sufficient size and age to be taken back with them into deeper 

 water. As a consequence, when the water commenced to fall, 

 they returned to the river proper, or nearest deep water. 



However, our work was only delayed Tjy this circumstance, as 

 the river, after falling about four feet, again began to rise, and 

 with the rise these holes and sloughs were again filled with fish, 

 larger than those we had saved in previous seasons, and when 

 water was low enough for us to prodeed with our work, we had for 

 the greater proportion of our supply, breeders, or mature fish, to 

 distribute. And while, from their size, it was impossible to carry 

 anything like the usual numlier, yet, in point of fact, the interest 

 of the waters was thus better subserved, in that, the smaller 

 streams having been practically depleted, they would be the more 

 speedily repopulated l3y planting with fish which would, by the 

 next season become reproductive, than would have been possible 

 by planting the usual number possible to transport, of small fish. 

 Having secured the use of the cars, it was found impracticable to 

 continue our former methods of gathering our supply, viz.: by 

 means of small boats and crews; and some method which would 

 insure greater quantities in less time, was a necessity. So, with 

 the consent of the authorities, we procured a small steamboat, 

 one we had used in former seasons, — the "Hannibal Eagle." The 

 cost of the boat was about $400, and up to date, she has not only 

 done our work, but has placed to the credit of our fund over one- 

 half her cost, — which will be found properly credited in our 

 financial statement — and we think that before the season is ended, 

 she will nearly have paid for herself. We built a barge, or live 

 box, so constructed that, by use of gates, covered by a wire gauze, 

 the barge could be, at any time, filled, and a current of water put 

 through it, or when being towed, could be made water-tight, and 

 towed up the river to jDoint where fish were to be taken. The 

 barge was twenty-five feet long, eight feet wide, and four feet 

 deep, and when filled would contain as many fish as could be 

 carried in a car, with safety. 



The cars of the United States Commission, placed at our dis- 

 posal, were built for the purpose of transporting trout, Avhite fish, 

 shad and carp, by the United States Fish Commission, and are 

 used as well, for hatching white fish and shad, in their seasons, 

 consequently had to be re-arranged so as to admit of tanks being 

 placed in them for the purposes of the native fish distribution. 

 Twenty tanks, calculated to contain about 80 to 100 gallons of 

 water, were fitted into the larger tanks in the car, and with a 

 crew of five men in each car, to care for them, the fish were 

 taken to the various streams in the State. A car load contained 

 from 4,500 to 6,500 fish, according to their size and condition, and 

 the state of weather. 



These cars were at our disposal from July 15 to October 5. 

 The crews and men were maintained by the United States Fish 

 Commission. 



