These problems might become even more troublesome and complicated because of a real, or perceived, shortage of gasoline. Increased use of coal has been discussed. Higher gas prices might reduce nitrate emissions, but probably not. Increased coal use could increase sulfate emissions without adequate controls. Modern technology will be used to minimize emissions, and the public will be forced to tolerate the resulting increased costs.

Whirling disease is more often associated with the Western states, but it has been known to exist since 1994 in New York, probably originating at the DEC's Caledonia Hatchery. This disease, which affects trout and other salmonids, was unintentionally brought here from Europe. It tends to be the greatest problem when hatchery-reared trout are involved.

To minimize the effects of this disease, the DEC tests all lots of trout from state and private hatcheries, as well as sampling wild trout.

THE HATCHERY STORY
The DEC operates a dozen fish hatcheries, which stock nearly one million pounds of fish each year. Ten of these hatcheries are solely or partially devoted to trout or other salmonids. Each year, about 7.5 million salmonids are produced. This includes about two million brown trout, 575,000 brook trout and 675,000 rainbow trout not including steelhead.

Most stocking deals with adult trout. This includes yearling trout, which may be 8 to 9 inches in length, and 2-year-old trout, which may be 12 to 15 inches in length. The majority of these larger trout originate at the Caledonia Hatchery. This hatchery has the greatest production of salmonids, about 170,000 pounds annually.

There are also some much larger breeder trout that are no longer useful to the hatcheries that are stocked for anglers to enjoy.

The second-greatest production, 160,000 pounds annually, takes place at the Rome Hatchery. This facility includes the Rome Fish Disease Control Center where disease-resistant strains of trout are held and research is conducted.

NORTHERN REGION
The Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1984 as a cooperative agreement between the Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation and the DEC. Its mission is to determine the extent and magnitude of acidification of lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks region. Since a baseline survey was conducted from 1984 through 1987, indicating that nearly 25 percent of the waters had pH values of 5.0 or less and that 48 percent had little or no buffering capacity or were extremely sensitive to further acidification, acid rain monitoring surveys, fisheries and watershed projects have continued. Currently 52 ponds, lakes and reservoirs are monitored.

Anglers can view the study results at the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation's Internet Web site at www.adirondacklakessurvey.org.

While acidic precipitation affecting the trout fisheries of the Adirondacks, Region 5 and Region 6, has been well documented and highly publicized, another problem has been the introduction of exotic species.