PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 89 



DISTRIBUTION METHODS AND EQUIPMENT. 



IMPROVEMENTS TO FISHERIES CAR NO. 9. 



By making a slight change in the interior arrangement of fish- 

 eries car No. 9, one of the new steel cars, it has been possible to in- 

 crease its carrying capacity from 140 to 156 cans. This has been 

 brought about by fitting up a small dining room at one end of the 

 can compartments, thereby permitting the utilization of the space 

 in the center of the car for carrying fish. The new arrangement, 

 besides resulting in economy for the bureau in that it allows a 

 larger load of fish to be carried, is found more satisfactory than 

 the old, as the table in its new position is made stationary and can 

 be used by the messengers in writing up reports. Besides, it is so 

 located that it permits of an unobstructed passageway through the 

 car at all times. 



USE OF GALVANIZED VESSELS IN TRANSPORTING LIVE FISH. 



Because of a rather general belief among fish-culturists that gal- 

 vanized vessels are not suitable for the transportation of living 

 fishes, the bureau conducted a number of experiments with such 

 vessels during the year. The following extract from the Fisheries 

 Service Bulletin No. 83, for April 1, 1922 (pp. 3-4), briefly outlines 

 the results : 



On car No. 7 a galvanized-iron bucket 13^ inches high and 13J inches in 

 diameter (the ordinary type of garbage can) was used throughout the season 

 without loss of fish. On one occasion black bass were transported in such a can 

 from Dubuque, Iowa, to Baltimoi-e, Md. From that point they were for- 

 warded by special messenger on a 12-hour trip to the applicant, and the fish 

 were delivered in excellent condition. Again, on a trip from La Crosse, Wis., 

 to Mammoth Spring, Ark., some of the largest black bass intended for brood 

 stock were carried in this can without loss. This vessel was treated in every 

 respect, including the numbers of fish carried, in a manner similar to the 

 general practice in transporting fish. Results were equally satisfactory in 

 transporting all other species handled throughout the season. On car No. 8, 

 100 rock bass (No. 2 fingerlings) were moved from Marquette, Iowa, to Eaton, 

 N. Mex. The fish Avere received on the car October 24 and reached their final 

 destination November 2 without loss. On the same date and at the same 

 place 30 yearling crappie were placed in a galvanized-iron bucket with 8 

 gallons of water and were delivered to an applicant at Trinidad, Colo., on 

 November 2, with a loss of five fish on a trip of nearly eight days' duration. 



The only precaution necessary in the use of galvanized vessels in transport- 

 ing live fish is apparently their thorough cleaning prior to use. Galvanized 

 vessels possess certain advantages over tinned vessels now in general use. 

 They are practically immune from rust, their cost is considerably less, and it 

 is the belief of many fish-culturists that the duller-surfaced material produced 

 by galvanizing is preferable to a tinned surface, from the fact that it reflects 

 less light, and thus provides more nearly normal surroundings for the fish. 



Further experiments along this line have been conducted recently, 

 the result in each case tending further to prove that galvanizing is 

 not harmful to fish. The recent experiments involve such species as 

 rainbow, brook, and lake trouts, and whitefish fry and fingerlings. 

 The fish were in transit for periods ranging from C^ to 35^ hours 

 without change of water, and in each case they arrived at destination 

 in good condition. 



