REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF 

 FOOD-FISHES. 



By John W. Titcomr, Assistant in Charge. 



PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES. 



The work of the division was under the direction of Mr. W. de C. 

 Ravenel until February 15, 1902, when he resigned to accept the 

 position of administrative assistant in the National Museum. The 

 vacancy was filled by the promotion of Mr. John W. Titcomb from 

 the superintcndency of the St. Johnsbury, Vt., Station. 



In addition to the usual work of the division, which consists of the 

 general direction of fish-cultural work, including the propagation and 

 distribution of fish from the various stations, Mr. Ravenel was repre- 

 sentative of the Commission at the Pan-American Exposition and also 

 at the Charleston Exposition, and continued the duties of representa- 

 tive after assuming his new position in the National Museum. 



There has been no change in the policy of the Commission in respect 

 to the division of fish-culture, and the work is conducted on the same 

 general lines as in the past, the results exceeding those of any previous 

 year. The total number of fish and eggs distributed was 1,495,513,374, 

 or an increase of 321,709,912 over the output of the preceding year. 

 Of these 1,480,642,960 were for the development of the commercial 

 fisheries of the country, and 14,900,414 may be regarded as strictly 

 game fishes. The number of applications received during the year 

 was 3,814, an increase of 762 over the previous year, or 25 per cent. 

 This is in addition to the large number of fishes distributed and planted 

 by the Commission from the various stations, principally commercial 

 fishes. This increase in the output of the stations is attributable to 

 several causes, largely to the increased appropriation provided for by 

 Congress and also to the fact that the general conditions for collect- 

 ing eggs at most of the stations were unusually favorable during the 

 spawning seasons. The results reflect great credit upon the esprit de 

 corps of the superintendents and other employees in the field. 



The following is a list, in systematic order, of the fishes propagated 

 and distributed by the Commission, with the scientific name and the 

 common name or names. The fish(»s artificially propagated arc desig- 

 nated *; those simply collected and distributed are indicated thus §; 

 the inti-oducod species are shown by §§; and the species propagated 

 as food for other fishes are represented by an exclamation mark. 

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