680 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



lified during 1931 by increasing the depth of water over the bass nests and provid- 

 ing for a heavy flow of water during such times. It has been demonstrated, 

 however, that the slough pond can not be thus regulated and heavy losses of 

 eggs and fry were again experienced following sudden temperature declines. 

 During the spring young fish numbering 259,225 fry and 82,545 fingerlings were 

 collected from the spawning ponds with seines and dip nets and distributed to 

 applicants. Several of the small ponds in the basin system were utilized for 

 rearing fry to the fingerling stage. The old stock of bream, consisting of a mixed 

 lot of various species of the sunfishes, was discarded and a new stock of blue-gill 

 bream was obtained from the Valdosta (Ga.) substation. The Rio Grande 

 perch, recently introduced from waters near the Mexican border, have become 

 adapted to their new environment and reproduced very satisfactorily during the 

 year. As usual the supply of crappie was obtained from stock tanks on ranches 

 in proximity to the station. The number obtained was increased materially, as 

 compared with past years, by the acquisition of additional tanks. 



Lake Worth {Tex.) substation. — An addition was made to the rear of the cottage, 

 and a shed was constructed on adjacent ground. A well was driven and cased 

 to supply water for domestic use. A deep-well pump connected to a gasoline 

 engine, a steel tower, and a water storage tank were constructed. The fall dis- 

 tribution of the warm-water species was increased over that of last year, although 

 the facilities for holding the fish were somewhat inadequate. Two small earth 

 ponds were constructed for holding fish for the spring distribution. Severe 

 temperature declines during March and April resulted in the loss of early de- 

 posited eggs and as a consequence the spring distribution of bass was limited to 

 26,500 fingerlings and 4,000 fry. At various times during the year rescue opera- 

 tions were conducted in Trinity River for salvaging crappie and catfish from 

 flood waters, and some of these fish were utilized in filling applications. In the 

 course of the year the old brook stock of bluegill sunfish was discarded and a new 

 brood stock was obtained from the Tupelo (Miss.) station. 



New Braunfels (Tex.) substation. — The year's output from this substation com- 

 prised 64,500 fry and 14,800 fingerling fish. The work was done under greatly 

 improved spawning conditions due to the establishment of a new brood stock of 

 black bass in advance of the spring spawning season. 



TUPELO (MISS.) STATION AND SUBSTATION 

 [Charles R. Wiant, Superintendent] 



No construction work was in progress, and only such minor repairs were made 

 during the year as were necessary for the proper maintenance of the buildings. 

 Two of the ponds were enlarged by the removal of earth from the edges. The 

 removed soil was utilized for reinforcing the outside levees. The fencing on the 

 crown of the levees was removed and reset at a distance of 3 feet outside the 

 levees. 



Fish-cultural activites were extended by the establishment of two cooperative 

 bass nurseries in the western part of the State and by the leasing of a lO-acre lake 

 near Tuscaloosa, Ala. After cleaning these ponds they were stocked during the 

 spring with small bass. The fall distribution work was handled by Fisheries 

 car No. 8, and after filling all applications a carload of fingerling bream was 

 taken on board for delivery to Virginia applicants. Surplus bream numbering 

 85,000 were carried through the winter and used in the spring for stocking Medina 

 Lake, Tex., and for shipment in connection with the spring bass distribution in 

 Mississippi. Practically the same number of bass were produced as in the 

 previous year, but the percentage of fingerling fish distributed in 1931 amounted 

 to 42.2 per cent of the whole as against 26.5 last year. The total number of bass 

 and bream distributed during the year amounted to 715,520, exclusive of the 

 bass used in stocking a station nursery jjond. 



Aliceville (Ala.) substation. — The combined output of bass and bream from the 

 five small ponds operated in this field amounted to 72,585. Practically the entire 

 output of fish was delivered to applicants who called at the ponds to receive them. 



LAKELAND (mD.) PONDS 



[E. K. BuRNHAM, acting in charge] 



During the fall of 1930 all ponds were drained and fish not needed for brood 

 stock were distributed. All brood stock was held through the winter in pond 

 No. 2. In the spring the ponds were refilled and restocked, a supply of minnows 



