PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 193 3 455 



The collection of eg2:s, operation of hatcheries, and distribution of 

 fish are fields in which cooperation aids efficiency and permits econ- 

 omy. In at least 21 States relationships of the foregoing type have 

 been established or continued. At least 6 other States have received 

 special services or aid from the division in addition to the routine 

 activity of distributing fish in State waters. The joint operation of a 

 pike-perch hatchery on Lake Champlain by the division and the 

 States of Pennsylvania and Vermont was discontinued, but other 

 useful contacts with these agencies were continued in force. Like- 

 wise the striped bass hatchery at Weldon, N.C., formerly operated 

 with the assistance of the State, was not opened, but trout eggs and 

 bass were assigned to the State for its own hatcheries. Even closer 

 affiliations than last year were maintained with the States of Mary- 

 land and Virginia, particularly in the distribution by the States of 

 fish produced in Bureau hatcheries. Cooperative arrrangements for 

 the collection of trout eggs in the Rocky Mountain States, of eggs of 

 commercial species in the Great Lakes region, and in the propagation 

 of salmon on the Pacific coast are now established on routine 

 procedure. 



With regard to cooperation with other Federal agencies, there are 

 no other organizations of the central Government performing func- 

 tions related to those of the Bureau of Fisheries. In dealing with a 

 natural resource there is, however, considerable contact with Bureaus 

 concerned with some phase of conservation or administration of 

 natural resources of the public domain. In fact, in assuming respon- 

 sibility to a large degree for the maintenance of fishing in national 

 parks and natoinal forests the Bureau must work in intimate relation- 

 ship with the agencies and officials controlling and administering 

 those areas. During the past year there has been evidence of a mutual 

 recognition of the problems involved and of the difficulties confronting 

 the Bureau. Policies at one time uncertain or confficting hav^e been 

 worked out until now the difficulties are chiefly those concerned with 

 ways and means and the overcoming of natural obstacles. 



The Bureau attempts to serve all other Federal agencies insofar as 

 they deal with fishery matters to the fidlest extent of its resources. 

 Throughout the year the policy has been to view all requests for 

 cooperation or aid from whatever source strictly in the light of ability 

 to assist, rather than as a question of desirability. 



COOPERATION WITH SPORTSMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS 



The desirability of sportsmen's organizations receiving fish from 

 the Federal or State hatcheries for rearing in ponds or nurseries spon- 

 sored and operated by the clubs is now universally accepted. The 

 diminution in the extent of these activities during the fiscal year 1933 

 was the result of financial and economic conditions rather tlian doubt 

 as to the value of such activities. It would be most desirable that 

 the cooperative and auxiliary private rearing ponds should be in- 

 creased in number and capacity as the Bureau's activities are being 

 curtailed, since such curtailment means a planting from Federal 

 hatcheries of a larger number of fish at a smaller size. However, 

 during the present year only 88 organizations deemed themselves 

 able to maintain their own fish nurseries, and the fish allotted to them 

 comprised slightly over 3,500,000 in comparison with over 4,000,000 



