8 REPORT.,OF , THE, COMMISSIONER, OF | FISHERIES, 
The distribution of the output of the|hateheries at the mostsuitable 
ages and in the most economical and. effective.manner is a highly 
important branch of fish culture... The regular field equipment and 
staff provided for this purpose are supplemented by the detail of 
station employees,and the use of public’ and private carriers, and 
throughout the year a large partiof the fish-cultural personnel was con- 
stantly engaged in making deliveries of fish to applicants.. The six 
railway cars specially equipped for the safe transportation of live fish 
of all ages were in active service at all seasons. They were hauled 
149,781 miles, and, in addition, the detached messengers traveled 
645,721 miles, carrying their loads of living freight.. The increase in 
the mileage over 1915 was about 25 per cent. The policy of the 
various railroads differs in the matter of the treatment of fish. cars 
and messengers. ,Some lines charge full rates for cars with their 
crews and messengers with their cans, some give substantial reduc- 
tions from regular fares, and some accord free passage and hauling. 
In 1916 about.104 per cent.of the travel. by cars and 19 per cent of the 
travel by messengers were furnished gratis. . 
The first all-steel transportation car, authorized by Congress in 
the appropriation act for 1915, has been completed and placed in 
commission. _ An appropriation of $40,000 for two additional cars 
of the same type has been made, but the increase in the cost. of labor 
and materials renders. it impossible to secure fully equipped cars - 
within the limits of the sum provided... At the coming session Congress 
will be asked to appropriate the additional amount required... 
The unit cost of fish-cultural operations continues to decrease, and. 
in 1916.was reduced to $117.86 per million fish produced and planted. 
This is,to be compared with $131.65 m 1915, $146.36 in 1910, and 
$239 in, 1905.. 
HATCHERIES OPERATED. 
The; hatcheries fall naturally into five categories, and their output 
in 1916 may he classified and summarized as follows: 
Marine species of the Atlantic coast.......--.-...-------- uhvrc ace 3, 112, 299, 525 
Migrgitory species of the Atlantic coast2...--...--....2-.-.---------- @ 442, 472, 788 
Pishey tr tha Gieag Wualsese tag jac = aj. enlaces maim eicieo-alewicie nia/swinye 947, 870,217 ' 
Miomatory fishes ofthe Pacific geast-..4-20.225202..-2.02---22+--522 0. 248, 975, 220 © 
Fish¥e gi (ie. an Lemon Wateln vase aii. 2 seceiaeetanc su: ec allie Saw 95, 644, 816 
TORE ES ck oats cad Sh RU RE ie alah cera he ch Sine nil Sys oh 3 ne 4, 847, 262, 566 
The only new permanent hatchery opened in 1916 was the one at = 
Saratoga, Wyo., which has begun operations under favorable auspices 
and giyes promise of great usefulness. This station and the one at 
Orangeburg, S. C., were not given the full amount of money necessary 
for entire completion, and Congress will, therefore, be asked to provide 
the additional sums required. 
Under the general authority to establish field stations, operations 
have been so successful on the Quinault River in Washington and the 
Klamath River in California that the construction of permanent 
hatcheries in these localities is warranted. 
There follows a list of the hatcheries maintained in 1916, with 
auxiliary and field stations thereunder, the period. of operation, and 
the species handled. The principal stations, arranged in alphabetical 
a Includes humpback salmon planted in Maine waters. 
