PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923. 63 



iron dams. The hatchery has a total capacity of 5,000,000 green 

 Mgg-s or 1,12.'),000 fry. As the water supply is derived from the 

 heavy sno^Yfall in the surrounding mountains, it is very roily at 

 times. For this reason the tray system is used, it being necessary 

 to handle the eggs almost daily. 



A considerable amount of construction work will be required for 

 the completion of this substation, and the racks and tramps in all 

 streams where egg collections are made must have concrete founda- 

 tions. This part of the work will be done before the beginning of 

 next season's fish-cultural operations, provided funds are available 

 for the purpose. 



In addition to its work with the brook trout and rainbow trout, 

 the Saratoga station produced and distributed 87,500 black- spotted 

 trout fingerlings, the product of approximately 100,000 eggs trans- 

 ferred from Yellowstone Park, and from a few Loch Leven trout 

 held in ponds 15,000 eggs were taken and hatched. The resulting 

 fingerlings are to be reared and retained for increasing the station 

 brood stock of this species. 



All available funds in the special appropriation having been ex- 

 hausted by the building operations of the preceding year, no con- 

 struction work other than minor repairs was possible though much 

 still remains to be done to complete the Sage Creek hatchery and 

 its water-supply system. The matter of improving the station 

 grounds at Saratoga is one that urgently demands consideration. 

 With the exception of a small strip of fenced land along the east 

 side of the railroad these grounds still remain in their original 

 wild condition, cattle roaming over them at will. The reservation 

 should be inclosed by a substantial fence and the grounds planted in 

 trees, shrubs, and grass. 



SPEARTISH (S, DAK.) STATION. 

 [D. C. Booth, Superintendent.] 



Construction work formed a very important part of the activities 

 at this station during the year. The old plank ponds Nos. 1 to 12, 

 which were built in 1899, "had never given satisfactory service even 

 when an abundance of spring water was available, and after the 

 decrease in the supply of water on the upper level of the station 

 reservation these ponds were of no value whatever. In order to 

 provide space for storing water to be used during periods when a 

 shortage in the city supply curtailed the amount delivered at the 

 hatchery it was decided to tear out these unsightly plank ponds and 

 utilize the space for the location of a suitable concrete reservoir. In 

 pursuance of this plan ponds Nos. 1 to 8 were torn out, the space 

 excavated to a suitable depth, and a substantial concrete wall, rein- 

 forced by one-half inch rods laid in cement, was constructed. This 

 reservoir will hold 400,000 gallons of water, or a sufficient amount 

 to tide the hatchery operations over for a period of several days 

 in the event of an accident to the main water pipes or when overflow 

 water from the city reservoir is not obtainable. Another important 

 piece of construction work accomplished was the rebuilding of the 

 large stone bulkhead wall along the southeast corner of the station 

 grounds, the old one having been badly damaged by floods. 



88453—24 5 



