A NEW AND PRACTICAL DEVICE FOR TRANSPORT- 

 ING LIVE FISH. 



By Edgar C. Fearnow 

 Superintendent of Fish Distribvtion, Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C. 



The process of evolution in fish distribution has, in the past, 

 been very slow indeed. In the earlier days the Bureau's distribu- 

 tion cars carried hatching equipment, and everything was designed 

 on a large scale — large boilers, air pumps large enough for several 

 thousand cans, large tanks for carrying an extra supply of water, 

 and other equipment in proportion, and few changes have been 

 made. The 10-gallon milk can selected for use, and still em- 

 ployed to a great extent, weighs 22^ pounds without the lid, 

 the weight being sufficient to crush the rim and neck if an empty 

 can be dropped in an inverted position from a baggage car to 

 the platform. 



Prior to the late war the Bureau's distribution cars were moved 

 at an average cost of about 14 cents per mile, as in many instances 

 free transportation was secured. During the war the rate was in- 

 creased on Federal-controlled roads to ten full fares and the cost 

 mounted to 36 cents per mile on interstate shipments. This in- 

 crease of approximately 150 per cent, still operative, has been most 

 serious, since the allotment of funds for distribution purposes has 

 remained practically the same for a number of years notwithstand- 

 ing an enormous increase in the number of applications received 

 annually. The necessity of economical and practical means for 

 transporting live fish, although recognized some time ago by the 

 Bureau, was most strongly emphasized by these circumstances. 

 Moreover, it was realized that if the transportation problem could 

 be solved there would be corresponding benefits in other phases 

 -of fish-cultural work. In order to meet the difficulties presented 

 the writer caused to be conducted a number of experiments in 

 carrying fish with a view to finding a practical method of filling 

 the applications filed with the Bureau with the limited funds 

 available for that purpose. 



The shipment of live fish is attended by many difficulties and 

 great expense. The v/ater in which the fish are carried must be 

 maintained within a few degrees of a certain temperature and must 

 be aerated to replace the oxygen which is rapidly lost and which 



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