifty years ago to see three or four leap during the passage
of a ferrv boat from om^ side of the river to the other. Such a sight
is now of extreme rarity.

The probable fact is that the fish are killed off faster than they are
bred. Neither the United States nor our Commission artificially
propagate this fisli, and with the increased demand for the caviar,
owing to the increased population and a more extended taste for the
caviar, the efforts to catch the fish must naturally increase. The
reason our Commission does not artificially propagate the sturgeon
is because of the great cost of so doing, and even when we have the
reguJar appropriation this cost is too great for us to undertake it.
But it mav be set down as a fact that until the work of artificial propa-
gation is undertaken the decrease in the sturgeon fisheries must con-
tinue and at an early date be utterly destroyed.

We believe it would amply repay the State if it would alone or
jointly with Delaware and New Jersey make an appropriation with
which to carry on this work and <'ontinue it uninterruptedly for an
indefinite period. We are bound to say frankly, however, that none
of the a])pliances now at our disposal could be made available. Our
Bristol station is too far from the present fisheries and we could
scarcelv use the Suiu-rintendeiits we now have, for two reasons, the
most important of which is that both would be busily engaged at
other work at the tinu> the work must be done. It would therefore be
necessary to engage another st^ of men. The work would moreover
be expensive, but on the other hand the returns in a few years would

i
I

16

REPORT OP THE

OfC. Doc.

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

M

be vast. It certainly is fast reaching a point when, as expensive as
it is, one of two alternatives present themselves, either to under-
take it or have an important and valuable industry exterminated.
To better understand how valuable the caviar industry is, it may be
stated that every dollar's worth of this food product can find a ready
sale in Europe, although the demand for it in this country keeps a
portion of it here for home consumption.

The reports from the trout streams in the early part of the season
were very encouraging. This fish seemed not only abundant in
many waters, but were more than usually fat and of larger size. This
latter circumstance was doubtless due to a great extent to the unfish-
able condition of the streams for a part of the season last year due to
many heavy rains and the little fishing. done the tw^o preceding years
on account of the long droughts, and to the heavy stocking of the
streams. Nearly 10,000,000 trout were planted from the State sta-
tions on applications and these and the lessened fishing naturally
made a marked increase. As a mater of fact the ability to fish this
year was greatly lessened through freciuent storms, and thus thou-
sands of trout that would have otherwise been caught before the
arrival of the spawning age will have an opportunity to reproduce
their kind. Thus, while the anglers were disappointed, it is to the
benefit of the streams.

There was again a marked decrease in the number of black bass
<*aught in the smaller streams of the State although there was rather
an in(;rease in the catch in waters like the Susipiehanna. This de-
crease in the catch in the smaller streams is distinctly traceable to the
law which permits the killing of this fish before it has reached a
spawning age. Until quite recently- the knowledge of fish culture
did not extend to the artificial rearing of black bass, and all stocking
had to be done by fish purchased in the Lake region. Even now the
knowledge of bass culture does not extend to the artificial expression
of the eggs as with trout, shad, pike-perch and white fish, but the fry
If produced through what is known as pond breeding; that is, ponds
are built in which mature fish are kept and allowed to breed natur-
ally, and as soon as the young are hatched they are separated from the
old and fed until large enough to plant. By this method many hun-
dred thousand bass can be produced annually while under the old
system the output never exceeded eight or ten thousand. As soon
as practicable we hope to establish ponds not only for the breeding
of black bass but for the rearing of strawberry and white bass and
pickerel, for which a heavy demand is arising.

This year it is also our purpose to begin the culture of mascollonge
at the Corry station, for planting in the larger and deeper lakes of the
State. Hitherto we have had to depend on the courtesy of the New
York Fish Commission for the eggs we hatched of this fine food and

c^ame fish, a courtesy which they have always extended. But the
number of eggs obtainable were always far short of our needs. The
hatching of this fish will entail little more if any additional expense
to that which ordinarily follows our work.

An interesting series of experiments is being conducted by Superm-
tendent Buller under the immediate direction of our statistician, Mr.
Meehan with the end in view of producing a hybrid between the
yellow perch and the California trout. Incredible as it may seem,
kbout fifty projeny was the result of the experiment last year, but
unfortunately the little creatures were placed in a pond with pure
California trout, which being learger, undoubtedly devoured them.
The experiment this year was a failure through, it is believed, not
having enough males for the work. That the first experiment was
not wholly chance, however, is shown by the fact that the eggs of
the California trout after impregnation swelled considerably and
lived for quite a while before becoming opaque.

Except as to the size, the hybrids were almost facsimiles exter-
nally of the California trout, although had a close examination been
made some structural differences might have been found. The ex-
periments will be continued next year, if possible. Mr. Meehan s re-
port will give an extended account of the experiments, and Superin-
tendent Buller's report also will give some details.

Without expressing an opinion as to the practical value of this
series of experiments, there is no doubt of the scientific interest which
it must arouse, and we can also perceive that under some circum-
stances the results might be of great practical and economic value.

Last winter Governor Bloxham, of Florida, issued a call for au
international fisheries congress to meet in Tampa, Florida, and esked
the Executives of the dilferent states to appoint delegates thereto.
Your Excellency appointed S. B. Stillwell, the President of this Com-
mission and W. E. Meehan, of Philadelphia, to represent the State of
Pennsylvania, in the Congress. At the last moment pressing busi-
ness engagements prevented Mr. Stillwell from attending, and Mr. D.
P Corwin, the Secretary of the Board, went as his proxy. Both Mr.
Corwin and Mr. Meehan were honored by the Congress through being
chosen to responsible positions and the State was frequently givea
the warmest commendation for the high character of the fish cultural
work done and for the success achieved under adverse cireumstances.
The congress, according to the report of the delegates whom you
honored by appointing, was of the most successful character. As one
of the delegates is a member of this Commission and the other is a
subordinate thereof, we have appended their report of the proceed-
ings and their summing of the results to this report. We question,
however, whether it will be possible at the present time to form a

2-18-98

18

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

19

strong and abiding inteinatioual fisheries society as an outcome of the
Tampa congress, although we believe such a body would be of great
advantage to the work of fish culture.

We are sorry to report that there was again no catch of Atlantic
salmon in the Delaware river this year. A few were taken, but as far
as we could learn not as many as la.st year. Thuse liiat were cap-
tured were all of large size — larger than in former years. This is
not surprising as the plant of our years previously was very small,
not more than GO,UUO, and in the natural order of things many of
these would lose their lives before the period of going to sea. We
are hoping to be able to report better results next year for the plant
was in 1895 much heavier than in 1894.

In 1897 a vast quantity of Pacitic, or Quinnat salmon were planted
in the Delaware by us, by the New York and the Lnited States Fisli
Commission. In all nearly three million must have been planted,
and, according to one of the oliicials of the New York Commissison,
the upper Delaware was full of line, healthy fry in the autumn of the
same year. Commander Hrice, who was then I nited States Fish
Commissioner, was contident tliat this great food tish would do well
in the Delawre river, and it was for this reason that such a vast quan-
tity of fry were planted. If his confidence was not mispkued these
fish are now gone from the river to the sea and should return in great
numbers about the spring of 1901. The eggs of this species of fish
from which the young were hatched were fertilized on the Columbia
river and brought east to be hatched. We are watching the outcome
of the exi^eriment with much interest, because if it is successful the
Delaware river can be annually planted with almost an unlimited
number of frv, which we cannot do with the Atlantic salmon.

Destructive methods of fishing and the erection of huge dams in
the rivers of the New England states where the Atlantic salmon were
once in vast abundance, have reduced these fisheries to a minimum
and the number of eggs obtainable for the Delaware river is very
small, from one to two hundred thousand annually are all that we
can expect to get. As many of the mature fish are taken in the nets
when they come into the river to spawn, the natural increase must
necessarily be slow, even when assisted by artificial planting and
hatching. The vast abundance of the Quinnat salmon in the great
northwest makes it possible to secure almost an unlimited number of
eggs.

The New Jersey Commission has also been actively engaged in
planting valuable food fishes in the Delaware river. The two most
important are the channel catfish and the smelt. The plantings have
been too recent to report on the outcome but both should do well
and in time add to the revenue of tlu^ Delawar-e river fishermen

We continued the planting of mascollonge in the Susquehanna

No. U.

river There is a possibility that this large and good game and food
fish may succeed in the deeps of this river and we will contmue the
planting until success is achieved or until we are convinced of the fu-
tility of further eft'ort.

Necessarily we could not make any planting of the pike-perch, com-
monly known as the Susquehanna salmon, this year, on account of the
lack of funds with which to purchase and hatch eggs. We regret
this exceedingly for while there is a fine supply of this fish in our
greatest river, there is nothing like the number that there were a
quarter of a century ago. Our effort has been to restore the pike-
perch to the Susiiuehanna to their original numbers. To this end
we have been planting hundreds of thousands of fry annually, until

this year. ^ ., ^. ^ tj„

We have also been endeavoring to introduce the Atlantic and Pa-
cific salmon into the Susquehanna. We have been doing this in re-
sponse to a popular demand, but not with great hope of success. The
Susquehanna, although one of the finest streams in the world for
fish is not, we fear, calculated for the successful rearing of the true
salmon, either Atlantic or Pacific. It is certainly not an original
salmon stream and we fear it cannot be made to hold them because
the junction with the sea is so far below the latitude where both
types of salmon thrive. Of all the fry planted we have not heard
of a single specimen being caught that was authentic salmon. One
fisherman on the Lower Susquehanna claiimd to have captured one
in a pound net, but from a description given it is certain not to have
been a salmon. In view of the efforts we are making, however, it
would materiallv assist if any fisherman cai^turing a fish which they
believe to be a salmon, if they would send a careful and accurate de-
scription to the Board.

The usefulness of genuine fish protective associations was never
more amplv demonstrated than this year. To their unselfish and
noble efforts for the furtherance of fish cultural work we ungrudg-
ingly declare, we owe to an immeasurable extent our ability to keep
the work of the trout stations going since June of last year. The
strong support given us in partieular by the Pennsylvania Fish Pro-
tective Association has on more than one occasion given us courage
to meet and overcome the many difficulties which we have had to en-
counter. The sympathy and assistance rendered by several of her
younger though vigorous sisters also has been of inestimable value.

During the last session of the Legislatims strong committees com-
posed of intelligent and good speakers belonging to the Pennsylvania
Fish Protective Association were always ready at a moment's call
to go to llarrisburg and assist us in the work of trying to secure legis-
lation beneficial to the fisheries interests or to labor against those
bills which we deemed would result in injury. On several occasions

20

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

21

also they responded to calls to go to other states to give assistance to
our efforts to check legislation unfavorable to the fisheries interests
of this State. AVe extend to this organization and to all that have
given support during the past year our heartfelt thanks.

We believe that it would be beneiicial to the fish interests of the
State if genuine and active fish protective associations were organ-
ized in every county in the State. At present we are satisfied that a
large proportion of the individual applicants for fish fry are not thor-
oughly conversant with the proper methods of planting the fish they
receive from the State hatcheries. We do what we can to instruct
applicants in this particular, but we feel that fish protective associa-
tions properly conducted and earnestly desirous of doing their best
for the fish interests of the Commonwealth, could give such instruc-
tions more effectually than we can. They can more easily and thor
oughly disseminate literature on the subject, and oftentimes can over-
see the plating itself. Beyond this, such organizations can exert a
powerful moral intlueuce in their several counties and even carry the
education of the people to the necessity of fish protection into the
public schools.

But fish protective associations to be thoroughly effective should be
more than county organizations. Their intiuence ought to go be-
yond. It should extend to the Legislature itself. But to be able to
assist in this direction with the best results it is essential that there
be united action among all the associations. It is not necessarv that
each organization lose its independence and become simply a branch
of one body, but that there be such a close relationship between all
that before action is taken on any important public measure all be
made aware of the matter and devise some method of taking united
action.

The Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, which is the oldest
body in the State organized for fish protective work, has a plan which
from several that have been proposed commends best itself to us.
According to the proposition there is absolutely no loss of independ-
ence and there appears no idea of exalting itself at the expense of
its sister associations in the State. The plan is one of club member-
ship, by which those taking advantage of it are instantly communi-
cated with when anything of importance occurs, and advice and as-
sistance is given when it is desii-ed. The plan seems to us certainly
deserving of serious consideration and close examination on the part
of all earnest fish protective associations throughout the State.

We consider that the time has arrived when it is necessary that the
State should purchase the property on which the Eastern Station,
near Allentown, is located or that a site be purchased elsewhere.
At present tlie Commonwealth holds the property on a lease of $600
H year. At the last session of the Legislature a delegation from the

I

House and Senate visited the Station and the members expressed
themselves unanimously in favor of one or the other alternative. An
early settlement of this question is desirable because the hatching
houses are both in a dilapidated condition and one of them is so far
gone that we fear it will fall at any time. The ponds in use for the
breed fish are also badly in need of extensive repairs. In fact,
almost every building and every pond should be practically made
anew. This, as the property is held under lease, we do not feel justi-
fied in doing for obvious reasons.

For more than a year we have endeavored to arrive at some satis-
factory understanding with the owners regarding what we consider
an equitable price at which to purchase, but as yet without avail.
As we pay as lease money the interest of |10,000 we do not think the
State justified in paying more than that amount, while for farming
purposes we do not believe it would bring that much, but the owners
hold out for a markedly larger sum. Under these circumstances we
are of the opinion, if the owners are not satisfied to accept the max-
imum figure which we believe the State should pay, that the Com-
monwealth should purchase a site elsewhere in the eastern section.
We would prefer that the station remain where it is, for it is ad-
mirably adapted for the work both with respect to the water supply
and the facilities for transportation, but the conditions under whlcn
the property is held are much too unsatisfactory.

If at the last session of the Legislature the section of our fish bill
relating to the establishment of auxiliary hatching stations through-
out the State had passe-d in a satisfactory manner, we would have
been in a position pending a definite settlement of a permanent large
site in the East, to have abandoned the Allentown property and con-
centrate our work temimrarily at the Western Station, near Corry.
We could have taken this action without material embarrassment
in filling the applications in the eastern part of the State, because while
the question of a permanent site was being settled we could, with
little trouble, have arranged with the operators of the auxiliary sta-
tions for an increased output and at the same time, with some little
exertion and a small additional expense, have added to the output

at Corry.

There seemed to be a fear among some of the members of the last
session of the Legislature that the "auxiliary hatching house" sec-
tion would mean practical confiscation of private property, but the
concerns most interested were almost unanimous in favor of the prop-
osition, and none could be compelled to register an auxiliary hatcn-
ing station without his consent, and the establishment of the plan
would have added several million trout fry to the annual output with-
out a dollar of expense to the State.

22

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

It would also have been a long step towards the solution of a vexed
problem, namely, compensation to the public for the closing of free
trout streams to general anglers.

We have viewed with much concern the rapid absorption of well
known fishing waters by private associations and their closing to
the public. Twenty -five years ago, for instance, nearly every trout
stream in Pike county was free to anyone. To-day public waters are
scarce. Almost all the best known streams are now owned or leased
by parties who do not allow outsiders to fish without a special permit.
Much the same conditions j)revail in other counties and every year
other streams an^ taken out of the free list and added to the closed
waters. Xaturally this state of att'airs is very unsatisfactory to the
city angler who is not fortunate enough to belong to one of these clubs
or organizations owning or controlling a stream, and is equally or
more unsatisfactory to the resident in the neighborhood of closed
waters. It goes without saying that we are helpless in the matter
and before the last sessions Legislature we showed our disapproval
of the closed stream system by advocating the passage of a section
of an act making it punishable for any pt^rson to apply for or to be
concerned in applying for any trout to be planted in such waters,
from the State's supply.

While those who were debarred from fishing in waters thev had
before free access to expi*esseu their dissatisfaction at the existing
state of affairs, those who owned or controlled waters made private
w^ere equally vehement against Avhat they termed inadequate laws
for their protection. They asserted that while they owned or leased
waters as another person might a property of other character there
was no adequate punishment for persons who violated what they con-
sidered their property rights.

It was this contention arid in view of our helplessness to check
the absorption of the streams that led us to the thought that per-
haps we could minimize what the free stream advocates believed
to be a wrong to themselves by providing that thos<' who held waters
for private sporting fishing purposes, if they desired jjrotection from
outside fishing, should pay the State for the privilege. Therefore,
they introduced a section of an act which |)rovided in etfect that if
a sporting association desired ample protection from outside fisher-
men they should erect and operate a hatching station capable of
hatching at least ()0,0()0 trout annually and devote at least half the
utmost capacity of output for planting in public waters under the
direction of the State Fish Commission. As already stated, the
proposition was acceptable to nearly all the associations heard from,
and it likewise met with favor from many of the advocates of free
stream fishing.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

23

Had this section become a law, we could safely have temporarily
transferred the State trout work to Corry while the question of a site
for a large State station in the east was being settled.

We desire to express our appreciation of the support given by the
great majority of the newspaper press of the State during the year.
They have done veoman service in the cause of fish culture, and this
is particularly true of the leading papers of Philadelphia and Pitts-
burg. To the railroads also are we deeply indebted for material aw-
sitance in granting transportation to the fish for distribution and
the messengers who accompanied them. We are under special ob-
ligations to the Pennsylvania, the Reading, the Delaware and Hudson,
the D(^laware, Lackawana and Western, the New Jersey Central, the
Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Fall Brook, the Allegheny Valley, and
the New York, Ontario and Western railroads. To them we extend
our deepest thanks.

We here inscribe with our deep gratitude the names of the organ-
izations and individuals who came to the assistance of the Fish Com-
mission with money subsciiptions when it was found that the Legisla-
ture by oversight had failed to make its usaul appropriation for fish
work, and preface it by saying that their generous and public spirited
action not only saved the State the loss of many thousand dollars'
worth of brood fish, but at the same time preserved the trout streams
to a no inconsiderable extent. We regret to say that in this list of
names we are this year only able to give those that contributed di-
rectly to the C\)mmission. Next year we hope to be able to make
public the names of those who contributed to the fund through the
Fish Protective Associations. This naturally constitutes by far the
greater numl>er of the public spirted persons who came to the aid of
the Commission in its time of need, and although unable to publish
their names in this report, we take this opportunity of expressing to
them our earnest thanks for their timely assistance.

We regret that our restricted means have prevented our making
a bett<M* showing in the matter of the distribution of fish, but we
have done the best we could under the circumstances. The table
follows:

• ••«••«•■•*

Total of all kinds

As follows:

Eastern Station 1,031.000

Western Station 3,023,825

Of the above total there remained in troughs on June

The Station work follows:

4,054,825

,»##•••••••••••••••

817,8nr

24 REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.

Eastern Station, John P. Oreveling, Superintendent.

Brook trout, 778,100

California trout, 8,000

Atlantic salmon, 94,900

Still in troughs, 150,000

1,031,000

Western Station, William Buller, Superintendent.

California trout, , 389,800

Brown trout, 307,900

Brook trout, 1,506,300

Brook yearling, 300

Channel catfish, 275

Black bass, 150

Yellow perch, 500

Rock bass, 800

Still in troughs, 667,800

Eggs distributed, 150,000

3,023,825

Total, 4,054,825

As illustrating the vast difference between the output this year
and last we may be pardoned for reprinting here last season's dis-
tribution which follow^s:

1897, total, 163,118,807

1898, total, 4,054,825

Diminished output in 1898, • 159,063,982

Distribution in 1897 by Species.

Brook trout fry. Western Station, 1,293,500

Brook trout fry. Eastern Station, 1,198,800

2,402,300

Brook trout, yearlings, Eastern Station, 550

Rainbow trout, Western Station, 202,000

Hybrid trout. Western Station, 84,000

Brown trout, Western Station, 252,300

Brown trout, Eastern Station, 23,200

275,500

Lake trout. Western Station, 14,400

No. 18. FISH COMMISSIONERS. 25

Atlantic salmon. Western Station, 99,107

Atlantic salmon, Eastern Station, 40,000

139,107

Pacific salmon. Eastern Station, 80,000

Black bass (S, M.), Western Station, 25,250

Black bass (S. M.), Eastern Station, 2,400

27,650

Black bass (L. M.), Western Station, 1,300

Yellow perch. Western Station, ^A'^O

Rock bass, Western Station, 9,360

Spotted catfish, '^^^^^

Sunfish, Western Station, l^^^O

Muscallonge, Western Station, 91,000

Blue sunfish, Western Station, 1^0

Pike perch, Erie Station, 109,455,000

White fish, Erie Station, 43,000,000

Shad, Bristol Station, 7,325,000

159,780,000

Grand total, 165,118,807

The number of brook trout distributed this year was almost the
same as last, but under normal conditions we should have been able
to have distributed nearly :2.()(M),0()0 more for just before the failure of
the appropriation we had materially increased the capacity of the
Western Station. Thus the lack of funds caused a practical reduc-
tion in that species of fish about that number. Our output of black
bass in 1807 was 28.9.-)0. This year w(» distributed none, except 150
left over from the previous fiscal year, lentil we are able to establistt
pond culture for tiiis fish all distributed have to be purchased out-
right, and the same may be said of the sunfish, yellow perch and rock
bass. The cost of these fish aggregate over 15.000 annually. Hav-
ing no appropriation we of course distribute none of this species of

fish as heretofore. ?

Our output of pike perch, white fish and shad in 1897 was 152,-
780,000 and the lack of an appropriation pii»vented us from hatching
any of those fish this year.

All of which is respectfully submitted:

S. B. STILLWELL,

President.

H. C. DEMUTH,
LOUIS STREUBER,
D. P. CORWIN,
JAMES A. DALE.
JAMES W. CORRELL.

3

26

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

27

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND STATIS-
TICIAN.

Commissioners of Fisheries.

Gentlemen: I liave tlie honor of making this, my first annual re-
port. Immediately on your honoring me with the appointment, I
notified the superintendents of Stations and requested their hearty
co-operation in order that I might the more fully and intelligently
perform the duties of my position. It is pleasant to report that I re-
ceived prompt and cordial assent to my request, and to the fulfilment
I owe the ability to bring before you several matters which I believe
will interest you and be of value to the work of fish culture.

A resolution was adojitt^d at the meeting of May 20, 1898, in effect
that in my capacity as Statistician I should have authority to instruct
the Superintendents of Stations to make any experiments of fish culture
that I might deem of vahu' to the Commission. The terms of this
resolution I also made known to the Superintendents, and in accord-
ance therewith continued a series of experiments at the Corry Sta-
tion which were begun the year before by Mr. Buller at my request.
These experiments I shall relate in detail later in this report, treating
first of oth<n' matters which it seems to me should be first disposed of.

Although i)erhaps not strictly within my lines of duties, I may, I
hope, be pardoned for making a review of the condition of the hatch-
ing stations under the control of the Commissioners of Fisheries. I
venture to do this, because while, as I Ijave prefaced, not strictly
within my duties as either Assistant Secretarv or Statistician, their
condition is still of importance to me in my work, and as I have oc-
casion to visit them more or less frequently I am apt to notice many
things which it might interest you to know and which may be of
value as emphasizing statements of the Sui)erintendents.

With the exception of the Eastern Station at Allentown, the build-
ings under the control of the Comniisssion, for hatching purposes,
are in first class condition. The hatching houses and grounds of the
Western Station at Corry are in a particularly ci-t^ditable state, and
Mr. Buller I think cannot be too highly praised for the manner in
which e\'erything is kept and the deep interest which he evinces in
his work.

Everything is so carefully looked after that the property has the ap-
pearance more of a public park than the site of a great State industry.
Indeed, I am informed that the people of Corry take as much pride
in the place as though it were an ornate public pleasure ground, and

take strangers to it as one of the chief attractions of the city. The
handsome trees, the well kept lawns and gravelled walks, the neat
hatching houses and the fine display of healthy brood fish in the ponds
are indeed attractions, and 1 can readily credit the statement that
thousands of persons visit the grounds annually.

Value of Attractive Stations.
I am satisfied that the time in making hatching station grounds
attractive is well expended and that the more people that can be in-
duced to visit the Stations the better it is for the fish culture. The
more the public knows of the work of the Commission, the greater
must be the public support given. There is nothing more wonderful
than the artificial hatching of fish and it is impossible for people who
have seen some of the details and methods thereof not to afterward
appreciate and give credit to the Commission for the work being

done.

The United States Fish Commission fully realizes the importance
of interesting the public and it has made its building in Washington so
attractive that there is a constant stream of visitors daily and the fame
of the exhibit is pread all over the country. The United States Fish
Commission exhibit is in fact one of the chief attractions of Wash-
ington.

# *

The Estaht.isiiment of A<n'AUiA Urced.
The great charm of the exhibit at Washington is the aquaria, so
arranged that visitors pass before them in a tasty grotto and see
the fish by means of light shining through the water from the outside.
A similar exhibit is possible at the Western Station at Corry, and to
a lesser though not so artistic a manner at the Bristol Station during

the shad season.

A year or two ago, Mr. Buller attempted. I believe, to carry out this
idea in a modified form by making use of the office building, but as he
had no authority to make <-ertain necessary changes in the building,
the result was unsatisfactory. The place became damp and unpleas-
ant and the dampness threatened injury to tli<> structure itself. Con-
sequently he dismantled the apparatus and emptied the aquaria. He
has since taken a couple of these receptacles and erected them at the
lower end of the old hatching house. Here he has several species of
lake fish and the exhibit is one of the prominent attractions for

visitors.

I would strongly and earnestly suggest that when the Commission
is again in possession of State funds a small portion be set aside for
altering and fitting up the old office building for the proper exhibi-
tion of the fresh water fishes of the State, particularly those which
belong to the western part of the State and the great lakes.

28

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

There are a number of acjuaria at the Bristol Station, and I believe
uo better use could be made of them than for the exhibition of the
Hshes peculiar to the Delaware river. At the close of the shad season,
these lish could be, if necessary, restored to that stream. When the
Commission last operated the Bristol Station, Mr. Oreveling utilized
two of the aquaria in this manner, and they were quite as great a
drawing card as the operations of incubating shad.

How important the National Fish Commission regarded the employ-
ment of aquaria as object lessons and the importance of attracting
the public to the work of fish culture may be evidenced by the fact
that the late Colonel McDonald, while Commissioner, endeavored by
the aid of Congress, the City Councils of Philadelphia, the Academy
of Natural Sciences our much missed co-laborer the late Henry C.
Ford, and the Park Commission to have a fine biological laboratory
in Fairmount Park. The scheme only fell through on account of the
illness and death of Colonel McDonald.

This Commission of course could not establish and support a bio-
logical laboratory in Fairmount Park or elsewhere in the State, but
I do believe that it would be good policy and decidedly helpful to
the work of fish culture if it could induce I»hiladelphia and Pittsburg
to establish an aquaria within their limits, and agree to add to the
attraction by furnishing eggs and hatching such fish as shad and
white fish and pike-perch. This is a suggestion which I would ear-
nestly invite your consideration. It is only put in a crude manner
purposely in order that the matter may the better be discussed from
all its standpoints.

It will be noticed that I have not in<luded Erie as a place for the
municipality to establish an aquaria. The omission was by design,
because I wished to suggest that here the municipality and the Com-
mission could work together and with very little expense to either
establish a fresh water exhibit that would speedily be unrivaled.

The Eastern Station.

It is a source of regret that I cannot speak in the same terms of the
condition of the Eastern Station at Allentown that I have done of
the Western Station at Corry. In fact the hatching houses at the
Eastern Station are in a deplorable condition. Mr. Creveling, in his
report has described their state so fully that it is not necessary for
me to say more than that I fully endorse his statements and add the
belief that the older of the two houses cannot go through two more
winters. As this is the building in which the trout are actually
hatched its precarious condition is a matter of serious concern to
you. The newer of the two buildings is not well suited for hatching
trout because it is so far from the supply spring that by the time the
w^^ter reaches it, it has raised a degree or two at least and causes a
too rapid incubation of the eggs.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

29

No. 18.

The dilapidated state of the Station is to be deplored also because
of the detraction it causes to the praiseworthy efforts of Mr. Crevel-
ing to give the grounds a park like appearance. The natural beau-
ties of the surroundings afford a splendid opportunity to create a
noted show place, but it would be idle to attempt anything of the
kind while the State is only the lessee instead of the owner of the

^XlTcount of the unatisfactory state of affairs with respect to this
property, I was requested some time since to examine mto the pos-
sibility of extending the output of the Western Station at Corry
should negotiations for a more satisfactory arrangement with the
owners of the land occupied by the Eastern Station fail. I am de-
cidedly of the opinion that the output can be increased by almost if
not quite the number now hatched at Allentown. To do this the
new hatching house must be added to by the present length, which
I think is feasible. A new hatching house could also be erected at
oblique angles with the upper end of the old house. If additional
ponds are needed they can be built in what is called the Deer Park,
but if this is done it can only be by cementing the sides and bottoms
and by building a catch basin at the head, because of the great muck-
iness of the ground. Mr. Buller endeavored once to build two or
three ponds on this ground in the same manner as those on the other
part of the grounds but the work was a failure.

Hybrids Between Genera.
A little more than two years ago, in course of conversation with Mr.
Buller I learned that at the W esiern Station the California trout
and the vellow perch spawned at the same time. It then struck us
both that if a hvbrid could be produced from the two the result
would be interesting from a scientific standpoint and might be of
immense value to fish culture. It was determined to try the expert
ment although neither of us expected to produce progeny from such
widely different genera. Mr. Buller selected about half a dozen of
his healthiest female California trout and all the most vigorous male
vellow perch in his ponds. He heavily impregnated about five hun-
dred of the eggs and placed them in the hatching troughs. All of
the eg-s looked full and alive for several days and then some of them
died but others began to show signs of incubation. At the expiration
of the usual period for California trout, about fifty of the hybrids
broke through the shell. They were fine, healthy fry, and were, ac-
cording to Mr. Buller's observations, so far as markings were con-
eernecL exactlv like the fry of the California trout of the same age,
and this pecuiiaritv continued as they grew. This was interesting
from the fact that it is a rule in cross fertilization that the progeny
shall take after the male lallH-r than the female parent. We had

30

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

reason to believe, therefore, since these were hybrids between widely
separated genera, that the resemblance to the yellow perch would be
marked, but the onJy dilference that could be detected between these
curiosities and fry of the California trout of the same age, was that
they were much smaller.

Early in October, Mr. Buller, as he himself expresses it, somewhat
thoughtlessly put the hybrids in the pond with the full blooded Cali-
fornia trout hatched at the same time. As the former were smaller the
presumption is that the larger tish devoured them, for when the pond
was dragged last spring the hybrids had all disappeared.

This was, as may be supposed, a great disappointment to me, for I
had become deeply interested in the outcome of the experiment, but
I was by no means discouraged or disposed to give up. When it was
found that the little tish had all disappeared, I made inquiries of Mr.
Buller and found there were still a number of ripe California trout
females. I then requested Mr. Buller to again attempt the fertiliza-
tion of the eggs. \Vhen he drew the pond, in which the previous year
there had been a number of male yellow perch, he could find but two.
These, however, had a fair amount of milt, but by no means a suffi-
cient quantity. With this scant material he expressed what
milt there was on a number of eggs during the next few days. There
apepared to be genuine impregnation for the eggs exhibited every indi-
cation thereof. For many days the eggs continued to look healthy
and Mr. Buller began to have hopes of hatching at least a few, but I
regret to say that little by little the eggs began to fail and soon all
were dead. We intend to resume the experiment again next spring,
and in the meantime Mr. Buller will make strenuous efforts to havj
a full supply of male yellow perch.

I am satisfied that hybrid lish can be raised between the California
trout and the yellow perch. The lirst hatching and even the failure
last spring , to my mind, is evidence of this. It might be said, from
the fact that the progeny that were produced were perhaps through
the accidental jiiesence of California trout milt in the pan when the
first experiment was made, but the care which Mr. Buller exercised
precludes this though. The fact that the eggs last spring showed evi-
dences of at least partial impregnation, if such a term can be used,
would indicate the possibility of final success.

As far as the experiments have progressed I hope for ultimate suc-
cess, but I believe two conditions are necessary.
First— Berfectly healthy male and female parents.
Second — A great abundance of milt.

In impregnating eggs of fish of a kind or among species a very
little milt will fertilize a large number of eggs, but when cross fer-
tilization of genera is to be undertaken, I am convinced that it will
require a large amount of milt to effect the impregnation of a very

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

31

No. 18.

small number of eggs. It is reasonable that it should be for nature
seems averse to producing progeny of this character Indeed, it is
held bv many scientific men that it is impossible to produce offspring
between different genera. There have been instances where hybrids
have been produced, it is said, between widely separated genera of
plants, but in such cases it has been claimed by those who hold to
the refusal of nature to perform such a function under such circum-
stances that the fact that there was successful hybridization, only
showed that earlier botanists had erred in placing the parent plants
in different genera, and that it demonstrated that they in fact be-
longed to one genus.

I believe that the botanists who hold otherwise have not been able
to refute this position, and I would not be surprised even if this ex-
periment on which I am engaged proves successful that an effort will
be made to prove that ichthyologists have been wrong in assigning
the yellow perch and the California trout in separate genera, fehould
such be successful the results of the experiments will still be of the
utmost value for it will show that the whole nomencla re of ichthy-
ology is wrong, for beyond tiiose features common to all fishes there
is not a sign of relationship between the yellow perch and the Cali-
fornia trout, as required under the present method of determining
genera or species. Their characteristics could be scarcely more di-
vergent than those of a horse and a cat.

It is not commonly known that there has been at least one previous
effort to cross genera of fishes, an effort which is said to have been
successful. Many years ago, while Professor Baird was United
States Fish Commissioner, he announced in one of his annual reports
that some of his men at the shad station on the Susquehanna had
fertilized the eggs of a shad with the milt of a striped bass and that
the eggs had hatched. Professor Baird stated that as there was no
means of rearing the fish the hybrids were planted in the river at
once with the shad fry. He did not give any description of the fry
and no further reference was ever made to the experiment.

My object in conducting the experiment of producing a hybrid be-
tween the California trout and the yellow perch is two fold.
First, the scientific interest which success must arouse.
Second, the great practical and economic value which such a hybrid
may be to the fish interests of the State.

The interest which such a hybrid must be to science has already
been discussed, and the second I acknowledge is open to wide and
varied discussion. My position is that there are many streams once
fine trout waters now, by changed environments, unsuited to this
fish, although the water may be as pure as it originally was. If a fish
combining good game and table qualities can be produced that will
thrive in streams of the kind described, it would solve a problem that

n

REPORT OF THE

Off: Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

83

has always bothered fish culturists. There cau be no gainsaying the
fact that both the yellow perch and the California trout in them-
selves possess the desired qualities. Whichever parent the progeny
favored thei-e could be no deterioration likely. It may be objected
tHat the progeny if produced would more than likely be barren This
is possible, but I do not think it much more probable than that the
otispring of different species should be infertile. I am aware that
there is a prevailing belief that such offspring are generally barren
but as I pointed out in a paper published in your last report this be^
lief IS a fallacy founded on the single example of the mule. In any
event the experiment is well worth making and the fertilitv or in-
fertility of any progeny which may be produced can afterwards be
demonstrated.

Large Califokma Tkout.
I regret to have to make otlicial auuoun< euicnt of the death early
last spring of the aged California female trout in the ponds at the
Eastern Station at AUentown. This fish was an object of much in-
terest to those who knew of it for it afforded an opportunitv of indi-
cating the age to which the California trout lives under favorable
circumstances and the period at which the species becomes infertile.

In a paper which I had the honor to pi-eiiare for your last report
entitled "History of Truut Culture in Pennsylvania," is the following
note concerning the trout which recently died:

''The fish is in a healthy condition apparently; it is twenty-four
inches in length and weighs about four pounds. The fish is' a fe-
male and was spawned at the Marietta Hatchery over fifteen years
ago from eggs received from the United States Government. It has
been at least five or six years since any eggs were taken from her for
fear of possible injury, but all signs point to her having passed the
spawning age. For four years she has not been in the raceways
during the spawning time of her species, nor has she been observed
to exhibit a desire to visit a spawning bed, nor have any males shown
any tendency to fight over her.

''Mr. Creveling, who has watched this California trout carefully,
says further, that in four years her appearance has not indicated the
presence of eggs in her ovaries.

''This aged California trout in AUentown appears to be perfectly
healthy. Her eyesight is unimpaired, her teeth are in good order
and she takes her food as regularly and with api»aiimtlv as much rel^
ish and ease as any of the younger fish in the pond. She is, however,
more sluggish in her movements and less inclined to dart hither and
thither about the pcMnl. Latterly she has grown fond of resting mo-
tionless in one spot for considerable periods, only moving when dis-
turbed or when feeding linn' arrives.

"She is becoming notably thinner. Five vears ago she weighed
close upon five pounds, but now she weighs only about four pounds,
and this in spite of her feeding regularlv and fullv."

I

The above were the conditions when the article was written, which
was in the earlv summer of 181)7. Soon after, however, the California
trout began tJ fail rapidly. Her appetite for food left her and her
eyesight also apparently began to fail, although she did not seem-
ingly suffer from any disease whatever. There were many signs of
rapidly coming dissolution. She became much emaciated and visibly
smaller, both in length and girth. Her death occurred early m

April. X J J

After her death, Mr. Creveling had the fish stuffed and mounted, and
it now adorns the walls of his office at the AUentown Station.

When in her prime, this California trout was supposed to be the
larixest fish of her species in Pennsylvania waters. Up to the time
of iier death no specimens had been seen or caught that approached
her in length and weight, but strangely enough the week of her
demise, Mr^ Puller captured one in the act of spawning in the stream
that flows from the hatchery grounds very much larger, and a few
weeks later Dr. W. H. 1^(^11, of the neighborhood of Scranton, captured
(me in one of the Scranton water works ponds which was still greater
both in size and weight.

The fish cai)tured by Mi'. P,uller was the most beautiful specimen
of the kind I have ever seen. She measured 28 inches in length and
weighed exactly ten pounds. The fish captured by Dr. Bell was 32^
Inches long and is said to have weighed 15 pounds and 14 ounces.
Thus it will be observed that Mr. Puller's fish was longer by three
inches than the AUentown fish and was twice as heavy as the latter
when in her prime. Dr. Pell's fish was seven and one-half inches
longer than the AUentown fish and four and one-half inches more than
Mr.'' Puller's specimen. It was, if the weight was correctly given,
ten pounds and four(wn ounces heavier than the AUentown speci-
men and five pounds and fourteen ounces in excess of Mr. Puller's.
The fish caught by Mv. Buller is now in my possession stuffed and

mounted.

The capture of these two fish adds litth- if anything more to the
knowledge which we possess of the longevity and iieriod of infer-
tUity. 1 am glad to say that it emphasizes the caution which I ex-
pressed in my paper your report of last year when discussing this very

subject.

I said then that while from certain examples, of which the Cali-
fornia trout at AUentown was one, that it would appear the maximum
limit of growth of the species is approximately 24 inches and the
greatest weight from four and a half to five pounds, it should not
be taken as conclusi^ e evidence because the examples were too few.
The proi)riety of this caution must be apparent, for here is one fish
double the weight and another said to be more than three times
heavier.
3-18-98

34

REPORT OF THE

Off Doc.

I was not informed as to the sex of the fish captured by Dr. Bell,
or if it \yas examined by those who dissected it, a circumstance which
I very much regret as it might have let a little light on an interesting
problem, but the fish captured by Mr. Buller was still a spawner.
Before she was captured she had expressed some eggs and afterwards
Mr. Buller took from her about five hundred more. She could not
have deposited many before her capture, but assuming that she had
freed herself of as many as was artificially taken from her, it would
indicate failing powers of reproduction, which would seemingly sus-
tain my idea and those of some others interested in fish culture that
the spawning age does not extend much beyond ten years. I say this
because there is reason for believing that the age of the trout caught
by Mr. Buller did not much exceed a dozen of years at most, for it was
about then that his species of fish were first planted in western Penn-
sylvania waters. The fish caught by Dr. Bell also could not have
been more than that. Indeed, unless planted unknown to the Fish
Commission, it could not have been more than eight years, for it was in
1891 that California trout were first planted in Lake Worth, the body
of water in question, under the supervision of the Hon. S. B. Stillwell,
your President.

I feel that I must revise one opinion previously held by me with re-
spect to the size to which California trout will grow in Pennsylvania
waters, and I am glad that I can do so without reversing a positive
statement, and that I can point to caution given not to be hasty in
coming to a conclusion. It is not certain because a California trout
was caught weighing fifteen pounds nearly and another ten pounds
and both probaly less than a dozen years old that if not caught or die
from some other cause, the usual size reached will be of the two
just mentioned. I cannot credit it. Fish vary in size and weight at
similar ages just as human beings do, and I am inclined to the belief
that the two specimens were exceptionally large ones — giants among
their kind.

Water conditions have much to do with the growth of a fish. The
greater the body of water the larger, within certain limitations, a fish
will grow. Thus, a brown trout in small streams will only reach
the size usually nttninod by the brook trout, but in large waters
it grows to huge proportions with almost marvelous rapidity. It
is probable, therefore, that while the average weight of a mature
California trout may still be placed at five pounds, it is certain that
under some conditions it can attain a weight of at least from ten to
fifteen pounds.

LlOIITMNO KiLT.Kl) FlSII.

My attention has been called by Mr. Creveling to the large number
of brown trout killed from time to time in the ponds of the Eastern

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

U

Station through the agency of lightning. He reports that as many
as fifty seven have been killed during a single thunder storm, and
many more were so badly atlccted that they died shortly after.

Those affected but not killed at once seemed to be in a measure par-
alyzed. They appeared to be deprived of the power *of using both
the head and the tail at the same time. The paralysis seemingly
existed chiefly in the middle of the body at the spine. Some of the
fish would live, Mr. Creveling states, as long as three weeks after re-
ceiving the shock, but all eventually died.

It is a curious fact that in none of the thunder storms the ponds
containing any of the trout seem to have been directly struck by light-
ning. Besides personal observations on the part of Mr. Creveling,
there is other conclusive evidence of this in the fact that none of the
trees which shade the ponds seem ever to have been touched by the

terrible bolts.

But quite as curious as the almost undeniable fact that the ponds
have never been directly struck by lightning is the statement of
Mr. Creveling that while the brown trout are frequently killed in large
numbers through electrical storms, it is exceedingly rare that either
the California or the brook trout are so killed or aifected and then
only two or three hurt. The interest is deepened by the report from
Mr. Buller, the Superintendent of the Western Station, that he has
never lost any trout, not even the brown species through this cause,
although the locality has frequently been visited by terrific thunder
storms and one occasion the lightning struck very near the ponds.

Here is an apparent tangle. At Allentown, but not at Corry, the
brown trout seem to be susceptible to lightning shock, but at neither
place are the brook or the California trout affected to any extent.
It was my business to untangle this skein if possible. My first move
was to learn, if I could, why it was that the brown trout seemed to
be singled out from tlie other sorts at Allentown and I speedily
adopted the theory of Mr. Creveling as the apparent reason, namely,
that he brown trout usually rest on the bottom of the ponds while
both the California and the brook trouts swim a short distance above.
That being the case, it is easy to imagine that if a fishes body touched
the ground when the latter was charged with electricity it would
receive a heavier shock than the one whose body did not so touch.
This would also exi)lain why it would not be necessary for the pond
to be actually struck in order to shock the fish, for under some cir-
cumstances the current would be readily carried through the wet
ground. But it did not explain the immunity of the brown trout in
the Corry ponds. To solve this was my next business.

Investigation shows that the bottoms of the ponds at Corry are of
heavv blue clav, while those at Allentown are of very light porous
clay in part, but more of a gravelly character. To my mind, the

36

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

whole mystery was now cleared up. The gravelly nature of the soil
when wet becomes an excellent conductor of electricity, while the
heavy blue clay offers so great a resistance as to be to some extent a
non-conductor. The Corry ponds are in fact basins practically imper-
vious to the entrance of electricity unless directed against the surface
of the water, while the ponds at Allentown are to all intents and
purposes a sieve through which electricity can pass bottom or sides
with perfect freedom.

If deemed necessary, and my finding are correct, the mortality
among the brown trout in the Allentown ponds may be checked by
puddling the sides and bottoms thickly with heavy clay.

Illegal Fisinxo with Nets.

Early last spring I received strong complaints against certain par-
ties who were said to be fishing with dip nets in the Schuylkill river
at Fairmount dam, in the city of Philadelphia. I ordered a warden
in the employ of the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, with
that body's consent, to make an investigation. He reported that such
fishing was going on continually. On looking up the laws on the
subject, however, I could not make up my mind that the fishermen
were acting illegally because the laws with respect to net fishing
for catfish and suckers seemed to me to conflict and to be otherwise
obscure. I brought the matter before your body and as a result of
discussion, I was directed to get a legal interpretation.

I immediately sent the laws on the subject to the Attorney Gen-
eral of the State and asked for his opinion. That official deemed the
question of such importance that he gave a full and exhaustive
opinion in writing and made it public through the newspaper press.
In his opinion, the fishing with nets was clearly illegal. Acting under
this advice, I immediately ordered the warden to break up the prac-
tice of using dip nets in the Schuylkill river. At the same time I
instructed him not to make arrr^sts unless he had to, because the men
were undoubtedly under the impression that they were following a
legal calling. He carried out my instructions and all such fishing
has been abandoned there since. I must say, however, that in my
opinion the law as it stands on the statute books is unjust and ought
to be repealed or modified as soon as possible. The quicker suckers
and carp are caught out of the rivers the better, and I do not believe
the type of nets used are at all injurious to the increase of valuable
food and game fish. T^ndonl)tedly a few game fish are captured in
these nets occasionally, but the number is so small as not to be worth
considering.

On the other hand, the catching of catfish and suckers by this
means forms quite a considerable industry at Philadelphia, and this

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

37

seems to me to have greater claims for consideration by the Fish
Commission than the possible killing of a few game fish. I do not
believe in the use of destructive devices for catching fish, but these
nets as used, I cannot see are destructive enough to be forbidden. It
is the policy of the Fish Commission to be as liberal as possible
towards the commercial fisherman, and I believe it would be best to
take the earliest opportunity to have this particular law decidedly
modified. In the meantime, under the opinion of the Attorney Gen-
eral, any complaint of this kind of fishing must be taken cognizance of.
* As the opinion of the Attorney General is of such importance I
recommend that it be published among the papers accompanying
your annual report.

The Sturgeon Flsheries.

My attention has been strongly drawn to the rapidly failing char-
acter of the sturgeon fisheries of the Delaware river. I have not yet
had sufficient time to go thoroughly into the matter, but I have
learned enough to be convinced that the industry is threatened with
early destruction.

It has been only comparatively a few years since the great value
of the sturgeon as a marketable commodity was appreciated, and
during the period when this was not understood, the fish were ruth-
lessly slaughtered by shad fishermen, mammooses, or the young of
the sturgeon, were almost invariably slain or allowed to die when
taken from the shad nets. Now that the value of the fish is fully
appreciated, and the demand for the eggs for caviar has grown to
great proportions, fishermen strain every nerve to capture as many
as possible during the season. Under these circumstances it is not
surprising that, as a gentleman very largely interested in the industry
remarks in a letter to your honorable Board, sturgeon are becoming
scarcer every year.

