BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 1886
Page 391
PART 2 REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FISH AND EGGS BY THE U. S. FISH COMMISSION FOR THE SEASON OF 1885-86.... Back to Part 1
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(j) CARP (Cyprinus carpio).
The total distribution for the season aggregated 348,784, as follows: Table of German carp planted in public waters during the season of 1885-'86.
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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
PAGE 392
Summary of carp distributed to private applicants from October 8, 1885, to March 20, 1886.
Note: * = October 6, 1885, to March 20, 1886.
To individual applicants for pond culture ..................................187,414
To public waters ...................................................................161,370
The number of individual applicants supplied was ........................6,273
The distribution was general, including 309 Congressional districts and 1,348 counties. The distributions to public waters embrace the principal river basins of the Middle and South Atlantic and Gulf slopes.
(k) COMMON AND JAPANESE GOLDFISH (Carassius auratus).
The number of this fish produced at the U. S. Fish Commission ponds in Washington each season is entirely insufficient to meet the eager demand for fish for aquaria, fourtains, and ornamental lakes. The fish being purely an ornamental species, of no value for food, no special effort
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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
PAGE 393
has been made to increase the supply. The number distributed in 1855 was 4,344 to 573 applicants.
Summary of goldfish distributed in the season of 1885-'86.
(l) LITTLE ROUND CLAM (Tapes etaminea).
A successful effort was made to transfer several hundreds of this valuable west-coast mollusk from Puget Sound, Washington Territory, to the waters of Vineyard Sound, off the coast of Massachusetts. The conduct of the experiment was intrusted to Mr. George H. H. Moore, in charge of car No. 2. As the necessary conditions for success in trans portation had not been ascertained, the entire arrangement was left to his discretion. The methods employed, the difficulties encountered, and the final success attained are detailed in his report, dated Washington, June 30, 1835, the important items of which are as follows:
"Sunday, June 14. After much trouble and the promise of 162 per sack (the usual price being about $1.50 per sack), I engaged 20 sacks of Clams, to be delivered at car by Wednesday noon. I also engaged enough rock weed to pack over the clams."
"Tuesday, June 16. Finished getting sand in tanks this p.m. One of the clam gatherers, from whom I engaged 10 sacks of clams, returned with 1 sack. Had them tied up and put overboard, so as to keep in good condition."
"Wednesday, June 17. The other 10 sacks of clams arrived this a.m. After consultation with those that make a business of gathering clams, I concluded it would be best to pack them in sand, with mouth up, then cover with about 2 inches of sand, and put the rock weed on top of this, then, by means of a sprinkling-can, keep them moistened with the salt water. After selecting the smallest of the clams, had them packed as above described. Took on 30 cans of salt water. Estimated the number of clams in tanks at 6,000.
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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. PAGE 394
"Thursday, June 18. Left Tacoma at 5.25 a. m. Put one-half ton of ice in tanks."
"Sunday, June 21. Had clams in tanks taken out. Find they are not looking well. Concluded to have them taken out of sand and placed on top of sand, with mouths up, then covered with the rock weed."
"Monday, June 22. Had the other side unpacked and looked over. They seem to be doing tolerably well. In repacking I find the estimate as to the number in tanks was too high; from 4,000 to 4,500 is nearer the number."
"Tuesday, June 23. Clams packed in rockweed are in very bad condition; those packed in sand also are in poor condition. Concluded to put them all in cans and cover with salt water.
"Wednesday, June 24. In changing water on clams to-day I find that they are in bad condition, and the prospect not encouraging. Had them looked over every few hours to prevent the dead ones from contaminating the water."
"Thursday, June 25.-Clams are looking better this evening. Arrived Boston 9.45 p. m. Had car transferred to depot Old Colony Railroad; sent car to dock; got some fresh water for the clams and had it put on them."
"Friday, June 2G. Had clams put in baggage car; looking very well. Arrived at Wood's Holl 11.40 a. m.; had clams transferred to station U. S. Fish Commission: These were put out in sand on the beach and counted, and 768 looked as if they were alive and in good condition, a good many of them being lively enough to cover themselves before I left, at 4:10 p. m."
NEW STATION NEEDED.
The attention of the Commissioner has been drawn to the increasing demand for trout for stocking streams in the Trans-Mississippi and Rocky Mountain region. It is impracticable to provide satisfactorily for these requests to such extent as the importance of the work demands by sending the fish from existing Eastern stations.
The necessity for the establishment of a breeding and rearing station for the Salmonidae at some central point in the Rocky Mountain region grows each year more apparent. At such station we could provide for the hatching, rearing; and distribution of desirable species of the Salmonidae, at a reasonable cost, and at the same time arrange for the collection of the eggs of the native Rocky Mountain trout (Salmo purpuratus) for the stocking of Eastern waters. This species, though similar to the rainbow trout in many respects, has a much wider geographical and climatic range, and would therefore seem better adapted for general distribution.
WASHINGTON, D. C., December 30, 1886.