PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921. 



57 



various species handled is maintained at all times and work of a 

 strictlj' fish-cultural nature is under Tvay throughout the year, 

 whereas the fish-cultural work at certain of the hatcheries, especially 

 those handling the commercial species, is seasonal in its character. 

 The '' combination " stations operated by the bureau are located at 

 Erwin, Tenn. ; Manchester, Iowa; Neosho, Mo.; White Sulphur 

 Springs. W. Va. ; and Wytheville, Va. Following is the aggregate 

 output, by species, of this group of stations for 1921 : 



Brook trout 1,0U4, 950 



Cijappie 14,332 



Largeinouth black bass — 121,978 



Pike perch 500,000 



Rainbow trout 2,583,244 



Rock buss 95,385 



Suuillinouth bladv bass 



Suiitish 



Yellow i>erc'li 



112, 591 



02, 355 



58 



Total 5,154,893 



ERWIN (TENN.) STATION. 



[A. G. Keesecker, Superintendent.] 



The aggregate output of this station shows an increase of about 30 

 per cent over that of the previous year. The spaAvning season of the 

 rainbow trout began on November 8 and continued to January 27, 

 the total egg collection amounting to 936,000, of which 822,000 were 

 eyed. With the exception of 55,000 eyed eggs supplied to the State 

 hatchery at P^lkmont, Tenn., the entire lot was incubated in the 

 Erwin hatchery. The losses were merely nominal, and the out})ut 

 of this species for the year amounted to 755,100, this number inchid- 

 ing 59,920 fingerlings derived from eggs transferred from the Neosho 

 (Mo.) station. As an addition to the brood stock 10,000 steelhead 

 eggs transferred from tlie Birdsview (Wash.) station were incubated, 

 producing 9,300 fry. The year's work with the rainbow trout indi- 

 cates a very satisfactory improvement, both with regard to the pro- 

 ductivity of the l)rood fisli and the (piality of the eggs secured. No 

 brood stock of l)rook trout is maintained at this station, all eggs of 

 that species handled being acquired by purchase from commercial 

 dealers. During the year the 439,300 eggs thus acquired resulted in 

 an output of 300,435 fingerlings. 



The spawning season of the smallmouth black bass began on 

 April 13 and continued to May 28. Twelve nests were occupied, and 

 10 of them were ])roductive, though the percentage of fry hatched in 

 each nest was small. The distribution of this species amounted to 

 5,105 fingerlings, and it was estimated that upward of 3,000 were on 

 hand at tbe close of the 3'ear. The outcome of the operations with the 

 largemouth black bass was better, 05,980 of these being available for 

 distribution, with approximately 10.000 on hand at the end of June. 

 During the spawning period, extending from April 13 to June 1, the 

 warm weather during tlie spring was followed by colder weather, and 

 this was an important factor in reducing the outi)ut of both species 

 f)f black bass. Tlie year's distribution also included 17,200 rock bass, 

 400 strawberry buss, and 20,350 sunfish, all fingerlings. 