There is no question in my mind that unless some vigorous methods
are adopted speedily the sturgeon fishing in the Delaware and Sus-
quehanna rivers will very soon be a thing of the past. It is difficult,
however, to determine what to do. There is an excellent interstate
law which provides a close season for the fish and which regulates
the size of the mesh nets used. This law is, 1 believe, faithfully ob-
served by the Delaware river fishermen. New Jersey and Delaware
also have on their statute books a law which forbids the killing of
mammooses, but as Pennsylvania, through some strange oversight,
has no such law, the statutes of the two states named have little
effect. It seems to me that one of the first acts of the next session
of the Legislature should be to remedy this omission.

I would respectfully suggest and urge that the Board of Fish Com-
missioners of Pennsylvania endeavor to effect some arrangement with

38

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

New Jersey, Delaware and the United States to start and carry on the
artificial propagation of the sturgeon on a large scale and to secure
from the State an appropriation therefor. The great expense ii.
volved in the propagation of the sturgeon renders it out of the ques-
tion for any one State to undertake it, and I have been unofficially
informed even for the United States Fish Commission. Uow expen-
sive it IS may be inferred from the fact that the eggs of a single
sturgeon have brought within the last year or two as much as |82

If some arrangement of the kind could be entered into, such as 1
have just indicated, I believe it would not be many years before the
sturgeon would once more be plentiful in the Delaware. Also if
Maryland could be induced to put a stop to some of the destructive
methods of taking fish the same might be said of the Susquehanna
river.

The Herhin(; Indlsthv.

The herring fisheries in the Susquehanna this vear were mucn
larger than in former years. Comparatively a small portion of the
river within the State lines is visited by this valuable food fish, other-
wise the catch could have been termed enormous, for the vastness
of the schools in the extreme lower part was beyond compare. As
it was, the nets in the Pennsylvania section took thousands upon
thousand more than could be used, and it is to the credit of the fisher-
men that, although I made diligent in<juiry, 1 could not hear of a
single instance where the surplus lish were not returned unharmed
to the river. The Sus.iuehaiina river is without (piestion t-lie finest
herring river in Teniisylvania. The catch far outnumbers that of
the Delaware and the industry is very large, much greater in fact
than on that stream.

Although both the calch and the curing industrv are both greater
on the Susquehanna, the supply of herring on the^>elaware always
also exceeds the demand, and as with their brethren on the Susfpie-
hanna, the fishermen un the Delaware this year returned to the water
many hundred thousand more of this species of fish than thev had
use for.

TiiK Vauv (^i kstion.

The catch of carp in the Dehuvare this year again showed a marked
decline so much so that many of the fishermen de( lared the season to
have been unprofitalde. Nine-tenths of the caip Hslieries were and are
on the New Jersey shore, although there are a few on the Pennsvl-
vania side opposite Beverly. From what I can gather the decrease
in the catch is due to the vii^or and ]M'rsistency with which the fish-
ermen sought them, and there is good reason to believe that this very
undesirable fish is rapidly becoming very scarce in the lower Deui-

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

39

ware river. If these surmises are correct, the Board of Fish Com-
missioners may feel much gratified, for while it is an undeniable fact
that for three*^ or four years, if not more, carp fishing was quite an
important and profitable industry, it was at the expense of both the
increase and sale of much better fish.

The carp question is a perplexing one. All who have made any
investigations, however perfunctory, must confess that of all the
known fishes the carp is the most destructive to other fishes. It is
now fully realized that the planting of them in American waters
was a serious mistake. The great difficulty is how to get rid of them
now that they are over running our stieams and in some cases driving
out much better fishes. In tide waters nets would speedily solve the
problem, as it seems to be doing in the lower Delaware, but unfor-
tunately such methods are impracticai.le in most of our other
streams and would remain so even though nets could be legally em-
ployed. It seems to me that a slight check might be made on their
increase if there were a law on the statute books making it punishable
by a heavy fine to plant or permit to be planted any of this species of
fish in Pennsylvania waters. New Jersey enacted such a law, and 1
am informed it operates very satisfactorily.

With much respect,
I am respectfully yours,

W. E. MEEHAN,
Assistant Secretarv and Statistician.

WESTERN STATION

Keport of William BuUer, Superintendent.

To the Commissioners of Fisheries.

Centlemen: I respectfully submit the following report of my work
and observations during the fiscal year past. Notwithstanding the
rigid economy it was necessary to employ, I was able to accomplish
a fair amount of w ork and ship a large number of trout fry. In obe-
dience to your orders I did not oi)erate the Erie Station, and merely
saw to it that it was kept in good order. There were, therefore, no
white fish or pike perch hatched or in fact any lake fish.

There was very little mortality among the fish in the ponds, and no
disease showed itself among them. Among the very old fish, kept

40

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

41

chiefly for the purpose of study by the Statistician or scientific men,
but one died, a brown trout of nine years. This fish was a male and
one of the original specimens received at this Station. Its death
was due, not to disease or old ago, but to a slight accident.

I experienced no ditliculty whatever in taking trout eggs or in

hatching them this year. In fact there were many more eggs than m

could use with the present facilities for keeping until distribution

time. By direction of Mr. Sireuber, I turned ow-r to oae association

150,000 brook trout eggs, which it hatched and planted in streams in

the western part of the State. In consideration of the permission to

take these eggs, the association sent its own iUh cuKnrist to the

Station at Corry and assisted my man and myself in taking the eggs

which were for purely State use. - ' '

As it sometimes happens that there are many more eggs than can

be used at this Station and as 1 understand Hiai the P^astern Station

generally has a full supply, it seems to me that it would be well if

these surplus eggs could W disposed of to such organizations as hatch

fish for planting. My experience has taught me that the ripe fish

should be stripiR^d, even though tli«^ eggs cannot be used, because if

this is not done, tliey attempt to enter the races where the males

fight with such ferocity that m.niy of them die of their wounds. In

these battles many females are often injurcnl and either die therefrom,

or become attacked by fungus. If the surplus eggs were given away

or distributed among Associations having hat<hing houses, thousands

of young fish would be ivared that would otherwise be lost. This

matter is respectfully drawn to your attention.

The eggs placed m the Siate hatching (rm^ghs at Corrv, came out
promptly and when ready for distribution w<'re fine and healthy.

By request of Mr. Meehan, your pivsent Assistant Secretary and
Statistician, last spring a year I fertilized rm) California trout eggs
with the milt of the yellow perch. About fifty young fish hatched, the
period of incubati<»n being almut the same as the eggs of California
trout fertilized by the male of the same species. I kept the fry in
the troughs until late in the fall, when I |»laced them in a pond with
the young (\»liforma trout. In appearance these hybrids were so
like the California trout that I could not delect any dilference. Even
when they were first hatched the sac was exactly the same, as far
as I could see. The only peculiarity, if it was such, was that in the
autumn they were somewhat smaller tlian the California trout of
the same age. I feel that I made a mistake in iilacing these fish in
the i)ond with the other trout, for when I sought for them this spring
I could find no trace of them. Doubtless, being smaller, the others
devoured them.

This spring, under direction of Mr. Meehan, I expc^rimented again
with the same fish. Unfortunately I only had two mah' perch with

which to fertilize the eggs of six California trout. These were of
course impregnated at ditlerent times, but none of the eggs hatched.
Evidently none of the eggs were thoroughly impregnated, though
curiously enough, it was some time before the eggs died. This au-
tumn, under further directions of Mr. Meehan, I will endeavor to se-
cure a number of male perch and make another etfort to hybridize
the fish next spring. -

I was notified by your Assistant Secretary, last spring, that acting
under orders from you, he had requested the New York Fish Commis-
sion to grant me permission to take mascollonge eggs from Lake
Chatauqua, but the permission was never received, consequently I
did not visit the lake for the eggs as in former years.

In view of the possibility that you may at some time in the future
engage in mascollonge culture, it may interest you to know that while
it only requires from seven to eight days for these eggs to hatch in the
waters of Lake Chautauqua, it takes about 30 to 50 days in the water
of the Corry Station.

I feel that it is my duty to call your atention to the matter of late
shipments of trout fry for distribution. I have considered this ques-
tion for some time, but hesitated to draw your attention to it
through a fear lest it might not be considered as coming within my
province. Several complaints of dead fish from applicants who re-
ceived their trout during the warm weather late in the season, leads
me to bring the matter before you.

From my experience I believe that if all applications for trout
could be filled at this Station by the last of April, the shipments
would be much more satisfactory to the applicant and cost the Com-
mission much less money. Early shipments cost very little, but as
the season advances the expense becomes considerable. The warmer
the weather the more ice must be used in transit, and it is this which
makes a considerable item of expense. Moreover, fish transported
in ice water are more apt to be destroyed through the inexperience or
the carelessness of the applicant than when they can be shipped in
spring water without ice or the use of a very small quantity.

When young fish are planted, the water in the cans should have
been for some time before of the same temperature as the water of the
stream in which they are placed. If young trout are taken directly
from ice water and planted in a stream, the water of which is from
1.5 to 20 degrees warmer, nearly all of them are certain to di(s

It would be much better, both for the Commission and the appli-
cant if no applications for trout were received after May 1st except
the applicant be well known to the Commissioners as an experienced
fish j)lanter, for otherwise T am satisfied that by far the greater num-
ber of the fish die either before or after being planted.

Another disadvantage in late shipments, and which results in the

42

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

death of a large percentage of the fry, is that frequently applicants
are not at the stations when the flsh arrive. Any delay in this par-
ticular when the weather is warm, is fatal to the fry. Early in tue
spring, when the weather is cool, it matters very little if the applicant
is an hour or more late, for the water does not get warm so fast ana
lose its life sustaining properties. Two hours delay in June weather
is sufficient to kill every fish in a can if ice or constant aeration is
not employed.

While on the subject of the distribution of flsh, I would like to
respectfully call your attention to the loss of time caused by there-
being no well defined districts to be covered by the Western and East-
ern Stations. At present I ship trout to the eastern part of the State
' very often and Superintendent Creveling as often carries fish to the
western part. As an instance, on one occasion I delivered fry within
ten miles of the Eastern Station. I recognize the fact that even
though districts were clearly defined, there would be occasions when
it would be impossible to avoid sending one Superintendent into the
district of the other. 1 have hesitated long in speaking of this mat-
ter, feeling that it was hardly within my province, but do so because
I believe the districting of the State would enable me to give your
bodv better service.

The ponds are all in fair condition and need very little repairs. As
soon as practicable, however, a few repairs should be made to the
dwelling house. The piazza roof leaks badly through the gutter of
the house roof having rotted away. The roof of the barn is also in
bad shape. The latter, however, I can and will fix this summer my-
self at a trifling expense.

A few of the old trees on the grounds died last winter, and I re-
placed most of them this spring with others dug from the neighbor-
ing woods. Two fine pines were kiHed through digging a trench to
carry water to the new hatchery. These weix> replaced by others
through the orders of Mr. Streuber.

I had intended to carry water from the upper spring for the new
hatching house, but owing to there being no money with which to
purchase three-inch iron pipe, I made shift by using wooden trunk
from the lower spring. This water is not at all suitable or satisfac-
tory because it is largely affected by surface drainage. After every
heavy rain the spring becomes badly roiled, and it is not an uncom-
mon thing after a prolonged shower to find a (luarter of an inch of
mud on the eggs in the troughs. As soon as possible an iron pipe
should be laid to connect with the upper spring which is not affected
by surface drainage.

Apart from the difficulties from the muddy water the new hatch-
ing house was perfectly successful. It was completed in June of
last year and contains 28 troughs with room for two more. These

No. 18. FISH COMMISSIONERS. 43

troughs have a capacity for 840,000 trout, each trough holding 30,000
trout. This gives the Station a possible output of 2,400,000 trout an-
nuallv.

The old hatching house sets so low that as matters are now, when
the water used in the troughs is done with it has to be allowed to run
into a ditch and then directly into the creek. This is a great waste
for there is further use for it. Something ought to be done to use
it in pond work. As appliances are now arranged this is impossible,
but if I were authorized to purchase some 500 or 600 feet of tin or
iroM pipe of two-inch size and about 300 feet of wooden troughs, I
could carry the waste water to the lower ponds. This would enable
the Commission to carry many more brood fish than it now does. As
it is the greater part of the water which supplies these ponds is cut off
during the winter hatching purposes and only a few trout therefore
can be kept in them.

The old horse which the Commission had at this Station for a num-
ber of years died last May, and I bought another for |20. It may be
imairined that it is not such an animal as the State should own, but
as without it I should have had to pay seventy-five cents for every load
of fish hauled to the railroad station, it more than paid its cost.

In conclusion I wish to draw attention to the State of the fish car.
It is in a very dilapidated looking condition for want of paint. Until
two years ago it was under cover at Kane, then the railroad company
having need for the building, the car was put out in the open where
it has been ever since. In consequence of this exposure the paint is
rapidly wearing off and it has a weatherbeaten and dilapidated ap-
I>earance. Acting under orders I permitted the New Jersey Fish
Commission to use the car last spring. They took good care of the
vehicle and returned it in as good condition as they took it, as far

as I could see.

During the year I hatched and distributed 2,206,025 fish, as fol-
lows:

Brook trout, 1,506,300

California trout, 389,800

Brown t^rout, 307,900

Yearling trout, 300

Channel catfish, 275

xSiacK Dass, • x«j*f

Yellow perch, 500

Rock basss, 800

In addition, on June 1 there were remaining in the troughs:

Brook trout 328,800

Brown trout, 60,000

California trout, 279,000

Total, 667,800

44

REPORT OP THE

Off Doc.

Making a grand total fishhatched and distributed of 2,973,825. Be-
sides this there were 150,000 brook trout eggs distributed.
The detailed distribution of fish follows.

Number of fry in hatchery June 1, 1898:

Brook trout fry, 328,800

European brown trout fry, 60,000

California trout fry, 279,000

667,800
Respectfully,

W. BULLER,
Superintendent.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

45

WESTERN STATION.

Brook 2 rout Fry,

Date.

1897.
June 9

Name.

Postofflce Address.

July

9

5

5
15
15
15
30

30
30
SO

Wm. F. Johnston, .,

S. M. Patton,

J. H. Homan

A. M. Gundaker, ..
A. M. Gundaker, ...

E. E. Clark,

W. C. Hlmelbaugh,

J. B. Clark

W. P. HoUlster, ...

G. A. Whittlng, ...

C. Whittlng

W. J. Patton,

F. H. Beatty,

30 S. O. Black, ..
30 Wm. Johnston,
30 ! J. C. Wilcox, .

i

80 R. F. Pegar,

30 J. Hines

June 2 E. Rltter, —
10 ! P. Rodebach, .
10 P. Rodebach, .

27
27
ST
27
27
3
5
9
•
9
9
July 2
16
16
24
Aug. 14

J. G. Uzel

J. G. Uzel

J. G. Uzel,

J. G. Uzel

J. G. Uzel,

J. Q. Uzel

J. W. Kilburn.

L. Lord,

H. H. Benson,

J. B. Crook, ..

Wm. Smutz, ..

W. Stlne

E. Brockaway,

C. R. Gates, ..

P. E. Stlne, ..

C. A. Leet, ...

D. Fleming, ...

Cochranton, Crawford county, ...
Cochranton, Crawford county, ...
Cochranton, Crawford county, ...

Meadville, Crawford county,

Meadville, Crawford county

Centerville, Crawford county

Centerville, Crawford county, ....

Centerville, Crawford county

Cochranton, Crawford county, ...
Cochranton, Crawford county, ..,
Cochranton, Crawford county, ..
Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Cochranton, Crawford county, ..

Lock Haven, Clinton county, ..

RomansvlUe, Chester county, ..

RomansviUe, Chester county, ..

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county,

Sni)w Shoe, Centre county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county, ..

Union City, Erie county

Waterford, Erie county

Waterford, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

N. Springfield, Erie county, ...

Lovells, Erie county

N. Sprlngneld, Erie county, .
Mooreheadvllle, Erie county, .
Corry, Erie county,

No. shipped.

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,»)0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,»M

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,^)0

1,200

1,^)0

1,200

1,200

l.a»

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,100

1.200

1,200

1,S»

1,200

1,»)0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

Total.

46

REPORT OF THE
Brook Trout Fry — ContiniUHl.

Date.

1897.

Aus. 14
14

July 30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

June 9

2

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

8

3

4

4

4

4 I

Name.

D. Rickson

J. Hill,

J. A. Wltson

J. A. Witson

J. A. Witson

J. A. Witson

J. A. Witson

J. A. Witson

J. A. Witson

J. W. De Haas. .

H. B. Potts

J. C. Ubel,

E, L. Moyers, ...
W. A. Cresby, ..
C. C. L. Wagner,

E. H. Hyatt

J. S. Swanger, ..

H, M. Rapp

R. F. Swope

W. D. Loose

F. Braniff ,

J. Foley

T. J. Spencer, ,.,

E. E. Gibbs,

J. O. Edelblute, .,
J. O. Edelblute, .,
J. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..
3. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..
J. O. Edelblute, ..

S. Bussler

Q. W. Vandevere,
A. Bailey

G. Long

O. Love,

N. H. Weise,

Postofflce Address.

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county ,

Johnsonburg, Elk county ,

Johnsonburg, Elk county ,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county

Johnsonburg, Elk county,

East Hickory, Forest county

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,..

Brookvil'.e, Jefferson county,

Brookvllle, Jefferson county,

Brookvllle, Jefferson county,

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefferson county

Brookvllle, Jefierson county

Hughesville, Lycoming county, ..
Wllliamspoit, Lye m:ng county, ..

Christiana, Lancaster county

Lancaster, Lancaster county

Safe Harbor, Lancaster county, ..
Dremor«\ Lancaster county,

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1 200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,^)0

1,200

1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1 2C0
1,200

Off. Doc.

No. shipped. Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

47

Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Date.

Name.

Postofflce Address.

1897.

June

July

4
4

4
4
4

4
4
4
4
4
4
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
2
2
2
2
2
9
15
1.-
15
15
15
15
15
15
IS

W. H. Weise,

Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth.
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,
Hon. H. C. Demuth,

C. F. Bohall,

J. S. Harding

W. F. Hallstead, ...
W. F. Hallstead. ...
W. F. Hallstead. ...

Dremore, Lancaster county

Dremore, Lancaster county, ....
Dremore, Lancaster county. —

Dremore. Lancaster county

Dremore. Lancaster county

Dremore. Lancaster county. —
Dremore. Lancaster county, —
Dremore, Lancaster county, ...
Dremore. Lancaster county. . . .
Dremore. Lancaster county, . . .
Dremore. Lancaster county, . . .
Wilkes-Barre. Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, I.,uzerne county,
Scranton, Lackawanna county,
Scranion, Lackawanna county.

Scranton, Lackawanna county.

W. F. Hallstead ricranton. LacKawanna county,

W. F. Hallstead ricranton, Lackawanna county,

W. F. Hallstead I Scranton, Lackawanna county,

W. F. Hallstead j Scranton. Lackawanna county.

W. F. Hallstead.
W. F. Hallstead.
W. F. Hallstead,

G. B. Smith

G. B. Smith

A. T. Hamilton,

Scranton. Lackawanna county, .

Scranton, Lackawanna county, .

Scranton, Lackawanna county, .

Dunmore, Lackawanna county, .

Dunmore. Lackawanna county,

Milroy, Mifflin county,

W. S. Sterrett .Milroy, Mifflin county

J. Close Slglerville. Mifflin county

J. B. Robinson Jamestown, Mercer county

L. E. Mullen Jamestown, Mercer county

J. C. Nelson Carlton, Mercer county

Bradford, Bradford county

Bradford Bradford county

T. W. Roberts,
E. F. Williams,

W. Maglnn Bradford, Bradford county,

B. D. Times 'Bradford. Bradford county.

H. Thomas Bradford. Bradford county,

S. B. Darr,

Bradford. Bradford county.

G. C. Fagman Bradford, Bradford county,

W. Grubb Bradford. Bradford county,

D. A. Easterbrook Bradford, Bradford county.

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,2(»

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

\,mi

l.»)0
1.200
1,2(»
1,200
1.100
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,20C
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,100

48

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fty— Coiitiuiied

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

1S97.
July 15
15
15
15
15
June 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
July 30
30
30
30
June 8
8
8
8
15
15
15
IS
15
15
15
15
15
15
3
8
25

n I

m

u

4

4

Name.

C. C. Kimball

Z. B. Custer

S. M. McClellan, ...
G. E. Parkhurst, ...
H. R. Knolton

D. Grapis, .,

W. L. Hoffman,

S. S. Vroman, ........

G. E. Darby

T. Baker

T. Baker

T. Baker

T. Baker,

T. Baker

J. Hlggins,

D. D. Mallony

S. D. Myers

J. H. Burland

W. H. Carpenter, ...
George A. De Forest,

G. B. Sherwood

G. Mager .,

G. W. Dennlston, ....

L. C. Layton

G. E. Dennigon

H. Howard

J. W. Hamilton,

M. E. Knight

Z. T. Weaver

R. A. Simpson

W. D. Buckln

J. C. Russell

D. Z. Swan,

E, A. Rundell

Wm. Maneval

J. Chllds

W. W. Slamans

B. Maneval

A. Q. Parsons

Postofflce Address.

Bradford, Bradford county,

Bradford, Bradford county

Bradford, Bradford' county

Bradford, Bradford county

Bradford, Bradford county,

Hlllsgrove, Sullivan county

Hlllsgrove, Sullivan county

Hlllsgrove, Sullivan county ,

Hlllsgrove, Sullivan county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Franklin, Venango county,

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county,

Franklin, Venan^^o county,

Factoryville, Wyoming county, .

Warren, Warren county

Columbes, Warren county,

( 'olumbes, Warren county

Warren, Warren county

Warren, Warren county

Warren, Warren county,

Warren, Warren county

Warren, Warren county

Warren, Warren county ,

Warren , Warren county

Warren, Warren county,

Warren, Warren county

Warren, Warren county

Wellsboro, Tioga county,

Tioga, Tloya county

Nanvoo, Tioga county,

Nanvoo, Tioga county

Nanvoo, Tioga county

Nanvoo, Tioga county

Peach Bottom, York county

Hon. J. A. Dale | York York county,

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2m

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200 i

1,200

1,200

1,200 ,

No. shipped. Total.

Date.

1897.
June 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Brook Trout Fry — Con tinned.

49

Name.

Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale,
Hon. J. A. Dale.

Postofflce Address.

York, York county,
York, York county,
York, York county,
York, York county,
ft rk, York county,
York, York county,
York, York county,
York, York county,
York, York county.

No. shipped.

Total.

1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200

80,400

4-18-98

50

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Brook Trout Fry — Continued

61

WESTERN STATION.

Brook Trout Distributed.

Date.

1897.
May 3
3
3
3
3
I
3
3
3
8
S
3
10
10
10
10
IS
18
8
3
3
8
3
8
3
3
10
10
10
12
Mar. 29
29
89
19
29
to

Name.

J. H. Sparks, ,

C. G. Masters, ...,

L. Giengler, ,

C, Howard ,

S. R. Stoutmour, .

S. P. Ott

J. W. Ridenour, ..

W. Zimmers,

T. M. Gephart

J. LiUtz

F, P. Abercromble,

A. King

J. Boyer

G. S. Wagner,

H. W. Pelllg

W. H. Burns,

M, E. LlUey, .
M, S. Bechtel, ..

J. L. Gwln

J. H. Piske

G. Fox

V. Lenker,

H. C. Durn

J. H. Holtzinger,
R. Glngerlch, ...

J. Burley

J. E. Hagey, ....
T. H. Goodfellow,
F. Jaekel

Postoffice Address.

• • ■•••«•■••

Cherville, Bedford county,
Everett, Bedford county, ..
l!]verett, Bedford county, ..
Everett, Bedford county, ..
Everett, Bedford county, ..
Everett, Bedford county, ..
Bedford, Bedford county, ..
Bedford, Bedford county, ..
Bedford, Bedford county, ..
Bedford. Bedford county, ..
Bedford, Bedford county, ..
Bedford, Bedford county, ..
Loysburg, Bedford county, .,
Woodbury, Bedford county,
Woodbury, Bedford county,
Woodbury, Bedford county,
Woodbury, Bedford county,
Loysburg, Bedford county, ..

Altoona, Blair county

Altoona, Blair county

Altoona, Blair county

Altoona, Blair county

Altoona, Blair county

Tyrone, Blair cwinty,

I'yrone, Blair county, i

Tyrone, Blair county

Henrella, Blair county,

Hollldaysburg, Blair county.

I HoUldaysburg, Blair county, ..

M. E. Lilley Towanda, Bradford county

J. L. Reld Beechwood, Cameron county, .

J. Roye Emporium, Cameron county, ..

S. S. Hacket ' Emporium, Cameron county, ..

C. T. Liogan Emporium, Cameron county, ...

A. F. Vojjt, .... . Emporium, Cameron county, ...

J. D. LKjgan Emporium, Cameron county, ...

No. shipped.

1.200
1,200

i,:30

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,^)0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

Total.

I
I

I

Date.

189 <.
Mar. 29
29
29
29
29
29
19
29
29

29
24

May 3
8

Mar. 24

April 7

10

10

10

May 18

18

18

18

18

8

3

3

3

3

April 7

7

7

7

7

May 18

18

18

H.

18

18

Name.

G. Wykott,

G. J. La Barr,

W. L. Thomas

H. S. Uoyd.

O. S. Peters,

S. C. Parks

G. Guinn

G. T. Dixon

J. J. Liingle

R. W. Robison,

J. Wm. Raye

A. Greak

G. Nefif

O. M. Dibler

J. Krouse

F. Shearer,

T. M. Stevenson

W. C. Bauman,

J. W. Harris

W. A. Calderwood

B. W. A. Jamison

P. Keller,

R. S. Barker,

A. W. Brungard.

E. W^eaver

S. B. Snook

A. Jameson

J. Q. Dice,

J. Evans,

S. F. Seybert,

B. F. Spenenbe^

J. R. Bibby

H. E. Diffenbadr

B. E. Karshner

P. Jacoby

F. Myers,

Dlmer,

James McBrlde

J. E. Zlegler,

Postoffice Address.

Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county,. .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium, Cameron county, .
Emporium. Cameron county, .
Emporium. Cameron county. .

Rote, Clinton county

Rote. Clinton county

Rote, Clinton county

Lock Haven, Clinton county,
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county,
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven. Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, ».'linton county.
Lock Haven, riinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county.
Lock Haven, Clinton county,
liOck Haven, Clinton county,
McElhattan, Clinton county,
Berwick, Columbia county, .
Berwick. Columbia county. .
Berwick, Columbia county, .
Catawissa, Columbia county.
Bloomsburg. Columbia county,
Almedia, Columbia county, .
Almedla, Columbia county, .
Central, Columbia county,
Rupert, Columbia county, ..
Rupert, Columbia county, ..
Light Street, Columbia county.

No. shipped. Total.

1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.M
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.2(K)

i.mi

1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200

1,200
l.»)0
1,200
1,200
1.2(»
1,200
1,2M
1,200

52

REPORT OF THE

Brooh Trout i^r^— Continued.

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Brooh Trout Fry — Continued.

53

*

Date.

1897.

May 18
18

April 16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
May 2
2
2
20

ao

Name.

M. L. Keller,

B. P. Fritz

S. F. Powers

C. L. Globs

J. W. Reynolds, ...

Doc. Goodwill

S. Ridgeway

D. GoodwUl

C. Goodwill

A. Zuver

F. H. Turnur

W. W. Little

J. E. Dowler, ,

A. Cuim

G. Avery,

A. L. Bentley

Wm. Simmons

W. H. Hulter

J. P. Marvin, Jr., ..
W. O. Prenatt, ....

A. G. Scrlbner

J, H. Cogswell

B. E. Roffee,

F. A. Curtis

H. S. Heath

C. A. "Long

P. C. Fowler

W. S. Rose

G. W. Ripple

C. E. Alkln

J. T. Famer

C. A. RIdgway

F. T. Ford

I. A. Reynold

S. E. Nason

W. W. Gilvln

P. A. Michals

J. Fleming

E. Huidekoper,

E. Huidekoper,

Postofflce Address.

Light Street, Columbia county, ..

Light Street, Columbia county, .,

Titusville, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Cambridge, Crawford county

Mosiertown, Crawford county

Centerville, Crawford county

Centerville, Crawford county,

Hydetown, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county,

Titusville, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county,

Titusville, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county

Titusville, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county,

Cochranton, Crawford county

Cochranton, Crawford county,

Cochranton, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

MeadviUe, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county, . .

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Hydetown, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county

Meadville, Crawford county,

No. shipped. Total.

1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
6.300
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
!,»»

i.soo

1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,^0
1.200
1.200
1,200
l.^H)
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.!^
1.200
1,200
1,200
l.^W

Date.

Name.

1897.

May 20
20
20

Mar. 24
2i
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24

April 14
14
14
14
14
20
20
20
20
20

E. Huidekoper

C. A. Bailey

C. A. Bailey

J. M. Ginley

T. Moore

J. L. Knisley

C. M. Helsler,

J. Anderson,

Wm. Walker

J. Jury.

C. H, Mortimer,

C. Smith

W. C. Hinley

F. P. Blair,

H. J. Jackson

F. Potts Green

G. J. Weaver

J. H. Harris

M. C. Cassldy,

M. C. Cassldy,

J. Frangford,

G. Eberhart

J. A. McGInley

J. L. Ravis

W. McClemister

B. F. Shaffer

I. N. Wirkleman

L. E. Reber

E. C. Confer

J. W. Johnston

Wm. McClerahan.

W. F. Bradford

T. H. Harter,

J. W. Gunsalllns

J. C. Eaton

T. A. Snyder

W. B. Coder

D. W. Clark

J. A. Quigley

G. W. Long,

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped.

Meadville. Crawford county, ,
Cambridge, Crawford county,
Cambridge. Crawford county.

Belief onte, Centre county

Belief onte. Centre county

Belief onte. Centre county, ....

Bellefonte, Centre county,

Belief onte, Centre county,

fJellefonte, Centre county, ...
Bellefonte, Centre county, ....

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county, ....

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county, ...

Bellefonte, Centre county,

Bellefonte, Centre county, ...

Bellefonte, Centre county,

Bellefonte, Centre county,

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county,

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county

Bellefonte, Centre county

Nittany, Centre county

Nittany, Centre county

N'lttany, Centre county

Haronsburg, Centre county, ..
Haronsburg, Centre county, ..
Centre Hall, Centre county, .
Centre Hall, Centre county, ,

Bellefonte, Centre county

Blanchard, Centre county, ...
Blanchard, Centre county, ...
Blanchard, Centre county, ...
Blanchard, Centre county, ...
Blanchard. Centre county, ...
Blanchard, Centre county, ...
Blanchard, Centre county, ...

1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
l,2(Kl
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,2(M)
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.:^
1,200
1.2(K)
1,200
1,^
1.200
1,2C0
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,^
1,^
1,200

Total.

54

REPORT OF THE
Brook Trout Fry — Oottinued.

Off. Doc.

L<ale. ;

I

1897.
April 20

SO

20

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
May 12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
April 19
19
19
19
19
1»
19
19
May 2

Name.

J. P. Weker, .......

P. Weber

W. Weber,

J. L. Neff

Geo. G. Fink

L. E. Reber

J. A. Hunter,

J. A. Hunter

W. L. Poster,

W. S. Harter,

C. H. Beates

T. Ingram,

R. Pratt

H. K. Holtzworth, .

R. T. Colty

R. Conley

L. Redding

J. A. Kelley

H. GunsalluB,

H. Gunsallus

J. W. Bogert

M. J. Thompson

A. C. Thompson, ..,
J. I. Thompson, Jr.,
J. I. Thompson, Jr.,

W. Z. Throssle

C. Koler

Z. L. Kreamer

F. E. Fobs

Wm. Harter

C. D. Motz,

A. A. Dahl

E. L. Graham,

Ed. McCracken,

F. S. McCracken,

A. S. Brown

J. W. Jones

L. Balrd

Geo. E. Jones

Q. Peacock,

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped. Total.

•••••••

Blanchard, Centre county,

Howard, Centre county,

Howard, Centre county

Roland, Centre county,

Martha, Centre county

State College, Centre county, ..
.State College, Centre county, ..
State College, Centre county, ..
State College, Centre county, ..
.State College, Centre county, ..
State CoUe e. Centre county, ..

Fleming, Centre county,

Fleming, Centre county

Fleming, Centre county

Fleming, Centre county

F'leming, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Ct-ntre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Snow Shoe, Centre county

Stormstown, Centre county

Stormstown, Centre county

State College, Centre county, ..
State College, Centre county, ..

Woo4^u^ C^tot ^ntjr,

Woodward, Centre county

Woodward, Centre county

Woodward, Centre county

Woodward, Centre county,

Woodward, Centre county

Winburn, Clearfield county, ...
Winburn, Clearfield county, ...
Kerrmoor, Clearfield county, .
Kerrmoor, Clearfield county, .,
Osceola Mills, Clearfield county,
Osceola Mills, Clearfield county,
Osceola Mills, Clearfield county,
Osceola Mills, Clearfield county,
Coalport, Clearfield county

1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,»)0
1,200
1,200
1,^W
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200

i.aw

1,200
1,200
\,Wi
\,Wi
1,»W

i,»ra

1,^K)
1,2(K)
1.200
1,»)0
1,200
1,2W>
1.200
l.^W
1,^)0
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

55

Brooh Trout Fry— Continued.

L-ate.

1897.
May 2
2
2
9
9
9
9

9

10

10

10

10

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

S

2

2

2

2

2

27

27

27

27

27

22

22

22

Mar. 29

29

29

Name.

W. F. Morres,

M. E. Purk,

G. A. Peacock, ...
W. J. Lahy

E. E. Hewitt

G. E. Wing

T. H. Wing

B. F. Wood

C. M. Blanchard,

0. M. McGee

J. M. McGee

Wm. P. Mahaflfey,
Wm. P. Mahaffey,
W. R. Thompson,

C. H. Barker

W. S. Davis

1. M. Ri hards

H. Huntley

H. A. Shoemaker, .
H. A. Shoemaker, .

J. J. Beckel

W. W. McAteer, ..
G. H. Brown,

F. P. Martin

J. Moyer

F. C. George

J. M. Noel

N. G. Kurtz

F. S. Hills

S. R. Icker

G. M. Stites

G. M. Stites,

Geo. C. Holden, .,
Geo. C. Holden, ..
Geo. C. Holden, ..

H. Jones,

T. Madder

J. Slatter

E, J. Adams, ......

Geo. NoUenger, . . .

Postuffice Address.

Coalport, Clearfield county, ...
Coalport, Clearfield county, ...
Coalport, Clearfield county, ...
Falls Creek, Clearfield county.
Falls Creek, Clearfield county,

Sabula, Clearfield county,

Sabula. Clearfield county

Winterburn. Clearfield county, .
Winterburn, Clearfield county, .
McGees Mills, Clearfield county,
McGees Mills, Clearfield county,
McGees Mills, Clearfield county,
McGees Mills, Clearfield county,
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, ..
Ebensburg, Cambria county, .

Nicktown, Cambria county

Cresson, Cambria county

.Tohnstown, Cambria county, ..
Johnstown, Cambria county, ..

Lilly, Cambria county

Lilly, Cambria county

Lilly, Cambria county

Honey Brook, Chester county, .,
William.'^town, Dauphin county,
Williams^town, Dauphin county,
Williamstown, Dauphin county,
Willlamstown, Dauphin county,

Wayne, Delaware county

Wayne, Delaware county

Wayne, Delaware county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

! i^o. shipped.

1,200
1,200
1,»)0
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,2(N}
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.^
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.^0
1.200
1.^)0
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,^M)
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,^0

Total.

u

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Coutinued.

Date.

1F97.

Mar. 29
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
30
81
31
31
31
31

April 16
16
21
21
21
21
21
21
25
23
2a
25
25
25
25
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
U

Name.

Wm. Laxeril, ...
E. C. Slocum, ...

J. P. Slocum,

J. S. Bloeser, ...

C. B. Chidester, .

D. Weidler

C. L. Fyrrell, ...

E. J. McCracken,

F. M. Thornton, .
J. C. Thornton, .

G. S. Stone,

C. Lohrer,

E. C. Palmer, ...
E. C. Palmer, ...

S. M. White

C. V. Lick

C. Bunk,

W. A. Wellman,
C. O. Babbitt, ...
E. M. Barnell, ..

E. A. Dean

J. B. Davis,

F. E. Davis

J. S. Smith,

W. E. Dewltt. ...
A. R. Morgan, ...
F. S. Sloan,

F. T. Babbitt, ..
Q. W. Knowlton,
T. M. Rowe

G. W. Wagner, ..

G. A. Fox

C. H. Whitelsie,

J. Burkhart

G. Peterson

Wm. Edwards, .,
J. H. Durfleld, .,

F. P. Blair

F. Shea, Jr

J. Frantz

Postoftice Address.

No. shipped.

Corry, Erie county,

Erie, Erie county,

Erie, Erie county,

Erie, Erie county,

Erie, Erie county,

Erie, Erie county,

Miles Grove, Erie county,

Albion, Erie county

Avonia, Erie county

Avonia, Erie county,

Avonia, Erie county,

Avonia, Erie county,

Avonia, Erie county

Avonia, Erie county

Avonia, Erie county,

Avonia, Erie county

Edinboro, Erie county, ...
Edinboro, Erie county, ...

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county, ,

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county ,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry. Erte crunty .,

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

l.»»

1,^)0

1,200

1,200

l.^W

1,200

1.200

1,2M

1,200

1,2(»

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.^10

1,200

Off. Doc.

Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Brook Trout 7%— Continued.

Date.

1S97.

Name.

Postulfice Address.

April 28 H. L. Spiesman ' corry. Erie county.

2S R. S. Johnson. Cuiry, Erie county,

28 Wm. Keating Corry, Erie county,

2S M. H. Homer, Cony, Erie county,

2S F. Gandstrath, ••uiry. Erie county.

28 O. W. Follett,

28 O. W. Follett,

28 O. W. Follett,

2S O. W. Follett

28 O. W. Follett,

29 H. H. Pettengeil, ..

i'loin, Erie county,

I'Mgin, Erie county,

i:ii;in. Erie county,

K'lyin, Eric county,

J:i«in, Erie county.

C. rry, Erie county.

29 C. Kinley. j car

y. El je county.

30 E. Kinley

30 F. Wiliitt

31 F. G. Sulten, ...
31 C. G. Pettengill,

31 H. Morris,

31 J. E. Guuld

31 S. E. Shipman, .

May 7 Wm. McKay

9 II. Weber

• J. Henderson,

9 D. Deheath ,

Ci rry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

♦ "' rry, Erl« county

Corry, Erie county

Ccrry, Erie county

<"<irry, Eiie county

Miles Grove, Erie county,
Waterford, Erie county, ..

Corry, Erie county

Ci rry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Le Boeuf, Erie county

9 E. H. Leslie

9 K. E. Wheeler I Le Boeuf, Erie county,

9 W. T. Davis ! Le noeuf. Krio cainty.

li W. M. Weed ; Corry. i;. i,- county, ...

IS W. M. Weed ; Corry, Krie county, ...

IS W. M. Weed, i Corry, KrIe county, ...

21 W. M. Weed I Corry, Eric county, ...

21 W. M. Weed ! Corry, Eric county, ...

21 W. M. vk eed I C-irry, V.v'w county . ...

21 W. M. Weed | Corry, Kric county, ...

21 W. M. Weed Crry. Krlf county,

21 W. M. Weed, Corry, Erie county, ...

21 W. M. Weed (' .rry, Erie county. ...

21 W. M. Weed Corry, Erie county, ...

21 F. M. Ford Corry. Erie county, ...

21; F. M. Ford Corry, Erie county, ...

21 [ P. A. Stennett Corry, Erie county ...

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2C0

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.20O

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.2M

1,200

1.2M

l.^»

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

6t

No. shipped. Total.

58

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Off. Doc.

Date.

1897.
May 21
21
21

21
21
21
26
26
26
26
26
27

Name.

Postofflce Address.

r?

27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
Mar. 23
23
29
29
29

B. W. Stennett

W. Merrick

E. M. Barnells

J. Durston

E. E. Oldes

M. S. Worthley

C. Wilcox,

Wm. Berliner

Wm. Berliner,

Wm. Berliner

D. Connas

Wm, H. Vanbc-letk.
T. J. Feris

F. Laurie,

A. P. Pope ;...

C. Laurie

J. H. Armstrong, ...

R. Shirk

R. Shirk

R. H. Chlrmock

R. H. Chirmock, —
M. W. Brundage, ..
M. W. Brundage, ..

H. S. Thurston

H. S. Thurston

S. E. Shipman,

S. E. Shipman

F. L. Fyrrell

F. L. Fyrrell

C. L. Fyrrell

C. L. Fyrrell,

J. Hlgglns

J. HlRBins

C. B. Farr

C. B. Farr

.T. R. Nagle

J. R. Nagle

J. C. Singleton

M. Z. Elliott

J. M. Hanscom, ...

No. shipped. Total.

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county, 1,200

Curry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county, 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,2(W

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Corry, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1.200

Erie. Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county, 1.200

Erie, Erie county 1,2(K)

Erie. Erie county 1,200

Erie, Erie county 1,200

Miles Grove. Erie county 1,200

Miles Grove, Erie county, 1,200

Miles Grove, Erie county 1,200

Miles Grove, Erie county 1,200

North East, Erie county 1,200

North Eant, Erie county, 1,200

North East, Erie county, 1,200

North FiFt, Erie county 1,200

RidKway, Elk county 1,200

Rldgway, Elk county, 1,200

Rldgv^'ay. Elk county 1,200

RidRway, Elk county 1,200

Rldgway, Elk county, . 1.200

No. IS.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Ui'ool Trout Fry — Continued.

69

Date.

Name.

J':97.
Mar. 29 D. Lobaugh,

29 J. Yount,

29 A. F. Beman

29 E. C. Porrell ,

29 W. W. Barbour, .,

31 J. M. Deety

April 22 L. Daugherty

22 L. Daugherty

May 4 C. H. Rhimes

4 A, B. Schriner

4 T. H. Cavanaugh,

4 F. C. Lewis.

4 J. D. Harper

4 W. D. Googe

4 I. W. De Haas

4 C. E. Secrlst

4 W. L Secrist

4 C. Jones

Postofflce Address.

Ridgway, Elk county, ...
Ridgway, Elk county, ...
Ridgway, Elk county. ...
Ridgway. Elk county, ...
Ridgway, Elk county, ...
St. Mary's. Elk county,
Ilathburn, Elk county, ..
Rathburn, Elk county, ..
Johns nburg. Elk cuunty,
Johnsonburg, Elk county,
Johns nburg, Eik county,
.Johnsonburg, Elk county,
Johnsonburg, Elk county,
Johnsonburg, Elk county,
Johns. -nburg. Elk county.
Johnsonbuig, ..Ik county,
Johnsonburg, Elk county,
Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 T. Woolbert Johnsonburg. Elk county.

4 J. M. De Haas .Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 W. R. Palmer Johnsonburg, Elk county.

4 C. E. Dauber

4 L M. Herndell, ,

Johnsonburg, Elk county,
.Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 J. F. Haraly Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 E. H. Hoytt i Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 F. H. McLanghlin I Johnsonburg. Elk county,

4 L. W. Smarts ; Johnsonburg. ^Ik county.

4 J. S. Swanger : j. hns,,nl.iug. Elk county,

4 E. McLaln J.-hnsonhurg, Elk county.

4 D. W. Flynn I Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 J. C. Ubel Johnsonburg, Elk county,

4 E. D. Beck Johnsonburg, Elk county.

Pat. Cronln Dp Young, Elk county, ...,

T. Morgan De Young. Elk county

B. Fowler r»e Young. Elk county

R. C. Berkey Pe Young, Elk county

S. H. Cochran De Young, Elk county

E. J. Fowler, De Young, Elk county

No. shipped.

20 H. S. Sayre Arroyo, Elk county,

20 L. S. Hlnkle Arroyo. Elk county.

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.2M

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,2M

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,2M

1,200

1,200

1,200

Total.

60

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Off. Doc.

Date.

1897.
May 20

20
20
20
20
20
2U
20
20
20
20
20

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
April 22

22
May m

20
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
3
3

Name.

S. Fox

A. S. Horton, —
A. S. Horton, —

C. Helice

J. Welsh

J. M. Hanscome,
W. W. Barrton,
S. F. Anderson,

J. Miken

C. Gremnols, ...

J. Davis

A. Butts,

W. Shark

Wm. Frost,

M. Gardner

A. Jones

A. Smathus, ...
W. Thatcher, ...

Postofflce Address.

Brock Port, Elk county.
Brock Port, Elk county.
Brock Port, Elk county,
Ridgway, Elk county, ..
Kidgv.ay, Elk county, ..
Ridgway, Elk county, ..
Ridjfway, Elk county, ..
iiidfewiiy. Elk county, ..
Rids way. Elk county, ..
Ridgway, Elk county, ..
HuUton, Elk county, ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...
Hullton, Elk count J', ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...
Hul ton, i:ik county, ...
Hullton, Elk county, ...

W. A. Dunn,

G. A. Windcook | Hullton, Elk county,

I

A. F. Ledebur, j Starr, Forest county.

J. B. Busl,

A. Fitch

C. A. Kamall

Wm. H. Baumgardner,

L. L. West,

J. E. Sims

A. C. Lioomls

E. Dunn

C. A. Port

R. C. Greeland

W. M. Porter

C. R. Nelson

\V. C. Hood

W. S. Hood

G. W. Brlckman

E. W. Stewart

S. E. Stewart,

E. Stewart

B. E. Glbbs

No. shipped. Total.

Tiont't'ta, Fulton county,

Tionci-ta, Fult m county

Tionesta, Fulton county

Wells Tannery, Fulton county, ...
Ccnnellsville, Fayette county, —
Connellsville, Fayette county, —

Conntllsville, Fayette county

t'» nn« llsville, Fayette county

Connellsville, Fayette county, —

('uniullsville, Fayette county

("Dnn! Usville, Fayette county

Connellsville, Fayette county,

Connellsville, Fayette county,

Connellsville, Fayette county

Connellsville, Fayette county

Huntingdon, HuntinRdon county,
Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,
Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.
Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200 '

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.20i

1,200

1,20(

1.201

l,20t

\,m

1.20C

1.^

1.200
l,20t
1,200
1.200
1,20(.
l.MO
1,200
1.200

i.aw

1,200
1,200
1,200
1,^)0

i.aw

1,2W)
1,200
1,JH)0

No. 18.

\

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Brooh Trout Fry — Continued

61

Date.

1897.
May 3
3
3
3
3
3
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
in
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
II
April 10
10
10
10
10
Mar. 25
25
25
25
25
2n
31
31
SI
April 7
7

20 I
20 i

Name.

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped. Total.

