THIRTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF FISH CONSERVATION 



By A. C. Taft, Chief 



During the biennial period work has centered around an effort to 

 maintain a normal program so far as wartime limitations would permit. 

 Differences between this and tlie previous biennium are thus largely 

 those brought about by the war. 



The year 1941, just prior to the war, was the all time high in the 

 sale of angling licenses, 458,177 having been issued. On the basis of 

 experience in the previous World AVar it was expected that license sales 

 would fall off rather severely in 1942 and 1943. This did not occur and 

 433,431 were issued during the first year of the period and 439,860 

 during the second. Even during 1944 under drastic gasoline rationing 

 both for boats and cars it appears that tlie number of anglers will be 

 within 6i per cent of the high figure for 1941. 



Witii angling effort remaining at a high level the problem of main- 

 taining the supplies of fish under definite limitations as to manpower and 

 equipment became difficult. Almost all assistant wardens, both perma- 

 nent and seasonal, left the division and only 30 permanent fish hatchery 

 assistants remained out of a normal quota of 50. Even with such tempo- 

 rary replacements as could be made the total manpower remained from 

 12 to 15 per cent below normal. In a number of instances the wives of 

 hatchery employees and other women were hired for seasonal or part 

 time work, which made it possible to carry on work at stations which 

 would have otherwise been closed. 



Little new equipment has been available and inability to make 

 replacements has been most severely felt in heavy trucks, gasoline motors 

 for fish planting equipment and tires. No new tires have been purchased 

 since 1941 and only careful management and the utmost economy in 

 mileage lias made it possible at the same time to plant an increasing 

 amount of fish. 



In 1940 there were 133,949 pounds of trout planted and in 1941 the 

 total was 167,647. In spite of the many problems of operation brought 

 about by the war the poundage was increased to 238,279 in 1942 and to 

 275,401 in 1943. The 1943 planting was thus an increase of 12 per cent 

 over 1942. The point has now been reached where more than a pound 

 of trout is being planted for each licensed angler who fishes for trout. 

 It is not to be expected that this total can be very much increased with 

 present facilities of manpower and equipment. 



The following table shows the hatcheries and egg taking stations 

 that were operated during the biennium. Where operations were 

 temporarily or permanently discontinued that is also indicated. 



