
will construct power and irrigation dams which will need stocking with fish, Ae these 
developments take place, much of the hatchery output can be used to develop the fisheries 
resources in them. The hatchery pools may be needed to determine the species best suited 
for propagating in small ponds conetructed in fincas. To maintain satisfactory fishing over 
a period of years, "corrective stocking" undoubtedly will be necessary in some waters in 
order to maintain a proper ratio of predacious fishes to their supporting populations. 
For these reasons, it is believed that the construction of the hatchery should be on the 
basis of permanent operation. 
consider in selecting a hatchery site are as follows: 
(1) Sufficient clear water, not markedly different in its chemical make-up from the waters 
to be stocked, to operate 20 to 24 ponds with a total area of 3.23 surface hectares 
(8 surface acres) of water that will be drained and refilled about three times a year. 
The minimum amount of water needed would be about 100 liters (litros) per minute. Ponds 
in operation require only sufficient water to maintain levels but much time is saved if 
enough water is available to fill them quickly. (2) Sufficient area of relatively flat 
land (on which water can be obtained by gravity flow) for the construction of ponds, 
holding and equipment shed, shop, and residence. (3) A central location from which fish 
can be transported in a minimum of time to all important waters. In Guatemala, there 
will be a great advantage in the use of an airplane for stocking certain lakes. The 
availability of an airport, therefore, should be considered. 
The primary points to 
In the course of the survey, observations and inquiries were made regarding 
locations having suitable waters and land areas for hatchery development. Special 
consideration was given to a number of springs in the vicinity of Antigua, areas near 
San José de Pinula, the area below Laguna de Amatitlén, the springs at Apocentos near 
Chimaltenango, and the spring at Aguacatan, tributary to Rio Blanco. 
Apocentos.--This site is in the highlands at an altitude of 1,700 meters and 
about two kilometers from Chimaltenango. Its central location with respect to the waters 
to be stocked, and with respect to the present road system, is satisfactory. 
About 0.22 cubic meters (eight cubic feet) per second of water can be obtained 
from springs emerging from porous sandstone, but not all of this water is above the best 
location for pools. It is estimated that about four to six hectares (10-15 acres) of pool 
area could be flooded by gravity from the spring. The water emerges at a temperature of 
24 degrees Centigrade. It hae a pH of 7.2; phenolphthalein alkalinity, 0; methyl orange 
alkalinity, 85 to 87 pep.m. 
' About one Kilometer above the proposed hatchery site, water is taken from a 
spring-fed stream through a diversion dam of concrete and brick. The water is diverted 
through a dirt flume to a water-wheel and generating plant at the proposed hatchery site. 
On March 27, 1946, a volume of 0.11 cubic meter (four cubic feet) per second of water was 
entering the flume, and 0,056 was reaching the generating plant. The loss by seepage was 
0.055 cubic meter per second over a course of about two kilometers. As much of the land 
on the drainage area is cultivated, the water from the stream would be murky during the 
rainy season, June to November. The use of this water in ponds devoted to channel catfish 
and crappie might be advantageous. The water taken from the stream could be directed by 
gravity over an area of four to five hectares (10-15 acres) suitable for ponds. With 
improvement of the present dirt flume, adequate water would be available for fish ponds 
as well as for the generating plant. The temperature of the water in the stream at the 
diversion dam was 25 degrees Centigrade, at 4:30 p. m., March 27, 1946. The pH was 8.2, 
and methyl orange alkalinity, 72 parts per million. The water from the springs and the 
stream is suitable for fish cultural purposes, and is not markedly different from the waters 
in the majority of the streams and lakes to be stocked. 
Since the site lies in a valley, an important factor to determine before further 
consideration is given to this location is whether the soil will hold water without undue 
loss from seepage. The irregularity of the land is such that it would be necessary to fit 
the ponds into the topography in order to reduce construction costs. This would undoubtedly 
result in an inefficient use of the land, and a station more difficult to operate than one 
properly located on more level terrain. It is recommended that no consideration be given 
to the construction of a hatchery at this location until a hatchery mgineer has studied the 
problems involved, 
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