E. E. Gibbs, ,

Huntingdon. Huntingdon county,

C. T. Derrick ^ Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

D. M. Gipple ; Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

J. M. Gipple I Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

W. E. McWilllams j Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

W. F. Cellew Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

U B. Kline j Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

^- ^ook I Shade Valley, Huntingdon county,

R. M. Fleming Shade Valley. Huntingdon county.

H. C. Hower ! I31alrs Mills, Huntingdon county.

G. Goshorn MeXeal. Huntingdon county

A. V. Westbrook Mill Creek, Huntingdon county, ..

Li. R. Zollinger Spruce Creek, Huntingdon county,

E. W. Stewart j Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

D. G. Swayne

I). G. Swayne

J. M. Gipple

T. W. Montgomery,

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

S. A. Steel Huntingdon, Huntingdon county.

T. J. Gipple,
C. T. Derick,
C. T. Derick.

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

I Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

: H'lntinKd. !i. Huntingdon county,

O. Rumberger Thompsontown, Juniata county,..

P. W. Manbeck ] Thompsontown, Juniata county...

J. Earnest Pattenson, Juniata county

i

B. S. Thoma,«? Patterson, Juniata county

J. O. Edelblute ^ Broukvllle, Jefferson county,

j

P. G. Reys, j Ralston, Lycoming county

H. C. Green i Uali^ton, Lycoming county,

J. Halloran Ralston, Lycoming county

W. Hoffman, Muncy, Lycoming county

C. L. Downing, Muncy, Lycoming county

c. 1'. Bastian, Muncy. Lycoming county

A. D. Updegroff X. wherry. Lycoming eounty

J. J. Washam , Xew berry, Lyccmlng county

M. Mahaffey X* wherry, Lycoming county

G. W. Crawford, Miin.y, Lycoming county

J. F. Crawford, Muncy, Lycoming county

J. Field T'.iKlinep, Lycoming county

W. H. Field Hodlnes, Lycoming county,

1.200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,^)0

1.200

1,»H)

1.200

1.2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

f.200

1.2(H)

1 200

1,200

l.^M

1,200

1,200

1.2IJ0

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

62

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Off. Doc.

Date.

1897.

April 20

20

20

20

20

20

May 11

11

11

11

11

U

11

11

11

27

27

April 7

7

7

7

7

t

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

28

28

May IS

18

18

27

27

Name.

A. HoUoran

H. Herley

Dr. F. Bailey

C. E. Farrington,
G. Barnes,

B. E. Ramsey,

C. E. Lann

L, Foust

C. M. Wagner

O. W. Gilmore, ..

J. Donahoe

A. F. Bucher,

A. D. Harmance, .

H. C. Bubb

N. B. Bubb

F. M. Opp

M. C. Worthington,
C. S. Fargo

Postofflce Address.

Ralston, Lycoming county,

Ralston, Lycoming county

llal&ton, Lycoming county,

Ralston, Lycoming county

Ramseyville, Lycoming county,
Ramseyville, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycuming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsi>ort, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,
Williamsport, Lycoming county,

Muncy, Lycoming county

Muncy, Lycoming county

Nanticoke, Luzerne county,

J. H. OpUnger, i Nanticoke, Luzerne county

A. Lape j Nanticoke, Luzerne county

H. Roth ; Xanticoke, Luzerne county

I
E. H. George i Nanticoke, Luzerne county,

J. Bird, Xanticoke, Luzerne county

J. Smoulter, , Xanticoke, Luzerne county

H. D. Flanagan Xanticoke, Luzerne county

J. F. Shully Xanticoke, Luzerne county

R. Schwartz Xanticoke, Luzerne county

O. R. Bennitt Xanticoke, Luzerne county, ....

J. E. Learch Xanticoke, Luzerne county

W. George Xanticoke, Luzerne county

W. Falrchild Xanticoke, Luzerne county, ....

B. Van Horn, lown Hill, Luzerne county, ...

G, B. Savidge i own Hill, Luzerne county, ...

S. H. Malone Carbondale, Lackawanna county

P. F. Cogan, i irl>ondale, Lackawanna county

P. Yost, I'unmore, Lackawanna county,

H. M. Spencer Dunmore, Lackawanna county,

J. R. Dainty Dunmore, Lackawanna county,

Wm. H. Wefse Hipmore, Lancaster county, ...

Wm. H. Welse Dremore, Lancaster county, ...

1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
l.aK)
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200

No. shipped. Total.

T^o. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

6S

Brook Trout Fry — Cod tinned.

Date.

1897.
May 27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27

Mar. 25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25

May 11
11

April 22
22

May 2

Mar. 28
28
28
28
28
2S

Name.

Wm. H. Weise, .
Wm. H. McFalls,

Postofflce Address.

Dremore, Lancaster county, .
Smethville, Lancaster county.

Wm. H. McFalls Smethville, Lancatter county,

J. G. Sultzbach

T. M. Hostetter

J. F. Charles

S. Rapp

R. D. Herr,

G. M. Steinman

Dr. H. E. Muhlenberg,

H. Neill

Dr. P. P. Breneman, ,
Dr. P. P. Breneman, .,

Gto. M. Franklin

G. M. Franklin ,

E. M. Good

E. M. Good

E. M. Good, ,

Marietta, Lancaster county, ...

Florin, Lancasttr county

Florin, Lancaster county,

Bellemont. Lancaster county.

Rafton, Lancaster county

Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Lancaster, Lancaster county, .
Windon, Lancaster county, ...
Windon, Lancaster county, ...
Windon, Lancaster county, ...

J. P. March, I Gap, Lancaster county,

J. Brown.

E. Harlce

J. Alter

B. E. Shimp

H. A. Peters

D. Mutthersbaugh,

C. E. Shull

E. A. Hoot

C. Green,

Dr. B. L McKim,

C. W. Shindle

W. C. Shindle

C. N. Osborne

J. A. Smith

Milroy, Mifflin county

Milroy, Mitllin county

Lewifctown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewlstown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewistown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewlstown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewistown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewistown, Mifflin county, ...
Lewistown, Mifflin county, ...
Burnham, Mifflin county, ...

Hhlndle, Mifflin county

.^hindle, Mifflin county.

Norths Mills, Mercer county,
Arltem, Mercer county,

C. P. Britton Tam-stown, Mercer county. ...

J. Colburn Stlckmey, McKean county

H. Thomas Bradford, McKean county,

A. T. Cobb Rradford. McKean county

T. H. Kennedy Oradford, McKean county

A. B. Baxter Bradford, McKean county,

T. Conneely I'.radford, McKean county

No. shipped. Total.

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,2(»

1,200

1,200

l.»)0

1,200

1,»)0

1.2(K)

1,200

1,2<K)

1,200

1,200

l.»M

l.^K)

1,2(M)

1,200

1.^0

1,200

1,200

1,2M

1.200

\,W^

1,200

1,200

l.»W

1.2(K>

1,2(W

1,2M

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

64

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Continued

Off. Doc.

Date.

1S97.
Mar. 28
April 22
May 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
17
17
27
27
Mar. 25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25

Name.

F. Conneely, . .
T. Keelen

G. C. Fagman,

C. Green

C. C. Kimball,

J. J. Cole

W. Grubb

E. Peak

F. P. Holley, ...

G. D. Williams,
J. L(. Kramer, .
W. E. Barnes, .

A. W. Mitchell,
G. B. Mago, ....
C. H. Denning, ,
C. H. Denning, .

G. Bubb

W. A. Walt, ...
J. M. Wilham, .
J. A. Straub, ...

B. M. Keiser, .
Wm. B. Geist, ..
E. H. Keitz, ..
E. B. Smith, ...

26 A. G. Goodwill

April 7 Wm. B. Chamberlin,

7 J. B. Godcharles, ..

7 C. A. Godcharles, ...

14 W. S. Bubb

14 T. C. H.'iner

14 I. F. Gauger

14 F. Musgoaun

14 T. Callaghan,

14 A. S. Rhoads

14 M. Reld

14 E. Davis

14 D. E. Kutz,

14 J. M. Rhoads

Postofflce Address.

Bradford, MoKean county,

Wetmore, McKean county,

Bradford, McKean county,

Bradford, McKean county

Bradford, McKean county

Bradford, McKean county,

Bradford, McKean county

Bradford, McKean county

Bradford, McKean county

Bradford, McKean county,

Bradford, McKean county,

Eiradford, McKean county

.Smethport, McKean cuunty

Smethport, McKean county

Kane, McKean county,

Kane, McKean county

Htrndon, Ni>nhunibi.-rland county,
Ht'jn.lin, Noi ihunilierland c<junt.v,
Herndon, Norlhuniberland c<iunty,
Ht-riKliin, Northumberland county,
Herndon, Northumberland county.
Lit k Kill, Northumberland county,
Rebucks, Northumberland cuunty,
Shamokln, Northumberland coun-

Shamokin, Northumberland coun-
ty

Milton, Northumberland county,..
Milton, Xoithumberland county,..
-Milt'n, Xoithumberland county,,.
.Milton, Northumberland county,..
.Milton, X.iithumberland county,..
.Milton, Northumberland county,..
.Milton, Northumberland county,..
.Milton, NorthumlitTland county,..
Milton, Northimiborland county,..
Milton, X'orthumbf iland county,..
Miltun, X'nthnnilH'rland county,..
-Miltin, Northumberland county...
Miltun, Northumberland county,..

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.2i0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.2(K)
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1 , 2n()
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200

No. shipped. Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

6S

Jirool- Trout Fry — Continued.

Date.

1897.
May 12

12

«

12

Name.

Postofflce Address.

E. E. Lewis,

Wm. Reed,

B. Macheum,

12 i W. H. Francis,

Mar. 31

31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
April l;
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
26
26
26
26
26
26
26

L. Mirrill,

D. J. Whipple ,

H. A. GriilKy

H. K. Lane

G. Mirrell,

R. J. Bemer ,

G. C. Manor

Dr. A. H. Glover, ...

E. L. Knapp

G. Farnsworth,

i\ WL-ltling

C. Vass,

F. Bodler

H. Theis

S. G. Meens

J. P. Weaver

P. A. Meine

G. W. Cummings, .
W. Dayton

F. W. Peck,

G. J. Bristol,

F. Moore,

H. I)uncaii

H. Biidder

H. Schwarzenbach, .

Dr. C. Melne

J. Breninp

C. Welfling, Jr

J. Stocum

M. J. Hand vvi irk, ...
C. Haxton,

Shamukin, Northumberland coun
ty

Trevorton, Northumberland coun
ty

Trevorton, Northumberland coun-
ty

Trevorton, Northumberland coun-
ty

Ulysses, Potter county ,

Ulysses, Potter county

Ulysses, Potter county,

Ulysses, Potter county,

Uly!:^ses, Potter county, ,

Ulysses, I'utter county

Ulysses, Putter county,

Ulyste.'i, Potter county

Ulys?es. Potter county,

Uly.-sts, I'otter county ,

tJerniania, I'otter county,

CJerrnania, I'otter county,

< ifiinania, I 'utter county,

Germanla, Potter county,

Cross Forks, Potter county

Cross Forks, Potter county,

(Mi.^s Firks, Potter county

<rii>s Fi'ik,?, Potter county

Cross Fork.'?, Potter county

Cross F. iks, Potter county,

Ci'iss I'urks, I'otter lount.v

<'i.ss l''rk.~, I'otter lounty,

• i. ss Forks, Potter county,

» 1 1 vs Folks, T'littt-r county

c.iimanla. Potter county,

• '.'•rinania, Potter county, .

lii-rniania. Potter county,

Cermania. Potter county,

«;.>rtiianla, Potter county

Germanla, Potter county,

^Vo.st Pike, Potter county

No. shipped.

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200
1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.2M

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

Total.

5-18-98

66

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

1897.
April 26 G. Parnswoith

26 C. C. Flynn

26 R, Gibson,

26 E. Flynn,

26 N. R. Covel

May 18 E. W. Robinson. ...

18 B. M. Austin,

18 E. L. Wentworth, .

18 G. H. Green

18 Wm. Marshall ,

18 W. W. Thompson, ..,

IS H. Hartwell

18 E. H. Ashcroft

18 W. A. Shear

18 H. C. Omsted,

18 A. S. Heck

April 25 J. B. Van Etten

23 J. B. Van Etten

Mar. 25 I. G. Seller

ia F. J. Wagenseller, ...

25 T. C. Kantz

25 Wm. H. Gemberling,

11 S. B. Wulng

11 S. B. Wulng

11 S. B. Wulng

11 S. B. Wulng

31 B. F. Kantz ,

31 M. S. Bchock

SI M. S. Schock

SI M. S. Schock

81 M. S. Schock,

April 20 J. C. Deininger

M R. Simmons

20 R. Magagler

20 C. A. Starr

20 W. Robblns

20 T. S. Laird

20 S. Darby

20 I J. A. Speaker

» I W. G. Hoffman

West Pike, Potter county ,

' West Pike, Potter county,

West Pike, Potter county

West Pike, Potter county,

West Pike, Putter county

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, I'utter county. ...

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport hotter county, ...

Cuuderspo-t, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, Potter county. ...

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, Potter county, ...

Coudersport, Putter county, ...,

Conashaugh, Potter county

Conashaugh, Potter county

Selina Grove, Snyd«p «wnty, ..

S9ll^ Orove, Snyder county, ..

Sellns Grove, Snyder county, ..

Sellns Grove, Snyder county, ..

Beavertown, Snyder county

Beavertown, Snyder county

Beavertown, Snyder county

Beavertown, Snyder county,

Sellns Oro^e, Snyder county, ..
Selins Grove, Snyder county, ..
Selins Grove, Snyder county, ..
Selins Grove, Snyder county, ..
Selins Grove, Snyder county, ..
Llnestown, Sullivan county, ...
Llnestown, Sullivan county, ...
Llnestown, Sullivan county, ...
Llnestown, Sullivan county, ...
Llnestown, Sullivan county, ....
Nordmont, Sullivan county, ...,

Hlllsgrove, Sullivan county

Tllllsgrove, Sullivan county,

Hillsgrove, Sullivan county

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2(K)

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,2(W

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,2(K)

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

No. shipped, i Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

67

Brook Trout Fry — Continued

Late.

1897.
Apr.l 2'J
20
20
20
28
28
May IS
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
Mar. 31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
April 20
20
20
20
27
27

Name.

C. Haas

L. B. Speaker,

H. D. Chapman, ..

G. S. Speaker

J. A. Tinkelpaugh,
Dr. F. L. Grander,
W. W. Adams,

F. Fullmer,

Wm. Linnlger,

S. McClintock,

Rev. J. M. Barnett,

J. Listen

L. M. Linnlger

J. McCarty,

J. Mitchell

J. Humbert

J. M. Topper,

J. Rops

H. T. Menser

E. Hoover

W. C. Lewis,

W. E. Brown,

W. W. Hutchinson,

E. A. Rundell,

E. C. Nield

N. T. Pettlbone, ..

C. A. Urell

H. Cox

G. H. Derby

H. C. Young,

T. L. Young,

R. R. Young

J. B. Truman

E. J. Catlln

A. H, Baker

C. E. Burgess

L. A. Sears

C. M. Spalding

C. J. Magee

C. J. Magee, ...

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped. Total.

•■«•••*

Hillsgrove, Sullivan county 1,200

Hillsgrove, Sullivan county 1,200

Hillsgrove, Sullivan county, 1,200

Hillsgrove, Sullivan county 1,200

Aiait, Sus luehanna county, 1,200

Forest City, Susquehanna county, 1,200

Kingsley, Susquehanna county, .. 1,200

Confluence, Somerset county, .... 1,200

Confluence, Somerset county 1,200

Confluence, Somerset county, .... 1,200

Markleton, Somerset county, .... 1,200

Listonburg, Somerset county, .... 1,200

Llstonburg, Somerset county, .... 1,200

Listonburg. Somerset county 1.200

Llstonburg, Somerset county 1,200

Listonburg, Somerset county 1,200

New Baltimore, Somerset county, 1.200

New Baltimore, Somerset county, 1,2C0

t^omers^et, Somerset county 1,200

Somerset, Somerset county 1,200

Lawrenceville, Tioga county 1,200

Lawrenceville, Tioga county 1,200

Lawrenceville, lloga county 1,200

Tioga, Tioga county, 1,200

Tioga, Tioga county 1,2(K)

Tio^a, Tioga county 1,200

Tioga, Tioga county 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county, 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county, 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,^

Antrim, Tioga countj - 1,200

Antrim, Tioga county, - 1,200

Antrim, Tioga county - 1,200

Wellsboro, Tioga county 1,200

Fallbrook, Tioga county 1,200

Fallbrook, Tioga county 1,200

68

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout i^"/'^— Continiu-d.

Date.

Name.

Postofflce Address.

1S98.

Aitnl 27 C. J. Ma^ee

27 M. M. McCarthy, ..

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 Blossburg Gun Club,

27 L. Nearing

27 F. B. Holconel

27 F. B. Holconel,

27 A. Monroe,

27 T. J. Birmingham, ..

27 J. E. Thomas

27 L. W. Hart.

27 H. Pearce

27 E. A. Kennedy

27 I. F. Clark

Mar. 31 Dr. L. Rooke

31 Dr. E. S. Heiser, ..,

II J. C. Bucher

31 T. C. Thornton

April 7 B. P. Ktlser

1 R. Dalesman

7 R. Dalesman

S. Datesman

P. Datesman

E. Datesman

7

7
7
7
7
7

Fallbrook, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ..

Blosburg, Tioga county, ...

Morris Run, Tioga county,

Westfleld, Tioga county, ...

Westfleld, Tioga county, ...

Murri.^, Tioga county,

Morris, Tioga county,

MorriH, Tioga county

Morris, Tioga county

Morris, Tioga county

Morris, Tioga county

Morris, Tioga county,

Windefeld. T.'nion county, ..
Lewisbuig, Uni. n c.-unty, ..
Liewisl.urg, Union county, ..
Lewisburg, Union county, ,.
West Milton, Union county.
West Milton, Union county.
West Milton, Union county.
West Milton, Union county.
West Milton, Iniun county.

; West Milton, XJnicn county,

T. Ranck I West Milton, Union county,

O. Lesher, West Milton, Union county,

^' ^^^r, v.-.st Milton, Union county.

7 J. Anderson, Lochiel, Union

county,

7 A. D. Mlllpr.

7 C. F. Dwlre,

7 M. E. Housel.

7 B. R. Forht,

7 S. F. Miller, ,

Ijoehiel, Union county, ..,
Lewisburg, Union county,
Iv wiPbtirfr, Union county,
I ♦ \vi«burg, Unf.n county,
U* wlsburg, Union county,

1.200

1,200

3,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.2C0

1,200

1.200

1,2M

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

Off. Doc.

No. shipped. Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

60

Brook Trout 7^/'y— Coiilinucd

Date.

189S.

A^ni \
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
11
14
14

May 27
27
27
27
27

Mar. 2.3
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
2::
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23

Name.

Pustoflice Address.

No. shipped. Total.

^. S. Miller

I. W. Johnston, .

Wm. Gould,

Wm. Englehart, .

G. A. Yu tr

G. L. Keish,

C. W. Stuck,

C. E. Candon

W. L. Hoffman, .

J. L. Bower,

C. H. Dimm, ....

M. G. Reed

H. B. Young

N. N. B n^,aman,

J. C. Tuar

R. M. Christian,
F. L. Dershem, ..

Wm. Nagel

H. J. Nagel

W. A. Marsh

J. Bucher, Jr., ..
Wm. A. Haskell.
H. H. Noyes, ...
H. E. Dunham, ..

M. J. L.ytle

T. M. HaskiU, ...
C. W. Noyes, ...

C. H. Alts

R. M. Jacobs,

C. Tuholskl

H. B. Darnell, ...

J. E. Fisher,

C. E. Balr

J. R. McMullen, ..

B. Hutting

H. C. Cooper

Ed. Organ

P. M. Brlgham, ...

C. A. McLeruth. .

D. R. Mackenzie,

Lewlsburg, Union county

Miillinburg, Union county,

Mifliinburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Miillinburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Miillinburg, Union county,

Mifllinburg, Union county,

Mifllinburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Miffllnburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county,

MUninburg, Union county

Mifllinburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Ijfcwltiburg, Union county

Uewisburg, Union county,

Lewlsburg, Union county

L*wisburg, Union county,

I'leasantville, Venango county,
i'leasantviUe, Venango county,
I'leasantville, Venango county,
rieasant%ille, Venango county,
l'it'ii.=antville, Venango county,
l'!i*asantville, Venango county.

Oil City, Vfnan;ri) county,

<!il City, Venango county.

f'il City Venango county

Oil City, Venango county

Oil City, Venango county

f>ll City, Venango county

« 'il City, x'onango county

Oil City, Venango county

<M1 City, Venango county

Oil City, Venango county

Oil City, Venango county

Oil City, Venan^ro county

Oil City, Venango county

1,200
1,200
1,200
1,2(K)
1,200
1,200
1.2(K)
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,2<»
1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200

70

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Brook Trout i'ry— Continued.

Date.

1S98.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

Mar. 23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 Oil City Boat Club,

23 G. W. Haight

23 L. Galmlsh

23 J. C. Sibley

23 R. Reisinger

23 J. Marks,

23 I. H. Borland,

23 L, G. Brown

23 T. Brown,

23 S. D. Moyes

23 W. H. Lupe

23 A. R. Osmer

Oil City, Venango county.
Oil City, Venango county,
Oil City, Venango county,
Oil City, V^enango county,
Oil City, Venango county,
Oil City, V'enango county.
Oil City, Venango county,
Oil City, Venango county,
Franlclin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county,
Franklin, Venango county.

23 H. G. Reading

23 J. Hlgglns I Franklin, Venango county,

23 D. D. Maloney | Franklin, Venango county.

23 J. A. Wilson, ...

April £6 J. S. Coffin,

26 W. D. Doyle, ...

26 E. E. Noys, ....

26 C. M. Hanna, ...

26 R. G. Lamberton,

26 S. Cair

26 J. S. Clark

26 H. C. Crawford,

26 F. Myers

26 I D. D. Mallory, ..

26 C. Crawford

26 W. S. Beers

26 G. Bontscha,

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Vpnan^o cdunty

Franklin, Venango county

Franklin, Venango county

Cooiierstown, Venango county, ...

Petroleum Center, Venango coun-
ty,

Pt-tnihum Center, Venango coun-
ty.

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2(K)

1,2(M

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.20O

1,200

1,200

l.MO

No. 18.

I No. shipped. Total.

■=

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Brook Trout T^l^'z/. — Continued

n

Date.

1898.
April 26

26
29
29
29

Mar. 23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23

April 11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
22
22

Name.

P. Behringer

Wm. Kelley,

Dr. J. Moorhead,

J. S. Gates

J. S. Gates,

J. Donaldson, ...
W. E. Maloney, ..
Dr. A. T. Post, ..
J. M. Hamilton, .
W. D. Bucklin, ..
J. W. Armstrong,
O. G. Marlow, ...
L. T. Simpson, ...

J. Herring

J. C. Russell, ...
G. H. Bellows, ...
R. A. Cimpson, ...
G. E. Denning, ..

A. McCurry

G. B. Southworth,
C. Washburn, ...

G. Cumings

C. Eldred,

A. T. Scoffleld, ..

H. P. Hunter

A. E. Boschlin, ..

W. M. Lott

F. Mock,

F. Mock

Wm. Talbott,

W. C. DeFurest,

L. Myers

T. Horner

L. D. Cooney

F. J. Clark

K. H. Carson

E. E. Gunn

F. E. Hartzel

C. Veness

Postoffice Address.

Petroleum Center, Venango coun-
ty, 1,200

Polk, Venango county 1,200

Polb, Venango county 1,200

Cooperstown, Venango county, ... 1,200

Cooperstown, Venango county, ... 1,200

Spring Creek, Warren county, .. 1,M0

Spring Creek, Warren county, .. 1,200

Spring Creek, Warren county, .. 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county, 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county, 1,200

Clarendon, Warren county 1,^

Stoneham, Warren county 1,200

Stoneham, Warren county 1,200

Stoneham, Warren county 1,M0

Stoneham, Warren county 1,S)0

Stoneham, Warren county, 1,200

Warren, Warren county 1,200

Warren, Warren county 1,200

Warren, Warren county 1, 2(W

Warren, Warren county 1. 200

Warren, Warren county 1, 200

Warren, Warren county 1,200

\Narren, Warren county 1,200

Warren, Warren county 1,^

Warren, Warren county, • 1,200

Piitsfleld, Warren county 1,200

Irvine, Warren county 1,200

Irvino, Warren county, 1,200

Irvine, Warren county 1,200

Irvine. Warren county 1,200

Warren, Warren county 1,200

Sngargrove, Warren county i 1,200

No. shipped. Total.

72

REPORT OF THE

Brook Trout Fry — Cuii tinned.

1898.

April 22 F. S. Frank

22 W. F. Mix,

22 S. Stuart,

22 W. H. Spencer,

22 S. Stuart

22 M. G. Denning

22 G. H. Miller

22 L. Tiffords

23 D. A. Hills

23 A. S. Knisht

28 F. J. Clark

28 E. H. Carson

28 L.. D. Cooney,

May 20 Ed. Simonis

20 J. Simonis ,

10 F. Simonis

18 A. C. Bond

IS W. H. Carpenter

18 S. D. Reed

April 28 H. Valentine

28 C. M. Mitchell

28 W. P. Adams

28 H. B. Lord

May IS G. F. Smith

18 R. B. Crooks

IS G. Trichler

18 A. L. Rhods

IS G. Fritz

2 F. Hartman

2 R. F. Griffith

2 E. F. Peterson

2 A. M. Griffith

2 Dr. G. A. Uri.h

2 W. J. Putt<^

Sugargrove, Warren county,

Sugargrove, Warren county, ..

Sugargrove, Warren county, ..

Sugargrove, Warren county, ..

Sugargrove, Warren county, ..

Sugargrove, Warren county, ..

Sugargrove, Wariun county, ..

Tiona, Warren county

Tlona, Warren county

Tiona, Warren county

Irvine, Warren county

Irvine. Warren county,

Irvine, Warren county

Irvine, Warren county,

Irvine, Warren county

Irvine, Warien county,

Nicholson, Wyoming county,

Factoryville, Wyoming county, .
Tunkhannuvk, Wyoming county,.

Damarcus, Way.ie cuunty

Damascus, Wayne county

Ktll.iiii, Wayne county

Tyler Hill, Wayne county

Guukl b r'l, Wayne county

G<iuld.--liiir(i, Wayne county

Gouldsburo, Wayne county

Gi»ul'.l.-boro, Wayne county

Gould.-biiro, Wayne county,

Ligonler, Westmortland county,.
Li^'(,:li, r, W. .-imor« land county,.
Ligonlcr, Westmoreland county,.,
Ligonier, We.^-tnMrt land cunty,.,
Llgonler, W. .■^tmr.rtland county...

count v

••i I^iiK'nier, Westminland county,

2 J. E. Burd i Ligunier, We>tn!oreIand

April 2S D. I. Roberts k* w York,

2S D. I. n..berts x,.\v York

2S D. I. Huberts. x.nv Y-.rk

28 D. I. Roberta* x- .v Vuk

28 D. I. Roberts :: ., V.nk

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,2C0

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,2(K)

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

l.JiO
1.200

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Brook Trout Fry — Continue'd.

73

Date.

Name.

1898. I

April 28 D. I. Roberts,

28 I D. I. Roberts,

28 D. I. Roberts,

28 D. I. Roberts,

Postoflice Address.

These fish were planted in this state.

Brook trout fry shipped from March, 18^8, up until June, 1S98.

YrurVimj Brnnk Trou/.

1S97.
June 9

Judge Willerd Scranton, Lackawanna county.

Cut (fin- II hi Trout Fry.

J897.

June 3

S

27

27

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

9

23

July 5

5

5

S

15

1.'

Aug. 13

Nov. 17

June 6

July 2

G. F. Krise

G. W. Long,

J. G. Uzel

R. J. Haynes

J. B. Humer

D. L. R. Merriman,

O. T. Camell

O. M. Vale

H. \\. McCartney, ..

E. J. Hursh

J. Heckmen

G. M. Shreve,

L. O. Berrby,

W. H. Hutter, ......

H. Tuge,

<'anti>n. Bradford county, ...

Ulanchard, Centre county

Sn«iw Sliue, Centre county, ...
.<ini\v .^hiie, Centre county, ...
Carlisle, Cumberland county,

• 'arlislo. «'iimberland county.
Carlis^le, Cumberland county,

• 'iuii.-le, Cuinlierland county.
Carlisle, Cumberland county,
Carlisle, Cumberland county.
Carlisle, Cumberland county,
Titusviik". Crawford county. .
Tilu.-ville. Crawford county. .
Titusvillt . Crawford county, .

TituEvillo, Crawford county,

C. Benger Titusville, Crawford county,

W. W. Little Mi>; crtiiwn. Crawtuid county,

E. C. Newton Ilydetnwn, Crawini,] rnunty,

A. Westgate, Hicoville, Crawford county,

J. Terry, M.a.iv ille. Crawford county. ,

W. G. Bell DrirtwiHd, Camen n c unty, .

S. Lord Cnlnn City, Erie county

C. H. Leet Moorheadville, Erie county, ,

New York,

New York,

New York.

New York,

1.200
1.200
1,2(M}
],200

300

2,000
2,0(»
6,000
6,000
1,200
1,200
1.200
l,2i0
1.2u0
1,200
1,200
1,2*0
7.000
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
l,2t'0
1.200
B.WO
3.600
1.200
1 200

;No. shipped. Total.

1,097,100

300

6

74

REPORT OF THE
California Trout Frij — Continued.

Off. Doc.

No. shipped. Total.

1897.
July 27 R. R. Bassett, ...

27 G. Bassett,

27 G. Spencer, ,

27 R. Spencer,

27 Ed. Spencer,

27 J. Parmer

27 P. Parmer

27 M. Quigley,

27 J. Burkhouse, ....

27 R. Burkhouse, ..

27 H. Merry

17 J. Crale

27 C. Krale,

27 F. Crale

27 B. Dunham

27 G. Dunham

27 W. Slye

27 W. Sears

Aug. 14 D. Fleming,

14 D. Rickson

14 J. HIU

20 J. H. Armstrong, .

20 D. Weldler

June 2 J. W. Campbell, .

2 J. B. Robinson, ..
July 15 E. F. Williams, ..
June 2 H. J. Culbertson, .

25 G. Sebrlng

a J. L. Miller

S J. C. Miller,

3 M. E. Hausel

3 R. K. Foclet,

July 18 Oil «,'ity Boat Club,
June 2 E. Horner

8 G. A. W. De Forest,
Auk. 9 A. Mager

9 G. Mager

9 O. B. Sherwood, ..
9 F. C. Sherwood, ...
0 C. J. Sherwood. ...

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county, ,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county, !

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county ,

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Erie, Erie county

Erie, Erie county,

Blalrsvllle, Indiana county,

Jamestown, Mercer county

Bradford, McKean county

Lewistown, Mifflin county

Liberty, Tioga county,

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Lewisburg, Union county

Oil City, Venango county

Boucher, Westmoreland county,,

Warren, Warren county,

Coliinibls, Warren county

Columbis, Warren county

Columbis, Warren county

Columbis, Warren county

'nltiniliisj, Wa'nn county

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.^

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

6, (WO

6.000

i.aw

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,»»

l.»)0

1.200

1,200

9,600

1,^)

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

110, 8(K)

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

75

European Brown Trout Fry,

Date.

1897.

June 2

4

July 16

22

Aug. 14

14

14

June 2

2

2

2

2

25

25

25

25

25

25

2

2

2

8

1898.

May 10
10

April 14
14
14
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
29

Name.

J. M. Kepler

S. Lord

C. R. Gates

C. A. Leet,

D. Fleming

D. R. Rickson,

J. Hill,

J. W. Campbell

J. Smith

E. S. Parker

J. D. Sterrett

W. A. Gamble

R. A. Kerr

A. F. Duity,

H. Pearce

E. A. Kennedy, ....

A. Leonard,

J. E. Thomas,

C. L. Kinsey

T. Griffith

W. N. Weimer

G. A. W. De Forest.

F. Jaekel.

F. Jaekel

L. E. Reber,

J. S. Rowe,

F. Kuntz

E. A. Hoffman,

D. W. Tryon

A. Westgate

W. L. McCollang, .

W. W. Little

C. T. Kum

J. Cochran

E. Fuller, Jr

C. F. Emerson

A. Mandell

R. L. Shaw

Postofflce Address.

Pine Grove Mills, Centre county, ,

Union City, Erie county,

Lovells, Erie county ,

Moreheadville, Erie county

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county,

Corry, Erie county, ,

Lilairsvllle, Indiana county

Lewistown, Mitllin county,

Lewistown, Mifflin county,

Milroy, Mifflin county,

Hills Grove, Sullivan county, ..

Morris, Tioga county,

Morris, Tioga county,

Morris, Tioga county

Morris, Tioga county,

Morris, Tioga county,

Morris, Tioga county,

Boucher, Westmoreland county,
Boucher, Westmoreland county,
Boucher, Westmoreland county. ,
Warren, Warren county ,

Hollidaysburg, Blair county, ...
Hollidaysbui-g, Blair county, ...
State College, Centre county, .
Centre Hall, Centre county, ..
Centre Hall, Centre county, ..
Hpartansburg Crawford county
Sjiartansburg, Crawford county
RIcevllle, Crawford county, ...
Ilydetown, Crawford county, .
Moslertown, Crawford county,
Tltusvllle, Crawford county, ...
Tltusville, Crawford county, ...
Tltusvllle, Crawford county, ...
Tltusvllle, Crawford county, ...
Tltusville, Crawford county, .
Meadvllle. Crawford county, ...

No. shipped. ^ TotaL

1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200

i.no

1,500
1,5(X)
1,500
1.500
1,500
1,500
1.500
1.500
1.500
1.500
l.SOO
1,500
1,500
1,5«)
1,500
l.BOO

26,4(K)

76

REPORT OF THE Qff. Doc.

Earojpean Brown Trout i^ry— Coutinuea

Date.

Name.

1S98.

■ I

April 2y F. A. Curtis,

29 S. A. Black,

29 A. Harvey

29 J. Axtell

2j J. E. Boone,

29 C. M. Crevelin, ....

May 18 Wm. E. Crawford,

18 N. R. Covel

18 H. Mertinlob

18 W. Wykoff

18 W. Wykoff

18 W. Wykoff, ,

29 J. L. Reld

29 R. C. Dodson

Mar. 31 J. H. Dietz

28 W. A. Williams, ..

28 W. A. Williams, ..

28 J. Ward

29 W. Laurie

29 G. NoUenger,

29 H. Myers

SI E. C. Palmer

31 W, L.aurie

May 10 C. M. KUne

April 29 J. C. Nelson

Mar. 25 C. H. Raudenbish, .

25 C. B. Wltmer

25 E. R. Reltz

31 H. L. Cobb

May 18 W. W. Adams,

Mar. 31 C. E. Grimmell

.\\n\\ 20 F. H. Marvin

20 R. Young

20 M. Blair

20 W. W. Forest

20 C. E. Burgess

7 J. C. Miller

7 J. L. Miller

7 D. R. Miller

7 D. Royer

Postomce Address.

Cochranton, Crawford county

Cochrunton, Crawford county,
Cochranton, Crawford county,
Cochranton, Crawford county,

Almedia, Columbia county

Almedia, Columbia county,

Sizerville, Cameron county

Sizervlile, Cameron county,

Sizeiville. Cameron county,
Sinnemahoning. Cameron county,
Sinnemahonlng, Cameron county,
Sinnemahoning, Cameron county.
Beechwood, Cameron county

Emporium, Cameron county,

St. Marys, Elk county

Edenboro, Erie county,

Edenboro, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

^^'orry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Corry, Erie county

Albion, Erie county

^'orry, Erie county

Huntingdon, Huntingdon county,

<'arlton, Mercer county

Herndon, Northumberland county,

Hunbury, Northumberland county,

Rebucks, Northumberland county.

I'lyssis, Potter county,

Kingsley. Susquehanna county,

Wellsboro. Tioga county

Antrim. Tioga county

Antrim, Tioga county

Antrim, Tioga county

Antrim, Tioga county,

Antrim, Tioga county

Lochlel, Union county

Lochlel, Union county

Tjochlel, Union county

T^nchlel, Union county

1,500

1,500 I
1,500 i
1,500 I
1.500 '

I
i

1,500 '

1.500

1.500

1,500

1,600

1,500

1,500

1,500

1.500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1.500

1,500

1.5M

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1,500

1.500

1.500

1,600

1,5<K)

1,500

1.500

1,600

1.500

1.500

1.500

!No. shipped. Total.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

77

Etirojpean Brovm Trout i^/'//--Continued.

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped.

Total.

1898.
April 7

I C. M. Hess.

Lochiel, Union county

Oil City, Venango county

Oil City, Venango countv

1,500
l.SOO
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,.%00
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1 , 5(J0

i.noo

1,5U0
1,500
1,500
1,5M
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1.500
1,500

19
19
19

H. C. Roess

C. H. Loy, Jr.,

C. E. Bair

Oil City, Venango county,

Oil City, Venango county,

Oil City. Venango countv

19

-.. Lewis,

19

H. M. Sweeney

19

H. M. Sweeney

Oil City, Venango county

19

W. H. Hogeman,

J. E. Fisher

Oil City, Vtnango county,

19

Oil City, Vtnango county

J!)

J. S. Kline

O. N. Roess

t)il (.'ity, Vi nango county

19

Oil t'ity, Wnungo county

Oil City, Vman^^o county

Oil City, Vtnango county

Oil c'ity, N'tnango county

OilCiiy, \'. nan>;u (• unly

Oil City, Wnango countv

1§

19
19
19

3. R. McMuIlen

T. B. Simpson

T. B. Simpson

T. U. Simpson

19

W. W. Simpson

19

W. W. Simpson,

Oil City, \'. nuiuu t Duntv

2J

W. P. McKee

Clintonville, Venango county

Clintonviile, Venango county

Utica, Venango county

2r.

W. P. McKee

29

F. M. McCleland

N. A. Kidder

1

Warren, Warren county

1

N. A. Kidder

Warren, Warren countv

13

1
T. Horner

I'ltt.-fuld. Warren county

Irvine, Warren county,

28 1

J. M. Thompson

J. J. Almendlger

28

Irvine, Wairen county

121,500

liork /jtfss.

1897.

June 10 G. Scheetz,

July 5 C. E. Splcer

June 10 F. Baker, .

10 J. HoUingsworth.

10 C. S. Phipps,

10 A. Snyder

Perkasle, Bucks county

Centervllle, Crawford county

Brandywine Summit, Delaware

Cnuntj'

Welllngford, Delaware county, ..

^^■ard, Delaware county,

Pennsburg, Montgomery county...

10 S. W. Shutt, \.' Penllyn. Montgomery county,

10 H. Evans, i Pottstown, Montgomery county.

50
50

50
50
50
50
50
50

78

REPORT OF THE
Bock Bass — Continued.

Off. Doc.

Date

Name.

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped.

1 Total.

181»7.
June 1

0 R. W. Eshbach,

60
60
'. 60
60
60
60
60
100

July <

I J. E. Raysor

.. r-ennhourg, Montgomery county.

June 1
1(

0 j Rev. F. E. Dager,

) G. H. Foley

. . vv esi iKiiaaiesex, Mercer county
.. Philadelphia, Philadelphia countj

1(

) J. L. Truscott,

. . x-iiiidueipnia, r'niiadelphia countj

1(

) A. Berger

. r-iiiidueipnia, i^niladelphla county
. Philadelphia, Philadelphia county

• j Philadelphia, Philadelphia county

• Oil City, Venanyo county,

IC

Wm. C. O'Neill.

July 5

Oil City Boat Club,

j

800

Yrlhnv Perch.

1S97.
June 10

J. Scheetz,

^

E. Huidekoper

x-erKasie, Berks county

60

150

75

225

July 5

Meadville, Crawford county,

Oil City, Venango county

Oil City. Venango county,

6

5

B. C. Simpson

Oil City Boat Club

1

MO

Snu

(Jl 2Ioufh Black Bass.

1897.
June 10

OH City Boat Club.

•

Oil City, Venango county,

150

UO

Channrl Cat Fish.

1S97.

June 4

4

C. M. McNaughton

D. L. McErmott

Harrlsburg. Dauphin county

Mt. Holly Springs, Cumberland

Centerville. Crawford county

St. Mary's, Elk county, ..

10

July 5

C. E. Spicer,

June 2

A. Kaul

N. Krowletter,

A. R. Fuhrer

40
30
30

2

4

St. Mary's, Euk county

Thompsontown, Juniata county,..
Dunmore, Lackawanna county, ..
Muncy Valley, Sullivan county, ..
Muncy Valley, Sullivan county, ..

9

Q. B. Smith

20

S
8

3. H. Warner

J. B. Warner,

76
20

20

176

No. 18.

Date.

Name.

li?S7.

June 5 S. Lord

8 P. Yoos

8 Geo. Hiltz

8 S. M. Johnson, .

3 C. A. Urell, ...

3 F. D. Reynolds,

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
ILjhrid Trout Fry,

1%

Postoffice Address.

INo. shipped. , Total.

Union City, Erie county

Scranton, Lackawanna county,
Scranton, Lackawanna county,
Dundoff, Susquehanna county,

Tioga, Tioga county

Tioga, Tioga county

1,2(K)
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200

7.200

80

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

REPORT OF SUrKRlXTEKDEXT OP BRISTOL AND EAkSTERN

STATIONS.

Commisioners of Fisheries:

Gentlemen: I liuve the honor to submit the following report. In
conformity to orders I did not operate the Bristol Station on the Dela-
ware during the spring just closed. My instructions were to visit
the station occasionally and see that it was maintained in good order
against the time when operations would be resumed. Sometime dur-
iug the winter the smoke stack of the engine was overthrown by a
storm. This I leplaced. The water tank also required a coat' of
coal tar and I gave it. Otherwise the Station was in perfect condi-
tion and is at the present time.

Early in the Spring I was notitied by the I'resident of the Coramis-
smn ilmt the United States might need the Station for shad work, if
Its vessel the Fish Hawk was required for war purposes. Later I
was notified by the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Meehan, to proceed to
Bristol and prepare for the occupancy of the United States rommiu-
sion. Arrived there, acting under his directions, I made an inven-
tory of the stock and other belongings of tlu^ State and copies were
given the Oovernment, the President of the Commission and its \s-
sistant Secretary. On the arrival of Mr. Talbert, the National govern-
ment's superintendent, I turned over tlie keys and took a receipt there-
for. The transfer of the building for the spring was made l,v the
Assistant Secretary in my pres(mc( . I spent a few hours with the
.suiM^nnlcndeiit in <uder tliat I might assist him in becoming familiar
with the Station and in securing certain goods he needed.

Mhcn T received notice^ that the United States Government was
riiuly t(. cl(,sc the Station, I went agnin to P.risiol and received the
keys, the Assistant Secretary i-eceiviiig the transfer of the building.

The United Stntes tJoveinment left everything in first class condi-
tion. Thos<' <'mpleyed there broke a ft^w artich^s, but these were all
replaced without any le-iuest on the part of either the Assistant Sec-
reary or mystOf. I undcn-stand the National Government hatched
and distributed about ]r.,(KIO,0(M) shad during the occupancv of the
building and that all the fry were |danted in the Delaware' river

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

81

Eastern Station.

Owing to the warm weather during the past winter and fall, the
hatching of brook trout was much less than usual. There was
an abundance of eggs, and they were well impregnated. But for
the most part they hatched in thirty days. This was much too
rapid to produce healthy fish. I took in all about 1,500,000 eggs,
but the premature hatching made the fry very weak, and as a conse-
quence fully 500,000 died. During the period the temperature of
the water often ran up as high as 52 degrees or at least two degrees
above what it should be. I tried everything possible to reduce the
temperature; I kept the windows of the hatching house open and the
[Aiua well darkened, but without avail. Indeed, had it not been for
these precautions the temperature of the water would undoubtedly
have been much higher and the loss of young fish been much greater.

I had extraordinary ditiiculty in preserving the lives of the fry
that were saved, owing to th(»ir weakness. Furtunately the weather
linally became cooler so that by shipping time the fish appeared to be
in nearly as good shape as in former years.

The trouble was almost exclusively with the brook trout. The
California trout si)awned later when the water conditions were much
better. Neither dia I have any trouble with the eggs of the Atlantic
salmon i-eceived from the United States Government.

The general health of the fish in the ponds was fine during the whole
year; very few died, and there is a full stock of healthy breeding fish
both coming on and mature.

The old California trout brought to this Station from Marietta,
and one of the original stock of this species of fish, died early in April
of old age. She was about 17 years old, and, at the time of her
death measured 24 inches in length and weighed about four pounds.
This is more than a ]K)und less than she weighed when in her prime.
She has been liarren since sIk* was ten years old, and for some months
before her death ate verv little food.

ff

Several large brown trout were killed by shock during the heavy
thunder storms of the Iat(» spring. This tish seems peculiarly liable
to death from electric shock, for <(»mparatively few of either the
brook or California trout seem to sutler. As far as I have been able
to judge, at no tiiu!- \\.\s the ponds l)een directly struck by lightening,
but bright tiashes of lightening followed by quick, heavy peals of
thunder api)ear to be just as fatal.

The ponds need re])airing badly. The boards which line the sides
have nearly all rotte<l away and should be replaced. I am still also
much troubled with moss and water grass. In warm weather these
6-18-98

82

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

grow so fast that it is extremely difficult to keep them down. I have

season iT" ""'""■^ '""^ '"'"'" "^ "''''' ""^ ''^'^' «-^« i° a single
season It is possible, of course, to eradicate the grass, but it would

fo^e the disuse of the ponds that were being cleaned fo'r a long tie

Ihe 1-eboard.ng of the sides of the ponds is a matter of great ur

gency on account of the borings of the musk rats. If the ponds are

not^soon reboarded, one or two of them will soon be ruined 'from th"

The old hatching house is almost gone. It may last through an-
other year, but it is unlikely to do more. The sills av. about allgone

Z ro"oTr" "I."' ■T'"'' ""' '=''°"°* ^'^ ^''''""^' t"^-^ flo- - rotten,'
the root IS m a dilapidated state and the whole building is in a turn

rrnd^r • '"^ ""' " ' -'^ -^-^ - --«•> -~

c^av^ Sh! I'f ^'?;"^l'r'' '' ""' '" ''"•*' *'^°"S'' " •« P»«t its best
J< s. U 1 h care it will last six or eight years. If the old house goes

only a miximum of 800,0(10 trout can be raised at this Station

For the last three years there have bwm more eggs taken than

can be used in the hatching houses. It seems to me that some ac o"

Should be taken to utilise these surplus eggs. It is not good that ne

eggs no used should be left unstripped, for the flsh carrving them

are ap to be injured in the raceways during spawning tiuie through

the flghtnig of the males. I think it would be well if the extra e4s

Z'XT"' ""'T'^' •■'"'' ^^"* °"* °" application to those who can
hatch them for planting in suitable waters.

this Station for about fifteen years. Constant inbreeding in time
>..imt cause a deterioration in the vitality and excellence of the flsh
and ,n order that new blood may be introduced I have, the Commis-'
sion approving, made a request of the Secretary to secure me 10 000
eggs from the United States Government or elsewhere

During the year I hatched 1,031,000 flsh of different species
tliese were

"r,"^ *''.°"*' 778,100

Cal.forma trout, g „„(,

Atlantic salmon 94 900

Of

• • • • •

•••••■*

r,t *i ., 881,000

Of the above. I distributed the Atlantic salmon in the Delaware
and, according to orders.

I distributed to applicants SSl.OOO brook and Califoinia and brown
trout, and on the first of .lune had l.-;0,000 remaining in the troughs.
Of these I purpose retaining .'iO.OdO for breeding purposes and the re-
mainder for the filling of applications.

