88 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



3,000 to the liquid ounce, measuring 17 to the linear inch. On March 

 T the e3^e spot was visible and by the 10th all live eggs had hatched, 

 the number of fry being estimated at about 600. The heavy loss of 

 eggs indicated was doubtless caused by injuries received when they 

 were counted. On March 23 the young fish rose from the tray as 

 sac-absorbed fry and were soon feeding eagerly on beef heart that 

 had been prepared for them by running it tlirough a meat chopper 

 several times, rubbing through cheesecloth, and finally converting 

 it into a thin soup}' solution by the addition of water. On April 9, 

 one month and four days after the removal of the eggs from the pond, 

 they were distributed as advanced fry, their number being 394. 



SAN MAECOS (TEX.) STATTON". 

 [Mark Riley, Superintendent.] 



There was a serious falling off in the production of fish at this 

 station as compared with the w^ork accomplished in 1922, the total 

 distributions amounting in round numbers to 271.000, or considerably 

 less than one-third of the record output established that year. The 

 yield of the largemouth black bass, the most important species prop- 

 agated, numbered 251,918, and 14,508 green sunfish {Apomotis cya- 

 nellus) were distributed. The other species handled during the year 

 included crappie. rock bass, and warmouth bass, all of which were 

 produced in negligible numbers. 



The poor showing made in the year's fish-cultural work is attrib- 

 uted to excessive rains and severe cold prevailing prior to and dur- 

 ing the early pa.rt of the spawning season. Weather conditions 

 throughout the month of February were exceedingly unfavorable, and 

 the sudden temperature changes experienced in March — the extreme 

 range extending from 83° to 27°— proved very destructive to the 

 nests of eggs. A determined effort was made to counteract these 

 violent fluctuations of temperature by pumping into the ponds the 

 warmer water of the San Marcos River, but it proved impossible to 

 avert the disastrous losses of stock which occurred. 



The station was compelled to cover the entire State, making many 

 long trips that involved a much greater expenditure of funds than 

 would have been necessary had the State fisheries authorities been 

 able to cooperate as anticipated. 



The inadequacy of the San Marcos station to meet the demands 

 made upon it throughout the length and breadth of the State is every 

 j'^ear becoming more apparent. Additional hatching centers are 

 greatly needed. At the present time an undue proportion of the 

 funds allotted for the work of the station is expended in shipping 

 fish to applicants located at a great distance. Were it possilDle to 

 eliminate the large expense annually incurred for transportation the 

 funds thus saved would go a long way toward increasing the produc- 

 tiveness of the station. 



In an effort to alleviate the situation the bureau has been nego- 

 tiating with groups of interested citizens in different sections of 

 Texas in an effort to secure financial cooperation in the construction 

 of ponds where supplies of suitable fish may be raised to meet the 



