PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1935 425 



inadequate to maintain the ponds throughout the season and the 

 fish were distributed in July and August, thereby reducing the output 

 of hxrgor (ish. 



At the Lake Mills, Wis., substation there was a production of trout 

 and pond fish commensurate with the facilities available. 



AQUARIUM 



The aquarium located under the mam lobby in the Department of 

 Commerce Building is maintaining its reputation as one of Washing- 

 ton's popular points of interest for visitors. The numerous organiza- 

 tions which gather for conventions in Washington, as a rule, include 

 the aquarium in their itinerary of sightseeing. 



The general exhibits were maintained in much the same manner as 

 during the previous year and the display of trout has continued to be 

 a point of particular interest. However, from time to time during the 

 year it has been the practice to introduce more novel exhibits, one 

 of wliich was a 500-pound green turtle. Another interesting novelty 

 was a pair of piranha — the small man-eating fish of the Amazon Basin. 



The number of specimens and species on display have varied from 

 time to time, but as a rule from 1,500 to 2,000 individual specimens 

 representing more than 50 different varieties are shown. Replace- 

 ment specimens were obtained from several of the Bureau hatcheries, 

 the majority being obtained from the La Crosse, Wis., territory. 



The aquarium also was of great service in preparing and forwarding 

 foreign shipments of live fish and eggs which were made to Puerto 

 Rico, Panama, and Venezuela. 



As usual the display of model hatching apparatus was kept in 

 operation for the purpose of illustrating the methods followed in 

 incubating various types of eggs. 



DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS 



The large number of fish distributed in the waters of the national 

 forests and national parks was to a large extent handled by those 

 agencies themselves. In a number of instances sportsmen's clubs 

 cooperated in distributing fish throughout a large territory. This 

 was particularly evident in connection with the operations at the 

 Spearfish, S. Dak., station. The trend is constantly toward the use 

 of tnicks for distribution purposes, and the fish cars are used only 

 for the longer hauls. 



The distribution cars engaged in the delivery of fish to appHcants 

 this year made 65 trips and carried an average of 250 pails per trip. 

 The cars traveled 45,435 paid miles and 8,958 free miles. Detached 

 messengers made 49,665 paid miles and 4,725 free miles in delivering 

 fish to apphcants. Truck deliveries during the year aggregated 

 40,351 miles. As formerly, the Bureau received free transportation 

 and reduced rates from a number of railroads. 



It is the Bureau's policy to notify appHcants when their fish are 

 ready for deUvery and ask them to call at the hatchery to receive 

 them. After the applicants have been notified and sufficient time 

 has elapsed, if they do not call for their fish the same are plarited in 

 suitable waters. This course has been made necessary owing to 

 shortage in distribution funds. 