Respectfully submitted,

J. P. CREVELING,
Superintendent.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

EASTERN STATION.

Uisti'ihutwii Brook Trout Fry,

1897.

June 24 G. W. Miller, .,

22 J. D. Fisher, ..

18 H. E. Hallman,

18 G. Gledhill

Abbottstown, Adams county, ,

llobesonia, Berks county ,

Cjuakertown, Bucks county, ,
Milford Square, Bucks county.

18 A. L. Hess, Springtown, Bucks county.

18 J. Hess,

July 10 J. Keiper,

Springtown, Bucks county.

Albrlghtsville, Carbon county.

10 M. Muhas, Albrlghtsville, Carbon county.

June 22 E. Swayne Wawaset, Chester county, ...

22 I. M. Saaders, Wagontown, Chester county,

22 W. P. Aidi, Wagontown, Chester county,

22 G. P. Pyle ; Wagontown, Chester county,

22 R. P. Marshall Ash, Chester county

July 1 S. Emmlnger Mechanlcsburg, Cumberland coun-
ty.

1 R. N. Short,
1 D. A, Urlch,

1 H. G. Brown, ..
1 O. F. Connelly,
I- S. A. Gurland.

1 G. K. Duke

1 H. J. Duke

1 C. W. Schenk, ..

29 G. H. McDonald,

S9 J. G. Bentz

Meehanicsburg, Cumberland coun-
ty

Mechanlcsburg, Cumberland coun-
ty

Carlisle, Cumberland county

Carlisle, Cumberland county,

Carlisle Springs Cumberland
ty

Shippensburg, Cumberland coun-
ty

Shippensburg, Cumberland coun-
ty

Shiremanstown, Cumberland
county,

Shiremanstown, Cumberland
county

Shiremanstown, Cumberland
county

1 W, ShrefTler LyUens, Dauphin county,

1 D. Hawk I I.ykens, Dauphin county,

1 ; J. M. Leedg Lykens, Dauphin county.

1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200

1,200
1.200

1,200
1,200
\,Wi
1.200
1,200

1,200
1.M0

i.srao

1.200
1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.M)

1.200

1,^)0

1,»K>

ss

1,200
1.200

4.800

2.400

6.0C0

13,200

84

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Di^trlhutlo7i Brook Trout i^>^-C(.utinned

Name,

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped. Total.

1S97.
July 1 J. Hotter

29 C. F. Deiker,

29 H. Lutz,

29 H. C. Fry

29 W. H. Hibshwan.

29 C. W. Seal,

29 G. W. Snyder

29 R. Patton

29 G. A. Tippett

29 E. C. Miller,

29 A. L. Derr

Harrlsburg, Dauphin county,
Harrisburg, Dauphin county,
Ilarrlsburg, Dauphin county,
Harrisburg, Dauphin county,
Harrisburgr, Dauphin county,
Harrisburgr, Dauphin county,
Harrlsburg, Dauphin county,
Harrisburgr, Dauphin county,
Harrisburg, Dauphin county.
Harrisburg, Dauphin county,
Huiri.sburg, Dauphin county,

29 H. W. Hollinberger j Hurrisburg, Dauphin county] .

Harrisburg, Dauphin county,
Harrisburg, Dauphin county.

29
2J

J. Robertson,
E. Drawbaugh,

June 22 D. Eashart

22 A. B. Groff,

22 M. B. Lea man,
22 A. G. Summey,
22 J. H. Land is, ...
22 F. H. Achey, ...
22 W. H. Roland, .
9 P. P. Breneman,

9 R. D. Herr

9 J. F. Sturger, ...

9 S. Huber

9 Donald Duflfy, ...

June 18 A. T. Heyl

IS W. E. Ruhe

22 C. M. Wagenhorst,

23 A. Greisemer

23 H. D. Kleckner, ..

Aug. 6 L. Hamman

6 C. H. Wolf

• M. G. Marden

6 D. R. Miller j.

Manheim Lancaster county,

Manheim Lancaster county

Manheim Lancaster county

Manheim Lancaster county

Windom, Lancaster county

Petersburg, Lancaster county,

Lancaster, Lancaster county

Lancaster, Lancaster county

Hifton, Lancaster county

Lltltz, Lancaster county,

Lancaster, Lancaster county

Marietta, Lancaster county

Allentown, Lehigh county,

AUentown, Lehigh county,
Alburtis, Lehigh county,

Allentown, Lehigh county,

Allentown, Lehigh county,

Allent.nvn, Lehigh county,

Allentown, Lehigh county,

fMlentown, Lehigh county,

July 10 J. Ulrlch.

maus, Lehigh county.

Blakesley, Monroe county.

10

T. Hammill 1 Blakesley, Monroe

county.

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

2.400

l.SM

2, MO

2,400

2.400

1.200

S.MO

1.200

1,200

1,200

2,400

1,200

2.400

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200
1.200

10,400

21,600

13,S)0

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

85

Distribution Brook Trout Fry — Continued.

Date.

Name.

1S97.
July 10 : G. M. Hammill,

IS W, Lederach.

IS H. Banks,

Jun; 18 H. J. Rothlin,

21 G. G. Snyder,
July W I J. W. Correll,

1 J. L. Ma^hley.
June IS C. Hebard. ...

22 B. Holmes, ...

24 J. A. Dale. ..

24 G. S. Sechrist,

24 H. Thomas. .,

24 E. Laucks, ...

24 E. A. Bair, ..

24 E. Houser. ..

24 O. Love

July 1 J. H. Prosser,

1 D. R. Brant,

1898.

Mar. 29 J. L. Bechtel, ,

29 D. K. Biehl

29 W. K. Rothenberger,

April 6 W. D. Kl.ipp

6 L. H. Focht,

6 S. M. Mend;th

May 23 C. T. Smith

23 E. E. Squibb

23 B. T. Bishop,

23 H. B. Sponagle

I G. Grlffln,
S M. Condon,
I L. Gordon,

Postofflce Address,

Blakesley, Monroe county, 1,200

Lederachsville Montgomery coun-
ty. 1,200

Hatboro, Montgomery county, ... 1,200

Northampton, Northampton coun-
ty. 1,200

Midd.aught, Northampton county, 4,8(X)

Easton, Northampton county, ... 10,000

New Bloomfleld, Perry county,

Philadelphia. Philadelphia county, 1,200

Roxborough, Philadelphia county, 1,200

York, York county, 14,000

Felton, York county 1,3)0

East Prospect, York county, 1,200

York, York county i,200

York, York county, 1,200

Mony Brook, York county 1,200

•Shanks Ferry. York county 1,200

Dillsburg, York county, 1,2(K>

Dillsburg, York county, 1,200

Oakbrook, Berks county 1,KW

Reading, Berks county 1,200

Reading, Berks county, 1,2W

N. Heidelberg, Berks county, \,WQ

Birdsboro, Berks county, 1,200

IloadiiiL', I'.erks county 1,200

Giberalter, Berks county i,2C0

Giberalter, Berks county i,200

Giberalter, Berks county i,200

Giberalter, Berks county 1,200

Athens, Bradford county i,200

Towanda. Bradford county l,2(W

Standing Stone, Bradford county. 1,200

Total.

3.600

2.400

16.000
1,200

2.400

23,600

12.C0C

86

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Dldn'hutwti Brook Trout i^^'y—Coi-tiuned.

Date,

Name.

1898. I
I
May 5 F. Welles,

5 C. B. Hollenbach,

Postofflce Address.

24 G. Williams,
Mar. 31 D. S. Bock,
31 P. F. Clark.

Wyal using, Bradford county,
^^'yalusing:, Bradford county.

Edgely, Bucks county

Lehighton, Carbon county,

Lehighton, Carbon county,

31 John Graver | Lehighton, Carbon county!

Lehighton, Carbon county.

31 David Ebbert. ..
31 C. W. Bower, ..
31 H. A. Nicholas.

31 W. F. Blery

31 C. D. Kemmerer

31 Milton Wjlk

31 A. Hauseman, .

31 J. K. Lentz

31 W. E. Ash

31 J. Strang

31 L. L. Hulshizer, .

31 E. F. Fry

31 P. F. Murry

31 A. Hummel

31 P. Taylor

April 19 G. T. Wells,

19 D. P. Ginder

22 J. M. Doeher

22 G. W. Miller

^ H. J. Kerchunthal,

L-ehighton, Carbon county

Lehighton, Carbon county,

Welssport, Carbon county

Weissport, Carbon county

Weissport, Carbon county,

Weissport, Carbon county

Weissport, Carbon county

Lehighton, Carbon county

Lehighton, Carbon county

Mauch Chunk, Carbon county,
Mauch Chunk, Carbon county,
Mauch Chunk, Carbon county,
Mauch Chunk, Carbon county,
Mauch Chunk, Carbon county,
Rockport, Carbon county,

Rockport, Carbon county

Weatherly, Carbon county,
Weatherly, Carbon county

Weatherly, Carbon county,

22 F.P.Hoover | Weatherly, Carbon county, ..

Albrightsville, Carbon county,
Albrightsville, Carbon county,
Albrightsville, Carbon county,
Albrightsville, Carbon county,
Albrightsville, Carbon county,
Albrightsville, Carbon county,

U. B. Taylor j ^^uch Chunk, Carbon county,

10 J, Booth

22 C. Huseman, ..

22 D. Searfoss, ..

22 F. Yeager

22 N. Searfoss, ...

22 C. Moser

22 H. D. Huseman,
May 10

April 1 S. W. Cope,
1 David Cope,

Mud Run, Carbon county,

Leonard, Chester county,
Leonard. Chester county.

1 C. Michener, Leonard

, Chester county,

1,200
1,300

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.2(M)

1.100

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

No. shipped. Total.

1,200
1,200
1,200

6.000
1.200

\

39.600

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Distribution Brook Irout — Continued.

Date.

Name.

Postofflce Address.

1898.

April 1 H. D. Woodward,

1 P. L. Woodward,

1 A. H. Brinton, ..

6 J. C. Eyeich,

6 E. Clifton

6 H. SchlifC,

May 24 T. Underwood, ..,

April 4 J. Heckman. ....

4 S. H. Hartzell, .

4 J. S. Bulem,

4 C. S. Heckman, .

4 G. W. Heckman.

May 25 H. Snyder

25 J. W. Barley, ..

Leonard. Chester county, ..,
Leonard, Chester county, ..,
Thornbury, Chester county,

Font, Chester county

Coatesville, Chester county, .
St. Peters, Chester county,
Jennersville, Chester county,

Carlisle. Cumberland county

Carlisle. Cumberland county

Carlisle. Cumberland county,

Carlisle. Cumberland county

Carlisle. Cumberland county

Newvllle, Cumberland county, ..
Pine Grove Furnace, Cumberland
county, -.

April 4 J. H. Bolton j Harrisburg, Dauphin county.

4 H. M. Batlon, ..

4 V. H. Wiesling,

4 G. E. Bolton, ...

4 H. Boat

4 G. W. Boyd

4 J. Smith

4 A. J. Fager,

13 H. S. Heny

13 J. W^ White

13 J. W. Covert, ...

13 W. K. Alricka, ..

13 A. Roat

13 C. Hanlen,

May 2.1 R. LandsmUch, .,

25 W. Parker

25 R. E. Spitzer, ..

April 4 Dallas Bernhart,

25 T. G. Coughlan,

25 E. J. Walker, ...

25 L. H. Snyder, ..

25 I E. McHale

25 ! H. S. Bolton, ...

Manada Hill, Dauphin county...

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Progress, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Harrisburg, Dauphin county

Sylvan, Franklin county

Dublin Mills, Fulton county

C'arbondale, Lackawanna county,
Carbondale, Lackawanna county,
Carbondale. Lackawanna county,
Carbondale, Lackawanna county,;

i

Carbondale, Lackawanna county,

1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
2.400
1.200
1.200

1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200

1.200

3,600
1,200
2,400
2,400
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.2W)
1,2W)
1.200
1.200
1.200
24,000

1.2M
1,200
1,200
1.2M
1,200

87

No. shipped. ■ Total.

13,200

8.400

1.200
7,200

8S

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

1 ■<< lu.

JJi^tribution Brook Inrnf i^r//--Continued.

Name.

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped. Total.

1S98.
April 25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25

J. A. Gardner,

Carbondalf, Lackawanna county.

J. C. F. Whitmure. | , arU.ndale, Lackawanna

26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
May 2
2
2
2
3
6
6
6

S. S. Watson,

B. A. Kelly

J. Gubert,

J. H. Lingfeller,
^'. H. Mahady, .

G. H. Tryon

J. P. Robinson, ..

\V. Histed,

H. A. Lee

W. J. Bailer

J. G. Bailer

A. E. Phelps

V. N. Hyatt

W. n. Omsted, ...

T. Phelps

J. S. Kaufman, ...
O. P. Wayenhorst,
J. J. Wayenhorst,
R. H. Halstead, .,
G. M. Harding, ...

J. S. Harding

E. Gershbacher, ...

Frank Gass

John Proud

A. W. Jurlsch

A. O. Boyle

J. O. Boyle

R. Snyder

L. W. Partridge, ...

H. E. Stillwel!

J. Cole

John Hoffman

M. W. Hurley

P. E. Ryan

A. L. Patterson

John Schener, Jr., ..

C. Moyer

W. Stone

county,
Muosic, Lackawanna county,

< uibondale, Lackawanna county,

< aibondale, Lackawanna county.

< arbcndale, Lackawanna county,
{ arbondnle, Lackawanna county.
( arbondale, Lackawanna county,
t'arbondale, Lackawanna county,
Carbondale, Lackawanna county.
Carbondale. La CKa wanna county,
Thornhurst. Lackawanna county.
Thornhurst, Lackawanna county.
Thurnhur.st. Lackawanna county.
Thornhurst, Lackawanna county.
Thornhurst, Lackawanna county.
Thornhurst, Lackawanna county,
Srr.sntun, Lackawanna county,
Scranton, Lackawanna county,
Scrantnn, Lackawanna county,
Scranton. Lackawanna county,
f'lifton, Lackawanna county.
'"U.^ton, Lackawanna county,
fllfton, Lackawanna county,
Clifton, Lackawanna county,
.Scranton, Lackawanna county,
Scranton. Lackawanna county,
Clifton, Lackawanna county,
f^Iifton, Lackawanna county,
Hlmhurst. Lackawanna county.
r:imhur.«t, Lackawanna county,
Rlmhurs-t, Lackawanna county, ..
Dunmore, Lackawanna county,
Dunmore. Lackawanna county,
T^alevllle. Lackawanna county,
''cranton, Lackawanna county,
f'arhoriflalo, Lackawanna county,
Scranton. Lackawanna county,

Waverly, Lackawanna county.

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2(W

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,2M

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.^

B4,000

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Dlstrihution Brooh Irout ^/y— ContinQed.

S9

Name.

Date.

1898.

Mar. 29 C. Myers,

29 D. C. Duffy

29 J. P. Bowman

29 A. E. Buskholder,

May IS J. P. Bowman

25 H. M. Buckwalter,

April 6 W. W. Weigley,

7 J. W. Eckert, ..

7 J. Schaadt, ,

7 O. E. Leh,

May 10 H. C. Trexler, ..

10 H. W. Funk, ...

10 F. H. Sterner, ..

10 D. E. Best

April 4 E. M. Barnes, ..

4 C. W. Erath, ...

22 I. R. Coolbaugh,

22 E. R. Roth

22 C. W. Dause, ...

22 H. F. Moore, ...

22 E. L. Moore

-i. F. F. Role

22 W. D. White, ...

22 L. H. Long

22 W. M. Powell, ...

25 C. Dushlck

25 W. F. Boyle

25 J. P, McDonald. .

25 H. Malloy

25 A. H. Schrelner.

25 A, Merkel

May

5
6
S
5
6
10

T. J. Byrnes

D. Morse

W. H. Mundy. ..
F. J. Weeks. ....

J. J. Powell

H. W. Keeler. ...
C. W. Shollor. ...

Postofflce Address.

No. shipped. ; Total

Eii/.abethtown, Lancaster county,
Marietta. Lancaster county.
Marietta, Lancaster county.
Lancaster, Lancaster county.

Marietta, Lancaster county

Intercourse, Lancaster county,

Richland Station, Lebanon cjunty,

Coplay. Lehigh county

Coplay. Lehigh county,

Coplay, Lehigh county,
Allentown, Lehigh county,

AUentown, Li high county

Allentown, Lehigh county

Slatington, Lehigh county.

White Haven, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county.
Wilkes-Barre. Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county.
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county.

Hazleton, Luzerne county

Freeland. Luzerne county

Freelaad. Luzerne county

Freeland. Luzerne county

Freeland. Luzerne county

White Haven, Luz.-rnc county.

White Haven. Luzerne county.

White Haven. Luzerne county,

Pittston, Luzerne county

Pittston, Luzerne county

Pittston, Luzerne county

Pittston, Luzerne county

Pittston, Luzerne county

White Haven, Luzerne county, .

1.200
3,600
3.600
1,200
1,200
1,200

1,200
1,200
1,200
2.400
1,200
1,200
1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2«)

1.200

1,2(K)

1,200

1.200

1,2M

1,200

l,aK>

1,2M

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

12,0(K)
1,200

t.800

90

REPORT OF THE
Blstribution Brook Trout I ry~:^olli\n\^ed.

Date.

Name.

1898.
May 10 C. B. Poorman.
10 E, S. Trimmer.

April 7 P. J. Shafer

7 M. Everett,

18 J. Dowler

18 W. H. Detrick, ..

18 S. E. Landis

18 D. S. Detrick, ....

IS W. Van Gorden, .

18 E. M. Lee,

18 C. F. Beel

18 F. B. Holmes, ...

IS E. A. Bell

18 S. Holmes

IS C. C. Shull

IS J. Dipper

18 C. H. Zlmmerllng,

18 H. A. Sellers

18 W. J. Sellers

18 E. R. Henry

18 M. G. Sellers

IS W. J. Sellers

IS E. Hagert

IS W. W. Hughes, ...

IS J. Klsterbock

18 F. R. Ash

18 J. A. Canlgan

IS W. D. Cobb

20 G. H. Arndt

20 A. Hand

20 W. P. Thompson. ..
20 T. P. Harjer

Postoffice Address.

White Haven, Luzerne county.
White Haven, Luzerne county.

Gilbert, Monroe county

Gilbert, Monroe county,

Analomink, Monroe county,

Analomink, JVIonroe county

Analomink, Monroe county

Analomink, Monroe county

E. Stroudsburg, Monroe county,

E. Stroudsburg, Monroe county, .

E. Stroudsburg, Monroe county, .

E. Stroudsburg, Monroe county, .
E. Stroudpburg, Monroe county, .

K. Struudsburg, Monroe county, ,
i:. Stiuud.^burg, Monroe county, .
Shoemakers, Monroe county,,

Parkside, Monroe county

Parkslde, Monroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

I'arkslde, Monroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

Parkpide, Monroe county,

Parkside, Mi»nn>e county

Parkside, Mi.nroe county

Parkside, Monroe county

Paradise Valby, Monroe county.
Paradise Valley, Monroe county,..
Paradise Vail y, Monroe county...
Paradise Valley, Monroe county,..
Crosco, Monroe county,

20 L. H. Fish

20 R. M. Mackay Cps.,, Monroe county,

20 C. F. West Oosco, Monroe county,

20 r?. L. Dovredovre Cvo^co, Monroe county,

20 E .A. Relllez rresco, Monroe county,

20 B. W. James, rrepoo. Monroe county,

20 H. Price, j Cro?co, Monroe county.

1,200
1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.^

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

i,2m

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,2(H)
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1,200

Off. Doc.

No. shipped. Total.

31,200

No- 18. FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Distribution Brook Trout i^ry— Coutinued.

91

1898.

April 20 D. J. Bender

20 W. J. Price

20 E. Swan

20 G. Swan,

20 N. Price,

20 W. M. Hensher, ...

20 M. D. Price

20 C. Wagner

20 Paul Price,

21 W. H. Smith

21 W. H. Fet'ham. ..

21 C. Brown

21 J, Warner,

21 T. D. Barry

21 E. Singer,

21 J. H. Lesslg

21 C. Singer ,

21 A. B. Tee!

21 A. M. Merrlam, ...

21 J. R. Fansun

21 Geo. J. Fansun. ...

21 E. H. Smith

21 E. E. Hooker, Jr.,

21 E. E. Hooker

21 G. Woolbert,

21 W^ B. Easton

21 N. S. Brlttain

21 C. S. Callahan,

21 L M. Lynch

21 L S. Case

21 W. H. Case

21 John Lynch

21 W. L. Jackson

21 J. Sausenbaugh

May 2 W. A. Flanagan, ...

2 J. A. Flanagan

2 E. F. Flanagan, ....

J. D. Linton,
J. D. Brooks,
J. M. Brown,

Canadensis, Monroe county, ....

Canadensis, Monroe county

Canadensis, Monroe county, ....

Canadensis, Monroe county

Cresco, Monroe county,

Canadensis, Monroe county

Canadensis, Monroe county,

Canadensis, Monroe county

Mountainhome, Monroe county, .

Canadensis, Monroe county

Canadensis, Monroe county

Tannersville, Monroe county, ...
Tannersville, Monroe county, ...

Scot Run, Monroe county

Tannersville, Monroe county, ...
Tannersville, Monroe county, ...
Tannersville, Monroe county, ^.

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county, ,

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county,

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county

Mt. Poeono, Monroe county

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county,

Mt. Pocono, Monroe county

Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county.
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,

Ptroudsburg, Monroe county

i^troudsburg, Monroe county, ....;
stroudsburg, Monroe county. ..
^^troudsburg, Monroe county, ..
Ftroudsburg. Monroe county, ..
Ptroudsburg. Monroe county, ..

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

l.MO

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

l.^W

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

i.tm

1,200
1.200
1,200
1.2M
1,K)0
1,200
1.2(»
1,200

92

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Distribution Brook Irout i^ry— Coutiuued.

Date.

Name.

1898.
May 2 M. S. Apple, ...
2 R. Provost, ...

2 F. Keyser

2 A. A. Apple, ..
2 J. M. Warner, .,

2 J. Stine,

2 Robt. Deter, ...
2 G. Rittenhouse,

2 E. Hay

2 J. Warner

2 I. Stauffer,

2 T. Miller

« W. Miller

8 J. Felker,

6 M. Miller

6 L. H. Miller

6 I. Butz,

6 A. Singer,

6 L. Singer,

6 E. Singer

U J. W. Cornish, .

11 A. O. Sieger.

11 C. E. Butler

11 H. Eschenbach. ..

Mar. 28 C. M. Reed

28 P. Reed

28 W. H. Reed, ...

28 Li. Ross

2S H. G. Unger

28 A. Craft

28 J. p. McCrea, ..

28 P. Wagner

29 C. H. Longaker,
20 J. A. Bunting, ..
29 F. Auchenbach,

April 1 E. H. Burling,

IS
13

W. M. Hobart. ..
P. Knornetzesly,

Postofflce Address.

East Stroudsburg, Monroe county.
East Stroudsburg, Monroe county.
East Stroudsburg, Monroe county,
East Stroudsburg, Monroe county,
lilakeslee, Monroe county
IJlakeslee, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Houser Mill, Monroe county

Appenzell, Monroe county,
Appenzell, Monroe county,

Appenzell, Monroe county

Ileeders, Monroe county

rieeders, Monroe county

Reeders, Monroe county

Reeders, Monroe county

Reeders, Monroe county

Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county,
Houser Mills, Monroe county

Sumneytown, Montgomery county,
Sumneytown, Muntgomery county,
Norrlstown, Montgomery county,
Norristown, Montgomery county,
Norrlstown, Montgomery county,
Norrisi-nvn, Montgomery county,
Norristown, Montgomery county,
Norrlstown, Montgomery county,
Pottstown, Montgomery county,
Pott.stown, Montgromery county,
Pottstown, Montgomery county,
Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery

county

Pottstown, Montgomery county, ..'
Pottstown, Montgomery county, ..|

1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200

1,7m

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

2,400

2,400

2,400

2,400

2,400

2,400

1,200

1,200

1,20)

1,200
1,100
1,WQ

INo. shipped. Total.

121.200

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

93

JJistrlhution Brook Irout i^/*^— Continued.

April 13 W. W. Harrison, ..

Mar. 31 , Oscar Mack, ...

■ i

31 H. S. Vannatta,

I
31 J. M. Connelly,

31 J. Raub

31 Peter Raub

7 C. A. Morrslon. .

7 J. F. Burkhart, .

7 W. H. Correll. ..

7 W. J. Seiple

7 C. Smeith

7 A. P. Pearson, ...

7 H. F. Bithelner. .

7 P. Hagenbuch. ..

11 J. F. Hoffman

11 W. H. Hoflfman, ..

11 M. J. Shlmer

11 J. A. Geislnger,

11 S. D. Ritter

11 D. W. Fogel, ...

U R. Tetter

11 L. W, Snyder

11 J. M. Ettweln

11 John Rauch

A.'.rll 11 E. Hammann,

11 F. E. Luckenbach,
M. C. Luckenbach,

0. B. Hash

A. D. Shimer

1. H. Shlmer

T. Rlnek

11
11
11

a

20

No. shipped. \ Total.

olenside, Montgomery county. ....

Martins Creek, Northampton

county 1^200

Martins Creek, Northampton

county 1200

Martins Creek, Northampton

county i2(XJ

Easton, Northampton county l,2(K)

Easton, Northampton county, 1,200

Danlelsville, Northampton county, 1,200

DanielbVille, Northampton county, 1,200

Bath, Northampton county 1,200

Wind Gap, Northampton county, 1,200

Bath, Northampton county, 1,200

Bath, Northampton county 1,200

Moorestown, Northampton cuunty. 1,200

Moorestown, Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem. Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,200
Fre^mansburg, Northampton .

county 1200

Freemansburg, Northampton

county 1^200

Freemansburg. Northampton

county i^a)0

Freemansburg, Northampton

county i^^xj

Freemansburg, Northampton

county 1^200

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,200

Ili'tlileheni, Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem, Northampton county. l.aw

Bethlehem, Northampton county. l.WO

Bethlehem. Northampton county, 1,200

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,2(W

Bethlehem, Northampton county, 1,200

Easton, Northampton county 1,^0

25,200

M

REPORT OF THE
Distribution Brook Trmit Fry~Ci,i,{Xr^y,^Ci,

Off. Doc.

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

1898. I

April 20 E. J. Richards,

20 E. B. Mack, ....

20 R. Buckman, ...

20 G. Daub,

20 G. Danby

» H. M. Kleckner.

May 9 J. J. £>eip

9 J. A. Eley

• O. Ackerman, ...

• H. Ehret

9 W. W. Sterner,

9 L. E. Hufsmith,

9 M. L. Clewell, ..

9 E. Eley

11 S. S. Horn.

U C. H. Rlegel

11 J. Anglemeyer, ..

11 W. J, Daub

11 T. F. King,

11 R. Frumer

Easton, Northampton county,
Easton, Northampton county,
l2aston, Northampton county,

Easton, Northampton county

Easton. Northampton county,
Moorestown, Northampton county.
Wind Gap, Northampton county.
Wind Gap. Northampton county.
Wind Gap, Northampton county.
Bethlehem, Northampton county,
Bethlehem, Northampton county,
Bethlehem. Northampton county,
Bethlehem, Northampton county.
Wind Gap, Northampton county,
Easton, Northampton county,
Easton, Northampton county,

Easton, Northampton county

Easton, Northampton county,
Easton. Northampton county

Easton, Northampton county,
11 A. J. Oden welder j Easton, Northampton county! ...

Easton, Northampton county

Easton, Northampton county

Easton, Noithampton county,

Easton, Northampton county

27 J. W. Correll I Easton, Northampton county! !!!!

U J. S. Osterbook,

U H. J. Boyer, ...

11 R. J. Richards,

11 R. S. Brown, ...

25 S. S. Hetrlch

25 H. H. Kaseman,

Lick Kill. Northumberland coun-
ty

Shamokln. Northumberland coun-
ty

New Bloomfleld, Perry county, ..

Millerstown, Perry county

Newport, Perry county

25 C. M. McKeehan

25 S. F. Douglass

25 O. C. Stephens ,

f

April 1 Theo. Wenway Philadelphia. Philadelphia county.

1 J. M. Woodruff I Philadelphia. Philadelphia county.

1 E. W. Twaddell Philadelphia. Philadelphia county.

13 James Brown, Jr

Manayunk, Philadelphia county,

No. shipped.

1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,2(M)
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.200
1.^)0
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,^
1.200
1.200
10,000

1,^10

1.200

1.200
1.200
1.200

1.200
1.200
1,200
1,200

Total.

76,000

2,400

3,600

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

95

Distrlhutwn Brook Trout Fry — Coiitiuued.

Date.

Name.

1898.

April 13 E. L. Klander

13 T. W. Schofleid, ..

13 T. R. Schofield, ..

13 W. A. Flanagan, .,

13 W. W. Cornman.

May 12 C. S. Lee

24 D. H. Roemerman,

24 J. M. Luyley,

24 W. C. O'Neill

24 J. M. Dixon

24 C. K. Smith ,

24 G. C. Drexel,

April 6 John Fynan

6 G. H. Levan,

6 J. H. Hoover

6 H. S. Hoover

6 H. C. Ent

6 E. G. Hoover

6 G. S. Deem,

6 C. Brownmiller, ..

6 J. A. Brownmiller,

6 W. Haldeman

I Isaac Bell, Jr

7 J. Burke

IS E. S. Sllliman, ...

13 H. K. Smith

13 C. Lugan ..:

13 J. W. Snyder

13 G. W\ Dennis

13 T. H. B. Lyon

19 Oscar Snyder

19 M. Snyder

19 F. WMlUes

19 C. Hefler

19 H. H. Geist

19 F. Kehler

19
19

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped. I Total.

Manayunk. Philadelphia county,..
Manayunk. Philadelphia county, ..
Manayunk. Philadelphia county,..
Manayunk, Philadelphia county,..
Manayunk, Philadelphia county,.,
i'hiladelthia, Philadelphia county.
I'hjladelphia, Philadelphia county,
I'hiladelpliia, Philadelphia county,
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county,
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county,
Philadelphia, I'hiladelphia county,
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county.

Auburn, Schuylkill county

Auburn, Schuylkill county

Pottsville, Schuylkill county

Pottsville, Schuylkill county

Pottsville. Schuylkill county

I'uttbville, Schuylkill county

Mahanoy City, SchuylkiU county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill cnuuty,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,

Kepner, Schuylkill county

Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county,
Malianuy City, Schuylkill county,

Kthlor, Schuylkill county

Kehler, Schuylkill county,

Kehler, Schuylkill county

Kehler, Schuylkill county,

Kehl«»r, Schuylkill county ,

19

' K< hler. Schuylkill county

W. Pettlt i Shenandoah, Schuylkill county,

J. Robert j Shr-nnndoah, Schuylkill county,

A. Yarnell Flu nandoah, Schuylkill county.

1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
3,600
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
2.400

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

2,400

1,200

1,200

2,400

2,400

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

21,600

96

REPORT OP THE
n^trilutlon Brook Trout i^/'y-Cciitmued

Date.

Name.

1898.
April 19 Ashland Fish and Game
Protection Association.

19 C. R. Kehler

19 E. K. Bitterman

19 T. P. Barron

19 J. H. Robinson,

19 D. T. Marsshall

May 16 P. Fegley

16 Perry Fegley

16 P. W. Fegley

16 P. R. Llnder

23 P. Sheafer.

23 E. J. Matter

23 J. F, Ernst

Postofflce Address.

12 R. W. White, ...

12 J. W. Waltman,

12 C. H. Jenning. ..

12 Jenning & Bros.,

12 B. W. Jenning, .

* W, H. Wildenberger.

3 J. P. Taylor.

3 T. M. Whitman

6 L. A. Ely

11 P. M. Wilmarth

3 J. T. Brady

3 P. E. Sherwood,

3 J. W. Kesler

3 O. M. Spettigue,

3 C. Burgman

3 F. W. Powell, ..

3 C. E. Compton, ...

3 S. Hornson,

3 P. Andrews

3 W. Doney,

3 E. P. Dudley, ...

3 R. W. Ham

3 T. J. Ham

Ashland, Schuylkill county

Kehler, Schuylkill county

Shenandoah, Schuylkill county,
Ashland, Schuylkill county,
Ashland, Schuylkill county,

Ashland, Schuylkill county

Orwiesburg, Schuylkill county,
Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county,
Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county,
Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county,

Puttsville, Schuylkill county

Port Clinton, Schuylkill county,
Llewellyn, Schuylkill county

Lopez. Sullivan county,

Lopez, Sullivan county,

Lopez, Sullivan county,

Lopez, Sullivan county,

Lopez, Sullivan county.

Forest City, Susquehanna county,
Montrose, Susquehanna county.
Brooklyn, Susquehanna county...
Brooklyn, Susquehanna county,
Klngsley, Susquehanna county.

Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county,
Honegdale, Wayne county,
Honesdale, W^ayne county,
Honesdale, Wayne county, ,
ITonpsdale, Wayne county.
Honesdale, Wayne county, .

3.600

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

2,400

2,400

1,200

l.»W

1.2(M)

2.400
1,200
1,200
2,400
2.400

1.200

1,200
1.200
1,2{W

1,200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

1.200

1,200

1,200

1.200

Off. Doc.

No. shipped. I Total.

S6,400

9.600

6.000

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

97

Distribution Brook irout iinf — Continued.

Date. Name.

Postoffice Address.

No. shipped. Total.

1898. '
May 3 H. A. Ham,

. Honesdale, Wayne county,

. Honesdale, Wayne county

Honesdale, Wayne county,

Honesdale, Wayne county,

Honesdale, Wayne county

Ariel, Wayne countv

1.200
1.200

3 W. H. Ham

3 P. W, Gardner,

3 G. L. Meyer

2.400

3 P. C. Breidenstein

6 J. W. Andrew,

1,200
1,200

6 H. B. Ely

Ariel, Wayne countv

1,200

6 F. E. Polly

Ariel, Wayne countv

1,200

6 Geo. Prance

Ariel, Wayne countv

1.200
1,200

6 T. J. Oldfleld,

Hawely. Wayne countv

6 W. W. Roe

Hoadley's, Wayne county

Maple Wood, Wayne county

Falls, Wyominer countv

l.ZOO

6 E. J. Block

1,200

1.200

31,200

6 E. Planigan

6 I. A. Osterhout,

Osterhout, Wyoming county

Shimers Eddy. Wyoming county,
Mehoopany, Wyoming county, ....
Forkston, Wyoming county, ....

Forkston, Wyoming county

Forkston, Wyoming county

Vernon, Wyoming county

.lenks, Wyomine countv

1,200

6 P. H. Brink

1.200

5 J. W. Gaylard

1,^10

5 R. K. Comstock,

1,200

5 L. C. Vansher,

1.200

5 H. S. Hunsinger,

1.200

5 M. Alton

1,200

5 J. R. Myers

1,200
1,200
l,2t0

5 E. Harding

5 C. M. Lee,

Tunkhannock, Wyoming county,
Tunkhannock, Wyoming county,
Meshoppen, Wyoming county, ...

Itlcketto, Wromlng county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Rlcketts, Wyoming county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Rlcketts, Wyoming county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Rlcketts. Wyoming county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Ricketts, Wyoming county

Rlcketts. Wyoming county

Rlcketts, Wyoming county

Park York county

5 J. A. Kintner

• 1,20)

12 T. D. Schantz

1,200

12 H. H. Gunther

1.200

12 G. J. Helntzleman

12 W. E. Ely

i.aw

12 P. Hatch

l.MO

12 F. O. Kuhns

1,2(W

12 H. C. Trexler

1,200

12 J. Dunham

1.200

12 Joe Moran

12 P. Dershimer ♦.

12 J. H. Turell

1,200
1,200
1,200

12 Geo. Trexler

1,200

I

1.200

28.800

ar. 29 W. H. Taylor

1.200

T--18--98

98

REPORT OF THE

DJxfnhutlon. Brooh Troat 7^>y — Coiiiiimod.

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

1898. j
Mar. 29 John Wise

29 W. Delle, ,

29 D. A. Wilson

29 J. H. Wilson, ...

29 J. C. Neflf,

29 J. A. Bear

29 E. A. Bear,

29 C. M. Barshlnger,

29 E. D. Bortner. ...
April 8 S. M. Fulton,

8 James A. Dale, ...

8 J. F. Zartman

8 L. M. Rockey

8 G. Shupp

8 S. R. Glesey

8 C. M. Ken

8 R. S. Magee

8 G. S. Smaley

8 John Wise

8 Hugrh Ross

8 J. S. Hannigan, ...

8 C. T. Grove,

8 L. S. Moon

May 18 L. A. Dyer

18 E. Ness

Laurel, York county,

Laurel, York county

Gatchelville, York county

Oatchelville, York county

Red Lion, York county,

Zions View, York county

Zlons View, York county

Windsor, York county

Glenville, York county,

Muddy Creek Forks, York county,

York, York county

Xewberrytown, York county, ...

Erneys, York county

Newberrytown, York county

Shrewsbury, York county

Wrlghtsville, York county

Wrigrhtsville, York county

Wrlghtsville, York county.

Lame, York county

Woodbine, York county

Felton, York county,

Felton, York county

Lucky, York county

Lucky, York county,

Red Lion, York county

18 J. B. Herman ; Red Lion, York county, .

18 Geo. Snyder nrofrueville, York county,

18 M. C. Gemmlll l,,, ky, York county

18 H. M. Livingston BroguevlUe, York county.

Lucky. York county,

18 A. A, Tohe,

IS J. A. Dale.

Spring Forge, York county,
York, York county,

No, shipped

1.200
' 1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
12,000
1,200
1.200
1,2(K)
1,^
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.2(W
1,200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1.200
1,200
1.200
1,200
1.200
7.200

Total brook fry distributed.

Off. Doc.

Ko. 18.

Total.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Dhtribution California Trout.

99

Date.

Name.

Postoffice Address.

1898. !
Mar. 28 C. H. Fisher,
28 H. R. Conard,

Norristown, Montgomery county,
Norristown, Montgomery county,

Total California trout distributed,

No. shipped.

Total.

1
t

4,000
4.000

8,000

8,000

Dhtr'ibut'ion Afhmtlc Sahn(fn.

April 28 J. W. Correll,
29 J. Mlllham. ...

Easton, Northampton county,
Hawley, Wayne county,

Total Atlantic salmon distributed.

66.400

778.100

100

REPORT OF THE

SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION.

1889 TO 1898.

Brooh 2 rout Fry.

1S88-92. Eastern Hatchery,
Western Hatchery,

Distribution 1891-92,

1S92-93. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery

Distribution 18D2-33,

1S93-94. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery,

Distribution for 1893-94,

1894-95. Eastern Hatchery

W'estern Hatchery

Distribution 1895,
1895-96. Eastern Hatchery.

Western Hatchery, ..

Distribution 1896,
1896-97. Eastern Hatchery,

Western Hatchery, .

Distribution 1897,
1S97-95. Eastern Hatchery,
Western Hatchery,

Distribution 1898.

Total brook trout,

1,428,400
1.473,400

1,613.980
1,363,600

1,509,7m
1.194,700

1,373,000
1.334,100

1.114,200
1,493,600

1,108,800
1,293,500

778,100
1,506.300

Oft Doc

2.901,800

2,977,500

2,704,400

2,707,100

2.607,800

2,402,300

2,284,40C

18,585.300

^'o- 18. FISH COMMISSIONERS. loi

Brook 2 rout Yearlmgs and Three Year Olds.

1893-94. Western Hatchery,

1894-95. Eastern Hatchery,

1896. Western Hatchery,

1897. Eastern Hatchery,

1898. Western Hatchery,

Total yearly, etc., brook trout.

LiiJie 2 rout Fry,

1891-92.
1892-93.
1S93-94.
1894-95.
1895-96.
1896-97.
IS97-98.

Western
Western
Western
Western
Western
Western
Western

Hatchery,
Hatchery,
Hatchery,
Hatchery,
Hatchery,
Hatchery,
Hatchery,

Total lake trout fry.

Call for/} f a "irouf Try.

1891-92. Eastern Hatchery,
Western Hatchery,

Distributed In 1891-92,

1S92-93. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery

Distribution in 1892-93, ,.

1893-94. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery

Distribution In 1894,

1894-95. Western Hatchery,

1895-96. Western Hatchery

1896-97. Western Hatchery,

Distribution In 1896-97,

7,660
300

3.951
660
800

199,500

180.000
54.000

None.
15.000
14,400

None.

68,600
532,000

22,500
380,000

102,000
148, OM
202,000

12.761

462,900

600,^

402.500

69.700

452, WO

102

REPORT OF THE
California Irout -/^ry-Cou tinned.

Off. Doc.

1S97-98. Eastern Hatchery,

s — -

8,000
389,800

Western Hatchery,

Distribution in 1897-98, ....

■

fry.

•

397,800

Total California trout

1,922,600

Hybrid

Trout

Fry.

1891-92. Western Hatchery

*

"

69,000

1S32-93. Western Hatchery,

1893-94. Western Hatchery

106,000

148,000

«,80O

30,100
84.000

1S94-95. Western Hatchery,

1S95-96. Western Hatchery

IS96-97. Western Hatchery

Total hybrid trout fry

485,900

Jjroicii 2 rout Jt

ry.

1S91-92. Western Hatchery,

1892-93. Western Hatchery

123,500

1893-94. Eastern Hatchery

307,000 ^

Western Hatchery

18,000

-

357, 50f

'I

806,000

Distributed in 1S91-94

1S94-95. Western Hatchery

Eastern Hatchery,

108,300

-

51,000

159,300

Distributed In 1894-95.

1895-96. Western Hatchery

Eastern Hatchery

84,350

1896-97. Western Hatchery

36.000

Eastern Hatchery,

252,300

—

23,200

Distributed In 1895-97

1897-98. Western Hatchery,

395,850

807,900

Grand total brown trout

*

1,063,050

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

103

Land- Lot-led iSahnon Fry,

1891-92. Western Hatchery,

Atlantic Salmon Lry.

1893-94. Eastern Hatchery,

1896-97. Western Hatchery,

Eastern Hatchery,

Total

1897-98. Eastern Hatchery,

Total Atlantic salmon.

Paciiic Salmon Fry,

1896-97. Eastern Hatchery,

Urrimni (iirp Fry.

1891-92. Eastern Hatchery, ,
Western Hatchery,

Distributed in 1891-02,

1892-93. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery

Distributed in 1892-93,

1893-94. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery

Distributed in 1893-94,

1894-95. Eastern Hatchery

Western Hatchery,

Distributed In 1894-95,
1S95-96. Eastern Hatchery -.

Grand total German carp

Distribution of German carp now discontinued.

40,000
99,107
40,000

S.OOU
2,200

3,265

1,015

1,W)0

2,250
335

165,000

179,107
94,900

274,007

80.000

6.200

4,280

4,205

2,585
17,0(S

104

REPORT Of The

Small Mouth Black Bass.

Large Moafh lilach B,,

1891--.2. Western Hatchery,

1892-93. Western Hatchery,

1S93-94. Western Hatchery,

1S94-95. Western Hatchery,

1896-97. Western Hatchery,

Total large mouth black bass,

17§
846

1.460
3,837
8,715

linrk Bits.s.

Off Uoc.

1891-92. Western Hatchery ;

480
2.033

■ — .-

1S92-93. Western Hatchery,

Distributed In 1891-93,

2,513

1893-94. Eastern Hatchery,

3.350
3.077

Western Hatchery

Distributed in 1893-94

6,427

1894-95. Western Hatchery,

1.878

• 18,300

25.250

2.400

ISO

1S95-96. Western Hatchery

1896-97. Western Hatchery

Eastern Hatchery

1897-98. Western Hatchery

Total small mouth black bass

56,918

14,532

1891-92.

Western Hatchery

4.^

3,310
1,726
8,645
9.360
800

, — : — -

1892-93.

W'c stern Hatchery

1893-94.
1894-95.

Western Hatchery

Western Hatchery

1896-97.

Western Hatchery,

1897-98.

W'estern Hatchery

Total Rock bass

a. 172

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

mute Bam.

1892-93. Western Hatchery,
1S93-94. Western Hatchery,
1894-95. Western Hatchery,

Total white bass

Distribution of white bass temporarily discontinued from 1896.

Strau'heri'y Bas.s.

1891-92. Western Hatchery,

1892-93. Western Hatchery,

1S93-94. Western Hatchery,

1S94-95. Western Hatchery,

1895-86. Western Hatchery,

Total strawberry bass

Distribution of strawberry bass temporarily discontinued from 1896.

Yclhnr Pm/i.

18;a-:2. Western Hatchery,

1892-S3. Western Hatchery,

1S93-94. Western Hatchery,

1894-95. Western Hatchery,

1S95-96. Western Hatchery,

1S96-97. Western Hatchery,

1897-98. Western Hatchery,

Total yellow perch.

Sifn I'/'sJi.

1S92-93. Wfsl.Mii Hatchery,

1S93-94. Western Hatchery,

1894-95. Western Hatchery,

1S95-96. Western Hatchery.

1896-97. Western Hatchery,

235

188

2,998

1,286

2,069

87

88

685

8,880

600

10,270

8,030

9,170

500

150

485

4.190

1,000

105

3,421

8,531

38,135

Total sun fish.

106

REPORT OB^ THE
Blue Sun Fish.

Off Doc.

lS96-ii7. Western Hatchery

100

1

Cat Flsh^ Voinirion,

lSai-92. Western Hatchery

51
17(

84
230

1892-93. Western Hatchery,

)

1893-14. Western Hatchery

)

1894-95. Western Hatchery

\

•

fish

Total common cat

634

/////. r;ke.

1S91-«j2. Western Hatchery,

I

376

P'ihe-Pereh Fry.

1.^91-92. Erie Hatchery

49,940,000
28,670,000

1892-93. Erie Hatchery

1S93-94. Erie Hatchery

IS94-D5. Erie Hatchery

52,840,000

48,620,000

13,860,000

109.453,000

1890-96. Erie Hatchery,

1896-97. Erie Hatchery

Total pike perch, ,.

323,385,000

LaJce Herri II (J,

1S92-93. Erie Hatchery

1,540,000
2.500,000

1893-94. Erie Hatchery

Total lake herring, .

i

4,040,000

W/i/fr Fish Fr,i.

IS91-.2. Erie Hatchery

15,000,000
19.800,000

1892-93. Erie Hatchery

18r>3-'J4. Erie Hatchery

1894-9/;. Erie Hatchery I

2a, 000, 000
42,000,000
30,000.000
43,000,000

1S95-Q6. Erie Hatchery

1896-97. Erie Hatchery

i
1

Total white fish

174,800,000

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Cat Fish Spotted.

107

1894-95. Western Fishery

1,140
28.':

1.370
276

I

•

IS95-96. Western Fishery,

1896-87. Western Fishery

1897-98. Western Fishery,

Total spotted cat flsh,

3,070

Large Gni.ss Pile.

1894. Western Hatchery

•

S4

Large Plhe Perch.

1894. Western Hatchery

■ 1

r

46

Large Musmkmge.

1894. Western Hatchery,

15

2lusca/n,H/t Frg.

1896-97. Western Hatchery

1
91.000

i

Total

'

1

9I.0C0

Shad Fry.

