66 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
have been found in ponds below the breeding ponds. It could not be 
determined just how long the young remain on the nests after hatech- 
ing, but parent fish watch the nest very closely for two weeks or 
more. It is not certain which parent watches the nest, but they show 
more vigilance than either the rock bass or the black bass, sometimes 
biting at the glass tube when it is put down to take up fish or eggs 
for examination. The water temperature in this pond ranged from 
60° to 65° during the spawning season. Nests were observed on April 
27, and the first eggs were taken up for examination on May 13. 
The rock-bass work of the past season*was very disappointing, as 
for some unknown cause only 9,345 were secured from the ponds. 
The breeders were placed in three ponds during the spring of 1901, and 
as large numbers of nests were occupied and many fry have been 
observed, it is thought that the results will be much better this season. 
Sun-fish appeared in large numbers in the ponds during the spring, 
and thousands of them were used for bass food; 5,730 were also dis- 
tributed to applicants. 
After the ponds were drawn down in the fall ponds Nos. 1, 2, 3, 
and 4 were entirely rebuilt, and a number of others were materially 
improved. A cement walk, over 1,000 feet long, from the residence 
to the small gate on the north side of the grounds, was constructed, 
and two fine cement bridges over the branch were built. This work 
has improved the appearance of the station very much. 
Congress having made a special appropriation of $7,500 for recon- 
structing the hatchery and acquiring land for bass ponds and an 
additional water supply, steps were taken to purchase the necessary 
land and to assemble the material for the work of construction. 
Number of fish on hand at Neosho at the end of the year. 





Calendar year in which fish were 
: ‘ hatched. 
Species. 
1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. 1897. 
Rainbow troutec so. =t262-tesnes | seth ae See eee eaters 51,500 | 1,500 | 2,275 940))| See 
Black bass) seeceh oes sas soc at ee oes eae er ee eee ee eeeas Soe asters ce one ceses SE33 Wes aeoces 155 
ROCK Passes a2 Soe eee Ase Se ee ee ee ee Serena. S| eae a Aiea es eres 40 
Stra wibertyvspasseeek eee ee ae ee ee | ee | Ue ee LOSS se ocee ee 55 
Goldemide- sane ee ik Ses aie sos Sa Se aa aera Fe sea eee aes | beeeeeens peers 11 
Motel ease Seely ee ae eae ee ee eee 51,500 | 1,500 | 2,690 940 261 





Temperature and precipitation at Neosho for the year ending June 30, 1901. 


Month. |Max.| Min. | Mean. |PT€°P-| snow. Month. | Max.| Min. | Mean. |E7°CiP-| snow. 






litation. itation. 
1900. Ya | a7 °F. | Inches.| Inches. 1901. CYP! C19! °F. | Inches.) Inches. 
July eee 92 50 75.4 AIG) | oe ee January ..-| 70 9 38.9 0%457| eee 
August ....- 98 57 Cloth BxOON Eee February --| 64 12 34.4 1.20 2 
September _| 94 47 73 TORS sees Marchy=s2- 82 6 46.6 4.54 2 
October ..-.| 88 33 52.6 CES O72 eee Sees Avprilees2-|, 86 28 54. 4 3.12 1 
November -| 78 16 48 OS) | saoe cee Mays 3a 85 36 63.9 Bl ss 
December _-_| 64 9 38. 4 OS4||-.-22e. JUNC sete ee 98 45 ust Sl pees 








Mean temperature for year, 57.5° F. Total precipitation, 39.79 inches. 
