REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 109 
right time a sufficient number of fishes of prescribed kinds to make 
up a carload consignment. Were it possible to make up carloads of 
,any and all kinds a large amount of time would be saved, but large 
jmumbers are taken that can not be utilized in making up a particular 
/Shipment, and the fish must be separated and some transferred to 
storage for filling subsequent orders. 
, It is found that there is a wide variation in the abundance of the. 
different species in different seasons. There may be one year a very 
| plentiful supply of a given kind, and another year the same species may 
be conspicuously scarce. There is a similar variation in the abundance 
(of species in the different localities. A particular pond may, one year, 
‘produce a large number of black bass, but another season will perhaps 
‘contain practically none. When large quantities of fish are secured the 
‘surplus is placed in storage ponds, as the fish can not be successfully 
held in live cars. The common practice is to return all of the more 
common varieties to the waters immediately around. 
On Meredosia Island quite a large storage pond, not altogether safe 
from freshets, was provided for the holding of the surplus or reserve 
eatch. When operations began some fish were in these ponds from June 
of the fiscal year preceding. Another pond for breeding purposes, sit- 
uated near Naples, was secured. Itis near the Illinois River and above 
high-water mark, and a number of large black bass were this season 
introduced in it with the object of securing young bass the next season. 
A noticeable feature in the operations this year was the presence of 
great numbers of carp, quantities being taken with haul seines, they 
being as numerous, relatively, as any native species. In that particular 
locality they were consumed as food in greater proportion than any 
other kind. Young carp hatched in the spring of 1892 were so abundant 
that they were caught with hook and line at every point on the two 
rivers, their length being 6 to 10 inches. Operations were very much 
benefited by rains which fell about September 10, cooling air and water. 
The periods during which the cars were engaged in the movement of 
fishes are as follows: Car No. 1, September 24 to December 2; Car No, 
2, August 11 to October 30, and Car No. 3, August 7 to November 5. 
The facilities for the transportation of the cars afforded by the railroad 
companies were the best yet secured, the officials being not only cour- 
teous, but furnishing a greatly increased amount of free transportation. 
The assistance furnished was of such importance that to this source is 
to be attributed in large part the accomplishment of the best season of 
work at this place. The number of fish sent out was not larger than 
in any previous year, but they were larger in size, many black bass 
weighing 2 to 3 pounds, but those averaging about a pound being the 
more numerous. When liberated the fish were counted, and with very 
few exceptions they were counted when loaded on ears. 
A large area of territory was covered in the distribution, comprising 
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 
Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Ten- 