1896. Bristol Hatchery

5,950.000
7.325.000

1896-97. Bristol Hatchery,

Total shad fry,

1

13,275,OC0

108

REPORT OF THE

Shad Jtry Introduced ly the United states.

lSlil-94 1 45.517,000

1S94-95

1896

18D6-S7. Delaware river, ...,
1S96-97. Susquehanna river,
1896-97. Eggs liberated, ...

1898. Delaware

Total,

14,283,000
59,000.000
34,000,000
20.000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000

Recapitulation,

Summary of distribution of Brook trout, 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Lake trout. 1S91-S8

Summary of distribution of California trout, 1891-98,

Summary of distribution of Hybrid trout, 1891-98,

Summary of distribution of Brown trout, 1891-98

Summary of distribution of band Locked salmon, 1891-98. ...

Summary of distribution of Atlantic salmon. 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Pacific halnion, 1891-98

Summary of distribution of German carp, 1691-98

Summary of distribution of Small-mouth Black bass, 1891-98,
Summary of distribution of Large-mouth Black bass, 1891-98,

Summary of distribution of Rock bass, 1891-98

Summary of distribution ot White bass. 1891-98,

Summary of distribution of Strawberry bass, 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Yellow perch. 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Sunfish, 1891-98,

Summary of distribution of »:atflsh, common, 1S91-'jS

Summary of distribution of Pike perch. 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Lake herring. 1891-98

Summary of distribution of White fish, 1891-98

Summary o* distribution of Catfish, spotted. 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Large Grass pike, 1891-98

Summary of distribution of Large Pike perch. 1891-9S,

Summary of distribution of Mascolonge. 1S91-98,

Summary of distribution of Shad. Bristol Station. 1891- 98, ..

Shad, U. S. in Delaware

Grand total,

Off. Doc.

197,800,000

18.585.300

462,900

1.922,600

485,900

1,669,050

165.000

274,007

80,000

17,005

65,958

33,467

36,037

3,421

3,530

38,135

6,425

343.385,000

4,040,000

174,800.0C0

2.795

M

45

91,015

13. 27.', 000

229,800,000

789.243,141

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

109

REPORT OF THE POHOQU ALINE AHSOCIATION ON CARRY-
ING TROUT OVER THE SUMMER FOR PLANTING.

To the Commissioners of Fisheries of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania :

Gentlemen: P>eing requested by your Secretary for a statement a»
to the work of the Pohoqnaline Fish Association in the line of fish
propagation during the past year I would beg leave to state that
the Association owns about twelve miles of the bed and banks of
McMichael's creek, in Monroe county, which until about twelve years
ago was a good trout stream; but about that time it was much fished
and netted both in and out of the lawful season, with the result that
in a very short time nearly all the trout were caught out of it. The
Association was formed in 1893 and bought or leased from the owners
the bed and banks of the fished out stream for a space of about seven
miles (since in«'rcased to the above stated holding), built a small hatch-
ery and proceeded to restock the creek with trout by artificial propa-
gation. The operations of this hatchery up to last hatching season
will be found stated in your last report. In the season of 1897-8 about
120,000 brook trout eggs were successfully hatched in the hatchery
of the A ssociation. I u former seasons the trout fry were placed in the
spring runs flowing into the creek as early in the year as possible.
The result was a gi*eat increase in the number and size of the trout
in the creek, not only within the holding of the Association, but also
in the entire creek, so that your Board is entirely relieved from all
care or planting of McMichael's creek or any of its branches, the
creek being well stocked. P»ut it was observed that large numbers
of the trout fry were destroyed by their natural enemies, snakes,
(els, frogs, kingfishers, etc. Their worst enemy is the water snake,
and though the fish wardens of the Association killed numbers of
them, the waste and destruction of the trout fry continued. Hoping
for better results if the trout fry could be protected from these ene-
mies until old enough to take care of themselves, the Association
has begun an experiment which promises well and which, if success-
ful, will be an important advance in fish culture for sport. It was
observed that trout fry })laced in i)onds and carefully and regularly
fed, grew to be about six inches long in a year, and about eight inches

no

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

long in a year and a half. This, however, is only an average, lor
their growth is not uniform, some growing only three or four inches in
a year, just as with domestic animals some will grow larger than
others of the same breed. Acting on this fact, the Association, in the
autumn of 181)7, built a set of nursery ponds, five in number, a com-
plete plant being six, but five being sufficient to begin with. Four
of these ponds are small, about 8 feet by 16 feet, with wooden sides
and concrete or artificial stone bottoms, sloping downwards to the
lower end, so that they can easily be kept perfectly clean. The other
ponds are quite large with w'ooden sides and gravel bottoms and are
intended for adult or nearly adult fish. These ponds are supplied
with pure water. The trout fry were placed in one of the small ponds,
regularly fed and the pond swept clean three times a week; the try
that grow most rapidly are gradually taken out and put in the other
ponds, so that they can be specially fed and grown, and also that they
may not prevent the small fry from feeding and eat the very small
fry, for trout are cannibals and even when very young, large fry will
eat smaller ones. This process of feeding and sorting out of the
larger fish has been carefully conducted all this summer and is still
going on, with the result that the Association has a fine lot of young
trout growing up and there is every reason to believe that next year
a large number of yearling trout, six inches long or longer will be
ready to place in the stream. It is still too early to state positively
that the experiment will succeed, but so far as it has progressed it has
succeeded. As in all new processes, there is much to learn; the
most important thing it to find out what food is best for the young
fish to grow on, and then how often and in what manner it can be
most advantageously given to them. The experiments so far indi-
cate that fresh blood is a valuable food; next to this, sheep's liver;
then beef liver; sheep's pluck was found not to be sufficiently nu-
tritious. It is quite clear that food should be given often and in
small quantities and should be perfectly fresh and clean, and that
liver or meat should be cut up very fine. Probably small flies and
insects would be the best food, beincr their prey in a state of nature,
but this is not practically obtainable. The fry do not eat earth-
worms and any that fall into the ponds are swept out untouched with
the other dirt that collects on the concrete.

The cost of building the ponds, keeping them in order and feeding
the fry can not yet be stated. The plant is incomplete and the ex-
periment has not gone far enough to supply the exact facts. So far,
however, the expense is such as to show that the State authorities
would not be justified in attempting to change the State hatcheries
so as to plant yearling trout instead of fry. It could not be done
without spending money to an amount far greater than the State has
ever placed at your disposal, and the difficulty of carrying adult fish

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

Ill

any distance in large numbers would make public adoption of such a
plan almost impossible. The value of such sets of ponds for fish
culture is, however, so strongly indicated that it might be well for
your Board in distributing trout fry to prefer those applicants who
have the means of feeding the fry for at least a year before placing
them in the stream. This would be a step and an easy step forward.

In closing this report, one subject remains to be touched upon.
Therc is a certain amount of popular prejudice against the leasing
or purchasing of fishing waters by associations of anglers— a feeling
that waters which have generally been free to the public should not
be withdrawn to private use. The Poho(iualine Fish Association
has met this feeling in a manner which has turned the opposition into
popular support. In stocking that portion of the stream which it
owns it has done so so abundantly as to amply supply the entire
stream below its holding. It maintains no fence or obstruction. The
fish one planted are free to swim where they will. The result is that
the fishing in the portions of the stream open to the public is nearly
as good as in the part preserved, is better than it has been for many
years, and is rapidly improving, and this fact is recognized with ap-
proval by the people of the neighborhood. If other associations of
anglers who own parts of streams would maintain fish hatcheries
and stock the jiublic water as well as their ow^n holding, all opposition
to the leasing of streams would soon end.

The cost is small; a hatchery capable of hatching 100.000 eggs each
season can be built for |100, suitable hatchery ponds al)out f 100 more,
and the cost of maintenance is about $25 per annum; the improvement
in the fishing is w^ell worth the trouble and expense, and a very small
hatchery will makr ^ood trout fishing for an entire neighborhood,
and the general introduction bv associations of anglers of such works
as are maintained by the I»oho<iualine Fish Association would greatly
benefit the trout streams of the State, would increase the food supply,
w^ould strongly tend to incrc^ase the good feeling between all anglers
for sport, and would greatly lighten the labors of your Commission.
Believe me, with great respect.

Your obedient servant,

O. WETHERILL.

112

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

OPINION OF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLEGAL

NET FISHING.

OflSce of the Attorney General,

Harrisburg, Pa., June 6, 1898.

W. E. Meehan, Esq., Assistant Secretary Pennsylvania Fish Com-
mission, 602 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.:

Sir: Replying to yours of May 23d, 1898, asking for a construction
of the 24th section of the Act of June 3, 1878, and the first and second
sections of the Act of May 22, 1889, I beg to say that the 24th sec-
tion of the Act of June 3, 1898, provides that it may be lawful to fish
with fyke or hoop nets in any stream of this Commonwealth, unin-
habited by brook or speckled trout, during certain months. Fyice
nets and hoo]) nets mentioned in this Act are susceptible of a cleat
and definite distinction, and the terms used in this Act, as well as
other acts, must be considered witli reference to their general ac-
ceptation.

The first section of the Acv of May 22, 1889 (P. L. 267), provides:

''Hereafter no ])erson or persons shall cast, draw, fasten or other-
wise make use of any seine, drift net, fyke net, or net or nets of any
other description, or use any other a])pliance for the catching of
fish except rod, hook and line, in any rivers, streams or waters of
this Common w^ealth";

And the second section of the same Act provides:

'•Hereafter no person or persons shall cast, set, draw, fasten or
otherwise make use of any fyke net or nets of any kind, device made
from cotton or flax twine, or wire nettings, similar to a fyke net, for
the purpose of catching fish in any of the rivers, waters or streams
of this (Commonwealth at any time in any year."

The portions of the sections of the Act of May 22, 1889, above
quoted, ch arly and explicitely repeal the 24th section of the Act of
June 3, 1878, first quoted herein. The first section of the Act of May
22, 1889, stipulates that its provisions shall not apply to shad or her-
ring, nor 'In the open season to the catching of suckers, eels and cat-
fish in streams other than trout streams, partly or wholly included
in the survey of farm lands owned by any citizens of this Common-
wealth, but nothing contained herein shall permit fishing by seines
at anv time."

You are advised, therefore, that, under the provisions of the Act

of Mav 22, 1889:

Ko. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

113

1. It is unlawful to set or use any fyke net or nets of any kind,
or device made of cotton of flax, twine or wire netting simlar to a fyke
net for the purpose of catching fish in any of the waters of this Com-
monwealth.

2. Suckers, eels and catfish may be caught in the open season in
streams other than private trout streams, but the same cannot be done
bv means of anv seine or fvke net or device, as above described, sim-
ilar to fvke nets.

As to 3'our remaining inquiry, I beg to say that there is no method
of restraining persons or corporations from emptying chemicals from
their manufactories into streams for the simple reason that fish are
thereby destroyed. Such an act may be restrained where the act of
the person or corporation become a public nuisance and a menace
to the health of the people, but in that event it must be abated as a
nuisance.

Very respectfully,

WILBUR F. REEDER,
Deputy Attorney General.

THE HARRISIURG CONVENTION TO RAISE FUNDS TO AS
SIST THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES TO CARRY ON
THEIR WORK.

As soon as it was known j)ositively that the Legislature had ad-
journed without making the usual appropriation to the Commission-
ers of Fisheri<'S, the Peupsylvania Fish Protective Association, the
headquarters of which are in Philadelphia, called a special meeting
in order to devise some means to raise funds to at least keep the
breed trout in the hatching ponds from being lost, and if possible to
have some hatching work done. At this meeting it was decided tlie
best method would be to call a convention of angling associations
throughout the State, and as a preliminary a committee was ap-
pointed to take steps to communicate with the Fish Commissioners
and arrange for time and place of meeting.

Almost simultaneously the Commisisoners of Fisheries held a meet-
ing at Harrisburg, at the recpiest of Governor Hastings, to determine
w^hat had best be done. At this meeting all the Commissioners were
present save one. Mr. W. E. Meehan, the Statistician of the Board,
v.as made Secretary pro tern., and before any further business was

8--18--98

114

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

transacted a lengthy conference was held with Governor Hastings,
Attorney General McCormick and Secretary of State Reeder.

The Governor was emphatic that the work of the Commission should
be continued, if possible; that so much had been accomplished by
that body it would be a public misfortune if it would entirely cease
operations until the Legislature met again, or that the many thou-
sands of dollars' worth of brood fish should be lost.

The Governor felt that he only thing to be done was to secure a
number of subscribers to a fund the size of which to be determined
later, on the understanding that he Legislature at its next session be
asked to reimburse them. He stated that he and the Attorney Gen-
eral w^ould both be subscribers.

It was conceded to be impossible to raise enough money to carry
on the work as it usually had been, and that only enough should be
asked for to keep up the trout stations and hatch trout and perhaps
a few white fish and shad. Twenty thousand dollars, it was thought,
would be sufficient for this purpose.

The attention of the Governor was then called to the action of the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association and he heartily approvea
it, ex(<'pt that he thought it would be better that the convention be
called at the request of the Commissioners of Fisheries. He suggested
also that when funds were asked for, subscription blanks and receipt
blanks be prei)ared by the Attorney General.

In accordance with the suggestion the Commissioners sent the
Pennsvlvania Fish Protective Association a formal request to call
a convention at Hairisburg on Wednesday, September 15, 1897, in the
Hoard of Trade rooms and in conjunction with that Association the
following call and circular was issued a few days thereafter:

Philadelphia, Augst 4, 1897.
Mr.

My Dear Sir: You are earnestly requested to call a meeting of your
association immediately, to elect a delegate and alternate to a State
Convention to be held in Harrisburg, Wednesday, September loth,
1897, for the reasons set forth in the subjoined circular. Your are
also earnestly requested to forward the names and addresses of the
(leh'gate and alternate chosen, to Mr. Marion G. Solleis. 1020 Arch
Street, Philadelphia. You are also re(|uested to extend an invita-
tion to friends of fish protection to attend the convention and take
such part as may be determined upon by that body when it meets.

Respectfully,

S. B. STHJAYELL,
President of the State P>oard of Fish Commissioners.

D. P. COR^YIN,
Secretarv of the State Board of Fish Commissioners.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

115

Circular.

The Legislature having failed to make the usual appropriation to
the Board of Fish Commisisoners of the State, it becomes the duty of
the friends of fish culture and protection to raise the necessary funds
to enable the latter to carrv on its work.

Governor Hastings, who has interested himself in the matter, pro-
poses that 125,000 be advanced in |500 subscriptions, on the under-
standing that the next Legislature be asked to refund the money.
His Excellency is having subscription and receipt papers prepared
by the Attorney General of the State, and in due time these will be
ready for distribution and use.

Governor Hastings feels that a State Convention of Fish Protec-
tive Associations would greatly assist in the work of raising this
money, and in accordance with the suggestion, by the sanction of
the State Board of Fish Commissioners, this Convention will be
held in Harrisburg, Wednesday, September 15, 1897, at 2 o'clock
P. M., and a second session at 8 P. M. of the same day.

The objects of this convention are:

First — For the purpose of pledging and raising funds to assist in
carrvins on the work of the State Board of Fish Commissioners
during the next two years.

Second — To suggest some plan of co-operative work by which laws
in the interest of the protection and increase of fish may be more
surely enacted by future Legislatures.

Third — To formulate some method of giving united and efficient
aid to the State Board of Fish Commissioners.

Fourth — To discuss other matters if interest respecting fish pro-
tection and fish culture.

In the makeuD of this convention and to facilitate business, it is
suggested.

First — That each association send one delegate and one alternate
with power to act.

Second— That each association endeavor to pledge itself to advance
from its treasury, or to raise by subscription, foOO, on the understand-
ing that his sum is to be paid to the Treasurer of the State Commis-
sioners of Fisheries in semi-annual instalments of |125.

Third— That each association meet and choose a delegate and alter-
nate to attend the Convention, with power to act for the Association.

Fourth — In order that suitable arrangements may be mad(* for the
delegates in Harrisburg, the names of the delegate and alternate
chosen be sent promptly to Mr. Marion G. Sellers, 1020 Arch street,
Philadelphia.

Fifth— That in case the financial resources of your Association and

116

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

of its members are such as to preclude the possibility of contributing
at least one share of |500, the interests involved are such that the
presence of your delegate and alternate will still be of great value
to the Convention on account of the other propositions before it.

It should not be difficult for your Association to raise $500, when it
is considered that the sum is only payable in semi-annual instalments
extending over nearly two years, and when it is remembered that the
money is almost certain to be refunded by the next Legislature.

Let every Association remember the splendid work accomplished
by the Board of Fish Commisisoners in the 23 years of its existence,
and come heartily to its rescue in the present critical condition of
its affairs.

Remember, that if the Commissioners stop work now, it will re-
quire six or eight years to get it into shape again.

Remember, that if the w ork of the Commission come to a stand-still
now^ for lack of funds, there will be no fish of any species for distri-
bution.

Remember, that the interests of the State Board of Fish Commis-
sioners are yours also.

For the cause of fish culture your are earnestly requested to take
immediate action, and notify Mr. Sellers.

Respectfully,

MARION G. SELLERS,
Secretary l*ennsylvania Fish Protective Association.

EDWIN HAGERT,

President.
HOWARD A. CHASE,
Chairman Executive Committee.
W. E. MEEHAN,
Chairman of Committee on Calling Convention.
On the day appointed the following were found to be present and
were so recorded: Governor Daniel H. Hastings, S. B. Stillwell, Presi-
dent of Fish Commission; Commissioners, James A. Dale, York; W.
E. Meehan, Statistician; Howard A. Chase, Philadelphia; William
P. Thompson, Philadelphia; E. H. Freshmuth, Jr., Philadelphia;
Marion G. Sellers, Philadelphia; William IT. Green, Philadelphia; Col-
onel H. C. Trexler, Allentown; Louis L. Roney, Allentown; Charles
Wetherill, I»hiladelphia ; John Price Wetherill, Bethlehem ; Dr. Frank
Monroe, Chester; John P. Alston, Renovo; J. A. Smith, Renovo; Dr.
Bushrod W. James, Philadelphia; W. O. Soult, Lewiston; Dr. W. B.
Shaner, Pottstown; George Steinmetz, Norristown; W. P. MiClure,
Norirstow-n; Wesley M. Blosser, Renovo; J. C. Campbell, Derry Sta-
lion.

The proceedings of the convention in detail follow:

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

117

Board of Trade Rooms, Harrisburg, Pa., 2 P. M.,

Wednesday, September 15, 1897.

Meeting of Fisheries Convention.

The convention was called to order by Mr. W. E. Meehan, of Phila-
delphia. The other ofticers agreed upon were Col. H. C. Trexler,
of Allentown, Vice President, and Marion G. Sellers, of Philadelphia,
Secretary.

The object of the meeting was stated by Mr. Meehan as follows:

Gentlemen, you are of course aware of the object of this call ana
therefore it is not necessary for me to go into any extended address.
The main problem before us is to devise ways and means and raise
a sn]u of monev sufficient to allow the State Board of Fish Commis-
sioners to continue their work for the next two years; the Legisla-
tu'-e by an omission having failed to make an appropriation to that
vni. This omission is believed to have been purely accidental and
caused through the hurry of passing appropriation bills at the end
of the session.

A conference was held by the Fish Commission immediately after
the news came forth that there was no money to carry on the work,
and at the suggestion of the Governor at that time, it was decided
to be best to hold a convention of the Fish Protective Associations
to see what was to be done, and it was thought at that time that
125,000 would be sufticient to maintain the work of the Commission
creditably for the two years. That, of course, would be for general
work, the maintenance of the hatchery at Erie for commercial fish
alone, at Bristol for shad, and at Corry and Allentown for the propa-
gation of brook trout.

It was felt, of course, that the same amount of work could not be
done for |25,000 that had been done before for |35,000, and it was
felt also that the next Legislature would probably reimburse sub-
scribers who may now interest themselves in maintaining the fisheries
interests of the State.

I am instructed by the Fish Commission to say that they feel this
to be necessary that such a fund be raised, and that if more money
could not be raised, that a certain amount of work might be done on
120,000, instead of |25,000; that is, in case this sum can not be fully
raised.

I may say that the Governor has done us the honor to agree to pre-
side at this meeting and I now take pleasure in introducing to you,
as your presiding officer. Governor Hastings. (Applause as the Gov-
ernor took the chair.)

118

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Speech by Governor Hasiings.

On taking the chair Governor Hastings was greeted by applause.
He said: "Gentlemen, I am sorry that my time is so much occupied
that I cannot be with you during the entire Convention. The fact is
I have a very important olhcial engagement involving the life of one
of our citizens that I must dispose of before 3 o'clock. I desire,- how-
ever, to say to you with reference to the purpose of your assembling
here to-day that an emergency has come upon us w^hich must be met
by the people of the Commonwealth who are interested in the con-
tinuance of the hatcheries of the State and the propagation of our
food and game fish.

*'I desiie to say to you that the appropriation usually made by the
Legislature for the propagation of fish was lost purely by accident.
I took the trouble to make a careful examination into the matter, and
I beg to assure you and the people of the State that it was simply an
accident— an oversight— and we are now confronted with this emer-
gency.

''We have four— if I recollect aright, and if not Mr. Meehan will
correct me — we have four hatcheries in the State to-day. Two of
these hatcheries are at Corry and Allentown, and I am informed by
the President of the Commission that we have brood fish of the
value of at least |4(),n()(). and we have no money that we can get from
the State to even sustain these brood fish, to say nothing of continu-
ing the hatcheries at Erie and at Bristol. Now, my judgment is that
the people of this Commonwealth are too patriotic to permit those
fish to be lost and our fisheries interests in this State to collapse for a
period of two years. I believe that if this matter is properly pre-
sented to the peoi)le of the State, that we can have by voluntary con-
tribution as nuK-h money as will be reasonably necessary to continue
our hatcheries and continue the work that this Commission is now
performing so industriously and so intelligently.

"I am informed by the President of the Fish Commission that if
120,000 is raised, that that would meet the emergency that is now
before us; it will reciuire about flO.OOO for each of the two years. I
will say to you— not as the Chief Executive of the State, but as a citi-
zen, as your fellow citizen — that my judgment is that the next Legis-
lature will probably refund the money. I cannot give you any as-
surance of it whatever, an^. whoever makes any subscription to this
120,000 that we propose to raise will have to make it without any
ffuarantee from me or from the Fish Commission, and no promise of
the return of this money has been made either by myself or the Fish
Commission, but 1 would suggest to you that a proper presentation
of this matter be made to the people of the State and that it be
spread broadcast through the newspapers, and that personal appeals

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

U9

should be made to any of our fellow citizens who are interested in
the continuance of the propagation of fish.

"When we come to look at it, it would take only forty gentlemen
who would give |500 apiece to help us out. I am not only willing to
be one of the forty, but I now authorize your Secretary to take my
subscription for this amount, and I will say to you further that I am
authorized bv the Atturuev tJeneral of this State to make a subscrip-
tion in this behalf for th<^ same purpose for pOO. This will leave but
119,000 to raise.

"If you will permit me to suggest to you, I presume that it would
be wise to })r('pare the memorial to the people of the State and let
it have the weight and infiuence of the Fish Commission and all other
organizations in the State that are interested in the propagation of
fish. Do not confine your subscriptions to |500, but take what the
good people of the Commonwealth can give you, whatever the amount
may be, and in whatever manner I can help you, either as an indi-
vidual or as the Executive of the State, I am ready to be commanded
by you; I am ready to help you in every possible way, and I have no
doubt— 1 have not the least doubt— that when this matter is fully
presented to the people of the State you will have the |20,000 without
much trouble.

"Now, gentlemen, I will have to ask you — and I fear I will appear
discourteous before you— but I will have to ask you to kindly excuse
me from further presiding over your deliberations, but I ask to use me
in whatever way your judgment suggests, and to advise me at the con-
clusion of vour deliberations what vou would like to have me do.

I desire to thank you most cordially, both as the Executive of the
State and as your fellow citizen, for this very patriotic effort upon
3'our part to save the fisheries interests of the State."

The Governor's remarks wel^^ applauded, and, upon his retirement,
Colonel Trexh'r,'f>f Alhntown. took the Chair.

The A'ice President. What is your pleasure?

Mr. Meehan. Mr. pH'sidcnt. I would suggest, that the delegates and
alternates of the various associations be asked to state if they have
as yet taken any steps towards raising any money, and if they will
be able to raise any, about what they can raise, and I would suggest
that it be understood that these delegates in doing this are not to De
considered as binding thenist*lves or their associations, but that this
is simply an expression of their opinion, unless they have been other-
wise instructed.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I might suggest, as secretary of the
convention committee, that I have received a number of letters from
organizations in all sections of the State; many of them have failed
to send delegates, but in every instance there seems to be a feeling
that they are willing to assist in this matter, and w^hile I deplore the

120

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

fact that they have been unable to send delegates, the cause seems to
be generally appreciated, and I have no doubt further on will be
grt'atly assisted by contributions from them.

The Vice President. Have they specified any amount that they
will subscribe

The Secretary. They in no case stated the amount that they can
raise.

Mr. Dale. I would like to offer a suggestion right here, that the
whole subject has been discussed during the summer months when
most of the people int(^rested are absent from the State, and these
societies have not had an opportunity of holding their meetings, and
I would like to make a motion that the Secretary of this Convention
indicate to them what has been done here either by circular or other-
wise, and ask them to send in their contributions on the first meeting
this fall when they get together. As we have heard here, many of
these organizations have not been gotten together. If all the or-
ganizations are communicated with in this way, I believe that we
can get the required amount without any trouble, and I will move
that the Secretary do this.

Motion seconded.

The Vice President. Are you ready for the question? All in favor
of the motion give their (consent by saying aye. Contrary opinion,
no. The ayes have it, and it is so ordered.

Mr. Alston. 1 would like to ask the Chair if the Attorney General
has prepared any receipts or anything of that sort as a voucher to
those who may contribute this money, that will come from the differ-
ent clubs thiougliout llie State — whether the Attorney General has
made any airangements for the n'ceipts or anything of that descrip-
tion to be given to the parties who subscribe this money?

Mr. Meehan. The receipts are not ready yet, I have been in-
structed to say. The Governor is waiting on the action of this Con
vention, and mv intention is in a few moments to make a motion
which will cover that ground.

Mr. Alston. As far as I am concerned, I think it would be a good
thing to make them for five or ten dollars, and give them to people
who like to fish and hunt and then send them in to the Fi&h Commis-
giioner, and let them be responsible for all you ask of them as a club.

The Vice President. I do not see that any one can be responsible
for the money; there can be no guarantee to those who may raise it.

Mr. Alston. O, no; there is no guarantee about it, but it will show
that they put that money into it.

A delegate. I think the gentleman's idea is a good one and they
can use these blanks.

The Vice President. Who, in your judgment, ought to issue these
receipts?

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

121

A delegate. The Treasurer of the Fish Commission. The Pennsyl-
vania Fish Protective Association has prepared blanks on which sub-
scriptions can be made, and if he would do the same thing and dis-
tribute these blanks to the various fish organizations, it would enable
them to go to their friends with some show of authority.

Mr. Dale. There is one case that might arise in this connection.
Suppose the whole amount is not collected that would be sufficient
to carry on these hatcheries, whether the Fish Commission will use
their judgment as to the distribution of the money to the different
hatclieries, and as to the expense to be allowed to each. I have
thought that if they could not spend their money in that way, prob-
ably by leaving one hatchery, like the Delaware hatchery,, and asking
the Government of the United States to take charge of that, it would
be a saving. They send a vessel down along llie Delaware and have
the eggs collected and they hatch them •vt there. Whether they
would not assume the whole of that and in that way save some of
the expense, if we do not get enough money. The question is, which
hatcheries to put the most money in, which would suffer the most
by leaving the amount off; that is what I mean to say.

A delegate. It seems to me that that is a detail which can with
perfect safety be left to the judgment of the Fisheries Commission.

A delegate from- Norristown. Mr. Chairman, I think we can get
$250, possibly more; I am sure of that.

Mr. Meehan. I am instructed to report from the President of the
Pennsylvania Fish Commission that he will be able himself to raise
|2,000. I am instructed further to explain that the reason that he
does not make this announcement himself is, that by not so doing,
he will probably be able to do even better.

I now desire to nutke a motion that a committee of three, or of the
Chair thinks it better, more be appointed, to draft a memorial in ac-
cordance with the suggestion of the presiding officer, the Governor,
and that other papers and the final signatures be attached to the
same. Motion seconded.

The question being, shall the motion prevail? It was agreed to.

The Vice President. There has been f 7,300 raised so far. How
much money will the Fish Commission require?

Mr. Meehan. I may state that the usual amount appropriated to
the Fish Commission has been |35,000 for two years, for general pur-
poses, 110,000 for the wardens' services; the greater part of the
money of course goes to the work of the commercial — that is the
Erie hatchery, and to a certain extent, the Bristol hatchery; that is
about fSOO a year, and a large sum hitherto has gone to black bass
and rock bass and yellow perch. Of course many of those things
will have to be stricken out, but we feel that 120.000 is the minimum
sum on which the Commission can be worked; that is, can run

9

122 REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.

the Erie hatchery, the Bristol hatchery and the two trout hatcheries,
and in no case would they be able to do the same amount of work
as hitherto; that is, they cannot turn out a hundred and sixty mil
lions of fish as we did last year, or more than one-eighth of the entire
United States Fish Commission, with its thousands and thousands
of dollars of appropriation.

Of course the Commission can still remain in existence by keeping
alive the Allentown and Corry Stations. That is not on account of a
particular desire to favor the sporting fraternity, but because there
are forty thousand broodftsh in them which it would be disastrous for
the State to lose. The statement of forty thousand is an exceedingly
low one; nearly double those figures would be nearer the mark, and
to feed those fish and merely keep them alive, we could get along
with very much less, but the Governor and the rest of us feel that we
should be able to do some work in order to keep these commercial fish
industries going. The conmiercial industry has been increased to the
amount of nearly a million this year and the fish protective associa-
tions of Pennsylvania cannot certainly allow that work to stop. You
have now, you say, f7,:500 pledged.

The \'ice President. Yes — eleven thousand dollars. The Secre-
tary made a mistake. This does not include |500 promised by the
Ex-Se(;retary of the Commonwealth. General Ke«der.

Mr. Ab'ehan. I am informed that the exact amount just to keep
alive the Allentown hatchery and Corry hatchery, to pay for the labor
and food for the fish, is about |3,r>00 a year; that does not allow us,
of course, to propagate the fish. It does not allow even the stripping
of the fish, or any extra help. Last year, for instance, we lost fully
one-half in one pond because of the failure to strip the California
Irout — one-half destroyed the other..

By request of a delegate, the Secretary at this point read the list
of subscribers and the amounts pledged by each as follows:

Governor Daniel 11. Hastings 1^^^

Attorney General Henry C. McCormick, ^M)

Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, Philadelphia, . . 3,000

Lehigh County Fish and Game Association, Allentown, . . . 1,000

Pohoquline Fish Association, Monroe county, 500

Delaware County Fish and Game Association, Chester, . . 250

Renovo Rod and Gun Club, Renovo 500

Commercial Fisheries Association, Erie 500

Bright Creek Park Association, Monroe and Pike counties, 500

Norristown Fish and Game Association, Norristown, 250

*> 000
Anonymous, -'"""

Anonymous, ^'^^^

111,000

Ko. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

123

The Secretary. I will say that the total is |11,000 and in a great
many instances, reports have been accompanied with the words "pos-
sibly more."

Mr. Dale. This certainly insures us for one year and a little over.
I think by keeping up this api^eal another eighteen months, the whole
amount will be raised, and 1 think we should continue a persistent
effort throughout the State, and there is no doubt we shall succeea
in raising the required amount.

Mr. Alston. May I ask the Secretary of the Fish Commission, Mr.
Meehan, that if there is enough raised, you will take care of the brood
fish.

Mr. Meehan. Yes; of course. That is an absolute necessity, al-
though the primary object of the Fish Commission is the commercial
fisheries; the other is almost equally important and it is of paramount
importance in this instance that the brood fish in the possession of
the Commission should be cared for. It would be simply folly to
throw away anywhere between forty and sixty thousand dollars'
worth of fish because if they were allowed to die, it would take at least
five vears before another lot could be raised that would yield a liberal
amount of eggs, so that under any circumstances now that would be
the first thing that would be looked out for. Next to that, as soon as
the question of maintenance of these hatcheries is provided for, then
we will look next to the output of the commercial and other fish in
proportion to the usual work that has been done on same relatively —
the same proportion. It must be remembered, you know, that the
eggs for the Erie Station, that is, for what is called the commercial
station, white fish, wall-eyed pike and Susquehanna shad, all have
to be purchased; there are no brood fish in those two stations; the
only brood fish are of the salmon family, the lake trout, brook trout
and California trout, so that after the expenditure of the money for
the maintenance of the trout, then the money is divided. I am not
speaking now, not absolutely for the Fish Commission, but believe
they would probably work pro rata as heretofore in the distribution
of fish.

A delegate. I should think the commercial interests would have
to be looked after largely in proportion to their subscription. The
greater number of subscriptions so far have been made up by the trout
fishermen, and I think they should be taken care of first.

Mr. Meehan. That is just what I tried to make clear that the Com-
mission intends to do.

Mr. Dale. The commercial fisheries will have to be protected be-
cause this class of fish is produced at the Erie hatchery and the Bris-
tol hatchery, and they will have to be sustained.

Mr. Wetherill, of Bethlehem. Mr. Chairman, in reference to the
money to be raised, I think it should be used pro rata for commercial

124

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

purposes as well as for the trout. We should not draw any distinc-
tion between them here. Those who fish for commercial purposes,
I think, will be found to subscribe full as well when individual sub-
scriptions are understood to be in order as those who fish for sport.

Mr. Dale. We do not need to carry on the commercial fish indub
try to the same extent as it has been unless they contribute. There is
another matter in i-egard to this thing. I think we should be very
careful that a regular form of receipt should be issued by the Treas-
urer of the Fish Commission as a voucher to all who contribute; it
has been said that this appropriation has not been made because of
an accident or oversight. I think there should be a regular form
of receipt that should be given, and if we can secure an appropriation
for this in the future, we shall be indemnified and paid back, and
every person who subscribes, and every fish club that subscribes will
have this money refunded to them.

I make a motion that a form of receipt be prepared and be furnished
to the persons who subscribed to that fund with the hope that
they can be reimbursed at the future meeting of the Legislature.

The Chairman. :Mr. Meehan intended to included that in his mo-
tion in the phrase "and other papers."

Mr. Meehan. Yes; that is what I intended. I think it would be
well for those who confer with the Attorney General to attend to
this; it would probably save us a great deal of labor.

Mr. Dale. I move that the matter be referred to that committee
for action.

Motion seconded.

A delegate. I thought the understanding was that the Attorney
(leneral should prepare all these papers.

Mr. Meehan. That was the understanding in the beginning.

The Chairman. This motion will not conflict with that; this com-
mittee will see the Attorney General and have him draw these papers.

The Secretary will read the motion.

The Secretary read the motion as follows:

"That the draft of a proper form of receipt to reimburse subscrib-
ers be referred to the committee on memorial (I suppose that is what
you call it.)

Mr. Chase. The word reimburse I would suggest be stricken out of

the motion.

The Secretary. Then it would read that a draft of a proper form
of receipt be referred to the committee on memorial.

The Chairman. All in favor of this motion give their assent by
saying aye, contrary opinion no. Agreed to.

A delegate from Korristown. I was present at the meeting at
Norristown and in their deliberations among other measures they
took to secure subscriptions they appointed a trustee to receive sub-

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

125

scriptions and handle them. I think the members of the Norristown
call it a trustee to receive subscriptions.

Mr. Meehan. The Pennsylvania Fish Protective Asociation has
a similar plan and have a receipt with a note at the bottom to the
eifect that the money shall be refunded when the Legislature makes
an appropriation and it becomes available.

Mr. Alston. I would state, Mr. President, that the Renovo Rod
and Gun Club has a financial secretary who does all the collecting and
attends to the payment of our bills, and we make it as broad as wc
can and collect all we can outside of the club as well as in.

The Chairman. If there are no objections, we will proceed to the
second order of business.

^'Second, to suggest some plan of co-operative work by which laws
in the interest of the protection and increase of fish may be more
surely enacted by future legislatures."

Now, what is your pleasure as to this? Do you think it wise to
take up this matter at this time or at a later date? Mr. Wetherill,
what do you think about this?

Mr. Wetherill. I move we take it up and discuss it.

Mr. Meehan. I am of the opinion that it would be better to defer
this second clause until a later date. I think probably more could
be accomplished if we should take up this second topic — take it up a
year hence before the Legislature meets. I move you, therefore,
that this be dispensed with and the third order of business be read

Motion sconded.

A delgate. This idea, it seems to me, is similar to the other pre-
sented to the committee, and if w^e defer the plan of co-operation
hoping to secure legislation until we are ready to co-operate, we will
then have to develop a plan while the Legislature is about to meet.
I think if there is anything that we can do by which we can secure a
plan a year to work it out would not be too much, and unless this
idea is embodied and would be brought out in the discussion of the
other ideas, I would like to hear it discussed this afternoon.

The Chairman. The Secretary will please read Mr. Meehan's mo-
tion.

The Secretary read as follows : *'That the second and third objects
be dispensed with and taken up a year hence."

Secretary Sellers. The third object bears a strong resemblance to
the second, as by the third we get a recognized method for securing
legislation. Now, it is unnecessary for me to defend the value of or-
ganization. Pennsylvania to-day has in a very incipient form what
our sister states have more fully developed — with their local organ-
izations and a strong central body, they will know what is to be done
and they will get instructions how to do.it. This is a subject that
has confronted our organization ever since its existence (speaking of

m

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association which I have the honor
to represent). We have learned that to protect tish and enforce the
laws our local auxiliaries all over the State are most essential. They
have an intimate local knowledge of what concerns them right in
their territory, a knowledge that we could not get without great
diflficulty. The result of it all is, that by having this State organiza-
tion, we^ can get combined action. With a view to securing this, the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association have formed a club mem-
bership. W^e have invited the affiliation of all local clubs through-
out the State, and I am glad to say have received some responses,
and have already elected some club members. This of course, will be
a slow proceeding. It ought not to be when the value of organization
is realized, it ought not to be. The Pennsylvania Fish Protective
Association did not assume to create itself a central body only by re-
quest. At first it was proposed to call it the State League; the other
club membership adopted the latter plan. Since that time we have
stirred up a great deal of interest among these clubs and the result
of that has been another object lesson. We come to Harrisburg and
want laws passed. The members from other counties do not listen
to us from Philadelphia but to the local organization in their dis-
trict. Members will listen to their own constituents. It is merely
carrying political organization into fish culture, and any legislation
is in a sense political, and rests upon that.

There are a great many other things which I will not take up the
time of the Convention to discuss, but by having the local clubs of
this State combine their efforts with ours, we feel that we could have
a very good organization. The Pennsylvania Fish Protective Asso-
ciation needs all the assistance it can obtain, and I am very much
gratified to say that only about one-half of its membership are anglers;
the balance of the members are public-spirited citizens, who recognize
the good of the cause which we try to promote.

Further than that, since the organization of our association in
1882, we have become initiated thoroughly in this work, in what to
do and how best to do it, and have tried to get the affiliation and
views of others throughout the State as to how best to do it.

In regard to another feature which arises in this connection and
that is, that by having those clubs members of this organization
and creating a State body, we will then know whether a warden
in this or that county is doing his duty because these local clubs
will in their turn know whether he is doing his work. They wil!
know how to find out, and report, and there are many other valu-
able points that will arise from it, and I think the Convention
should take it up, and it is a question that needs deliberation, and
I hope it will continue to be agitated. We have agitated it all the
time since we first adopted club membership, and will continue to

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

127

agitate it, and when we secure that, we may then look forward to
still greater good in the way of interstate legislation by means of
which our State and sister states will act together.

Mr. Dale. I think we ought to discuss this second one somewhat.
My suggestion is that we should allow the two to be discussed to-
gether, if Mr. Meehan will withdraw his motion.

Mr. Meehan. Certainly, I will withdraw that motion and allow it
to be discussed together.

Mr. Chase. As the motion is withdrawn, I judge the two sections
are before the Convention; we seem to be discussing these sections.
I wish to add but a word to what Mr. Sellers has so well said in rela-
tion to the scheme of co-operation.

Outside of what our association has raised and proposes to raise,
toward this amount, we have a very handsome permanent invest-
ment— permanent fund invested as a nucleous for future work which
will not be trenched upon at all. It is permanently invested, the
income of which will be used for the best interests in the protection of
our fish and the work that our association has undertaken.

Another point I wish to emphasize not only in conjunction with
our association, but the infiuence that we have attempted to spread
throughout the State, not only our hearty co-operation in the work
of the State Fisheries Commission, but in every material action
we have taken we havr consulted with them as to what seemed to
be best; there is no sense in running off on our own hook, as it were,
and wt' have practically worked in conjunction and co-operation with
our verv able and active commission.

A delegate. I would like to ask Mr. Sellers about the voting power
of club membership.

Secretarv Sellers. There are two classes of membership, non-resi-

t

dent membership without power to vote paying two dollars; active
menibershij) with power to vote and havinir a share in all the assets
of the association, ]>ayiiig five dollars. One other feature connected
with this which I overlooked, I might mention, that is to say, if this
movement continues to grow, it is the purpose of our association to
have an annual meeting here alternately at Harrisburg during the ses-
sions of the Legislature and at Philadeli)hia the other time, the ex-
pense of which will be borne by the association. Each club is entitled
to one representative.

A delegate. This idea of club membership which came to the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association was a development: it was
found that it was a very good thing if we had small associations
located around Philadelphia. We have had a great many applica-
tions for fish— fry— small fish; they came from people we didn't
know intiinntely. ^> had no knowledge of them, and in a great
manv cases the Fish Commission sends out fish to people who put

I.-

128

REPORT OF TH^

0£E. Doc.

tliem in su-eams and tbey are lost; no results come from them and
after deliberating over this thing for some years, it was thought to
be a good thing if we had small clubs that were affiliated with Penn-
sylvania Fish Protective Association. It was thought we might
induce the members of these small clubs to closely study the waters
in their immediate neighborhood. The water in the neighborhood
of one club might be very well adapted to black bass and the water
in the neighborhood of another club would not be adapted to blact
bass at all, but we did not consider that black bass and trout were
the only fish that we could stock these waters with. Many people
are fond of catfish and eels. It was not the idea to propagate catfish,
but it was the idea brought out in the discussion of this question of
waters that thev should be ji^tocked with the tish to which thev were

ft- ft.

adapted, because the waters of this State ought to be alive with fish.
I remember when I was a boy, I could go out most anywhere and
catch a mess of fish, and now 1 can't do it. You can see what ad-
vantage it would be if we had ten or a dozen small fish organizations
around Philadelphia to look after the waters in their immediate
neighborhood, and do it correctly, on the proper principles — the fish
best adapted to these waters w-ere furnished and there will be a very
great deal of difference in the fishing in consequence where that has
been done.

Mr. Dale. We receive a great many applications for fish, maybe
applications for lilack bass, perch and suntish all for the same
stream. We. refused a great many of these applications, for if we
know the stream to be a trout stream, we do not furnish any black
bass for that stream.

Mr. Smith of Renovo. One of the gentlemen who last spoke re-
ferred to a radius within ten miles of Philadelphia. I think it
would be a better scheme if the clubs were extended to the boundaries
of the State. When he ended his remarks he spoke of the time when
he was a boy, and said that he didn't have to go far to catch a mess
of fish. We can take the mountain streams in the central parts of
Pennsylvania and the majority of the people that are there during
the fishing season, are from Philadelphia and New York and from the
extreme points of the State, so that I think if he has the clubs united
and under one head, within the boundaries of the State, it will be a
good deal better, as the Secretary suggests to have them all under
one head, and the members of the clubs to have one club at least in
each county. They can tell what kind of laws are required. If it
all comes under one head, and have that one head supervise all the
reports, it will be better than any other way — if all the clubs are
united under one head it will be best for the fishing interests of
the State.

Mr. Meehan. At present the Fish Commission has not perfect

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

129

knowledge of all the fish protective associations in the State and
they do not know what the Pennsylvania Fish Commission is doing.
This would bring all the organizations into close touch, either
through the individual body or through the head so that they could
be reached, and if such an organization was in force to-day, we would
probably have a much larger gathering here than we have.

As Chairman of the Convention Committee, I may say that we
had extreme difficulty in some cases in finding out where the various
associations were. We did not get, in fact, all the associations.
After we had sent out some of the notices we found there were asso-
ciations that had not received any notice, and we had to send them
out a supplementary notice. The work could be done in very much
better shape— in very much better shape than if a State league was
formed, because for the rest of the year, the associations themselves
would be acting without knowledge of the work of others, whereas
by the system proposed by the Secretary, that is, the plan of the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, each concern would keep
in touch with the other throughout the whole year.

The Chairman. I would ask whether you include clubs who have
leased streams or not?

Mr. Meehan. That has not been considered, I think. The Secre-
tary can speak as to that a great deal better than I. I am myself
very liberal in that sort of thing; I do not know what the sense
of this Convention might be. Personally I would welcome a leased
club, but I do not know what the sense of this Convention is on that

subject.

Secretary Sellers. There are organizations who own and lease
ground who have their exclusive right to fish along certain streams.
As to the good they do, in most cases they erect hatcheries and propa-
gate fish. There are a few instances where they own entirely along
a stream. The result of it all is that the people above and below
their holdings get the benefit of their work I at the same time I
hardlv know how it would be— whether it would be advisable as
we claim to uphold the public good entirely, and to further the one
idea of creating tlie greatest possible food supply in the waters of
Ihe Commonwealth. It must be a question that should be considered.
I could hardly give an opinion on it, but those associations do their
good in turn with anything that we try to do in a public way. They
are of benefit to the communities where they are located, but we have
no possible interest to subserve but the public interest.

Mr. Meehan. Personally I cannot say I am generally an approver
of the closing up of the streams of the State, but my liberality was
very much strengthened by facts which came to my knowledge
through my connection with the Fish Commission last winter and
again a week or two since.
9-18-98

130

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Last winter the United States Fish Commission found it had a cer
lain number of land-locked salmon eggs more than they needed
for themselves. They wrote to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission,
offering these eggs to the State. It happened that all the troughs
were full and there was no room for them; therefore the President
of the Commission verv reluct antlv had to write and decline the offer.
1 happened to mention these circumstances to one of the these — what
I call a close corporation — he said the Fish Commission is welcome
to use all of our troughs for the hatching of the land-locked salmon.
I brought this to the knowledge of the President of the Fish Com-
mission at the time. It was then too late.

When the news of the deplorable condition of the Commission, of
not having any mon<\v became known, the Secretary of this same
association called in my office and said, "I hear that the Legislatui-e
did not appropriate any money for the Fish Commission, and while I
am speaking as an individual entirely, in conversation with other
members of our club, we feel disposed to place our hatcheries at the
disposal of the Fish Commission."

That is w^hat I call public spirit.

