XXXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FTRTT ATsT) FISHERIES. 



of satisfactory results, thous'b it is impossible to estimate the number, 

 owing' to tlie linbit of the lish of keeping close to tlie bottom of the 

 l>onds. 



Golden idea. — The number of this species raised was 3,400, the distri- 

 bution of which was commenced in the early part of November, 1891. 

 On April 13, 1892, they spawned in two i)onds, and the prosi)ect for an 

 early and fair result was good. The eggs, however, had been depos- 

 ited on the water plants near the surface of the water when one night's 

 frost, making ice one-half inch thick, killed them all. 



Goldjinh. — Early in May, 1891, the ])onds were well stocked with 

 healtliy brood fish. The temperature of the summer of 1891 was lower 

 than for several seasons, making the water too cool and causing a 

 scarcity of live food. Efforts to replnce this byartiCicial means met 

 with no good result, a large number of the fish dying, and the sur- 

 vivors being unthrifty. ]\Iany also failed to attain their golden color. 

 The product was about 10,700. Immediately after the emj^tying of the 

 ponds in the fall they Avere carefully cleaned, especial care being taken 

 to destroy all injurious fish, crustaceans, and vermin. Early in April, 

 1 892, 10 ponds were stocked with the brood fish, x^artly with the Japanese 

 and partly with the ordinary variety. Spawning began ]\Iay 8 and on 

 May 18 and 19 a few additional spawning beds were placed in the dif- 

 ferent ponds. The low temperature of the season, however, as in the 

 case of the carp, greatly retarded the growth of the young brood. 



gUad. — In April, 1891, there were placed in the west pond (O^ acres 

 surface area) 2,054,000 fry of the shad. They thrived marvelously T^-ell, 

 finding abundance of suitable food about the water-grasses {Ba/phniay 

 Cyclops, etc.), and in July quantities of Gammarus pulcx. Constant 

 care had to be given to freeing the pond from obnoxious weeds, intro- 

 duced and disseminated by the great flood of 1889, and which greatly 

 interfered with the proper growth of such i)lants as were advantageous 

 to the culture of the fish. As illustrative of the density of the vegeta- 

 tion caused by the overflow mentioned, from the one pond where the 

 shad were reared not less than 600 and from the north i)ond some 400 

 cart loads of these weeds were removed. Their rapid growth and early 

 decay rendering the water unwholesome, necessitated their prompt 

 destruction. The result of the rearing of the shad, was very gratifying, 

 and in November, when they were released in the Potomac Kiver, a 

 very large percentage of the fry had reached a length of from 3 to 4 

 inches. An extremely conservative estimate of the number released is 

 not less than 1,000,000. On May 9 and 10, 1892, consignments of fry 

 aggregating 1,989,000 were sent from Central Station and placed in 

 the west pond. 



Black ha.sN. — As before indicated, during this year was inaugurated 



' the first systematic effort at this station for the propagation of the 



black bass. In the fall of 3891 there were received from the Neosho 



Station 173 specimens of this fish, which were placed in the north pond. 



