722 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
favorable in this respect. The difficulty in obtaining sufficient adult 
fish for brood stock, cited in previous reports, is becoming more acute 
yearly. Many of the fish produced at the southern stations go to 
stock newly constructed artificial ponds. The development of good 
fishing in such areas, even though they may be privately owned, 
goes far to relieve the danger of overfishing public waters. 
Coup Sprine (Ga.) STATION 
[CHARLES A. BULLOCK, Superintendent] « 
The number of bass distributed from this station in 1927 was exceeded in only 
one year since its establishment, and the output of 159,700 bream represents a 
high mark for this species. The use of lime in the ponds, as well as a continua- 
tion of the practice of drawing down the ponds for cleaning in the summer, with 
the transfer of the breeders to the stock ponds.at that time, is believed to be a 
factor in maintaining production at a high rate. The inability to secure brood 
stock that will become acclimated to the water at this station continues to be a 
handicap. Importation of bass and bream from Florida waters was unsuccess- 
ful, the losses being almost total. A continuation of the use of shrimp heads for 
fish food further confirmed the value of this material in feeding pondfishes. 
The work at the Harris Ponds substation was discontinued in the spring of 
1927. The stock of adult bream was transferred to the station ponds, where 
sufficient space was available. At the same time a number of adult catfish were 
removed for introduction into the station ponds. Observations indicate that 
the supply of bream to be derived from the 1927 hatch will fall short of that of 
previous years. It appears, however, that there has been a heavy hatch of catfish 
in at least one pond and that there will be an ample supply of this species for fall 
distribution. 
During the fall of 1926 distribution was made from the Harris Ponds of bream 
hatched the previous spring. The output was highly successful, 157,000 good- 
sized fish being seined and distributed. The production of catfish was very light, 
however. 
EDENTON (N. C.) Sration 
[W. S. VINCENT, Superintendent] 
Mention was made of the propagation of shad and yellow perch at this station 
under the heading ‘‘Anadromous fishes of the Atlantic coast.’’ Grading and 
enlarging of pond C, which was under way at the close of the past fiscal year, was 
completed at no cost to the bureau by allowing the dirt to be removed and 
hauled away for road-building operations conducted near by. The contractor 
was induced to use the same scheme in pond B, also, which virtually was re- 
doubled in area thereby. Considerable work remains to be done in grading the 
banks and stopping leaks. 
The output of sunfish was limited, probably because the brood stock was 
inadequate. Four thousand fingerlings No. 1 were secured from 40 adults. A 
larger stock of the latter was obtained, and their presence should result in an 
increased hatch during the present season. Difficulty in obtaining a brood stock 
of crappie also has caused uncertainty as to the output to be obtained for the 
present season. No fish whatever were obtained from the hatch of the previous 
season. ‘The adults are secured by netting in North Carolina waters, but they 
suffered a high mortality when introduced into the ponds. 
In December and January visits were made to commercial fishermen for the 
purpose of securing brood bass to augment the depleted stock carried over from 
the previous year. A comparatively small number of the fish have died, but the 
depredations of fish hawks appear to have been serious. Apparently a good 
hatch of bass was secured, but weather conditions prevented the collection of 
fry until late in May, when the schools had disbanded. However, 88,500 fry 
were distributed among 106 applicants in the spring. A larger percentage of 
these was shipped as advanced fry than was the case in former years. The 
brood stock was fed on coarse fish obtained from local fishermen. 
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