Bushrod James, of Philadelphia. I see that this matter of mem-
bership has not been fully understood. Mr. Thompson spoke of
having them around Philadelphia. We hadn't so much idea when
the thing started of having them covering the entire State, but in
the course of the discussion it was determined to cover the entire
State and that the whole society if it was represented in the Fish Pro-
tective Association at I'hiladelphia, through this member — that they
could present through this one member any views they wanted to
present to that society, and in that way it was aimed to cover the
entire State. The Association there had no idea of taking to itself
the authority of simply gathering in these associations for its own
benefit, and that is the reason I want to say something on this plan
of having an organized effort on some sort of a theory to arrange
the laws of the State, and my idea is that either through these organ-
izations or, where thev are not formed with the countv officers or
somebody there who is in authority, we can bring this subject to
the notice of each county, and if they havo anything to offer in regard
to the work of the Commission, or the necessary laws for the protec-
tion of fish, it can in this way be best accom])lished. If they have an
organization they would come in and harmonize with the State or-
ganization or society. That would bring in all these discordant ele-
ments before that body meeting in a convention with representatives
from the series of auxiliary societies to the general society, whatev(»r
it mav be, and in this wav we can hear from everv countv in the State.

Some of these societies are not more than a vear old and thev take
a great interest in all fish matters.

Mv idea is that the laws in different counties or the interests of

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

131

the people along streams in the different counties of the State should
in some way be harmonized and at some convention or some authori-
tated body,' should, before the Legislature meets again, hold a con-
ference and that from this some plan shall be evolved so that they
shall not burden any one county, and so wide and so broad and so
liberal as to meet the exigencies of every question throughout the
entire State. That, it seems to me, is what we want in suggesting
a plan of legislative action. It seems to me that this is the place to
discuss it. It seems to me that the only way is to get them here and
have them come in and talk with us and see if we cannot organize
and arrange for the propagation and protection of fish throughout
our State and take some action that will be for the general good
throughout the State as well as for the societies. If we do not talk
it over, we certainly shall never reach a plan. If one section of the
State should adopt a plan, it will be of no value because they will
have the opposition of all the other sections. There is one way
to do this and that is by united action. We must expect opposition.
We must expect some to differ from our own views on this subject.
There must be some concessions. We can make no general law for
the State that will cover everything unless we get all these elements
in harmony. Our Fish Protective Association in Philadelphia started
out with this idea, and that is our only object. We want to do good
for the general cause, and we are in full sympathy with the Fish Com-
missioners in their work, and we feel that some plan should be evolved
and this seems to be a good one, and ought to be tried. Nevertheless,
we should in some way reach every individual county throughout
the entire State in this matter.

Mr. Dale. Mr. Chairman, I suggest that a committee of five be
appointed to draft a set of laws and send them out to every fish asso-
ciation in the State, and that then a general meeting be held, and
then let any addition to these laws be made at such meeting that
they may be presented to the next Legislature. Let them all make
additions to these, make other suggesions or additions to these laws,
or modify them so that they would conform to the ideas of all the
people in the State and then present them to the next Legislature.

Mr. Meehan. Mr. Chairman, I favor Mr. Dale's proposition because
I must say, while Dr. James and others— I took a very prominent part
in the bili which went before the last Legislature, and I can see to-day
that many improvements could be made in that bill— it could be
shortened some, and some clauses might have been made a little
bit clearer, and I do believe that some concession are necessary to be
made in order to get a bill which will be operative in the State and
not antagonize to severely the next Legislature, and while I agree
fully with the Chairman that a number of the last Legislature will
not sit in Harrisburg again, still there will be a certain amount of

132

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

opposition. I know that because I have been intimately connected
with fish legislation in that body, whenever the measure is as drastic
as the last bill presented.

Mr. Thompson, of Philadelphia. I agree that we should have a
perfect fish law for Pennsylvania, but the question is, how shall we
go about securing that? If we appoint a committee as suggested by
Mr. Dale, who will pay the expenses, and how will they report? The
bill that was prepared by the association of the Pennsylvania Fish
Commission — by their committee on law and legislature was pre-
sented, and was also sent out to a great many clubs by the Associa-
tion. Now, if we had this system of club membership, if the clubs
in Pennsylvania were represented at the meeting of the Pennsyl-
vania Fish Association everv month, vou could see how closelv thev
would be in touch with any effort to improve our legislation. We
would have a monthly report of all the progress that was being made
in regard to legislation, and the clubs would then know at once what
was being done, and if there was anything being done that could be
improved, they would report it immediately, and then we should be
able to make our legislation what we want to make it.

Mr. Charles Wetherill. Mr. Chairman, I regard it as a very great
privilege to be here. The Fish Commission, in calling us together,
have done that which is unprecedented in the history of Pennsyl-
vania, and so far as I know without precedent in the history of the
United States. I think that this is the first time the Governor has
called upon us sportsmen for advice or assistance. That compliment
having been paid to us, I think a great responsibility rests upon us,
so to guide our deliberations here that the State Fish Commissioners
may feel that they have made no mistake in this their unprecedented
action, and I think it would be well to go very slowly before reach-
ing any conclusion, and to be very sure we are right before we go
ahead.

It has been remarked here, and it is true, that owing to the time
of year that we are called togt^ther, very few of us have come to-
gether, and a body of this number cannot pretend to speak for all
the sportsmen of Pennsylvania, and ought not to consider themselves
entitled to bind so large and so respectable a body of men. I think
the best thing we can do, having taken steps that the immediate
need for money may be met — the immediate cause of our gnthorinsr.
I think we should adjourn to meet with a fuller body, if a fuller body
and fuller representation can be had. The gentlemen here are all
deeply interested and some very valuable suggestions have been
thrown out, but certainly all parts of the State ought to be hoard
from, because it is agreed, I think, that local needs and local feeling
should be considered before we form an organization for the State
of Pennsylvania. We certainly ought to hear, as one gentleman has

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

1S3

said, from the whole of Pennsylvania, and it seems to me therefore,
that we ought to ask leave of the State Fish Commissioners who have
called us togc^ther, to adjourn subject to their further call, and try
to get before them a representative body of fishermen or anglers, or
gentlemen who are inteVested in fishing, who may more fully and with
more knowledge go into this subject, and I do not think this can be
fairly said to be representative body; I do not think there is any-
body here from the western end of the State at all.

A delegate. Yes; there is one.

Mr. Thompson. One — and can he act for the whole western end
of the State? I think we should wait until we have a fuller gathering.

Mr. Dale. If these gentlemen have something that they want to
protect their interest, they should suggest what they want. We
must have a basis, and we must know what kind of laws they want to
protect them.

The Chairman. Why not have the Fish Commissionerrs compile
a set of laws and send them to all the gentlemen who are interested j

Mr. Dale. They did that last winter, but the bill was changed so we
had to apply to the Governor to veto it.

We alvvavs will have trouble about getting a fish bill passed, sc
long as we oppose the fish baskets; that is where the great trouble
comes from.

A delegate. I second the motion made by Mr. Dale.

The Chairman. The Secretary will read the motion.

The Secretary. Mr. Dale moves that "a committee of five be ap-
pointed to draft a set of laws to send out to all the Fish Associations

in the State."
The question being, shall the motion prevail? It was agreed to.
The Chairman. Shall a committee be appointed by the Chair, or

how,

Mr. Dale. By the Chair.

The Chairman. Now is there anything else?

Mr. Thompson. Having appointed a committee to draft lav^s to
be presented to the Legislature, it becomes necessary to make sure
that he combined influence of fishermen shall be brought to bear
upon the Legislature so that they will pass that bill. Now, how
can that be best arrived at; by a league of State clubs, or by urging
the members of the fish clubs that are here represented, to labor
with the members from their districts, and also by urging those who
are not represented, to take a membership in the Fish Protective As-
sociation of Pennsylvania in order that we may concentrate our in-
fluence by combined action. We have to prepare our law, and then
prepare our influence so that we can pass it. The question in my
mind was not so much as to the law just now l^cause we have over
a year hence to prepare that law, but to take some action to concen-
trate our influence upon the law makers.

134

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

I would therefore uiake a motion to test the sense of the meeting
here; as it has been suggested, we are not a fully representation or
the clubs of the State but we are expected to take some action in this
direction, therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would move you, sir, that the
members urge upon their clubs — their organizations that they be-
long to, to obtain full membership in the Pennsylvania Fish Protec-
tive Association, with the view of keeping in close touch with tlie
work of the Fish Commission, and of supporting by combined action,
any etfort made toward remedial legislation.

A delegate. I second the motion, understanding it in this way,
that a full membership shall mean by paying $5 when the club can
be represented by one member.

The Secretary. That is the by-law.

Mr. Chase. Membership in the central organization in no wise
interferes with their individual independence in their own local or-
ganization; they have the additional feature of the advantage of
membership in the State organization.

Mr. Meehan. Mr. Chairman, I understand still further that it
practically means this, that the Fish Protective Association is at
present an organized, chartered body.

Mr. Chase. We have many hsh and game clubs, and as I undei
stand it, any association having for one of its objects the protection
of tish, is eligible to membership.

Mr. Meehan. The State Sportsmen's Association have the ques
tiou of game and incidentally of tish; the Fish Protective Association,
\vhile chietly for the protection of tish, is incidentally for the protec-
tion of game.

Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, I move that it is the sense of this
meeting that the members present urge their clubs to obtain one
membership in the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, with
the hope of keeping in close touch with the question of tish protection
and supporting the fishery interests of the State.

Motion seconded.

The (juestion being, shall the motion prevail? It was agreed to.

The Chairman. The fourth order of business is ''To discuss other
matters of interest respecting fish protection and fish culture."

Who represents the Delaware County Club?

A delegate. Dr. Monroe, of Chester.

Mr. Meehan read a paper entitled "The Interests of the Fish Com-
mission and the Comercial Fishermen."

Mr. Meehan. I understand, Mr. Chairman, though I did not at-
tend the meeting — I only understand by newspaper report, that the
Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association last night took some action
with reference to Maryland, and one of the members of the Fish
Protective Association will possibly explain what it is.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

135

Mr. James, of Philadelphia. Mr. Chairman, as to the explanation
of our action last night, we have had a committee for a year or more,
probably nearer two years, to meet with the Fish Protective Asso-
ciation of liaitimore to try to get the tish baskets taken out of the
lower Susquehanna river, that passes through Maryland. That as-
sociation assured us a year or more ago that they were willing to co-
operate in any etlort which could be made towards getting their
Legislature to do away with these baskets at certain times, and to
regulate the fishing in the lower Susquehanna. The next meeting
of the Maryland Legislature is next year, and this committee is to
go down at\he proper time and aid them as far as we can from Penn-
sylvania in having the Susquehanna cleared at the lower end.

The Secretary. Having been moved and seconded that a committee
of five be appointed to draft a memorial in accordance with the sug-
gestions in the Governor's address, the same to be appointed by the
Chair. That committee is announced as follows:

Committee on Memorial and Other Papers— Wililam E. Meehan,
IHiiladelphia; John Price Wetherill, South Bethlehem; Howard A.
Chase, Philadelphia; Dr. Monroe, of Chester, and Attorney General

McCormick.

Also the following committee to draft laws: James A. Dale, York;
John A. Smith, Uenovo; William E. Meehan and M. G. Sellers, Phil-
adelphia, and L. L. Roney, Allentown.

Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, I think it would be wise if the
proceedings of this Convention in condensed form could be sent to
the various clubs throughout the State in connection with any other

papers that may be read.

1 will move vou, sir, that a condensed report of the proceedings of
this Convention be sent to each of the fish and game clubs throughout

the State.

Mr. James. Was not that incorporated in the first motion?

The Seeretary. It would be; yes, sir.

Mr. Chase. Mr. Chairman, while I approve heartily of that mo-
tion, we must not overlook the fact that there will be some expense
involved. While our State Association is willing to do its share,
yet we must not overlook the cost.

Mr. Meehan. Mr. Chairman, the Fish Protective Association is
assunnng the obligatitm of the expense of this Convention, and 1
think it would make it too much for the association to do and I hardly
think that we would feel warranted in doing that. We were In-
^tPm-tod— the convention committee— to get this convention up and
to bear the ex])ense of getting up the convention, but it strikes me
that that would be V»eyond the province of the convention committee
so that I hardly see how we can carry out that resolution although I
approve of the tenor of it.

I

136

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, the committee having the prepara-
tion of these papers in charge could make the condensation as brief as
chey chose, make the condensation as compact as they chose. Tne
printing of the matter that we want to send out to the various asso-
ciations throughout the State would be a very small addition to the
cost of preparing the other papers. The beuetit to the associated
clubs would be very large and if the representatives of each club
here w ill go home and ask that their clubs take out a club membership,
the expense will be distributed and will not be large.

Mr. James. I am a great believer in newspapers, and I think there
will be some very good reports made in the newspapers, and they will
get a very good report without very much expense.

Mr. James. 1 am a great believer in newspapers, and I think there
will be published in the report of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission
of 1898.

Motion of Mr. Thompson seconded.

The question being, shall the motion prevail? It was agreed to.

Mr. James. Mr. Chairman, is it in order that this Convention shall
remain as an organization and adjourn to meet at another time?

The Chairman. Yes; I so understand it.

Mr. James. Then I move that we adjourn to meet in about six
months or so.

1 would amend to say that we meet at the call of this Memorial
Committee.

The question being, shall the motion to adjourn prevail, as stated?
It was agreed to.

Immediately after the adjournment of the Convention, the Com-
Liittee to prepare a circular met at the Commonwealth Hotel and
prepared the following, which was subsequently approved by the
Attorney General, and signed by Governor Hastings and the other
properly accredited officers:

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

m

Pennsylvania Fisheries Convention, Harrisburg.

To

Dear Sir: You have doubtless been informed that the last Legis-
lature adjourned without making an appropriation to enable the
Fish Commission to carry on its work for the next two years. This
omission is supposed to have been an oversight and not intentional.
In consequence, unless funds can be raised, the work of the Fish
Commission must be at a standstill for at least two years. The value
of the brood fish in care of the Commission in the State hatcheries
and belonging to the Commonwealth is not less than forty-five thou-
sand dollars, all of which will be lost unless relief be given as pro-
posed.

The Fish Commission called a convention of citizens and fish pro-
tective associations to devise ways and means to raise funds to carry
on the work. In pursuance of this call, a convention was held in
Harrisburg Wednesday, September 15, at which meeting about eleven
thousand dollars were subscribed. This is less than one-half the sum
necessary and it was decided to make an appeal to the citizens of the
State to contribute the money necessary to raise twenty-five thou-
sand dollars, with the understanding that the next Legislature will
be asked to refund the money to the subscribers. It is expected and
believed that at the next session of the General Assembly money will
be appropriated to refund the amount advanced by the subscribers
to this purpose, but of this fact no assurance can be given, and sub
scriptions should be made without reference to any obligation on
the part of those having the fisheries of the State in hand to guaran-
tee the same. Y^ou are earnestly requested to advance what you feel
you can aliord and to use your influence with others to further the
object of this appeal. Advances may be made on the following
basis:

First. Advances of five hundred dollars or more in quarterly in-
stallments— one quarter at time of subscription, one quarter Janu-
ary first, 1898, one quarter June first, 1898, and the last quarter De-
cember first, 1898.

Second. Advances of from |250 to |500 can also be made on the
same condition as those of |500 and over.

10

138 REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.

Third. All remittances should be forwarded to Hon. Henry C
Demutli, Treasurer of the State Board of Fisheries Commissioners,
Lancaster, Fa., who will receipt therefor.

DANIEL H. HASTINGS,
President of the Convention.
HENKY C. TREXLER,
Attest: Vice President.

M. G. SELLERS,

Secretary Convention.
S. B. STILLWELL,
Pres. State Board Commissioners of Fisheries.

HOWARD A. CHASE,
Chm. Ex. Com. Penn'a Fish Protective Association.

The following citizens and fish protective associations have pledged
the sums placed against their names:

Governor Daniel H. Hastings, $500 00

Attornev General Henrv C. McCormick, 500 00

Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, Philadelphia, 3,000 00

Lehigh County Fish and Game Association, AUentown, 1,000 00

Pohoqualine Fish Association, Monroe county, 500 00

Delaware Countv Fish and Game Association, Chester,. 250 00

Renovo Rod and Gun Club, Renovo, 500 00

Commercial Fisheries Association, Erie, 500 00

Hon. Louis Streuber, Erie, 500 00

Hon. James A. Dale, York, 500 00

Hon. James H. Correll, Easton, 500 00

Bright Creek Park Association, Monroe and Pike county, 500 00

Norristown Fish and Game Association, Norristown, . . . 250 Oo

Anonvmous, 2,000 00

Total to date, fll.OOO 00

Later the Attorney General drew up and forwarded the following
forms of subscription and receipt blanks to be used in colkntion and
receipting subscriptions:

Mr. Henry C. Demuth,

Treasurer Pennsylvania TMsh Commissioners,

Lancaster, Pa.

Please find enclosed subscri|)tion to the amount of |

to go to the fund of |25,000, being raised for the work of the State
Commissioners of Fisheries.

Name,

Address,

j^ote. — The subscription is made on the understanding that It

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

1S9

No. 18.

is to be repaid subscriber in case the Legislature makes an appropria-
tion therefor, and the money is available by the State Commission-
ers of Fisheries.
;No Lancaster, 189 . .

Received from Mr

the sum of dollars, to be applied to the

fund of 125,000 for the use of the State Commissioners of Fisheries
from June 1st, 1897, to June 1st, 1899.

Treasurer Pennsylvania Fish Commissioners.

j^^ote.— It is understood and agreed by the Pennsylvania Fish Com-
missioners, that in case the Legislature makes an appropriation to the
State Commissioners of Fisheries to cover their fund of |25,000, and
it becomes available, the above named amount of subscription be
returned to the subscriber.

These forms, as well as the circular, were followed with slight
variations by the various fish protective associations during the sub-
sequent months.

To date subscriptions have been received from the following:

Henry C. Frick, Pittsburg, Pa.,

S. C. Lewis, Franklin, Pa.,

J. Henry Cochran, Williamsport, Pa.,

Frank Thompson, Philadelphia, Pa.,

Irving A. Stearns, \Vilkes-Barre, Pa.,

Richard Y. Cook, Philadelphia, Pa.,

Charleys J. Clark, Pittsburg, Pa.,

Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, by Alfred
Hand, Treasurer, Philadelphia, Pa.,

Alfred Hand, Treasui-er special fund of Fish Protective
Association, Philadelphia, Pa.,

Lewis F. Grammes, Treasurer of Lehigh County Fish
and Game Protective Association, AUentown, Pa.,.

Everett Warren, Scranton, Pa.,

Ezra 11. Ripple, Scranton, Pa..

Chas, Robinson, Scranton, Pa.,

Pohoqualine Fish Association, Chas. Wetherill, Treas-
urer, Philadelphia, Pa.,

Aaron Swartz, trustee of Norristown Fish and Game
Association, Norristown, Pa.,

Alfred Hand, Treasurer of Pennsylvania Fish Protec-
tive Association, Philadelphia, Pa

Alfred Hand, Treasurer special fund of Pennsylvania
Fish Protective Association, Philadelphia, Pa.,

• ■••••

$500

00

25

00

125

00

300

00

100

00

100

00

100

00

125

00

278

75

200

00

25

00

25

00

125

00

125 00

160

00

125

00

278

75

140 REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.

Dallas Bernhardt, Dublin Mills, Pa., 10 00

Hon. D. H. Hastings, Harrisburg, Pa., 100 00

J. M. Noel, Lilly, Pa., 5 00

Hon. M. S. Quay, Beaver Falls, Pa., 100 00

Lewis F. Grammes, Treasurer of Lehigh County Fish

and Game Association, Allentown, Pa., 200 00

Alfred Hand, Treasurer special fund of Peunsylvania

Fish Protective Association, Philadelphia, Pa., 50 00

Wm. F. Davis, Treasurer of Bright Creek Park Asso-
ciation, Philadelphia, Pa., 250 00

C. K. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa., 20 00

Alfred Hand, Treasurer of Pennsvlvania Fish Protective

Association, Philadelphia, Pa., 125 OO

Alfred Hand, Treasurer of special fund. Fish Protective

Association, Philadelphia, Pa., 236 25

L«wis F. Grammes, Treasurer of Lehigh County Fish

and Game Association, Allentown, Pa., 200 00

Total received to July 1, 1898, $5,013 75

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

141

REPORT OF THE DELEGATES TO THE INTER-
NATIONAL FISHERIES CONGRESS, HELD IN
TAMPA, FLORIDA, JANUARY 19-25, 1898.

To His Excellency, Governor Daniel H. Hastings:

The delegates appointed by you to attend the International Fish
eries Congress called by the Hon. W. D. Bloxham, Governor of Flo-
rida, to be held in Tampa, beginning on January. 10, 1898, respect-
fully make you the following report:

The appointment of delegates to this Congress was due to the fol-
lowing circular:

Executive Mansion,

Tallahasse, Fla., April 14, 1897.

Impressed with importance of propagating and protecting the fish
in the waters of the United States, and the necessity of devising means
and formulating methods to save from total extinction many varieties
of valuable food fish, we have deemed it proper to issue a call for a
National Fishery Congress, to assemble at Tampa, Florida, on 19th
day of January, 1898.

The National Fisherv Commission of the United States will take a
prominent part in the proceedings of this Assembly.

We respectfully request the Governors of the various States of the
Union, and the Fishery Commissioners of same, to appoint delegates
to this Congress, which should command the earnest attention of all
good citizens of the United States. In this interest we commend the
words of the Honorable T. T. Wright, who says: 'The water farms of
the United States, Ocoan, Lakes and Rivers are neglected and but half
developed. Let ns turn on them the search light of science to reveal
their treasures and possibilities, and thereby increase openings for
new fields of labor, and a larger supply of food for mankind.''

Trusting that ibis Congress will receive the consideration it de-
serves, and its deliberations prove beneficial to the citizens of the
United States and the world at large.

(Signed) W. D. BLOXHAM,

Governor of Florida.

This Congress is called in the interest of earth's highest civiliza-
tion, believing that every effort made to increase the food supply of
mankind, and to suggest new fields for labor and new industries

142

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

should be commended, hence the object and aim of this National Fish-
ery Congress will be to discuss and formulate plans for the propaga-
tion and preservation of fish and all water products of commercial
value. It is also designed to have an exhibit of same. Parties thus
interested are requested to make exhibits of dried and canned fish,
turtles, crustaceans, sponges, oysters, oils, skins, and all appliances
for catching and curing same; also nets, rods, hooks, etc. A modern
commodious and attractive Exposition Building will be arranged
for this Exhibition. No charge will be made for space. Exhibitors
are required to prepay freight charges and mark packages, A. Fiche,
Fishery Exhibition, Tampa, Florida. No responsibility will be as-
sumed by management for exhibits other than watchful care.

Attention of the ^^'orld's Inventors is called to the urgent need of
a machine or process for drying fish when taken from the water, in
order that they may be baled for shipment as is cotton and tobacco.

fc^ince the issue of Governor Bloxhanrs call for this Congress it has
created such wide-spread interest as to warrant the National Govern-
ment extending invitations to all the civilized governments of the
world and requesting them to send delegates. Japan has already
signified a desire to be represented. Other foreign governments will
doubtless send delegates. It is proposed to organize an International
Fishery Association at the close of this Congress, when a call may be
issued for a session to be held at Paris during its Exposition.

The United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries have taken
a prominent part in the work of organizing this Congress. A vessel
from this important branch of the Government Service will be sta-
tioned at Tampa during the session of the Congress, to show practical
demonstrations in fish hatchery, etc. A fly casting tournament, with
excursions to points of interest on the Gulf of Mexico, will be features
of entertainment provided for delegates and their friends.

Citizens of the United States and of other nationalities will have
free access to all sessions of this Congress.

For information as to program, address

DR. H. M. SMITH,
U. S. Fish Commission, Washington, D. C.

For general information, address

H. CUNNINGHAM,

Hon. Sec'y Board of Trade, Tampa, Fla.
Your Excellency was pleased to honor Mr. S. B. Stillwell of Scran-
ton, and W. E. Meehan of Philadelphia by appointing them delegates
from Pennsvlvania to this Congress. Unfortunately just before the
time for starting important business interests prevented Mr. Still-
well from attending and Mr. D. P. Corwin, the recording secretary of
the Commissioner of Fisheries of Pennsylvania, volunteered to act
as his proxy.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

143

The proceedings of the Congress were held in the beautiful and spa-
cious Casino which Mr. H. B. Plant built on the grounds of the Tampa
Bay Hotel for purposes of this character. There was also a good ex-
hibit of the fisheries industries in the Exposition building also lo-
cated on the same grounds.

Your delegates cannot refrain from expressing regret at this point
that there was no appropriation of the Pennsylvania Legislature
to make an exhibit with some of the other states. The fisheries in-
terests of this Couimonwealth are so important and in such a high
state of advancement that an exhibit could have been made very easily
which would have eclipsed any other State represented in the Expo-
sition building, with the sole exception of Florida, and that Common-
wealth would have led only through the advantage of its better facili-
ties for transporting material at a small expense.

Next to the exhibit of Florida, the largest and finest display was
made bv the United States Fish Commission. A number of other
stall's also made creditable showings.

The Convention was called together on Wednesday morning by the
lion. M. E. Gillett, the mayor of Tampa, and it was concluded on tne
25th. There were more than one hundred delegates present at the
opening of the Congress, and the interest taken in the proceedings
can be no better indicated than by the fact that on the last day there
were 46 who attended. The Pennsylvanians present were:
For the State,

W. E. Meehan, Philadelphia.
Hon. D. P. Corwin, Pittsburg.

For tha Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association, Philadelphia,
Jacob Dowler, Mrs. W. E. Meehan.

H. F. Moore, University of Pennsylvania and U. S. Fish Commission.
Three papers were read by Pennsylvanians, viz:
James, Dr. Bushrod W., on "International Protection for the Deni-
zens of the Seas and Waterways."

Meehan, W. E., on "The Relations Between State Fish Commissions
and Commercial Fishermen."

Moore, H. F., on "Factors in the Oyster Problem."
All three papers attracted much attention, that of Mr. Meehan's
in particular drawing a discussion that consumed the greater part of
an afternoon session and which drew from the Maine delegate, Hon. L.
T. Carleton such an interesting speech in relation to the financial value
of angling to a State that we have ventured to include it in the papers
of the Pennsylvania delegates submitted with this report.

The first day's proceedings were merely preliminary to the main
organization which was not effected until the second day by the elec-
tion of Hon. A. Nelson Cheney, of New York, as President, and Dr.
Hugh M. Smith, as Secretary, and Hon. D, P. Corwin, of Pennsylvania,

144

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

i

one of the Vice Presidents. Governor Bloxham, made the address
of welcome. It was an impressive scene. Besides the delegates there
were many hundred visitors, who loudly cheered patriotic airs of both
the north and the south rendered by the orchestra before the exercises
began.

Governor Bloxham in his address said:

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The assembling of this Fish-
ery Congress is the result of the suggestion of Colonel T. T. Wright,
one of the most progressive intellects of the south. His presentation
of the possibilities of such a meeting was the prompting cause of my
issuing the call; and he organized the movement so well executed by
Tampa's Board of Trade and Hon. H. M. Smith of the United States
Commission of Fish and Fisheries. Tampa's representative will bid
you welcome to this city; and I have been requested to welcome you
not only to this progressive and prosperous city, but to Florida. I
take pleasure in performing the pleasing task, feeling that in doing
so I but voice the sentiments of our entire people.

I welcome you to a State whose history is the most romantic in
the annals of America. When familiar with the raiment with which
nature has clothed her — the richest that a tropical luxuriance could
furnish so captivating a figure — with her limped streams glistening
like sheens of silver under a semi-tropical sun, with deep-bedded rocks
reflecting with a dazzling brilliancy God's great orb of light, and pen-
ciled fringings of the richest foliage adding a halo to their unsur-
passed beauty, can we wonder that fable's persuasive tongue invested
her with treasures surpassing the famed El Dorado? Are we sur-
prised that imagination's "weird sisters" pictured her waters as hold-
ing by divine right the most precious of Hygeia's elixir to restore hon-
orable but tottering infirmities to the freshness and vigor of robust
manhood; and that the hope of this famed fabled physical regenera-
tion should have served as an irresistable stimulant to Spain's lion-
hearted cavalier. Ponce de Leon?

You meet here upon historical ground, where the foot-prints of
some of Spain's greatest cavaliers and America's noblest captains can
be traced. While it is not my intention to recur to their heroic deeds,
or to offer you a cup filled with the ambrosia of ancient story, yet there
is one romance, based upon historic fact, associated with this very
spot, that I feel you will kindly indulge should a brief reference
thereto be made.

Wherever the history of America is read, there the story of Poca-
hontas is known. The romance is most captivating, and some of Vir-
ginia's most honored sons trace back a lineage to this daughter of the
forest. But the historic fact that a similar scene was enacted on this
very spot, three-quarters of a century before the name of Pocahontas
was ever lisped by English lips, is unknown even to many Floridians.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

145

It was here, in 1528, twelve years before De Soto landed upon
Tampa Bay, that Juan Ortez, a Spanish youth of 18, having been
captured at Clearwater, was brought before Hirrihugua, the stern
Indian Chief, in whose breast was rankling a vengeance born of ill
treatment of his mother by the followers of the ill-fated Narvaez.
Ortez was young and fair, but the cruel chief had given orders, and
here was erected a grid-iron of poles, faggots were prepared, and young
Ortez was bound and stretched to meet the demands for a human sac-
rifice. The torch was being applied, the crackling flames began to
gather strength for a human holocaust, when the stern chief's
daughter threw herself at her father's feet and interposed in Ortez's
behalf. Her beauty rivaled that of the historic dame ''whose heavenly
charms kept Troy and Greece ten years in arms." The soft language
of her soul flowed from her never silent eyes as she looked up through
her tears of sympathy imploring the life of the young Spaniard.

Those tears, the ever-ready weapon of a woman's weakness, touched
the heart of even the savage chief, and Ortez was for the time spared.

But the demon of evil in a few months again took possession of
Hirrihugua, and his daughter saw that even her entreaties would be
unavailing. She was betrothed to Mucoso, the young chief of a neigh-
boring tribe. Their love had been plighted— that God-given love that
rules the savage breast, as

"It rules the court, the camp, the grove,
And men below, and saints above."

Her loving heart told her that Ortez would be safe in Mucoso's keep-
ing. At the dead hour of night, she accompanied him beyond danger,
and placed in his hands such tokens as Mucoso would recognize.

She acted none too soon. As the sun rose over this spot, its rays fell
upon the maddened chief, calling in vain for the intended victim of
his revenge. His rage was such that it dried up the well— springs
of parental affection, and he refused the marriage of his daughter
unless Ortez was surrendered. But that Indian girl, although it
broke the heart-strings of hope, sacrificed her love to humanity; and
Mucoso sacrificed his bride upon the altar of honor. Ortez lived to
welcome De Soto.

Tell me, aye, tell the world, where a brighter example of noble
virtues was ever recorded? Where in history do you find more genu-
ine and more touching illustrations of "love" charity, and forgive-
ness?"—the very trinity of earthly virtues, and the brightest jewels of
the Christian heaven?

What a captivating theme this Florida Pocahontas should present
to the pen of imagination, picturing this spot then, and to-day, asso-
ciated with romance, rich in historic lore!

But I am here to welcome you to this National Fisheries Congress,

10-18-98

146

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

and what location more fitting for such a Congress than the shores
of this western Mediterranean, the Gulf of Mexico.

Mathew Maury, that great intellect and writer on the currents of
the oceans, that great map-maker of the air that circles above old
ocean's waves, states it as a physico-commercial fact that "the area of
all the vallejs which are drained by the rivers of Europe that empty
into the Atlantic; of all the valleys that are drained by the rivers of
Asia that empty into the Indian Ocean; of all the valleys that are
drained by the rivers of Africa and Europe that empty into the Medi-
terranean, does not cover an extent of territory- as great or as fertile
as that included in the valleys drained by the American rivers alone,
which discharge themselves into this, our central sea."

The valleys drained into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
range through all the producing latitudes of the world, and embrace
every agricultural climate under the sun. Upon their green bosom
rests the throne of the vegetable kingdom; and in the near future,
when the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific shall be allowed to com-
mingle through a canal across Central America, the commerce of the
world will here hold its court.

Those vast valleys furnish waste organic matter that is brought into
this inland sea, furnishing abundant food for animal life. The tem-
perature of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean 8ea is
most favorable to the development of the lower orders of animal life;
and the animalcula and small fish feed upon this abundant supply
of food, and in turn become food for larger fish. The Gulf Stream,
originating in the Caribbean Sea, sweeping through the Gulf of
Mexico and around the entire coast of Florida, helps to bring to our
very doors this vast food supply; and gives us the best of feeding
grounds, many times the area of our State.

What State, then, more suitable in which to organize a National
Fishery Congress than Florida?

Stimulated bv the erroneous sentiment that America's fishery re-
sources, on account of the great area and capabilities of her water?,
are practically inexhaustible, improvidence has led, in many states,
to useless and wasteful destruction, that tends strongly to the deple-
tion of their waters.

Public sentiment is becoming largely directed and educated up to a
full comprehension of the importance of the industry, and the General
Government is lending its powerful aid to the dissemination of inform-
ation and the propagation of valuable species of food fish. With
such earnest and intelligent workers as are now in the Government
employ, and at the head of this great work, with the various states
co-operating, we may confidently look to a cessation of useless im-
providence and an increase in the supply of desirable food-producing
flsh. And what efforts more commanding and deserving greater con-

No. 18.

PISH COMMISSIONERS.

147

sideration than the suggesting of new fields of labor looking to m-
creasing the food supply of mankind? And where can we look more
confidently for such increase than in the water farms of America?

This Congress is really in the interest of the highest civilization, for
no questions are of more moment than the increase or diminution of a
wholesome food supply for mankind.

But, Mr. Chairman, I am not here to discuss any of the phases of the
manv questions that may be brought to the attention of this Congress.
That will be the work of specialists and experts. I am here simply to
give you a cordial welcome, and in the name and on behalf of the good
people of Florida,

"I will welcome thee and wish thee long."

PRESIDENT CHENEY'S RESPONSE.

Mr. Cheney, the newly chosen President made the following re-
sponse:

"Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of the delegates of the National
Fisheries Societv, I desire to thank you and also the people of Florida
for your most gracious welcome. As you have said, the food problem
is a most important one to this country, and all countries, and the
flsh food is not the least important. The real father of fish culture
was Stephen L. Jacobi, a German fish breeder, who made known his
discovery in 1761. He practiced it for some twenty years before that
date His observations were conducted in a little wooden trough,
and he himself, or his sons, continued the work for thirty or forty years
'after 1800. He is undoubtedly the father of fish culture, as we under-
stand fish culture of to-day. Down to 1848 there is little or no record
of fish cultural work. Then, two French fishermen, Romey and Ge-
hinin, discovered, as they claimed, the process of hatching fish arti-
ficially, and were brought to Paris and there conducted a series of ex-
periments.

"The first fish act of any Legislature in this country, looking to the
propagation of fishes, was a resolution passed by the Legislature of
Massachusetts, in 1856. The various states formed fish commissions
from that date until 1872, when the United States Fish (Mmm.ssion
was organized, largely at the instigation of the American Fisheries
Societv, as it is called now, formerly the American Fish Cultural As-
sociati'on. One of the first acts of that society was to appoint a dele-
crate or delegates to go to Washington and recommend the creation
of a United States Fish Commission. That brings us down to this
date, practically. We all know the workings of the United States

U6

REPORT OF THiJ

Off. Doc.

Fish Commission and the State Fish Commissions, because almost
every state in the Union has a commission now, or has had, but your
aside reference to the tarpon of your Excellency reminds me of a bit
of history.

"Mr. Harnsworth, a journalist of London, editor of the Daily Mail,
and various other publications, came to this country to fish. He wrote
me a letter and I recommended that he go to Florida. He went to
Kaples. \\'hile in his boat fishing for tarpon and waiting for a bite,
he read in the London Times that Mr. Jackson had conceived a new
route of reaching the North Pole. He took the first steamer for Lon-
don, sent for xMr. Jackson, told him to outfit a ship, provision it for
seven yeais, and send him the bill. The ship Windward was bought.
Mr. Jackson did go north and he discovered Nansen or Nansen dis-
covered Jackson. That ship is now about to be sent to this country
for the use of Mr. Peary to make another Arctic expedition, so it re-
quires no vivid conception to connect the tarpon with the Arctic ex-
pedition."

Practically all the sessions of the Convention were fully occupied
by the reading of papers and their discussion. The most numerous,
on account of the vastness of the industry were on oysters and oyster
culture, and those who were practically interested in this feature of
fish culture were emphatic in their expressions affirming the value of
the material which the papers contained. As Pennsylvania has no
fisheries of this character within her borders, the delegates do not
feel justified in appending any of the papers, except the one by Mr.
Moore, of Pennsylvania.

The delegates received many invitations from Mr. Plant to make
excursions to various points of interest, but the volume of work was
so great that the Convention felt compelled to decline most of them,
making an exception however in favor of a trip on the steamer Mar-
guerite down Tampa Bay, and a short distance up the Manatee river.

On the day that this excursion took place, a number of the delegates
accepted an invitation on board the United States Fish Commission
Steamer, Fish Hawk, to witness the methods employed in dredging.
During this trip, an important discovery was made of the presence in
Tampa Bay of large quantities of prawns.

During one of the sessions a resolution was introduced in effect
that the Congress recommend to those states having no fish com-
mission, to have such appointed at the earliest possible date, one
member at least of which should be a man of scientific attainments,
competent to intelligently deal with the biological phases of fish com-
mission work.

Col. F. C. Zacharie, a delegate from Louisiana asked for informa-

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

149

tion relative to fish commission boards, and gave notice of the calling
of a proposed meeting of the people of Louisiana interested in fishery
matters, and announced that later there would be a convention of
the gulf states for the purpose of securing uniform legislation and in-
ter-state co-operation.

Mr. W. E. Meehan, of Pennsylvania, referred to the valuable aid
rendered the Pennsylvania Fish Commission by fish protective asso-
ciations, and the financial assistance given the commission after the
Legislature had failed to make the usual appropriation.

Prof. Bumpus, of Brown University, read a paper of much interest
to commercial fishermen in which he alluded to the necessity of more
care in the matter of packing fish. This drew from Hon. Eugene
Blackford, of New York, the following:

MR. BLACKFORD'S REMARKS.

''The point emphasized by Professor Bumpus as to the proper hand-
ling of fish was a very important one, especially to the fishermen of
Florida. Some ten years ago when the first shipment of fresh fish
was made to New York from the State of Florida, they were thrown
into large casks, indiscriminately, and large chunks of ice, weighing
15 pounds each, were thrown upon top of the fish, then another layer of
fish was thrown upon the ice and again another layer of broken ice,
and the whole put under a canvas cover on the steamer. These
were Spanish mackerel. On the arrival of the steamer at New York,
the entire shipment had to be thrown away, as a large portion of the
fish were spoiled by decomposition, and the remainder were so badly
bruised as to be unfit for market purposes. This was a costly experi-
ence for the shipper; yet year by year experience has demonstrated to
the shippers of fish the importance of careful handling and packing,
so that mackerel, pompano, sheepshead, and other fish are now
sent from the most remote parts of Florida to the New York market
in perfect condition, and bring a fair and remunerative price to the
producer. As an example of the increased returns to the shippers
from careful handling. I call the attention of the convention to the
fact that certain shipments of shad, going to the New York market
from North Carolina, bring from 25 to 40 per cent, more than other
shad from the same locality. For example, a certain shipper from
the Albermarle Sound, North Carolina, pursues the following method:
His shad are carefully taken from the nets and placed in a cold room
until thoroughly chilled, then they are packed in boxes after the fol-
lowing manner: First a layer of fine ice, broken into lumps no larger
than chestnuts, is placed in the bottom of the box, then the shad are
placed in rows, lying on their backs, making a complete layer on the
ice, then a layer of fine ice is spread over the bellies of the shad, and on
this laver is another row of shad. All the shad are placed in a similar

150

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

way, then the top of the box is filled with fine ice and the cover nailed
securely on. These shad reach the New York market in a perfect con-
dition, and so well known has this shipper's mark or brand become
that the buyers are always on the lookout for this particular brand
and these shad are the first that are sold and bring the highest prices.
The opening of the box in New York shows the fish have not moved
from their position, the ice is still intact, and we find the fish to be in a
perfect condition, each scale undisturbed, and the whole presenting
the appearance of a glistening jewel just taken from a casket. As
I said before, these fish bring a very much greater price than any other
fish shipped from the same locality, but from the fact that, as a rule,
they have been packed in a careless and slovenly way, the packages
when opened in the New York market do not look inviting and, as a
result, are not sought for and can only be sold by reducing the price.
. *'What I wish to impress upon the shipper or fisherman is that for
every dollar invested in labor and ice in packing the fish he will receive
ten dollars in return."

PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL FISHERY ASSOCIATION.

At the close of the session of the National Fishery Congress, persons
interested in the formation of an international fishery association met.
Prof. Herman C. Bumpus, of Rhode Island, was made temporary chair-
man, and Dr. Hugh M. Smith, made temporary secretary. A letter
was read from Hon. John Sherman, Secretary of State of the United
States, in which was expressed his interest in the formation
of such an organization and the promise to bring the matter appro-
priately to the attention of foreign governments. Officers and an exe-
cutive board were chosen and Mr. W. E. Meehan was elected to repre-
sent Pennsvlvania in the Board.

The papers prepared by Pennsylvanians and the one by Mr. Carle-
ton before referred to follow.

Respectfully submitted,

W. E. MEEHAN,
D. P. CORWIN.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

151

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN STATE FISH COMMISSIONS AND

COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN.

By W. E. Meehan.

It must be obvious to every person engaged or interested in the work
of fish culture that the relations between the mass of the commercial
fishermen and the State Fish Commissions are not as cordial as they
should be. In fact, to put it plainly, in many places these relations
are strained to such a point as to practically amount to open antagon-
ism on the part of the former against the latter. It is also undeniable
that there is a large class of citizens— some of whom can not be re-
garded in many respects as unprogressive— openly opposed or indiffer-
ent to the work of the fish commissions, and some even go the length
of actively opposing the enactment and enforcement of stringent laws
for the protection of fish. This antagonism is so potent as often to
exercise a sinister influence on legislation.

In many states it is difficult and often impossible to secure the pas-
sage of efficient fish protective laws, while measures to legalize the
employment of the most destructive devices for taking fish find numer-
ous supporters and comparatively easy passage. Few states grant lib-
eral appropriations for fish cultural work, and I know of none that
grant as much as could be profitably expended. In Pennsylvania the
last Legislature adjourned without making any appropriation at all;
and in Michigan, where fish cultural work is carried on with excep-
tional etfectiveness, if 1 have been correctly informed, the last Leg-
islature cut the usual appropriation in half. These are not encourag-
ing signs for the future of fish culture work, and it behooves those
interested to find out the cause of the trouble and remedy it if they

can.

It has been less than thirty years since the establishment of fish
commissions, but in that time they have returned to the people many
hundredfold the moneys which they have expended. They have in
countless instances prevented the extinction of valuable food fishes
and have successfully introduced others equally valuable; they have
in many cases largely increased the supply and made fishing waters
profitable that were for years before financially unprofitable. But
these things seem to weigh very little with the mass of the commercial
fishermen and those who demand the right to catch fish when, and
where they please.

152

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

By the united action of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
all destructive devices were torn from the Delaware river at an ex-
pense of some 15,000, and through heavy stocking on the part of the
United States and the Pennsylvania Fish Commissions, the shad in-
dustry of that stream was brought from a value of between f 60,000
and 180,000 to nearly |500,000 at the nets every year — a consumers'
value of more than $1,500,000. This magnificent result is well known
throughout Pennsylvania; yet it did not prevent the commercial and
semi-commercial fishermen in other parts of the State from introduc-
ing and carrying through both branches of the Legislature a section
of an act which permitted the use of fish baskets, and which act was
only prevented from becoming a law through Governor Hastings in-
terposing a veto. The situation in Pennsylvania is practically the
situation in most of the states where the fresh-water fisheries are
or should be large.

The path of fish commissions is not strewn with roses. On the con-
trary, it is beset with difficulties calculated to discourage the most
ardent. An investigation of the causes which produce the strained
relations between the commissions and the fishing interests reveals
so many that to remove them all seems almost a hopeless task; nor
is the apparent hopelessness of the task materially lessened by the
conviction that many of the complaints against the methods of the
commissions are trivial, and that in other cases the complainants are
utterly in the wrong. I believe there would be a better prospect for
an earlier settlement of the troubles were it not for the undoubted
fact that the relations between the sportsman angler, and the com-
mercial fisherman are anything but harmonious. Each seems to re-
gard his interests as paramount to those of the others. Little con-
sideration is shown by each for the other. One charges the other with
trying to ruin his business or pastime. In the controversy the com-
missions suffer; and as long as the bickering continues, the work of
fish culture must be hampered. This lack of harmony is greatly to
be deplored, because both the commercial and sporting fishermen con-
fer huge benefits on the states. The financial returns of the commer-
cial fishermen are more readily reckoned than those of the sportsmen,
because more direct; but should those of the latter be fairly gathered
and tabulated, the total would be startling. There are many coun-
ties in a number of the States where trout, bass, or other game fishing
is considered good, in which the people, outside the towns and large
villages thereof ow^e the chief means of their livelihood to the visitint^
sportsmen.

Putting aside the question as to which brings in the greatest finan-
cial returns in the course of the year, it may be stated with positive-
ness that both interests are essential to the good of the State. It is
the duty of fish commissions to guard and further both, and I believe

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

153

that as a rule they perform it to the best of their ability; unfortunately
however, in the performance of this duty to its fullest extent, as they
see it, they are often apt to give apparent cause for grievance on the
part of commercial fishermen that the sporting interests are guarded
at the expense of theirs. For example, in Pennsylvania the commer-
cial fishermen complain that they are practically debarred from the un-
restricted catching of certain of the commoner food fishes, like the eel
and sucker, through the severity of the laws formulated at the in-
stance of and enforced by the fish commission. In effect the laws in
question forbid, under heavy penalty, the use of any device whatever
for the catching of fish, other than rod, hook, and line, in any of the
waters of the State except Lake Erie and the Susquehanna and Dela-
ware rivers. In Lake Erie pound and other nets may be used under
certain restrictions; and in the two streams named, seine and gill
nets of a prescribed mesh may be used during certain months, provided
the latter be not fastened in any manner; in other words, they must
float with the tide or current. By this it will be seen that fyke, dip,
cast and, in fact, all other forms of nets, including fish baskets, are

prohibited.

There is not the slightest doubt that a strict enforcement of this law,
or the faithful compliance with it on the part of the fishermen, to-
gether with the heavy and persistent artificial hatching and planting
of fish, would result beneficially to the fishing interests, both sporting
and commercial. The results in the Delaware river prove this beyond
the possibility of dispute. This being the case, other things being
equal, there is no question of the propriety of forbidding the use of any
device which will in any manner tend to depopulate the streams. Fish
like the shad, herring, and striped bass are of far greater consequence
than eels and suckers. Unfortunately, *^other things" are not equal.
The element that exclaims against the severity of the laws and de-
mands the right to employ devices to catch eels, suckers, and com-
moner food fishes, is strong enough in Pennsylvania and in other
states to check the efficie^ncy of the fish commissions and in some in-
stances to shape vicious legislation.

