CBUSTACEA AS FOOD FOR YOUNG FISH. 23 



IklYSIDACEA. 



The Mysis would hardly seem of practical utility in fish-cultural 

 establishments, as may be inferred from its known habitat and 

 habits. 



DECAPODA. 



Prawn. — Worth (1908) regarded the prawn {Pala^monetes paludosa) 

 as capable of broadcast artificial distribution and of becoming a re- 

 source of incalculable value. It was learned from trial that they 

 could be sent long distances with little care, if properly prepared for 

 shipment. It was found from experience, however, that the species 

 quickly succumbed in overcrowding. A large loss resulted from such 

 a cause in a shipment from Halifax, N. C, to Neosho, Mo. However, 

 in 10 one-gallon tin pails having perforated covers, with 150 

 " shrimp " to a pail, and 10 similar pails with 180 to a pail, prawn 

 were shipped from Halifax, N. C, to Washington, D. C, a distance 

 of 200 miles. The total time before delivery was 19 hours, without 

 icing, aerating, or other attention. From the 6,050 prawns sent the 

 loss was only 2 per cent. Worth expressed the view that there was 

 no doubt that Palamonetes was entirely capable of being easily and 

 cheaply multiplied, " requiring no better accommodations than a 

 typical mosquito hole," in which its larger enemies such as fish do 

 not occur. 



Crayfishes. — It is not known that any attempt has been made to 

 raise crayfishes as food for fishes, although Muntadas (1887) men- 

 tions them as present in his ponds and says that trout are fond of 

 them. The smaller forms previously mentioned are far better 

 adapted to the purpose and more easily raised. The fact that black 

 bass and other adult fishes, even the trout, feed upon crayfishes when 

 available suggests the question whether or not they might be raised 

 in conjunction with the farm fishpond for the purpose of feeding 

 the larger sizes and adults of certain fishes. 



Commercial crayfish culture has been practiced with more or less 

 success in Europe, but judging from the reports concerning these 

 enterprises it would require quite as extensive plants to raise the 

 crayfish as food for fishes as it would to raise the fishes themselves. 

 It would be practically impossible to raise them in the same pond. 

 Furthermore, the crayfish, Avhile it is fairly prolific, produces but 

 once a year at the most and is a slow growing creature. Moreover, 

 the prol3lem of its food supply is quite as difficult as is that of the 

 fishes. 



POSSIBILITY OF STOCKING STREAMS AND LAKES. 



As the majority of streams and lakes probably contain or once 

 contained before depletion some one or more forms of crustaceans, 

 it would seem entirely practicable to add to the existing stock or to 

 restock depleted waters, at least temporarily, by simple transfer of 

 the organisms. The species which shall constitute the stock may be 

 determined by the character of the water, the section of the country, 

 and the availability of a supply. A near-by supply from similar 

 character of water is desirable not only on account of convenience 

 but because the species occurring there are the most likely to be 



