94 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



crappies, yellow percli, and other fishes rescued from landlocked 

 jjonds and pools in the Mississippi River Valley are from 3 to 6 inches 

 lono; Avhcn distrihuted. 



It is the policy of the bureau to fill applications in the order of their 

 receipt and to deliver fishes assigned as soon thereafter as possible, 

 but there are certain conditions connected with the distribution work 

 which should be thoroughly understood by prospective applicants. 



The cost involved in making shipments of fishes compels the bureau 

 to exercise the utmost economy in arranging its distribution work. 

 The delivery of special consignments and those intended for distant 

 points must be delayed until a sufficient numl)er of applications from 

 the same section of the country have been received to warrant the ex- 

 pense of a messenger shipment. The bureau can not carry a stock of 

 fish for delivei^y on demand, and when the supply of one year is ex- 

 hausted no more are available until the crop of the succeeding year is 

 ready to be sent out. The shipment of trout from the bureau's east- 

 ern stations begins early in March, and all applications received after 

 that time are carried over until the following year. Trout distribu- 

 tions from stations in the Rocky Mountain regions are made between 

 May and October, and, in order to insure early attention, applications 

 from that part of the country should be in the Washington office of 

 the bureau not later than May 1. The so-called warm- water fishes, 

 including black basses, sunfish, and crappies, are shipped between 

 INIay and December, and requests for them should be submitted prior 

 to May 1. 



The fishes are shipped in railroad cars especially designed for the 

 purpose or in baggage cars, accompanied by a messenger, and the de- 

 livery is made at the applicant's i-ailroad station without expense to 

 him. When an apjjlication for fish is received by the bureau the per- 

 son submitting it is immediately notified of the species assigned there- 

 on and the approximate time when delivery may be expected. Full 

 directions for the reception and care of the fish are also sent to him. 

 Prior to the shipment a second notice is sent, usually a telegram, speci- 

 fying the exact time when the assignment will arrive at his railroad 

 station. If for some unforeseen reason it becomes necessary to post- 

 pone the delivery, the applicant is notified accordingly. 



o 



