LXVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



and exposing tlie bottoms to frost, tlie condition of the north and south 

 ponds was worse this year than ever before. The muddy sediment on 

 the bottom was removed during the fall to a depth of 5 inches, and 

 though a careful examination of the soil in March seemed to indicate 

 that every trace of the injurious material had been removed it appeared 

 in larger quantities than heretofore. 



Wythevillic Station, Virginia (George A. Seagle, Superintendent). 



Operations at this station were confined chiefly to the propagation 

 and distribution of rainbow trout. In September the superintendent 

 was detailed to make an investigation in Georgia for the selection of a 

 suitable site for a fish-cultural station. This work, with reports, etc., 

 occupied his entire time for that month. At the beginning of the fiscal 

 year the stock of brood-fish on hand was as follows : 



Of the rainbow trout, 61,000 fry were distributed during July and 

 August, and the balance, 110,000, in November and December. These 

 fish were carried during the summer in the rearing troughs and ponds, 

 and fed on a mixture of beef liver and mush. About 12 pounds of this 

 food were fed daily to 1,000 adult fish, and about f pound to the same 

 number less than a year old. The adults were fed twice a day, half of 

 the above-stated amount being given at each feed. The small fry were 

 fed four times a day on liver and mush, canned herring roe, and salted 

 cod roe alternately. They were first trained to take the canned herring 

 roe, and their diet was then varied by salted cod roe and liver. If the 

 fry are first given the liver, it is afterwards difficult to induce them to 

 take the roe. 



In July, 1897, small samples of a prepared food, believed to be dried 

 shrimp ground up, was sent to the station on trial by Mr. A. Yoight, 

 of Brooklyn, JST. Y. The material in one i)arcel was finely ground, that 

 in the other was coarser. Both samples were fed to the fingerlings, as 

 there were none smaller at that time. The fish took no notice of the 

 finely ground food, but of the coarser probably half was consumed. It 

 is believed that small trout could be trained to take this food, and that 

 it would be wholesome for them, though, perhaps, too expensive for use. 



Of the total stock of adult fish, only 503 females i)roduced eggs dur- 

 ing the year. The spawning season commenced earlier than usual — on 

 November 8 — and continued until February 10. The total number of 

 the eggs collected was 410,000, an average of 815 per spawner; for the 

 fertilization of these, 320 males were used. The loss of eggs, owing to 



