REPOET 0F THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 27 



DISTRIBUTION OF OUTPUT OF HATCHERIES. 



As heretofore, the fish and fish eggs produced at the bureau's sta- 

 tions were widely distributed, tlie output of commercial fishes being 

 liberated as fry in suitable public waters, while the various species 

 adapted for interior ponds, lakes, and streams wers assigned on 

 aj^plications submitted by individuals, organizations, and State fish- 

 eries authorities. Shipments were made to practically every part of 

 the United States, the coastal regions of Alaska, and to several for- 

 eign countries. 



The five specially equipped cars of the bureau are used principally 

 for the distribution of fish' s to interior waters, including both public 

 and private ponds, lakes, and streams, for which individual applica- 

 tions have been submitted, and waters within the United States 

 forest reservations and national parks. In addition, the cars are 

 employed to some extent in shipping fry from the Great Lakes 

 hatcheries to distant spawning grounds that can not be reached con- 

 venientl}' by boat. In all other cases the distribution of the com- 

 mercial species is accomplished without the use of the cars, most of 

 the fish being liberated on spawning grounds in the immediate 

 vicinity of the hatcheries. 



During the fiscal year 1923 the bureau's cars and messengers 

 covered 415,505 miles of travel on regular passenger trains, in the 

 course of which 11,500 applications for fish were filled. Of this 

 total, 70,118 miles were traveled by the cars and 345,387 miles by 

 detached messengers. 



In a number of instances the bureau refused to entertain appli- 

 cations for such spiny-rayed fishes as bass and pike for introduction 

 into waters connected with the salmon streams of the west coast, 

 on the ground that such fishes would be certain to prove destructive 

 to the existing valuable fisheries of that region. If placed in such 

 waters, the young of these predatory fishes would almost certainly 

 eventually ascend the salmon and trout streams to the natural spawn- 

 ing grounds, prey upon the eggs and young of the indigenous species, 

 and destroy their nests. 



The bureau has alsQ found it necessary to refuse trout and small- 

 mouth black bass for stocking waters in the South, where tlie tem- 

 perature becomes too high for these fishes. It also refuses to furnish 

 l):>ss and other warm-water fishes for introduction in rivers and 

 lakes where these species are indigenous and already abound. Many 

 persons submit applications for fish without considering the neces- 

 sity. If the fishing happens to be poor they apparently think that 

 the mere planting of fresh supplies of fish will afford a bountiful 

 stock. In any event, it is easier to ask for " something for nothing " 

 than to exercise care and vigilance in the conservation of that which 

 already exists. In such cases the essential requirement is not addi- 

 tional plants of fish but adequate protection for the existing stock 

 during the spawning season and the application of proper restric- 

 tive regulations during the remainder of the year. If well protected, 

 most of the warm-water fishes will maintain themselves and multiply 

 without other assistance where the conditions are congenial. The 

 demands for fish for depleted waters throughout the country are 

 so great as to tax the resources of the bureau, and it can not under- 



