THrRTT-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



37 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF FISH RESCUE AND 



RECLAMATION 



By George Neale^ in charge 



The Bureau of Fish Rescue Avas created August 1, 1928. The pur- 

 pose of the bureau is indicated in the title, tlie rescue and reclamation 

 of fish from areas where they have become stranded by reason of 

 streams and lakes overflowing their banks, irrigation ditches, canals 

 and like bodies of water that become dry and where many millions of 

 valuable food and game fish formerly perished. 



Fig. 12. Too late. 



About 200,000 crappie, bluegill and black bass, 

 courtesy Frederick Burkett. 



Photo 



PROPER SELECTION OF SPECIES 



The bureau is an adjunct of the Division of Fish and Game, Depart- 

 ment of Natural Resources — very closely allied to the Bureau of Fish 

 Culture and Distribution — necessarily so, for the reason that the pro- 

 miscuous introduction of certain species, some of which are highly 

 predatory, into waters entirely unsuited to them and which can not 

 but have a harmful effect upon the inhabitants of those waters and 

 which we know from experience can never be corrected. Unfortu- 

 nately, several species of fish have been planted in waters by enthu- 

 siastic anglers whose knowledge of biology is that all a fish needs is 

 just water. As far as is possible no fish are placed in waters until it 

 is determined what species are most adaptable to those waters. 



