46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
With the rainbow trout better results were secured, more than 22,000 
fry being on hand June 30, 1890, as the product of 25,000 eggs received 
from Wytheville February 12. 
The earliest observed spawning date of the goldfish was Mareh 12; 
of the carp, May 5; of the tench, May 23. 
Predatory birds and other animals were very numerous, and many 
were destroyed. 
1890-91. 
The fish available for distribution in October, 1890, consisted of the 
production of the previous fiscal year, These numbered 63,570, and 
were as follows: Rainbow trout, 21,051; Von Behr trout, 11,937; lake 
trout, 506; rock bass, 1,380; carp, 1,782; tench, 9,907; goldfish, 17,007. 
The black bass commenced building their nests in the ponds toward 
the end of March, 1891, and more than fifty were. observed. By June 
30, 1891, many of the young had attained a length of 14 inches. 
Crappie, carp, tench, golden ide, rock bass, and goldfish, as well as 
the black bass, reproduced by natural methods, in the ponds, the young 
being retained there until the season for distribution in the subsequent 
fall months. An addition ef 23 breod crappie was obtained through 
the Missouri fish commissioners. 
During cold weather it was observed that the carp and tench in the 
ponds remained active, the channel catfish, however, being dormant. 
The golden ide received as fingerlings in December, 1889, made such 
rapid growth that they were of an average length of 18 inches by June 
30,1891. They were at first very wild, but were rendered gentle by the 
methods used in their feeding. 
The rock bass held as stock fish commenced spawning April 21, 1891, 
a chain of nests being formed around the margin of the pond in water 
4 to Ginches deep. The nests were oblong hollows, the size of a hat 
crown, and were covered with coarse gravel. There were 1,500 to 1,800 
eggs in each, of a deep straw color, somewhat smaller than shad eggs, 
and slightly adhesive, though not in lamps. The nests were closely 
guarded by the male parents, the period of hatching being eight to ten 
days. 
A thousand rainbow trout, hatched in the spring of 1890, were re- 
tained as brood fish and have made rapid growth. 
On January 17, 1891, 17,400 rainbow trout eggs were received from 
Wytheville Station, which afforded more than 13,000 fry for transfer to 
the rearing ponds. 
A consignment of 17,000 brook trout eggs arrived from Northville 
Station January 25, 1891. The fry from these underwent a loss while 
in the yolk stage, as in the preceding year, but on April 1 more than 
11,000 remained on hand for rearing. By June 1 some of them were 3 
inches long. 
