6 DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS, 1912. 



for a description of the waters to be stocked, and by this information 

 is determined the species of fish that is suitable and the number that 

 may be allotted to the water area in question. Certain predaceous 

 species, such as the basses and perches, are not furnished for waters 

 inhabited by trout or other valuable fishes to which they would be 

 destructive. Nor, of course, are species like trout and salmon fur- 

 nished for waters already stocked with fish that would prey upon them. 



The fish are carried to their destination in railroad cars equipped 

 for the purpose, or by messengers who accompany the shipments in 

 baggage cars, and are delivered to the applicant free of charge, at 

 the railroad station nearest the point of deposit. The applicant is 

 advised by telegraph when the shipment will arrive, and is expected 

 to make due provision for care of the fish until planted. Definite 

 instructions m this respect are furnished at the time of shipment. 



During the past fiscal year (July 1, 1911, to June 30, 1912) the 

 Bureau received 9,446 applications for fish, and a very large per cent 

 of them were for the basses, crappies, sunfishes, and catfishes, for 

 stocking artificial ponds on farms. The demand for such fish has for 

 some time been greater than could be met with available resources. 



SIZE OF FISH WHEN DISTRIBUTED. 



Fishes are distributed at various stages of development, according 

 to the species, the numbers in the hatcheries, and the facilities for 

 rearmg. The commercial fishes — such as the shad, whitefish, lake 

 trout, pike perch, cod, etc., hatched in lots of many millions — are 

 necessarily planted as fry shortly after hatching. Atlantic salmon, 

 landlocked salmon, and various species of trout are reared, m such 

 numbers as the hatchery facilities permit, to fingerlings from 1 to 6 

 inches in length; the remamder are distributed as fry.<^ 



The basses, bream, and other sunfishes are distributed from some 

 three weeks after they are hatched until they are several months of 

 age. When the last lots are shipped the basses usually range from 

 4 to 6 inches and the sunfishes from 2 to 4 inches in length. The 

 numerous fishes collected in overflow lands — basses, crappie, sun- 

 fishes, catfishes, yellow perch, and others — are 2 to 6 inches in length 

 when taken and distributed. 



Eggs are distributed only to State hatcheries and, occasionally, 

 to applicants who have hatchery facilities. 



a The varying usage in the classification of young fish as to size has caused suob. confusion an'l difliculty 

 that the Bureau has adopted uniform definitions, as follows: 



Fr7j=Qsh up to the time the yoll£ sac is absorbed and feeding begins. 



Advanced fry =&sh from the end of the fry period until they have reached a length of 1 inch. 



Fingerlings={ish between the lengtli of 1 inch and the yearling stage, the various sizes to be designated 

 as follows: No. 1, a fish 1 inch in length and up to 2 inches; no. 2, a fish 2 inches in length and up to 3 inches; 

 no. 3, a fish 3 inches in length and up to 4 inches, etc. 



Yearlings= fish that are 1 year old, but less than 2 years old from the date of hatching; these may ba 

 • designated no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, etc., after the plan prescribed for fingerlings. 



