PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1930 1175 



WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (W. VA.) STATION 

 [Edward M. Haynes, Superintendent] 



While fewei" trout eggs were handled thiin in the preceding year, the results 

 of the work at this station are regarded as satisfactory. The total output of all 

 species, including both fish and eggs, amounted to 3,380,826. Owing to a cur- 

 tailment of the rainbow-trout work the station was not in a position to ship 

 the usual number of eyed eggs. Notwithstanding this fact the output of 

 lingeiiing rainbows was larger than heretofore and they were fish ranging from 

 2-inch lingerlings to the yearling size. At the beginning of the year 42,500 

 fingerling trout were on hand. Three hundred and fifteen thousand Loch 

 Leven and 1,435,000 rainbow trout eggs were taken during the spawning season. 

 To the eggs of the lormer were added 375,000 received from the Bozeman 

 (Mont.) station and from the combined stock 463,200 fingerling Loch Levens 

 of decidedly fine quality were produced and distributed. Distribution in the 

 eyed stage absorbed 515,950 of the rainbow trout eggs. All the shipments 

 were consigned to various points in the United States with the exception of one 

 to South America. From the eggs of this species retained, 426,904 large 

 fingerling fish were produced. The station received by exchange 2,510,000 

 brook trout eggs and developed from them 1,974,667 fine fingerling fish of 

 which 15,000 were on hand at the end of the year. 



Cooperative relations were maintained with the West Virginia Game and 

 Fish Commission and the Virginia fisheries authorities. Such work for the 

 State of West Virginia included the incubation of 1,200,000 brook trout eggs. 

 and fingerling trout to the number of 110,300 were furnished for stocking 

 nurseries established and operated by the State of Virginia. 



Fish of the warm-water species were produced in about the usual numbers. 

 The customary handicap of unfavorable weather was operative, and an abnormal 

 loss of eggs occurred as the result of extreme temperature fluctuations during 

 the spawning season. The output of fish of this class included 10,006 bream, 

 5,200 rock bass, and 12,700 black bass, all fingerlings. No new construction 

 work was in progress during the year but everything was maintained in good 

 repair. 



WYTHEVILLE (VA.) STATION 

 [Charles B. Grater, Superintendent] 



While no construction work of a major nature was undertaken, the routine 

 repairs and maintenance necessary for the upkeep of the plant were attended to 

 by the station force. The entrance road was widened, and a cement 

 retaining wall on the south side of the road was constructed for about three- 

 quarters of its ultimate length. Collections of rainbow trout eggs from the 

 station brood stock amounted to over 550,000, which was considerably below 

 the quantity expected. This situation is ascribed to the fact that the eggs 

 from which these fish were hatched, were obtained from Western stock and were 

 not acclimated. The Craig Brook (Me.) station supplied 400,000 brook trout 

 eggs but the lot suffered a fairly heavy loss in the fry and early fingerling 

 stages. Under a plan inaugurated the previous year the State of Virginia 

 operated three cooperative nurseries stocked with brook and rainbow trout 

 fingerlings from this station. The distribution from the supply furnished the 

 previous spring was unsatisfactory as heavy losses were experienced. These 

 nurseries were stocked with above 180,000 rainbow and brook trout from 

 Wytheville in the spring of 1930 and they were being fed at the close of the 

 year. The station also cooperated with three private nurseries by supplying 

 the fish. 



The fall distribution of bass fingerlings of both the largemouth and small- 

 mouth species was negligible owing to the severe cold weather during the 

 spawning season the previous spring. A satisfactory distribution of rock bass 

 and sunfish was obtained. 



Further attention was given to the rearing of daphnia as a food for bass 

 fry, and the utilization of these organisms was effective in producing bass 

 fingerlings of a uniform size. 



