MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. Received ^r^ A"^^.&../..<^...^ Lfr? Accession No.^. si.. w...\J vr ■ J r J Given by t,.alinuii Fislc'iics in Kadiak District, Alaska Territory, during the year 1883. 134 Forb- s, IS. B., 154. Loss of Life and Property in the Fisheries 181 For!>«-s, ^. A., .13, DcHtiuction of Fish-food by Bladdeiwoit {Utricidaria) 443 Fs'ietllapinlcr, Oscar©., 14. Notes on the Menliadcu Fishiug of 1883 47 fi'^ulU'r, I'lionca^. 4. Carp in England in the Seventeenth Century 14 ^aruian, vaitajfel, 5N. In regard to the " Sea-serpent" of Literattiro 128 Oerbcr, jr., C\, 73. Flow to cook Carp 151 doolie. C;. Browi!. 222. Tlie Oy.ster Industry of the World 4G8 dreriiOcSd, AllVciB. 101. K(p. Recounaissance of Florida Eivcrs, with a view to Shad hatching 206 liar <-ll, J). 2>o€k. 215. 'I" rapping Gas])eieati in Taugijiahoa Kiver 448 SS arris, Cin-yun, 'Z. Keport upon the Shad and Herring Fi.sherie.s of the Potomac Eivcr for 18^3 13 , 119. Pepoit upon the Shad and Herring Fisheries of the Potomac Eiver for 1884 221 Blar?;. C. ©., 216. On :\Ianiilactu'ed Food f.r Trout aud Carp 449 EBoardf r, ^Villaasii, GS, Watci proofing for Herring-nets 143 ISfolh. Neil, 180. Ellect of Cold on Fishes 369 BSrctor, JaBue.s. 20. The Fisheries of New Zealand 53 EIeuim!iaii, Jfolan T., 81. American Clack Bass placed in the Piver Nene, England 160 GBertKioi), 1'. Ci., '.iOO, Sanitary Report ou Old Providence Island, United States of Co. lonihia " 412 Mt-ss I, Ru!3., 8fl. Culture of Edible Snails 106 , 8S. Leech Culture 175 . 155. Snakes druia Trout Distribution in South Carolina in 1883 164 , 79. Sliad-tisliinLj on the Edisto River 165 Jeiiras, li. Z., 319. The Canadian Fisheriea 457 JoiKvs, J. F„ 16:i. Tue Speckhd Catfish 321 Jordan, David 8., 35. The Fishes of Florida Keys 77 , 153. Pioposrd Propasation of Catfish as a Food-fish 292 Keiiwiiigtoii, K. T., 31. Conip isition of some of the Food-fishes 74 Krsi^vovthj', C J., 36. Food Qualities of Tarpuni (ITegalops) 80 KooiiN, IJ. F., 43. Planting Irish Sliells- iZcZi'a; aspersa Mi'iller— at "Wood's Holl, Mass 87 KiiiilicI, Professor, 195. On the Conditions under which Trout exist in the German Waters 393 fiaflin & Co., 11. Need of a National Law to Regulate the Size of Mesh of both Pound and Gill nets on the Great Lakes 223 l.a iTIoitc, Aifrcd V., 56. Comision do Piscicultura do la Republica Mcxicana 124 I^cslic. Charles €., 137. On the Cultivation of Soft-shell Crabs 256 liOomis, IVatts T., 149. A Landlocked Salmon caught in Erie Canal 288 I.oi-d, lacsiry U'., 174. The Fish of Devil's Lake, Dakota 351 IjOW<'I1, JTaines Russell, 153. Thanks of Ihe Executive Committee of the London In- tel iia; loiial FisIierie-> Exhibition for the Participation by the United States 291 lUcDonald, ITIarsEiall, 104. Shad Eggs sent to Cold Spring Harbor, New York, to be hatclKd 198 , 113. Transferring Catfish from the Potomac to the Colorado River, Arizona 212 ,141. Memorandum of some Results of Fish Culture alieady Attained 261 , 147. California Trout planted in Roanoke River in July, 1883, retaken in June, 1884 .. 286 fflackrill, Alfred, 32. A Great Carp 75 IVIcJIeiiaiuiii & t'o.. 15. Method of Catching Crabs 48 I?Baitlai2d, Jaiues «., 51. Exchange of Landlocked Salmon Eggs from Maine, for Loch Levcn Trout Ova from Scotland 114 Malmgren, A. J., 164. The Migrations of the Salmon iSalnio salar L.) in the Baltic 322 I?Iaiiley, J. Jt., 35. American Fish introduced in English Waters 60 . 30. Piscicu'.tuie in England 69 ITIartin. 8. J., 45. Notes on the Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass 89 ,59. Notes on the Cod Gillnet Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass., 1883-84 • 129 , 103. Notes on the Cod Gill-net Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass., 1883-'84. 191 , 135. Notes on the Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass 249 , 199. Notes on the Fisheries of Gloucester. Mass 410 , 314. Notes on iho Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass 444 Maslienral-I>ageinar«l, Dr., 70. Acclimatization of .9ainio ^■itiwnat in France 144 IVIallier, Fred, 53. Notes on Cod, Shrimp, &.C., at Cold Sprirg Harbor 123 Meek, Selh E., 47. A Note on the Cuban Eel Ill ITIereliaiit. jr., George. 67. The Incipiency of Night-Seining for Mackerel 142 MorriaiiJ, C Hart, 148. The Fish of Lake Champlain 287 ,158. The i.rusk-rat asa Fish eater 297 ]Wi:ier, John F., 66. Proposed Introduction of Hawaiian Mullet into the United States 141 ITIiiSer, W. 15., 99. An Act to Prohibit Fishing by Steam Vessels with Shirred or Purse- seines in any of the Waters within the Jurisdiction o^ the State of New Jersey 187 JTloseley, II. IV., 1 39. A Carnivorous Plant iireying on Vertobrata 259 , 140. The Fish eating Vtricidaria, or Bladdcrwort 261 NicUcrson, Selh, 97. Destruction of Small Fish in Weirs 184 IN'icklas, Carl, 317. On Manufactured Food for Trout and Carp : 453 l\'«T»'ieki, j^l.. 111. Anton Pintsch's Movable Fish-way 209 Palmer, B. &.. .55. Carp appear Febrarary 7, take the hook, and are excellent eating... 124 Paulsen, Paul (George, 194. The World's Market for Klip-fish, Roe, and Herring 392 Pcirce, Miltiin P., 95. Resuscitation of Apparently Dead Carp 183 Peixotto, Betijauiin F., 303. The Sea-fisheries of France and Algiers 417 Phillips, Baruct, 61. Some Notes on the Mullet Fisheries 135 , 71. Notes of a Trip in tlie Gulf of Mexico 144 VIII CONTENTS. Page. Pierce, II. D., 142. Notes on the Bin efish, Mortality of Florida fishes, &c 263 IPicrce, II. H., 166. Some of the DiflBculties which Confront Oyster Breeders 332 ProcJor, Richard A., 81. A Marine Monster 55 Qiiattlcbaiiui, Paul, 1S3. Method of Catching Carp ifvith a Hook 380 Katbbiiii, Richard, 305. Notes on the Decrease of Lobsters 421 Riivercl-Waliel, V., 130. Notes on a Disease Aiiecting Crawfish in Germany 299 Redding, Joseph D., 143. Character of the Caip introduced by Capt. Henry Eobinson about 1830 266 Robinsou, W. Russell, 151. A California Salmon taken in James Eiver 290 RuiiipflT, Carl, 17S. The Oyster as a Popular Article of Food in North America 356 Ryder, Jobn A., 9. On anew Form of Filter or Diaphragm to be used in the Culture of Oysters in Ponds 17 , 12. On a Skin Parasite of the Gunner (Ctenoldbrus adspersus) ." 37 , 13. Journal of operations on the Grounds of the Eastern Shore Oyster Company, on Chineoteague Bay, near Stockton, Md., during the Summer of 1883 43 , 74. Carp do Eat Toung Fishes 152 , 136. Report Respecting the Present Condition and Future Prospects at St. Jerome Creek for the Work of Oyster Culture 235 , 160. Floats for the so-called Fattening of Oysters 302 , 171. Note on the Regeneration of the Scales of the German Carp 345 ,183. On Apparatus for Collecting Oyster Spat 373 , 1S6. Caro of Gold-fish. — Queries of William Rosenstihl, jr., with Replies 381 Scherzer, Karl von, 173. The Cultivation of the Sea 348 Scuiider, Oharles W., 93. Vitalityof GermanCaip, andRestorationof someApparently Dead 179 , 197. A list of the Blank Forms, Circulars, and Minor Publications of the United States Fish Commission, from August 1, 1883, to August 1,1884 307 Sheley, Ci. A., 176. Destruction of Fish caused by Nets of Small Mesh in Lake Michigan. 353 Hiler, Andrew li., 17. Depletion of Fish in Panquitch and Bear Lakes, Utah 51 Sinims, jr., O. E., 13S. A Fish-eating Plant 257 !<(uiart, Ooldsmith, and Jotinson, 43. A Chinese Method of Fish Culture 88 Smiley, Chas. W., 1. Inspection of Fish and other Marine F'roducts in the District of Columbia, 1879 to 18s3, inclusive 1' ,39. What Fish Cultuie has first to accomplish 65 , 96. Remarkable Resuscitation of Frozen Carp 183 , 106. The Influence of Artificial Propagation upon Production Hlustrated by the Sal- mon Work of the Sacramento River, California 201 , 130. Occurrence of Black Grouper or Jew-fish off Block Island 240 - ,144. Several Opinions upon how to Catch Carp 268 , 163. Brief Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 305 :, 169. Notesonthe Shad Season of 1884, with References to other Species 337 , 179. Brief Notes upon Fish and Fisheries - 359 , 190. Arrangement with the Life-saving Service and the Light-house Board for Col- lecting Whales, Porpoises, Sharks, and strange Forms of Marine Life 385 ,318. Brief Notes upon Fish and Fisheries 450 , 333. Brief Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 469 Stearns, R. E. C, 117. Transportation of Clams and Oysters 219 Stearns, Silas, 150. On the Position and Character of the Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Mexico ■. 289 Sterling,!^., 115. Notes on the Great Lake Fisheries, Depletion of Black Bass, &c 218 Stone, Liivingstou, 91. Weights of Salmon taken at McCloud River Station in 1880 178 Stover, E. S., 306. Rearing Carp in Alkaline Water 426 Tarr, R. S., 33. Return to Gloucester Harbor of the young Codfish hatched by the United States Fish Commission 57 Thompson, Edward, 89. Edible Qualities of Carp...' 176 Thompson, Ed'ward II., IIO. Kote on the Breeding of Eels 208 True, Frederick W., 309. Porpoi.se-fishing at Cape May, New Jersey 431 Valery-Mayot, Prof., 63. Acclimatization of iSaZmo 5tun?iaJ in France 138 Van ITIater, J. IE., 3. Occurrence of i>ah'«tes fctota on the New Jersey Coast 13 Wallem, Fredrik M., 187. Exports of Fish-oil from Norway, 1878-'82 382 ■Warner, J. 8., 118. Catching Fish in a Creek in Tennessee by a Water Snake 220 Wheeler, li. T., 130. A new Method of Protecting the Eggs of Carp and Rearing the Toung 221 Whitcombe, W. P., lO. Note* on the Acclimatization of Fish in Victoria, Australia 31 CONTENTS. IX Page. Wiuslovr, Francts, 135. Memorandum of the Present Condition and Future 'Needs of the Oyster Industry 233 , 177. Notes upon Oyster Experiments in 1883 354 H'ood, AV. ITI., 7. Tlie Ti.ansplantiug of one hundred Lobsters from the eastern part of Long Island to Chesapeake Bay 16 , 65. Eeport of an Examination of the Shad-fisheries in Georgetown, S. C 140 , 105. Report of a Trip made by the Fish Hawk to the lower part of Chesapeake Bay, to ascertain the Character of the Fisheries for Shad, Heixing, &,c., in the Spring of 1884.. 199 , 131. Keport of a Trip by the Steamer Fish Hawk to the St. Mary's and St. John's Rivers to Hatch Shad , 241 , 133. Reconnaissance of the Shad-fisheries of Winyaw Bay and its Tributaries by the Steamer Fish Hawk 242 Worth, S. €r., 11. The Selection of Sites and the Construction of Carp Ponds 33 , 133. Report upon the Propagation of Striped Baas at Weldon, N. C, in the Spring of 1884 225 PERIODICALS AND MISCELLANEOUS. Baycrisclie Fischcrci-Zcitung, 304. Discussion at the Dresden Conference in 1883, of the Kinds of Fish Ejigs to bo obtained from the United States 419 Bnlletin de la Societe d'acclimatatiou, 33. American Land-locked Salmon and Lake Trout in France 76 , 48. 'Whitefish, Lake-Trout, and Brook-Trout in France 112 , 145. Xotes on the Cultivation of Fish — mostly American — in France 27:i Chauibers* JTournal, 64. How to Cook Carp and Tench 139 Dentsche FiscSserei-'/.eitung, 196. Martin Brandt's Method of Preserving Fresh Fish and other Articles of Food 395 Evcuiug Register, 63. Depredations to Oyster Beds by Star-flsh 138 Forest and iiitreaua, 139. Snakes Catching Fish 239 Jja I»etitc FraHf>e, 9S. Concerning the Salmon-fisheries of Bretagne, France, and the need of Fishways and Restrictive Legislation 185 ITIichigan Board of Fish Commissioners, 39. Minute npon the Death of Oren M. Chase, Georae W. Armstrong, and Charles H. Brownell 83 ZVarsit Fi.'«keritideude, ISl. The Scotch Cod and Ling Fisheries 371 , 191. Use of Light in Sea-fishing 387 , 193. TheWeightof Fish in different Conditions 391 Texas Farm aud Ranch, 133. The Carp Ponda belonging to the State of Texas MO TOPICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTICLES AND NOTES. [XOTK. — The references are to the pages.] A.— UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION— GENERAL. Steamers of the Fisli Commission, 145, 153, 307. Circulars, questions, inquiry, 397. Statistics, bibliographies, directories, 1,400. B.— THE FISHERIES. Fisheries, general views, 89, 249, 410, 444, 457. Open sea fisheries, 1«0, lyi, 237, 348, 410, 417, 457. Atlantic shore fisheries, 80, 123, 129, 184, 187, 189, 191, 263, 431, 457 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico, 77, 135, 144, 289. Fisheries of the Great Lakes, 218, 223. River and inland fisheries, 8, 10, 13, 51, 287, 335, 351, 448, 462. Scotch fisheries, 60, 64, 371, 431. Japanese fisheries, 352. Canadian fisheries, 457. Australian fisheries, 53, 365. Whale and fish oil, 213, 360, 382, 404, 431. Cod and haddock fisheries aud culture, 57, 89, 92, 95, 96, 123, 175, 191, 253, 402, 469,411,444,460. Mackerel fisheries, 49, 89, 92, 96, 142, 248, 249, 253, 401, 407, 411, 427, 435, 444, 447, 401. Menhaden fisheries, 47. 91, 187, 189, 252, 312, 404, 410. Halibut fisheries, 89, 93, 249, 315, 445, 463. Haddock fisheries, 94, 408. Herring and sardine fisheries, &'g., 10, 13, 81, 93, 96, 193, 199, 221, 249, 312, 333, 392,401,409,417,461. Sword-fish, 446. Shad, whitefish, salmon, trout, bass, carp, &c. See also under D. — Culture of Marine Forms. Shad fisheries, 8, 13, 61, 88, 140, 161, 165, 199, 221, 241, 242, 244, 310, 318, 337, 361. Eels, 208, 255, 312. Catfish, 292,321. Sturgeon, 346. Mullet, 135. Squid, 89, 404. Lobsters, 421. Crabs, 48. Pearls, 365. Apparatus of fishing, 58, 129, 143, 167, 223, 255, 282, 317, 322, 353, 359, 387, 406. Fish market reports, 1, 90, 92, 94, 96. Fish, exports of, 125, 366, 392. Legislation and petitions, 187, 189. X TOPICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTICLES AND NOTES. XI C— NATURAL HISTORY OF MARINE LIFE. Natural history of fishes, &c., 13, 15, 37, 49, 52, 55, 61, 76, 90, 111, 128, 152, 345. Classification and nomenclature of fishes, 54. Lists of specimens, 77. Rare occurrences, 240, 251, 252, 403. Invertebrates, 15, 256. Enemies of fish, 37, 220, 239, 248, 257, 261, 294, 2G5, 296, 297, 308, 315, 375, 443, 456, 470. Concerning water good for or injurious to fish, 305, 426, 433, 465. Mortality offish, 263, 299, 361, 439. Food of marine animals, 449, 453. Deep sea research and tools, 367, 415. Temperatures of water, &c., 366, 367, 369, D. -CULTURE OF AQUATIC FORMS. Fish culture, 65, 69, 68, 115, 193, 261, 377. Shad culture and distribution, 65, 161, 165, 198,206,310,319. Whitefish culture and fisheries, 112, 113, 121, 190, 315, 316. Codfish culture. See under B. — The Fisheries. Salmon culture and fishing, 76, 88, 116, 134, 185, 201, 304, 314, 322, 362, 363, 366. California salmon, 88, 134, 138, 144, 174, 178, 201 , 290, 313, 364. Penobscot salmon, 169, 170. Schoodic salmon, 87, 114, 288, 341, 383. Trout fishing and culture, 64, 76, 1 12, 119, 164, 217, 286, 293, 311, 360, 364, 393, 469. Eel fishing and culture, 122,389. Bass fishing and culture, 218, 219, .365, 470. Carp and pond culture, 14, 16, 3?, 75, 85, 112,122,123,124,139,159,176,179,183, 205, 221, 2.i0, 266, 305, 329, 345. 306, 380, 426, 449. Water plants, 257, 261, 443, 456. Striped bass, 225, 320. Goldfish, 3HL Oyster and mussel culture, &c., 17, 43, 87, 97, 138, 166, 175, 219, 233, 3C2, 332, 354, 356, 373, 418, 468. Lobster fisheries and culture, 16,462. Hatching apparatus, 316, 416. Transportation of fish, 168,212,312. Exporting fish eggs and young fish, 31, ,52, 60, 76, 166, 190, 219, 308, 309, 361. Importing fish eggs and young fish, 141, 361. Fish culture abroad, 124, 138, 185, 273, 312, 384, 419. Fish ways and obstructions to fish, 209, 232. E . —MISCELLANEOUS. Economic interests relating to fish, 74, 80, 139, 151, 203, 238, 268, 305, 307, 310, 317, 356, 391,395,412. Fishery exhibits, 177, 291, 38.5. Translations, 97, 1L5, 185. 209,27.3,282,299,322,329,333,348,356,371,375,384,387,389, .391, 392, 393, 395, 419, 433, 449, 453, 465. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. DIA.PHRAGM FOR OYSTER PONDS.— RYDER. Page. Fig. 1. — Box for diaphragm for oyster, side view 20 2 — Box for diaphragm for oyster, end view 20 3. — Box for diaphragm for oyster, end view 20 4. — Bos for diaphragm for oyster, top view 20 5. — Box for oyster pond, vertical section 20 6. — Box for rearing oy.ster spawn 20 7.— Box for rearing oyster spawn 20 THE ALBATROSS ENGINE.— BAIRD. Fin. 1. — Torsian diagram 148 2. — Tiirsian diagram 148 3. — Torsian diagram M8 4.— Indicator diagram 148 5. — Indicator diagram 148 6, — Indicator diagram 148 ELECTRIC LIGHTING.-BAIRD. Fig. 1.— High-speed engfne 153 2. — Pressure-regulating valve 154 3.— Djrnamo 155 4. — Lamp socket 155 5.-SafetypIug 156 6.— Safety plug 156 7— Safety plug . . 156 8. -Block for plug- 157 FISH TRANSPORTATION.— BORNE. Fig. 1. — Tank for transporting tish 168 2. — Tank for transporting fish 168 FISHWAY.-NOWICKI. Fig. 1. — Movable ftshway at Kurczyn 210 FISH HATCHERY— WORTH. Plate I. The striped bass hatchery at Weldon, N. C 225 FISH CATCHING PLANT.— RYDER. PlatkIL— Bladderwort {Utrlculana vulgaris) 261 SALMON FISH-HOOKS.— MALMGREN. Fio. 1. — Hook taken from salmon in Kumo River 325 2. — Hook taken from salmon near Uleaborg 323 3.— Hook taken from salmon in Ulea River 323 4. — Hook taken from salmon near Christinestad 325 XU BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 1884. 1.— INSPECTIOIV OF FISa A>"I> OTHFR 1?IARINE PKOUrCTS IIV TBE DISTRICT OF COtilJ^IBIA, 1S»9 TO ISSS, II\CI.IJS2VJE. By CHAS. \¥, SMILE ¥. For several years a careful inspection of the marine products brought into the District of Columbia has been made under the direction of the health of&cer of the District. Five years ago an arrangement was per- fected by Prof. S. F. Baird, Commissioner of Fisheries, with Hon. Smith Townsheudj M. D., health officer, whereby the daily receipts of fresh fish, oysters, &c.j should be tabulated and transmitted in monthly tables to the Fish Commission. These monthly tables have all been footed and transferred to yearly tables in this office. I am able herewith to present annual tables for 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883 (Tables I, II, III, TV, V). In Table VI may be seen the annual summaries of the different kinds of marine edible products for these five years, the total summations of which are as follows: Products. Miscellaneous pounds. . Shad number . . Sturgeon do ... Herring do Clams do — Crabs do — Crawfish do Lobsters do . . . Oysters bushels.. Terrapin number.. Turtles do 1879. 1, 391, 852 311, 585 1,200 3, 605, 984 1, 167, 000 528,400 259, 356 1,452 454 1880. 2, 920, 136 320,799 1,176 6, 853, 721 1, 384, 950 682,370 340 378, 295 3,154 501 1881. 2, 710, .331 458, 368 1,289 9, 633, 568 1, 131, 000 314, 800 1882. 1, 385, 010 350,292 1,904 6, 499, 865 1, 219, 850 527, 001 315,290 i 2, 574 117 ' 11 4U,255 834 116 1883. 1, 402, 803 261, 478 1,673 4, 983, 998 1, 380, 000 690, 372 400, 564 1,646 95 The yield of shad and herring may be supposed to have been influ- enced somewhat by the artificial propagation under the direction of the United States Fish Commission, which has been carried on at the Potomac for a number of years. The run of shad and herring is also affected by the temperature, which varies somewhat for the same date in different years. This is presented in Tables YII to X, inclusive. Bull. U. S. F. 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CO 3 <1 a >5 3 ^ u a d f^ hi TJ- IC O OC X C^3 O r^ CO CXI t- r-1 M CI CO !0 o o 0> '^ i-^COOCCOl-I' OC^i i-( i-t o ■^ .-H r-l C^ C) r-l o 00 o o o to o o CO O l^ o in CO o inas o O 00 1-5 3 Tf O O i-H CO o too loin 00 00 OlO ■*o>n I— ( r^ o o w L-: c^ »iO O CO CO r^ CO COO 02 00 oo o IC OOi ■^ to to s :-° o o CO -^ ■ rO-p tC w^ 3 *- +^ S c:^ Mooo:jo •5 5 oo-g ■S a'^ 3° -« »J^ O lO o o o t- o oo •-< o :d O C5 00 CO t* t> O O O O OiO o r^ rr- r-l t^ 00 Tj< OJ U!!) 00 O C5 -H ift o o o in o t- Ol CC T-^ "Tf m CO ?0 00 'Xi CJ M t- o o t^ in tn o in 00 r^ ro CO cc o Tj4 m in c^j rH c^ in CO C^ o -TJ OS t^ in -^ 00 TJ* CO o o m oo o Tl« tr- OS m '^ CO L'5 1-H 00 .-» o mm Tf CD OJCO m Tj* o m o m '^ 1— ( CD CO ci m re X CO [> O rH m o m m o o Tj« o CJ ex; CD r-H -^ o O) Ti m 00 o'oTt^o'crco" o cc m m o m -tj m ri M t> t- (M X' o in CD o m o cc m OS t^ m m o -^ r- CO CS OS CD '^ fl fl 0) (D+? -S a ' 9 "E 'E r^ '^ i:' :;? o n to in 00 1-i CO OOO to t- OO OJ O -rP 00 C^ CO ■<»« it: ;. ■SB'S 3S 3 to MccM c3 © £ CCCZJCO "^ to cc ^ mo> oT iro t^ O tOi-l l>\ O B ^ -t3 s 2 M o 13 c3 13 P< BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 7 Table VI. — Yearly summary of the fresh fish, oysters, 4'C., inspected hy the health officer of the District of Columbia, for the years 1879-1883, inclusive. Description. Alewives a . Bass, black. BlackwUls . Bluefishb .. Bonito Carp Cattish Chubs of North Carolina u . Clams (number) Cod Crabs (number) Crawfish (number) Croakers Drum Eels Flounders Fresh-water fish, small Gars d Grunters Haddock Herring, fresh-water (number) . Hogflsh Lobsters (number) Mackerel Mackerel, Spanish Mullet e Oysters (bushel) Perch, white Perch, yellow Pickerel and pike Pike, yellow Pollock Pompauo Rockfishi Scup^' Shad (number) Shad, winter Sheepshead Smelt Spot. Sturgeon (number) Sunfish I Taylor, fresh -water m . . . Terrapin (number) Trout, salmon (pounds) . Trout, salmon (number) . Trout, salt-waterp Turtle t (number) 1879. 16, 475 37 248, 295 401, 850 1, 167, 000 2, 000 528, 400 1880. 19, 500 9 1881. 371. 988 469, 820 1, 384, 950 240 36, 981 6,549 57, 400 3, 605, 984 330 682, 370 340 29, 590 316 36, 256 3,875 1,257 469 6, 853, 721 7,117 825 259, 356 g 272, 660 25, 205 13,603 17, 710 42, 292 378, 295 910,450 140,942 25, 752 148, 215 1,172 311,585 A 72, 225 597 31,000 1,200 2,362 1,452 g 45, 514 454 406, 138 1,028 320, 799 222, 797 1,541 29, 480 1,173 21, 000 41, 387 3,154 37,860 87, 503 501 196, 353 24 874, 465 1,800 1, 131, 000 1882. 120 224, 040 110 271, 597 855 1, 219, 850 314, 800 122 29, 809 6,978 502 1,200 800 9, 633, 568 5,860 9,766 22, 445 315, 296 891, 770 152, 375 2,420 8,090 104 395, 370 1,689 521, 368 23, 865 451 1,805 6,349 1,289 39, 131 n2, 574 19, 812 r 35, 499 117 527, 001 c4,600 147 43, 536 125 1883. 243, 025 37 214, 515 35, 160 1, 380, 000 8,500 690, 372 20,660 42 50,203 78 ?)498 6,499,865 w4, 983, 998 80 11 8,149 /27, 375 411,255 179, 270 50,288 A 31, 370 235 334, 865 1,261 350, 292 59, 870 615 7,460 1,904 26, 434 o834 3,846 « 66, 858 116 463 10,550 38, 845 400 564 183, 370 101, 585 50, 185 274, 860 319 261, 478 25, 800 2,086 2,400 18, 955 1, 673 10, 537 1,646 4,712 103, 745 95 a Or bogheads, or menhaden. b Or salt-water taylors. c Of this quantity 3,925 poands were reported as "crocas." d Probably silver-gars. e Or suckers. / Of this quantity 4,365 were reported as fresh-water mullet. g Includes a few yellow perch ; al&o 6,500 pounds which were reported as whiteflsh. h Of this quantity 27,670 pounds were reported as pike, and 3,555 as pickerel and pike, i Or striped bass". j Or porgies. k Or mud shad. I Or tobacco-boxes. m Or skipjacks, or hickory shad. n Of these 1,957 were reported as salt-water terrapin or diamond-backs. 0 Reported as diamond-backs. p Or squeteague or weak-fish. g Of this quantity 2,2.")0 pounds were reported as salmon trout, erroneously no doubt, r Of this quantity 3,212 pounds were reported as brook trout. # Of this quantity 13,04.') pounds were reported as gray trout, and 1,203 pounds as brook trout. t lucluding several kinds of turtles, ■u Or big-mouthed bass. 1! Reported as whiteflsh. w Of this amount 4,600 pounds was Nova Scotia herring. 8 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table VII. — A comparison of the inspection of shad in the Washington market daily during March, April, May, and June of 1879, 18b0, 1881, 1882, and 1883. Month and day. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. March 1 Number. Nurnber. 4 39 15 8 66 4 Num.ber. Number. 8 39 Number. 2 3 11 4 5 5 17 6 126 3 159 193 102 195 22 7 4 8 38 94 20 2 9 •. 24 10 7 11 12 28 100 56 13 64 7 14 94 15 190 295 1,150 186 205 340 3 815 358 505 1,312 106 16 151 17 7 150 310 11 18 1 19 174 1,217 2,075 1,321 1,206 1,700 214 309 21 H 388 381 200 1,853 2,029 9 22 558 424 439 21 741 463 361 23 , 187 24 54 25 325 415 400 730 1,500 26 263 27 .' 152 974 1,514 2,012 2,626 5, 289 616 28 881 3,765 3,294 2,802 1,796 1,343 681 29 873 2,199 1,610 3,140 3,414 3,2.n8 3 259 30 3 220 31 200 100 1,781 1,912 1 609 April 1 2 1 261 3 2,612 9,099 11, 158 12, 859 10, 769 8,243 1 037 4 2,243 3,565 2,490 5 1,800 4,000 6,303 3,191 2,911 8,077 9,412 4 472 6 2 974 7 3,050 4,000 3,335 1,400 2, 000 1,500 2,145 1,618 1,918 6 156 8 9 5 036 10 18,582 9,686 8,303 9,492 11, 035 9,031 12,632 10, 432 9,997 5.868 5,693 7,088 8,696 8,748 9,046 8, 190 5,867 7,749 11 362 11 2,102 14, 413 12, l(i6 7,789 6,414 14, 084 6 017 2,400 6, 343 6,282 7,047 6,661 8, 452 15,632 9 751 13 8,333 14 4,000 7,000 3,000 2,000 3,000 2,500 9 206 15 16 7 097 17 15 865 18 4,839 17,445 13,189 10, oUO 12, 920 14, 545 "17,' 883"' 22, 304 6,335 16, 801 6,6G8 18, 369 "'23,338' 13,251 12, 023 3,456 13, 100 18, 974 6 814 9 443 20 5,294 4,884 4,821 10,446 3,570 ""6,677' 3,030 4,600 18, 218 7,008 14, 998 10 346 2,500 17,900 10,300 6, 000 7,500 5,000 5 087 22 23 11 112 6 592 25 6 U86 26 6 784 27 6 673 28 10, 850 8,000 6,510 8, 2S0 6,317 9,105 6,000 6,194 12,425 10, 275 6 040 29 30 5 602 10,616 7, 286 3,718 5,721 5,793 7,089 7 784 ^ 2:::::;:::;::;;:::::::::::::::::::::::: 5 489 3 6, 026 8,746 6,634 8,815 7,505 4,564 4 4 873 5 6 4,789 7 4,784 BULLETIN OF THEUNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table VII. — A comparison of the inspection of shad, ^-c. — Coutinued. 