PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 81 



proved unsatisfactory. If work with the crappie is to be continued 

 at this station, it is believed a pond should be prepared and set 

 aside especially for that purpose. Under present arrangements a 

 few thousand are collected annually from the ranchmen's stock- 

 watering ponds and distributed to applicants, such ponds having been 

 stocked by the bureau with the understanding that part of the young 

 fish realized were to be utilized in its distribution work. Crappie 

 seems to do well in these roily water ponds, but the existing arrange- 

 ment is unsatisfactory to most of the ranchmen who are averse to 

 giving up the fish after their ponds have become stocked. Moreover, 

 many of these ponds evaporate during the summer months, and 

 dependence can not be placed upon them for supplies of young fish 

 for distribution. 



The rock bass does not seem to thrive in this part of Texas. On 

 several occasions in the past brood ponds stocked with this fish have 

 been flooded, permitting many of the fish to escape into the San 

 Marcos River, but as very few rock bass have ever been observed it 

 is assumed that the species is not adapted to the region. Consider- 

 able work was accomplished during the year with the sunfish, and a 

 sufficient number were produced to fill all applications, the output 

 numbering about 86,000. 



During the year an agreement was entered into Avith the State 

 whereby it is expected to prevent duplication of effort in the dis- 

 tribution of fish. This agreement comprehended the division of the 

 State for fish-cultural purposes into two nearly equal parts. All 

 applications emanating from the northern section were to be honored 

 from the State hatchery at Dallas, while the bureau's San Marcos 

 hatchery was made responsible for requests from the southern section. 

 Theoretically, at least, this arrangement tends to reduce distribution 

 costs to both agencies concerned. Just what its practical results may 

 be is at this time uncertain. 



During the winter of 1922 an experiment was conducted to deter- 

 mine the possibility of hatching rainbow-trout eggs at the San Mar- 

 cos station with a view of furnishing rainbow trout for Medina Lake, 

 at San Antonio, and Comal Creek, at New Braunfels, Tex., both of 

 these bodies of water having been represented to the bureau as being 

 suited to the species. For this purpose 15,000 eyed eggs were for- 

 warded from the Neosho (Mo.) station, arriving on January 26 in 

 apparently good condition. Owing to a difference of approximately 

 35° in temperature between the eggs in the case and the hatchery 

 water it took about 24 Lours to temper the eggs. This was cljne with 

 the utmost care. Two kinds of trays were employed in the hatching 

 operations, about half the eggs being placed on trays of fine mesh 

 and the remainder on trays covered with the ordinary oblong mesh. 

 A considerable death rate prevailed among the eggs before hatching 

 commenced on January 22, and it was observed that all fish hatched 

 succumbed almost immediately, the entire consignment perishing 

 either as eyed eggs or as fry. As it appeared impracticable to in- 

 cubate the eggs successfully at the San Marcos station the requests 

 for Medina Lake and Comal Creek were subsequently honored by 

 making shipments of rainbow-trout fingerlings from one of the trout 

 stations. 



