354 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



review and approval before deliveries are made. This accomplishes 

 two purposes; first, it prevents the planting of species which might 

 be inimical to whatever stocking policy the State may have developed ; 

 second, it makes possible the utilization of the available supply of 

 fish, both State and Federal, to cover the greatest possible territory, 

 and prevents the overstocking of certain waters while others lack 

 needed attention. 



So important is the maintenance of working contact with the States 

 that the Division has assigned an employee on full time to act as 

 liaison agent and to work out and maintain these cooperative relation- 

 ships on a smooth working basis. 



As previously, the U. S. Forest Service and the National Park 

 Service have been important beneficiaries of the Bureau's fish cultural 

 work. Probably the most important single phase of the propagation 

 of game fish is the stocking of the public domain principally under the 

 jurisdiction of the above agencies. The other Bureaus and Depart- 

 ments having control of land areas, as for example the Indian Service 

 and the Reclamation Service, must likewise largely depend upon the 

 Federal hatcheries to maintain a supply of fish in the water areas 

 which they admmister. 



It is most interesting to point out that the newer Governmental 

 agencies are likewise entering the picture under similar conditions. 

 Both the Resettlement Administration and the Tennessee Valley 

 Authority constructed fish hatcheries, wliich were turned over to the 

 Bureau at the close of the fiscal year for future operation. The 

 former agency developed an excellent hatchery at Hoffman, N. C, 

 as part of a demonstration of land utilization, while the T. V. A. 

 took the first step toward the maintenance of fishing in Norris Lake 

 by constructing a warm-water hatchery below Norris Dam. Tenta- 

 tive plans for further development along this line are in mind. 



It is felt that the propagation and distribution of fish, as well as 

 other matters directly related to the administration of fisheries upon 

 Government owned lands, should properly be a responsibility of this 

 Bureau as the agency having the organization, facilities, and the 

 knowledge required. 



The maintenance of the closest possible contact with sportsmen's 

 organizations of a semi-public character has not been overlooked. The 

 system of fish nurseries or rearing ponds inaugurated a number of 

 years ago has been continued but no intensive drive is being made to 

 expand this work. Most of the States are now in a position to work 

 more closely with the sportsmen's clubs in their territory in prose- 

 cuting such an activity. However, where conditions permit the 

 Bureau has placed its technical information at the disposal of such 

 organizations, this being exemplified in a general program for the 

 establishment of local fish rearing units in the Finger Lakes region in 

 New York. The sportsmen's clubs enlisted the services of the Bureau 

 in laying out a general program for the establishment of the nursery 

 and thereupon presented the matter to the county authorities with 

 the request that they act as sponsors in submitting a W. P. A. project 

 for the construction of the required facilities. Wliile this project had 

 not been brought to fruition at the close of the year, progress was being 

 made in one of the most ambitious programs of this nature yet under- 

 taken. 



The Division further feels that it can be of great service to the sports- 

 men in supplying the technical information, showing them what they 