9 Month and day. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. May 8 liumher. 7,594 8,300 Number. 3,617 Number. Number. 6,013 4,969 4,484 3,194 2,047 2,134 Number. 3,288 9 8,613 12, 199 11, 508 3,869 2,489 10, 908 ' 12," 575' 2,110 8,836 3,849 5,049 4,094 3,866 10 4, 915 7. 656 3,222 11 7,000 5, 750 7,060 5,080 6,000 7,000 4,000 4,500 3,600 5,000 6,000 3,000 5,000 3,700 100 6,100 3,500 1,800 2,000 1,500 1,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 640 1,000 2,940 200 6,378 6,550 4,822 9,555 4,040 2,845 12 13 3,532 14 3,678 15 . 2,469 5,171 3,776 2,593 2,321 3,289 2,53d 16 2,772 17 10,467 4,947 1,649 18 1,804 19 1,585 20 5,488 4,995 1,550 21 2,809 22 4,330 3,003 2,612 1,370 1,649 1,269 8,649 6,456 2,467 4,139 1,306 2,672 1,137 24 5,181 2,000 2,850 1,500 1, 421 2,500 1,844 1,117 26 1,485 1,437 28 1,845 2,278 29 438 31 1,200 1,300 327 800 500 646 4,793 200 1,838 1,113 800 2,246 192 154 409 696 449 2 326 3 4 296 5 . . 232 379 532 771 329 262 388 536 1,100 700 572 996 .84 7 90 88 2,029 315 50 349 2T9 9 5,095 1,650 618 900 700 600 81 11 12 126 243 217 14 143 16 290 400 200 480 150 100 17 1 18 ■ "1 19 21 23 .. 105 25 20 50 15 25 24 25 26 28 30 15 Total 311, 241 320, 767 458,368 350, 223 261, 474 Note.— In 1879 shad continned to be rejwrted after June 30 as follows : During July, 183 (eleven dates) ; Angnst, 70 (three dates) ; September, 52 (seven dates). In 1880 28 shad were reported in Feb- ruary (five dates). In 1882 shad were reported : In February, 14 (four dates) ; August, 55 (two dates). In 1883 4 shad were reported in February (three dates). 10 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table VIII. — A daily comparison of ihe inspection of herring in the Washington market during March, April, Maxj, and June, of 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883. Month and day. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. March 1 Number. Number. 200 3,000 2,680 2,170 7,100 120 Number. 30 25 Number. 567 90 740 520 Number. 2 3 780 4 5 120 530 6 1,385 260 2,831 1,739 963 2,110 560 7 200 8 3,200 7, 725 900 100 210 9 224 10 200 100 1,500 280 H 12 475 1,500 1 661 13 478 210 3,236 7.S2 2,253 1,312 503 14 1,000 1,144 900 7,000 5,000 40, 000 1 095 15 1,000 2,610 7,600 2,550 7,550 11,200 2 105 16 1 783 17 420 19 2, 915 4,499 290 20 2,916 4,607 2,166 7,021 2,040 2,340 2,480 29, 520 5,400 3,950 17, 020 14, 759 22 26, 090 39,540 34, 140 4,000 16, 352 6,860 2,483 490 33 .- 24 464 25 3,000 5,700 6,000 13, 435 33, 000 3 720 26 27 4,474 15, 304 15, 989 27, 338 23, 681 31, 943 5,698 3 154 3,850 25,510 30, 275 32, 075 7,832 14, 170 29 17, 330 18,930 10, 545 47, 190 41, 030 78, 363 10 549 8,869 13, 424 31 500 2,300 14, 610 21, 139 2 9 091 3 K 21, 956 87, 774 80, 798 78, 653 89, 108 59, 229 10, 730 10, 090 33, 670 13, 950 33 584 5 51, 000 115,400 111,980 66, 598 26, 737 57, 015 92, 590 "'24,' 236' 17, 438 47, 008 79, 919 85, 507 84, 866 33 801 7 45, 000 60, 000 48, 400 75, 000 50, 000 50,000 13, 712 13, 144 28, 375 66, 331 8 9 60, 554 10 144, 369 96, 090 25, 327 80, 532 89, 397 117, 095 81, 791 52, 300 122, 000 100, 128 82, 445 47, 553 75, 592 '"'40,' 785' 173, 546 222, 498 172, 214 212, 599 304, 780 47, 339 12 60, 386 106, 843 120 713 14 70, 000 100, 000 25, 000 50, 000 45, 000 56, 000 16 139, 914 112,057 17 125, 347 201, 816 169, 205 129, 212 177,014 176, 717 18 120, 027 19 149, 768 195, 385 122, 642 96, 008 179, 543 111, 900 143,174 20 219, 298 21 27, 000 80, 000 83, 000 80, 000 110, 500 112,000 127, 858 22 23 267, 978 24 179, 290 129, 122 168, 695 188, 785 169, 235 161, 547 194, 169 25... 301, 883 528, 053 275, 150 402, 572 228, 194 149, 511 460, 847 403, 920 394, 838 160, 000 253, 220 407, 875 120, 159 26 127, 727 109,501 70, 320 399, 062 225, 808 335, 220 "'ii2,'226 200, 807 230, 571 365, 300 383, 450 102, 567 27 128, 192 28 167, 700 90, 000 90, 000 141, 000 110,400 96, 860 73, 000 98, 375 146, 900 158, 550 171,213 30 183, 415 May 1 421, 666 124, 514 96, 899 148, 679 160,077 1 181, 110 228, 618 ^ 2 :.::::::::::::::::::::::::. 164, 541 3 122, 511 14-2, 374 5 162, 837 6 7 234,248 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 11 Table VIII. — A comparison of the inspection of herring, ^-c. — Continued. Month and day. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. Afav 8 Number. 133,000 95, 000 88, 000 45, 400 97, 000 96, 000 86, 000 62, 000 45, 000 45, 000 25, 000 31,000 50, 000 45,000 20, 000 11, 000 21, 100 300 31,000 25, 000 10, 000 8,000 5,000 5,000 6,000 10, 000 10, 000 3,000 600 1,000 300 800 Number. 246, 385 Kiimber. 820, 950 422, 900 2.36, 250 175, 000 255, 000 Pminds. 211,717 108,413 109, 819 94, 942 55, 900 40,800 Number. 68,718 85, 478 9 10 232, 362 294, 967 245, 678 200. 400 334, 640 147, 000 134, 737 11 121, 877 12 84,925 13 14 269, 650 102, 423 15 51,621 122, 068 126, 753 90,432 99, 257 171, 558 92, 291 16 249, 590 100, 000 134, 465 89, 000 299, 968 56,900 '1-28,' 225 117,130 * 57 867 17 169, 975 131, 750 63 027 18 72, 381 19 62, 870 20 60, 500 51, 445 22, 000 21 98, 667 22 244, 222 1C9, 987 84 978 29, 189 17, 419 21, 352 24 48, 288 8,000 5, 280 6,000 6,380 12, 000 49,CU0 j 97,640 30, 330 84, 328 59,200 73 354 7,463 20 11, 602 28 52, 556 19, 063 29 82, 894 9,874 31 80, 000 82, 793 27, 300 3,463 5,867 10, 440 2,687 9 500 35, 666 6,000 12, 000 1, 362 3 4 604 5 6, 850 ' 5, 800 7,989 14, 050 12, 265 7,605 1,892 15, 000 8,000 4,000 406 7 ..... . ............................ 640 440 9 900 600 300 11 . 12 200 100 100 5,094 1,747 1,159 467 14 16 . . 50 17 18 19 21 23 125 25 25 26 10 27 28 50 30 1 Total 3, 605, 429 fi 8.50 626 9. 633. 568 6, 487, 805 4, 879, 473 Note. — In 1879 herring continued to be reported after June 30 as follows : During July, 330 (seven dates); October, 225 (three dates). In 1880 herring were reported in January, 50 (one date); Febru- ary, 3,045 (seven dates). In 1882 herring were reported in January, 9 (one date) ; February, 1,051 (nlna dates). In 1883 herring were reported in February, 925 (sis dates). 12 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table IX. — A weekly comparison of the inspections of shad in the Washington marTcet during March, April, May, and June of 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883. Week. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1B82. 1883. March 1- 5 Number. Number. 132 V8i 2,126 2, 523 11, 699 27, 740 38,145 49, 529 43, 103 52, 724 38, 578 29, 937 14, 502 6, 627 3,218 Numher. Number. 52 778 3,054 7,733 12, 567 54,740 66, 129 51, 710 48, 296 40, 223 22,841 19, 619 14,401 4,846 2,505 729 Num,ber. 28 6-12 115 13-19 470 4,862 13, 881 11, 489 57, 019 73, 439 88, 630 84, 142 49, 586 36, 513 25, 689 8,744 3,904 543 20-26 740 4,711 14, 097 18, 900 38, 200 43, 860 58, 596 45,61!) 36, 100 23,200 11,640 11, 503 3,090 880 105 1 183 27- April 2 10 646 Anril 3-9 22 165 10-16 51, 771 17-23 58, 667 37 777 24-30 May 1-7 32, 283 8-14 20,431 13, 149 15-21 22-28 9 130 29-.Jtine 4 2, 2(15 1,381 June 5-11 12-18 19-25 311, 241 320, 767 458, 368 350, 223 261, 474 Table X. — A tceeMy comparison of the inspections of hairing in the Washington market during March, April, May, and June of 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883. "Week. March 1- 5 6-12 13-19 20-26 MaTch27-April2. April 3-9 10-16 17-23 24-30 May 1-7 8-14 15-21 22-28 29-jruiie 4 . June 5-11 12-18 19-25 26-39 Total. 1879. Number. 8,700 69, 845 225, 539 370, 000 341,000 650, 200 827, 085 640, 400 303, 000 lis, 400 47, 000 3,600 450 150 60 3, 605, 429 1880. Number. 15,150 12, 420 22, 810 131,322 142, 485 456, 093 346, 698 828, 212 1, 044, 318 1, 6-J7, 568 1,554,432 560, 670 95, 948 12, 500 6, 850, 626 1881. Number. 175 1,900 55, 044 73, 129 113,712 98, 991 480,018 1, 132, 422 1, 885, 363 2, 080, 700 2, 185, 750 929, 923 436, 441 133, 000 27, 000 9, 633, 568 1882. Numher. 1,917 9, 288 8,221 21, 090 118, 729 417, 718 552,810 979,311 996, 674 1, 132, 945 627, 591 601, 689 694, 479 202, 317 54, 559 8,467 6, 487, 805 1883. NuTnber. 1,310 3,225 8,841 11, 946 50, 785 218, 950 556, 986 990, 392 899, 715 1, 055, 129 598, 158 447, 703 107, 088 24, 987 4,278 4, 879, 473 Table XI. — A yearly statement of the numher of shad and herring inspected in the Wash- i7igton market during the six years ending June'SO, 1873, 1874, 1875, 187(i, 1877, and 1878. Tears. Shad. Herring. 1873 852, 900 628, 637 464, 215 319, 079 131, 199 121, 785 3, 789, 800 6, 567, 240 1874 1875 1, 674, 465 1876 1, 488, 950 2, 572, 124 2, 507, 500 1877 1878 Total 2, 517, 815 18, 600, 079 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 13 2.— REPORT UPOiN THE SHAD AND HERRIIVO F18BERIES OF TBE POTOMAC RITER FOR 1883. By OTVFNN HARRIS. Number of shad landed at Wasbington 257, 687 ^^umber of shad landed at Alexandria, Va 81, 429 Number of shad landed at Georgetown 2, 200 Number of shad shij^ped from Glymont 14, 250 Number of shad shipped from Kinsale, Ya 4, 100 Number of shad shipped from Cone Elver 3, 450 Number of shad sold on the different shores . . : 16, 700 Total number 379, 816 Number of herring landed at Washington 4, 914, 261 Number of herring landed at Alexandria, Va 2, 331, 000 Number of herring landed at Georgetown 360, 000 Number of herring shii)ped from Piney Point 78, 000 Number of herring shipped from Kinsale 24, 000 Number of herring shipped from Cone River 32, 000 Number of herring sold on different shores and trap nets ... 1, 250, 000 Total 8,989,261 Note by Marshall McDonald. — The herring product is about the same as that for 1882 ; probably a little in excess of that year. The shad figures indicate a decrease of 70,000 as compared with last year, but I infer from Capt. Wood's report in regard to the Chesapeake, that this deficiency in the Potomac was compensated for three or four times over by the increased catch of pound-nets in the bay. 3.— OCCURRENCE OF BAI.1STES VETUI.A ON TBE NEW JERSEY COAWT. By J. H. VAX MATER, M. D. [From a letter to S. F. Baird.] Mr. J. B. Swan, light-keeper of Conover Beacon, near this place, re- cently picked up on the beach a fish the like of which no one here had ever seen. I inclose a rough sketch and description of the same.* Atlantic Highlands, N. J., October 29, 1883. * From the description given by Dr. Van Mater, the fish has been identified by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean as Balistes vetula, which he eaye is rather rare on our coast. — C. W. S. 14 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4.— CAKI* IIV flVCIiAIVD IIV THE ©EVENTKEIVTH CENTURY. By THOMAS FUI.L,EK. [Frem Worthies of England, 1662.] It is a stately fisL, but not long naturalized in England, and of all fresh-water fishes (the eel only excepted) lives longest out of his proper element. They breed (which most other fishes do not) several months in one year; though in cold ponds they take no comfort to increase. A learned writer [Sir Francis Bacon, in his History of Life and Death] observeth, they live but ten years ; though others assign them a far longer life. They are the better for their age and bigness [Gesnar and Janus Du- branius] (a rule which holds not in other fishes); and their tongues by ancient Koman palate-men were counted most delicious meat; though, to speak properly, they have either no tongues in their mouths, or all their mouths are tongues, as filled with a carneous substance, whilst their teeth are found in their throats. There is a kind of frog whicli is a professed foe unto them ; insomuch, that of a hundred carps put into a pond, not five of them have been found therein a year after. And though some may say perchance two-legged frogs stole them away, yet the strict care of their owners in watching them disproved all suspicion thereof. Kow as this [Sussex] county is eminent for both sea and river fish, namely, an Arundel mullet, a Chichester lobster, a Shelsey cockle, and an Amerly trout ; so Sussex aboundeth with more carps than any other of this nation. And though not so great as Jovius reporteth to be found in the Lurian Lake in Italy, Aveighing more than 50 pounds,* yet those generally of great and goodly proportion. I need not add, that physi- cians account the galls of carps, as also a stone in their heads, to be medicinable ; only I will observe that, because Jews will not eat ca\ iare made of sturgeon (because coming from a fish wanting scales, and there- fore forbidden in the Levitical law), therefore the Italians make greater profit of the si)awn of carps, whereof they make a red caviare, well pleasing the Jews both in palate and conscience. All I will add of carps is this, that Eamus himself doth not so luuch redound in dichotomies as they do ; seeing no one bone is to be found in their body, which is not forked or divided into two parts at the end thereof. *Mr. Pennant notices from Jovins, that they were sometimes taken in the Lacus Lurius, of 200 ponnds weight, hut of his own knowledge could speak of none that ex- ceeded 20. Others are reported to have been taken in the Dueister that were 5 feet in leujith. — Nuttall. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 15 5.— ITlOVfUTIENTS OF MACKEREL IIV WINTER. By J. TV. COI^LI^S. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Capt. Wm. Dempsey told me last uiglit that last January he saw heavy schools of mackerel 70 to 75 miles southeast of the southeast part of George's Bank. He was driven oft" the bank in a gale, and when the weather moderated the fish "showed up." He saw them in the after- noon and at night. A fisherman of Captain Dempsey's experience could scarcely be mistaken as to the kind of fish he saw; more especially as he told me they " rushed" repeatedly, a habit of mackerel, when school- ing, that I think no other fish has. Gloucester, Mass., October 8, 1883. 6.-A L,AROE SQUID. By J. TV. COI.LINS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Yesterday, while in conversation with Capt. Charles A. Keene, of this jiort, I obtained from him the following statement relative to one of the big squid that was found on the Grand Bank. The squid seen and se- cured by Captain Keene and his crew was much larger than any that I have previously heard of. But his statements are very positive and precise as to its length. The information which he furnishes seems to be of more than ordinary importance, since it enables us to form more accurate estimates of the maximum growth attained by these great "devil fish." Captain Keene states that, in September, 1876, when fishing on the Grand Bank, in latitude 44° north, longitude 50° west (approximately), he found floating at the surface near his vessel one of the large squid, the body of which, measured as accurately as it could be from a dory, was 50 feet long, while the tentacles, all of which were intact and unin- jured, were longer than the body, making the entire length more than 100 feet. The tentacles were larger around than the body of a stout man. He cut the squid up and boated aboard three dory loads, proba- bly about 3 tons weight, and he estimates that there was at least one to two more boat-loads which he left to drift away. I had previously" heard of fishermen finding i:)ieces of tentacles, &c., which might belong to animals nearly or quite as large as the one above mentioned, but I have never before met with any one who has had the fortune to see entire such a king of the mollusks. Gloucester, Mass., November 20, 1883. 16 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 7.— TJBIE TBAIVSPIiANTIIVO OF ONE HUNDRED 1.0B8TERS FKOIH THK EASTERN PART OF I.ONO ISLAND TO CDESAPEAKE RAY. By I^ieut. W. ITI. Tl^OOD, U. S. K. [From a report of the Fish Hawk trip from Wood's Holl to Washington, October 11-30, 1883.] Wednesday, October 24, 1883, we received at navy-yard, Brooklyn, N. Y., one hundred live lobsters for deposition in Chesapeake Bay. They were from Mr. Blackford, who had them sent especially for the purpose from Fort Pond Bay, Long Island. They were placed in the tank belonging to the ice-machine, a sheet-iron-lined box, 8 feet long, 20 inches wide, and 30 inches deep. A constant circulation of water was maintained by means of one of the pumps and suitable piping. Friday, the 26th, the weather showing signs of clearing, we left the yard at 12.40 p. m., and put to sea, passing Scotland light-ship off Sandy Hook at 3.15 p. m., and entering the capes of the Chesapeake at 6.20 p. m. of the 27th. The lobsters were now all taken from the box and placed in tubs pre- paratory to putting them in the water. Only two were dead, notwith- standing their crowded quarters, and all the rest seemed strong and healthy. At 8 o'clock, October 27, we arrived abreast of Fort Wool (Rip Eaps) and deposited them on the north side of the fort. Washington, D. C, October 31, 1883. S.— A FOUR-POUND CARP I^IVES EIGHT HOURS OUT OF ITATER RY REINO PACKED IN WET ITIOSS. By R. T. ^W. DUKE. [From a letter to C. W. Smiley.] On Saturday evening I caught with a hook a " carp " which would weigh about 4 pounds. I put him in my bath-tub filled with water. On yesterday, about 8 o'clock a. m., I put the carp in a small box, sur- rounding it with wet moss, and forwarded to Lynchburg by express. It reached there about 4 p. m., and I learn this morning from my friend to whom it was sent that when taken out and placed in a tub it was as lively as could be. My family ate a small carp Sunday morning, and thought it very good. Chaelottesville, Va., March 18, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 17 Vol. IT, ]\o. 2. Washington, D. C. April 9, 188i. 9.— 0:V A KEW FORm OF FII.TFB OR DIAPDRA0.7I TO BE USFD IIV THE €UL,TLRE OF OVSiTERS IN PONDS. By JOHN A. RVDER. The unexpected success which crowned, in a measure, the attempt made by the writer, in association with Mr. H. H. Pierce and Mr. G. V. Shepard, at Stockton, Worcester County, Maryland, during the past summer, to rear the spat of the American oyster from artificially fertilized: eggs in an inclosed iiond connected with the open water by a trench only, into which a permeable diaphragm was fitted to give ingress and egress to the ebbing and flowing tides from without, in order to change the water in the pond, has given us experiences which will enable us to greatly improve the diaphragms to be used in the connecting trenches, and also render it possible to clean or renew the filter of sand when- ever desirable or necessary ; also to increase or diminish at icill the thich- ness of the stratum of sand used as the filter and as a harrier to prevent the escape of the emhryo oysters sicimmhig about in the ])ond. Such a diaphragm the writer proposes to describe and figure in this communi- cation, believing that for simplicity and effectiveness the apparatus in its present form cannot fail to be in a large measure the means of ob- taining spat at will and also the means of preventing the escape of the swimming embryos of oysters cultivated in j^onds or coves with narrow outlets. The fertility of the oyster, as shown by the investigations of scientific men, is truly astounding ; some conception of this fact may be gained when it is stated that a single female oyster, according to its size, may I>roduce all the way from one to one hundred millions of eggs in a sin- gle season. How to save, in a measure, this vast yield of germs from wholesale destruction, has engaged the practical attention, for several years past, of such men as Professors Brooks, Rice, Lieutenant Winslow, U. S. T^., and Col. M. McDonald. In Europe, with the Portuguese oyster, the greatest success in artificial culture has been attained by Bouchon- Brandely, of Paris. The viviparous Ostrea edulis of Europe has also been thoroughly studied by Messrs. Hoek, Hubrecht, and Horst, of Hol- land, Avith prospects of ultimate success in its artificial propagation. Science has therefore been more thoroughly awakened to the impor- tance of studying the life-history of these three, probably the most valuable of all edible mollusks, during the last half decade than ever before, and it is not too much to say, that more real knowledge of eco- nomical value has been gained, respecting especially the American oys- ter, during this brief renascence than had been acquired during the Bull. U. S. F. C, 84- 2 18 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. previous half century. All investigators are agreed that only a small fraction of one per cent, of the total number of eggs produced by oysters under natural conditions, ever, even when those are favorable, attain a size large enough so make it an object to carry them to market. While Professor Huxley may be right in the opinion expressed in his recent address before the Royal Institution, 11th May last, that it would be ditficult to prove that overdredging is accountable for the whole- sale destruction of oyster beds, I cannot but believe that it has been, to some if not to a great extent, responsible for the diminished product- iveness of the beds of our native species in its natural home, the Chesa- peake Bay and its tributaries. If the oyster embryos survived in a uniform proportion to the number of adults existing during any and every season, then dredging and overfishing would necessarily have their eifects, but we have the best of reasons for believing that the pro- portion of young to old oysters during different seasons is variable, so that in some years there is a much greater yield of spat than in others. Professor Huxley, while he is bound to admit that the oyster beds of Europe are less productive than formerly, however believes, after all, that there is hope for oyster consumers, and that artificial propagation may yet be successfully carried on. Here is what he said : "I for ray part believe that the only hope for the oyster consumer lies first in oyster culture, and secondly in discovering a means of breeding oysters under such conditions that the spat shall be safely depo^ited. And I have no doubt that when those who undertake the business are pro- vided with a proper knowledge of the conditions under which they have to work both these objects will be attained." These remarks were ap- parently intended to apply to the European oyster, but the}' apj)ly in reality with equal force to our own species. My own studies and experiments during four j'ears past have borne upon the question of the artificial propagation of the oyster, and while 1 am aware that shell-planting is practiced on the shores of Con- necticut and Long Island with gratifying and even with very profitable results, another i)hase of the industry remains undeveloped in the United States, namely, pond, park, or claire culture as practiced in Europe. It is upon the development of this branch of oyster culture in this country that I largely build my hopes regarding the future utilization of the many thousand of acres of swamp-lands or flats adjacent to waters where the oyster is already native, while I also believe that the seed or si)at can be reared in these ponds in quantity sufficient to supply the needs of culture, provided diaphragms such as, or similar to, what I am about to describe are used to prevent the escape of the naturallj' produced embryos from the culture ponds. I look forward to the possibility of depending entirely upon the embryos produced by the natural spawn- ing of the adults confined in the ponds and not altogether to the pro- cess of artificial fertilization, in the practice of which both the male and female parents are sacrificed. The question is, how can we retain the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 19 embryos in the ponds wliiiih are produced there, and what can we do to aflord the embryos, developed and swimming about in such confined waters, surfaces to which they may attach themselves and become con- verted into fixed spat which can afterwards be transferred to other ponds or to o])en waters f Our experiments at Stockton, this year, have gone far towards giving us a solution of some of these questions. They have shown that, first, it is possible to excavate i)onds in salt marshes where oysters will also grow ; secondly, artificially fertilized spawn may be placed in such places and live; thirdly, such spawn may fall as spat in such iuclosures if sur- faces for its attachment are provided; fourthly, it will grow just as rapidly as the spat which has grown under natural conditions in the open water ; fifthly, the natural microscopical food is continually gen- erated within the inclosure and consists mainly of very minute animal and vegetable organisms ; sixthly, the water may be partially changed within the inclosure twice a day by the rise and fall of the tide pro- vided a permeable diaphragm or filter composed mainly of fine sand is placed in the sluice way joining the pond to the open water of the bay or sea. It is imperatively necessary that the water used be of the right density. If it is too saline or contains too little saline matter the oysters die. A specific gravity varying from 1.007 to 1.020 or 1.022 seem to represent about the range of density of the waters in which the American oyster will thrive. In the Chesapeake Bay the water over the great oyster beds ranges mostly from 1 .012 to 1.016. In the Chincoteague the density may be as great as 1.022. At Wood's Holl, Massachusetts, I have found oysters growing in water having a density of 1.014G, 1.0172, and 1.018. The last mentioned was about the density of the water in the pond at Stockton in which we obtained spat under conditions of confinement. DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPROVED FORM OP DIAPHRAGM FOR OYSTER PONDS. My improved permeable diaphragm is placed horizontally within an oblong trunk or box, A, Fig. 1, of the accompanying plate. The box is made of inch jilanks, to which strong horizontal side pieces, a, Figs. 2 and 3, are secured, and to which are fastened the transverse cross-bars J) b, of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, upon which the permeable diai>hragm rests. Fig. 1 represents the trunk A secured within a jiair of quadrangular frames, F F, and partially in sectional elevation in place in the trench or canal leading from the pond to the open water. Fig. 2 represents the construction of the end of the trunk next the open water, and Fig. 3 that of the end next the pond, while Fig. 4 shows the trunk as viewed from above. On the cross-bars 5 6, a single screen of galvanized wire cloth, W, Fig. 1 (galvanized after it is woven), is superimposed, having meshes say one- half inch in diameter; upon the wire screen a layer of gunny cloth, C, Fig. 20 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. '**—r Ti (\ '^ 1^ \ .1, (1 ■> t'A l> !! M I! i_iril ^_> ^:< £ r V--'^^ Fig.!. Tig.7. Tig.S. Fig.6. Fig. 7. ra J III' I Improved Permeable Diaphragm for Oyster Ponds. