REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LXXXIX 



ably killed by being placed in a pond in which the piling was coated 

 with coal tar. 



The spawning season of the rainbow trout extended from December 

 16 to March 10, the total take of eggs amounting to 319,029, of which 

 225,939, or only 57 per cent, were fertilized. 125,800 eyed eggs, were 

 sent to other stations and private applicants, leaving 100,000 to be 

 hatched; from these there were on hand at the close of the year 57,100 

 fingerlings. 



In May 10,000 wild rainbow trout eggs were received from Califor- 

 nia. These had been taken by the California Fish Commission at Sis- 

 son, Cal., and shipped to Leadville, where they were repacked and 

 sent to Neosho. They produced 6,600 fine, healthy fry, which will be 

 reared for brood stock. 



The small number of eggs obtained this season and their poor qual- 

 ity is due to the fact tliat the brood-fish were in poor condition from 

 constant handling and interbreeding, and it is hoped the introduction 

 of new stock will bring about an improvement. 



After the ponds containing the young black bass and rock bass had 

 been carefully drawn down the fish were transferred to troughs and 

 small pools, where they could be supplied with water of a higher tem- 

 perature than it is possible to provide in the rearing-ponds. The 

 troughs constructed over the branch proved very successful for this 

 purpose, the temperature there being kept at 75° without difiliculty. 

 The young black bass learned to take artificial food very readily, though 

 not so quickly as the rock bass. Of the 18,632 young black bass taken 

 from the ponds, 10,750, or 90 per cent, were carried through the summer 

 and successfully distributed in the fall. An accidental plant of 5,000 

 was made in Hickory Creek, the flood of July 31 carrying away the 

 troughs ill which they were held. 



From the rock-bass ponds 32,100 young were removed to troughs, 

 and the output in the fall amounted to 29,596. These were cared for 

 in the same way as the black bass. 



At the close of the year the stock on hand was as follows: 



, Leadville Station, Colorado (E. A. Tulian, Supkrintendent). 



At the beginning of the year there were on hand 340,000 brook trout, 

 25,000 Loch Leven trout, 41,500 grayling, 3,000 rainbow trout, 153,600 

 black-spotted trout eggs, and 4,900 rainbow-trout eggs. ' The rainbow- 

 trout eggs were a total loss, but, except the grayling, which were dis- 

 tributed in July and August, the balance of the stock was carried until 



