90 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Of the 4,597 reports received 30.5 per cent showed excellent results, 

 42.2 per cent good, 12.4 per cent fair, a little over 2 per cent overflow, 

 over 6 per cent uncertain, and 6.5 per cent poor. 



Black bass and sunfish appear to produce highly satisfactory re- 

 sults in most of the States, thouf;h many applicants have been dis- 

 satisfied with the sunfish on account of its small size, the growth at- 

 tained not being as large as with some species. The stock of sunfish 

 at most of the bureau's hatcheries has been improved in recent years, 

 and it is believed that from now on this fish will give perfect satis- 

 faction. 



The rainbow trout appears to be especially well ada])ted to the 

 waters of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, North Caro- 

 lina, and Wisconsin, while on the other hand a large percentage of 

 failures or of only fairly good returns have been reported with that 

 species in Arizona, JNlassachusetts. Ohio, New York, and Pennsyl- 

 vania. This tends to accentuate the frequently expressed opinion 

 that the rainbow trout is not as a rule adapted to eastern waters. 

 It is true that the rainbow trout appears to have been very success- 

 fully established in West Virginia and in certain sections of Ten- 

 nessee and North Carolina, but the data at hand would indicate that 

 for eastern waters in general the conditions are better adapted to 

 the brook trout. Numerous reports have been received to the effect 

 that no rainbow trout were ever seen in waters where they had been 

 planted. Mention of this faHure of the rainbow trout to establish 

 itself in certain sections of the country is very prominent in the 

 reports. 



DISTRIBUTION COSTS AND EQUIPMENT. 

 COST OF DISTRIBUTION. 



As in all other lines of activity, the cost of distributing the output 

 of the bureau's hatcheries has increased very considerably in recent 

 years. The net increase in distribution costs since 1916 has amounted 

 to approximately 150 per cent. The distribution of an output not 

 appreciably decreased during this period, with no increase in funds 

 provided for the conduct of the work, has been accomplished only 

 by exercising the most rigid economy at every point. I^nless addi- 

 tional funds for the propagation and distribution of food fishes is 

 forthcoming, it may be necessary to inaugurate decided changes in 

 the distril)ution methods to meet the increasing demands for fish. 



During the fiscal year 1921 the cars of the bureau traveled 85,060 

 miles, while detached messengers in charge of live fishes traveled 

 385,98S miles, honoring approximately 10,000 applications for fish. 

 The total cost of making this distribution, including maintenance and 

 repairs to five distribution cars, amounted to $69,600. 



DISTRIBUTION CARS. 



The two steel cars added to the distribution service during the 

 spring of 1920 have fully demonstrated their superiority oyer the 

 cars of wood construction. Their increased carrying capacity, to- 

 gether with lower cost for maintenance and repair, make them in 

 every respect a high-class investment. It is recommended that the 



