U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Part 1 — Continued. Page. 

 Propagation of fishes of interior 

 waters — Continued. 

 Work of pond fish-cultural sta- 

 tions 01 



Summary of output 62 



Cold Springs (Ga.) station 63 



Kdenton (N. C.) station 63 



Louisville (Ky.) station 64 



Mammoth Spring (Ark.) station- 64 



Orangeburg (S. C.) station 65 



San Marcos (Tex.) station 6.5 



Tupelo (Miss.) station 66 



Practical devices for use in pond 



fish culture 66 



A practical system of cleaning 



fish ponds 66 



Pond outlet and " kettle " 68 



Specifications 69 



Modified form of pond outlet 70 



Work of Central station, Washing- 

 ton, D. C 70 



Spawning seasons of fishes handled 



at stations 72 



Fish food used at fish-cultural sta- 

 tions 75 



Amount and cost of fish food used_ 75 



Food for bass 77 



Tests with herring milt as food 



for rainbow trout 77 



Part 1— Continued. Page. 



Rescue operations 78 



Outline of possible extension 78 



Methods employed in rescuing 



fish 80 



Review of the work 80 



Part 2. — Distribution of fish and fish 



eggs SI 



Extent and character of the work-- 81 



Brief review of the vs^ork 81 



Summary of distribution to all 



applicants 82 



Assignments to State fish com- 

 missions 86 



Considerations in distribution of 



commercial fishes 87 



Results of planting fishes in in- 

 terior waters 88 



Distribution costs and equipment- 90 



Cost of distribution 90 



Distribution cars 90 



Pocket thermometer for use in 



carrying live fish 91 



Procedure in assignments of fishes 



to applicants 91 



Application blanks 91 



Selection of species 91 



Size of allotments 93 



Time and method of delivery 93 



INTRODUCTION. 



In considering: the value of any branch of governmental work it is 

 clearly just to take cognizance of the progress made, as evidenced 

 by an increased volume of work, but improved methods and lower 

 costs of producing and distributing the output are, in the case of 

 fish culture, of more importance, as indicating efficiency and sus- 

 tained interest in the work. 



For a number of years there has been no increase in the funds pro- 

 vided for the propagation and distribution of food fishes, and only 

 the very inadequate increase in compensation of faithful employees 

 as provided by the so-called bonus of $240 per annum. In the face 

 of this condition and the fact that the cost of all commodities, labor, 

 and railroad rates increased many fold during the period of the 

 World War, it is particuhirly gratifying to note that the bureau 

 maintained its fish-cultural establishment, if not intact, still at a 

 point of efficiency where it handled an increased volume of work 

 without material increase in the co.st of production or distribution. 



The value of modern fish culture is so generally accepted by those 

 having knowledge of the facts as to need no defense and is shown 

 by the action of many States in providing funds for such work, by 

 the numbers of fi.sh-cultural plants financed by commercial interests, 

 and by individuals who are interested only in maintaining the fish 

 supply in a given locality. 



The bureau's fish-cultural division is probably more completely 

 organized and equipped than any similar institution in the world. 

 It has been built up through a long period of years and represents 

 the thoughtful and painstaking effort of many persons. It has 

 reached a point in its history where its movement must either ad- 

 vance or retrograde. To longer maintain the present magnitude of 

 the work with the funds provided is manifestly impracticable. On 

 the other hand, the opportunities for its continued enlargement and 

 extension are restricted only by the facilities available. 



