PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1921. 93 
authorities to pass upon. Even with the State’s indorsement the 
bureau reserves the right to exercise its judgment. 
In connection with this matter, it appears expedient to continue 
the policy of refusing to supply the spiny-rayed fishes to applicants 
in the Pacific coast watershed. This step is essential for the protec- 
tion of the important salmon and trout fisheries. The planting of 
the spiny-rayed fishes in the streams of the west coast might result in 
destroying millions of young salmon inhabiting such waters. The 
bureau maintains that the interests of the commercial fisheries are 
paramount to those of the sportsmen. 
Eggs of certain species are furnished to State hatcheries where 
such a course appears to be to the interest of the work and, on rare 
oecasions, to applicants having hatching facilities in cases where the 
eggs can be delivered more economically than the young fish. 
SIZE OF ALLOTMENTS. 
In determining the size of allotments of fishes on applications, the 
bureau is governed by the number and size of the requested species 
available for distribution in connection with the number of applica- 
tions received for it, by the extent of water area to be stocked, and 
by the distance to which the fishes must be transported. It aims in 
every case to supply only a sufficient number of young fish for a brood 
stock, and the recipient is expected to provide for their protection 
until they have had time to mature and stock the waters through 
natural reproduction. The importance of adequate protection for 
‘fish furnished for stocking any body of water is so obvious that the 
bureau has seriously considered the advisability of curtailing or en- 
tirely discontinued the distribution of fish in localities where such 
protection is not afforded. 
It is recognized that the larger bodies of water should receive the 
larger number of fishes for stocking purposes, but it does not appear 
judicious to honor applications for such waters to the exclusion of 
the smaller, though perhaps no less important, bodies of water. It 
is the policy of the bureau to apportion the output of its hatcheries 
in such a manner as will permit of filling all applications, so far as 
such a course may be practicable. Applications are frequently re- 
ceived from persons in sections remote from a fish-cultural station 
and in a part of the country where it is known that the waters are 
already abundantly stocked with desirable species. In such instances 
the bureau does not consider it wise to incur the expense of sending 
small numbers of artificially reared fishes to a considerable distance, 
and the applicants are so notified. 
TIME AND METHOD OF DELIVERY. 
Certain species, notably the brook trout and the rainbow trout, are 
planted whenever possible during the fingerling stage; but, as the 
rearing facilities are limited, the stock must be reduced in the early 
spring to prevent overcrowding. Thus, a part of the output is an- 
nually shipped in the fry stage. The distribution of the basses and 
other pond fishes begins about three weeks after they are hatched 
and extends over a period of several months, the last lots of fishes 
sent out ranging from 2 to 4 inches in length. The basses, sunfishes, 
