PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921. 41 



convenience and efficiency of the operations and also effect an 

 economy. The new building, of fireproof construction, provides for 

 a machine shop, boiler and pump room, garage, and ample storage 

 space. The old boiler and pump room, of frame construction, con- 

 stituting a further fire menace, has been removed. The new boiler 

 space is adjacent to and connected with the coal shed by a covered 

 passage, thus eliminating a long and expensive haul of coal from the 

 storage to the boiler. 



Another important change was the construction of a sand filter, 

 with a capacity of 3(X) gallons of wat^r per minute. The arrange- 

 ments are such that the water from the cod-spawning cistern enters 

 the filter by gravity. From the filter it is returned to the storage 

 tanks by the pumps. " Make-up " water will be added each day in 

 sufficient quantities to keep the supply in good condition. This wnll 

 add to the efficiency of the fish-cultural work by eliminating from the 

 hatchery the sediment that is carried in the water taken direct from 

 the harbor and which has been particularly detrimental, to the eggs 

 under incubation during periods when the harbor water is agitated 

 by high winds. The arrangement will be further effective in a sav- 

 ing of fuel, since it is found expedient to raise the temperature of the 

 hatchery water supply from 8 to 10 degrees during the winter 

 months. The new system will permit of the water that has been 

 warmed being kept in circulation tiiroughout the entire system. 

 Modern heating apparatus, with automatic thcrmo controls and an 

 electrically operated pump, for use during the summer when but 

 comparatively small quantities of water are used, W'ill effect a fur- 

 ther saving in fuel consuni]>tion. 



PROPAGATION OF BUFFALOFISH, ATCHAFALAYA (LA.) SUBSTATION. 



[C. F. Culler, In Charge.] 



The propagation of Iniffalofish in the Atchafalaya River district of 

 Louisiana is meeting with success, dependent to a large extent on the 

 regulations recently established by the Louisiana Conservation Com- 

 mission. Under existing arrangements no fisherman is allowed to 

 operate nets during the spawning season without first securing from 

 the State authorities a permit, which is revocable in the event that the 

 eggs of all ripe fisli taken are not delivered without charge to collect- 

 ing agents of the bureau. It is considered that permission to fish 

 during the closed season, with the right to retain the fish captured 

 after stripping, is sufficient compensation for the eggs turned over to 

 the bureau. 



This work was inaugurated in the spring of 1918 to meet the large 

 and increasing market demands for buffalofish, and while the water 

 stages in the river during the spawning season are not uniformly 

 favorable the experience gained has demonstrated that, with the local 

 cooperative assistance at present afforded, there is no reason why 

 hatching operations should not be continued on an extensive and 

 [profitable basis. Thus far the fishermen have willingly complied 

 \\ ith the terms of the regulations, and the cooperation rendered by 

 them has contributed largely to the success of the work. 



In the seas<^)n of 1921 the substation was opened on January 23 and, 

 in orilci' to Tree the hatcheiy water supply of the large amount of 

 sediment contained in it, a filter was installed in the water-supply 



