66 Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting. 
ing a blooming specimen. ‘The plants which are valuable in 
pond culture are desirable for introduction into waters resorted 
to by the anglers. ‘They want to know if the ponds in which 
they are interested are lacking in fish food, aeration, shade, ete., 
and what aquatic plants, if any, are respectively qualified to rem- 
edy the defect. The public as well as the fish culturists, there- 
fore, are inquiring about such matters. The field for study is 
a broad one. Some plants are food producers, are valuable for 
shade as well, and some are especially useful for oxygenating 
the water. To identify all the desirable and obnoxious aquatic 
plants commonly found in ponds; to ascertain the specific value 
or objectionable qualities of each; last, but not least, to ascer- 
tain just what plants are oxygenators and to what extent, is an 
important work which the fish culturist must surrender to the 
scientist, or more specifically, to the plant physiologist. 
At each of the pond culture stations records are being kept 
of the number of breeders to each pond and the results in the 
number of young fish for distribution. The object of these rec- 
ords is to ascertain what number of brood fish of the various 
species can be carried with most economical results in ponds 
of a given area and depth; also to ascertain of what area and 
depth ponds should be constructed in order to produce the best 
results. ‘The experiments cannot be brought to a conclusion in 
one or two years, but eventually each superintendent should be 
able to stock his brood ponds with a knowledge of what number 
of fish in each will produce the most satisfactory results. The 
planning of future pond culture stations can be based upon the 
knowledge thus gained. 
The use of copper as an algicide and disinfectant in water 
supplies, reported by Messrs. George IT. Moore and Karl F. Kel- 
lerman of the United States Department of Agriculture (Bul- 
letins 64:and 76), led them to laboratory experiments in order to 
ascertain the maximum amount of copper sulphate which can 
safely be used in water containing fish of certain species. 
The matter was then taken up by the Division of Fish Cul- 
ture to determine, first, whether the application of copper sul- 
phate in proper dilutions to destroy algae would produce any 
deleterious effects if administered shortly before the spawning 
of large-mouthed black bass, as well as its effects upon minute 