After some years' thought on the subject and as a result of inves-
tigating the demands of the commercial fishing interests and of per-
sonal struggles to secure the passage through the Pennsylvania Leg-
islatures of efficient fish protective laws or the defeat of bad ones, I
have about come to the conclusion that true fish protective work, as
advocated and attempted to be carried on by fish commissions, is in
advance of the times. If I am correct in this assumption, it then be-
comes not out of place to consider whether or not it is expedient to
yield something to the present demands of the commercial fishermen,
even though by so doing their interests are not truly served, and wait
for time and education to bring about a better state of affairs. I am

11

154

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

inclined to believe that the commissions can accomplish more in the
long run if they adopt this course. The pulliug of the commercial
fishermen one way and the fish commissions another is not calculated
to advance the cause of fish culture.

I think Professor Baird advanced the idea that it is better to so in-
crease the supply of fishes by artificial propagation that protective
laws should not be necessary; that it is cheaper to make fish so abund-
ant that the fisheries need not be restricted than to spend large sums
of money in preventing people from fishing. Theoretically, this is an
ideal proposition, but, unfortunately, under existing conditions it
does not and can not work. If State legislatures would appropriate
money enough to carry on the work of artificial fish propagation to
an extent eight or tc^n times what is now done the experiment might be
worth trying, but anyone who has attempted to get a moderate appro-
priation through the legislature knows how hopeless such an effort is.
The tendency of those who control legislatures is rather to interject
politics into the commission than to assist them to advance the cause
of fish culture. Tender the circumstances it is necessary to have fish
protective law^s; but to what extent in order to produce the best pres-
ent results for fish culture?

It may be considered heresy to surrender any part of a principle for
the sake of expediency, but when fighting for a great object it seems
to me that the greatest advances are made by adopting a give-and-take
policy, to gain and retain the regard and respect of the other side, and
to take what can be got from time to time with a feeling that it is a
step toward the final objective point. As matters now' are, I can not
see that the fish commissions have advanced much, if any, in popular
estimation in the last four or five years. On the contrary, it appears,
in some states at least, that they have had as much as they could do to
hold their own. In Pennsylvania, as I have already noted, the Legis-
lature adjourned without making any appropriation for fish cultural
work during the next two years; and out of the popular subscriptions,
amounting to some 115,000, which have been made to supply this neg-
lect or oversight, only |1,000 came from the commercial fishery in-
terests, and that from Lake Erie. In Michigan the annual appropria-
tion was cut down onc^-half, and in West Virginia the office of fish
commissioner was abolished entirely. Under such conditions it seems
not only the*part of wisdom but of necessity to make some concessions.

I believe the time will come when commercial fishermen generally
will recognize the injury to their interests by the use of overdestruc-
tive devices, whether they be fish baskets, pound nets, salmon wheels,
or their allies, and that the fish commissions are w^orking for and not
against them; but such conditions do not exist now, and it is the pres-
ent aspect which must be faced.

I believe that certain devices prohibited by law in many states, such

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

155

as set or out lines, fyke nets, dip nets, and even set nets, while they
ought not to be used, would not, under certain restrictions, materially
injure the work of fish culture. I believe that fish baskets are the
most destructive device in existence for taking fish, with the possible
exception of explosives. Under no circumstances should they be per-
mitted in streams into which shad come to spawn, and nowhere else
ought they to be allowed without being guarded by severe restrictions
or without a license being first paid therefor.

But, above all things, it is important that the commissions and the
commercial fishermen come to a better understanding; that they work
more in harmony for the advancement of fish culture. It is also es-
sential that the sporting element and the commercial fishermen cease
their jealousies and suspicions of one another and, each recognizing
that the other forms an important link in the State's welfare, join
hands in hearty support of State fish commissions and their work.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF ANGLING TO A STATE.

By Hon. L. T. Carlton, Chunnan Malm Fish and Game Com-

iriixsion.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Fishery Congress:

I did not expect to take any active part in these proceedings. The
printed programme as distributed does not call for any paper or speech
from any of the Maine delegates, and sir, I am taken very much by
surprise to be called upon this morning to make an address upon any
subject connected with the deliberations of this Congress.

I have been more than content to be a silent listener to the exceed-
ingly interesting papers that have been read and the timely and lively
discussions thereon.

I count myself indeed fortunate that I was privileged yesterday to
listen to the stirring address of welcome of his honor, the mayor of this
metropolitan city of South Florida, and that I was permitted to sit
here as a delegate and hear the wonderfully eloquent speech of His
Excellency, Governor Bloxham, the chief magistrate of this great and
powerful and prosperous commonwealth. To a person coming as I do
from the frozen north to this sunny south land, the voices of these

156

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

eloquent aud distinguished citizens was sweet music to my ears, more
charming, I assuie you, than ''the voices of many waters." And, sir,
1 feel that I but voice the sentiments, the feelings, of every delegate
from the north, from the west, and other countries as well, when I de-
clare that we are charmed with the cordiality of the people of this
state, greatly pleased with your city and state, and are enjoying our-
selves to the fullest extent.

Coming as I do to Florida for the second time only — my first visit
was in 18G1-2 — the patriotic words of Governor Bloxham, when point
ing to the Star Spangled Banner, the emblem of our national unity aud
liberty, he declared "that for all time we are one and indivisible, and
that we have one flag and one country and one destiny,'' thrilled me
through and through.

We are indeed, sir, gathered here from every state in the American
Union with unity of purpose, unity of interest to do as best we may to
advance the great and important fish and game interests of the nation,
as citizens of the best country on God's green earth, under the best
government ever yet devised by mortal man.

Mains sends greeting to the earnest, patriotic and brave people of
the south, and rejoices in your marvelous prosperity, the evidences of
which are seen on every hand.

But I am reminded, Mr. President, that I am expected to say some-
thing about the fish and game of the old Pine Tree State, the State of
Maine.

You will pardon me, sir, when I declare to you that Maine in this re-
spect, as in many others, leads the world. In her limitless forests
roam countless numbers of the monarch of the forest, gigantic moose,
the bounding caribou and the graceful, beautiful Virginia deer.

In her more than 2,000 inland seas and lakes are found in greater
abundance than elsewhen*, the square-tailed trout and the landlocked
salmon.

The great dailies and sporting papers of the American continent are
in the habit of referring to Maine as the "Paradise of the Sportsman,"
and this is a very appropriate title, as nowhere is there such sport to
be had for either rod or rifle. We have an area of about thirty thou-
sand square miles in extent, and from the nature of the soil and climate
affording food aud cover for numberless herds of deer, caribou and
moose, not to speak of the countless flocks of birds, both indigenous
and migratory, including the ruffed grouse, woodcock, snipe, wild
geese, black duck and w^ood duck, and an endless variety of sea birds,
and the whole world is fast learning of our advantages in this respect.

In her majestic rivers, those great highways from the mountains to
the sea, is found, in ever increasing numbers, the best fish that swims
the ocean blue, the Atlantic salmon. Wise, well considered laws we
have and an enlightened public sentiment.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

157

No. 18.

Ten thousand citizens of other states during the open season last
year now just closed, came to Maine to fish and hunt, employed our
1 300 registered guides, skilled guides, and spent four millions of dol-
lars in shining gold among our people and killed 10,000 deer, 250
moose 230 caribou and 160 bears, while six millions more dollars were
spent there by non-residents last year, by visitors to our seashore and
inland summer resorts, making ten millions of dollars expended in
Maine last year by non-residents for pleasure.

Do you wonder that the people of Maine are marvelously interested
in fish and fisheries? We follow the example of the great Apostle
Peter we go a fishing and invite everybody to come and do likewise.
We' have a health-giving, invigorating climate, wondrously charm-
in- and enchanting scenery. There's not to be found a poisonous rep-
tile nor ravenous beast, nor poisonous insect in all her borders, and in
her'mountain streams, numerous as the sands of the seashore, are the
protected nurseries of our lakes, wherein are millions of speckled
beauties, the brook trout, and these feeders are so numerous, so well
protected and re-stocked by artificial propagation as to give assur-
ance that fishing in Maine will be belter and still better, as the years
«To and come in an unbroken, endless procession.

" Something has been said here about the constitutional right of a
state to enact restrictive or protective laws, regulating the times in
which and the circumstances under which inland fish and game may
be taken. That question has fortunately been settled for all time in
the United States. The United States Supreme Court in a late deci-
sion, has declared, that the people of a State in their sovereign capa-
city owns the fish and the game within its borders, and may say
throuoh its legislature how, when and where it may be taken, and
what may be done with it after it has been taken; in other words the
legislature may give a qualified property right or ownership to fish

and game lawfully taken.
We have found by experience that protective laws are necessary and

that these laws must be enforced.

Whv do you know that down in Maine if a person is shot by another
while hunting it is called an accident, but if a person shoots a moose
or a caribou unlawfully we imprison him four months in prison "with-
out the benefit of clergy." .. . 1, .t . ♦

As true diciples of Izaak Walton we propngnte artificially the trout
and the salmon, and aided most greatly by the United States Fish
Commission we are constantly making the fishing better, and the mul-
titude is constantlv growing larger who come among ns, and let me
say though I am no prophet, or the son of a prophet, but only a Down
East Yankee, that in these times of wages growing less and still less,
and the armv of the unemployed constantly being augmented, that the
Concrress of 'the United States can display wise statesmanship by giv-

168

REPORT OP THE

Off. Doc.

ing earnest attention to the improvement of fishing, better fishing to
those who go down into the sea in ships, better opportunity to secure
this good, wholesome food, greater opportunity to willing hands to
engage in this great industry.

Dollar wheat may be a blessing to the farmers of the west, but it
means dearer bread to the toiling millions, but better than dollar
wheat would be a greater abundance of fish and game and enlarged
opportunities to our leading people to engage in this great important
and growing industry.

[Mr. Carleton's address was very attentively listened to by the large
audience, and was evidently received with great favor, judging by the
hearty applause which he received, and he was warmly congratulated
by the delegates. — Florida Paper.

We may add that Mr. Carleton has received an earnest request
from the Secretary of the Congress for a copy of his remarks to be pub-
lished in the proceedings of the Congress accompanied by the state-
ment that there are numerous calls for it from delegates and others
from all over the country. — Delegates.]

SOME FACTORS IN THE OYSTER PROBLEM.

Br H. F. MooBE, Asskhmt^ U, S, Fish Commlsslou,

The oyster beds of the United States annually produce a product
valued at |17,000,000, approximately one-third of the entire yearly
yield of our fisheries. Geographically this inconje is very unequally
distributed, the eight maritime states between Cape Cod and Cape
Henry receiving 90 per cent., and the same number of states south of
Cape Henry, notwithstanding their greatest coastline, but 7 per cent.

While there are good economic reasons why the oyster yield from
Virginia northward should be greater than from North Carolina
southward, it may well be doubted if there be sufficient reason for
the great discrepancy that now exists in the production of the two
regions. The northern beds are, generally speaking, in the midst of
our densest population and in the vicinity of our greatest cities. About
sixty per cent, of our population dwells in the compact area lying
north of North Carolina and Tennessee and east of the Mississippi
river, such populous cities as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington are within a few hours travel of the beds, and
the great cities on the lakes and in the interior of the middle west

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

159

No. 18.

are scarcely a dav's journey removed. It is in such places rather than
in more sparsel/settled regions that oysters are more ^^^^^'^^i;''^^
sumed as person for person the consumption is greater among the
ur'an than among the rural population. In rural districts the oyster
i^looked upon as a luxury rarely to be enjoyed, but in the cities and
In the towns of the east they are a familiar article of diet even among

'""so far then as the nearby demand is concerned the northern oyster-
men are incomparably more favored than the southern brethren, bu
certain advantages which the south possesses should to some extent
offset this and enable the southern growers to obtam more equitable
distribution of the business and its accruing profits. It has been to
s"me extent demonstrated that the distance of the southern beds
from the northern market is not an insuperable bar to profitable com-
pe7mon, but granting that the oysters from the Gulf Coast -n^^^^^^
compete in the markets of the Atlantic sea-board north of the Chesa
peake there still remains a large field which may be entered upon with

'"Dealiifg with air-line distances, Baltimore is nearly 400 miles nearer
Chicacro than is Mobile, the nearest important city on the Gulf Coast
but westward of the Mississippi the Gulf States can ron.pete on equa
or superior terms, so far as distance is concerned, with any of the great
ovster markets of the east. ^ a ^.u\^

'Geographically, therefore, they are more favorably s.tuated w.th
re-ardto 80 per cent, of our territory and 40 per cent of our popula-
ti;„ than are the states of the North Atlantic Coast. As many of you
are aware, oysters have for some years been shipped from guU ports to
Chicago and other trans-Appalachian cities, and deale.. m several
Dlaces are earrving on trade with the entire region west of the M.s- ,
£ppi even as'fa.^as the shores of the Pacific and there appears to be
no Sufficient economic reason why this trade should not be vastly

increased

After speaking of the arrest in the development of the panning m-
dustry at Apalachicola. Lieut. Swift, in his excellent report upon that
re-ion comments as follows: ^'That the canning business cannot be
carried on to anv great extent for any length of time .s due to the fact
hat the supplv' of oysters is insufficient to supply the demand not^
wUhstanding that the packers have used every means they could to
r ese ;« the ovster beds by refusing to take oysters under proper
s'zTor out Of 'season, or not properly culled, as well as alternafng
the use of different beds each season." This is perhaps an extreme
ease vet sooner or later, corresponding with the wisdom w.th which
the ouster question Is administered, there must result a similar depre-
ciation of the natural beds along the entire coast. I can see no hope
^f the continued productiveness of our natural beds if they are made
to bear the brunt of the yearly increasing demand.

i(iO

REPORT OF THE

OfC. fioc.

How to forestall the destruction of the natural oyster reefs and how
in a measure to prevent it by lessening the demands made upon them,
are the questions with which this paper sets out to deal. Those who
have studied the problem are a unit in the belief that the solution lies
in the general adoption of oyster culture under private ownership and
as a result of private enterprise. Government can do but little; wise
laws rigidly and judiciously enforced can stimulate private ventures
and retard reckless waste of the public possessions, but our oyster
beds can never be repopulated by the methods which have in many
cases proven so beneficial in restocking our streams with food and
game fish. It is not my purpose to deal here with the methods and de-
tails of oyster culture, as these subjects have been recently treated of
in the publications of the United States Fish Commission, but rather,
in a general way, to point out the conditions which make for success
and to consider in an equally general manner the extent to which
those conditions are fulfilled on the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas.

The Gulf States present many physical and biological characters
which render them especially favorable to oyster culture, and they also
present some serious drawbacks. In determining the qualifications of
any given region, six important factors have to be considered: (1)
density of water, (2) temperature of the water, (3) character and con-
sistency of the bottom, (4) the quantity of oyster food, (5) the presence
or absence of enemies, and (6) the character of the legislation and the
success with which it is enforced. Each of these factors with its
cognates will be considered in turn.

Demify of ]VaUr:~li a chart of the oyster grounds of the Atlantic
and Gulf sea-boards were prepared it would show that the oyster is
confined almost exclusively to bays, sounds, and estuaries, and that it
is never found in places remote from inflowing streams. On the
other hand, it is sooner or later killed when exposed to the fresh water,
or that which is nearly fresh, and it is therefore only where the fresh
and salt waters blend that it is able to establish itself and thrive.

It is customary to measure the salinity of sea water by weight, an
equivalent bulk of distilled water being accepted as the unit of com-
parison. So expressed the best conditions of salinity for our eastern
oysters are met when the density measures between 1.009 and 1.020.
Oysters will live indefinitely in a density 4 degrees below or 2 degrees
above the limit stated, but they then rarely or never attain their
best conditions of shape, flavor and general excellence. Prolonged
exposure to a density of less than 1.005 or more than 1.022 if not fatal
to the individuals is at least fatal to the species, as young are not pro-
duced to take the place of the old ones which are dying off.

■ In many places where the salinity is favorable during a large part
of the year it happens that at certain seasons a heavy influx of fresh
water produces a temporary reduction below the desired minimum.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

161

This appears to be particularly liable to occur on the Gulf Coast where
many great streams and innumerable small ones become swollen by
the rahis and discharge large quantities of fresh water close to the

oyster beds.

Two facts, however, tend to mitigate the evil which might result;
in the first place the oyster is able to tightly close its shell when sub-
jected to objectionable conditions and thereby the fresh water may
be for a time excluded, and Professor Washburn has recently shown
that they will live for upward of ten days in the water of running
brooks. ' Then, too, the fresh water being lighter than the salt or
brackish, tends to spread over the surface of the bays into which it is
discharged and it is usually found that the bottom density is greater
than the surface even after long continued freshets. The changes
are therefore more gradual and less radical than if the salt water
were driven out before the fresh and the oyster finds conditions more
favorable at the bottom, than it would be subjected to if it were a sur-
face dwelling organism. In selecting planting grounds, the question
of liability to the influence of freshets should always be given con-
sideration as disaster may result from its neglect.

Temperafnre of fh^ Water .-—Adult oysters are not ordinarily ad-
versely affected by temperatures ranging between the freezing point
and 00 degrees F. Those upon flats exposed at low water are often
frozen during the winter and subjected to the high temperatures of the
direct rays of the summer sun, and yet many of them live to a ripe old
age measured by the span of an oyster's life.

It is during the spawning season, however, that the question be-
comes critical, a temperature too low or too high, or changes too sud-
den and too violent will either kill the spat or prevent spawning alto-
gether. In the Long Island and Chesapeake regions cold rains and
periods of low thermometer are not infrequent in summer and multi-
tudes of oysters in their swimming stage end their career in sudden
adversity.' On the Gulf Coast such fatalities are of less frequent oc-
currence and the probabilities of obtaining a set, other things being
equal, is correspondingly enhanced.

Character of fh^^ Boftmn .'—"To be suitable for oyster culture the bot-
tom should be of such consistency as will prevent the oysters becom-
ing engulfed in the mud or covered by shifting sands or ooze. The
several surveys that have been made of the Gulf Coast by the Fish
Commission indicate that suitable bottom, unoccupied by a natural
growth of oysters, may be found with but little effort. These sec-
tions of our coast, however, appear to be rather more liable than the
northern oyster grounds to shiftings of the bottom by stormy seas and
the prospective oyster should not be misled by deceptive appearances
as a loose sand in shallow water exposed to heavy or even moderate
wave action may in a short time change its location in a manner dis-

11-18-98

162

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

astrous to the planter. With large areas of suitable bottom open to
occupation it is not necessary to point out to the Gulf Coast oyster
grower the means by which his Connecticut brother has made avail-
able to his purposes many thousand acres of bottom by nature wholly
unadapted to the oyster.

Ahiindntuw of IukkI : — That the nature of the food supply is a con-
sideration of the utmost importance requires no demonstration, the
conditions which make an abundant food supply are complex, depend-
ing upon density, temperature, and especially the supply of inorganic
materials in solution in the water. The bulk of the oyster food con-
sists of diatoms, which, although endowed with powers of locomo-
tion are nevertheless plants, and acquire their nourishment from the
same class of substances as do the common plants about us. It is true
that they have no roots penetrating the soil in search of saline solu-
tions, and they spread no broad foliage in quest of atmospheric oxygen
and carbon dioxide, but the whole plant is bathed in the nutritive sea
water from which they receive their supply of liquid and gaseous food.
If the water be impoverished of salts the same adverse conditions ob-
tain as in barren and exhausted fields and the growth of plant life is in
the same manner diminished. Now how is the Gulf Coast situated as
regards this inorganic material, indirectly, but no less imperatively,
necessary to the growth of the oyster? Along the entire shore line
there are numerous streams of all sizes which bring down mineral
matter derived from the soil and nitrogeneous substances from the
decomposition of the rank vegetation of marshes, swamps, and fertile
fields. Some of these materials are in solution, and at once available
for conversion into oyster food through the medium of the microscopic
plants already mentioned, but a large quantity is held merely in sus-
pension, to be deposited on contact with salt water and slowly passed
into solution through the lapse of time. With the abundance of food
thus furnished, and nurtured by the warmth of semitropical waters,
it is not surprising that microscopic plant life should flourish. The
rate of growth of the oyster depends upon the rate of which it is sup-
plied with food; when w^ell fed its growth is rapid, when poorly fed its
increase is slow. In one locality an oyster may reach a growth of six
inches in two years, and in another place the same size is not attained
under four or five years. On some of the more profitable beds in
Long Island Ronnd the latter is the case, while last summer in
Planuemines Parish, Louisiana. I saw oysters six inches long
which from known data could not have been over 23
months old and may have been slightly less, and there are doubtless
many places on the Gulf Coast where the growth is equally rapid.
This rapidity of maturation is an important matter to the oyster cul-
turist. He is able to receive quicker and greater returns for a given
area and a given investment of capital, and his beds are less liable to

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

163

disaster, and recuperate more rapidly than if the growth be slow.
Large oysters are less readily covered by deposits of mud and sand
than smaller ones, and are more rarely destroyed by enemies, the lat-
ter usually proving more destructive before the shells have become
thick and the adductor muscle strong. The drill is comparatively
harmless to an oyster after it reaches a length of three inches, and the
star fish opens, and the drum fish crushes large oysters with much
less facility than small ones. It follows that the mortality on a bed
of well grown oysters is less than when they are small, and the more
rapid the growth the less the death rate from extrinsic agencies. The
value which an oyster possesses in the market is dependent largely
upon its fatness and flavor and both of these are principally and
primarily dependent upon its food. Oysters may reach a large size
yet not become fit for the market, and in certain parts of the Atlantic
Coast the difficulty has been keenly felt by those engaged in oyster
culture. The I-nited States Fish Commission is now experimenting
with a view to enable planters to fatten their oysters at will, but
definite results have not yet been reached. It may be stated in passing
that these experiments have nothing in common with the pernicious
process of plumping through the osmotic influences of fresh or brack-
ish water.

Euernn><:—'l\iQ Gulf Coast is fortunate in its comparative immunity
from enemies. Two of the most destructive inhabitants of the oyster
beds in the north, the starfish and the drill, are practically harmless
in the south, and to those who are familiar with the vast amount of
money and energy annually expended in protecting the beds of Long
Island known that this fact is significantly pregnant. In six years
the vessels of one deep water planter caught nearly 10,000 bushels of
starfish, and another in a single year is said to have expended $90,000
in protecti«g his beds from the same pest.

There are, however, certain enemies on the Gulf Coast which do
more or less harm. The drum fish is apparently more destructive in
the north, and the sheepshead is said to also do considerable harm.
Should either of these fish prove troublesome it would be quite feas-
ible, as has been demonstrated on the Pacific Coast, to protect many of
the planted beds by stockades or fences. The economic practicability
of the plan, however, would be conditioned by the price of oysters and
the location of the beds which it is sought to protect. The conch and
a somewhat allied gasteropod, the crown shell, known to naturalusts
as 'minnqr,H> rnrnnu are said to cause more or less harm to oysters in
the Gulf. Mr. Joseph Wilcox of Philadelphia says in regard to the
latter, that thev are able to insert their long tongues or proboscides
between the valves of the oyster and then leisurely destroy it. He
further savs that upon one occasion he picked up on the west coast of
Florida a cluster of ovsters with 20" J/e^ ^na^ attached. Owing
to the comparativelv large size of these forms it is probable that by

164

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

exercisiug care lu destroy the animals and their egg capsules when-
ever found much could be done towards securing some immunity
from their inroads.

Summing up, we find that the Gulf Coast possesses both advanta-
geous and disadvantageous features from the oyster grower's point of
view. The advantageous are principally biological, the disadvanta-
geous, economical. The physical conditions are mainly favorable, but
occasionallv disastrous.

The temperature and density are both suitable over a large part of
the region, enemies are comparatively few, food is abundant and the
growth and recuperation of the beds rapid; labor is cheap and the
weather is less likely to interfere with operations than in the north
where the oystermen are often compelled to work in intense cold
and on boisterous seas. The disadvantageous have principally to do
with the freshets and crevasses which at certain seasons are liable
to lower the density and deposit sediment upon the oysters in the oc-
casional severe storms and tidal waves which tear up and destroy the
beds, and finally, in the distance from the centers of population and
the principal markets of the country.

LegJftlaflon rnul ttx Enfo re foment .*— Tn most of the maritime states
the statute books are burdened with lengthy oyster laws and a large
part of the time and energy of the legislative bodies are occupied in the
discussion of these laws and their enforcement. In all of these laws
and in most of the discussions the close season is an important factor
by which it is fondly hoped that the natural beds may be preserved
from destruction. It is invariably designed to prevent the capture
of the oyster during the breeding season on the hypothesis that when
taken at that time there results not only the destruction of the adult,
but also of the progeny which that adult is capable of producing and
it never occurs to the advocates of this form of legislation that the
same objection applies to the capture of an oyster at any other time.
If the oyster were more easily captured during the spawning season
as are certain species of fishes, or if it were a timid creature fleeing
from alarm and easily driven away, or if it cared for its young after
the manner of the higher animals there would be perhaps some war-
rant for the present belief in the all sufficiency of the close season
as a protective measure. But the oyster does none of these things;
it stays where it first lodges and there passively awaits such fate as
may be in store for it, doing nothing of its own volition either to defer
or expedite its capture. Bearing these facts in mind, let us examine
the elTect of the close season upon two hypothetical beds, one of
which is closed during the period when the oyster is spawning, the
other when it is not; we will suppose for the sake of definiteness that
each of these beds contain 10,000 bushels of oysters, that spawning
takes place only during the six months between the 1st of April and
the 1st of October; that the oystermen have the skill, industry and pur-

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

165

pose to remove every oyster during a working period of six montns
and finally that the dead shells are culled out and returned to the beds.
Let us first consider the case of the bed which is closed in the usual
manner during the spawning season. The oystermen will begin on
the 1st of October and labor unceasingly until the 1st of April, when
ex-hypothesi there will not be a single oyster left to spawn and the
reproductive capacity of the beds will be zero. Compare with this
the bed which is closed during the six months when the oyster is not
spawning. At the beginning of reproductive activity the bed is in-
tact, it contains 10,000 bushels of oysters, each, we will say, capable
of producing its kind. At the end of the six months, as in the former
case, not an adult oyster is left, but the condition of the two beds is
not otherwise comparable. In the first place not an oyster has
spawned, in the second case, supposing the daily catch to be approxi-
mately constant, one-half of the spawn has been given opportunity
for discharge and a considerable portion of the spat should have at-
tached itself to the culled shells and other material returned to the bed.
In the one case, if the bed be isolated, absolute extermination has been
accomplished, in the other case the bed still contains the elements of
recuperation. In practice, of course, the extreme conditions men-
tioned never obtain, but the principle is the same whether the oysters
be taken in whole or in part.

In practice also, where some oysters always remain on the beds even
after the most thorough working economically possible, the close sea-
son has a utility not yet touched upon. In its early attached stages
the oyster is not the hardy, heavily armored animal that we see in the
market. Its shell is thin and fragile as an egg shell and closely ad-
herent to the foreign body which furnishes its place of attachment.
Tongs and especially dredges, however carefully handled, must crush
them by multitudes, and the impact of the oysters against one another
as they are thrown into the boat costs the lives of many more. A large
proportion of the young spat is often attached to marketable oysters,
and however welUntentioned the oysterman may be in his efforts to
comply with the culling law, it is quite impossible to detach the spat
without killing it. AYhen the close season ends immediately upon the
cessation of spawning, a very large proportion of even the earliest set
is subject to the perils pointed out. If the young oysters could be
protected until such times as the shells become strong enough to with-
stand the mechanical effect of capture and culling, a distinct advance
would be made in the administration of our natural reefs. The pro-
longation of the close season for a period of six weeks or two months
would, in a region of rapid growth, permit the shells to attain a
strength sufficient to prevent crushing and a size that would allow
them^'to be culled from the marketable stock. Economic objections
mav be well offered to this proposition, for in many cases it would cut
off the fisheries at a time when the financial inducements are large. It

166

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

is a matter, however, worthy of consideration by those engaged in
framing oyster laws, and I believe that in some localities a close sea-
son beginning, say two months after the commencement of spawning
and extending two months beyond its cessation, will have a better re-
sult than an equal period adjusted to the spawning season only.

Another plan would close the beds, each in rotation, for a term of
years sufficient to allow them to recuperate from the elfects of the
fisheries. Doubtless this would be the most efficient type of close
season, but it presents alternative difficulties in administration. If
the areas closed be large, those deriving their livng therefrom must
either travel long distances to prosecute their calling or temporarily
abandon it; if, on the contrary, the areas be small and correspondingly
numerous the regulations would require a large oyster police for their
enforcement. Another plan, on our extensive oyster grounds still
more impracticable than the preceding, is to limit absolutely the num-
ber of oysters to be taken from the beds. This has been the only regu-
lation able to protect the oysters in certain parts of France and Ger-
many but it involves elaborate governmental machinery, officers for
administration, guards for protection, and scientific men for determ-
ining the condition of the beds and estimating the number of oysters
which may safely be removed. Such elaborate measures are possible
where the beds are few in number and limited in extent, but are en-
tirely inapplicable to the conditions prevailing in our waters.

Another almost universal feature of oyster regulation and in my
opinion, a more important one than the close season, is the require-
ment of culling upon the beds from which the oysters are taken.
Most states have in this respect good laws, but unfortunately they
are often neither enforced nor voluntarily observed. It is not diffi-
cult to prevent young oysters from being put upon the market and
there is but little tempatation to so dispose of them if the limit be fixed
as is common, at 2^ inches, but as seed such oysters may be sold with-
out the limits of their native region and to its great detriment. Then
also, w hen the beds are distant from the places of sale, there is always
a strong temptation for the oysterman to save lime by culling them
on the way to market; in some cases this may produce no harm and
may even result in the establishment of new beds, but in general the
practice is to be deprecated from the probability that the young
oysters thus culled would fall upon soft or shifting bottoms or be
otherwise placed under adverse conditions.

It is a self evident fact that if the young oysters and the objects to
which they may become attached are systematically and pei^istently
removed there must follow a scarcity of adults, and in time economic
if not biological extinction of the beds involved. In due course such
beds may, and often do, become restored and regenerated, but the
process is usually slow as compared with the demands of our markets.
I regard it as a misfortune in some respects that the vast spawning

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

167

No. 18.

capacity of the oyster is so generally understood. The knowledge
that the female emits annually millions of eggs has begotten an im-
pression that the beds need no protection and that when they fail it is
due to star fish or drills or mud or anyone of a dozen other factors
rather than to improvident management. A man with that bias
learns that a large oyster will yield thirty million ^gg^^^^"<^^ ^^ ™^
diatelv gets out his pencil and proves that that means 20 OOU bairels
of ov^ters a year, and that with 500 such females he could supply the
cou;itry with all the oysters required, ten million barrels per annum.
It must be remembered that but a medicum of these eggs reach ma-
turity, else our bays and estuaries would long ere this have been con-
verted into beds of limestone. Broadly speaking, nature provides for
the perpetuation of her species either by means of a few eggs wel
protected, or many eggs, left as it were to chance. To the bio ogis
the simple fact that the oyster is so prodigiouslrprolific is amp e indi-
cation that its existence from the egg is a precarious one. Its life
is a constant passive struggle with physical conditions, its enemies
and its brethren, and fortunate indeed is the oyster region where of
every million eggs produced one reaches marketable dimensions. An
important, in fact, an essential element in the oyster s salvation is the
presence of a solid body to which to affix itself when it is ready to
settle down at the conclusion of its free swimming condition. It is
then so exceedinglv minute that a film of mud not thicker than a sheet
of paper is sufficient to stifle it. It will attach itself to almost any-
thing fairlv free from sediment, but on the oyster beds «"<;l\o^J^^*^f ^^
almost exclusively living oysters or dead shells. A depleted bed de-
fers from a vigorous one in two particulars, in the scarcity and sea -
tered distribution of spawning individuals and, perhaps more disast-
rouslv, in the paucity of suitable places of attachment for the young^
From both causes the reproductive capacity of the bed is reduced but
were the culled and dead shells returned to the bed both conditions
would be ameliorated. Under any system, however, even with good
culling laws and close seasons it is hopeless to expect to supply the
demand for anv length of time wholly from the natural beds. The
onlv wav in which to prevent their ultimate depletion is to supply oar
mnrkets lar-elv from other sources; that is to say, we must resort ex-
ten.ivelv to'^ovster culture, and the character of legislation and the
succo.. with which it is enforced are determining factors in the suc-
cess or failure of the undertaking. Liberal measures must be adopted
and opportunities, if not inducements, must be offered, rrivate ownei--
.hip must be established, and more especially the rights of prnporty
in the planted beds must be viborously enforced. More than this the
State cannot well do. The methods of the fish culture are not now
and probablv never will be available in propagating the oyster. Fish
culture in manv of its phases is a legitimate and proper function of

168

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

government, as all members of the community, whether they be
catchers or consumers of fish, partake of its benefits. In most cases,
owing to the nomadic character of the species propagated, private
enterprise has no inducements for engaging in it except those of phil-
anthropy. Kot so with oyster planting as at present practiced, for
only he who sows, reaps. Dr. Ryder once said ''oysters are like pota-
toes, they stay where they are planted." All that the planter need
ask of government is to be placed on an equal footing with every other
citizen; to be permitted to acquire without prejudice to others prop-
erty adapted to his calling, and to be protected in his rights after ac-
quirement.

Under such understanding the first question to arise is how and
where he may obtain such property. In some cases he may go into
the markets and purchase lands conveying to him the ownership of
coves or salt ponds; but such cases are rare and oyster culture as so
confined would be unimportant indeed. Again, he might buy land
on tide water and excavate ponds, but oyster culture has not reached
a stage where such methods would in general prove profitable. The
only course left him, then, is to occupy tide lands which in most cases
are held by the state. To enable him to do this, legislation is neces-
sary and the law makers at once ask what shall be the character of
his tenure, and how is it to be acquired? Shall he be granted a lease-
hold for a term of years, or shall he be permitted to occupy it in per-
petuity, the state retaining only the right of taxation and its related
powers. Whichever policy be adopted no impediments should be un-
necessarily introduced in the way of a bona jide planter. The returns
from oyster culture are often large, though not exorbitant, but the
risks are many and disaster not infrequent. Those who undertake
the work and thus add to the State's resources should be treated with
every consideration to which their courage, enterprise, and industry
entitle them.

The tide lands in mosts cases are worthless and doubtless will ever
remain so for purposes other than oyster and sponge culture, and they
can be occupied without prejudice to any other business whatever.
The policy of the state should be to encourage their occupation, and
in this connection a lesson may be learned from the liberal policy
which has induced the rapid settlement of our vast agricultural estate.
The logic of our history would dictate the throwing of the tide lands
open for occupation, yet in how many states are the laws, and more es-
pecially public opinion, practically, if not intentionally prohibitive.
A policy far different from that in land above tides is supposed to be
justifiable in dealing with that portion of the State's domain lying be-
neath the sea. There is a reluctance to part with the tide lands, and
it is thought preferable to allow them to lie barren rather than to per-
mit individuals to acquire permanent possession. There can be no

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

169

doubt but that the best results are to be obtained when the oyster
grower holds his lands in fee simple. Under proper management the
bottom becomes more favorable the longer it is cultivated; it yearly
becomes firmer and freer from extraneous organisms and the miscel-
laneous rubbish which accumulates in shore waters, and the man who
improves it is the one who should reap the benefits. It i« to the ad-
vantage of the" State to interest a thrifty class of citizens in the sub-
ject, and such persons are the very ones who will hold aloof if they are
to be subjected to the frequent possibility, if not probability, of dis-
possession. The land should be granted under the freest possible
terms. If revenue be desired it should be derived from the subsequent
increase in taxable value rather than from sales or rentals. The
primary function of government is the welfare of its citizens, and con-
trary to the apparent standpoint of some legislators, taxation is but
an incident which the first consideration renders necessary. The first
cost of the oyster lands granted by the State should be little more than
enough to defray the expenses of survey and registry, and not such as
would debar those of small means from partaking of the benefits. In
Connecticut, the state lands are sold for one dollar per acre, and the
additional payment of ten cents per acre, the estimated cost of sur-
veying and recording, when the tract applied for is not, in the opinion
of the shell fish commissioners, of unreasonable extent. Under these
provisions over 71,000 acres, owned by almost three hundred persons,
and giving employment to thousands, were under culture in 1896, the
amount of material deposited thereon in planting and improving the
beds being over eight millions bushels. Other states are still more
liberal, permitting the occupation of oyster lands under provisions
practically similar to the United States homestead laws. But Connec-
ticut has so far been easily first in the development of oystering in
naturally unproductive waters. This is largely due to her advanta-
geous geographical position with regard to the markets, but it can
also be attributed in part to the natural industry and enterprise of her
citizens and to the enlightened public opinion which places planted
oysters on a par with other property and respects the right of the
planter to reap the fruits of his labors. Of enterprise and industry
Connecticut has no monopoly, but unfortunately there are many parts
of our sea-board where the oyster planter is regarded as the usurper
of the common rights to the fisheries, and his legal status cannot, or
rather, is not enforced in the face of adverse public opinion.

This is one of the greatest difficulties with which he has to contend.
Theft of property beneath the tide is palliated by some as an act of
retributory justice against a common pnemy and men will steal oysters
who would scorn to enter their neighbor's poultry house. This pe-
culiar moral obliquity is rooted in ignorance and must be combated
by education, supplemented by more than occasional salutary castiga-

12

170

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

tioiis from the strong arm of the law. Spare the law and spoil the
oysterman is perhaps truer than the trite saying which it paraphrases,
and those too ignorant to distinguish meum to teum may be taught
by some such experience as that which prevents a man from more
than once feeling the teeth of a buzz saw.

Sufumarhiftg.— Those who wish to perpetuate and extend our oyster
wealth should procure a rational culling law rigidly and intelligently
enforced; the close season should be at such time and of such
duration as will protect, not so much the spawning oysters, but the
delicate spat during the period when it is especially susceptible to
injury from the ordinary working of the beds; public opinion must
be formed to regard oyster planting in its true light as a benefit to the
whole community; liberal laws must foster and encourage the occu-
pation of the tide lands not natural oyster beds; the oyster planters
should have the same treatment as the cotton planter, sugar planter,
or the market gardener, like him with liberty to hold or dispose of
his property as he pleases, like him paying his just proportion of
the taxes and no more.

INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE DENIZENS OF THE

SEA AND WATERWAYS.

By Busiiiioi) W. James, A. M., M. D.

It is clear to the thoughtful mind that there is a yearly increasing
necessity for economy in several directions, none of which is more
decidedly marked than that concerning the denizens of the sea. That
a deplorable mistake has been made by men and corporations in hunt-
ing the whale, walrus, and seal, until the first two are almost extermin-
ated, while the like danger regarding the other is now agitating a great
part of two continents, is sufficient apology for the reiteration of the
theme selected for this paper.

Impelled with a keen desire for wealth, men will not pause to think
that there is a serious menace to human existence in the wholesale
destruction of any animal upon which it has relied for sustenance
and clothing, not to mention warmth and shelter. Nor can they rea-
lize, when vessels return from whaling voyages with cargoes insuffi-
cient to meet expenses, that the decreasing animal population of coast
and island on their routes is due to the same cause. The animals have

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

171

been hunted too greedily and have either been destroyed or driven
from their haunts, leaving men destitute who have always depended
upon their annual return for nearly every life necessity, No one can
accurately estimate the sufferings that have resulted in times past in
diminishing numbers of Indians and Esquimaux along these sea-
boards; and common justice questions, is it right to take for one man's
gain the food supply of inhabitants of American soil, bringing helpless
fellow creatures to starvation and death.

Careful studv will show that however valuable oil, whalebone, or
ivory may be to commerce, a judicious economy in their production
must be more advantageous to a steadily lucrative business than could
be a few years of surprising overproduction and an aftermath of no
returns for expensive expeditions. Such reports have come from the
whaling fleet sent out from San Francisco in the last two years at
least. It was due to want of success that the whalers are now ice-
bound and in danger of death in the great frozen Arctic Ocean. Pos-
sibly if whaling and walrus hunting (or, as it is called, ivory hunting)
are legally forbidden by the United States Government and Russia
and Canada for a time, the great mammals will return to their old
foraging and breeding grounds. If not, the dealers in suth articles
and the men heretofore engaged in the capture of the animals may
look upon their occupations as practically discontinued for all time.
In support of this we need only point to the western plains, over
which once roamed buffalos and antelopes by the million. So plen-
tiful were the herds that the sportsmen of the world came to aid us
in their extermination. Even if the plan for the protection and repro-
duction of the buffalo succeeds, which is doubtful, neither this genera-
tion nor the next will live to see its consummation. So with the sea
mammals of which we have spoken. If to-day legislation stepped
forth with its utmost power to protect, there will yet be years of un-
profitable voyaging in the northern seas before they once more become
plentiful. The belated arrangements relative to fur-seals in Bering
Sea must be carefully carried out to insure any great commercial ad-
vantage from them in the future. The seal, whale, and walrus pro-
duce but one at a birth, the exception never being met in the seal, and
if the others ever bear more there are but two, and these events happen
but once in a year. Therefore, provided that a million seals are
spared, and each cow is productive, the increase could be at the very
utmost but one to every ten animals, and this, allowing a great per-
centage of the million to be females, the number of which never pre-
dominates to so great an extent.

It is plain, therefore, that the larger animals upon which whole
populations have depended for food and other life necessities, i. e., the
three most valuable denizens of the sea, must at once receive adequate
protection or they will be destroyed beyond remedy in a very short

ilk

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doe.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

173

Lime. Co-operative international agreements are necessary whereby
the creatures will be sale from molestation, not only on tiieir breed-
iug-grouuas but wiierever tliey gather. We maintain that they be-
long to the countries upon whose territory they congregate for the
purpose of carrying out nature's great design, and that there each
government should execute the utmost prerogatives to secure safety
for its property without any outside assistance, but only by peaceful
international legislation can deterioration and future extinction be
avoided. By no means do we mean to insure these animals alone from
injudicious hunting, nor indeed de we desire to express belief that
they are the most important denizens of the water. For only com-
mensurate to their value to certain inhabitants can their true useful-
ness be adjudicated, as likewise that of the salmon, cod, halibut, shad,
herring or any other fish equally important for commerce and for food.
Except that the inhabitants of the northeastern part of the United
States, as also those of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, etc., are within
reasonable distance of inland towns, their dependence upon the num-
bers and condition of the returns of their fishing fleets is almost as
great as that of the Esquimaux upon the seal, whale, and walrus
hunting.

If then those fisheries have become of national and international im-
portance the people of the eastern districts should have their fishing
interests equally will guarded from injury. Left to their own de-
vices, the true fisherman — one born to the trade and relying upon its
success — will be careful not to injure his future prospects by endeavor-
ing to catch all the fish at once great sweep. Nor will he waste the
other fish that enter his net among the more valuable kinds. Instead
he will cast the flapping, gasping, wide-eyed strangers back into the
water, there to perform their part in the world of nature. Therefore,
it is not among the life hunters and fishermen that we must look for
the destroyers of the fish or mammals, but to men or companies who
take spasmodic interest in them for a time, simply as a money-making
scheme. The protection and propagation of the more desirable food-
fishes seem to have become established sufficiently to remedy many
of the evils heretofore existing, but trouble still exists and will con-
tinue so long as indiscriminate catching is permitted.

The reasons for this are obvious. Some years ago there was a com-
pany (or companies) formed called the "Menhaden Fisheries," ostensi-
bly for taking menhaden, a comparatively useless fish, whose reputa-
tion was to be redeemed by making oil and compost of the enormous
catches of this fish off the Atlantic coast particularly. Admitting
Ihat the important fish, such as shad, leave the waters of the Atlantic
rivers and are consequently safe during their absence, how can it be
credited that the great nets full of menhaden are not very largely
mixed with voung food-fishes? Or, even if that is not so, must we not

concede that menhaden, though unfit for human food, an in some
shape the chief food for edible fishes— if not as full-grown animals,
possibly in the form of spawn and quite young fish. It must be thus
that they are useful, and consequently their wholesale and relatively
useless destruction is a great wrong, which should be suspended at
once by international agreement. Besides, there is a touch of ex-
treme cruelty in hunting them simply for the sake of pressing them
into the service of the farmer, for whom, indeed, they may be a cheap,
but not altogether desirable, compost.

There is another danger, of which the fisherman may not be con-
scious, and that is the destruction of the young of salmon, trout, and
other very desirable fishes which have been placed in the Delaware
and its tributaries, as well as in other great rivers near the coast. It
was a known fact that the fry were deposited therein, but their non-
appearance after reasonable time led to the belief that the enterprise
was not a success. But recently the beautiful swimmers have been
seen, having returned after a long absence, or else after having ling-
ered in other streams or ocean haunts. More probably they went
out to sea while developing into full growth, and they now return to
spawn upon the grounds wherein they found their first home from the
hatcheries. It is not for us to say whether they remembered their
home or whether only the impulses of nature drove them up toward
shallower waJers. Suffic e it that we are safe to claim that they be-
long to the society which so carefully propagated and deposited them
or to the country for which it acts, and thus they become, as it were,
wards of the government and subject to its protective legislation.
This shows that national laws are absolutely requisite to their preser-
vation from local fishing enterprises or from even individual fisher-
men.

Further, we are assured that the many valuable food-fishes are dar-
ing wanderers, roaming for out to sea, while they are not impelled to-
ward the spawning-grounds. Thus the herring, mackerel, or cod of
British Columbia may later become the supply for Maine and Massa-
chusetts. Consequently both countries interested should make com-
plementary rules regarding the protection of these fisheries, having
unquestionable legal rights in the matter. That such is truly and
reasonably requisite is evident in the lesser quantity and smaller size
of the product of these fisheries. So, too, has the lobster deteriorated,
until a large specimen is rather the exception than the rule, as it used
to be. To-day salmon, cod, and other fish are wonderfully abundant,
but unless Canada joins with the ITnited States toward making strict
laws regarding the time of fishing, the numbers taken, and economy
of sparing the young and returning the living but undesirable fishes
to the waters, there will come disastrous days for the salmon can-
neries of the northwest, as well as for the fisheries of the northeast.

ipi

174

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

175

u

.Tust international protection is the only mode of preventing deple-
tion.

Indiscriminate fishing should not be allowed at any time, and no
corporation should use means by which great numbers of the denizens
of the water may be captured for other purposes than to supply food
to human beings. Fish laws, both national, State, and international,
should insert warning clauses regarding wasteful destruction of the
denizens of the sea, lake, or river. The public should be given to
understand that the propagation of food-fishes is but in its infancy,
and that it will take some years to attain great results, and strict care
is necessary to insure success; but when the different species are es-
tablished legal permission ought to be given for fishing in different
streams and for different fish. We are confident that when pelagic
sealing has become amenable to international laws the business will
cease: and as surely when salmon, cod, herring, mackerel, shad, and
all other far-wandering fish are protected by the same union of nations
for their safety none but legalized fishing will be attempted, and thus
the continuous success of all such fisheries will be secured and revenue
for country and individual will grow proportionately.

Justice and right grant that man is the owner of all inferior animals
and that for his food, clothing, and other necessities he has the un-
equivocal right to slaughter either animals or fish sufficient to supply
his needs, but there is something repulsively cruel in the wholesale de-
struction of either one or the other for imaginary or artificial require-
ments. It is against this particularly we would lend both pen and
voice, for truly nothing was created to be so ruthlessly demonished
That we have not disrovered the use of every living thing does not
prove that aught was given life in vain. Therefore let the Fish Com-
mission raise its voice against the cruel destruction of any living thing
over which its prerogatives may reach, thus securing safety not only
for the wards of their hatcheries but for the food supply for them and

other creatures.

