PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1934 411 



Two lar<;e trout ponds wore completed, and a start was made on the 

 construction of circular pools and raceways. Three hundred yards 

 of road was built to service the new construction and the 153 acres of 

 station property were cleared and trinnned of brush. Considerable 

 fencin<i; was moved, and a ditch was du<; for the placement of a pipe 

 line to run to the hatchery site. One hundred aiul twenty-five 

 thousand brook ant! rainbow trout were sliipped to the station in the 

 spring with the intention of feeding them and rearing them for fall 

 distribution. 



POND-FISH STATIONS 



The demand for the warm-water pond fish has continued unabated 

 and tiie stations propagating this species have in a number of instances 

 exceeded previous output. The provision of additional pond space 

 is in most instances the only means whereby the production of bass, 

 sunfish, crappie, etc., can be materially increased. 



At Tupelo, ^Iiss., one pond was enlarged in area and a concrete 

 retaining wall was constructed for the protection of the pond embank- 

 ments. The output of black bass and bream was of approximately 

 normal proportions, but the distribution was restricted because of 

 shortage of funds. 



At the new Marion (Ala.) substation extensive construction work 

 was under way during the year which resulted in the development of 

 approximate!}" 60 acres of pond space, together with an office building, 

 shop, and garage, two dwellings, a reservoir, and several flowing wells 

 for water supply. In spite of the construction and development 

 activities the propagation of fish was also carried on with a distribu- 

 tion of over 300, o6() bass and bream with approximately 100,000 

 iingerlings being held at the close of the year. 



In the Texas field, the San Marcos station effected considerable 

 improvements and developments including the replacement of the 

 water-supply line, additional drainage facilities, construction of con- 

 crete ponds, and other general improvements. The output of bass 

 w^as less than that of the previous year. This station continued the 

 propagation of channel catfish with greater success than heretofore. 



Witli a P. W. A. and C. W. A. allotment construction was started 

 at a new hatchery at San Angelo, but at the close of the year work 

 had not been carried to a point where this station could be placed in 

 production. 



The Fort Worth (Tex.) substation had the largest distribution of 

 bass in its history. 



The Orangeburg (S. C.) station was enlargefl as to its pond space 

 and the fish-cultural operations were of the usual effectiveness. 



At both Tishomingo (Okla.) and Natchitoches (La.), extensive 

 development work was under way. At the latter point adverse 

 weather conditions resulted in very slow progress in the provision of 

 additional pond space, Elxperimental work in the propagation of 

 bass has been carried on at the Natchitoches station, a biologist being 

 detailed to carry on this activity. 



The acquisition of fish from leased ponds at Langdon, Kans., was 

 greatly reduced owing to shortage of funds, and all work in this field 

 was discontinued entirely at the close of the fiscal year. 



The Mammoth Springs (Ark.) station was operated very efficiently 

 at low cost and produced over 500,000 bass, rock bass, and bream.. 



