6 
DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND FISH EGGS IN 1909. 
is determined the species of fish that is suitable and the number that 
may be allotted to the water area in question. Certain predaceous 
species, such as the basses, perches, and pickerel, are not furnished 
for waters inhabited by trout or other valuable fishes to which they 
would be destructive. Nor, of course, are species like trout and sal- 
mon furnished for waters already stocked with fish that would prey 
upon them. 
The fish are carried to their destination in railroad cars equipped 
for the purpose, or by messengers who accompany the shipments in 
baggage cars, and are delivered to the applicant free of charge, at 
the railroad station nearest the point of deposit. The applicant is 
advised by telegraph when the shipment will arrive, and is expected 
to make due provision for care of the fish until planted. Definite 
instructions in this respect are furnished at the time of shipment. 
During the past fiscal year (July 1, 1908, to June 30, 1909) the 
Bureau received 10,112 applications for fish, nearly all for the game 
species. The demand, especially for the basses, crappie, and the 
catfish, has for some time been greater than could be met with avail- 
able resources. The number of applications this year was 1,828 more 
than in 1908. 
SIZE OF FISH WHEN DISTRIBUTED. 
Fishes are distributed at various stages of development, according 
to the species, the numbers in the hatcheries, and the facilities for 
rearing. The commercial fishes — such as the shad, whitefish, lake 
trout, pike, perch, cod, etc., hatched in lots of many millions — are 
necessarily planted as fry shortly after hatching. Atlantic salmon, 
landlocked salmon, and various species of trout are reared, in such 
numbers as the hatchery facilities permit, to fingerlings from 1 to 6 
inches in length; the remainder are distributed as fry. a 
The basses, bream, and other sunfishes are distributed from some 
three weeks after they are hatched until they are several months of 
age. When the last lots are shipped the basses usually range from 
4 to 6 inches and the sunfishes from 2 to 4 inches in length. The 
numerous fishes collected in overflowed lands — basses, crappie, sun- 
a The varying usage in the classification of young fish as to size has caused such 
confusion and difficulty that the Bureau has adopted uniform definitions, as follows: 
FYy=fish up to the time the yolk sac is absorbed and feeding begins. 
Advanced fry — fish from the end of the fry period until they have reached a length 
of 1 inch. 
Fingerlings=&sh between the length of 1 inch and the yearling stage, the various 
sizes to be designated as follows: No. 1, a fish 1 inch in length and up to 2 inches; 
no. 2, a fish 2 inches in length and up to 3 inches; no. 3, a fish 3 inches in length and 
up to 4 inches, etc. 
Yearlings=fish. that are 1 year old, but less than 2 years old from the date of hatch- 
ing; these may be designated no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, etc., after the plan prescribed for 
fingerlings. 