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 21 1 and 4, is laid, upon which a layer of fine, clean sand, S, is spread even- ly from one end of the trunk to the other. The end board e, extending half way up at the outer end of the box, runs up past the level of the wire and cloth to confine the sand at that extremity, as shown in Fig. 2, while the sand is confined by the board i at the other end of the trunk next the pond, as shown in Fig. 3. The wire cloth and bars b h con- stitute the support for the sand as it lies upon the gunny cloth, which is supported in turn by the wire cloth or screen W. This is essentially the construction of the filtering apparatus in which the layer of sand, S, is at all times accessible, so that it can be removed if it becomes clogged with ooze carried in by successive tides under the gate G, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. This layer of sand can also be increased or diminished in thick- ness so as to strain the inflowing and outflowing water more or less ef- fectually, as may be desired, or in order to more or less efl'ectually pre- vent the escape of any eggs or embryos of oysters which may be develop- ing within the pond and wafted to and fro by the ebbing and flowing cur- rents which are carried in and out of the pond through the diaphragm by tidal action. The gunny cloth C, Fig. 4, may possibly be replaced by, first, a layer of coarse gravel, then a layer of finer gravel superimposed upon that, which would prevent the fine sand from sifting through the sujiporting wire screen W- Gravel would be more durable than gunny cloth or sacking, which, like all other textile fabrics, will rot if immersed in salt water for a few weeks. In practice, however, a mode of getting over all such difficulties would soon be devised ; a coarse sacking to be used for the i)urpose might be saturated with a drying oil or with tar dilu- ted with oil of turpentine, which when dry would act as a preservative of the material, but not cause it to become impervious. In the old style of diaphragm used in the experiment at Stockton, it was difficult to renew or clean the sand, inasmuch as the apparatus con- sisted essentially of a box open at the top, and as wide and as high as the trench connecting the pond with the open water. Its depth was three feet, its width two feet, and its total thickness about four inches. The sides forming its greatest depth and width were jjerforated with' numerous auger holes. On the inside, this narrow, deep box, of the above dimensions, was lined with gunny sacking and the intervening space filled with fine sand. This diaphragm was placed vertically in the trench, and it will be readily understood that the filtering surface was limited by the depth of the water in the ditch, while its free action was also to some extent impeded by the small amount of ingress and egress offered to the ebbing and flowing tide, in passing in and out of the pond through the auger holes, in the sides of the box, on either side of the ver- tical stratum of sand. It will also be readily understood that it would be impossible to remove the sand from the box to repair or renew the filter without destroying its effectiveness for the time being. The diaphragm, of which I am about to describe the working, obviates all of these objections, while it is possible to augment the extent of the 22 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. filtering surface to any desired extent, by simply widening and length- ening the horizontal stratum of sand which does duty as the filter of the sea water and acts as a barrier to prevent the escape of the em- bryos. A description of the working of the apparatus will make it much better understood. When the trunk A is put in place (which should be done before the water is let into a freshly excavated pond, and also before the water is let into the trench from the sea-end), it should be securely placed in position and the earth tightly rammed in along the sides so as to pre- vent any sea water from finding its way into the pond, except such as passes through the filtering diaphragm. It is also unnecessary to in- sist that the trunk be constructed in such a way that it will be practi- cally water tight, and not liable to leak between the planks or at the corners. The wire-cloth, sacking or gravel, and sand having been got into piace, and wlien complete forming a stratum having a total thick- ness of five or six inches, the operator is ready to cut away the barrier at the sea-end of the trench to let in the water. If then the trunk A has been let down into the trench deep enough, the sea level at low tide ought to be somewhat above the upper edge of the board e. The water will then, as the tide rises, flow back over the sand as far as the board i, and will percolate through the diaphragm into the space I, under the latter, and so find its way into the pond. After a df»y or so the pond will be filled with sea water, which has prac- tically been filtered, and filtered more or less effectually in proi)or- tion to the thickness of the stratum of sand constituting the dia- phragm. After the pond has once been filled, with the rise and fall of the tide in the open water, the level of the latter and that in the pond will be constantly changing 5 in other words, when the tide is ebbing the water level in the pond will be higher than that of the water out- side, as in fact represented at wl and tl in Fig. 1. Under these cir- cumstances there will be a supply of water flowing out, through the under division I of the trunk A, up through the sand and out over its surface, through the outlet O under the gate G. After the ebb tide is over and flood tide begins these levels will be reversed and lol in the l^ond will be lower than tl in the open water, and under those circum- stances there will be an inflow of sea water into the pond through the diaphragm instead of an outflow, as in the condition of the water levels during ebb tide. Under such conditions there will be four alternating periods during every twenty-four hours of inflow and outflow, lasting we will say four hours each, not reckoning the nearly stationary inter- vals between tides or during slack water. This almost constant partial renewal of the water will unquestionably maintain the water inclosed in the pond or i)onds, by means of diaphragms, in a condition fitted to support oysters colonized therein, provided its density is not too great or too slight, and if there is also some microscopic vegetation present. It will be readily understood from the preceding description how it BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 23 is intended that the apparatus is to be operated. The figures also give a very good idea of how the diaphragm and trunk are to be constructed ; the first four figures being drawn to a common scale of one inch to three feet. THE POND. In Fig. 5 I have represented a pond in vertical section to which a diaphragm D, of the form above described, has been adapted and fitted into the connecting trench T leading to the open water B. This pond P, it is supposed, has been dug out of a salt-marsh of the type so com- mon adjacent to waters well adapted to the cultivation of oysters along the shores of the shallow bays and sounds of the Eastern United States. The French are in the habit in some places of walling up or facing the sides of the rearing ponds with cement or tough clay, or even building the sides of stone. That breeding ponds should in some way have their sides made firmer when dug out of a mere salt-marsh, would hardl}' be doubted by any one, because such an arrangement is an important safe- guard against the bad effects of rains and frost in causing the sides of the pond to crumble and wash down into the bottom as mud and sedi- ment, thus tending to cover and smother the oysters at the bottom. It cannot be questioned either that in case the pond is excavated on salt- marsh lands, which are often merely large accumulations of sediment- ary deposits consisting of ooze or mud which has been piled up along the shore by the waves during ages, the bottom should be covered with at least a coating of loam or clay, to, in a measure, interceijt the poison- ous marsh gases coming up from below. To render such an artificial bot- ^tom firmer, old oyster shells scattered thickly over the bottom would ren- der the loam or clayey sand firmer atid less liable to give way under the soft and yielding bottom, which is really in a viscous, yielding condi- tion at a depth of a few feet, so much so that when a horse or other heavy animal walks over the surface the thick turf usually vibrates up and down perceptibly on the soft stratum below. In such situations it is therefore plain that a preparation of the bottom of the pond excii- vated would be necessary. In other situations, such as, for example, in the vicinity of Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac River, where there is a firm clay bottom near the surface, oyster ponds might be ex- cavated and a bottom found which would need no preparation, and at a level which would require no more digging to get below tide-level than in the salt-marshes adjacent to Chincoteague Bay. The deposition of sediment which is held in suspension by the ebbing and flowing tides on the bottom of ponds has been ver^' troublesome to the French in the conduct of i)Oud-culture, and it will be one of the dif- ficulties to be overcome in this country', as a very cursory glance at a few facts will readily show. Here, as well as there, ooze is very rapidly deposited on the bottom of oyster coves or confined natural areas, which in this country represent rudely, in some cases, the "claires" in which 24 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. oysters are grown in Europe. I now call to mind the extensive deposits of ooze on the bottom of a cove at Saint Jerome's Creek, where deposi- tion over a limited area has been going on for many years until in some places the ooze is 9 feet deep and utterly unfit as a bottom upon which to plant oysters, because they would inevitably sink into the mud and be smothered. In the moat around Fortress Monroe, which is in com- munication with the Chesapeake Bay, there is also a very considerable sedimentary deposit, few oysters being able to exist on the bottom, but large numbers are attached as "natural growths" to the clean surfaces of the walls on either side of the moat, to which the spat has at one time and another aflSxed itself in such numbers, and there grown so rapidly as to nearly cover the vertical and inclined surfaces of the massive boundary walls. Ooze or sedimentary deposits of more than a very few inches in thickness are therefore hurtful to growing adult oysters, while a very thin film of a similar kind is fatal to the young oyster in its ex- treme infancy or embryonic state immediately after fixation. Getting rid of or i^reventiug such deposits is therefore of the very greatest im- portance in the work of i)ractical oyster culture. Many oystermen are ready to affirm that some mud is a necessity in the work of oyster culture; they in fact make bold to say that the ani- mal needs a certain proportion of mud to feed upon. The origin of this mistaken doctrine is probably to be sought in the fact that a few of the more intelligent culturists have possibly noticed that the nearly black ftecal matters of the animal consist almost wholly of a material which, without critical examination, would be taken for mud molded into the form of the internal cavity of the intestine. A little investigation will serve to convince the most skeptical, however, of the utter absurdity and irrationality of the hypothesis that oysters feed upon mud. In the first place mud is not in any sense food, either vegetable or animal, and whatever of ooze or sediment is found in the alimentary tract of the oyster, or any other mollusk, was carried there accidentallj- together with what was truly food in the form of minute animal or vegetable or- ganisms, upon which it is also known that the oyster exclusively feeds. It is well known to naturalists, moreover, that when one wishes to find such minute living organisms for study with the microscope, they ai-e not to be found buried in the mud, where they would as inevitably be smothered and killed as the oyster itself, and from the same causes, namely, interruption of respiration on account of the absence of oxygen, and the exhalation from the ooze of jwisouous, asphyxiating gases. Here is what a very eminent authority has said about the habits of cer- tain minute organisms living in water : " The favorite habitation of many kinds of Khizopods is the light superficial ooze at the bottom of still waters, where they live in association with Diatoms, Desmids, and other minute Algixj, which form the chief food of most of these little creatures. They never penetrate into the deeper and usually black BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 25 mud, which, indeed, is almost universally devoid of life of any kind.''* This remark, which was meant to apply to small organisms found in fresh water, applies with equal force to those found in brackish or sea water, because the fresh- water and marine faunoe and Horse of micro- scopic forms really blend together or overlap. It is therefore evident that ooze or mud on the bottoms of oyster beds or ponds iu excess is invariably to be regarded as injurious both to the oysters themselves and to the minute organisms upon which they feed. To prevent iu a measure the accumulation of sediment on the bottom of oyster ponds and coves the introduction of sand filters will be found effective in proportion to the practical skill and knowledge brought to bear in their construction and management. I do not mean to affirm that the form of diaphragm here described will be found to be the most suitable means of attaining our object after prolonged experience has been had in the work. It may be found in using a single diaphragm, through which the water may flow in either direction alternately, that when the flow is reversed a certain amount of sediment will be washed out of the sand filter, and that when this occurs during the inflow into the pond a certain quantity of sediment would be carried in and de- posited. If this should be found to be the case it would be an easy matter to arrange two separate diaphragms in a trunk divided by a longitudi- nal vertical partition alongside of each other. One of these might be arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, to filter only the inflowing water and the one alongside of it to filter the outflow. They could be made to operate automatically if wooden valves were provided at the inlet and outlet of either, so arranged as to close and open when the pressure of the tide was least or greatest as the latter rose and fell, but such complications in the construction of filters or diaphragms would only make them more difficult to operate and less suited to be left to the management of the ordinary laborer. If it is possible, therefore, to keep out the sediment with the simple form here described, it would be much better to stick to that without additional complications. The confinement of the brood or fry either thrown off from old oysters living in the pond or of such as has been artificially introduced into the inclosure, as was done at Stockton, would be well enough accomplished, in all probability, by a simple diaphragm such as that here described. The freedom of the flow through the diaphragm will depend mainly upon the area of the latter and the fineness of the sand composing the filtering stratum. And it would therefore be possible to construct a fil- ter of a capacity great enough to filter enormous volumes of water, or enough for the very largest operations, by simply increasing the area of the filtering surface. The obstruction or clogging of the filter by de- posits of fine and coarse materials on the top of the stratum of sand might be obviated to a large extent by the use of wire screens placed * Fresh-water Eliizopoda of North America. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. Eep. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., vol. xii, 1879, pp. 8 and 9. 26 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. in the trencli beyond the diaphragm to intercept such coarser materials, along- with which a good deal of pretty fine sediment would be caught and prevented from clogging the diaphragm. If one diaphragm failed to accomplish the desired result, two placed in the same trench in succession could not fail to answer, and it would then doubtless be possi- ble to completely arrest all sedimentary materials as well as effectually prevent the escape of any brood in the outflow which it was desirable to confine in the inclosure. Such in the main are the conditions to be fulfilled in the construction of artificial oyster ponds. In Fig. 5 the conditions are essentially those obtaining at Stockton. The shell collectors consisted of perforated oyster shells strung upon wire and hung upon the stakes s s s .s s, as shown in the figure. Shells were also strewn upon the bottom, but in practice these ponds ought also to be available for the culture of adult oysters both for market and breeding purposes, and if the pond is pre- l)ared with the proper bottom, supplied with water of the right density and temperature and with the proper amount of oxygen in solution, there is no reason why success should not reward the experimenters. In Europe the claires are often constructed so as to have their bottoms at about low-tide level, so that they may be drained and cleaned. This would hardly be practicable along the eastern seaboard of the United States because the rise and fall of the tide is, as a rule, not great enough. But this need not be any obstacle in the way of success, for in the Re- port of the United States Fish Commissioner for 1880 there is a transla- tion of a Norwegian notice, by Prof. H. H. Rasch, of a natural basin near Stavanger, Norway, in which oysters are indigenous. This lake, strange to say, ''lies a few feet higher than the open sea close outside of it, which could convey saltwater into the lake only during severe southwest storms combined with spring tides. The lake receives through a brook the sur- plus fresh water from two lakes situated higher: " it has a percentage of saline matter ranging from 0.02 to 3.90 per cent. — the former at a depth of 2 feet, the latter at 27 feet. The oysters thrive best in it at a depth ranging from 3 to 15 feet ; in this so-called oyster belt swarms of young oysters appear to congregate during at least nine months of the year. In 1879, 65,000 young oysters of the European species were taken from the lake, scarcely five acres in area, a quantity which would be equiva- lent to about 430 bushels of the American species. These young ones were transplanted to fattening grounds. This lake is protected by clifls around three sides 300 to 400 feet high, which defend it from the cold winds of this inhospitable northern region. Algce grow in the lake, and, with its relatively uniform high tempera- ture in its protected situation, aifords probably amongst the very best conditions for the growth of oysters. We know very well that it is quite out of the question to attempt to control the character of very large bodies of water so as to adapt them to the purposes of the oyster culturist, but if nature has in a few in- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 27 stances, as in the example just cited, brought together the very best couditions on a small scale, there is no reason why man should not imitate them successfully, and in such a way as to make it exceedingly protitable. While it is not possible in one year to settle upon all the conditions necessary for success in the work of artificial oyster culture, I believe that the business will in time be successfully pursued and will engage the attention of an industrial and producing seaboard popula- tion in the eastern United States which for numbers will surpass any- thing of the kind the world has 3'et seen. In order to imitate nature where she has been unusually successful in producing results profit- able or advantageous to man, we must go to work to study her methods by scientific means, and when we have discovered her combinations of conditions favorable to her ends we shall have discovered those which may be approximately imitated by man and applied by him to his own puri)oses of gain. The successes of Brooks, McDonald, M. Brandely, and myself during the past four years with the unisexual species of 03'Sters has proved that we are nearing a solution of the question of their artificial culture — in fact that we are translating the language of Nature into terms intelligi- ble to man, and rendering her methods to some extent available indus- trially. The first steps in this work are necessarily to some extent em- pirical, but the results so far achieved have shown how utterly impos- sible it would have been for the merely practical and avowedly un- scientific man to have gained possession of all the information now in our hands. The writer took up the subject in 1880, and then supposed that a box constructed as shown in Fig. 6, in section, would answer to confine and rear oyster spawn. The permeable bottom of the compartment b rested upon a partition along its middle, which divided the space at the ends and below h into the spaces a and c. The water was let into a, from which it would filter up through the half of the bottom of h and down and out again through the other half into c and off by the faucet o. While this arrangement it was found would retain the fertilized eggs in the com- partment h, the filter on the bottom, made of filtering paper, backed on either side by strong canvas, was found would soon clog and stop the passage of the water. Then it was attempted to force water through an apparatus of the same kind; this too was a failure. A large flannel l)en was then tried; this too failed. In 1881 a tidal box was constructed similar in principle to what is shown in longitudinal plan and section in Fig. 7. In this the spawn was confined in the chamber a, into which the water was allowed to run slowly through the pipe i. The filter was hori- zontal and formed thebottomof mostof the compartment &,into which the "water would rise until it reached the level h I in both boxes, when it would be run oft' rapidly through the wide siphon o till it reached the level 1 1, when it would again fill to the level h I, to be again partially emptied. This was also a failure as well as the Wolff's-bottles apparatus de- 2K BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. vised in 1882 by Colonel McDonald. We got the young oysters so far along as to have them adhere to the sides of the vessels ami to old oyster shells, but beyond that point our results were not satisfactory. Some- what similar results were obtained during the same year by Messrs. Brooks and Winslow. That same season M. Brandely conceived the idea of using sand as a barrier for the embryos of Ostrea angulata, the Portuguese oyster, and succeeded in confining them in a pond fed partly by salt water by the tide and partially by water from another i)ond used as a reservoir, and from which the water passed through a spouge filter to the breeding pond. The Stockton experiment was even simpler than that of M. Brandely, which has already been described in the transla- tion of his paper, addressed to the minister of marine of the French Gov- ernment, having been published in Volume II of this Bulletin. It will also be seen that his method does not differ essentially from the method used in 1881 by the writer, on a small scale, at Cherrystone, and shown in sectional plan in Fig. 7. In 1882 the writer also tested the method of blowing air upon the sur- face of the water contained in the hatching receptacles, which, like the cotton-wool diaphragms used during the same season for the purpose of retaining the fertilized eggs of the American oyster, was also a fail- ure as far as valuable practical results were concerned. Various de- vices were also used for the same purpose by Dr. Brooks, Lieut. Francis Winslow, and Henry J. Eice, and I believe all of these three last named experimenters, like ourselves, had reared the young oysters to the con- dition of fixation, so that it is not absolutely true that M. Brandely was the fii'st to successfully rear oysters to the condition of fixation; but he seems to have been the first to obtain spat from artificially fertilized eggs. These historical details are introduced to show that the results so fer obtained are not the fruits of the efforts of any one person, but that a number have been actively engaged in the work, and that probably had it not been for the success of the American investigators, who attacked the problem of the development of our native oyster in 1879, the Euro- peans, who now again took up the subject after twenty years of inac- tivity, would not have been stimulated to undertake the investigations which led to such successful results, at the hands of the secretary of the College of France. The essentials for the artificial culture of oysters, we very well know, have not yet all been determined, though some of the conditions re- quired have been successfully supplied. What seems now to be required seems to be further experiment to determine finally and quite satisfac- torily the following points: 1. Can sediment be effectually prevented from finding access to oyster ponds, and how can the embryos naturally or artificially bred there be confined in such inclosures? 