FISH-CULTURAL WORK OF THE BUREAU OF FISHER- 

 IES IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



By C. F. Culler 

 U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, Homer, Minn. 



The work of the United States Bureau of Fisheries in the 

 Mississippi River Valley consists of the reclamation from over- 

 flowed lands of stranded food and game fishes, or "rescue work" 

 as it is more commonly known, mussel infection operations, and the 

 propagation of cold and warm water fishes. Also scientific work 

 is conducted at the Biological Station at Fairport, Iowa. All of 

 these operations are carried on in the immediate vicinity of the 

 Mississippi River. Fish cultural activities are also conducted at 

 the Bureau's stations at Manchester, Iowa, where rainbow anci 

 brook trout, black bass and rock bass are handled ; at Neosho, Mo., 

 where the same species are handled; at Mammoth Springs, Ark., 

 where small-mouth bass and crappie are handled ; and at Tupelo, 

 Miss., where black bass, crappie, and sunfish are propagated. But 

 it is felt that no branch of the Bureau's fish-cultural work has at- 

 tained more rapid development during the past few years than 

 the Mississippi River rescue operations, the development and 

 growth of which is manifested not only by the ever-increasing 

 numbers of food and game fishes saved each season, but is also 

 marked by decreasing cost of production. 



Normally, the Mississippi River is a wide shallow stream flow- 

 ing peacefully within its banks; but in the spring its waters are 

 much swollen, due to melting snow and spring rains, and many 

 thousands of acres of bottom lands and islands along its course 

 are inundated. All through these lowlands are numerous lakes, 

 sloughs, and small ponds, which during the low water are entirely 

 cut oflP from the main channel and which are ideal spawning and 

 feeding grounds for various species of fish. This is the greatest 

 natural spawning ground of warm water fishes in the United 

 States. The eggs are laid under conditions favorable to their de- 

 velopment and the young fish attain a rapid growth before the 

 freshets begin to subside. At this time a majority of the adult 

 fish find their way to safety in the main channel, but the young 



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