PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921, 79 
fish-cultural stations. This diversion is apt to result in a compara- 
tive lack of interest in the work of the home stations, and not in- 
frequently it curtails their operations. Moreover, men drawn from 
other lines of activities can not be expected to be as familiar or as 
efficient in the prosecution of the rescue work as will men who can 
devote all their time to it. The work has grown to such proportions 
that men drawn from the fish-cultural stations can no longer handle 
it to the fullest advantage under such conditions, 
The rescue field would afford profitable employment for such a 
force throughout the year, the line of operations to be something as 
follows: Rescue of fishes along the upper reaches of the river would 
occupy the attention of the men from July to December, during 
which time a crew of five men could save from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 
fish, at a total approximate cost of $2,000. That number of fish pur- 
chased from commercial fish-culturists would cost the bureau from 
$25,000 to $30,000 and to citizens of the Mississippi Valley would 
represent a food value of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 when placed on the 
market three years after being rescued. These figures are very con- 
servative when compared with the results attained at the bureau’s 
regularly established fish-cultural stations. At the close of the res- 
cue season important work in the salvage of eggs in connection with 
the commercial fisheries in Louisiana would consume practically all 
the time of the men from February to April. From Louisiana the 
crew would work northward to the confluence of the Ohio and the 
Mississippi Rivers, where important fields are open in the three 
adjoining States. The Illinois River overflows its dikes during the 
spring freshets, and in May or early June large pumps are operated 
to remove the water from the land. Many millions of young fish 
are thus left in the fields to perish or are passed through the pumps 
and destroyed. During the comparatively short periods when ac- 
tive rescue work is not under way the time could be profitably em- 
ployed in repair and maintenance of the equipment used. 
In addition to a personnel provided especially for the rescue work 
there should be two or three additional holding stations, these being 
essential for the “hardening” of the fish required for distribution. 
A part of the rescued fish are held in tanks of clear water and “ hard- 
ened” for several days to enable them to withstand transportation. 
They are then shipped in the bureau’s specially equipped distribu- 
tion cars and planted in suitable tributary waters. Experience has 
shown that greater results can be attained in this way than by 
returning all fish rescued to the main river. The wider distribution 
also gives to people living in various parts of the Mississippi Valley a 
better opportunity to obtain fresh fish. - 
In addition to the requirements outlined above, houseboats with 
living quarters for a crew of five or six men should be provided. 
These boats would be placed in certain sections of the river, and 
when the pools at one point had been cleaned up they would be moved 
downstream to other fields. Launches will be needed to transport 
the crews to and from the fields of operation, to carry supplies, and to 
distribute fish. It has been found more economical to own launches 
than to rent them. Boats for hire are seldom in good running con- 
dition, and much valuable time is lost in repairs before the men can 
be placed in the field. There will be necessity for a boathouse and 
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