REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 63 



8-inch discharge. The entire cost of installing it, including the con- 

 struction of a substiintial engine-house and pinni)-pit, amounted to 

 $1,125. While in operation the pump requires very little attention, 

 and the cost of running it for a period of 8 hours is only $1.40. The 

 plant has already prov^ed invaluable, the station having been entirely 

 de})endent upon it at one period during the severe drought which has 

 continued almost without intermission for two years. A building on 

 one of the acquired pieces of land was removed to the southwest end 

 of the reservation and fitted up as a residence for the foreman. Wire 

 fencing was constructed around the orchard and superintendent's 

 dwelling and a large number of shade trees set out. 



The four new breeding-ponds for the large-mouthed black l)ass 

 necessitated the collection of additional brood tish from the San Marcos 

 River, the stock being increased during the winter to 360, not includ- 

 ing 90 eighteen-mouths-old fish which have been reared under domes- 

 tication. The spawning season of the black bass began over a week 

 later than in past seasons, not a nest being observed until February 18, 

 whereas the first nesting has usually occurred from February 8 to 10. 

 The first ivj made their appearance on March 10, but the weather at 

 this time was very cold, the water temperature being 68*^, and nearly 

 all of this school died. During the year 103,580 large-mouthed black 

 bass were transferred from the breeding-ponds and 81,260 distributed. 



The 70 adult crappie on hand were placed in a breeding-pond pre- 

 pared for them, together with the necessary number of carp for keep- 

 ing the water roily. During the year 6,490 were removed from the 

 ponds and 4,455 distributed. This fish is considered as invaluable for 

 the muddy lakes and streams of Texas, being a prolific breeder, rapid 

 in growth, and a fine table fish. Its propagation has hardly advanced 

 beyond the experimental stage, however. The breeding season opens 

 in March, continues well into the summer, and young fish have fre- 

 quently been observed spawning during the fall months. 



Early in the spring 38 bream were placed in one of the breeding- 

 ponds and commenced nesting late in April. The spawning season of 

 this species extends through the summer into early fall. During the 

 year 3,410 young fish were taken from the pond and 2,830 distributed. 



The rock bass is the most desirable pond fish cultivated at the station 

 for ponds of an acre or less in area. These fish begin to spawn early 

 in March and the spawning season continues until July. During the 

 3'^ear 9,360 were transferred from the ponds and 4,555 distributed. 

 The brood stock on hand at the close of the year consisted of 5 adult 

 fish brought from Neosho in the winter of 1898 and 25 two-year-old 

 fish. These were placed in two ponds previous to the spawning season 

 and from them a good crop of young fish is expected for distribution 

 the coming season. 



Of the 10 calico bass received from Neosho in the winter of 1898, 6 



