TWENTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 13 



notify the patrol captain of the day of arrival of fish at points of desti- 

 nation and the number shipped. The patrol captain and his deputies in 

 the meanwhile will have arranged with local sportsmen's associations 

 and other interested parties, the question of transportation and volun- 

 teers to assist in the planting. The distribution cars upon arrival will be 

 met by the deputies and planting crews, and the planting will be done 

 under the direction of the deputies, with the full responsibility resting 

 upon them. In this way it is hoped that fish will be alloted to streams 

 and lakes rather than to individuals. 



It is a radical departure, but from all indications it is a popular 

 change, and we believe that with the support of the sportsmen of the 

 state it can be put over and redound to the credit of our fish planting 

 system. 



At the urgent request of the sportsmen of California, this Commission 

 early in the year 1926 commenced the construction and maintenance of 

 so-called retaining or holding ponds for trout. The argument advanced 

 in favor of these ponds was that the planting of very small fry resulted 

 in their destruction by predatory fish, and that if the trout were held 

 until they reached the size of -H or 5 inches, they would have a far 

 better chance after liberation. The Commission has constructed holding 

 ponds adjacent to several of its fish hatcheries, and the fish have thrived 

 and will be liberated during the fall and winter months. In addition 

 to these ponds constructed by the Commission, over which it retains 

 the supervision and care, the Commission has cooperated with the 

 sportsmen's organizations of the state in the building of other ponds by 

 furnishing plans and aiding in the choice of sites. These ponds have 

 then been constructed by the sportsmen out of their own funds. They 

 have also arranged for the feeding and care of the fish. In all over two 

 and one-half million trout have been placed in these ponds. The utmost 

 cooperation has been extended to the Commission by the sportsmen, and 

 our Fish Culture Department has, likewise, extended to the sportsmen 

 its help, supervision and advice. The experiment, however, in regard 

 to most of the ponds built by the sportsmen has resulted most unfavor- 

 ably. It has been fully demonstrated to us that it is the duty of the 

 Fish and Game Commission not only to hatch the fish originally in our 

 hatcheries, but to rear them until they are actually planted. It takes 

 a fishculturist to care for fish in holding ponds just as much as in 

 the trough at the hatchery. The sportsman, no matter how well inten- 

 tioned, except in rare cases, can not give to the fish in the holding ponds 

 the trained care and attention necessary. Disease is just, as prevalent 

 among young trout in holding ponds as it is in hatcheries, and firm, 

 immediate and scientific methods are necessary to combat disease when 

 it appears. 



It is the opinion of the executive officer that this Commission should 

 proceed with holding ponds, and should construct them at our hatcheries 

 and at strategic locations throughout the state ; but I firmly insist that 

 all of these holding ponds shall be constructed by the Commission and 

 maintained by the Commission out of its own funds, and under the care 

 of our own Fish Culture Department. As many of the ponds as pos- 

 sible should be so-called natural ponds where the young fish can obtain 

 their own food. The question of feeding a large number of fish in 



