REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 45 
FisH LAKES, WASHINGTON, D. C. (C. K. GREEN, SUPERINTENDENT). 
Dr. Rudolph Hessel, who had been in charge of this station since 
its establishment in 1877, died suddenly on August 19, 1900, and Mr. 
Z. H. Goldsmith directed operations until November 12, when he was 
relieved by Mr. J. N. Wisner, field superintendent. Mr. Wisner was 
relieved on March 1, upon the appointment of C. K. Green. 
Work was conducted along the same general lines followed in past 
years; the ponds were drawn from time to time during the fall and the 
young fish were assorted and transferred to the breeding-ponds. The 
season’s operations proved very satisfactory, 64,605 yearling and 50 
adult large-mouthed black bass, besides 1,551 crappie, being furnished 
for distribution in the fall. 
In November the shad which had been placed in the west pond 
during the month of May of the previous year were liberated in the 
Potomac River. It is impossible to give the exact number liberated, 
but it is believed that there were at least 2,000,000. In May, 1901, 
2,000,000 were again placed in the west pond, and at the close of the 
year large numbers of apparently healthy and vigorous shad could 
be seen along the partition in deep water. 
One of the most important improvements has been the construction 
of a new outlet for the north pond, which was done under direction 
of Mr. H. von Bayer, the architect and engineer of the Commission. 
Early in April the breeding fish of all kinds were transferred from 
the retaining ponds to the ponds and partitions previously prepared 
for breeding purposes. The large-mouthed bass commenced spawning 
in the north and south ponds on April 28, and it was observed that 
they spawned not only on the gravel beds which had been placed in 
the ponds, but also on the weeds close to the water’s edge. The first 
brood of fry appeared on May 6. The last nests were seen on June 10, 
and at the close of the year there were large numbers of young fish in 
the ponds. 
The adult crappie, numbering 73, were transferred from the retain- 
ing ponds to the Seventeenth street ponds in April, and commenced 
to spawn on May 1, continuing until about the 20th. A number of 
nests were seen and some fry have been noticed in the pond near the 
edges. 
The crappie in the canal pond spawned on the 29th of April, but as 
this pond was used for black bass, the fry, estimated at about 8,000, 
were transferred to the Seventeenth street pond as soon as they raised 
from the beds. A recent examination shows that they have made 
excellent growth, being from 1 to 14 inches in length at the close of 
the year. 
Although the distribution of ornamental fishes has been discon- 
tinued, some golden ide, tench, and gold-fish are raised annually for 
the aquarium at Central Station and for exhibition purposes. Large 
numbers of young carp are also hatched as food for bass. 