2. What are the best means of preparing the sides and bottoms of BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 29 the ponds and the communicating; trenches, so as to make them durable and easily cared for where there is a muddy or chiyey bottom? 3. What simple and effective devices will best serve the purpose of diaphragms or filters to be placed in the sluiceways of oyster ponds as filters ? 4. To what extent will it be profitable to pre])are an extensive sys- tem of connected breeding-ponds or claires in which to rear the Ameri- can oyster for market? 5. What is the most economical and successful mode of using collect- ors for the purpose of rearing spat for seed or for stocking barren or uncultivated waters? 6. How thickly can oysters be planted upon a given area, say per square yard, rod, or acre; and is it best to spread the planted oysters evenly or irregularly over the bottom? 7. Do embryo oysters stick to the under surfaces of collectors be- cause they are freer from mud or sediment? (This is the exi)erience of observers both in Europe and America.) 8. What i^ the length of the spawning period of the American oyster, and in what month does spat first appear, and when does it cease to fall or set in the autumn? 9. What is the minimum of time in which an oyster is matured, count- ing from the time it was spawned until it is of marketable size? 10. Do oysters \ary very greatly in the rapidity of their growth in different localities? 11. What is the cause of the variation in the quality or flavor of oys- ters from different localities? 12. What forms of microscopical organisms are the most frequently met with in the stomachs of oysters, and therefore the most valuable food of the animal? 13. What is the average density of the water in which oysters will always thrive best? 14. What temi^eratures are most favorable to their growth ? 15. What temperatures are most hurtful, and under what circum- stances ? 16. What means of oxygenating the water in oyster ponds are the most satisfactory? 17. What parasites and enemies of the oyster are most hurtful, and in what way ? Some of these queries we have, in different publications issued during the past two years, sought to answer approximately, but it will be seen that many of them would require an elaborate series of investigations to be carried out before it would be possible to give entirely satisfactory replies. It is much easier to ask questions than to answer them, but there is no easier way to find out how little we really know than to ask a series of questions such as the above. It will doubtless require many so BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. years of observation before most of them will have received completely satisfactory replies; but it none the less behooves the j^ractical men who are interested in tlie oyster industry to experiment and observe till they are in a measure answered, because until then we shall have made no very solid progress in the pond-culture of the oyster. Whether policing and districting the Chesapeake will be of as much use as intelligent efforts at culture even in a very i)rimitive way, I gravely doubt. The average oysterman is very conservative; the great major- ity could not even bo induced to sow shells, often being quite ignorant that such a means was ever resorted to for the purpose of giving the beds a chance to spread and cover more territory ; the thought of the possibility of the fixation of some of the millions of embryos which are emitted from the oysters on the old beds, and wafted hither and thither by the tides, never seems to enter their minds. They plant oysters, it is true, but this means simi)ly, among the Southern oystermen at least, that poor or undersized oysters are brought from some other place and laid down for a season or two to grow, when they are again taken up, sorted, and marketed ; those which have not grown large enough, to- gether with such spat as in some cases may have been produced on the beds, are thrown back and replanted, and not usually in a very thorough or systematic way. There is to-day very little effort being put forth by the planters, so-called, of Maryland and Virginia to really cultivate the oyster. The old system of simply shipping the poorly grown or two-yearlings from some other old bed to a new one, is what is called planting and cultivation. The time has come when these '"planters" will have to awaken from their indifference to this subject, and take hold of the industry in an intelligent and scientific manner. It may be urged that pond culture will be expensive, and involve large outlays for digging and preparing the ponds, but it should also be borne in mind that ponds once prepared can, with slight annual repairs, be kept in condition for the business for many years, besides which the work is condensed and becomes more accessible and easily managed. The oysters are planted thickly, about 100 per square yard, in the claires or ponds of Europe. At this rate one acre of cultivated oyster bottom, worked on the pond or basin system, ought to accommodate 480,000 single oysters, or 3,200 bushels, reckoning 150 oysters to the bushel. This is a yield which ought to satisfy the most extravagant expecta- tions. Though this is not actually the produce per acre, which is found over the limited areas known as natural beds or " oyster rocks," where an average of 270 single oysters will sometimes be found to the single square yard, giving a total of 1,290,000 single oysters to the acre, aggregating the almost fabulous yiald of 8,740 bushels, a result which must of course be regarded as the growth of at least three years, as I have known "oyster rocks" to be formed within that time, through the agency of man, where piles of old oyster shells had been thrown over- board, and left heaped up on the bottom, to which a large set of spat had caught and grown so as to produce the above result. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 31 The average depth of the pond should, of course, be at least 3 feet, and and probably a depth of 4 feet would be better in practice, as this would pretty effectually prevent frost from reaching the oysters on the bottom in winter, while the water would not be heated in summer as much as in shal- lower })onds. The culturists abroad are said to occasionally suffer losses from the water becoming too warm in their "claires" or ponds, many of which get no water except once in every fourteen daj's or during spring tides. From this cause also it is evident that considerable loss must be experienced from evaporation, while of course the warmth and quies- cence of the water would tend to cause the microsco[)ical vegetable or- ganisms in the water to multiply rapidly and give oft" oxygen to the water, and in turn consume the carbonic acid gas given off by the oys- ters daring respiration. In this connection I must not forget to mention the fact that I have known the water along some parts of the shores of the Chesapeake to rise to a temperature of 101° F. to 1(»5° F., after exposure to the sun during the middle of the day, where the bottom was composed of dark or black mud, which would of course absorb the heat from the burning rays of the sun and again radiate it into the overlying stratum of water at night. Washington, D. C, November 24, 1883. 10.-IVOTES OIV THE ACCI^IItlATIZATIOIV OF FISS IIV VICTORIA, ATS- TRAI.IA. By W. P. TVHBTCOrfllBE. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] We have had a small fish acclimatization society here for some years. We have stocked our waters with English trout {S. Fario), with Eng- lish perch, tench, and carp. Kindred societies on the seaboard have tried (with what success remains to be proved) to introduce some of the migratory Salmonidw. We have not attempted this as our streams are not suitable. Indeed, I may say we are very badly off" for perma- nent streams in this district, most of them becoming a mere chain of water-holes during the summer without any flow through them, and should the fall happen to be dry it is not uncommon for the streams not to run until the winter is well passed. Such dry seasons are not uu- frequeut. We have in this neighborhood some small lakes which we should like to stock with as good fish as we can. In some of them there are already English perch and trout, and in one a fish known here as the "Murray Cod" {OUgorns Macquarienfis Gunther). This fish is a native of the Murray or Macquarrykion, is non-migratory, and is a good table fish, but not good as a sporting fish. The hike into which it has been introduced is fed by small streams which run only during wet weather, and as it lowers through evaporation in summer becomes 32 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. somewhat brackish — too much so for mau to drink of it. The average depth of water in this lake may be about 12 feet, its circumference some 35 miles. Fish of the above kind taken in it .are much better eating than those in the river of which they are natives. We have put some trout in this more than ten years ago, but there do not seem to be any in it now. At any rate none have been taken or seen. We have an elevation above sea-level of some 1,500 feet, and consequently the climate is cool, well fitted for any of the Salmonidce. 8. Fario grows to a great size. I have seen it 16 pounds weight, and frequently 7 and 8 jjounds in the lakes; not the lake above described, but other smaller ones. In the streams it seldom exceeds 2 pounds. Now, my object in thus describing our waters is to find out whether they would be fit for Schoodic salmon, black bass, or shad. The two latter, if I mistake not, are migratory, so would be useless here, but your land- locked salmon (is it S. namaycush of Gunther?), 1 think, would do well enough i)rovided it can propagate in still water. Streams are not to be relied on here, at least those which run into any of our lakes. If your interest in pisciculture will lead you to give me the above information I shall be much obliged. I would also like to know when your Schoodic spawns. How long after spawning does it hatch? I think there would be no difQculty in getting a box of spawn put in the ice-house on one of the California mail steamers which would bring it here from San Francisco in less than thirty days. Ballakat, Victoria, Australia, September 17, 1883. Abstract of Eeply by Professor Baird. It is impossible to send the American shad to Victoria, as we have not learned how to transfer them over a much shorter trip to Europe. There would be no difQculty in supplying you with eggs of the land- locked salmon or lake trout. We have transnntted with entire success eggs of both the California salmon and of our white-fish {Coregonus) to Australia. The lake trout spawns on reefs in the Great Lakes, and does not need to ascend into running water. One of the best fish that could be introduced in your fresh waters would be the American cat- fish. It is very hardy, grows rapidly, is a capital article for food, and is measurably secure against the attacks of other fishes. It is not bel- ligerent and interferes very little with its associates. I am about send- ing a stock of catfish to Belgium, and possibly I might be able to do the same to Australia. Please designate some colonial or other agent in San Francisco to re- ceive the consignment and carefully house them in the steamer. I am somewhat disinclined to recommend the black bass. It is very pugnacious and voracious, and might disturb the balance of life in your waters, quite as much as have the rabbit and other old world species, life on the land. Washington, D. C, November 5, 1883 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 33 Vol. IV, No, 3. lVa!!ihm$;toii, D C. April », 1884. 11 TBE SEI.ECTIOIV OF «»ITE« AIVO THE CONSTRI'CTIOIV OF CARP POIVDS. By S. G. WOKTH. [From the Monthly Bulletin of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, August, 1883.: The cultivation of carp or other fish in pouds is atteuded with suc- cess only after requisite i)reparatiou iu the first place, followed up by a reasouable amount of care and watchfulness. I very greatly fear that the majority of fish-ponds are improperly lo- cated or improperly built. Upon the water and soil depend the ratio of growth. Sites fob Caicp ponds. — This is one of the best watered sections in the world, possessing small and large streams in every quarter. The extensive flat alluvial or made lands which lie along the creeks are the places for the best-paying ponds, such placets as make the best corn, but there are very few persons in North Carolina who are justified in going into pond-building on a large scale this year. They have no means of stocking such large ponds until the fish first distributed have spawned. A large number of ponds which will be built during the next twelve months will be small, and used ultimately for breeding or hatchiug pur- poses, and I take this occasion to call attention to the various localities which offer advantages for these and larger ponds. The most valuable ponds for growing carp will be on creeks, but these are the most costly and the most difiicult to maintain. Casting about for the most advantageous jioint to construct a pond, it will be observed that there are five classes naturally presented. With these in mind, I believe there are many persons who, having de- spaired of finding a proper place on their lauds, will, after further search, discover all necessary conditions for making as good ponds as they wish. I. Near the source of springs. — Ponds of this class will always be in favor. The advantages are, slight liability to overflow and close proximity to dwellings. They are more often visited, the fish are more easily protected against birds and snakes and can be domesticated more quickly ; but the coldness of the water produces a comparatively slow growth. Such ponds are useful for hatching purposes, but the area is generally too small for the extended growing of fish, except when high dams are built, and these are risky. Besides, there is generally but a small area of rich soil at spring heads, and consequently a scarcity of insect life. Hill-side ditches, made chiefly with the plow, will sufli- Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 3 34 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ciently protect them from overflow, but it is advantageous to allow a safe aiuouut of washing to pass into them. II. On the beds of branches or creeks. — Ponds made on the beds of branches and creeks will constitute a larger number than any other class. They will prove most valuable for growing carp, but will require much care in the construction of the dam and the overflow. They will not attain to the highest value unless the inflow and outflow of water is screened. Every one who has tried can estimate to some degree the trouble this involves. Whenever it rains the volume is so increased that it is nearly impossible to strain it through screens. The only way to control it absolutely is to go above the head of the pond and cut a wide, shallow ditch around the side of the pond and turn the freshets. This will be impracticable in many ponds, but in some cases where plows can be used it can be done with a moderate outlay. III. On MEADOW-FLATS. — Pouds built on meadow-flats by the side of branches or creeks can be made entirely safe from freshets. I greatly favor this as well as the following class : On many streams where it would be impossible to build manageable ponds of Class II, large areas of comparatively level land are found which would make excellent ponds. Ponds of this kind would have a dam or dike running down the side of the stream and, turning at right angles from it, run to the hill-side. Now, to get water into this pond, you have to go up the stream until you get 4 or 5 feet of fall. When this point is found, obstruct the run with a log or some piling and cut a ditch along the hill-side with very slight fall (1 inch to 20 feet), running the water nearly level. By the time you get down to the head of the pond you are some dis- tance up on the hill-side, away from the old run. If the stream is flat and the fall insufficient to answer this purpose, it may be practicable to make the obstruction above a tumbling dam, 2 or 3 feet high, by using more logs and piling. The sand filling in behind will make no difl'erence, as the dam is put there for the sole purpose of civing j^ou that much more fall to supply the pond below. With a pond of this kind (and they may often be made) there is no danger of overflow at any time. The supply ditch, made chiefly with a plow, will only con- vey a given amount of water to the pond, and the rest will fall over your log obstruction or tumbling dam^ and pass down the creek. The long dam extending alongside the stream should not be built too close to the old run, as craw-fish will work under it and high water may cut it away. It should be quickly set in cane or Bermuda grass. IV. By THE SIDE OF MILL-RACES. — By the side (on the lower side) of mill-races, frequently occur sites well adapted to the construction of fish-ponds. Such races are quite common in the middle and western counties, and they often reach a long distance. On the lower side, be- tween the race and the old bed of the stream, level or comparatively level tracts of land from one to four acres in extent are often found. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 35 Dams tlirowu up here are safe from overflow, and water can be let in from the race and the supply governed with precision. Both in this and the preceding class, the dams need not generally be very high, since they receive no freshets. V. Below mill-dams. — I have frequently observed level tracts of laud on which good fish-ponds could be made. Generally, in such places, it will be necessary to run a dam parallel with tTie creek as far down as the pond is to extend, and then turn at right angles to the hillside with another section of a dam, as in Class III. Dams of this class need not be very high, and the water supply can be taken through the dam of the mill-pond above. In the three classes last named, the area of land covered by the water will be alluvial as a rule, and suited exactly to the requirements of the fish. The advantage of requiring moderately low dams is a great item, because it is the vertical height of water that causes the majority of dams to break. As stated before, they will not overflow, and the amount of water received into them can be regulated and strained as it goes in and wastes out. ]Most persons have a leading idea that all ponds must be made by throwing dams across streams. This is a great mistake, for many large ponds can be made on the three plans last named. But the value of such ponds as are made by the side of streams, be- low canals and mill-dams, is apparent for other reasons than those just mentioned. The land covered by these being naturally dry beforehand, gives a firmer bottom to walk upon when the fish are being picked up, and in the course of three or four years, when a quantity of soft mud accumulates, destroying the productiveness of the pond, the water may be turned out, when the mud will dry enough to produce a crop of rice, German millet, or corn. One crop made on this soil will reconvert its lat nt properties into fish-producing substances, and render it as valu- able as in the commencement. It is important to have the drainage of the pond very deep. The draw-gate should be below the bottom of the pond proper, allowing, when desired, complete drying of the soil, which will then produce crops from the rich mud soil. With two feet fall a ditch may be cut from the upper end of the drainage box, and allow all the water to leach from the soil. Being beyond the possibility of overflow, the dam need not reach more than 8 or 10 inches above the surface of the water. A dam which rises but slightly above the jiond surface is less liable to attacks from musk- rats, for although these animals penetrate the face of dams beneath the water-level, they incline the passages ujiward, and enlarge them in the dam above the water as it stands in the pond. Besides, dams look bet- ter when built but a few inches above the water, though they can never be safe unless the inflow is controlled. Another economic point lies in the fact that you avoid large wasteways and extensive and costly screens. Construction of ponds. — Many persons who depend upon a limited amount of water for a supply fail through poorly constructed dams to 36 BULLETIN OF THE UMTED STATES FISH COMMISSION. hoid enough to keep the pond full. Others, who have au abundant supply, usually receive into the ponds entirely too much when the rain- fall is great. The ponds which are in danger are those which receive the floods. To secure the desired result, the food products of the water must be given up exclusively to the carp as the properties of the soil are given to the cotton plant. Therefore, when it is intended to construct a pond, there are several questions which should be determined beforehand. Evaporation. — If the supply of water is small, too large a pond will expose so much surface in dry weather that the level of the water will be lowered by evaporation, and by filtration through the porous soil forming the basin. It is difQcult to estimate this loss, but I do not believe that it would be safe to regard it as less than | of an inch per day in dry, hot weather in shallow ponds. At this rate an acre pond would lose at such times 6,783 gallons per day. or 282.6 gallons per hour. In other words, if the loss by evaporation is approximately ^ of an inch of the surface a day, it will require a constant supply of spring water, amounting to 282.6 gallons per hour, or 4.7 gallons per minute, to keep the pond full. Ponds half the size would lose but half as much. Eain-water must not be depended upon to supplj" fish-ponds. Management of overflow. — A carp pond to be of value must be arranged in a manner that all the water coming in and going out can be passed through screens. Labor and money invested in any at- tempt to pass the floods from heavy rains through screens may be re- garded as thrown away. A volume of water a foot in diameter, running with the usual velocity of streams after rains, contains enough floating and suspended matter to fill several yards of screen in a few hours, and ofteuer in a few minutes. The earlier this is realized the better. If it is the purpose to build a large pond by building a dam across the stream, it will be best to cut a canal around the dam at the outset, through which the floods may pass without entering the pond at all. Such a canal should begin a few yards above the head of the pond. By using a level you can stand at the site of the dam and determine the upper begiuning point before the dam is built. But it may also be determined after the water is raised, since the surface will indicate the line along the side of the pond above which the canal must extend. The fall in it should not exceed 1 inch in 20 feet, and if it passes close along the pond side, its bottom should not be lower than the water surface of the pond. To determine its required dimensions necessary to waste the floods, you must ascertain as nearly as possible the acreage of land which sheds rain water into the basin or valley above. A rain-fall of 1 inch amounts to 3,628 cubic feet, or 27,138 gallons, to each acre. Ascertain the rain-fall of your region, in order to serve as a guide for making wasteways on dams and for regulating the size of canals around them. Note the extremes in the rain -fall, for it is the heavy rains that test the construction of ponds. The canal should be two or four times wider BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 37 than deep. The soil removed should be plowed up and shoveled to the lower or pond side. When the question of getting rid of the floods is disposed of, the dam may be built. VVasteways. — Many persons will not attempt to turn the floods around the dams by makiug canals, and therefore I would recommend that the wasteways to their dams should be cut around the end through the natural soil of the hill-side. This form of wasteway is merely a wide ditch, cut without fall, and extending far enough below the lower side of the dam to prevent the waste water from cutting that side of the dam away. Two or more rows of piling to arrest the cutting out may be required to be driven across this outlet, the upper ends being even with the bottom of the ditch. A row of narrow strips of boards may be driven in the mud close together in the pond above the mouth of this ditch to serve as a screen. If this screen or fence is located in 4 or 5 feet of water, and the two ends drawn in to the shore, it will be twice as valuable as if built immediately at the ditch mouth, for more surface would be exposed. The strips or stakes should be driven a foot into the soil below, and their upper ends on a level with the top of the dam. No dam, however small, should be built without a box in the bottom, provided with a gate, for drawing the water. Such a box should be made 6 or 10 inches square, of 2-inch plank, and reach en- tirely through the dam, and much pains must be observed to make it long enough. It should be well nailed together and be placed into the bottom of the dam at the lowest point. It should be placed upon one or more pieces of scantling laid in the soil at the base of the dam, and be nailed to these to prevent the water flowing under. The earth can be packed above and on the sides, the timbers being necessary only underneath. A gate should be put into the upper or pond end. No dam should be made until a ditch has been cut along the line which it will occupy, and the light soil thrown out. Fresh earth put back into the ditch, well rammed, will prevent blowing out if the ditch is dug 2 or more feet. Ponds for raising the carp should be shallow, not more than from 2 to 4 feet deep, except at the dam, where there may be a depth of 5 or 6 feet. 13.