PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUl'ION OF FOOD FISHES, 1935 423 

 POND-FISH STATIONS 



The hatcheries engaged in the culture of the warm-water or pond 

 fishes are essentially a series of artificial ponds stocked with brood 

 fish. The real fish-cultural work, therefore, lies in t}io management 

 applied to these ponds. The output is somewhat at the mercy of 

 weather and other uncontrollable factors; and, aside from fluctua- 

 tions in production, a recital of station activities is largely a statement 

 of routine. 



At the Warm Springs, Ga., station reconditioning of buildings and 

 grounds was continued with relief labor or funds. An old building 

 was razed and the material used for other repairs. Two retaining 

 walls were erected, and work was performed upon the ponds. The 

 output of fish was slightly less than last year. 



At Valdosta, Ga., construction work prohibited any production of 

 fish. The construction activities included a reinforced concrete dam 

 and necessary structures at the outlet giving complete control of the 

 drainage wells. Eight thousand feet of ditches were excavated to 

 facihtate drainage of the lake. Four holding pools were created by 

 erecting dykes and concrete outlets in the bed of the lake. Other 

 work comprised improvement of the holding shed and its water supply, 

 fencing, roads, etc. 



At the San Angelo, Tex., station, operated under the jurisdiction 

 of the San Marcos, Tex., station, a dwelling, shop, and garage were 

 completed and two ponds developed to the point where fry could be 

 transferred to them for rearing. 



At the Orangeburg, S. C, station two small mud ponds were com- 

 pleted. A number of the buildings were painted. The production of 

 fish approximating a total of 500,000 was more than 100,000 in excess 

 of last year's output. The cooperative shad work on the Edisto 

 River gave very limited results, however. 



At the Marion, Ala., station results in fish-cultural work this year 

 were gratifying both as to the size and numbers of fish produced. A 

 total of 434,280 fingerlings were delivered to apphcants and 116,500 

 bass were planted in station rearing ponds. No fish were handled in 

 the advanced fry stage this year. During the year^ 8 additional 

 ponds were constructed covering a total of 28.73 acres, increasing the 

 pond system to 51 ponds with a total water area of 100 acres. Another 

 flowing well was brought in during the fall, and there is now sufficient 

 water to supply ponds additional to those already constructed. Con- 

 struction of buildings was continued during the first half of the year 

 and there were completed during tliis period, one brick veneer dwelling, 

 one large frame barn, two small barns, and one shipping shed. A large 

 log cabin at Perry Lake, on the east side of the property and 1 mile 

 from the office, was nearly completed. A telephone line was con- 

 structed to Marion, a distance of 7 miles. 



Adverse weather conditions at the Louisville, Ky., station, with 

 other unusual factors, caused a decrease in the output of smallmouth 

 bass fry. During the year 133,000 smallmouth bass fry and 5,070 

 fingerlings were distributed, as well as 210,000 largemouth bass fry 

 and 21,611 fingerlings. The latter were produced in increased 

 numbers. 



Considerable excavation of earth froni upper portions of ponds, the 

 uncovering of water supply and sewer lines for leaks; also other con- 



