PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1931 675 



PITTSFORD (VT.) STATION 

 [Dr. H. S. Davis, Director; R. F. Lord, in charge] 



During the first part of the fiscal j'ear five ponds for large fingerlings and older 

 trout were constructed. Concrete was used to replace wood planking in the 

 sides of a 60-foot double racewaj', and a concrete wall was constructed at the 

 lower end of the ice pond. 



Feeding experiments resulted in a fine growth and remarkable coloration of 

 trout fed on dried salmon eggs in combination with liver. Exi^eriments empha- 

 sized the fact that certain dried products can be used in combination with fresh 

 meats with as good or better results than can be obtained when straight fresh 

 meats are used. The lower prices of these dried products allows considerable 

 saving in food costs. The establishment of superior strains of trout through 

 selective breeding was continued throughout the year. Selection is based on 

 growth, health, and number and fertility of the eggs produced. There were on 

 hand at the end of the fiscal year 150 different lots of trout, separate records being 

 maintained for each lot. Most gratifying results are being obtained in this work. 

 Distribution at this station was confined to the disposal of surplus fish. Obser- 

 vations are being made of the results of the planting of 6,900 yearling Montana 

 grayling. These fish were planted in a tributary of the Middlebury River in 

 August, 1930; and during May, 1931, they were reported as being healthy and 

 possessed of good growth. 



NASHUA (N. H.) STATION 

 [James D. DeRocher, Superintendent] 



In addition to regular operations this station has supplied with fish and super- 

 vised 10 cooperative stations maintained by fish and gaine clubs. These clubs 

 exhibited a keen interest in the work. They were supplied with 95,000 brook 

 trout 2 inches in length during the previous fiscal year, from which 39,300 finger- 

 lings of a length of 5 inches resulted. These were distributed in October and 

 November of 1930. Last season was a very dry one but as there were occasional 

 rains during the season of 1931, the prospects are for a better output of fish 

 than that of last year. Regular fish-cultural operations included the rearing 

 and distribution of brook trout, Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, rainbow 

 trout, smallmouth black bass, and catfish. Brook trout eggs numbering 184,235, 

 26,435 smallmouth black bass fry and fingerlings, and 950 catfish were produced 

 from the station brood stock. Transfers from other points increased greatly 

 the number of eggs handled. Over 400,000 trout of all sizes and 27,385 fingerling 

 smallmouth black bass and catfish were distributed. A total of 316,625 trout 

 and salmon was on hand at the end of the year. 



COMBINATION TROUT AND POND FISH STATIONS 



All of these stations realized satisfactory outputs with the excep- 

 tion of that at Erwin, Tenn. Drought greatly affected the water 

 supply at several of the stations and varying weather throughout 

 the pond fish spawning season cut down production. At the Man- 

 chester (Iowa) and Tishomingo (Okla.) stations additional ponds 

 for the production of bass and sunfish were constructed. 



ERWIN (TENN.) STATION 



[A. G. Keesecker, Superintendent] 



Eggs numbering 788,150 were collected from the rainbow trout brood stock. 

 Two lots of brook trout eggs were received from the Craig Brook (Me.) station. 

 The trout produced were distributed as fingerlings to applicants. Only 9,000 

 rainbow trout fingerlings were carried into the 1932 fiscal year. Work with 

 largemouth black bass allowed a distribution of 35,775 fingerling bass. Distri- 

 butions of other pond fishes were: Rock bass, 11,610; sunfish, 26,340; all finger- 

 lings. Largemouth black bass numbering approximately 10,000, 15,000 rock 

 bass and 12,000 sunfish were on hand at the end of the year. Cold and rainy 

 weather affected the spawning of the pond fishes and was largely responsible 



