This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. http://books.google.com ReportoftheDepartmentFisheriesCommonwealthPennsylvania Pennsylvania.Dept.ofFisheries ' X' SH -V 5TH E WIND S o VTH • D AN 1 EL Bf EARING - NEWPORT- R-I- *- HARVARD-COLLEGE-LIBRARY GIFT OF DANIEL B FEARING CLASS OF 1882 ; A yn 1911 OF-NEWPORT THIS BOOK [5 NOT TO BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED CHARLES L. MILLER. REPORT OF THK DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, KKOM DECEMBER 1, 1904 TO NOVEMBER 30, 1905. HARRISBURG, PA.: HARRISBURG PUBLISHING CO., STATE PRINTER. 1906. HARVARD CO! LEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF DANIEL B. FEARING 30 JUNE 19)9 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, No. 23. DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES OF THE COMMON WEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. WILLIAM E. MEEHAN, Office, Harrisburg. BOARD OF FISHERY COMMISSIONERS. W. E. MEEHAN, President. JOHN HAMBERGER, Erie. HENRY C. COX. Wellsboro. ANDREW R. WHITAKER, Phoenixville. W. A. LEISENRING, Mauch Chunk. SUPERINTENDENTS OF HATCHERIES. Corry Hatchery No. 1, William Buller, Corry, Pa. Erie Hatchery No. 2, Abraham G. Buller, Union City. Assistant in Charge, Philip Hartman, Erie. Belief onte Hatchery No. 3, Howard M.. Buller, Bellefonte, R. F. D. No. 2. Wayne Hatchery No. 4, Nathan R. Buller, Pleasant Mount. Torresdale Hatchery No. 5, William H. Safford, Holmesburg, Phila delphia. Temporary Superintendent Union City Auxiliary No. 6, Abraham G. Buller, Union City. tl) 1—23— 1905 t2) OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, No. 23. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Hon. SamiK'l W. Pennypacker, Governor of Pennsylvania, Harris- burg, Pa.: Sir: I have the honor to herewith present a report of the work of the Department of Fisheries for the past: year, the second report since my incumbency as Commissioner of Fisheries. I felt when making my first report that a satisfactory amount of work had been accomplished; but I determined if possible that the work of 1905 should excel that of l904. In this endeavor I believe I have suc ceeded. Pennsylvania's work in fish culture since the establishment of the Department of Fisheries has attracted the attention of those inter ested in an increase of Tlsh life in all parts of the country. Com missions of some states have given public recognition in their annual reports of value of what Pennsylvania is doing. Magazines inter ested in the subject declare that Pennsylvania is a leader in most features of both fish cultural and fish protective work. In at least two instances in the respect of the former it has taken the initiative even over the United States Government. I believe T can say with confidence that more work was done and greater results accom plished by my Department in 1905 than in any single year since Penn sylvania began the task of fish culture and of protecting the fish. I have been materially assisted in my undertaking by the continued co-operation of each member of the Board of Fisheries Commission. The advice and assistance of the Board has been helpful to a marked degree. The death of the Hon. Charles L. Miller, of Altoona, on October 2, one-of the members, was a source of much sorrow to me and to his surviving colleagues. Mr. Miller had greatly endeared himself to all of us by his manly, upright ways and for the energy with which he performed his duties. ment's As far work as I is can constantly ascertain, increasing public sentiment in strength. in favor of the Depart In pursuance of the plan which I adopted last year, I herewith give you for your convenience in my letter of transmittal, a brief out line of the work accomplished. A marked increase in the number of game fish in all waters of Pennsylvania in which such fish lived. The rod and line fishing for game fish was the most successful ex perienced in many years; this was particularly true with respect to hannabrook trout, salmon. black bass and wall-eyed pike, commonly called Susque- An even better season in 1906 is indicated by the presence, for the first time in several years, of the large numbers of young of the species of fish jnst named. t3) 4 REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. Pennsylvania's commercial fisheries in Lake Erie rank second among the States which border on this lake. The value of the catch in 1905 was $201,085.94 for 6,380,757 pounds of fish, a decrease of about $100.000 and 900,000 pounds of fish. The decrease was caused through a partial enforcement of the new closed season and heavy storms on the lake. The catch of shad in the Delaware river was at least 929,770 fish with a value of $424,556. This was a decrease