PROPAGATION AND mSTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1924 439 



The car has a carrying capacity of 134 lO-gallon cans, or 220 of 

 the modern fish pails. The crew made all minor repairs to the 

 interior of the car, thereby considerably reducing the cost of main- 

 tenance and repairs. 



The most notable improvement in operating equipment is the 

 filtros plug, which is made of rock-like material and is used for 

 liberating compressed air in cans containing live fish. Formerly 

 wooden plugs were used for this purpose, but they proved impracti- 

 cable because they swell and entirely shut oft' the air when the pressure 

 is properly reduced. The filtros plug does not swell and close under 

 reduced pressure and liberates the air freely when the pressure is 

 increased. 



CAR NO. 9 

 [A. H. Kerth, Captain] 



Distribution work for the fiscal year began July 16, 1923, when the 

 car was equipped with 24 of the new Fearnow pails (aluminum), 

 which were received from car No. 8. 



The first trip was taken out of La Crosse, Wis., and consisted of 

 miscellaneous species of river fishes, which were distributed en route 

 to Bozeman (Mont.) station to applicants at Harrison, Nebr. ; Lusk, 

 Keeline, and Casper, Wyo.; and Billings, Columbus, and Bozeman, 

 Mont. 



During August, 1923, while on a trip with trout, which was being 

 made for the Montana State Fish Commission, it was necessary to 

 use some cans that had been painted inside, and as a result a con- 

 siderable loss of fish occurred. 



Upon completion of the distribution from the Bozeman station the 

 car came east and resumed the work of distributing the miscellaneous 

 river fishes, after which it proceeded to Washington, D. C, and 

 assisted in the distribution from the Lakeland (Md.) ponds. 



At the close of the Lakeland distribution the car was placed in the 

 shops at Wilmington, Del., for annual repairs and the crew detailed 

 to fish-cultural and clerical duties. 



During the month of March, 1924, an electrically driven air pump 

 was installed on the car. The new pump was used in connection witn 

 distribution work with highh^ satisfactory results, and has not only 

 eft'ected a great saving in the amount of fuel consumed but has also 

 added to the general convenience and safety of the crew by eliminat- 

 ing the necessity of carrying a heavy fire to generate steam for power. 



During April, while the car was at Washington, D. C, a new type 

 of brake beam was installed, giving more clearance for the generator 

 belt. The old pulley on the axle was replaced with a M'ider one, 

 which, it is thought, will prevent the loss of generator belts. 



The spring distribution out of the White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.) 

 station was taken up on April 16, 1924. In all, sLx trips were made 

 from this station, which completed the distribution of fish by car 

 No. 9 for the fiscal year 1924. 



The car traveled 21,541 miles during the year, delivering 2,728,300 

 trout and 52,845 miscellaneous river fishes. At the close of the year' 

 it was equipped with the new type of transportation pails. 



26187—25 6 



