REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXI 



It appears from Mr. McDonald's report of his investigation that the neighborhood 

 of the city of Neosho, in Newton County, Missouri, affords more favorable conditions 

 than any other of the localities examined ; and, furthermore, that the Neosho City au- 

 thorities have guarantied to the United States the free use of some 17 acres of land 

 and of a plentiful supply of excellent water for the purpose above named. 



Should it be the pleasure of Cougress to direct the establishment of a station for 

 fish culture in this locality, the probable cost is estimated to be as follows : 



Construction of buildings, ponds, and appliances $8,000 



Maintenance for fiscal year beginning July 1, 1888 5, 000 



Total 13,000 



Very respectfully, your obedieut servant, 



J. H. Kidder, 



Hon, John J. Ingalls, Acting Commissioner. 



President pro tempore United States Senate. 



In the Senate of the United States, 



December 21, 1887. 

 Resolved, That the Fish Commission is hereby directed to report to the Senate at as 

 early a day as practicable what measures, if any, have been taken for the selection of 

 a site for, and the location of, a fish-cultural station of the U. S. Fish Commission in 

 the Ozark region of southwest Missouri, with the views and recommendations of the 

 Commission aud the probable cost thereof. 

 Attest: Anson G. McCook, 



Secretary. 



[Extract.! 



Report in reference to the establishment of a fish- cultural station of the U. S. Fish Commis- 

 sion in southwest Missouri, by Marshall McDonald. 



The object of a station in the Ozark region is to make adequate provision for stock- 

 ing the waters of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, 

 and West Tennessee with the species of food-fishes adapted to the natural conditions 

 afforded by the waters. 



Only a limited area of the extensive section of country under consideration affords 

 waters suitable for acclimation of the trout or other salmouidte. 



Climatal conditions would largely restrict the work of the proposed station to 

 the pond culture of the tench, bass, rock bass, carp, and other species, native or in- 

 troduced, which are adapted to the warmer waters of this section, and the distribu- 

 tion of the same in very large numbers to the streams, lakes, and ponds of the South- 

 west. 



The necessary conditions to be fulfilled in the establishment of such a station are 

 as follows : 



(1) The location should be central, with reference to the section in the interest of 

 which the station is to be operated. . 



(2) It should be in convenient communication by railroad with all portions of the 

 area over which its operations are to extend. 



(3) The water supply for ponds and hatching houses should be practically unlim- 

 ited, so that there should be no restriction in the free use of water in the most exten- 

 sive work that it might be expedient to undertake. 



(4) The water should be spring water, remaining clear and of even temperature 

 under all circumstances of weather or season, and with such head or fall as to permit 

 a gravity supply to hatchery and ponds ; thus eliminating one serious element in the 

 cost of operating a station where circumstances render it necessary to lift the water 

 by pumping. 