— ON A SKIN PARASITE OF THE CUJVNER (CTENOLABKU8 AD- SPEBSIJS). By JOHN A. RYDER. Shortly after my return frpm Wood's Holl, Mass., an interesting spec- imen of the common Gunner, Chogset, or Blue Perch, was sent on Irom that place by Vinal N. Edwards, to Washington, on account of the pecu- liar spotted and rough appearance presented by the skin. At first one might have supposed that the i)eculiar whitish spots, with a dark halo of pigment around each of them, were j)oints where some minute fungus S8 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. was vegetating and infesting the skin of the fish. Microscopic exami- nation, however, soon showed that what Avas at first sight suspected to be a fungus was really an animal parasite which had bored its way from without into the skin of its host. Upon consulting Dr. T, H. Bean, the obliging Curator of the Depart- ment of Fishes in the National Museum, he informed me that he thought there were in the collection a lot of si)ecimens from farther north, of the same species, infested in a similar way. Dr. Beau kindly obtained two jars of these specimens for me, and also sup^ilied a copy of the Museum, record pretaining to them as follows: N. M. No. 32354. Arichat, Cape Breton, 1882. W. A. Stearns. N. M. No. 32355. Arichat, Cape Breton, 1882. W. A. Stearns. Examination revealed the fact that these specimens were infested in precisely the same way as the one from Wood's Holl. Every part of the surface of the skin was found to be raised into small rounded papules or prominences of a blackish blue color, which it was found were caused by thick-walled cysts embedded in the skin, into the vicinity of which pigment cells had migrated or developed de novo. In all of the speci- mens the cornea was more or less infested by these cysts, which were imbedded in its substance, and, as in other parts of the skin, surrounded by opaque pigment cells, which in this situation would, of course, seri- ously impair vision, the cysts encircled with pigment cells, to the num- ber of four or five, often having lodged immediately over the pupil or line of sight. Upon removing the thin corneal membrane from the eye, and placing it iu glycerine for a while, in order to render it transparent, the relations of the cysts were easily made out under the microscope. They were found to have very thick walls, which were also laminated. The thick- ness of the walls of the cysts varied considerably; and, as observed in some, was nearly twice as thick as in others. This difference in the thickness of the walls of the cysts is doubtless related to the length of time since the parasite bored its way into the skin. The oldest cysts doubtless having the thickest, the youngest ones having the thinnest wails. The entire cyst proper measured about one one hundredth of an inch in diameter, while the halo of surrounding pigment according to its amount would increase this dimension to from one seventy-fifth to one- fiftieth of an inch, which was the size of the papules or swellings caused by the presence of the cysts when the skin was viewed superficially. In the most badly infested specimens as many as 480 cysts were counted within an area of a single square inch of skin on tlie sides of the body. Here they seemed to be usually associated iu groups num- bering from one to fifteen to a single scale, and imbedded in tlie thin skin covering the scales. They were least numerous on the chin and under side of the jaws, but very numerously embedded in the skin which covered the fins. From this cause the pectorals, ventrals, anal, dorsal, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 39 and caudal fins presented a peculiar densely mottled appearance, due to the aggregation of pigment cells in the vicinity of the cysts. The velar flaps within the anterior portion of the mouth were also infested, as well as the floor and roof of the mouth below the tongue, the inner surface of the opercles, and the anterior faces of the gill arches. The cysts were, on the whole, most numerous on tJie fins, embedded in the interradial membranes. From the fact of our finding the parasite encysted it is evident that it is not an adult form, but that it is part of the life-cycle of some species which infests in great numbers one or two other hosts, iu which it under- goes its complete development and metamorphosis. It is also in the highest degree probable that it is in fact a Platyelminth or Flat worm, belonging to the group Trematoda, which are almost all truly parasitic, presenting a remarkable life-history and exhibiting a true alternation of generations in the course of its migrations from host to host. The animal becomes sexually mature in the intestine of some vertebrate host, where it discharges its eggs into the faecal matters of the intestine. These ova are then expelled with the faecal matters, and, finding their way into the water, there hatch out as a ciliated larva, after which it loses its cilia ; soon afterwards it enters the body of a snail or other moUusk, where it grows into a sexless individual, in the hollow sac-like interior of which a sec- ond generation of asexual individuals quite different from the first are developed from the walls of the sac, provided with tails for the purpose of propulsion. The sac or " nurse" in which these tailed forms devei- ope then ruptures, and the tadpole-like forms escape which are known as Cercaria. These then swim about iu the water until they find a proper host, into the skin of which they bore, at the same time losing their tails and becoming encysted, as we have observed to be the case with the creature infesting the skin of the Gunner. The next step in their development is the adult sexual state ; this develops directly from the tailless larvae inclosed in the cysts, such as are found in the €;pecimens before us. If another fish should swallow the infested Gun- ners, the embryos of the parasites would leave their cysts in the skin of the latter and develop into fluke-like parasites, which would very probably find their way into the vessels of the digestive apparatus and liver of their new host, where they would finally become mature or capable of producing eggs. If infested Gunners were imperfectly cooked and eaten by man, he would become the final host in which the worm would reach maturity. After a more or less prolonged stay in the final host, the adult parasites are expelled, and are as a rule within the lim- its of this groui) of a flattened or depressed form with a naked soft skin and provided with a mouth, the intestine branched and ending in nu- merous caecal diverticula, with ventral suckers, sometimes armed with rings of hook-like chitinous organs. In the mature condition they are hermaphroditic. Gyrodaetiflns is a genus of Trematodes which often infests gold-fifsh 40 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. in aquaria, and I have met with it in great numbers on the skin of these fishes in the adult state over the whole body of the fish and looking like very minute leeches. They are said to especially attack the gills of Cyprinoids, such as Cyprinus, Carassius, PhoxinKS, and Acerina in Eu- rope. Here in the United States I have seen thousands on a single gold- fish creeping over every part of the body, and thej- cannot therefore fail to be very injurious. This type is said to be viviparous, and to reproduce itself by internal gemmation parthenogenetically ; a second generation appears within the first and even a third within the second before the Gyrodactylus is born. It is very small; has a large terminal sucking disk bearing a circlet of powerful hooks, with two long curved median spines more developed than any of the other parts of the arma- ture of the sucking disk. These parasites are doubtless often trans- ported from one part of the country to another with gold-fish for orna- mental purposes, and in this way uninfested fish probably often be- come infested by being brought into contact with others which harbor the parasite. Another genns of these parasites, Bucephalus^ is said to infest the Eu- ropean oyster, Ostrea edulis, and passes into the encysted state in a fish which serves as food for a larger fish, Belone vulgaris, in the intestine of which the adult of the same worm, a species of Gastrostomum occurs. The American oyster, Ostrea virginica, is said to be infested by Buceph- alus cuculus, Macrady. This should deter epicures from indulging too freely in raw oysters, in the ovaries of which it is said to occur, though it is probably a rare parasite, since in examining the soft parts of great numbers of oysters, it has never been my good fortune to meet with it. The foregoing data supply us with the means of accounting for the manner in which the cysts found their way into the skin of the Cuuners. It is probable that some mollusks inhabiting the waters in great num- bers where the fish were taken were badly infested with the agamic nurses from which the tadpole like larvae escaped in great numbers, which then bored into the skin of the Cunners. But in order that the latter could be as badly infested as are the Wood's Holland Cape Breton si)ec- imens, the free-swimming, Cercaria-stage of the parasite must have lit- erally swarmed in the surrounding waters, if each of the thousands of cysts found on a single Gunner represents a Cercaria, as must be the case. I have before me sixteen specimens of infested Cunners from Cape Breton, the smallest 3J inches, the largest 7 inches long, while the single specimen from Wood's Holl measures nearly 11 inches in length. Even the smallest of these specimens harbor not far short of a thousand en- cysted parasites, and some of the largest would i)robably by actual count be found to have five tim es as many imbedded in the skin. From thi& circumstance it is fair to infer that the surrounding water at the time the fish became infested must have been swarming full or literally alive with free-swimming Cercarice, which bored into every exposed part of the skin o«f the fish, as our examination of the specimens has shown. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 41 It is, of course, not possible with the material at present in my hands to identify the species, nor can we do more than indulge in surmises as to what must be the hosts in which the Redia or nurse stage of the parasite resides. That probably is some moUusk abounding near where the infested Gunners were taken. To make out the complete life-history of the parasite which we are now dealing with would prob- ably take several years, and would involve the necessity of a prolonged residence in the localities wbero the infested fish were taken in order to be able to trace the parasite from one host to another. All that we can now be assured of is that the cysts contain a Cercaria in the encysted or pupal stage, and that the parasite is one of many similar forms known to infest fishes of the family of Cyprinidce, especially where the encysted state also occasionally produces papules on the skin. The accompanying pathological effects produced by means of physio- logical processes are of the greatest interest to the writer, and are signifi- cant in connection with known facts relating to the movements of pig- ment or color-bearing cells. These, as is well known, are specialized differentiations of ordinary cells charged with black, brown, red, or yel- low granules. Why the presence of the cysts should attract pigment cells or cause them to be developed in places normally devoid of them is the question raised by what we have learned from a study of the tis- sue adjacent to the cysts. Normally, and for a very obvious reason, the cornea of fishes is quite transparent, but the infested corneas of the Gunners before us have pigment cells developed around the cysts, and they thus partially intercept the light passing into the eye, as already noticed. Where the cysts are numerous and adjacent, or nea/ly in con- tact in the corneal tissue, the crowded masses of pigment cells produce an opaque reticulum, in the meshes of which the cysts are lodged. But aside from these the less densely aggregated pigment cells in the vicin- ity are of the greatest interest, especially when studied in relation to the structure of the cornea, the principal tissue of which is known to be laminated and to contain cellular nucleated bodies, known as corneal corpuscles of a flattened or depressed form, with long protoplasmic processes extending out into capilliary spaces between the laminae, and thus in stained preparations producing the appearance of a close net- work of fine fibers when a prepared cornea is viewed flatwise by trans- mitted light. The protoplasmic processes of the superimposed cor- puscles existing between layers of a slightly different depth have a tendency to run at right angles to each other, and the stained filaments of corpuscles of different laminae therefore tend to divide the trans- parent interspaces of the corneal substance into quadrangles. This is precisely what happens in some cases with the pigment cells, which have accumulated in the infested cornea of the Gunner. The color- bearing plasma of the pigment cells seems, therefore, either to have wandered into tlie corneal lacunae previously occupied by the corneal corpuscles, and to have displaced them, or the corneal cori)uscles them- 42 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. selves, owing to the irritation produced by the intruding parasite, have developed pigment granules in their interiors, and become like pigment cells in optical character. Specimens of the cornea cleared in glyce- rine show this criss-cross arrangement of pigmented x>lasma, embedded somewhat like the warp and woof of a loosely woven kind of cloth in the clear corneal substance. More usually, however, the pigment cells are unmodified chromatophores, especially where they lie superficially and do not fall under the influence of the corneal lacunas normally in- habited by the corneal corpuscles, where they of course would have their shapes modified to correspond with the form of the bodies which they have replaced. I have for a long time known that the chromatophores or pigment cells of fishes have a certain power of movement among the cells of the skin, especially of embryos, and that they not only slowly change their form but also their positions by means of what cannot be regarded as other than a special kind of independent amceboid migratory movement. In this way their modes of aggregation are slowly altered, while an act- ual growth and extreme flattening occurs in the course of development, during which they seem to cover more space than at first, and I am very doubtful as to whether they have multiplied, especially in certain cases, so as to cover a greater area, as might at first be supposed. This power of movement of the pigment cells, I believe, explains quite readily the aggregation of these bodies in the vicinity of the parasitic cysts found in the skin of the Cunner. That the distribution of the coloring tissue has been motlified iu the si^ecimens before us no one can deny, and I am loth to believe that the color-bearing cells have been multi- plied in consequence of the irritation caused by the parasites. On the lius, for example, wherever there is a cyst present, there the pigment is sure to have accumulated, and in the light of our i)reseut knowledge I see no more satisfiictory explanation of the fact than that here given. What stimulus other than irritation would be adequate to produce the physiological impulse leading to the migration of the color-bearing cells, I am quite unable to conceive. Can it be that the physiological function of pigment cells is in this case defensive or reparative? It is possible, in consequence of their nearness to the irritating cause, that they are among the first amoeboid bodies on hand to attempt to assume some protective function. That such is their function here I have also no doubt whatever. If they are generated in consequence of the irrita- tion produced by the parasite, which is very doubtful, then is there all the more reason to suppose that they have a reparative or protective function. Of one thing we may be sure, that they have some share either directly or indirectly in carrying on some salutary metabolic pro- cess, else we should not find them in the vicinity of the cysts, no matter whether they are developed there de novo or have migrated into their new i)ositions from adjacent groups of pigment cells which are, as is well known already, very abundant in the skin of the Cunner. Washington, Novemler 7, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 43 13 JOrB:VAI. OF OPEKATIOIVW OX THE ment or augmentation of the volume of the connective tissue of the animal during the winter months, wben oysters are said to be fat or in good condition. This increase of the connective tissue mass in bulk and consistency may probably be regarded as a winter storage of reserve material, which upon the approach of warmer weather is gradually converted into germs. Such an opinion is supported by a large number of facts, derived from a study of the minute structure or the histology of the oyster. Another fact of considerable importance is what Mr. Pierce notes re- garding the late spawning of the oyster, which is in accord with ray more exact observations made in 1880. I then found that spawning or spatting occurred during the period intervening from about July 1 to late in October, or that spat fell and fixed itself for a period extending over at least three and a half, if not for even as much as four months. This would indicate that in the case of the American species it is probably possible for the culturist to avail himself of the chance of collecting spat on collecting apparatus put out at intervals during the whole of this prolonged period of the reproductive activity of the animal. Washington, D. C, November 19, 1883. 14.— IVOTES OIV THE ME: IV HA DEN FII!»HIIVC} OF 18S3. By OSCAR O. FRIEDLAEIVDER. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The result as far as dollars and cents are concerned was very unsatis- factory this year on account of the poor yield of oil. We had a large catch from our own boats — about 50 per cent, more than last year — 26,053,250 fish. There was a yield of 49,900^ gallons of oil. The average price was 39.6 cents. The above quantity included 2,614,800 fish jjurchased from outsiders. Last year we had 23,996,650 fish, including 9,766,700 bought from outsiders. These yielded 121,553 gallons of oil. The average price was 39 cents. This year's price would have been much higher had it not been for the very heavy import of Japanese fish oil — something entirely new here. The fish were much better in October and November, and, al- though the weather was very favorable, only small bodies of big sea menhaden were caught here. The catch on the east end of Long Island and Ehode Island was better than here, and the fish yielded about double the quantity of oil. The Church firm caught with four steamers over 60,000,000 fish. I sent some of the last caught fish to Mr. E. G. Black- .48 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ford, as they were full of spawn. The spring and summer fish were bare of spawn. New York, Novemher 29, 1883. John Doyle, who is now chief engineer on the New York and Jamaica steamship, and who was three years an engineer with us, reports a solid body of Menhaden about the 1st of last month, 30 miles ofl' Cape Hat- teras. This steamer j^assed through this immense body for fourteen hours ; they were apparently bound for the Gulf Stream and were full of sharks. The presence of the latter on our coast this year may account for the scarcity of blueflsh. Never before were our fishermen so much troubled by sharks as this year, and our catch of sharks was unprecedented. New York, December 3, 1883. 15.— niETBOD OF CATCKIIVCi CRABS. By McIWEJVAMI^ & CO., [Packers of hermetically sealed goods, such as crabs, oysters, clams, «&c.] Our crab catch has been greatly lessened this season by the high winds that have almost constantly prevailed along the coast. We catch now with trot lines, one man in a small row-boat attending each line. It has occurred to us that if we could use slooi)S or schooners with dip or other suitable nets, we would be able to work regardless of the gen- eral winds. Your familiarity with the habits of the crab, and your knowledge of the methods of taking fish both in this country and abroad, suggests that you might know of some net that would answer our purpose better than the trot-line. Hampton, Ya., October 8, 1883. Eeply by Professor Baird. I am inclined to doubt very much whether it would be possible to use nets in the capture of crabs, especially such as would have to remain for any length of time under water, or where a considerable number of crabs were collected together. "You would, I think, find that those meshed would be immediately devoured by their more fortunate fellow or by accorai^anying fish. There are various forms of traps which might be used for catching fish by baiting ; but you are, of course, familiar with all of these. . Washington, D. 0., October 12, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 49 Vol. IV, j¥o. 4. Vl^ishiiigtoBi, D. C. April 15, 1884. 