98 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
WYTHEVILLE STATION, VIRGINIA (GEORGE A. SEAGLE, SUPERINTENDENT). 
This station is the property of the State of Virginia, but is operated 
by the United States Fish Commission. During the year improvements 
were made, chiefly in the nature of repairs, funds applied thereto being 
furnished by Dr. J. T. Wilkins, commissioner of Virginia, and labor by 
regular employees. The repairs were applied mainly to the rearing- 
ponds, broken embankments being overhauled and new piling introduced 
where necessary, and bottoms tamped with clay or cemented. Eight 
ponds were thus repaired. Water connection was established between 
the spring and the nursery building, the piping being extended to the 
railroad siding, where Fish Commission cars receive the product of the 
station for distribution. 
The fish brought over from the preceding year in process of rearing 
consisted of rainbow trout in troughs; black bass, rock bass, carp, and 
goldfish in ponds, where they had been hatched by natural methods. 
In September the rainbow trout were culled, the various sizes being 
placed in separate apartments. These were counted in October in 
advance of distribution. In September nearly 12,000 were suffocated in 
the nursery building by accident, the supply gate having been tempo- 
rarily shut off and forgotten. The distribution of this species was taken 
up November 16, and continued until February 14. Applicants in Vir- 
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and 
Maryland were supplied. The number delivered to cars was 79,547, On 
account of depreciation in the quality of brood stock, 4,000 were retained 
to be reared for spawn-taking purposes. 
Black bass distribution occurred between November 16 and March 
10, 1,433 being furnished to applicants in Virginia, North Carolina, and 
Alabama. Of this species, 400 were received from car No.3; but, being 
attacked by fungus, only 135 were available for distribution. A few 
were retained in order to increase brood stock. 
The distribution of other species was effected on lists furnished from 
Washington, consignments being chiefly to adjoining States already 
referred to, transportation being made in tin pails. The movement of 
these fish took place between November 15 and March 10, the principal 
deliveries of all kinds taking place before the end of December. 
The number furnished for distribution was larger than ever before, 
being as follows: Rainbow trout, 79,547; black bass, 1,433; rock bass, 
13,650; carp, 5,168; goldfish, 5,990. 
Contributions were made for the World’s Fair exhibit, consisting of 
alcoholic specimens of eggs and embryos of the various species, and 
also specimens of destructive insects and larve. 
Rainbow trout—In the absence of new brood fish to make up 
deficiencies in old stock, the egg collections were somewhat inferior, 
and losses were heavy on account of the large percentage of hard or 
glassy eggs. The presence of eggs of this character having been 
previously observed, efforts were made this season to determine the 
cause, and accordingly Dr. R. R. Gurley, of the Division of Scientific 
