66 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
have been found in ponds below the breeding ponds. It could not be 
determined just how long the young remain on the nests after hatch- 
ing, but parent fish watch the nest very closely for two weeks or 
more. It is not certain which parent watches the nest, but they show 
more vigilance than either the rock bass or the black bass, sometimes 
biting at the glass tube when it is put down to take up fish or eggs 
for examination. The water temperature in this pond ranged from 
60° to 65° during the spawning season. Nests were observed on April 
27, and the first eggs were taken up for examination on May 13. 
The rock-bass work of the past season was very disappointing, as 
for some unknown cause only 9,545 were secured from the ponds. 
The breeders were placed in three ponds during the spring of 1901, and 
as large numbers of nests were occupied and many fry have been 
observed, it is thought that the results will be much better this season. 
Sun-fish appeared in large numbers in the ponds during the spring, 
and thousands of them were used for bass food; 5,730 were also dis- 
tributed to applicants. 
After the ponds were drawn down in the fall ponds Nos. 1, 2, 3, 
and 4 were entirely rebuilt, and a number of others were materially 
improved. A cement walk, over 1,000 feet long, from the residence 
to the small gate on the north side of the grounds, was constructed, 
and two fine cement bridges over the branch were built. This work 
has improved the appearance of the station very much. 
Congress having made a special appropriation of $7,500 for reeon- 
structing the hatchery and acquiring land for bass ponds and an 
additional water supply, steps were taken to purchase the necessary 
land and to assemble the material for the work of construction. 
Number of jish on hand at Neosho at the end of the year. 
Calendar year in which fish were 
C _— hatched. 
Species. es j3 oS a eee 
1901. | 1900. | 1899. | 1898. | 1897. 
RAIN DOW, ULOUL. acs) Sea ocses nee eae ee ee eee 51,500 | 1,500 | 2,27 9402 
IBIACKIDASS = .onet sess oaten se A hae Sones Semen eee es ee oe | eee US3iee es cees 155 
ROCKNDASS 25-6 woos ened esina a eats cores tees coe eee one | eee ese sseecoes iis 22 ebieoss 40 
Strawberry bass -...-..-- ec he coast. thee ee oe eee See ee oe JO5G | S3e ees oe 55 
Golden ddersh2's.2.33 696. cnceee soe tees Scene sete Scene Scarce re | eer eee | 11 
PEPE sc MANS th Naples ee eae 51,500} 1,500] 2,690} 940| 261 
Temperature and precipitation at Neosho for the year ending June 30, 1901. 
| | aes | F 
Month. | Max.| Min. | Mean. eres Snow. Month. Max.| Min. | Mean. Feely Snow. 
1900. |, SOF, Nol °F. | Inches. Inches. 1901. O}Fts, ||) Oar °F. | Inches.| Inches. 
DULVseme ses 92 50 | 75.4 CG ena a January ...| 70 9 38.9 0:45) oec-5 
August .-..- 98 57 Tol | 48x00! | Sse February -_| 64 12 34.4 1.20 2 
September - 94 47 (ET SG Vel a March ....- 2 6 46.6 4.54 2 
October -...| 88 33 52.6 B02 ceca April2t2s-. | “86 28 54.4 3.12 1 
November -| 78 16 48 3.18 |cossos- Miayise--2525|. 8) 36 63.9 RACs |-eeeeese 
December __| 64 9 38.4 BOSia| essa June .2---:- 98 45 77 TSU eR ssecee 
| 
Mean temperature for year, 57.5° F. Total precipitation, 39.79 inches. 