in the catch by nearly 300,000 fish, but this is believed to have been due chiefly to the low temperature of the water. The German carp industry in Philadelphia amounts to $123,100 for 2,262,000 pounds of fish, for the whole State the industry amounts to about $300,000. The capture of 158,729 pounds of eels were re ported with a value of $22,500. The value of the commercial brook trout industry is reported to have been $20,461.35. Shad industry in the Susqnehanna river was said unofficially to have been about $100,000. hanna, The asaggregate reported commercial is $771,241.94. fish industry • excluding the Susque- Sites for three of the four new hatcheries authorized at the last session of the legislature were located and one put in operation, with more than 2,000,000 eggs being hatched therein on December 1st Necessary extensions were made to the Bellefonte and Wayne Hatcheries including about 40 new ponds for breeding fish. There were hatched and distributed from the five hatcheries in operation during the entire year, 143,550,108 fish of different kinds of which all but about 16,000,000 were what are known as purely food fishes, the 16,000,000 being what are commonly called game fish. Among the game fishes propagated were 10,200,600 chain pickerel. This is the first time that this species of fish has ever been propa gated in any fish cultural establishments in the United Stales for public distribution. Among the output were 90,900 frogs. This is the second year for this work by Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania is the pioneer for this work. Experiments were begun in the propagation of several minor but useful game and food fishes suitable for the warmer waters of the State, among them being yellow perch, rock bass and cat fish. The output of brook trout was increased by nearly 2,000,000 fish and the total output of all kinds of fish was nearly double that of the previous year. A fishway of the Gail pattern was erected in a dam in Pine creek, at Galeton, Potter county, at a cost to the State of only $1,750. Progress was made in the beginning of an attempt to suppress the pollution of the water to the extent of killing fish. The Department by the' aid and assistance of a Commission ap pointed at the last session of the Legislature succeeded in induc ing the States of New York and New Jersey to co-operate with Penn sylvania in fish cultural work and for the establishment of uniform laws for the Delaware river and Lake Erie for the protection of fish. The Department has arranged for harmonious co-operation with No. 23. DEPARTMENT QF FISHERIES. 6 Newment York, and by Minnesota the arrangements and Wisconsin made Pennsylvaniaand the United will States secure Govern large quantities of eggs of the true muscallonge, Lake Chatauqua mus- callonge, smelt, California trout, lake trout and other lake fish eggs. Arrangements were nearly completed at the close of the year for joint work on the part of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the United States for sturgeon work. With New York, New Jer sey, Pennsylvania and the United States for shad work on the Dela ware river. Arrangements were made with the United States Government for consignments of silver salmon for introduction into the Delaware for a period of years. I secured from the United States 70,000 eggs of cut throat trout, hatched and planted them in carefully selected waters to ascertain the propriety of introducing them into the mountain lakes of the State. California Trout Work was Resumed. I designed a new type of hatching jar which stood severe tests for efficiency. I made successful experiments with freezing trout and reviving them to prove that freezing of streams do not necessarily destroy fish. I drew a rough plan for co-operation with the Commission of New York and the Commission of New Jersey for the establishment of a Tri State Hatchery on the upper Delaware river in conformity with the resolution adopted by Legislative Commissions appointed by the three States. I continued with satisfactory results the strengthening of the new State Fisheries Association organized through the efforts of the Department in 1904 to aid in the State's work of fish protection and fish culture. Acting under section 29 of the act of May 29, 1901, caused the re moval, through authorized representatives, of 29,905 German carp from the waters of the State during the year 1905. There were issued to fishermen on Lake Erie 101 licenses, under the act of April 2, 1905, for which they paid $ 1,536. County treasurers issued 208 licenses for the catching of eels by means of fish baskets, for which the Department received $ 1,033, five dollars less than the full amount which should have been received.