PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 19 3 1159 



of August and carried on into November, and the total collection of 

 ■over 140,000,000 fish represents slightly above an average or normal 

 season's work in this field. The seasonal nature of this activity 

 renders it possible for the station's personnel to be utilized in widely 

 varied fields such as the propagation of the commercial species of 

 the Great Lakes and the propagation and distribution of trout in 

 Minnesota and Wisconsin. Cooperative fish-cultural work carried 

 on in conjunction with the sportsmen's organizations in the near-by 

 territory has become one of the most important activities in this field, 

 taking a large number of the output of trout of the La Crosse station 

 and requiring extensive supervision. 



LA CliOSSE (WIS.) STATION AND SUBSTATIONS 



[C. F. Cui,LKR, in charge] 



Eescue work on the upper Mississippi River was besun on August 7. Twelve 

 ■ci'ews were engaged in tlie worlv which was terminated on November 19. 

 Over 146,000,000 fish wei-e rescued, of wliich approximately 400,000 were re- 

 served for distribution elsewhere. The cost of the rescue work was approxi- 

 mately $0.11 per thousand fish liandled. In connection with the rescue opera- 

 tions, mussel-infection work was performed and over 1,900,000,000 glochidia 

 were released in a state of parasitism on rescued fishes. 



The chief construction work was the erection of dwellings for the district 

 supervisor and superintendent. An artesian well was drilled on the Upper 

 Mississippi Wild Life Refuge grounds adjacent to the station, furnishing 

 a flow of 150 gallons a minute. Trout culture was carried on successfully 

 at the main station, and the Northside station and Lynxville station were 

 operated to care for the overflow. P.rook, rainbow, and Loch Leven trout were 

 the species handled. Cooperative rearing ponds supervised by this station 

 numbered 91 in Wisconsin and 24 in Minnesota. Further efforts were made 

 to develop bass-rearing projects. Tiie personnel of the station was detailed 

 to various duties in the field during tlie year, including the fish-cultural opera- 

 tions in Yellowstone Park, Miles City, Mont, and in Michigan, together with 

 the cooperative wox'k in the State of Arkansas. 



Brllevue (loica) substation. — A new holding station was constructed here 

 on the property of the Wild Life Refuge, and the water supply was obtained 

 from an artesian well providing a flow of 300 gallons per minute. This 

 furnishes the bureau with a very eflicient plant for holding rescued fish prior 

 to distribution. During May and .Tune collections were made of buffalofish 

 eggs and carp eggs. The total collection of rescued fish in this field was 

 35.614.000. 



Marquette (Iowa) substation. — While no construction or other important 

 work was undertaken during the year, successful rescue operations were 

 conducted from this point and over 4,000,000 buffalofish eggs and 3,875,000 

 eggs of tlie carp were collected and planted in the Mississippi River. Mussel- 

 infection work was also conducted and 26,835,000 fish were rescued. 



Lynxville (Wis.) substation. — During the hatching period for trout this sta- 

 tion was used as a temporary holding plant for the surplus from La Crosse. 

 In addition to the ordinary rescue work, collections of brood fish for stocking 

 ponds were made in this field, and from this point aquarium specimens and 

 fishes for scientific investigations were collected and shipped. This is one of 

 the most prolific fields, and the total number of fish handled exceeded 40.000,000. 

 with a considerable number of carp and buffalofish eggs having been fertilized 

 during the spring. 



Homer (Minn.) substation. — Fish-cultural work at this point consisted en- 

 tirely of rescue operations. The station, however, was used as headquarters 

 by the investigating staff conducting biological studies in the Upper Mississippi 

 Wild Life Refuge. It was used, also, for the construction and overhauling of 

 vessels and the overhauling and repair of automotive equipment. One 32-foot 

 launch was constructed at this point, and a smaller boat was built for local 

 ■use. The total number of fish handled in the rescue work was 22,225,000. 