That thewatersof thepartially settled northwest teem with the most
desirable food-fish does not insure their perpetuity against waste nor
prove that they will not diminish in numbers when increasing popula-
tion conjoins with the industries devoted to canning, salting or drying,
even if the business should be operated with economy. The swarm-
ing millions are the natural accumulation of centuries of almost unin-
terrupted reproduction, natives of the country catching only suffi-
cient for their own needs and for the comparatively small trade with
the outside world. As the settlement of the country increases there
will be gradual diminution of numbers, however carefully the fishing
Interests are guarded. But if the plan of systematic economy begins
at once, there will be no very disadvantageous falling off of the most
valuable kinds.

We have used the northwest as an example of the plenitude of
nature's food supply only because the trend of business and commerce
leads in that direction, but we could as readily use the northeast with
its former millions of valuable denizens of the bays and rivers and sea-
coast. Now the cod fisheries are disappointing, sometimes the
mackerel and herring fail to appear in great numbers, and the fishing
villages suffer in proportion. Once, too, the great Chesapeake be-
came choked at seasons when many noble fish swarmed toward their
breeding-grounds. It has been written that bushel baskets were filled
and sold for no more than one fine shad would cost to-day. The stories
of the abundance and cheapness of terrapin compare oddly with the
enormous prices to which they have risen, making an expensive luxury
of what was once a drug in the markets of Maryland. Bearing these
authentic assertions in mind it is safe to say that the Fish Commis-
sion has not begun its work too soon unless the people were willing
to have the best of all fish become extinct, for neither shad nor sal-
mon, nor any other fish, could hold out against the enormous catches
once permitted on the Delaware and Chesapeake, as they are now on
the Columbia and Willamette.

The idea ought to be suggested that, though the interests of more
than one or two nations might make international unity relating to
the safety of the seal from destruction very necessary, it could not
well include the true fish within that jurisdiction. A moment's con-
sideration will show the mistake in this. The true fish are nearly as
nomadic as the whale or seal and personal property is as readily as-
sured in the one as in the other, in proof of which we may note the sal-
mon before mentioned, the fry of which was placed in the Delaware
and other rivers, whose total disappearance for about five years caused
the belief that the planting had been a failure, when the discovery of
well-grown healthy salmon in those rivers proves that they wandered
out to sea, returning when nature directed them to the shallower and
less tempestuous waters, presumably for the sake of reproducing their
kind. The same can certainly be said of other fish, and doubtless the
assertion is true that the mackerel, herring, cod, and halibut of the
lower shores belong to the same shoals or schools as those that later
swarm to the nets of the Canadian fishermen. Only international
protection can secure immunity from future depletion if this be so;
and this must not be a threatening attitude of one nation toward an-
other, but a mutually amicable agreement, providing that a given
number of vessels shall be permitted to fish during fixed legal seasons.
At first this may look like a tyrannical blow to the men who depend
upon these fisheries for a lirelihrtod. but the result will soon show that
such legislation would secure successful catch'es every season.

History will show that the times of disaster, when but few returns
are obtained, have in nearly every case succeeded phenomenally

176

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

enormous catches. Perhaps the bad season does not come directly
after the good one; but examine the reports and they will show that
large returns have induced a great number of vessels and men to en-
gage in the business, prospect of gain being the incentive to the in-
dustry, until in a few years the overproduction results in a falling off,
bringing trouble and distress to the towns and villages to which the
enterprise naturally belongs. Since the fishermen of Galilee deplored
their long nights of useless toil and waiting for nets to fill there have
been men disheartened by failure and consequent distress. The days
of miracles have passed away long since, but the increase of intelli-
gence in late generations and the development of talent and genius
were, no doubt, intended to supply their place. The law of humane
justice must come to the relief and encouragement of our fellow-men,
and in no way can this be secured with regard to the fisheries except
through an agreement between countries whose contiguous posses-
sions give them equal interests in the inhabitants of the sea or its
tributaries. There must not only be laws limiting seasons, but ves-
sels and men, so that no one nation possessing greater facilities for
hunting shall take all the fish and leave little or none for their neigh-
bors.

International consideration should have been directed to the seal
fisheries as soon as the United States made the Territory of Alaska its
own. Had that been done the animals would not now be so near ex-
tinction. It is sincerely to be hoped that the Fish Commission will
not only take these universal protective measures into consideration,
but that it w\\\ urge such legislation upon the intelligence of the
proper authorities, else the efforts now made to propagate and greatly
increase the number of desirable fish will be eventually futile, as the
augmenting quantities will only tempt capital to hurry a war of ex-
termination in the effort to secure all that skill can obtain in a given
period. Neither threat nor watchfulness can secure protection half
so easily as a friendly understanding upon the subject, which would
unquestionably result in an international arrangement tending with
equal favor toward the good of everyone engaged in any and every
branch of the fisheries.

But the proteotion of fish and other useful water animals must ex-
tend farther than a legalized regulation of the fishing season or of the
numbers taken; nor will returning unsalable fish to the water quite
answer the purpose. Wise protective laws should also be made and
enforced by ncMghboring nations against the pollution of bays, rivers,
inelts, ponds, or streams by offal, garbage, chemicals, oil. or any kind
of rubbish. Mills in which dye is ust^d should not be allowed to dis-
charge the refuse water into rivers or even small tributarv streams
containing food-fish, nor should any manufacturing enterprise use
the waterw%Tvs as waste receivers. I note that the laws make men-
tion of the northern logging season, when millions of logs float on

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

177

fishing waters in Canada and in our own extreme northeast and north-
west. This seems to be requisite, but it will not do to toss slabs of
bark, decaying logs, or broken lumber, or sulphur-charged coal dust
on neighboring shores to accumulate as rubbish until storms sweep
them again into the streams with augmented power to annoy and
sometimes destroy the fish, otter, beaver, or whatever may inhabit the
waterways.

Nearly all safeguards for the inhabitants of the sea or river will be
found to conduce to the general public good as well. Decomposing
refuse, whether of animal or vegetable growth, is usually poisonous,
working with subtle force upon humanity and breeding pestilential
fevers. Dyes are often composed of poisonous material, and they may
injure the water used for drinking without marring its transparency.
Thus the thoughtful observer readily sees that the requirements of
the Fish Commission and the boards of health conjoin, although one
protects human health and the other the production of edible or other-
wise useful animal life. As for interfering with manufacturers by leg-
islating against dams, they could in every case be so constructed as to
allow of a broad waterway for the fish when they enter the inland
streams; but this needs vigilant watching. There can be no doubt
that the plentiful supply of salmon and other wandering species is
largely due to perfect freedom of action in their native haunts. They
have spawned when they would, they have roamed at their will, and
with little destruction except that resorted to by man. No nets, no
weirs, no dams, no vast heaps of polluted debris have prevailed against
their freedom in the northwest streams. Time was when Canadian
and northeastern waters were equahy prolific. The contrast shows
plainly how carefully British Columbia, the United States and South
America should join in the preservation of a most valuable product of
everv nation w'ith rivers and a seacoast.

To-day I w^ould suggest legislation that would preclude the possi-
bility of the beautiful and prolific waterways of our territory, no
matter where, from being clogged with rubbish, poisoned with refuse,
or blocked by dams and traps. A short time spent in selecting sites
for manufacturing towns would secure the proper requirements with-
out wholesale destruction to inferior life. If the effect of perfect pro-
tection can not be obtained, the next best thing would be to forbid the
use of water polluted by factories as well as the fish therein. But
the disastrous drawback to that would be a neighborhood poisoned
with effete matter accumulating for vears. There will alwavs be
fishermen, and there will also be people to consume the fish found by
the sportsman; therefore the best way is to keep the waters pure and
continue the hatcheries. Legislation will be of no avail, so far as a great
part of the United States is concerned, if not agreed to by all states
and contiguous countries. In fact the fishing, fur, ivory, whalebone,

12-18-98

178

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

and oil interests of the whole continent demand international co-oper-
ation tor the successful protection of the denizens of the sea and other
waters extending into it from the shores. With this continental
agreement and an American alliance with Russia, Gi^at Britain,
Japan and China, for the protection of the great animals of the Pa-
cific, on the west and north, with a like agreement with the owners
of Greenland and its island borders and Newfoundland and its neigh-
borhood on the northeast, it would yet be possible to have abundance
of all valuable products from the oceans and their tributaries which
sparkle in a beautiful, silver network throughout the length and
breadth of the lands adjacent.

Many wise individuals to-day deplore the dilatory attention to na-
tional interest that has resulted in comparative extinction of many
really valuable creatures, whose abundance seemed but a few years
ago to be inexhaustible. Should not everyone energetically lend his
voice and influence to prevent further loss to both individual and
Government? A war of extermination of the human inhabitants of
lemote corners of the country would justly be considered a heathen-
ish, cruel outrage; but is not the destruction of lower animal life in
vast multitudes equally cruel? If mankind has its sources of life nec-
essities cut oft', they pine and die. Thus we, as a Congress, should
urge full legal protection, through both home and international laws,
for the food-fish upon which a vast number of human beings depend
for all that makes life comfortable; while in some places, neglect to
pass such laws actually results in suffering and death. Wo do not
deem it right to propose the protection only, but should follow the
proposition up by active, earnest work for the desired and needed re-
sults.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

No. it

FiSH COMMISSIONERS.

m

ANDREW M. SPANGLER.

Andrew M. Spangler, one time a member of the Commissioners of
Fisheries and its Secretary, died at his home in Philadelphia, No-
vember 2, 1897. Few men in his day were better known in the angling
world or as a writer on angling matters than he, and to the day of his
death he took a deep interest in the work of fish culture and his fav-
orite pursuit. Mr. Spangler's death was comparatively sudden. Al-
though in declining health for some time, due mainly to his advanced
vears, he was almost to the end able to attend to his business and that
of the Board of Education of Philadelphia, of which he was an active
member. Less than ten days before his death Mr. Spangler was in
Pittsburg in connection with business for that body and it was there
that he was seized with the malady that terminated with his death
at the age of 79 years.

Mr. Spangler had a busy and honorable life. He was born in York,
on December 13, 1818. He left school while still very young, but
later in life he received a college education. At the age of 12 years he
was apprenticed to a tanner and currier, and continued in the business
tw^o years after he had served his seven years of apprenticeship, when
he left it because of impaired health. For two years he taught school
in the lower counties of the eastern shore of Maryland, and subse-
quently he taught two years in his native town of York.

In 1841 he entered Marshall College, then located at ^Mercersburg,
and during his career there he supported himself and his younger
brother by the sale of books and stationery. He left the college Sep-
tember 0, 1846, and the following day he married Miss Mary M.
Shaeffer, of Mercersburg, who survives him, together with his two
daughters, Mrs. C. J. Webb and Mrs. D. W^ Chandler, and his son
Charles S. Spangler. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler celebrated the golden
anniversary of their wedding in 1896.

Mr. Spangler subsequently became a journalist and for over 57
years he was actively engaged in this work, one of his connections be-
ing with the Philadelphia Evening Star as editorial writer. In addi-
tion to that he was editor of the Lancaster Gazette for some time and
the founder and publisher of the Farm Journal which became the
organ of the State Agricultural Society. He settled in Philadelphia
in 1851, and became a partner in the seed firm of Pascall. Morris & Co.
A few years later he withdrew and formed another house in the same
business. From this venture he afterward withdrew and entered the
printing business.

ISO

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

In addiiion to editing numerous journals, Mr. Spangler was also
at one time a clerk in the Patent Office in Washington, a comparing
clerk in the Senate and House of Representatives of the State, a mem-
ber of the Board of Directors of the Spring Garden Institute in Phila-
delphia and during the war of the Rebellion was active in the sanitary
and hospital work, with the rank of major. He was also a prolific
lecturer on a multitude of topics concerning all of which he had an ac-
tive and practical interest.

Mr. Spangler was appointed I'ish Commissioner under the admin-
istration of Governor Pattison. He served for three years and dur-
ing that period was the Secretary of the Board.

In this connection he was one of the most active in securing the
establishment of fishways in the rivers of the State. He was one of
a committee to visit Nova Scotia to examine the invention of Mr.
Rogers which was afterwards adopted and the exclusive right to erect
them in Pennsylvania w^as secured.

Mr. Spangler was a strong advocate of proper protection of fish
and into that work he threw himself with a vigor which achieved im-
portant and gratifying results. When the Anglers' Association, after-
wards the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association was formed he
became a member and for some years its President.

As a natural writer, and a journalist, Mr. Spangler saw the im-
portance of utilizing these talents to educate the people in the neces-
sity of fish culture, fish protection and the pleasures of angling. He
became a prolific writer on these topics, for the United States Fish
Commission, the Fish Protective Association and in the daily jour-
nals. He also wrote several books, among them being "A Paradise
for Hunters and Anglers, Near by Fresh and Salt Water Fishing."

Mr. Spangler was an exceedingly companionable man, possessing
n fund of rich anecdote and having the power of happy relation.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

181

LIST OF COMMISSIONERS OF UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

In compiling this list the greatest possible pains were taken to en-
sure accuracy. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of every State
was communicated with and the list therein may be accepted as offi-
cial to date with the exception of those marked with *. In those
cases no replies were received, and the list published in the report of
1897 is given:

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, George M. Bowers,
Washington, D. C.

Chief Clerk, I. H. Dunlap.

Assistant in Charge of Division of Inquiry Respecting Food Fishes,
Hugh M. Smith.

Assistant in Charge of Division of Fish Culture, W. de C. Ravenel.

Assistant in Charge of Division of Statistics and Methods of the
Fisheries, C. H. Townsend.

The names and locations of the stations of the Commission, with
the names of the superintendents, are given in the accompanying
list:

Stations.

Craig Brook, Me., C. G. Atkins, East Orland, Me.

Green Lake, Me., E. E. Race, Green Lake, Me.

St. Johnsbu ry, Vt., John W. Titcomb, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

Woods Hole, Mass., E. F. Locke, Woods Hole, Mass.

Gloucester, Mass., C. G., Corliss, Gloucester, Mass.

Cape Vincent, N. Y., Livingston Stone, Cape Vincent, N. Y.

Batter}' Island, Md., Charles Healey, Havre de Grace, Md.

Bryan Point, Md., W. T. Lindsey, Marshall Hall, Md.

Fish Ponds, Washington, D. C, Rudolph Hessel, Washington, D. C.

Wytheville, Va., George A. Seagle, Wytheville, Va.

Erwin, Tenn., S. G. Worth, Erwin, Tenn.

Putin-Bay, Ohio, J. J. Stranahan, Putin-Bay, Ohio.

Northville, Mich., and Alpena, Mich., F. N. Clark, Northville, Mich.

Duluth, Minn., S. P. Wires, Duluth, Minn.

Manchester, Iowa, R. S. Johnson, Manchester, Iowa.

Quincy, III., S. P. Barlett, Quincy, 111.

Neosho, Mo., H. D. Dean, Neosho, Mo.

San Marcos, Tex., J. L. I^ary, San Marcos, Tex.

Leadville, Colo., E. A. Tulian, Leadville, Colo.

Bozeman, Mont., J. A. Henshall, Bozeman, Mont.

Baird, Cal.. G. H. Lambson, Baird, Cal.

Clackamas, Oreg., W. F. Hubbard, Stone, Oreg.

182

REPORT OF THE

Alabama.*

Off. Doc.

By act of the Legislature the Board of Fish Commissioners has been

abolished.

Arizona.*

T. W. Otis, President.
John Howard, Prescott.
C. W. Sternes, Phoenix.

Arkansas.*

This State has no Fish Commission.

Dominion of Canada.

Hon. L. Davies, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa.

F. F. Gourdeau, Deputy Minister, Ottawa.

K. N. Venning, Chief Clerk, Fisheries, Ottawa.

Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries, Ottawa.

Inspectors of Fisheries.

L. S. Ford, Milton, N. S.,; A. C. Bertram, North Sydney, N. S.; J.
H. Pratt, St. Andrews, N. B.; S. F. Perry, acting, Tignish, P. E.; John
McNab, New Westminster, B. C; G. S. Davison, Qur Appelle, N. W.
T.; R. Hockin, Pictou, S.; R. A. Chapman, Moncton, N. B.; H. S. Miles,
Aromocto, N. B.; W. Wakeham, Gaspe Basin, P. Q.; R. L. Tupper,
Winnipeg, Man.

Officers in Charge of Breeding Establishments.

Vacant, Newcastle, Ont.; L. N. Cattelier, Tadoussac, P. Q.; Vacant,
Magog, P. Q.; A. Ogden, Bedford, N. S.; Vacant, Grand Falls, N. B.;
Jolm McNab, New Westminster, B. C; W. Parker, Sandwich, Ont.;
H. Davis, Gaspe, P. Q.; Alex. Mowat, Campbeffton, N. B.; Isaac Shei-
green, Mirnmichi (Restigouche), N. B.; A. G. Bertram, Sydney, N. S.

Newfoundland.*

Hon. A. W. Harvey, Chairman, St. Johns.

M. Harvey, Secretary, St. Johns.

Adolph Neilson, Superintendent of Fisheries, St. Johns.

California.

Alexander T. Vogelsang, President, San Francisco.
J. M. Morrison, Sacramento.
Charles B. Gould, Oakland.
Address all communication to

California Fish Commission,
Room 2, 7th Floor, Mills Building,

San Francisco, Cal.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

183

Colorado.
Hon. Jos. S. Swan, Fonstoy.

Connecticut.

George H. Knight, Salisbury.
Abbott C. Collins, Hartford.
James A. Bill, Lyme.

Delaware.*

A. Stanley Short, Milford.

Dr. E. G. Shortlidge, Superintendent, La Grange.

Florida.

John Y. Detwiler, New Smyrna.
John G. Rouge, Apalachicola.

Georgia.*
R. T. Nesbitt, Atlanta.
Capt. J. D. Edmunston, Superintendent, La Grange.

There are none.

Idaho.

Illinois.

S. B. Bartlett, Secretary, Quincy.
Nathan R. Cohn, President, Urbanna.
Augustus Lenke, Treasurer, Chicago.

Indiana.
Hon. Zach Sweeney, Columbus.

Iowa.
George E. Delavan, Spirit Lake.

Kansas.

J. W. Shultz, Wichita.

There are none.

There are none.

L. T. Carleton, Winthrop.
Ilenrv O. Stanlev, Dixfield.
Chas. E. Oak, Caribou.

A. F. George, Swantoo.
John E. Sterling, Crisfield.

Kentucky.

Louisiana.

Maine.

Maryland.

11

]S4

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

Massachusetts.

Edward A. Braekett, Winchester.
Isaiah C. Young, Wellfleet.
Elisha D. Bufflngton, Worcester.

Michigan.
Horace W. Davis, Grand Rapids.
Freeman B. Dickerson, Detroit.
Herschal Whitaker, Detroit.
Officers:

Herschal Whitaker, Detroit.
Seymour Bower, Detroit.
George D. Mussej, Detroit.
Albert Ives, Jr., Detroit.

Minnesota.

wT;-^"".t'^f ' Executive Agent, Capitol Building, St. Paul.
William Bird, Fairmount.
W. S. Timberlake, St. Paul.
C. S. Benson, St. Cloud, Minn.
Fred. Von. Baumbach, Alexandria.

Missouri.
A. J. D. Burford, Burfordsville.

Mississippi.
The law provides for no commission.

Montana.
M. J. Bryant, Helena.

H. P. Kennett, Helena.

John F. Cowan, Butte.

Hebraska.

R. S. Oberfelder, President.
W. L. May, Vice President.
J. S. Kirkpa trick. Secretary.
W. J. O'Brien, Superintendent.

Nevada.
The Legislnmre of 1897 abolished the office of Fish Commissioner.

New Hampshire,
William H. Shurtleff, Lancaster.
Nathaniel Wentworth, Hudson.
Frank L. Hughes, Ashland.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

185

New Jersey.

George Pfeiffer, Jr., Camden.

Howard P. Frothingham, Mt. Arlington.

Parker W. Page, Summit.

New York.
Hon. B. H. Savis, Palmyra.
Hon. William R. Reed, Potsdam.
Hon. Charles H. Babcock, Rochester.
Hon. Edward Thompson, North Port.
Hon. Hendrick S. Holden, Syracuse.

North Dakota.
W. W. Barret, Church Ferry.

Ohio.
J. C. Burnett, Sabina.
James W. Owen, Newark.
Geo. Fallon, Athens.
A. J. Hazlett, Bucvrus.
Albert Brewer, Tiffin.
L. H. Reutinger, Secretary and Chief Game Warden.

Oregon.
Hon. H. D. McGuire, Portland.

Pennsylvania.

S. B. Stillwell, President, Scranton.

H. C. Demuth, Treasurer, Lancaster.

D. P. Corwin, Secretary, 413 Wood street, Pittsburgh.

James A. Dale, Corresponding Secretary, York.

Louis Streuper, Erie.

J. W. Correll, Easton.

W. E. Meehan, Assistant Secretary and Statistician,
To whom all communications with respect to Fish Culture and
statistics should be addressed, 600 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.

Superintendents of Stations.

John P. Creveling, Allentown.
William Buller, Corry.

Rhode Island.

Commission of Shell Fisheries:
J. M. Wright, Rockland.
Benj. Drown. Warren.
Philip H. Wilbour, Little Compton.
Jos. C. Church, Charlestown.
13

186

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

John H. Northup, Apponaug.
James A. Collins, Clerk, Providence.
Commissioners of Inland Fisheries:
Henry T. Root, Providence.
William P. Morton, Providence.
J. M. K. Southwick, Newport..
Charles W. Willard, Westerly.
Adelbert Roberts, Woonsocket.
Herman C. Biimpus, Providence.

There are none.
There are none.

South Carolina.

Tennessee.

Utah.

John Sharp, Salt Lake City, is the State Fish and Game W^arden.
Each county also has a game and fish warden; and by communicating
with him information conceniing the other counties may be obtained.

Vermont.

Jno. W. Titcomb, St. Johnsbury.
Hon. Horace W. Baily, Newbury.

Virginia.

Frank Fletcher, Chairman, Accomac C. H.
Seth F. Miller, Secretary, Mathews C. H.
Pembroke Pettit, Palmyra.
George B, Keezel, Harrisonburg.
John A. Curtis, Richmond.

West Virginia.
Frank Lively, Hinton.

Wisconsin.*

The Governor, ex-officio.

Edwin E. Bryant, President, Madison.

Calvert Spensley, Treasurer, Mineral Point.

Jas. J. Hogan, La Crosse.

WMlliam J. Starr, Eau Clair.

Currv G. Bell, Bayfield.

Dr. E. A. Birge, Ph. D., Madison.

Henry D. Smith, Appleton.

James T. Ellerson, Secretary, Fish and Game Warden.

James Nevin, Superintendent, Madison.

Wyoming.
Gustave Schnitger, Laramie.

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

187

THE PROPAGATION OF BLACK, ROCK, WHITE AND YELLOW
BASS, OF PERCH, AND THE PIKE FAMILY.

By S. B. Stillwell.

For several years there has been an increasing demand from
anglers for fish of the perch and of the pike families, for planting
in the lakes, rivers and other waters of the State, and to meet it the
Commission has determined to engage heavily in the propagation of
them at the earliest possible date. The applications for these types
of fish are almost as great as those for trout, and I have no doubt
that w^ere it not generally known, that the ability of the Commis-
sion to furnish these species of fish is limited, that the demand would
greatly exceed that for trout. It is natural that it should be so, for
there are far more winters adapted to the perch and pike families than
there are for trout. Moreover, the lack of success which manv have
experienced in planting trout have caused greater attention to be
draw^n to the other valuable game and food fish which are known to
thrive in w^aters much warmer than the brook trout will live in.
When I speak of failures in trout planting I do not wish to be under-
stood as holding that on the whole artificial planting of trout is not
a success in this State. Such an idea is farthest from my thoughts,
and is moreover the reverse of the fact. The artificial propagation
of trout and their planting in Pennsylvania has undoubtedly sav(*d
many trout streams from becoming barren of this great fish, it has
increased the supply in others, it has enabled still more to hold their
own, and it has made fishing streams of many creeks that for years
before had not a trout in them. But the planting of trout is an art
which few fullv understand and the fish of the age sent out bv the
Commission must be planted at a time of the year, to ensure the best
results, when it is not at all pleasant to be out on the stream's side.
Moreover, many try the planting of a stream without any knowl-
edge w^iatever whether the water is suitable or not, with in fact,
being father to the thought, that trout will live, grow, increase
and multiply. It is to the want of knowledge of the art of trout
planting chiefly to which I refer when I speak of the lack of suc(*ess
on the part of many in trout planting.

The annual applications for black bass, rock bass, yellow perch,
white bass And strawberry bass, all of which belong to the perch

188

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

family, are from two to three hundred fold greater than the Com-
mission can supply and the reason is that with the exception of the
yellow perch the Commission has no facilities for rearing the fry.
The artificial expression of the eggs and milt of the trout and of some
of the commercial fishes is very easy and thus it is that millions of
the fry of these species of fishes can be raised without much trouble
in a comparatively small space, but this is not the case with the
black, strawberry, white and rock bass. Thus far no known method
of artificially taking the eggs and milt of these fishes in a satisfac-
tory manner has been discovered. The best known and most emi-
nent fish culturists of the country have experimented in vain
to accomplish this. They have even taken the males and females
when in the very act of voiding the eggs and milt, but the moment
the fish are handled some peculiar change appears to take place,
and no amount of effort can induce the fish to express her eggs, or
at most yield more than a very scant supply. More curious still,
it is said that a fish so handled will when returned to the water, al-
though ''ripe" seems to lose the power of yielding her eggs, which
gradually harden within her, and sometimes cause her death.

The Michigan and the United States Fish Commfssions have car-
ried on, I believe, the most exhaustive experiments in the direction
of the artificial breeding of the particular species of the perch family
mentioned above, and their findings are substantially as related. The
United States Commission in its Manual of Fish Culture, says of the
black bass in this connection: "The artificial propagation of black
bass, bv taking and impregnating the eggs, has not been, up to the
present time, practically successful. Unlike the shad and salmon,
eggs can only be stripped from the female with great difficulty, and it
has bt^n necessary to kill the male in order to obtain the milt. An-
other obstacle is the difficulty of finding the two sexes ready to
yield the eggs and milt at th.^ same time, even when they are taken
itrom over the nests apparently in the act of spawning. Interrup
tion, or handling seems to jrrevent the discharge of the eggs or
milt! At Neosho unsuccessful efforts were made daily for several
weeks to spawn a female black bass in which a part, at least, of the
ovaries were fully developed. The fish was so near the point of
spawning that when held head downward the eggs could be seen to
roll forward toward the head, imd when reversed to drop in the oppo-
site direction."

The lack of simultaneousness in the time of the ripening of the
eggs and milt of the black bass has been noticed by other fish cultur-
ists. Those of Michigan, if my memory serves me aright, noted the
curious fact that in natural spawning, a male frequently sought and
rejected several females before he found one in a condition to part
with her eggs simultaneously with his milt. The same thing has

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

189

been noted with the rock bass in the ponds at the Western or Corry
station.

It is because of the practical impossibility of artificially expressing
and impregnating the eggs of ihe various forms of fresh water bass,
that the Commission of this State has been able to grant but a very
limited number of applications for them every year. Every fish with
the exception of a few thousand rock bass in 1896 and 1897 were
purchased from the commercial fishermen of Lake Erie or from
men who reared young in ponds. This is naturally extremely ex-
pensive and unsatisfactory, expensive because the fish cost from
three to five, and even more, cents each, and in the aggregate some
five thousand dollars everv vear, and unsatisfactorv l)ecanse of the
limited supply- and the disinclination of the fishermen to sell and
the open antagonism of the people of the Erie region to the fish
being (aken at all for stocking other waters.

For three years prior to 1897 it was almost impossible to secure
any strawberry or white bass, two species the Pennsylvania Com-
mission is particulary anxious to see successfully planted in all the
waters favorable to their growth, for nearly all the sluggish waters
are suited to them. These two, as w ell as the rock bass are extremely
valuable as food and game fish. They are extraordinarily prolific and
once established are hard to exterminate. They are emphatically
the fish for the people, even more so in some respects than the black
bass, although they do not usually grow as large or are as full of fight
as the black bass. On the other hand, they are much more easily
caught, thus affording sport for boys, women and even men who
cannot master the difficulties attending the capture of the larger and
fiercer cousin, the black bass.

The National Commission and the Michigan Commission finding
the artificial impregnation of black bass practically an impossibility
at least as far as their experiments have gone have given their atten-
tion to the pond culture of the fish. Limited appropriations to the
Commission of this State have prevented it from engaging in the same
experiments, although a little in that direction has been done with
rock bass at the Western or Corrv Station. But the results of the
investigations have been watched with deep interest, for it w^as
definitely determined, as soon as complete success was achieved to
engase heavilv in the work and endeavor to raise and distribute an-
nuallv as manv as thev now do of brook trout, namely from three
to four millions.

This decision was arrived at because of the increasing demand and
because the Commission believes that it is far more economical than
the method now^ employed for procuring the fish, and because the
members of the bass family are fairly rivalling the trout in the
affections of the anglers. This is the more gratifying since for a few

190

REPORT OF THE

0£e. Doe.

years after the introduction of the black bass the fish was regarded
with extreme disfavor, not on account of inferiority as a table or
game fish, but because the art of capturing them was not then under-
stood, and because not being acquainted with its true value, it was
ftared the fish would destroy the river chub, the only other river fish in
the State at that time having any game qualities whatever.

The investigations into the practicability of pond culture was settled
satisfactorily two or three years ago and brought to a point of suc-
cess, but unfortunately the Pennsylvania Commission was compelled
to defer its intention to at once engage heavily in the culture of the
fish, through the unfortunate oversight of the last session's Legisla-
ture with respect to the general appropriation. But while constrained
to defer the actual work the plans for beginning work are being pre-
pared, and the superintendents of stations are instructed to study the
subject carefully and as soon as an appropriation by the next Legis-
lature can be made available the work will begin.

A site has not yet been definitely settle on, but the Commission
looks with favor on the line of the Susquehanna or the Schuylkill, pre-
ferably the latter, because of the advantages of railroad facilities.
Several conditions are essential in addition, namely, cheap land and
several acres of it, gently sloping to ensure a flow of water from one
pond to another, and if possible a stream of water of some volume
running through it.

The system which will probably be adopted will be that which
is in operation by the United Stares Fish Commission. As this is
clearly set forth in the Manual of Fish Culture, issued by that body,
it is herewith reproduced:

'•The size of the spawning ponds is controlled, to a certain extent,
by circumstances. Small ponds which are long and narrow, with the
inlet at one end and the outlet at the other in the line of the longest
axis, produce the best results, as the strength of the current can be
controlled and the whole pond regulated under the scrutiny of attend-
ants from the shores. Large ponds furnish wider range, and this is
desirable when fish are raised for market, but large spawning or
nursery ponds are not recommended, and if the objcet is to produce
large quantities of young for distril)ution in new waters small ponds
arc* undoubtedly better.

"At least one-fourth of the pond should not be over one foot in
depth, and this portion should be planted with pond weed (Potamo-
fcton) and water weed (Elodea or Anacharis) to facilitate the produc-
tion and growth of the young animals, which furnish so large a part
of thf' food for the young bass. The remainder of the pond should
have a gradually sloping bottom, and consequent increase of depth to
the kettle (or draw-off), where the water must be at least from
thHH' to six feet deep for the warm southern states, and twelve to

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

191

fourteen feet deep for the northern states, to provide against the
danger of freezing. In the middle third of the pond, water lillies
should be planted, preferably those having the largest pads, such as
the Nymphea alba. Those plants not only furnish the breeding
fish a hiding place from fish hawks, but serve as sun shades during
the summer. It is not usually advisable to place large bowlders in
the ponds, as they are in the way of seining or netting, and furnish
an acceptable resort for crayfish.

"When the young, under the guidance of the parent fishes, are
schooling, they may be collected from the nests and deposited in
w^aters to be stocked, or transferred to nursery ponds. These ponds
should be constructed to afford young bass protection from enemies
and to produce the greatest quantity of insect life suited to their sus-
tenance and this is better accomplished with a number of small ponds
than with one large one. A good working size is from forty to fifty
feet long by twelve to fifteen feet wide, with a depth of from thirty to
thirty-six inches for the kettle.

"Where the topography of the ground will permit, it is best to have
the nurseries immediately adjoining the spawning ponds with the
water supply from the same source, so that there will be but slight
difl:erence between the temperature of the shallowest part of the
nursery pond and the surface water of the other. As in all other
ponds for fish propagation, the supply and discharge for each nur-
sery pond should be independent of any other and the bottoms may
be made to slope toward the kettle. The young large-mouthed bass
are not strong fish and currents in the spawning and nursery ponds
should be avoided for some time after the spawning period.

"If the locality is infested with craw-fish, it is advisable to pile
or otherwise protect the banks; and the entrance of snakes, frogs and
such enemies may be prevented by surrounding the ponds with finely
woven screens, or, better yet, boards let into the earth a few inches
and projecting above the ground. The pond should be supplied with
the aquatic plants previously mentioned as desirable for the shallow
parts of the spawning pond.

"A plan has been suggested, which combines the features of a
spawning and nursery pond, by constructing one comparatively long
pond, narrow near the middle, so that the general shape will be like
a dumb bell with a very short handle. Across the narrow part
is to be stretched a screen of one-fourth of an inch wire cloth, which
will confine the spawners to the deeper end of the pond, while the fry
following their instincts of moving up stream, will find their way
through the screen into the upper shallower end. This method would
apparently not only save much labor in transferring the fry but ob-
viate the risk involved in handling them.

"If it is desirable to hold the bass until they attain their full growth.

192

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

the fry are transferred to troughs or pools where they are reared
in a purely artificial manner. That is tamed and trained to take
prepared food. For this purpose modifications in the shape and
arrangements of the spawning ponds are necessary somewhat as de-
scribed above or the combination pond. The shallow part near the
inlet has a long narrow neck and the general shape where the ground
permits, follows the outline of a gourd. That part which resembles
the handle is screened off from the remainder with wire netting,
with a quarter inch or less mesh. The young fry after the dispersal
of the school seek the shallow waters, which, warmed by the sun, at
this time of ye<ir afford rich pastures of Cyclops, Daphnia, young
Corixa, and other small invertebrates. Following the natural incli-
nations of young fishes to head toward the source of the water supply,
they pass through the screen and collect within the neck of the pond,
where the food supply will be found to be greater than around the
margin. From this part of the pond the fry have no inclination
to retreat, and the parent fish cannot follow and devour them.

Troughs.

''The ordinary horizontal trough in general use in trout culture is
well adapted to raising young fry bass. A trough twelve to fifteen
feet long with four inches depth of water at 57, changing two gallons
per minute, will support from 3,000 to 5,000 black bass fry, and
twice or three times as manv rock bass will live comfortablv under
like conditions. For bass of larger size, fingerlings and upwards,
vats or pools answer better than troughs. The troughs can be so
arranged that the water discharged from them furnishes the supply
for one or more pools. The size, shape and number of the pools must
be regulated by the topography of the land, though they should not
be wider than six feet and with a depth of water greater than two
feet, and either lined with plank or built of brick or stone. Wire net-
ting or guard boards projecting one to one and one-half feet above the
ground, prevent the entrance of snakes and other enemies. As with
all ponds, provision is made to entirely en&pty one pool without inter-
ferinu: with the water supply of another, and to have a good fall from
inlet to outlet. The length of the pond must be regulated by the lay
of the land, with movable screens of wire cloth for convenience in
handling several sizes of fish.

"The same general care and cleaning usually given to troughs con-
taining trout fry is necessary in cultivating bass. The trough is swept
down twice a day and occasionally washed inside with a cloth and the
water supply, conduits, and outlets frequently examined and kept
clear and clean.

"The young bass is able to stand any temperature to which the sun
raises the water of the nursery; those hatched in water at 56 degrees

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

193

Fahrenheit, will thrive two months later with the temperature at 86
degrees Fahrenheit. However, bass grown in very high temper-
ature are exceedingly tender, and cannot be handled and transported
until the approach of fall and winter has gradually reduced the tem-
perature and hardened them. Moreover, under such conditions they
are more liable to attacks of parasites, both external and internal.
While bass can live in water ranging from 33 degrees to 98 degrees,
more moderate limits are desirable. The Clyclops and some other
forms of the natural foods for young bass reproduced best at a tem-
perature of between 68 degrees and 70 degrees, and cannot resist a
higher temperature than 95 degrees.

Care of Ponds.

"It is desirable that the ponds should be 'wintered' each year that
is, entirely drawn off in the autumn, thus leaving the beds exposed
to the combined actions of the sun, wind and frost. This tends to kill
out the larvae of the larger aquatic insects (dragon-flies, beetles, etc.),
and to increase the following season's supply of small Crustacea,
which furnish an important element of food to the young bass. This
purifying process can be assisted by the free use of quicklime dropped
into the crayfish holes. There is no danger of the lime injuring the
fish the following year, as lime-water is more beneficial than harmful,
and the process purifies the pond-beds, besides killing the crayfish
and the like.

"In addition to the yearly wintering, the accumulated decayed
matter ought to be occasionally removed. The frequency for this de-
pending upon the character of the soil, and on the thoroughness of
the yearly removal of the surplus masses. Scraping large ponds and
hauling the accumulated muck involve considerable labor and expense,
possibly more than the pond warrant, and in some cases it is advisable,
once in four or five years, to lay the pond bare for an entire year, and
cultivate it in peas or some other deep-rooted vegetable.

"While abundant pond vegetation is favorable to a large production
of frv, it is sometimes so luxuriant that it settles down in a blanket-
like mass and smothers many of the young fish. Under such cir-
cumstances it should be removed some time in advance of lowering
the pond level, and during the process should be carefully picked
over, as some of the fry will be found among it. Wading into the
pond leaves the bottom traced with deep foot-prints, which, as the
water recedes, catch and retain many of the young fishes, most of
which die in a short time. To avoid this a strong but lightly built
flat boat is used, which can be easily removed from pond to pond
as needed. At either end of the boat is a ring through which a stake
is driven at the point in the pond to be worked. The vegetation is

13-18-98

194

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc.

raked from the water in small lots, and unloaded on the banks with a
pitchfork. It should be promptly removed from the bank, as it will
rot very fast and its presence is objectionable.

Nests and Nest Building.

"Whenever the spawning period occurs, whether early or late, ample
warning is given by the preparation of the nests, which are built by
the mated fish, sometimes working in company and sometimes sep-
arately. The nests are ordinarily built in gravel, brushed in neat
circular piles 18 inches to 3 feet in diameter, and are usually found
in water from 18 inches to 3 feet deep, though not infrequently in
much deeper water and sometimes in water less than a foot in
depth.

''In the proper preparation of the newly built spawning pond clean
gravel, ranging in size from a buck shot to a hickory nut, is arranged
in small flat heaps about four to six feet from the banks as soon
as the ice is off in the spring, in advance of the spawning season, and,
if well located it can be used though several seasons and more than
ence in the same season. Gravel probably possesses no advantage,
of itself, over a hard clay bed except that it presents more surface
within a given area for the eggs to attach themselves to; but if gravel
of suitable size is to be had the bass usually selects it, and no matter
how dirtj it may be, or how overgrown with moss and algae, they
clean it with the caudal fin and tail until it is as bright as if every
particle bad been polished with a brush, often using the head and
mouth to remove the larger stones from the nest. On the Mississippi
river and in Texas, however, black bass have been observed to deposit
their eggs in mud.

"Some bass build several nests in a season and are compelled to
remove a comparatively large amount of rough and jagged material,
vet verv few wounded or abraided bass are captured. At Neosho the
same bass have been observed at nest building for seven years with-
out showing a torn or worn caudal or annal fin. Trout on the con-
trary, wear their caudal fins and tails to their very bones in their
efforts, and often die in their efforts in consequence. Many of the
wounds on the trout at spawning time are due as much to fighting
as to the wear and tear of nest building; and the bass also are hard

fighters.

"The proximity of the nests to each other depends on the size of
the pond and the number of fish. They are sometimes less than five
feet apart, and in a spawning pond of the Michigan Fish Commis-
sion having only 108 square feet of surface and containing 30 adult
fish, there were 8 nests. If the nests are placed near the banks in
water from 18 inches to 3 .feet deep, the entire process of spawning
and incubation is easily observed and the fry can be more conveniently

No. 18.

FISH COMMISSIONERS.

195

secured and transferred to nursery ponds at the proper time. The
larger fish are apt to select deeper water, but they have been known
to decline a clean lot of gravel, in water 3 feet deep and water 8 feet
away from the embankment of the pond, to build a nest on the naked
clay bottom within reach of the bank where people were passing
almost every hour. Nesting bass should have seclusion, although
those reared in captivity probably fail to notice minor disturbances
at the time of spawning which would at other times alarm them.
Artificial nests for bass have been devised, which should give in-
creased results in the number of fry saved by simplifying the transfer
of fry to nursery ponds and eliminating the risk of handling with
nets.^ The artificial nest is a wooden box about twenty inches square
with sides twenty-one inches high and slightly flaring outward.
Cleats are nailed on the side for convenience in handling. Coarse
gravel is placed in the bottom of the box and the remaining space
filled with fine gravel, fiush with the top of the box. The top layer
is sufljcientlv fine not to allow the eggs to fall through the spaces and
mix with the larger gravel underneath. The nest, thus completed,
is placed in an evacuation with the upper edge even with the bottom
of the pond. A stake is driven near the nest and a board fastened
to it to afford seclusion and protection from the sun and enemies.
A round pottery nest about the size, with a rim sufficiently high to
retain the gravel is also used. Shade is important for, although
bass sometimes build their nests where their is no shade, in most
places thev select places under overhanging grasses, lily-pads, stumps
and logs.*^ The artificial nest should be located several weeks in
advance of the expected spawning, and undue disturbance of the
pond should be avoided. They must be examined often, and all con-
taining voung fish removed to the rearing ponds. From the time
the bass commence nest building the attendant keeps the pond and
its contents under constant surveillance and maintains a close watch
for fish hawks and herons. A record is kept as nearly as practicable,
of the date when each lot of eggs is laid, so that it may be known when
to expert the voung to hatch. If artificial nests are used the ob-
servations can be made more carefully, and numbers can be made on
the shade boards to designate the particular nests, and the record
of hatching and spawning can be kept with greater accuracy."

I have noted the fact that the Pennsylvania Fish Commission made
a few experiments with rock bass culture in ponds at the Western
or Corry Station. The experiments were necessarily crude, for there
were almost no facilities for really scientfic work. There was but one
pond available, an enclosure built some years before for the culture
of German carp, but used afterward only as a retaining pond for
rock bass, vellow perch and blue sunfish, pending their shipment
to applicants. The pond is four or five feet deep in the middle but

196

REPORT OF THE

OU. Doc

slopes to about one foot near the sides. Water lilies were planted
therein and the bottom gravelled.

The first experiment was with about a dozen mature fish, and more
from a desire to ascertain results than an anxiety to rear a large
quantity of young the fry were not removed after they were dis-
carded by their parents. There was a surprising number of young
incubated, probably double the number of the same species of fish
sent out to applicants the previous spring. Of course, as expected,
a large portion were devoured, yet from the dozen mature fish we
saved in the autumn over five hundred fine, healthy, young rock bass.
The following spring about twenty-five mature rock bass were placed
in the pond for breeding purposes. When the proper season arrived,
the fish built their nests near the shore and produced so many young
that the water was fairly blackened with them. Not having a spare
pond to which the adult fish could be removed immediately, or the
young of different sizes separated, many of the fry were eaten before
disposition could be made of them. These two experiences convinced
us jf the ease with which pond culture for this species of fish can
be carried on, and we hope before another twenty-four months to be
sending out to applicants hundreds of thousands of the four most
important of the perch family, namely, the black and rock bass, the
strawberry and the white bass.

Pike and Pickerel.

The pike family is also attracting much attention from many.
While it does not rank as high as a game or food fish as the black bass,
the fish is yet extremely valuable for food purposes and yields fine
sport for the angler. Indeed it is one of the chief reliances of fisher-
men who haunt the mountain lakes. Destructive methods of fishing
and the voracity of the fish itself have caused many of the mountain
lakes to be depleted and none of them yield the sport they did twenty-
five years ago. Absolutely nothing has been done towards artificial
propagation of any species of the pike family in this State with the
exception of the muscallonge, and with these only to a limited extent.

The artificial propagation of the pike and pickerel is very easy, space
only being required, and the Commission have determined to under-
take it along with the pond culture of bass. By such work the Com-
mission feels confident that within a few years the natural lakes of
Pennsylvania will once more be full of this fierce and excellent game
fish.

Official Document,

No. 18.

INDEX.

Page.

Financial Value of Angling: to a State 155

Harrisburg Convention to Raise Funds to Assist Commissioners 113

International Protection for the Denizens of the Sea and Waterways, 170

List of Fish Commissioners of Pennsylvania, 1

List of Fish Commissioners of the United States and Canada, 181

Obituary — Andrew M. Spangler, 179

Opinion of Deputy Attorney General on Illegal Net Fishing, 112

Propogation of Black, Rock, White and Yellow Bass, of Perch and the Pike

Families 187

Relations between State Fish Commissioners and Commercial Fisherman... 151

Report of Assistant Secretary and Statistician, 26

Report of Bristol and Eastern Hatcheries, 80

Distribution of Atlantic Salmon, 99

Distribution of Brook Trout Fry, 83

Distribution of California Trout Fry, 99

Report of Delegates to International Fisheries Congress 141

Report of PohoquaHne Association on Carrying Trout over the Summer for

Planting 109

Report of State Commissioners of Fisheries, 3

Report of Western Hatchery 39

Distribution of Brook Trout Fry 45

Distribution of California Trout Fry, 73

Distribution of Channel Cat Fish 78

Kuropean Brown Trout Fry 75

Distribution of Hybrid Trout Fry, 79

Distribution of Rock Bass 77

Distribution of Small Mouth Black Bass 78

Distribution of Yellow Perch, 78

Some Factors in the Oyster Problem 158

Summary of Distribution , 100

Blue Sun Fish 106

Blue Pike, 106

Brook Trout F'ry , 100

Brook Trout Yearlings and Three-year-olds 101

Brown Trout Fry 102

California Trout Fry, lOl

Cat Fish (common) 106

Cat Fish (spotted) 107

German Carp Fry 103

Hybrid Trout Fry 102

Lake Herring, loe

Lake Trout Fry loi

Land Locked Sainton Fry, 103

Large Grass Pike 107

(197)

198

REPORT OF THE

Off. Doc

Large Mouth Black Bass Page.

Large Musoalonge, ^^*

Large Pike Perch * ^^^

Muscalonge Fry ^^^

Pacific Salmon Fry, ... ^^^

Pike Perch Fry '*.'*.'.*.'.*.'.'.'.".'.' ^^^

Recapitulation , ^^^

Rock Bass 10^

Shad Fry ^^

Shad Fry Introduced by the United States, ^H

Small Mouth Black Bass, "^

Strawberry Bass, ^^*

Sun Fish .*. 105

White Bass, .!...!.!.!.!.!.. ^^^

White Fish Fry, ^^^

Yellow Perch, .... 106

105