PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1930 1169 



eggs which annually occur under present conditions by the improvement of 

 a small spring near the hatchery for the development of eggs taken during 

 the latter i)art of the season. By carrying out this plan the use of water 

 which has seeped back into Lost Creek from irrigated meadows, where it has 

 absorbed a large percentage of alkali, can be discontinued. Tlie output of 

 the station also included 440,000 black-spotted trout fingerlings — the result of 

 eggs of that species furnishetl the station from Nevada and the Yellowstone 

 Park field. 



SPEABFISH (S. DAK.) STATION AND SUBSTATION 



[D. C. Booth, Superintendent] 



The large stock (upward of 600,000) of fingerling brook. Lock Leven, and 

 rainbow trout on hand at the opening of the year was held in troughs and 

 station nursery ponds until fall, and then given a wide distribution as Nos. 

 3 and 5 fingerlings. Nearly 1,400 transportation cans were required for the 

 movement of these fish. Of course it would be possible to greatly increase 

 the number of game trout distributed by making all shipments in April or 

 early May, but it is believed that the results of distributing large fingerlings 

 are of far greater value to the waters stocked. The holding and rearing 

 of this large number of young trout was made possible by the recent installa- 

 tion of the wood-stave pipe line. During the year one of the larger ponds 

 was subdivided into five very useful nursery ponds averaging 60 feet in 

 length, 10 feet in width, and over 3 feet in depth. The bottoms of these 

 ponds are of earth and the division walls, sides, and ends are of reinforced 

 concrete. Each pond is provided with several inlets and outlets in the 

 ends and sides, thus insuring a satisfactory water circulation. Young trout 

 were placed in all these ponds in April, and by the close of the fiscal year 

 only nominal losses had occurred. 



Among other station improvements a bridge with concrete walls was built 

 across a large storm channel, and wide concrete walks and a concrete roadway 

 were constructed in front of the main fisheries building. For the first three 

 years after this station was established an abundant supply of spring water 

 was available, but the supply has since declined and, were it not for its high 

 quality and low even temperature, it would not be possible to turn out the 

 station's average of strong healthy trout. The maximum temperature of the 

 spring water in the hatching troughs is 48° F., while the minimum averages 

 44° F. throughout cold winter periods. This low maximum may not be 

 conducive to rapid growth, but there is no question that it produces strong 

 healthy fish for distribution, and the troublesome diseases experienced at other 

 stations are an unimportant factor at Spearfish station. The nursery ponds 

 have a dual water supply with part of it being taken from the river and part 

 from the cold spring. By such an arrangement the pond temperature usually 

 ranges around 54° F., making possible a very satisfactory growth of fish. 

 During the year considerable assistance was rendered to clubs, commercial 

 fish-culturists, and individuals by solving complicated fish-cultural problems. 

 Such assistance was given both personally and by correspondence. 



Over 2,000,000 brook, Loch Leven, and rainbow trout eggs, obtained largely 

 from station brood stock, were handled in the course of the year with merely 

 nominal losses. Approximately two-thirds of a million eggs were secured from 

 brood rainbow trout held at the station. Of these, 185,000 were assigned to 

 the substation at Crawford, Nebr., and others were given in exchange for 

 eyed brook-trout eggs for the Spearfish and La Crosse stations. A shipment of 

 Loch Leven trout eggs was received from the Bozeman station and during 

 January 400,000 brook-trout eggs were received by exchange. At the close of 

 the year over three-fourths of a million brook, rainbow, and Loch Leven trout 

 were being carried in station nursery ponds for late fall distribution as Nos. 4 

 and 5 fingerlings. 



Crawford (Nebr.) substation. — Construction work connected with the estab- 

 lishment and development of this auxiliary was in progress throughout the 

 year. A 1-story frame cottage, for the occupancy of the apprentice fish-cul- 

 turist was built. The hatchery building was completed, troughs installed 

 therein, and a supply of trout eggs was incubated during the winter. "Work 

 was started on the repair of Grabel Dam. The spillway was cut on the south 

 side, cement side walls put in, and some work preliminary to the installation 

 of a standpipe was accomplished. The ice pond dam, damaged by a recent 

 flood, was repaired and the pond stocked with rainbow trout. At the close of 



