PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1931 681 



as forage fish being added. The total distribution for the year was 60,700, in- 

 cluding fry and fingerling crappie, sunfish, and largemouth black bass. 



FAIRPORT (IOWA) STATION 

 [A. H. WiEBE, acting director] 



At this station propagation methods to be employed in the production of pond 

 fishes are established. Experiments are carried on with a view toward increased 

 production with a minimum of labor and cost. A special appropriation allowed 

 the expansion of facilities during the j-ear. Six new dirt ponds varying from 0.68 

 to 2.58 acres in area and four concrete ponds 8 feet wide and 50 feet long were 

 constructed. The installation of two new electric pumps for furnishing river 

 water for the ponds was also effected. Electric pumps were attached to two 

 wells on the reservation with the view of providing for a water supply to the 

 residence, the laboratory, and some of the ponds. All buildings were painted. 



Four crews using the station as headquarters captured and distributed 

 25,857,200 fish in fish rescue work. 



CENTRAL STATION AND AQUARIUM, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



[Chakles W. Burnham, Superintendent] 



Throughout the year the usual exhibit of live fish and aquatic 

 animals was maintained. Exhibits included 34 different species, and 

 individual fish numbered 3,523, excluding the eggs of chinook salmon, 

 cisco, rainbow trout, and pike perch, which were displayed during the 

 incubation and fry periods. 



There were 3,043,000 fry produced from the eggs incubated. These 

 and 40,220 other fish, which were produced chiefly at Lakeland, Md., 

 and Fort Humphreys, Va., were distributed from the Central Station 

 to applicants and for the stocking of public waters in near-by States. 



Part 2.— DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS 



[E. C. Feaenow, Superintendent of Distribution] 



While the output of fish (7,121,805,700) was slightly below that of 

 the previous year, the distribution was much heavier due to the large 

 size of the fish distributed in inland waters. The output of fingerling 

 fish in 1931 exceeded the 1930 output by approximately 70,000,000. 



The four distribution cars made 142 trips delivering 34,038 fish, an 

 average of 230 pails per trip. In making this distribution the cars 

 traveled 120,699 paid and 8,143 free miles. Detached car messengers 

 made 534 trips delivering 17,392 pails of fish, on an average of 32 pails 

 per trip. This does not include 679 pails of lake trout planted in 

 Lake Superior by car messengers. The station messengers made a 

 total of 886 trips delivering 20,684 pails of fish, or an average of 24 

 pails per trip. This does not include the distribution of commercial 

 species from the New England, Great Lakes, or Pacific coast stations. 

 The bureau messengers traveled during the year 304,784 paid and 

 104,665 free miles. 



The following table summarizes the distribution of fish and fish 

 eggs during the fiscal year to applicants in the United States and its 

 territories. It also shows the plants of fish made by the bureau in 

 public waters of the country in connection with the propagation of 

 commercial fishes, and the salvaging of fish from temporarily flooded 

 lands. 



