2.-A REPORT UPON INVESTIGATIONS MADE IN TEXAS IN 1891. 
BY BARTON W. EVERMANN, PH. D. , 
Assistant , U. S. Fish Commission. 
This paper is a report upon the investigations made by the U. S. Fish Commission 
in the State of Texas in November and December, 1891, as contemplated in an act 
of Congress, approved March 3, 1891, providing u For investigating respecting the 
advisability of establishing a fish-hatchery station in the Rocky Mountain region in 
the State of Montana or Wyoming, and also in the Gulf States.” 
The character of the station which it is desired to establish in this region is 
indicated in the memorandum of instructions furnished me by Col. Marshall McDonald, 
the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, viz: 
It is desirable, if practicable, to unite in one station the facilities for fish-cultural work with the 
salt-water species, for the pond culture of fresh-water species, for the investigation and development 
of methods for the propagation and rearing of the oyster, and for the investigation of the marine life 
of this coast. This means, of course, a laboratory of marine biological research, not large or expensive, 
but thoroughly equipped in all respects for its work. It is not necessary that all these requirements 
should be found at one locality, but they should be so closely and conveniently associated as to be 
brought under one direction. The requirements for each of the above classes of work may be briefly 
indicated as follows : For marine research and for hatching there will be required a suitable site above 
the chanee of damage by storm or tide, with available supply of salt water. For the study of methods 
of oyster-culture will be needed an area of 100 to 200 acres of low-lying marsh lands, on the coast line, 
easily convertible into storage and rearing ponds. If this lies on the banks of a landlocked bay, from 
which the salt water may be conducted by canals into the ponds and which is not subject to roiling 
by storms, this is of course desirable. 
If the requisite conditions for such a composite station could not be found sufficiently 
closely associated, I was instructed to make investigations in the interior of the State 
looking toward the selection of a site suitable for the culture of fresh water species 
alone. 
The requirements for the culture of fresh- water species of fish for this region are, 
briefly : 
1. A constant supply of about i,000 gallons of pure water per minute. 
2. Not less than 20 to 30 acres of land. This land should lie so that the water 
may be obtained from the source of supply by means of gravity if possible. The 
land should be of such a character as to render the construction of ponds upon it an 
easy matter, and the fall should be sufficient to permit the ready drainage of any one 
of the series of ponds whenever occasion requires. Furthermore, there should be no 
danger of contamination from freshets or other causes. 
3. The location should afford good railroad facilities. 
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