DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS, 1915. 7 
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in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and the western 
portions of Montana and Wyoming, which proscribed section em- 
braces the most valuable salmon and trout fisheries of the United 
States. 
The fish are carried to their destinations in railroad cars equipped 
for the purpose or by messengers who accompany the shipments in 
baggage cars, and are delivered to the applicant free of charge at 
the railroad station nearest the point of deposit. The applicant is 
advised by telegraph when the shipment will arrive and is expected 
to make due provision for the care of the fish until planted. Definite 
instructions in this respect are furnished at the time of shipment. 
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1915, the Bureau received 
10,622 applications from individuals and associations, for fish to 
stock both public and private waters. Requests for blanks upon 
which to submit applications for fish should be addressed to the 
Commissioner of Fisheries, Washington, D. C. 
It is the practice of the Bureau to fill all applications in the order 
in which they are received and to arrange for the delivery of the 
fish as soon as practicable thereafter. 
SIZE OF FISH WHEN DISTRIBUTED. 
Fish are distributed at various stages of development, depending 
upon the species, the numbers available, and the facilities for rearing. 
Shad, whitefish, lake trout, pike perch, cod, and other species which 
are hatched in lots of many millions are necessarily planted shortly 
after hatching. The various trouts, the Atlantic salmon, and the 
landlocked salmon are reared in such numbers as facilities permit to 
fingerlings from 1 to 6 inches in length; the remainder are distributed 
as fry.? 
The black basses, crappies, and other sunfishes are distributed at 
various ages—some within three weeks after they are hatched and 
some when several months old. Near the end of the distribution 
season the basses have usually attaimed a length of from 4 to 6 inches 
and the sunfishes are from 2 to 4 inches long. The bass, catfish, and 
other species collected from overflowed lands vary from 2 to 6 inches 
in length when taken and distributed. 
Eggs are supplied mainly to State hatcheries, but are occasionally 
furnished to private applicants having hatching facilities with the 
4 The varying usage in the classification of young fish as to size has caused such confusion and diffi- 
culty that the Bureau has adopted uniform definitions, as follows: 
Fry=fish up to the time the yolk sac is absorbed and feeding begins. 
Advanced fry=fish from the end of the fry period until they have reached a length of 1 inch. 
Fingerlings=fish between the length of 1 inch and the yearling stage, the various sizes to be designated 
as follows: No. 1, a fish 1 inch in length and up to 2 inches; no. 2, a fish 2 inches in length and up to 3 inches; 
no. 3, a fish 3 inches in length and up to 4 inches, ete. 
Yearlings=fish that are 1 year old, but less than 2 years old from the date of hatching; these may be 
designated no, 1, no. 2, no. 3, ete., after the plan prescribed for fingerlings, 
