4 DISTEIBUTION OF PISH AND FISH EGGS, 1917. 



Early in the year these rivers overflow their banks and spread 

 out over miles of territory, and in the warm shallows thus formed 

 many varieties of the native game and food fishes deposit their eggs. 

 The young fish hatched therefrom are imprisoned in immense num- 

 bers with the subsidence of the floods in the thousands of depressions 

 ranging in depths from a few inches to several feet, and here they are 

 preyed upon for several months by game birds and the alUgator gar. 

 Finally all that escape these enemies must perish incident to the dry- 

 ing of the pools in the fall. From depressions of this character the 

 Bureau rescues many thousands of fish annually, returning by far the 

 greater portion of them to the original streams, but culling out choice 

 specimens to supplement its stock for distribution to applicants. 

 This great resource is capable of being turned to highly successful 

 account when funds are available for the extension of the rescue 

 operations. 



While only about 5 per cent of the Bureau's total output is applied 

 to the interior waters of the country, the benefits accruing therefrom 

 have been widely disseminated, and with the increasing cost of food 

 materials this branch of the work is attaining greater significance. 

 In its prosecution the Bureau has received valuable assistance from 

 certain State fisheries authorities, club representatives, and public- 

 spirited individuals, not only in formulating plans for but in the 

 actual distributions of fishes. One highly important and beneficial 

 effect of such cooperation has been the development and growth of a 

 sentiment opposed to the ruthless and destructive fishing methods in 

 vogue in many localities. 



METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. 



The fry hatched from the shad, whitefish, salmons, lake trout, lake 

 herring, pike perch, white perch, yellow perch, striped bass, cod, 

 lobster, pollock, flatfish, and haddock — constituting the commercial 

 species — are planted on the spawning grounds from which the eggs are 

 derived or utihzed for the stocking of new and suitable waters in an 

 effort to extend the fisheries. 



With respect to the game and food fishes of the interior, which 

 are propagated in comparatively small numbers, provision is made 

 for the return of 'a sufficient number of yoimg fish to the waters wliere 

 eggs are collected for the maintenance of the supply therein; the 

 remainder of the stock is then assigned to suitable lakes or streams 

 for which applications have been submitted by responsible individuals. 

 This class includes the various trouts, basses, sunfishes, and cat- 

 fishes. 



Blanks upon which formal appUcations for fish can be made are 

 furnished by the Bureau on request. Upon the receipt of appHcations 

 properly executed and bearing the indorsement of a United States 



