REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 3 



Preliminary plans and an estimate of cost were made for the improve- 

 ment of the Potomac Flats by a number of large and small ponds, a 

 boulevard, and sea wall, a hatchery building, and extensive land- 

 scaping, all of which was laid before Congress with a view of obtaining 

 an appropriation to carry the improvements into effect. 



Northville Station, Michigan. — Several of the various ponds of this 

 station were provided with new supply pipes; separate drains for all 

 these ponds were laid; a new supply pipe of wood was substituted for 

 one formerly of terra cotta; a number of springy places in the grounds 

 were drained by blind ditching; and twelve new rearing ponds were con- 

 structed, complete with supply pipe, overflow, and drains. A number 

 of repairs to the former pipe lines and reservoirs was also made, and a 

 survey for a proposed new spring-water supply. 



Neosho Station, Missouri. — At this station two small reservoirs, for- 

 merly of wood, were replaced by a construction of concrete. Two new 

 ponds were constructed and some minor repairs were made to ice-house, 

 pipe lines, and ponds. 



San Marcos Station, Texas. — This station comprises 25 acres of land 

 at the head of San Marcos River, close to the city of the same name. 

 A supplementary topographical survey of the grounds was made. 

 The new dam constructed by a committee of citizens at San Marcos 

 was inspected and reported upon unfavorably. 



Leadville Station, Colorado. — A survey was made with the view of 

 constructing a dam across Rock Creek, thereby filling several large 

 natural depressions in the hills above the hatchery for storage pur- 

 poses and for obtaining a larger spring-water supply for the hatchery. 

 The result of the survey showed the impracticability of said proposed 

 construction. Steps were then taken to purchase additional adjoining 

 land in which the Evergreen lakes are situated, and to control, through 

 a new Executive order, all of Rock Creek above said lakes. The pur- 

 chase of said land was consummated. 



Bozeman Station, Montana. — This station comprises 77 acres of ground 

 at the lower entrance to Bridger Canyon, 4 miles from Bozeman. A sup- 

 plementary survey was made of the grounds, and plans for a hatchery 

 and pond system were prepared. 



OFFICE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEER. 



The following report exhibits briefly the work done during the past 

 fiscal year in the nature of repairs, alterations, aud new work to and 

 in the steam engineering departments at the different stations, upon 

 the cars and in the steamers of the Commission, together with the 

 work done in connection with aquarial exhibits at the different stations 

 and the World's Columbian Exposition : 



During the past fiscal year there has been a large amount of work 

 done in the machine shop at Central Station by the machinists and 

 firemen who have been detailed for duty there from time to time. This 