16— A 8E AR€II FOR ITJACKEREi:. OFF BI.OCK ISIi AND, iTIONTAVK, AND SAIVI>Y HOOK, IIV NOVEMBER, 1§S3. By J. W. COLIilNS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The following facts which I have obtained from Capt. Adoniram J. Burnham relative to a cruise he made last month in search of mackerel in the waters off Block Island, Montauk, and Sandy Hook, may prove of some interest to you; therefore I take the liberty of submitting them to your consideration. Captain Burnham left Provincetown on November 1 in the schooner Hereward, of Gloucester. The vessel was fitted for purse-seiniug, hav- ing one seine boat and two seines. Besides this, she carried a good sup- ply of the best menhaden bait for tolling up mackerel, and plenty of jigs and lines. The wind blew strong from the westward on the day that the Here- ward left ProAiucetown ; therefore she anchored that night at Hyannis. On the following morning she got underway and beat over to Tarpaulin Cove, where she lay until the next day. Leaving Tarpaulin Cove early on the morning of November 3, with a moderate northwest wind Cap- tain Burnham stood out of Vineyard Sound, from whence he steered off to the southward of Block Island. When about 8 miles southwest of Block Island he hove to and "tried" for mackerel, throwing out ground menhaden toll-bait. He "raised" a school of tinkers and caught 50 or 60 fish, which averaged about 10 inches in length. These mack- erel seemed disinclined to take the hook, though they were quite plenty alongside the vessel; not, however, sufficiently abundant to warrant set- ting a seine around them. Another trial was made about 7 to 8 miles farther south, with the same result as before, small mackerel being tolled up and about CO of them caught. " It was a beautiful evening," says Captain Burnham, " and probably we should have seen some schools if mackerel had been plenty." That night the wind blew up fresh from the southwest, and the Here- ward ran into New London, where she lay over Sunday, November 4. Monday morning, November 5, the wind having moderated, the schooner got under way, and passing Block Island and Montauk — the latter in the afternoon — stood off on a south-southeast course, the wind being southwest by south. The morning of November 6, the Hereward hove to and " tried " for mackerel 70 miles south-southeast from Montauk, her position being latitude 39° 56' north, longtitude 71° 03' west. No mackerel were tolled up. Two other attempts were made during the Bull. U. S. F. C, 84-^ 4 50 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. day to "raise" fish, but without success. After making the moruiug trial the schooner stood 27 miles west by south, and hove to in latitude 39^' 40' north, longtitude 71° 37' west. The last trial for the day was made 20 miles west of the locality' last given, in latitude 39'^ 47' north, longtitude 72° 04' west. During the day Captain Burnham saw flocks of sea geese {Phalaropes)', gulls were fairly abundant, and occasionally a ganuet Avas noticed. Shoals of porpoises were also seen, but no whales. While the birds and porpoises are considered as indications of the presence of mack- erel, Captain Burnham looks upon the absence of Avhales as quite significant, since, he says, "in this locality, in spring, whales are almost always seen where there are large bodies of mackerel.'' After making the last trial for the day, the Hereward headed in for Eire Island, and between 3 and 4 o'clock on the morning of the 7th, when some 18 to 20 miles from the land, the vessel ran through 5 or 6 schools of small fish which Captain Burnham thought Avere tinker mack- erel of the size usually called "spikes." At that time the wind was blowing strong from northwest, and the Hereward stood in under the laud, and finally worked over to Sandy Hook lightship, which was reached about 3 p. m. About sunset of the same day the wind mod- erated, and during the night the schooner ran off southeast from the Hook. On the morning of the 8th she hove to about 30 miles south- east from the highlands of Neversink, where small mackerel — 8 to 9 inches in length — were tolled up, and about a half barrel caught on hook and line. iN o large or medium-sized mackerel were noticed, even in the water. There wjis a moderate to brisk breeze from southwest to south-pouth- west during the day. After the morning trial mentioned above, Cap- tain Burnham stood off shore on a southeast course until the vessel was 88 miles from the land. Attempts were made to "raise" mackerel at intervals of 10 or 15 miles during the day, but without success. About GO to 70 miles from the laud, sea birds were the most abundant, but be- yond that limit few were seen. After making the last "trial" for fish for the day the Hereward ran 16 miles north-northeast, and hove to until the moon set, which was about midnight ; after which she ran for Sandj^ Hook, a bright lookout being kei)t for fish. When she was about 60 miles off the land, saw scattering smallfish, which were thought to be " spikes." This was not far from the locality where we saw small fish darting about on the morning of November 5, when we were running for the Gulf Stream in the Alba- tross. Though the Hereward ran through these fish for nearly an hour, they were not seen in sufficient abundance to set the seine, even had they been of larger size. As it was, they were too small to be of any use. Cai^tain Burnham spoke a New York pilot-boat, part of the crew of which went on board the Hereward. In answer to inquiries, the pilots BULLETIN OF THE UNITED bTATES FISH COMMISSION. 51 said that they had never seen mackerel in the water off Now York, ex- cept in the spring, when the fish were moving north. The Herjiward stood in to the land, and went into Sandy Hook, where she lay until ^N'ovember 13, the weather in the mean time being too rough for the prosecution of further researches. Leaving the Hook on the 13th, she ran down the south side of Long Island, at a distance from the land of 3 to a miles. The wind was blowing strong from the west- ward at the time, and no fish were seen ; indeed, there would have been little probability of seeing any in such weather, if mackerel liad been l^lenty in the locality. I^o further attempt was made to find fish, for C.iptaiu Burnham came directly home to Grloucester, and gave up mackerel fishing for the season. Gloucester, Mass., December 11, 1883. ir.-DEPliETION OF FISBI IN PAIVGUITCH A1V» BOAR t,AI£ES, IJTAIff. By A!¥DREW L. SILSH. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird. ] I intend devoting *lie most of my time to fish-growing, as it is only a. question of time, and that, at the present rate of depletion, a very short time, when the food-fishes inhabiting our waters will become so scarce that they will not be found in our markets. In Panguitch Lake, near this place, the fish are being rapidly exhausted, although the fish- ermen that fish that hody of water say tbat the fish are as plenty as they were ten years ago ; but at present the average Aveight of the fish caught out of that lake is 1 pound, while the fish caught eight or ten years ago averaged 3 pounds. The time is very near at hand when, if we have fish from Panguitch Lake, we will have to restock it with Schoodic (or land-locked) salmon or white fish, or both. I add an extract from the Deseret Kews in regard to the fish of Bear Lake. Tbe same thing that has taken place there will certainly take place in the lakes of Utah unless our Territorial legislature takes steps to restock our waters. "The famed Bear Lake covers some I'O square miles, and washes on three sierm, valued at £2,894. In 1877, 15,047 gallons of sperm-whale oil were exported, valued at £4,032. In 1881, 20,088 gallons of si)erm-whale oil wei^e exported, valued at £5,059. SEAL FUE. The sea-bear or 'fur seal {Arctocephalus cinerens) is found on the remote parts of the coasts, about a thousand skins being taken every year by boafing parties. In 1875 there were exported 2,767 seal- skins, valued at £4,050; and in 1877 there were exported 1,503 seal-skins, valued at £1,052. In 1881, 1,259 seal-skins were exported, valued at £1,717. The fishes which we find in the New Zealand seas on the whole rep- resent the characteristic forms of the southern or Lusitanian provinces of European coasts. In other words, our New ZeaJand fishes resemble those which are found on the coast between Madeira and the Bay of Biscay more than they do those which are caught about the north of Scotland. Of 33 sea fishes that are used as food in New Zealand, we have among the constant residents of all parts of our coast the Hapuku, Tarakihi, Trevally, Moki, Aua, Rock Cod, Wrasse, and Patiki ; and while the Snapper, Mnllet, and Gurnet are only met with in the north, the Trumpeter, Butterfish, and Eed Cod are confined to the south. But, with the exception of Patiki, or Flounder, and the Eed Cod, none of these are representatives of fishes that are common even in the south of Britain, while from the more northern seas similar fishes are alto- gefchei' absent. 54 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. In addition to those which remain throughout the year, a very largo number of the fishes of the New Zealand coast, owing to its geographi- cal position, are pelagic in their habits, and roam over a wide range of ocean, visiting our shores only irregularly in pursuit of food. Of the edible fishes of this class, by far the largest number are visitors from warmer latitudes, such as the Frostfish, Barracouta, Horse-mackerel, King-fish, Dory, Warehou, Mackerel, and Gar-fish, while only the Ling, Hake, Haddock, and a few other fishes, which are rare, and worthless as food, are among those of more southern types which reach the New Zealand coast in their migrations. There is, however, no reason to complain of any want of useful va- riety in the New Zealand fishes as compared with Britain, for we find that out of 208 species of fishes enumerated as occurring in the British seas, including many which are extremely rare or only occasional vis- itors, only 40 are considered to have a marketable value. In New Zea- land, notwithstanding our very imiierfect knowledge (especially with regard to the gregarious tribes, which there is reason to believe inhabit shoals at some distance from land), out of 192 sea fishes, some of which are only known from single specimens, we have nearly as many varie- ties used for food ns are brought to market in the British Islands. Of 140 species of fish enumerated as found in New Zealand, 07 spe- cies are, so far as we know, peculiar to New Zealand ; 75 are common to the coasts of Australia or Tasmania; while 10 species are found in New Zealand and other places, but not in the Australian seas. New Zealand ichthyologj" thus presents a very distinct character, the thor- ough deciphering of which affords a wide field for future observation and scientific investigation. The following is a list of the fishes which are chiefly met with in the market : Hapuku Oligorus gigas. Kahawai . . Arripis salar. Eed Snapper Anthias richardsoni. Snapper .... .Pagrus unicolor. Tarakihi Chilodactylus macropteriis. Trumpeter Latris hecateia. Moki Latris ciliaris. Frostfish Lepidopus caudatus. Barracouta . ; Thyrsites atun. Horse-mackerel Trachnrus trachurus. Trevally Caranx georgianus. King-fish Seriohi lalandii. John Dory Zeus faber. Boar-fish , Cy ttus australis. Warehon Neptomenus^ brama. Mackerel Scomber australasicus. Rock Cod . -Percis colias. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION. 55 Gnnianl Trigla kuinu. Mullet Mngil pernsii. Sea-mullet • Agonostoma forsteri. Spotty Labriclitliys botbryocosmus. Butter-fisli Coridodax pullus. Haddock Gadus australis. Eed Cod , Lotella bacclius. Whiting Pseudopbycis bi eviusculus. Liug Genypterus blacodes. Tui'bot Ammotretis guutberi. Brill Pseudorbombus scapbus. Flounder or Patiki , . . . . Ebombosolea mooopus. Sole PeltorbampbusuovtBzealandise. Gar-tisb - Hemirbampbus intermedins. Grayling Prototroctcs oxyrbyncbus. Smelt Eetropnina ricbardsoui. Kokopu Galaxias fasciatus. Minnow Galaxias attenuatus. Sand-eel Gonorbyncbus greyi. Ancbovy Engraulis encrasicbolus. Pilcbard or Sardine Clupea sagax. Sprat Clupea sprattus. Eel (tuna) Anguilla aucklandii. Black Eel Anguilla australis. Conger Eel Conger vulgaris. Silver Bel Congromurfpna babeuata. Leatberjacket Monacantbus con vexirostris. Smootb-bound Mustelus antarcticus. Sting-ray Trygon tbalassia. Skate Eaja nasuta. 21 A MABINE MOJVSTEK. By KICIIAIi© A. FSS®CTOR. [From the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle.] Tbe discovery of a strange sea creature near St. Elmo illustrates the truth of what I had remarked a few days earlier as to the smallness of our knowledge of the denizens of tbe might}* deep. The case is inter- esting not only in its bearing on tbe accounts of sea monsters of species as yet unknown, but also because it seems as though in the present case evidence of the existence of a tolerably numerous race of creatures bad been obtained. To beghi with, the account is not characterized by any evidence of an attemj)t to excite wonder by untruths. The animal seen, though 56 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. unlike any known, would not be in itself very marv^elous. Omitting details of no importance, the account runs thus : While the boats of Captain Seymour's bark Hope On were on the watch for whales off the Pearl Islands (between 40 and 50 miles from Panama) the water broke a short distance away, and Captain Seymour made ready for a whale. But a head like that of a horse rose from the M'ater and then dived. The creature was seen by all the boat's crew. Cai^tain Seymour describes the animal as almost 20 feet in length, with a handsome horse-like head, with two unicorn-shaped horns protiuding from it. The creature had four legs or double-jointed fins, a brownish hide, profusely speckled with large black spots, and a tail which ap- peared to be divided into parts. The creature was seen on two different days, and if whales had not been about at the time, an effort would have been made to catch it. Captain Seymour and his officers agree in considering that the creature is peculiar to the locality, and that it could easily be killed with lances and guns. It is important to notice that officers of the Pacific Mail Company state they have seen the animal on several occasions, but not so closely as did the officers and men of the Hope On. The nearest account of any strange animal akin to that seen by Captain Seymour and his men is the account of a marine creature, sujj- posed to be a sea serpent, seen in 1817 near Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Eleven witnesses of good reputation gave an oath before magistrates (one of whom had himself seen what they had) a description of a crea- ture like a serpent, dark brown in color (some said mottled), with white under the head and neck. The head of this creature was as large as a horse's, but shai)ed like a serpent's, and the animal was estimated as exceeding 50 feet in length. Colonel Perkins noticed an appearance in the front of the head like a single horn, but other observers thought this was the monster's tongue. The evidence now obtained confirms the theory which was ad.vanced in 1848, and has since been maintained by Gosse and others, that a race of marine animals exists, including probably several varieties, which is characterized by a serpentine neck, a head small comjiared with the body but large compared with the thickness of the neck, an air-breather, and deriving its propulsive power from paddles; in other words, a modern representative of the long-necked Plesiosauriajis of the great secondary or IVIesozoic era. Creatures of this class have been ajitly compared to what would be formed by drawing a serpent through the body of a sea-tuitle. London, England, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION- 57 23.— RETURIV TO OI^OVCESTER HARBOR OF THE YOlJIVO CODFISH li.VTCHEU BY THE V. H. FISH €0:TIJIE.<^SI0N. By R. S. TARR. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] While in Gloucester recently I made some inquiries in regard to the report that small cod of the species Gadus morrJma were very abundant in the harbor. Although I was there in the wrong season, still I think that I ascertained enough information to establish beyond a doubt that small cod, some as large as 14 inches in length, belonging to G. morrhim, are extremely abundant at Gloucester; and as these belong to the spe- cies which is at x^resent almost entirely deep sea, it seems evident that we must look to some other causes than natural ones to explain the ap- pearance of such great numbers in so small an area, for as far as I can find out only one other school has been seen along the New England coast in shallow water, I talked with several fishermen, and they all reported the abundance of the " silver gray cod," which could not be distinguished by them from the deep-sea cod. The most intelligent and observing of all with whom I spoke was Mr. Edwin F. Parsons, of East Gloucester, who expressed a willingness to correspond with you upon the subject, and also to make preparations of specimens, under your di- rection, if you desired it. He told me that in the spring and summer for the two past seasons, while fishing for bait for his lobster traps, he took great numbers just outside of Ten-Pound Island. Their abundance dwindled down until in Februarj' they were least abundant. Last spring the largest fish weighed 4 or 5 pounds, and often in a day 100 jiounds would be the re- sult of his catch. He did not fish especially for these, but simi^ly for bait for his traps. The cod he would sell, while the other fish would serve his purpose. He thinks that he can see three generations, the largest weighing 5 pounds and the others considerably smaller. Al- though he has been fishing for seven or eight years, never before 1882 did he find deep-sea cod in any numbers inside of Gloucester Harbor. Taking into account this fact, Mr. Parsons feels confident that they can be no other than the fish put into the harbor in 1879; and he wished me to say that he feels thankful for the money he had made and the chowders he has had, as he expressed it, at the expense of the Fish Com- mission. Considerable enthusuism is expressed au^.oug the fishermen in regard to this matter, and they feel anxious that the work started in 1878 shall be continued. Not only are these fish caught in the outer harbor, but even in the innermost docks of the inner harbor, boys, while fishing for flounders, frequently laud gray cod. This is extremely re- markable— that such cod should be found in the very impure water of 58 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. (ho docks. But still this is asserted by many. My cousin, Mr. Spiuuey, who for uiany years was a j^ractical fisberman and a good observer, and now the bead of a firm wbicb bandies thousands of cod everj^ month, has examined them critically and compared tbem with deep-sea cod, and said l>ositively that they were the same. The specimen sent by Mr. AVonsou is G. morrhua. If you wish specimens in alcohol Mr. Spinney will ob- tain any that you want upon receiving directions from you. Mr. Spin- ney sees nearly all the cod which enter Gloucester, and upon being asked if the gray cod was found at other points along tbe coast he said that the only instance that he knew of was the case of a vessel which had just landed 15 barrels of cod taken in sliallow water near Mount Desert. I went to the wharf and found the fish, which proved to be morrhua^ 14 inches long. I obtained two specimens for the ISTational Museum. They seemed to run about the same size, varying about 1 inch in length, and correspond in size almost exactly with the specimens taken at Glouces- ter. These may be a portion of the cod from Gloucester emigrating i'rom their original home. As this was the only case which I could find of the G. morrhua being found in shallow water, outside of Gloucester, I am inclined to the opinion that they are but an oflshoot of the Glouces- ter cod. Another recognized good caused by the Fish Commission while at Gloucester is in regard to tbe reddening of fish. I was informed by several fish-dealers who liave adopted your suggestion to use Trepani salt instead of Cadiz, that not a single instance of reddening has oc- curred during the past summer. The butts used for pickling the fish exhibited a tendency to turn red only when they had j)reviously been saturated with Cadiz salt. Washington, D. C, Novemher 12, 1883. 33.— SOME OBSEKVATSOIVS OIV THE COW CJSff.I.-NET FISHERIES AND OIV PBESEKVATIVES FOK NETS. By J. 'W- COI.I.INS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] In course of a conversation last evening with two young men who have been engaged in the gill-net cod fishery- this winter, I gathered the fol- lowing items of information: They stated that since the fishery closed in Massachusetts Bay, some time in the early part of the winter, and the vessels had resorted to Ips- wich Bay, nearly all the fish caught in the latter locality had been netted on a small area that did not exceed three-fourths of a mile in diameter. This piece of ground, which seems to be swarming with fish while the adjacent bottom appears quite barren, is somewhat irregular in outline, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 59 judging by where tbe fish are caugbt; but, so far as anything can be told of its physical conformation, does not differ at all from the rest of the sandy slope immediately surrounding it. The fishermen have a theory that there are fresh-water springs in this particular spot around which the cod love to gather, for they can assign no other reason, since there ap])ears to be no more food than elsewhere and no si)ecial feature in the bottom to attract the lish. So persistent are the cod in clinging to this locality that it invariably follows that nets set within its limits come up " well fished," while those a dozen or twenty fathoms outside get very few if any cod. The fishermen confess that they are puzzled to know how the fish get there and escape the walls of netting which surround this " spot" in every direction. jSTot believing it possible that enough cod could be there at once to fill the nets night after night, for months, they arrive at the conclusion that the fish reach the place dur- ing the day, when they ris«^ above and swim over the nets that bar their progress, and which they can see by daylight. It is a common thing on the Grand Bank to find schools of codfish staying for weeks, possibly even months, on a small piece of bottom, the outlines of which, so far as catching fish is concerned, are as sharply defined as one could possibly imagine. In these cases it is generally supposed that this peculiarity which the fish exhibit is due to the fact that the bottom they stick to is better feeding-ground than that which surrounds it. So far as mj observation extends, I believe this theory is correct in the main. But to return to the cod gill-netters. It follows, as a matter of course, that when the fish are found in such a limited area there is much crowd- ing, and it is said that the nets are literally piled on top of each other, crosswise and every way, each vessel's crew that comes along dumping over tJieir gear regardless of everything except to get it on the "spot." The result is that the underneath nets are often sunk flat on the bottom and catch no fish ; and it naturally follows that much gear is torn and otherwise injured, while far fewer fish are caught than if some better method was observed in setting the apparatus. One of the young men above referred to has been using a net that had been treated with Horner and Hyde's preservative, and he says that it shows no signs of decay yet, though it has been in use about two months. He also stated very positively that this net caught one-third more fish than those prepared in the ordinary waj', and which were always set with it in the fta^nc string. This is an extraordinary fact, and is one which is substantiated by the testimony of others. The advan- tages of fishing for cod with gill-nets are fully appreciated by the fisher- men, who, among other things, say that "it don't cost anything to try a new piece of ground, for no bait is riceded." Gloucester, Mass., 21arch 3, 1884. 60 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 34 IVOTES ©IV THE SCOTCH HERRINd;^ FI^HERIGS. By T. F. ROBERTSON CARR. [From a letter to Capt. J. W. Collins.] Chiistopber Borth wick, fisbertuan, Eyemouth, says : One day this sea- son, in the mouth of August, when hauling in the nets atsuurise in the boat Harriet Miller, we perceived that the herring had "masked'' {i. e., meshed). We had hauled 35 nets and had other 15 to haul. In 5 yards' length of net by 7 fathoms deep we got 5J crans of herring ; all the nets before and after this space were blank. The force with which the fish struck the net dragged the boat astern, although it had a " little way on her." The crew were so struck with the novel occurrence that they made a note of the aftair and measured the space and fish. A Coldingham boat fishing with the metallic buoys had so great a catch of herrings as to sink nets, buoys, and everything; the nets were fished u]) afterwards and the buoys were found to be flattened out like a griddle cake, bj' the weight of the water on the top of them. The same party states that bladder buoys will stand any weight of water on top of them. Edinbuegh, Scotland, September 26, 1883. as.— AMEKBCAN FISH intro»uc;ei> in eivgiiIsh ^;vaters. By J. .1. MAN LEY. [From Journal of the Society of Arts, November 23, 1883.] The great lake trout of Switzerland has been successfully introduced into some of our waters, and so has the Salnio Jmitinalis, or American " brook trout." The black hass {Grystes nigricans) from the northern districts of America, and that from the southern and western, known by the name of Grystes sahnoides, have also been found likely to suit our waters. The Marquis of Exeter has been very successful in the accli- matization of some species of black bass at Burleigh House, and it is a fisli which would probably thrive well in some of the waters of the East Anglian broads and rivers, as suggested by Mr. S. Wilmot, the Cana- dian commissioner at South Kensington, on the occasion of a visit some few weeks ago to the Norfolk broads by gentlemen connected with the Fisheries Exhibition. The black bass is a fine sporting fish, and gastro- nomically to be commended. To these we may add, as suitable to some of our waters, the whitefish {Coregonvs albns) of America, which is very prolific, and most excellent eating. London, England, November 23, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 61 36.-HABITS OF THE SIIAO AND IIERRIIVO, AS THEY APPEAR IN THE POTOMAC RIVER TO ONE ^'UO HAS WATCHED THEM FOR FIFTY YEARS.