It not infrequently happens that fish delivered in good condition 

 to an applicant are lost in transit from the railroad station to the 

 point where they are to be planted. The loss may be occasioned by 

 the failure of the recipient to understand the requirements. In 

 other instances, where fish are transported for long distances by 

 pack animal, a method frequently resorted to by officers of the 

 Forest Service, it is of course impossible to carry a supply of ice. 

 In such cases it is necessary to change the water in the cans as op- 

 portunity may permit. Where fish are shipped in the new type of 

 container a constant water temperature is assured, and as the move- 

 ment of horse or vehicle insures sufficient aeration, the fish will 

 arrive at destination in good condition. 



In the case of shipments in the new container the motion of the 

 train or other conveyance will cause the water to splash sufficiently 

 to provide the necessary aeration, but in shipments involving long 

 periods of quiet at transfer points aeration of the water by some 

 means is desirable, even essential. It may be that a plan of insuring 

 the automatic introduction of the necessary oxygen will some day 

 be devised.^ Cool water, however, absorbs oxygen more rapidly 

 than water at a higher temperature, and low water temperatures 

 make fishes less active, hence the lower temperature of the jacketed 

 can minimizes the danger of loss during delays. 



Every year a small percentage of the millions of fish rescued by 

 the government from the Mississippi River overflow are diverted 

 for general distribution. The principle involved in the new con- 

 tainer is especially adapted to the transfer of fish from the collecting 

 fields to the points where they are to be "hardened" prior to their 

 shipment to applicants. 



In order to insure proper delivery of shipments of fish, the 

 Bureau has been sending to the applicant a telegram substantially 

 as follows: 



Answer government rate collect whether you will meet 3.25 P.M. Nor- 

 folk & Western train, Roanoke, November 2d, for fish. 



Unless a favorable reply is received to such a telegram, the fish 

 are not shipped. And to obviate any possible loss of fish through 

 accidental failure of applicant to meet a shipment, each can is tagged 

 as follows : 



This can contains (number and species of fish) for stocking (name 

 of water). If delivery cannot be made to consignee within one hour, the 

 fish should be planted in the above mentioned or other suitable waters. 

 Keep can in a current of air and in shade. Do not try to hold. 



^ Recent improvements to the shipping container herein described make it self-aerat- 

 ing even when not in motion. 



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