PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1932 565 

 THE AQUABIUM 



The new aquarium, located directly under the main lobby of the 

 Department of Commerce Building, was completed late in February 

 and on jVIarch 1 steps were taken for the removal of the aquarium 

 stock from the old Bureau of Fisheries building to the new quarters. 

 The move, completed within a week, involved the transfer of about 

 250 fish of 20 species, together with all aquarium accessories, equip- 

 ment, and supplies. A supplementary collection, which had been 

 accumulated gradually and held in Chicago at the John G. Shedd and 

 Lincoln Park aquariums, was brought to Washington on March 16 

 by means of United States Fisheries car No. 7. This collection com- 

 prised 255 specimens of 24 species, in addition to a number of trout 

 which had been transported by the car from the Montana station and 

 other stations en route. When fully stocked the aquarium constituted 

 a splendid display of the fresh-water fishes native to this country. 

 Five small aquaria, maintained under balanced conditions, were 

 stocked with the popular tropical aquarium fishes, making a most 

 interesting exliibit and demonstrating the possibilities of handling fish 

 with artificial light only. With the installation of a background of 

 local rock and aquatic plants, many of the aquaria provide a good 

 representation of the native habitat of the fishes shown. The aqua- 

 rium is equipped with 3 tanks of 2,000 gallons capacity, 20 holding 

 1,000 gallons, and 24 of 50 gallons capacity. There are now on dis- 

 play approximately 550 specimens, representing 46 varieties of food, 

 game, and predacious fishes, in addition to turtles, frogs, and several 

 odd brackish water types. Six large and six small aquaria are on a 

 small refrigerating system which is used during warm weather to pro- 

 vide cold water for the trouts. A water storage capacity of 1,500 

 gallons is available and is frequently used in the holding of fish 

 destined for distribution. 



Part 2.— DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS 



[E. C. Fearnow, Superintendent of Distribution] 



Notwithstanding the limited output at the rescue stations along the 

 Mississippi River, the bureau was able to fill practically all of its appli- 

 cations for the so-called warm-water fishes in the Middlewestern 

 States from its pond stations at Langdon, Kans., Fairport, Iowa, and 

 Miles City, Mont. The total output of the three stations aggregated 

 21 large carload shipments. 



In distributing the bureau's annual output of fish, its distribution 

 cars traveled a total of 110,996 miles of which 11,479 were free. 

 Detached messengers traveled 364,044 miles of which 68,261 were 

 free. Automobile trucks in making deliveries of fish traveled 64,965 

 miles. 



The follo^^^-ng table summarizes the distribution of fish and fish eggs 

 during the fiscal year to applicants in the United States and its Terri- 

 tories. It also shows the plants of fish made by the bureau in public 

 waters of the country in connection with the propagation of commer- 

 cial fishes, and the salvage of fish from temporarily flooded lands. 