* By PEAKSOIV CflAPHIAX, Sr. The Glut shad make their apijearance in the river, say at Mathias Point, about the 10th of March, and would increase in numbers until the 1st of April if not disturbed. During or about the last of the month of April they commence depositing their spawn, always, as I believe, on hard gravelly beds, rocks, logs, and even anchors when at the bot- tom for a few hours. I have never hauled mud up with spawn in it. After spawning each individual returns to salt water. In the month of May another species of shad, commonly called the May shad, makes its appearance. It is very short, thick, and stout, remarkable for the smallness of its body just before it branches oft' into a tail, fat and well tlavored. This species of shad is nearly extinct, owing to the gill-nets. In the month of June, in addition to the above, we have a very large and stout shad, the flesh remarkably white when split open and soaked in clean water. It looks somewhat as if sat- urated with milk, but is so soft, mushy, and tasteless that one would hardly want to eat it. What shad feed on in the Potomac I cannot say. When I reflect on the immense numbers that visited our waters fifty years ago, I almost venture the assertion that they do not eat at all, for there could not have been food enough for half the number. Yet when their stomachs are examined we find a substance not unlike black mud. In the month of September the young fry are in great numbers playing along the shor«;s on their way down. Immense numbers are caught up in gauze seines for bait. They are then about the length of a man's finger, and from that down to the smallest minnow. I am fully per- suaded that they come back to where they were spawned, but when I cannot say, though I believe immediately after the third year. I have often seen young shad not more than 9 or 10 inches long caught in a seine. What they were doing among their elders I know not. The Branch or Blear-eyed herring is so called from its peculiar eye, which looks as if it had been seriously injured a month or so ago and was just healing. Some might doubt whether these can see at all. These make their appearance about the same time the first shad do. They go into the creeks and thence up in the branches (hence the name), and sometimes as far up as they can flutter over the gravels in order to deposit the spawn. The Hickory jack (Hickory shad or Taylor) go there also, and about the same time and for the same purpose. May not the immense size of * Bead before the Maryland Academy of Sciences December 22, 1875. 62 BULLETIN or THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the Branch herring, as compared to the Glut herring, and the bad flavor arise from the mixing of the spawn? They taste as much like a Hickory jack as a Glut herring, and from the above facts 1 strongly suspect a cross. They do not diminish in numbers on account of the war made on the herring by man as other herrings do. May not that arise from the fact that their spawn in the branches is not disturbed by gill-nets and otherwise as is that of the Glut herring in the river ? The Glut herring is but little more than half the size of a full grown Branch herring and is far superior in flavor. It has a small, round, black eye, and never ascends the branches. Fifty years ago Ave had five distinct gluts or varieties of herring. First, the Branch herring. Second, the common Glut herring, early in Ai)ril, afterwards later in April, and for the last three years (1875) not at all in April. Third, the Poplar-back, named from the fact that their backs were the color of yellow poplar. There are none to be seen now. Fourth, the Dun- bellies, so called from the fact that their sides have a yellowish appear- ance as if gold dust had been sprinkled over them and then rubbed in. A few of those remain yet. Fifth, in the latter part of the season, which formerly began the 10th or 15th of May, we were regularly visited with a small, fat, and delicious herring called the " May Flipper," owing to the fact that they jumi)ed and flipped the water higher than any of the rest. That fish no longer appears in gluts. 1 occasionally see a few with other kinds. I have always thought this due to the young herring coming on a year sooner than they now do, for they were exactly like them. Our fisheries for the last fifty years have been gradually growing- later. Then the shad and herring fisheries commenced about the 15th to the 25th of March and ended about the 1st of May. Now they commence a month later and end about the 25th of May. For the last thirty years there has been a gradual decrease of fish in the Potomac, owing, as I belie\e, to two causes — first, the immense quantity taken out, principally by the gill-nets; secondly', by the dragging of seines and gill-nets over the bottom, destroying the spawn. A giller will tell you that his net does not reach to the bottom, but a few figures will disprove that assertion. In the first place they have to sink their nets some 15 feet below the surface, letting them down with cords and cork, in order to allow the large coal vessels to pass over without hanging the nets. Then the seines are at least 20 feet deep, and the average depth of the Potomac is about 25 to 30 feet. At Fort Foote, Fort Wash- ington, the White House, and just above Indian Head, the river spreads out very wide, and becomes shallow from Indian Head downwards. It is equally as certain that the lead-line of a seine destroys all the spawn that it comes in contact with. There are now 24 seines in all. Now, let us suppose that they will average 100 acres each, and destroy every spawn deposited thereon. There are 2,400 acres upon which the spawn is entirely destroyed. The estimate is that there are 500 gill* BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 63 nets, oue-half of which are fine. These all drift about five miles up the river and five miles down, dragging on the bottom with from 5 to 10 feet of net all the while, and of course disturbing the spawn all the way. Now which is the most destructive, the seine drifting about a mile and the gill-net five, 2.1 of the one and 500 of the other, the seine fishing Listing five weeks and the gill-nets three months'? The seine catches an immense number of cat-fish, eels, and mullets, which follow the fish to prey on the spawn. The gill-nets only aid them in extermi- nating the shad and herring. The best evidence of the destructiveness of the ffill-net is the fact that in all the rivers to tlie north of us where thev were introduced years ago they have first destroyed the seines and then exterminated the fish. All our fish have decreased perceptibly within the last half century except the perch. That has held its own. May not that arise, first, from its pluck and courage in battle, and, secondly, from its spawning habits ? The male clears out a spot about the size of a barrel-head; he removes everything offensive, and by some means causes the sand to look bright, clear, and as if gold dust had been sprinkled over it. Then he goes off in search of a female, and drives, coaxes, or i^ersuades her to his i)arlor. Then you can see them going around in a circle, and woe to the fish that comes too near. I think the place selected is always in shallow water, and out of the way of all enemies. It occurs in June after the seines have all stopped. The flounder has become nearly or quite extinct here.' It has no enemy that I know of except the war loon and kindred ducks — the goggler, for instance, which frequently kills itself by attempting to swal- low a flounder backwards, for such is his greediness that I have found as many as seven flounders in the throat of one dead goggler, the first one having been swallowed backward or tail first. The goggler is smaller than the war loon, and has a tuft of bristles on the top of its head, and can dive a great ways. The Virginia or winter shad I never see in our waters or hear of now, thanks to our winter fishermen. I think it is a very indifferent fish, and would not be eaten if we could get a better at that time. The gar is nearly extinct. I was talking with '• a down-river giller" this summer (1875) on the subject, and he informed me that gars were exceedingly troublesome by hanging in their nets, and that they killed the gars by thousands, rormerlj^ they threw them overboard alter kill- ing them, but it was soon found that they gave a troublesome hang to their nets, and now they uniformly keep them in their boats until they go ashore. Sometimes their boats get so oveiioaded that they have to quit their nets and go ashore to get clear of them. The sturgeon also is becoming very scarce. A man has been fishing for them opposite me all the summer, and three a week is about the measure of his success. Forty or fifty years ago, with such a net as he has, he could have loaded a small boat in three hours. But the great- 64 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. est decre.ase of all, as I have said, is in the shad and herring. At the time named above it was not uncommon to take at a single haul fish estimated at from two to three hundred thousand. Of course they were not counted, for they were unmanageable. I^ow from ten to twenty thousand is considered a great haul. December 22, 1875. , 37.-EFFORTS IIV TKOUT-CriiTURE. By B. F. BO^^EI.1.. For nearly two years I have been experimenting in trout-culture a little near Portland, Oreg., and I have great hopes of making the busi- ness profitable after a while. I have a large spring within 4 miles of Portland, that offers 54 inches of water under a 6-inch pressure. The water is 49° F. at the springs and 52° in the ponds at the hottest time in August. I have the Silver and Eainbow trout, and I am mixing them, and I would be glad to get some of the German saiblings. Jacksonville, Oreg., Novemler 7, 1883. 38.— NOTES ON TME SCOTCH FISIIERBES. By T. F. KOBEBTSOIV €ARR. [From a letter to Capt. J. W. Collius.] A 6 foot Greenland shark was caught last week on an Eyemouth line. The species Heamargus horealis rarely travels into these latitudes. A gentleman cruising at the mouth of the Tay counted over 90 seals on a bank there. This, also, is an unusual sight. A haddock 30 inches in length, 18 inches girth, and weighing 10 pounds, was landed by a Stone- haven boat. Haddock of this size were, some years ago, iilentiful, but are now rarely to be seen. Both trawlers and line fishermen have had heavy catches of cod, ling, haddock, and Hat fish. Both as to size and quality, all are agreed that this season's fish are rarely sur^^assed.* Edinburgh, Scotland, Fehruary 12, 1884. * The last paragraph is all the more interesting at this time wheu so much testi- niouy has been given by Scottish fishermen to the Royal Commission to show that trawling is destroying all kinds offish and breaking np the fisheries. — J. W. C. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 65 Vol. IV, ]\o. 5. Washing^ton, 1>. €. April lil, 1884. \ 29.— WHAT FISH €UI.TUKE HAS FIKST TO ACCOITIPI.ISH.* By CHAS. ^\ SITIIL,EY. An impression sometimes prevails that fish culture proposes to imme- diately fill all our streams with fish, to such an extent that the supply- will be practically inexhaustible. In order to show that this is an ex- travagant expectatiou, attention is called to the following facts. Any tract of country needs to be but sparsely populated in order that its inhabitants may soon exhaust it of desirable food -fishes. The native powers of the fish for reproduction and growth are not sufficient to withstand the inroads of man, when added, to any considerable ex- tent, to the natural enemies with which they are surrounded. Very early in the history of the United States, its leading rivers were mostly depopulated of the best fish. A hundred years ago nearly all the streams of New York which emptied into the Great Lakes were visited annually by salmon in such enormous quantities that their numbers seem to us incredible. There are most authentic accounts which point to the water being fairly alive with them in many places, when seeking the upper waters of these streams for the purpose of spawning. It is well know, also, that the Connecticut, Hudson, and Susquehanna Rivers were at that early time visited by vast schools of shad, and the former, at least, by considerable quantities of salmon. Such a population as the Atlantic States contained seventy-five years ago was sufficient to exhaust these rivers of the more valuable food-fishes, and before arti- ficial fish culture was undertaken many streams had remained in this exhausted condition for a considerable length of time. The first and great task of fish culture, therefore, is not so much to increase the number of edible fishes in any given stream as to withstand the enormous forces which are at work to produce their entire annihila- tion. As illustrative of this the presence of shad in the Potomac River may be cited. For some years prior to the war of 186L-'U5 the shad fisheries of the Potomac had been practically exhausted. They had reached so low a limit that it was very unprofitable to fish the stream, and its barrenness helped to deter men from fishing; but the occupa- tion of the banks of the river by hostile forces for the i)eriod of nearly four years made fishing practically impossible and gave nature an opportu- nity to restore the fisheries. As a consequence, at the close of the war it was found that the river had been restocked to such an extent that the yield for a few years was very large indeed. The presence of large *A paper read before the Biological Society of Waskingtou D, C, March 8, 1884. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 5 66 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. numbers of fish, however, called out the fishermen, and there was a steady decline auuually in the yield, and had it not been for artificial propagation there would not be shad enough remaining in the river at present to warrant any fisherman in using a hundred-fathom seine. Fish culture, however, was brought in as a restorative. Each year since 1873 the United States Fish Commission has hatched and deposited from one million to ten million, the numbers increasing annually. The principal result, however, has been to prevent annihilation rather than to cause considerable increase in the fisheries. The number of shad re- ceived at the Washington market annually for the past five years was as follows : 1879 311, 585 1880 320, 799 1881 521, 3(38 1882 350, 292 1883 261, 474 In spite of the best efibrts possible during these years the catch has declined. That for 1883 is smaller than might reasonably have been expected, because the temperatnre of the river happened to be unusually low during the spawning season, and there is good reason to believe that many fish were diverted to other tributaries of the Chesapeake which would legitimately have come into the Potomac as a fruit of fish- culture on that river. The fish of our rivers have not only to contend with enemies within the water, such as a great variety of carnivorous fishes, the destruction of their eggs by numerous forms of aquatic animals, the injuries of ab- normal temperature and sudden changes thereof, and the damage pro- duced by sawdust, sewage, and other filth introduced into the rivers, but the aggressive character of our citizens has told against the food- fishes in increasing ratio annually. The increase of population produces a corresponding increase in the demand for these fishes, but the numer- ous facilities which modern inventions have brought to the aid of the fishermen in the way of wholesale appliances for capturing this kind of food, complicate the question exceedingly. If fishing with rude api)li- ances a hundred years ago was suflflclent to exhaust a river of shad, what may be said of the ingenious traps and the miles of netting operated by horse-power with which fish are met to-day ? To successfully run the gantlet of a series of nets, but a few rods or miles apart, upon a con- siderable portion of the length of the river, and to elude the fishermen even on a flood tide at midnight, has become practically imijossible. Fish culture thus has all the natural disadvantages of a hundred years ago to contend with, and has the accumulated ingenuity of nineteen centuries to circumvent, in order even to maintain a decent supply of food-fishes. A striking example of the task of fish culture may be found at the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 67 Great Lakes. He would indeed be rash who would call upon the half- developed science of fish culture under existing circumstances to mate- rially increase the supply of food-fishes in the Great Lakes. Its mission is rather to try and keep the supply up to three-fourths, two-thirds, or even one-half of what these lakes formerly yielded. In 1871 there were 281 pound-nets being used in Lake Michigan, and 481 gill-nets. These appliances were sufiicient to cause a continual decrease in the number of fish contained in these enormous bodies of water, and, fish culture aside, were sufficient to practically exterminate the fish in forty years. But in 1879 the 281 pound-nets had been replaced by. 476 pound-nets and the 450 gill-nets by 24,599 gill-nets. Steam- tugs devoted to fish- ing, scarcely used in 1871, numbered 30 in that lake in 1879. Further- more, the larger fish of the lake having been caught, it became neces- sary to decrease the size of mesh of the nets, and to lengthen the nets. So that, without doubt, there have been for several years nets enough in use on Lake Michigan to reach entirely around the lake. Fish culture aside, and without any additional efficiency in apparatus, it is only a question of some ten years when the whitefish and trout fisheries will be entirely exhausted. Fish culture is practically a science of the past fifteen years. It has not yet reached a stage of efficiency which can cope with any such state of affairs as present themselves on these great lakes. Even if $5,000,000 and fifty men are placed at the service of the State fish commissioners in the interest of fish culture, what are these in the contest with 50,000,000 of people demanding food, and millions upon millions of capi- tal naturally drawn upon to supply their need. The fruits of fish cult- ure, like bread thrown upon the water, must return after many days. It must wait the coming of the young fish to maturity before results are apparent. The fishermen, however, reap the fruit of their labors on the same day, if at all, and thus know the degree of success they are attaining at any hour. With them it is largely a question of muscle ; they put down their nets and haul up their fish. With fish culture it is a serious question of scientific knowledge. It has not professed to yet know many of the needed facts with reference to the embryonic life of fishes, suitable temperatures of water, how to secure proper forms and kinds of food, &c. These are questions which must be solved by care- ful and continued study ; and, while the past ten years have been well spent in this respect, there yet remains an enormous deal to be learned. It is as if all agricultural implements, all knowledge in regard to seeds, soils, climate, and treatment of vegetables were blotted out of existence, and we had in ten or fifteen years to bring the science of agriculture from nothingness up to where it could supply the wants of 50,000,000, while but fifty or a hundred people were engaged in the effort, and aU the remainder of the 50,000,000 were arranged practically in hostility to their efforts. 68 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. As illustrative of what present apparatus worked by skilled fislier- men at the instance of very thickly settled regions will do, I will cite the Farmington Kiver, in Connecticut. Artificial hatching was carried on there for several years previous to 1879. That year it was discontinued. The catch was afiected as follows : Catch of shad: 1881 11,505 1882 3, 800 1883 1, 155 Bearing in mind that three years are required for shad to mature, the effect will be observable. In 1879 the Connecticut commissioners proph- esied just what has occurred there. In 1881 hatching was resumed, and a consequent increase for 1884 is predicted. The salmon propagation in California affords one of the most remark- able of the successes thus far attained. The salmon canneries of the Sacramento Eiver annually increased in number until, by 1870, the en- tire run of salmon was being caught and utilized. The greatest natural capacity of the river under these circumstances may be considered to have been reached in 1875, when the yield to the canneries was 5,098,781 pounds. The first possible fruits of fish culture were in 1876, when the young of 1873 may be supposed to have returned. The United States hatchery was established in the latter year at Baird, Shasta County, California, and a half a million young released in 1873, and again in 1874. In 1875 the number was increased to 850,000, in 1876 to 1,500,000, and during each of the years 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 2,000,000 young fry were placed in this river. From an annual catch of 5,000,000 pounds the river has come up to the annual catch of over 9,500,000 pounds, which figure has been maintained during the past four years. The fig- ures were : Pounds, 1880 .10, 837, 000 1881 9, 600, 000 1882 9,605,000 1883 9, 586, 000 Allowing the three years which it takes for salmon to come to matu- rity and enter the rivers for spawning purposes, the increase in yield to the canneries for ten years has been almost exactly proportionate to the increase in the deposition of fry. Taking into consideration the cost of hatching 2,000,000 of salmon annually, and the value of the in- crease of 4,500,000 pounds, it will be seen that there is a very large ^er ^ent. of profit in artificial fish culture when conducted under circum- stances as favorable as these. United States Fish Commission, February 7, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 69 30 PISCICULiTlJRE SIS EIVOI.AIVD. By J. J. MAWLEY, ITI. A. [From Journal of the Society of Arte, November 23, 1883.] Pisciculture, as applied to both salt and fresh water fish, was well illustrated at the recent Fisheries Exhibition ; and it is expected that an impetus will be given to its pursuit in this country, which has hitherto been somewhat backward in this matter, except as regards the artificial propagation of the Salmonidce family. The culture and accli- matization of salt-water fish has made little progress among us, and foreign countries have left us far behind. The Komans, in the time of the empire, paid great attention to salt-water fish farming, rich men having extensive and elaborate vivaria for amusement sake and gastronomic pleasure, while others cultivated fish for profit. Arrangements were made for the fish to run into the vivaria from the sea and deposit their ova in them, and spawn was collected in the sea itself and brought into the vivaria to hatch. Exotic fish, also, were brought from long distances. But the artificial propagation of fish does not appear to have been prac- ticed till the fifteenth century, and in this country not till within the last fifty years ; and we are still without any recognized establishment or enterprise for the culture of sea fish. The United States Government is thus fir ahead of our own, and the shad has been artificially dissemi- nated in many districts, to say nothing of the success in other branches of pisciculture. Other Governments are following the example of the United States; and in England it is hoped that the establishment of a marine biological station, or stations, will lead before long to an exten- sive system of marine pisciculture and the acclimatization of foreign fish. The recent news from America, that the spat of the oyster has been suc- cessfully impregnated by artificial means, will give a further impetus to marine pisciculture. In the matter of pisciculture in fresh water, other countries, notably France with its famous Huningue establishment, and Germany, are also in advance of us, notwithstanding many admirable i)rivate enterprises, such as those at Stormontfield, on the Tay, and of Sir J. Gibson Mait- land, at Howietown. But there is no fear now that the culture of salmon and trout and their allies will not make continued progress, and it is already an established and remunerative industry. The culture of other and commoner kinds of fresh-water fish is another matter, and this, too, has, directly and indirectly, had fresh attention called to it by the Fish- eries Exhibition ; and it is to this branch of pisciculture the following re- marks are directed. The question seems to present three chief heads for consideration ; the first, whetlier pisciculture applied to fresh water could be so carried 70 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. out in this country as to supply an amount of food which would be a sensible addition to our resources; the second, whether the fish food thus produced would be acceptable to our tastes; the third, whether pisciculture would pay commercially. As to the first point, there can be little doubt but that the supply of fresh-water fish of the ordinary kinds might be immensely increased by proper culture. By ordinary kinds are meant jack, carp, tench, roach, dace, perch, chub, gudgeon, bream, and eels; but the culture of the Salmonidce family is not in- cluded, as it forms a distinct branch of this question, and may be con- sidered as an established and