PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH,

GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MARYLAND.

Sir: We have the honor to present herewith the biennial report of the Fish Commissioners of Maryland for the years 1912 and 1913, as required by the laws of the State.

Your Commissioner for the Eastern Shore shows by statistics embodied in this report, that a great work has been accomplished in the artificial propagation of shad and perch during the year 1913, but taken together, the work has far exceeded our expectations.

Shad and perch have been planted in all the rivers of the Eastern Shore in systematic and thorough manner, for which we commend our deputies and their assistants. That, our work is appreciated by the people of the State is evidenced by the great number of letters we have received from every section asking for young fish and commending the work already done.

We desire to call your attention to the millions of young yellow perch that have been planted in the rivers of the Eastern Shore during the past year. We have been encouraged to continue the work by the splendid results obtained. Yellow perch are not prized by Marylanders as highly as the white perch, which has no superior as a pan fish, but, commercially, the yellow perch is outstripping all other fish. During the winter months they are shipped in large quantities to New York and other Northern cities, and bring from fifteen to twenty cents per pound; and as they are more productive than any other kind of fish, are hardy and will live and thrive in all the flowing streams, they are, naturally, of great commercial value to the State.

The following improvements have been made: Repairing of the Tuckahoe Hatching Station; also built a new station. above the railroad bridge at Denton, Maryland, to be known. as the Choptank Hatching Station, and by so doing will increase the hatching of white and yellow perch and shad for