190 American Fisheries Society. 



Commission of Louisiana telling of large quantities of undersized 

 fish being caught in the sections where the greater portion of the 

 buffalofish fry have been planted in the past. In the season 

 of 1923 it is expected that a new buffalofish hatchery will be built 

 on Bayou Plaquemine by the State of Louisiana in cooperation 

 with the Bureau. These two hatcheries should do much to insure 

 the future supply of buffalofish in Louisiana. The field employes 

 working from the Atchafalaya Station have made minor investiga- 

 tions in regard to the spawning habits of the spoonbill catfish or 

 paddlefish as it is known in some places. Very little is known of 

 the life history of this species, and it is hoped to get some definite 

 data another season. 



The Bureau has also endeavored to cooperate with the several 

 states in their propagation of all species of fishes and has at differ- 

 ent times detailed experienced employes from the Fish Rescue 

 Station to take charge of work in certain sections. As all are 

 working to a common end, the spirit of cooperation that now exists 

 between the several states on the Upper Mississippi River and the 

 Bureau of Fisheries will mean increased activities and results that 

 will be immeasurable. 



The rescuing annually of milHons of landlocked fishes, plant- 

 ing of hundreds of millions of commercial larval mussels on proper 

 host fishes, the rearing of millions of commercial and game food 

 fishes is surely indicative of the Bureau's usefulness in the Missis- 

 sippi River Valley. 



The Bureau's work in this field, especially the rescue work, 

 is receiving each year more and more recognition from those in- 

 terested in fisheries and conservation of the country's natural re- 

 sources. Numerous letters are received urging the extension of 

 this valuable work to new fields, but until Congress recognizes its 

 importance by providing additional funds, new fields cannot be 

 opened. The possibilities for the further extension of the Bureau's 

 activities in rescue operations, mussel infection work, and propa- 

 gation of commercial and game fishes are very great. The field is 

 only partially covered, as there are many unbroken miles of river 

 bottoms where no rescue work or mussel propagation has been done 

 and many sections where the propagation of commercial fishes has 

 not been conducted, that surely would produce good results if only 

 funds were available. It is hoped that Congress will give special 

 recognition to these needs. 



