REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LXXXVII 



The following table shows the air aud water temperatures and the 

 amounts of rain and snow as recorded by months : 



During the summer many needed repairs and improvements were 

 made in the hatchery and annex, including the construction of lockers 

 in the carpenter shop for the storage of tools and as receptacles for 

 fish food. It was found necessary to reline many of the ponds, nothing 

 having been done to them since they were constructed in 1889. The 

 material used was l£-inch matched pine dipped in boiling tar. New 

 staudpipes of the same material were constructed where needed, an 

 additional 6-inch supply pipe was laid from the spring to the hatchery, 

 and a pool 5 feet by 40 feet was built at the head of pond 5. Two new 

 plank pools were also built — one at the head of No. 5 for storage and 

 the other between Nos. 15 and 16 — and a small egg-shaped pond was 

 constructed. at the head of No. 16. 



San Marcos Station, Texas (J. L. Leahy, Superintendent). 



In July the employees of the station resumed the distribution of fish 

 to applicants in the State, and disposed of 11,500 black bass and 3,700 

 rock bass. The distribution was again taken up April 25, 1898, and 

 continued until June 3, during which period 17,100 black bass were 

 handled, making a total distribution during the year of 31,600 black 

 bass, 3,700 rock bass, and 50 crappie. 



In making these plants the employees traveled 15,549 miles, 11,549 of 

 which were free. The distribution was very successfully accomplished, 

 but few fish being lost. 



During the winter collections were made from the San Marcos and 

 Blanco rivers to increase the stock of brood-fish. The bass com- 

 menced nesting on February 10 and were still spawning at the close of 

 the fiscal year. Most of the eggs were deposited on clay bottom, 

 though a few of the fish used the piles of gravel which had been placed 

 in the pond. The fry commenced to hatch in February, and by April 

 many were 2i inches long. Their food was similar to that used during 

 the past year, consisting largely of young mud shad, minnows, salted 

 fish roe, aud such natural food as the ponds contained. 



The crappie and rock bass commenced nesting during the latter part 

 of March and many of them had not finished spawning at the close of 

 the year. Young rock bass about an inch in length appeared in large 

 numbers in the ponds, but no crappie have been seen. Once or twice 



