mitting the escape of many impounded fish and the loss of millions of eggs. Despite these unfavorable occurrences the take of eggs at Baird and its auxiliaries was nearly 5,000,000 in excess of that of the previous year, most of the gain being at Battle Creek.

Two new field stations were established in California and operated in connection with the Baird station during the year--one at Klamathon for chinook and silver salmon, and the other at Hornbrook for rainbow trout. At the Klamathon station, in the construction of which the State fish commission bore half the expense, the racks were not completed in time to intercept the run of chinook salmon. Later in the season, before the completion of the silver salmon work, they were carried away, but not before satisfactory collections of eggs had been made. At Hornbrook the take of rainbow trout eggs far exceeded the expectations, being in excess of 2,000,000.

The conditions affecting the run and shortening the spawning season of the salmon in California prevailed also in the Columbia River and its tributaries, but as a whole the work of the Oregon stations was successful, the falling off in chinook salmon being offset by substantial gains in the output of silver salmon and steelhead trout. At the Big White Salmon station the experiment of penning chinook salmon and holding them for the ripening of their eggs was conducted in a small way with results that warrant a more extensive trial in future, this apparently being the easiest and most economical method of collecting eggs in this region. The fish are procured from trap fishermen in the vicinity at a cost of 12 cents each and towed in live cars to retaining pools. Being ripe or nearly so, the fish are not suitable for canning or shipment and have heretofore been sold only to the Indians. Toward the close of last year's run of salmon at this point an average of two tons of fish per day were being taken in the traps.

There were the usual runs of chinook, silver, and blueback salmon in the Skagit River, Wash., but low water prevented many of them from ascending to the spawning grounds. As a consequence there was a slight decrease in the output of fry of these species. More favorable conditions were experienced in connection with the steelhead trout work, and the collection of eggs was the largest made since the establishment of the Baker Lake station. The installation of a new trap of an improved plan is the medium which is expected to result in greatly increased collections of steelhead trout eggs another year.

The trout work on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron was seriously curtailed, partly by storms, which prevented the fishermen from raising their nets, but primarily by the State fishery law. Handicapped by unfriendly restrictive legislation, the Bureau can not hope to attain results commensurate with its efforts.

Notwithstanding the large catches of whitefish by fishermen operating in Lake Erie in the vicinity of Monroe Pier, Mich., and along the Canadian shore at the mouth of the Detroit River, few fish ascended that stream as compared with the enormous runs recorded in former years. In view of the continued decline in the whitefish fishery in the Detroit River, the contemplated construction of a ship canal in proximity to the fishery off Grassy Island, and the consequent abandonment of the station at that point, it is doubted

26321°-c & L 1911-31

if future results will justify the continuance of operations here. With the view of extending the work over a larger territory and locating in a more productive field, steps were taken to secure from the Bureau of Lighthouses the fishing privileges in waters coming within the Government's jurisdiction in the vicinity of Big Charity Island in the Saginaw Bay district of Lake Huron, with authority to establish and operate a field-collecting station on that island. The construction of this station is now in progress, and it is believed its operation another year will enable the Bureau greatly to increase the output of whitefish in Michigan waters.

The whitefish work at the Lake Erie station was encouraging. Not only were more eggs taken than last year but the percentage hatched was larger than usual, owing to favorable water temperatures in the spawning season. The bulk of the eggs were derived from penned fish, the gill-net fishermen furnishing only a small proportion as compared with previous years.

Unfavorable weather in the fields operated from the Duluth station, coupled with the inferior quality of the eggs taken by inexperienced men in Michigan waters, caused a shortage in the lake trout work at this station.

The pike-perch operations on the Great Lakes and at Swanton, Vt., were highly gratifying, the number of fry distributed being over 226,000,000 in excess of the output of this species last year. The largest increase occurred at the Lake Erie station, where the egg collections amounted to nearly 800,000,000. There was also an increased output from the stations at Detroit, Mich., and at Swanton, Vt., the amount of increase over the preceding year being 93 per cent and 33.3 per cent, respectively. Part of the eggs hatched at the Michigan station were purchased from fishermen operating near Port Lambton, Ontario.

