PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1934 413 



P. W. A. allotinont, C W. A. assi(i;ninoiit, and at the close of tlio year 

 throii<;h tlio uso of roliof labor. The (U^velopinonts initiated consisted 

 of two dwellings, a cond)ination shoj) and pua»<e, and a tank or holding 

 liouse. In addition, the pond system was greatly extended. How- 

 ever, at the close of the }ear there .<till remained a considerable 

 potential pond area awaiting development. Brood stock of |)()ntl fish 

 was secured, and the hatch of (ish appeared reasonably satisfactory 

 ill view of conditions. This station also achieved a distribution of 

 bass and suntish, during the fall of 1933, from the limited number of 

 ponds which had been previously constructed and placed in operation. 

 Assistance was rendered by the State of Indiana in the distribution 

 of bass, suntish, etc., produced at this station. 



ACUARIUM 



The Bureau of Fisheries Aquarium has consistently increased in 

 popularity and has become an important point of interest to visitors. 

 During the school year classes in biology from Washington and adja- 

 cent territory have made frequent visits to it for educational pur- 

 poses. There has been an insistent demand that the aquarium be 

 kept open on Sundays and holidaj^s in order to accommodate visitors 

 who could not come tit other times. 



During the year 1,533 specimens of fish, comprising (\2 species, 

 and 107 aquatic animals of 6 varieties were on display. The trout 

 collection, in particular, has been considered one of the finest in the 

 country. Some difficulty has been encountered during the summer 

 months in keeping the fish in good condition, owing to the high tem- 

 peratures of the city water supply which caused tiie rapid develop- 

 ment of parasites and the constant application of remedial measures. 

 It has been the practice to make a special display of new and odd 

 specimens which may be of unusual public interest. 



Model hatching eciuipment, in a modified form, has been set uj) to 

 demonstrate the methods followed in propagating trout, salmon, 

 perch, shad, and wall-eyed pike. 



The director has been called upon to furnish information and advice 

 on the construction and maintenance of ornamental fish pools, home 

 aquariums, etc., on frequent occasions. 



FISH CULTURAL NOTES 



HATCHING SALMON' EGGS ON STACKED TRAYS 



There has jjreviously been given considerable attention to the carry- 

 ing of salmon fry on stacked trays in preference to use of the egg 

 baskets. The report of a large-scale experiment of this nature at 

 both the Big White and Little White Salmon (Oreg.) substations 

 throws further light on this matter. One million nine hundred 

 thousand eggs were hatched by this method. When tlie fiist indica- 

 tion of hatching appeared eggs were picked over and placed on stacked 

 trays, each tray carrying .3.000 eggs. The resulting fry hatched on 

 the trays were not cleaned up at any time during the sac absoiption 

 period, and it was found that the loss of fish handled in this manner 

 was considerably less than with those handled in the usual way. 

 The greatest loss was reported as being not to exceed 10 or 12 per 

 tray of 3,000 eggs, antl in many trays there was not a single dead fry. 



