PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1987 489 
ponds were under construction at the close of the year in a program 
for enlarging this activity. The output of fish from this source was 
quite successful and affords confirmation of the belief that such ponds 
must be depended upon to keep up production when the rescue work 
is terminated, due to canalization. The rescue activities are the 
subject of discussion elsewhere in this report. 
Trout culture was carried on at the La Crosse, Wis., station with 
very good results, part of the output being utilized at two Forest 
Service rearing stations in Wisconsin. Cooperative trout ponds, super- 
vised by this station and stocked with trout hatched at La Crosse, 
numbered 55 in Wisconsin and 10 in Minnesota. The State of 
Wisconsin adopted the program to a considerable extent in connection 
with its own activities. Additional services rendered by the personnel 
of this station included survey and inspection activities for the Forest 
Service and several of the States. Many of the fish supphed to the 
aquarium at Washington were obtained through the La Crosse head- 
quarters. 
Among the stations operating in this general territory under super- 
vision from La Crosse were those at Fairport, Iowa, Lake Mills, Wis., 
and Rochester, Ind., as well as the seasonal rescue stations at various 
points in the Upper Mississippi Refuge. The Fairport station 
reported one of the best hatches of largemouth bass that has occurred 
at that point. Over 580,000 fry were hatched and distributed to 
rearing ponds. Daphnia culture for fish food was quite successful. 
Some rescue activities were carried on and carp and buffalo eggs were 
taken in nearby waters, fertilized, and returned to the spawning 
grounds. 
At the Lake Mills, Wis., station construction work has been prose- 
cuted with W. P. A. labor, resulting in the completion of one new large 
bass pond and five smaller bass ponds, with a circular rearing pond for 
trout. The production of approximately 70,000 bass, crappie, etc., 
was a slight advance over the previous year, but below the level at 
which this station should produce. Activities with trout, involving 
the distribution of over 200,000 fingerlings, was satisfactory. 
At the Rochester, Ind. station W. P. A. workers were engaged 
throughout the greater part of the year in enlarging the pond system. 
At Argos, Ind., auxiliary construction work was completed and five 
ponds were placed in operation. An office building was being con- 
structed at Rochester at the close of the year, supplementing a garage 
which had been completed earlier. Drought conditions hampered 
fish-cultural activities and necessitated an early distribution of the 
fish. Production approximated 400,000 of all species and sizes, the 
predominant species being largemouth bass. 
The Homer, Minn., station was, as heretofore, utilized as a base for 
certain rescue operations and also as a repair and storage depot for the 
equipment utilized throughout the Upper Mississippi area. 
AQUARIUM 
No new developments were initiated in the aquarium located in 
the basement of the Department of Commerce Building at Washing- 
ton. However, this establishment was a point of attraction to many 
thousands of visitors to the city. The demonstration of hatching 
methods, utilizing live eggs of various species was a point of special 
attraction, as was the model fish ladder used to demonstrate the 
