PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1940 593 
broad-scale trial in this region where the fishing pressure is relatively: 
intense. The results to date have emphasized a. dependence upon 
hatcheries and the necessity for rearing the fish to legal size. 
PONDFISH STATIONS 
Probably a larger percentage of sportsmen are dependent upon 
the warm-water fishes for recreation than upon any other group. 
Increasing temperatures of the inland streams, due to deforestation, 
decreased flowage of water, ete., have rendered many which formerly 
produced cold-water fishes too warm for their continued survival. 
The stocking of such waters has placed an additional drain upon. the 
production of pondfish hatcheries. To produce fish for these waters, 
as well as newly created. ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, the Bureau is 
adding new units in various sections of the country and increasing 
the size of existing hatcheries as. rapidly as funds for such operations 
are provided. Although progress is being made in the study of 
artificial feeding of pondfishes, no artificial ration has been found 
that, suecessfully supplants the natural diet. Therefore, the produc- 
tion of pondfishes is still largely dependent.upon the area of the ponds 
available, which ponds must synthesize a supply of food sufficient. for 
their growth to the desired size. Supplementing the natural food 
production to a certain degree has helped to meet the problem. . 
The Fairport. (lowa) hatchery conducted its fish-cultural activities 
along routine lines, and attained normal success in the production 
and. distribution of six species of spiny-rayed fishes. Buffalo-fish eggs 
amounting to 50,300,000, obtained from commercial fishermen oper- 
ating along the Mississippi River in the vicinity of the station, were 
fertilized and returned to the spawning grounds. Very little salvage 
work was necessary along the Mississippi River, but. since this unit 
is properly equipped to handle such operations it cooperated with 
local sportsmen and the Iowa Conservation Department im transfer- 
ring game fish and pan fish from stagnant. inland waters to suitable 
nearby waters. 
Due to adverse weather conditions during the spawning season, 
the production of largemouth black bass at. the Rochester (Ind.) 
station was far below that of last season. Nevertheless, the total 
output of the eight species of warm-water fishes handled at. this 
hatchery and its auxiliary at Argos was in excess of 1 million finger- 
lings. This. station was favored with a W. P. A. project which made 
possible regrading several pond bottoms.and banks, riprapping approx- 
imately 16,000 square feet. of creek bank, landscaping grounds, and 
excavating a 5-acre pond. Cattle manure was used for fertilizer, and 
the production of daphnia for fish food was quite successful; especially 
during the early spring months. The nine flowing wells—the source 
of water supply at the Argos unit—were cleaned, thus increasing the 
flow of all wells except one by approximately 50. percent. 
The Senecaville (Ohio) substation was opened on May 7 and shortly 
thereafter 74,000 advanced black bass fry were transferred from 
Rochester to that point for stocking the rearing ponds. 
Although the Welaka (Fla.) station has not been placed on a full 
productive basis, the output of black bass and bream for the year was 
in excess. of 1 million—this production being the largest since the 
station has been under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. Approximately 
