BUREAU fiF FISHERIES 97 



luercial fisheries are to a large extent supported b}' natural reproduc- 

 tion, hence emjihasis was placed ui)on the propagation and distribu- 

 tion of those forms which are required to maintain good fishing in 

 the public domain, and in all public waters of the interior sections. 

 Consequently, there was an actual increase in the production of 10 

 varieties of game fish, which included all the game trout and the 

 largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as grayling. The increase-^ 

 ranged from less than 25 to over 70 percent. 



A further modification required by curtailment of appropriations 

 involved a change in the system of distribution. The delivery of fish 

 gratis to applicants was strictly limited, and the bulk of the output 

 destined for interior w-aters was received directly by the applicants 

 at the hatcheries at no expense to the Government. It is gratifying 

 to report that there was in general a favorable response ro this change, 

 and the whole-hearted cooperation of sportsmen's clubs and indi- 

 viduals was very evident. 



The yield of fingerlings,' consisting of fish several inches in length 

 up to adult size, was considerably reduced, dropping to 126,368,200, 

 a reduction of over 50,000.000 under the 1933 figures. This was 

 largely owing to the fact that the salvage operations on the upper 

 Mississippi River, from which a large number of fingerling fish are 

 secured, were greatly restricted. It may be further pointed out that 

 while there was of necessity a tremendous drop in the production of 

 the Federal hatcheries, there was no indication of a slackening in the 

 demand for fish, particularly for game varieties. Several forms such 

 as the cisco and pollock, which have been handled in previous years, 

 were not propagated in 1934. 



PROPAGATION OF COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



Marine species, Atlantic coast. — Only two hatcheries propagated 

 these forms during the year, the establishment at Gloucester being 

 one of those which was closed on account of the shortage of funds. 

 As a consequence the production of these varieties was considerably 

 reduced. The percentage of marine commercial forms in the total 

 output was 66.5 percent as compared with the normal proportion of 

 approximately 85 percent. The activities of the stations at Woods 

 Hole. Mass.. and Boothbay Harbor, Maine, were greatly circum- 

 scribed, the former being responsible for the greater share of the 

 output of cod, haddock, and flounder. 



Pacific salmon. — Both salmon hatcheries in Alaska were on an 

 inactive losis; consequently, there was a reduction in all species of 

 Par-ific salmon except the steelhead variety. The number of sockeye 

 salmon produced was less than 50 percent of that in ]jrevious years. 

 Approximately normal conditions prevailed at the other Pacific coast 

 hatcheries at which these forms are propagated. 



Anadromous species, Atlantic coast. — Here, too, there was a notice- 

 able reduction in the output of shad, Atlantic salmon, and yellow 

 perch. It was impossible to obtain any Atlantic salmon eggs what- 

 ever in exchange with the Canadian Government, and the limited 

 distribution of this species consisted of fingerlings held over from 

 the previous year. 