The collection of pike-perch eggs on Lake Ontario was undertaken this year for the first time at a field station operated in connection with the Cape Vincent station. While storms and floating ice greatly interfered with the work of the commercial fishermen, over 16,000,000 eggs were secured, which indicates that pike perch are increasing in Lake Ontario as a result of the Bureau's work at the Cape Vincent station. This is also the unanimous opinion of fishermen operating in that territory.

The Atlantic salmon operations at the Craig Brook (Me.) station were entirely satisfactory, the output of this species for the year numbering 2,877,084, which shows an increase of 50 per cent over the preceding year, and indicates a gratifying growth in the salmon run of the Penobscot River as a result of the Bureau's propagation of this species. Encouraged by this excellent showing, arrangements are being made to extend the work on the upper Penobscot another year.

Unfavorable weather conditions interfered with the marine work to such an extent as to cause a serious falling off in the cod and flatfish output, but owing to the highly gratifying outcome of lobster operations at the Boothbay Harbor (Me.) station, the combined product of marine species exceeded that of the previous year by over 17,000,000. The pound at this station is now in first-class condition, and the experience gained in the past has led to greatly improved

methods in handling the brood stock during the winter months. Not only were the lobsters in better condition when removed in the spring, but the percentage of eggs secured was larger than in any previous year, and their quality was superior.

Comparative success was attained this year for the first time in the propagation of the haddock at the Boothbay Harbor station, the production of fry amounting in round numbers to 19,000,000, as against 712,000 the previous year. Heretofore it has been impossible with the available facilities to transfer the eggs from the fishing grounds to the station, owing to the necessity of maintaining an equable temperature, but with improved steamer service and more suitable equipment this difficulty has apparently been overcome.

Owing to changed fishing methods around Gloucester (Mass.) the collection of pollock eggs in 1911 was the largest ever secured for that station. Until 1909 pollock fishing was conducted almost wholly with hand lines operated from sailing vessels, but of late motor boats fitted out with gill nets and several large steam netters have taken up the work. From this source more fish were obtained than could be handled to advantage with the force of spawntakers available.

With the view of artificially propagating the menhaden, investigations were conducted at the Woods Hole station, but no material results were obtained owing to inability to secure ripe fish of both sexes at the same time. As fish with nearly ripe spawn have been taken in considerable numbers both in spring and fall, it seems clear that the menhaden has two spawning periods, the first occurring in the brackish coastal waters northward, and the second in the open sea southward.

Notwithstanding the large catches of shad reported in Chesapeake Bay, there was a shortage in the egg collections and in the output of fry at the stations on the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers. Stormy weather and unfavorable water temperatures at both stations affected the run of fish to some extent, but the principal obstacle was the failure of a fair percentage of fish to pass the cordon of pound and other nets operated in the bay and near the mouths of these rivers. The successful operation of suitable local laws in the Albemarle Sound region has enabled the Bureau yearly to increase the output of shad from the Edenton (N. C.) station, the distribution of fry in 1911 surpassing that of any previous year. The clause of the regulations in force in 1910, which prohibited the fishing of gill nets within 800 yards of a pound net, was this year changed to 400 yards, thus affording gillers fishing in the Bureau's interest a wider field of operations.

The white perch and yellow perch operations on the Susquehanna River resulted in a substantial increase in the output of both species at the Havre de Grace (Md.) station. At the Bryans Point (Md.) station on the Potomac River more yellow-perch eggs were obtained than could be handled in the jars available, and the remainder were successfully hatched in specially constructed cylindrical wire baskets suspended in the river on stakes. The total output of white perch and yellow perch exceeded that of any previous year.

The artificial hatching of striped bass was conducted in the usual way at the Weldon (N. C.) station, but the hindrances heretofore encountered were again in force and rendered the work almost inef

fective. Freshets early in the spawning season, followed later by low stages of clear water, inability to secure both sexes in spawning condition in sufficient numbers at one time, were some of the difficulties, but the chief obstacle to success, as with the shad, is the lack of legislation to insure the ascent of a fair percentage of fish to the spawning grounds. In view of repeated failures to propagate this species in considerable numbers, it appears inadvisable to continue the work.

The propagation of the striped bass in California has been suspended on account of recently enacted legislation prohibiting the capture of the fish by commercial fishermen. The enforcement of this law leaves the Bureau no recourse except to conduct fishing operations on its own account, and the expense of such a proceeding makes it impracticable.

