PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1924 431 



area of approximately 25 acres, were at once stocked with limited 

 numbers of black bass, crappie, and a few catfish. As a result of this 

 stocking the ponds yielded 29,085 large-mouth black bass ranging 

 from 2 to 6 inches in length, 34,235 fingerling crappie, and about 

 2,000 fingerling catfish during October, 1923. An interesting feature 

 of the work was that this entire stock of young crappie resulted from 

 the spawning of 8 adult fish of that species. 



During the spring of 1924 the ponds were stocked with large-mouth 

 black bass obtained from the Potomac River, and also with brood 

 crappie transferred from the Edenton (N. C.) station. 



CENTRAL STATION AND AQUARIUM, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



[L. G. Uarron, Superintendent] 



The central station aquarium at Washington, D. C, was operated 

 as heretofore. A total of 35 species of fish and marine animals com- 

 prised the year's exhibit, most of these being carried through the 

 summer months. Trout of various species were acquired as soon as 

 the water became cool enough to hold them successfully, and with 

 the rising of the temperature in early spring they were distributed to 

 applicants or liberated in suitable public waters of the region. Dur- 

 ing the winter attempts were made jto incubate eggs of the chinook 

 salmon, whitefish, and cisco in the exhibit hatchery, but the work in 

 every instance resulted in failure, the eggs being killed by the chlorine 

 with which the city water supply is charged by the health authorities. 



In addition to its usual activities the central station was used dur- 

 ing the year as a holding and distributing point for the output of the 

 Lakeland (Md.) ponds. In connection with this work 88,399 fishes 

 were handled, practically all of them being large-mouth black bass, 

 crappie, and bluegill sunfish. 



Part 2.— DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS 



[E. C. Fearnow, Superintendent of Fish Distribution] • 



During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, distribution of the 

 bureau's output of fry and fingerling fish was made to approximately 

 10,000 individual applicants and 2,000 organizations. Ten per cent 

 of the total output is diverted to inland waters for the purpose of 

 maintaining a supply of fresh-water fishes in streams and lakes. The 

 importance of this phase of the bureau's work is being recognized by 

 a number of railroad companies, which grant free or reduced trans- 

 portation for the bureau's cars when handling shipments of live fish 

 tor waters contiguous to their lines, and by organizations and individ- 

 uals who cooperate with the bureau to the extent of meeting consign- 

 ments at railroad stations and planting the fish in suitable waters at 

 their own expense. 



The species available for stocking interior waters are black-spotted, 

 brook, and rainbow trouts, catfish, large-mouth black bass, small- 

 mouth black bass, rock bass, crappie. and bream. The bureau 

 usually is able to furnish reasonable allotments of trout, as the eggs 

 of this species can be hatched artificially, but great difficulty is exper- 

 ienced in obtaining a sufficient number of large-mouth and small- 

 mouth black bass to meet requirements, and at the present time the 

 bureau is unable to make prompt deliveries of these species, especially 



