114 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



aquatic birds, many of which attacked the pond stock, capturing some 

 of the spawning lish from off their nests of eggs. For nineteen days 

 it was necessary to have the station patroUcd by one of the employees, 

 during which time eight fish-liawks were killed. This station is not 

 only infested with crawfish, but by many wild animals, and constant 

 vigilance on the j^art of employees is necessary. The records show the 

 following as having been caught during the fiscal year: Kingfishers, 9; 

 wild duck, 52; gull, 1; grebe, 9; water-hens, 11 ; fish-hawks, 9; bittern, 

 15; heron, 3; egret, 1; owl, 1; turtles, 43; snakes, 98; frogs, 794; 

 muskrats, 7; raccoon, 1; mink, 1; water rats, 15; crawfish, 267,4G0. 



The black bass began to prepare nests toward the end of April, and 

 by May 15 as many as 15,000 young were transferred from the nests to 

 unoccupied ponds. A larger number could have been transferred had 

 the pond area been available. The tench, which spawn at this station 

 at two years of age, deposited their eggs by May 15. The golden ide 

 spawned profusely April 7, but without effect. An attempt was made 

 to artificially handle a i)ortion of the eggs, but without success, all 

 being found covered with fungus at the expiration of ten days. The 

 eggs flowed freely and were apparently in good condition. In color 

 they were dark brick-red. In August, 1892, the rock bass were found 

 to be spawning for the second time in that calendar year. The channel 

 catfish again, for the third season, failed to deposit eggs, for reasons 

 unknown, every care having been bestowed upon them. 



The rainfall for the year was 37.3 inches, the fall of snow being 10.75. 

 The maximum air temperatures in July and August were 105° and 102°, 

 respectively, the lowest temperatures being reached in December and 

 January, the thermometer registering 8° below zero in the latter month. 

 The extremes of temperature in trout ponds were 80° maximum and 

 32° minimum; in black-bass ponds, 88° and 36°. Ice gathered from 

 the ponds and stored in December was 6 inches thick, and comprised 

 about 60 tons. The fish remaining on hand June 30, 1893, of all kinds, 

 are represented in the statement which follows : 



Leauville Station, Colorado (H. D. Dean, Superintendent). 



Work was confined to the salmonidai, the fish liberated being of 

 yearling size, and the output larger than in any previous year, 

 amounting to 178,900 fish and G0,000 eggs. 



In addition to repairs to the old hatching-house, 14 new rearing- 

 ponds were prepared, the smallest being 5 feet wide and 15 feet long, 



