46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A new railroad siding was projected to connect with the Kansas 

 City, Pi ttsburg and Gulf Eailroad at Neosho. 



Owing to the ravages of crayfish, Mr. Page reports that the produc- 

 tion of each pond has steadily decreased each season since its construc- 

 tion and no means have yet been found to destroy these pests. Another 

 destructive agency is the boat fly [Notonecta glauca), by which 600 

 young goldfish were killed in about ten days. 



Blade bass. — About September 1 there were 2,000 of these fish at the 

 station, but four months later, when distribution was about to be made, 

 only 630 were shipped, the number being thus reduced by the fish eat- 

 ing each other, notwithstanding every effort was made to supply them 

 liberally Avith both natural and artificial food. 



On April 4, 20 old breeders were put in pond No. 10, and 23 2-year- 

 old bass in pond No. 11, in which were 4 old breeders. April 21 these 

 bass were found guarding newly made nests. By May 1 all the eggs 

 in the earliest nests were hatched out, though new nests were seen up 

 to June 10. June 1 the fish of the earliest hatch were 1^ inches, and 

 numbered from 8,000 to 15,000. On June 6 a heavy rainstorm destroyed 

 most of them. 



Roclc bass. — Of this species 4,710 were distributed, mostly in Indian 

 Territory, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. 



Carj). — During the winter 2,275 yearling carp, ranging from one- 

 quarter to one half pound in weight, were shipped. It having been 

 determined to discontinue the propagation of this species at this sta- 

 tion, the breeders on hand were liberated, May 1, in Grand Eiver, 

 Indian Territory. 



Tench. — The good results heretofore attained in the propagation of 

 the tench were not realized this year, the total production being but 

 10,000, due, it is thought, to the depredations of crayfish. The number 

 of yearling fish distributed was 9,210, to parties in Indian Territory, 

 Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas. 



Golden ides. — But 18 yearlings of this species were distributed during 

 the season, and there is but one of two years old and one of four years 

 on hand. These are employed as scavengers in the pond with the 

 brood stock of rainbow trout. 



Goldfish. — There were distributed 4,231 goldfish during the year. 

 The production of this fish will hereafter be confined to a limited num- 

 ber of the finer specimens. 



Spotted or channel catfish. — The fish of this variety which have been 

 at the station for the past three years failed to spawn, and they all 

 died during the winter, being attacked by fungus. There were distrib- 

 uted 1,059 yearlings. 



Brook trout. — The 20,000 brook-trout eggs received from the North- 

 ville Station January 13, 1894, had every appearance of being in good 

 condition when received, but twenty-four hours after unpacking 95 per 

 cent of the eggs were dead. By February 11 all were dead. The cause 

 of the loss is unknown. 



