PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 105 



The bureau frequently receives requests from applicants for the 

 loan of cans to transport fish from the railroad station to the waters 

 where they are to be planted. As many applicants fail to under- 

 stand why such requests can not be granted the following explanation 

 is given : 



Live fish are usually forwarded by the bureau in carload lots to 

 central points, the cars being specially equipped for this purpose. 

 Detached messengers, however, leave the cars at f>redetermined points 

 with shipments of fish for applicants who live off the main lines. 

 These messengers travel in baggage cars of regular passenger trains, 

 and many deliveries are necessarily made while the train makes its 

 customary stops. The messenger often has as many as 15 and 20 de- 

 liveries to make before returning to the car and must promptly re- 

 turn his full equipment of cans in order to make other shipments in 

 accordance with a prearranged schedule. As the cans are part of the 

 car's equipment, it is obvious that were they loaned to applicants it 

 would necessitate a suspension of distribution work until they were 

 returned. 



It should be borne in mind that while some of the State fish com- 

 missions, due to the proximity of their hatcheries to the waters where 

 the fish are to be planted, are able to lend cans to applicants, such a 

 course on the part of the bureau would seriously cripple its distri- 

 bution work, since its equipment is required to make distributions 

 from hatcheries located in different States. 



Applicants are urged, therefore, to provide themselves with re- 

 ceptacles suited for carrying fish to the headwaters of streams, such 

 receptacles to be in readiness at the railroad station as specified in 

 the notice which is sent by the bureau's agent in advance of the ship- 

 ment. They should be uncovered and empty on the platform where 

 the car of this bureau or baggage car is expected to stop, for the fish 

 must be transferred to the vessels quickly without delaying the train 

 beyond the time it ordinarily stops. If no receptacles have been pro- 

 vided, the fish will not be delivered nor will they be delivered, even 

 though receptacles are in readiness, unless the applicant or his repre- 

 sentative is on hand to take care of them and sign the required re- 

 ceipt. Under no circumstances, therefore, will the bureau loan its 

 distribution equipment to applicants, and unless due provisions shall 

 have been made to receive and properly care for the fish they will not 

 be taken from, the train. 



SIZE OF ALLOTMENTS. 



In making allotments on applications the following items are taken 

 into consideration : The area of water to be stocked as stated in the 

 application, size and number of fish available for distribution, and 

 distance the fish have to be transported. The bureau does not at- 

 tempt to furnish applicants with more than a sufficient number of 

 fish for a brood stock for a given body of water, and it expects these 

 to be protected and allowed to reproduce. 



SIZE OF FISH. 



In its distribution of fish the bureau sends out certain species in 

 the form of fingerlings or yearlings. This is especially true as re- 

 gards brook and rainbow trouts. At certain stations, however, it is 



