PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921, 79 



fish-cultural stations. This diversion is apt to result in a compara- 

 tive lack of interest in the work of the home stations, and not in- 

 frequently it curtails their operations. Moreover, men drawn from 

 other lines of activities can not be expected to be as familiar or as 

 efficient in the prosecution of the rescue work as will men who can 

 devote all their time to it. The work has grown to such proportions 

 that men drawn from the fish-cultural stations can no longer handle 

 it to the fullest advantage under such conditions. 



The rescue field would afford profitable employment for such a 

 force throughout the year, the line of operations to be something as 

 follows: Rescue of fishes along the upper reaches of the river would 

 occupy the attention of the men from Julv to December, dui-ing 

 which time a crew of five men could save from 8,()00,()()0 to 10,()()().000 

 fish, at a total approximate cost of $2,000. That namber of fish pur- 

 chased from commercial fish-culturists would cost the bureau from 

 $25,000 to $:30.000 and to citizens of the Mississi])pi Valley would 

 represent a food value of $1,000,000 to $1..500,000 when placed on the 

 market three 3'ears after being rescued. These figures are very con- 

 servative when compared with the results attained at the bureau's 

 regularly established fish-cultural stations. At the close of the res- 

 cue season important work in the salvage of eggs in connection with 

 the commercial fisheries in Louisiana would consume practically all 

 the time of the men from February to April. From Louisiana the 

 crew would work northward to the confluence of the Ohio and the 

 Mississi[)pi Rivers, where imi)()rtant fields are open in the three 

 adjoining States. The Illinois River overflows its dikes during the 

 spring freshets, and in May or early June large ])unips are operated 

 to remove the water from the land. Many millions of young fish 

 arc thus left in the fields to jierish or are passed through the pumps 

 and destroyed. During the comparatively short j)eriods when ac- 

 tive rescue work is not under way the time could be profitably em- 

 ployed in repair and maintenance of the equipment used. 



In addition to a personnel provided especially for the rescue work 

 there should be two or three additional holding stations, these being 

 essential for the "hardening" of the fish re(|ui!-ed for disti'ibution. 

 A part of the rescued fish are held in tanks of clear water and " hard- 

 ened " for several days to enable them to withstand transportation. 

 They are then shipped in the bureau's specially equipped distribu- 

 tion cars and planted in suitable tributary waters. Experience has 

 shown that greater results can be attained in this way than by 

 returning all fish rescued to the main river. The wider distribution 

 also gives to ])eople living in various parts of the Mississippi Valley a 

 better opportunity to obtain fresh fish. 



In addition to the roiuirements outlined above, houseboats with 

 living quarters for a crew of five or six men should be provided. 

 These boats would be placed in certain sections of the river, and 

 when the pools at one point had been cleaned up they would be moved 

 downstream to other fields. Launches will be needed to transport 

 the crews to and from the fields of operation, to carry supplies, and to 

 distribute fish. It has been found more economical to own launches 

 than to rent them. Boats for hire are seldom in good running con- 

 dition, and much valuable time is lost in repairs before the men can 

 be i)lace<l in the field. There will be necessity for a boathouse and 

 ](MrJ67°— 22 6 