The output of brook trout at the various stations is regulated largely by the stock of eggs purchased from commercial dealers, this course in the majority of instances having proved more economical than dependence upon local waters for egg collections. At stations located in productive fields, where the collection of wild eggs from local sources justifies the expense, the results have been gratifying. This is especially true as regards the operations in Colorado.

Blackspotted trout operations were again undertaken on the Truckee River at Derby Dam, Nev., but owing to a small run of fish early in the season and the difficulty of capturing them in the swift currents-accomplished by means of dip nets from a platform on the bank-there was a decided falling off in the egg collections as compared with the previous year. A second run of fish appeared late in May, but the high water made it impossible to resume operations. As a suitable water supply could not be secured in the vicinity of the field operated in 1910, the station was moved to a location near Sparks, Nev., where water from a spring is available. It seems advisable to continue the work next season, as the indications are that from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 eggs may be secured in a normal season.

The Yellowstone Park station, which has heretofore been operated under the direction of the superintendent of the Spearfish (S. Dak.) station, was this year placed in charge of the superintendent of the Bozeman (Mont.) station. The object of making the change was to secure a more economical administration of the station, which is in the immediate vicinity of Bozeman. The collection of eggs in this field was not undertaken until late in June, because of the late spawning season and impassable roads; therefore the number reported on July 1 was slightly below that of last year at the same date. The indications at that time were, however, that the season's total would be larger than that of any previous year.

With the absence of the usual spring freshets in the upper Mississippi River, and the unprecedently low water stages which made navigation impossible, no rescue operations could be undertaken at the field stations operated in connection with the Manchester station. Conditions on the Illinois River were more favorable, and large collections of black bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfish were made from overflow waters and furnished for distribution. The output materially exceeded that of the previous year.

At the Helena (Ark.) and Rosedale (Miss.) stations, the latter operated for the first time in 1911, the number of fish furnished for distribution was small, but large numbers were transferred from the levee pits to the open waters of the river, and this is regarded as one of the most important features of the work.

In October a carload shipment of lobsters and oysters, previously assembled at the Boothbay Harbor station, was made to the Pacific coast. The consignment, consisting of 15 barrels of oysters and 1,940 lobsters, nearly two-thirds of them females, arrived at Seattle in excellent condition, notwithstanding the warm weather encountered en route. Fully 75 per cent of the lobsters were lost, however, owing to the necessity of towing them a full day's journey on an open scow in an incessant rain in order to reach Port Ludlow, in Puget Sound, where the survivors were liberated. Sentiment in favor of the Bureau's efforts toward the acclimatization of the lobster in Pacific coast waters is evidenced by the recent enactment by the Oregon Legislature of a law prohibiting lobster fishing in the waters of that State for a period of five years.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE FISH-CULTURAL WORK.

West coast salmon.-The superintendent of the California stations. again calls attention to the enormous destruction of young salmon in the Sacramento River through the medium of irrigation canals and the attacks of black bass during the migration of the salmon to salt water. One of the canals referred to is 85 feet wide at the bottom, and as the fry follow the current in their descent of the river large numbers are carried into the canal by the inflowing water and are left stranded on adjacent lands. It is understood the construction of other dams is contemplated in the near future, and unless the fry are planted below the intake or some effective method of screening is resorted to it will be impossible to maintain the present run of salmon in the Sacramento River. The true solution of the problem would be the erection of a hatchery sufficiently large to accommodate all chinook eggs collected at the Baird, Mill Creek, and Battle Creek stations at some desirable point below the intake of the irrigation canals and where the fry would not be subjected to the attacks of predatory fishes.

The California Fish Commission, realizing the futility of maintaining the supply of salmon in the Sacramento and tributaries in the face of such adverse conditions, is contemplating the establishment of a hatchery near tide water for the development of eggs collected at interior stations. It is a matter of much importance. that the Bureau make provision to do likewise in the near future.

In view of the importance of the salmon fisheries of the Pacific States and their apparent decline in certain regions, renewed efforts should be made by the Bureau to increase the output of its stations. With the establishment of the new Puget Sound stations, two of which are now nearing completion, the State of Washington will be well provided for. In Oregon and California the best results can be accomplished by extending operations over a wider territory through the establishment of inexpensive field stations at points. where eggs can be collected in considerable numbers and shipped to a central station for development. Good results are now being