PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1987 487 
was very satisfactory and permitted numerous shipments to other 
stations. The quality of these eggs was extra good. The propa- 
gation of smallmouth bass was virtually a failure. The cold water in 
the bass ponds may be considered a contributing cause to this result. 
The Manchester station furnished a considerable number of rainbow 
trout for such waters as the State of lowa desired to stock with this 
species. 
The Northville, Mich., station conducted 7 cooperative feeding 
stations to which trout fingerlings were transferred in the late spring 
for rearing. This station furnished a considerable number of trout to 
the States of Ohio and Indiana, enabling those States to stock their 
limited mileage of trout waters without the necessity of establishing 
trout-hatching or rearing units of their own. This station also 
supplied a considerable number of trout and pondfish, particularly 
smallmouth bass, for Forest Service waters. The total output of 
fish exceeded 1 million. 
The hatchery at Smokemont, N. C., operated solely for the stocking 
of waters in the Great Smoky National Park, was completed during 
the year. The hatchery building has a capacity of 30 troughs and 
is of an architectural design to harmonize with the type of structures 
approved by the National Park Service. A residence was also con- 
structed, together with additional service stations. This station 
has been equipped with a small hydroelectric power plant. Approxi- 
mately 600,000 eggs were hatched. However, mortality in the rain- 
bow fingerlings materially reduced the output. At the close of the 
year several hundred thousand trout fingerlings were being reared for 
distribution at legal size. 
PONDFISH STATIONS 
The hatcheries which contribute most fully to maintenance of 
angling for the largest number of people are those which propagate 
the socalled ‘‘warm water’? pondfishes, of which the bass are the 
most popular form and the most difficult to propagate in large quanti- 
ties. The methods followed in culturing these species are really 
merely modifications of the natural reproductive processes and are 
in part subject to the same hazards. Consequently, there was con- 
siderable fluctuation in the output of the different stations with, 
however, a trend toward increased distribution, particularly in the 
case of bass. 
The Warm Springs, Ga., station, operating along normal lines, 
distributed almost 250,000 bass fry in addition to more than 500,000 
bass, bream, and catfish fingerlings. The station at Lake Park, Ga., 
enjoyed a successful season, the distribution being largely handled by 
the State of Georgia. 
The station at Tupelo, Miss., made a few minor improvements, 
including the installation of new holding troughs. The production of 
over 28,000 black bass per acre of water, and over 19,000 bream per 
acre of water is indicative of the successful operation of this establish- 
ment which, however, is restricted in its pond area. 
In contrast to previous years, very little construction work was 
carried on at the Marion, Ala., station. The number of bass dis- 
tributed to applicants was practically the same as last year but the 
number of fingerlings left in the pond for subsequent distribution was 
greater. Over 530,000 bass were handled. There was an increase of 
