REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 109 



right time a sufScieut number of fishes of prescribed kinds to make 

 up a carload cousignment. Were it possible to make up carloads? of 

 any and all kinds a large amount of time would be saved, but large 

 numbers are taken that can not be utilized in making up a particular 

 shipment, and the fish must be separated and some transferred to 

 storage for filling subsequent orders. 



It is found that there is a wide variation in the abundance of the 

 different species in different seasons. There may be one year a very 

 plentiful supply of a given kind, and another year the same species may 

 be conspicuously scarce. There is a similar variation in the abundance 

 of species in the different localities. A particular pond may, one year, 

 produce a large number of black bass, but another season will perhaj)S 

 contain i)racticaily none. When large quantities of fish are secured the 

 surplus is iDlaced in storage ponds, as the fish can not be successfully 

 held in live cars. The common practice is to return all of the more 

 common varieties to the waters immediately around. 



On Meredosia Island quite a large storage pond, not altogether safe 

 from freshets, was provided for the holding of the surplus or reserve 

 catch. When oi)erations began some fish were in these i^onds from June 

 of the fiscal year j)receding. Another pond for breeding purposes, sit- 

 uated near iSTaples, was secured. It is near the Illinois Eiver and above 

 high-water mark, and a number of large black bass were this season 

 introduced in it with the object of securing young bass the next season. 

 A noticeable feature in the operations this year was the presence of 

 great numbers of carp, quantities being taken with haul seines, they 

 being as numerous, relatively, as an y native species. In that particular 

 locality they were consumed as food in greater proi)oition than any 

 other kind. Young carp hatched in the spring of 1892 were so abundant 

 that they were caught with hook and line at every poiut on the two 

 rivers, their leugth being 6 to 10 inches. OjDe rations were very much 

 benefited by rains which fell about September 10, cooling air and v^^ ater. 



The periods during which the cars were engaged in the movement of 

 fishes are as follows: Car No. 1, September 24 to December 2; Car No. 

 2, August 11 to October 30, and Car No. 3, August 7 to November 5. 

 The facilities for the transportation of the cars afforded by the railroad 

 companies were the best yet secured, the officials being not only cour- 

 teous, but furnishing a greatly increased amount of free transportation. 

 The assistance furnished was of such imj)ortance that to this source is 

 to be attributed in large part the accomplishment of the best season of 

 work at this place. The number of fish sent out was not larger than 

 in any previous year, but they were larger in size, many black bass 

 weighing 2 to 3 pounds, but those averaging about a pound being the 

 more numerous. When liberated the fish were counted, and with very 

 few exceptions they were counted when loaded on cars. 



A large area of territory was covered in the distribution, comprising 

 Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiaua, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 

 Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Ten- 



