90 ' - UU. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
Of the 4,597 reports received 30.5 per cent showed excellent results, 
42.2 per cent good, 12.4 per cent fair, a little over 2 per cent overfiow, 
over 6 per cent uncertain, and 6.5 per cent poor. 
Black bass and sunfish appear to produce highly satisfactory re- 
sults in most of the States, though many applicants have been dis- 
satisfied with the sunfish on account of its small size, the growth at- 
tained not being as large as with some species. The stock of sunfish 
at most of the bureau’s hatcheries has been improved in recent years, 
and it is believed that from now on this fish will give perfect satis- 
faction. 
The rainbow trout appears to be especially well adapted to the 
waters of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, North Caro- 
lina, and Wisconsin, while on the other hand a large percentage of 
failures or of only fairly good returns have been reported with that 
species in Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, and Pennsyl- 
vania. ‘This tends to accentuate the frequently expressed opinion 
that the rainbow trout is not as a rule adapted to eastern waters. 
It is true that the rainbow trout appears to have been very success- 
fully established in West Virginia and in certain sections of Ten- 
nessee and North Carolina, but the data at hand would indicate that 
for eastern waters in general the conditions are better adapted to 
the brook trout. Numerous reports have been received to the effect 
that no rainbow trout were ever seen in waters where they had been 
planted. Mention of this fatture of the rainbow trout to establish 
itself in certain sections of the country is very prominent in the 
reports. 
DISTRIBUTION COSTS AND EQUIPMENT. 
COST OF DISTRIBUTION. 
As in all other lines of activity, the cost of distributing the output 
of the bureau’s hatcheries has increased very considerably in recent 
years. The net increase in distribution costs since 1916 has amounted 
to approximately 150 per cent. The distribution of an output not 
appreciably decreased during this meres with no increase in funds 
provided for the conduct of the work, has been accomplished only 
by exercising the most rigid economy ‘at every point. Unless addi- 
tional funds for the propagation and distribution of food fishes is 
forthcoming, it may be necessary to inaugurate decided changes in 
the distribution methods to meet the increasing demands for fish. 
During the fiscal year 1921 the cars of the bureau traveled 85 ,060 
miles, w hile detached messengers in charge of live fishes traveled 
385,988 miles, honoring approximately 10, 000 applications for fish. 
The total cost of making this distribution, including maintenance and 
repairs to five distr ibution cars, amounted to $69, 600. 
DISTRIBUTION CARS. 
The two steel cars added to the distribution service during the 
spring of 1920 have fully demonstrated their superiority over the 
cars of wood construction. Their increased carrying capacity, to- 
gether with lower cost for maintenance and repair, make them in 
every respect a high-class investment. It is recommended that the 