remunerative industry. Pisciculture, as applied to the common fresh-water fish of different countries, is a very ancient art. It was successfully practiced by the Greeks and Horn an s, and probably by the Egyptians before them. It has been a branch of pubHc industry among the Chinese for many centuries, and at the present time fresh-water fish form the cheapest and most plentiful food in that country. This is the case also to a very great extent in Japan, where, by the way, it is said that most fish are preferifed in a raw to a cooked state. For many centuries the abbeys and monasteries in this country procured a large supply of fish food from their ponds and stews; and during the church fasts, which were many, and often of long duration, a large proportion of the population lived mainly on a diet of fresh- water fish. The monks, and country gentlemen too, in those days, must have had tolerably good ideas of pisciculture, as the different old books on the formation and management of fish ponds indicate, and it is certain that fish formed a very considerable portion of the food supply of the kingdom. With our improved knowledge of natural his- tory, and especially of the method of expressing the ova from fish and artificially hatching them, whereby the increase of production is ex- tended a thousand-fold, we could, doubtless, raise a very large stock of fish in our ponds and rivers. But considering the great increase in the population, it is more than doubtful whether the suj^ply thus obtained would be any very appreciable addition to our food resources. But though the supi^ly of "coarse" or common fresh-water fish could be greatly increased, the acceptability of such fish as food to the mass of the population is very uncertain ; indeed, the popular verdict seems decidedly against them, with few exceptions. They have all, more or less, a palpably muddy taste, and where this is not predominant they have but little more flavor than stewed blotting paper. Even trout, from many streams that could be named, are either insipid or partake to a great extent of the characteristic flavor of other fresh-water fish. Persons may be found, indeed, who will go into raptures over jack stuffed with the appropriate " pudding," or over carp and tench stewed secundum artem. Even roach, dace, barbel, and bream find advocates; but in this matter the vox populi is probably right, and it is more often the sauce or the stuffing which gains admirers than the fish themselves. It may be admitted that there is a vast difference in fresh-water fish, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 71 aud iniicb depends on the way of cooking them. Thames fish have a decided superiority over most others, and the wives of Thames punts- men and cooks at Thames side hostelries seem to excel in the art of serving up the fish from their river. The secret chiefly lies in cleaning the fish as soon as possible after they are caught, and thoroughly dry- ing them, when split open, in the sun and wind before cooking. Thames gudgeon, when properly cooked, are by no means bad eating, and are fairly entitled to the name of "fresh- water smelt." Thames perch, also, and jack, are certainly eatable; and a Thames trout is undeniably ex- cellent, but he is a rarissima avis. Thames fish are, however, an excep- tion. Those from other rivers are mostly inferior, while it is no exagger- ation to say that fish from stagnant water, or from ponds and lakes which have only a slight stream running through them, can hardly be considered as coming within the category of acceptable food. Even enthusiastic anglers can hardly dare to advocate the culinary merits of fish from the Norfolk Broads. As a rule, the poor will not eat fresh- water fish, even when they can get them for nothing, or when pater- familias brings home a basket of "coarse" fish of his own catching, pre- tends to like them himself, aud his family eat them out of compliment to the catcher. When a pond or river is dragged, the owner, as a rule, can hardly find persons to carry away the carp, tench, and other such fish captured. As an instance of this, E once saw large heaps of fine roach, which had been netted out of the trout water round Wilton, lying on the banks and no one caring to come for them, though a general in- vitation to help themselves had been given to all the country side. There is little or no market for coarse fish in London, except at par- ticular seasons, when the Jews will buy them, following some "tradition of the elders." But this is a poor testimony to their goodness, when we find that barbel is the most favorite fish among the Jews, whereas most Christians would agree that this fish is the most unpalatable one our waters produce. It may be said that this popular estimate of fresh-water fish is all prejudice. Perhaps it is, to some slight extent. We know how preju- dice militates against the use of Australian tinned meat. We know that a true Celt will not taste an eel, or a true Englishman a snail or a French edible frog. It would take many years of "raniculture" to make the latter an acceptable article of food. But it is not all preju- dice in the matter of iresh- water fish. With the exception of trout, to which may be added gudgeon and perch from the Thames and some other rivers, and eels, which, like salmon, almost stand apart by them- selves in this question, fresh- water fish have either a muddy or un- pleasant flavor, or are simply tasteless; add to which, the abundance of large and small bones throughout them renders them still more un- acceptable. Again, it might be alleged as a proof of present prejudice, that our forefathers, not only of the lower but the higher classes, ate and appreciated these fish. True, but this was partly because of the 72 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. cheapness of this poor food, and the scarcity of better, and partly owing to tbeir want of good taste. This is not begging the question. The tastes of a nation travel forwards, so to speak, not backwards, and food which previous generations accepted is refused by those that follow them. This is a fact, however much as in certain respects it may be a subject of regret. Jack and carp can hardly be considered as generous dishes at modern, civic, or regal banquets, as they were of old, though I believe the latter fish is still served at Windsor Castle. But the Virginia water carp do not appear at the royal table till they have spent a con- siderable time in clear, sharply running water, arranged for the i)ur- pose in which they, to some extent, are freed of their muddy flavor. And, after all, this serviug of the old Elizabethan stew must be more a matter of form and of keeping up old traditions, than based on any real appreciate n it meets with. Of course^ scientific pisciculture might improve the quality of our pond and river fish; and proper feeding, due cleansing of the ponds, a proper regulation of the number of fish in any given space, and a cleansing of those about to be used as food in stews of swiftly running water, according to the old custom, might do much to make the fish more palatable; but I cannot imagine that the time will ever recur when the old saying recorded by Izaak Walton, "He that hath bream in his pond hath always a welcome for his guest," will be true either in reference to the poor-eating fish named, or to the other ordinary inhabitants of our waters. We cannot expect by scien- tific culture to improve their breed as we have that of our flocks and herds. The salmon family and eels seem to be the only i)roducts of our fresh waters really worth cultivating from a food-supply point of view, or as ministering to the pleasures of gastronomists. If pisciculture is destined to supply us with any appreciable increase of palatable fresh-water fish-food, it must be by the introduction of new species from other countries, and their acclimatization in our waters. Several such have been proposed as most suitable, and some have actu- ally been introduced by way of experiment. For instance, the Sihirus giants, or "sheat-fish" of Central Europe, is thought by some as a very likely kind to thrive in our waters. It is excellent food, and grows rap- idly, and to a great size. It was in reference to the enormous weight which this fish attains that a humorous contemporary suggested that, if naturalized in our rivers, it would show excellent sport when played with a chain cable attached to a crane, which should move on a tramway along the river's bank. The great lake trout of Switzerland has been successfully introduced into some of our waters, as so has the Salmo fontinalis, or American "brook trout." The black bass [Grystes nigri- cans) from the northern districts of America, and that from the south- ern and western, known by the name of Gristes salmoides, have also been found likely to suit our waters. The Marquis of Exeter has been very successful in the acclimatization of some species of black bass at Bur- leigh-house, and it is a fish which would probably thrive well in some of BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 73 the waters of the East Anglian broads and rivers, as suggested by Mr. Wilmot, the Canadian commissioner to the Fisheries Exhibition at South Kensington, on the occasion of a visit some few weeks ago to the Nor- folk broads. The black bass is a fine sporting fish, and gastronomically to be commended. To these we may add, as suitable to some of our waters, the white-fish {Coregonus alhus) of Canada, which is very pro- lific, and most excellent eating. The third point for consideration is — would pisciculture pay? Even if our ordinary fresh- water fish were acceptable to consumers, it is doubt- ful whether the culture of them would commercially be successful. Un- der no circumstances could it be expected that they would be able to compete with salt-water fish in cheapness. The cost of cultivation would, probably, be greater than the advocates of pisciculture antici- pate. Letting the water off ponds in succession, and cropping them with corn or vegetables, as proposed by the late Mr. Frank Buckland, and after the removal of the soil, would involve great labor and expense. Fish are but slowly growing creatures, unless supplied with abundance of food, and this represents a further outlay. During the summer months, Mr. Buckland suggested that putrefying flesh hung over the ponds would supply maggots, and that lob-worms might be gathered in the meadows after dark. But suitable flesh is not always obtaina- able, and for weeks in a drought not a lob- worm will show itself. The latter are often worth from a shilling to half-a-crown a quart for fish, in dry weather, along the Thames side; and are actually imported by thousands from Nottingham, where " vermiculture," or rather worm- gathering, is a recognized industry. The difQculty and expense of feeding the fish in the winter would be still greater. It certainly would not pay to supply them, as Mr. Buckland did his small fry of various kinds at South Kensington, with "chopped beef-steak and biscuits." Whether the quicker growth of foreign fish proposed for naturalization would cover the ex])enses attached to their culture, is a matter on which it is almost impossible to give an opinion. It would be satisfactory to think that careful calculations as to the whole matter would give good grounds for expecting that any system of pisciculture in fresh water would answer the expectations formed of it by its advocates. At all events they will be benefactors who can make two fish to live where only one lived before, and will, by the introduction of new species, de- velop the capacities of our now generally ill-stocked waters. As an encouragement to such, it may be noted that in Germany the scientific culture of carp in ponds is found to be remunerative, as in that country^ and in some other districts on the continent, this fish is still specially popular as an article of food. Perhai)S the recent establishment of the National Fish-culture Asso- ciation of Great Britain and Ireland, the honorary secretaries of which are Mr. E. B. Marston and Mr. W. Oldham Chambers, will do much toward the solution of the question. It is certainly one which may 74 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. fairly be taken up by scientific and pliilantliropic members of the com- munity; and perhaps many of the general, and especially the angling, public will supi>ly funds for the acquisition of some suitable water or waters for experiments in the way of pisciculture, not so much in the hopes of receiving a pecuniary return, at least for the present, as for the purpose of practically testing the possibility of improving our own freshwater fish supi)ly by cultivating the species already in our rivers, ponds, and lakes, or naturalizing new ones. Such an attempt would have the sympathy of a considerable public interested in the subject, and could not fail to elicit valuable information. It is hoped that the remarks here made will not be considered as discouraging to such an inquiry. Even apart from the question of fresh-water fish as contrib- uting to our food supply, their multiplication for the sport of the an- gling fraternity is a matter well worth attention, as the facilities for rational and wholesome recreation are no mean elements towards the well being of a nation, and especially of its poorer classes. 31.— COniPOSITIOIV OF SOmE OF THF FOOD-FISIIFS. By E. T. KENSINOTON, F. C. S. £From a book entitled " Composition of foods, waters, minerals, manures, and mis- cellaneous substances, compiled by E. T. Kensington, F. C. S." Loudon, 1877.] I. — EoE OF Salmon (p. 24). Lecithin 7. 5 Cholesterin 2. 2 Fat 4. 5 Albumen , 10. 3 Nuclein* . . 48. 7 Protamine 28. 8 11. — Composition of Carp, Trout, &c. (P- 24). Constituents. Carp. Trout. Water 80.00 12.00 5.20 1.00 1.70 80 5 Muscular fiber 11.1 Albumen and hoematoglobulin 4.4 Alcohol extract 1.6 Water extract 0.2 Phosphate of lime, &c 2.2 Fish. Fibrin. Oil. State 97 92 92 78 44 I Haddock Herring g Salmon.... 22 Eels 56 "AH albuminoid substance rich in phosphorus. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 75 III. — Composition of Whitefish, Salmon, Eels, Oysters, Mus- sels, Spawn, and Lobsters (p. 302). Constituents. Whitefish. Salmon. Eels. Oj'stors. Nitrogenous matter Fat 18.1 2.9 1.0 16.1 5.5 1.4 9.9 13.8 1.3 14. 010 1.515 2.695 Non-nitrogenoas matters Water 1.395 78.0 77.0 75 0 80.385 100.0 100.0 100.0 100. 000 Constituenta. Mussels. Spawn. Lobster. Flesh. Soft. Nitrogenous matter 11.72 2.42 2.73 7.39 75.78 21. 892 8.234 1.998 4.893 62. 983 19. 170 1.170 1.823 1.219 76. 618 12.140 Fat 1.444 Salts 1.749 Non-nitrogenous .354 Water 84. 313 100. 00 100. 000 100. 000 100.00 33.— A GREAT C.\KP. By ALFRED MACKKEI.L,. [From the Fishing Gazette, February 23, 1884.] I went on Monday last to Walton-on-Thames, to have a day's fishing with my fisherman, old George Hone. On my arrival he greeted me with, " Well, sir, I have got another big carp to show you, but it is not so big as the one you caught." He opened the well of his punt, and there was a splendid female carp which he had caught in his lauding net. The water rose very rapidly about a fortnight back, and at the end of last week fell very rapidly. On these occasions old George is always on the lookout for stranded fish, so that he may assist them back to their homes. In the backwater at Walton, in a shallow pool, George saw the carp, and very cleverly put the landing net under the fish, and placed it in the well of his punt for my insj^ection. We weighed the fish, which was full of spawn, and found it turned the scales at 9^ iwunds. After weighing it we returned it to the river again, close to the bough where I took the great carp in 1882, weighing 12^ pounds. Tenby Lodge, Kingston Hill, Surrey. 76 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 33.— amekica:^ i.aivd-l,ocke;i> sajlitioiv aivd i>akx: tkoijt in FKAIVt'E. [Extract from Proceedings of ILe Society of Acclimatization.*] Prof. Spencer F. Baird aimoiinces his intention of making a shipment to the society soon of 15,000 land-locked salmon eggs {Salmo solar var. Sebago). Mr. Eaveret-Wattel recalls in this connection that the land- locked salmon of North America, which is not a migratory fish, and the conditions of whose existence thus resemble those of the trout, would be a very interesting species to acquire for our fresh waters, consider- ing the excellent quality of its flesh and the rapidity of its growth. Tlie president of the Linnsean Society of the North of France sends a report on the results yielded by the eggs of lake trout and of Salmo namayctisk sent to that society. Paiiis, France, March, 1883. 34.-IVlTITIBEie OF EOOS IiV THE CAOID^. By MATTHIAS DIJNIV. [From the Zoologist for Marcli, 1884.] Last week I was fortunate to get hold of two of the Oadidce heavy with roe. The first was Gadus pollachius, or the whiting pollack of Couch, of about 12 pounds weight, the roe of which was 15 ounces. On weigh- ing a half grain, and counting them and computing the number, I found it contained 4,200,000 eggs. My next fish was the Gadus virens, or the coal-fish of Couch, and 21 pounds weight the roe being 33 ounces. Here I again weighed and counted a half grain, and on working out the result I found it to contain 8,200,000 ova. There was not the least dif- ficulty at getting at these results. After allowing the eggs to remain in boiling water a few minutes they readily separated, and a magnifying glass and needle soon told the story. From these figures I think we may reasonably expect that whiting pollacks of 20 pounds weight may be expe(!ted to give about 7,000,000 eggs, and coal-fish of 30 pounds weight full 12,000,000 of eggs, t Mevagissey, Corjswall, January 22, 3884. * Bulletin Mensuel de la Soci6t€ Nationals d'Acclimatation de France, Mars, 1883. p. 17:3. + Some further estimates of the number of eggs in the Gadidae will be found in Re- port U. S. F. C. 1878, pp. 733-4. Mr. R. E. Earll there reports a 23| lb. pollack or coal-fish {G. virens) tohave contained 4,029,200 eggs; anda701b. cod ((?. viacrocephalus Gunther) to have contained over 9,000,000 eggs. — C. W. S. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 77 33.-TIIJE: FISHES OF Fr.ORI»A KFY8. By DAVID S. JOKDAIV. I spent three weeks in active work on the island of Key West, using the seine daily through the forenoon, and availing myself of the im- portant help of the many hook-andline fishermen for information in re- gard to the fishes of the deeper waters. My list numbers one hundred and seventy-five species. The great majority of these are forms more or less common in the West Indies, but rare or absent even so far north as Pensacola and Cedar Keys. A few Northern species, as the Sheeps- head, occur at Key West, and do not cross the channel to Havana, but the number of such is very small. One remarkable species, tlie "Hard- head" {Chriodorus atherinoides Goode a.nd'Besin), is very abundant about Key West, but has never been noticed elsewhere. 1 have also found about fifteen species of small fishes which seem to be new to science. Most of these will doubtless be found in the West Indies when the sea- weed fauna of that region is better known. All the market fishing at Key West is done with hook and line. The great supply comes from the bottom fishing, but some kinds, as the Kjng-fish [Scomberomorus cavalla), and frequently theI>o\phiu{Coryphcena Mppurus), the Barracuda {Spliyrcena picuda), the Amber jack [Scriola lalandi), the "Albicore" {Seriola dumerili), the Jack (Caranx), and the "Bonito" {Euthynnus alUteratus), are taken in the winter in large num- bers by trolling. With these are occasionally found the Spike-fish {Histiophorus) and the Wahoo {Acanihocybium solandri). From the 1st of December to April is the "King-fish" season, and then that large and handsome Mackerel is brought every day to the market, and is generally preferred to the "bottom-fish." The "bottom-fish" are those taken with hook and line, at moderate depths, from the vessel while at anchor in the channels. Of these, the most abundant species, doubtless exceeding in quantity all other species combined, is the common Grunt or "Eonco Grande" {RccmuJonplumieri). Kext to this comes the lied Grouper [Epinephelus morio), and then in varying number come the different snappers (Lufjanus), groupers {Epine- phelus), porgies [Calamus), and grunts (Hwrnulon), there being some eight or ten species more or less common in each of these groups. The common Snappers are the following, arranged in order of abun- dance : L. cahallerote, the Gray Snapper or Mangrove Snapper; L. cliry- surtiSj the YeUow-tail; L. synagris, the Lane Snapper; L. analis, the Mutton-fish ; L. caxis, the Schoolmaster, and L. jocii, the Dog Snap- per. Of the groupers, besides the Red Grouper [Epinephelus morio)^ we have the Nassau Grouper {E. striatus) ; the Gag (E. microlepis) ; the Black Grouper or Bonaci {E. honaci', the Scamp (E./alcatus); the Rock- 78 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. hind {E. ascensionis), and the Coney {JEpinephelus guttatus). The com- mon "Porgies" are the Jolt-head Porgy {Calamus hajonado); the Little- head Porgy {C. pennatula); the Saucer-eye {C. calamus); the Little- mouth Porgy {G.penna); and the Shad or Grass Porgy {C. arctifrons.) Among the Grunts, besides the common Hwmulon plumieri, we find the Sailors' Choice or Ronco prieto {Haimulon parrce)) the Yellow Grunt or Eonco Amarillo {H. scinrus); the Tom-tate {H. aurolineatum), and the French Grunt or Open-Mouth Grunt {H. fiavolineatum). The little Striped Grunt {H. tceniatum), although common enough, is not brought into the market. The Hog-fish {Lachnolcemus suillus), the Pork-fish [Pomadasys virginicus), the Turbot [Balistes caroUnensis), the Jack {Garanx hippos), the Horse-eye Jack {Caranx latus,) and the Eunner {Garanx chrysos), are also rarely wanting from the market. Other " bottom-fish " less abundant, but still frequently seen in the markets, are the Pudding Wife {Platyglossus radiatus); the Spanish Hogfish [Bodianus rufus) ; the Tangs {Acanthurus chirurgus tractus and cceruleus) ; the Black Angel {Pomacanthus aureus) ; the Yellow Angel, {Holacanthus ciliaris) ; the Goat-fishes ( Upeneus halteatus and U. macu- latus) ; the Breams [Biplodus unimaculatus and B. rhomboides) ; the Sheepshead [Biplodus prohatocephalus) ; the Whiting {Pomadasys chrys- opterus); the Blue-fish {Pomatomus saltatrix); the Old-wife {Trachynotus glaucus); the Pompano {Trachynotus carolinus) ; the PamiJa or Permit {T. rhodopus); the Eound Pompano or Palometa (T. rhomboides); the Sun-fish {Garanx crinitus); the Moon-fish {Selene vomer); the Eobalo ("Eavallia") or Snooks {Gentropomus undecimalis) ; the Sand-fish {8er- ranus formosus) ; the Cavia {Elacate Canada); the Spanish Mackerel or Pintadilla {Scomberomorus regalis and 8. maculatus); the Silver fish {Trichiuruslepturus); the Hound fish {Tylosurus crassus); the Moray {Sidera moringa), and the Ten-Pounder {Elops saurus). All these fishes are brought to the market alive in the wells of the smacks. When a bargain is made, the fish is taken out with a scoop- net and killed with a blow on the head, or by an iron spike being driven into the brain. It is then strung on a strip of palmetto leaf and deliv- ered to the purchaser. Fish are very cheap at Key West ; three grunts usually sell for a dime, and it takes a fish of considerable size to be worth ten cents. King-fish, worth $1.50 to $2 at the beginning of the run, fall to one-tenth that sum before the end of the season. In deeper water the larger smacks make a somewhat different catch and, these large fishes are usually taken alive to Havana instead of being sold at Key West. With these vessels the Eed Grouper ( Gherna ameri- cana) is the leading fish. Next in importance comes the Eed Snapper {Lutjanus campechianus), the Black Grouper {Epinephelus bonaci), the "Gag" {Epinephelus microlepis), the Margate-fish {Hcemulon gibbosum), theEock-fish {Epinephelus vetienosus), and the Gigantic Jew-fish or Guasa {Epinephelus itaiara). BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 79 'So seining is done at Key West, not a seine being owned on the island. Some fishing with cast-nets is done during the time of the mul- let runs, the following species being mainly taken : The Callifaver Mul- let (il/w/f/// flZ//M7«) ; the Blue-back Mullet {3Iugil hrasiliensis); the Fan- tail Mullet {Mngil liza'i); the Bone-fish {Albula vulpes); the Broad Shad {Gerres cinerens)-, the Balao {HeniirJiamphns^halao), and occasionally some Grunts and Gars. Cast-nets are used also for securing bait ; the species mostly taken being the "Pilchard" {Clupea pensacolw), and the " Sardines" {Stolephorns browni and Atherina stipes). King-fish flesh is considered good bait. Among the fishes frequently taken, but for one reason or another not considered food-fishes, may be mentioned the following: The Swelling- fish {Tetrodon nephelus); the Shell-fish {Ostracium trigonum); the Cow- fish [0. tricorne); the Leather-fish {Monacanthus hispidus, and M. ocilia- tus); the Parrot-fishes {Scarus cceruleus, JS. guacamaia, iS. croicensis, and others); the common Shad {Gerres gula); the Slippery Dick {Platy- glossus bivittatus); the Toad-fishes [Batraclius tau, Scorpcena grandi- cornis, IS. stearnsi, and S. plumieri) ; the Squirrel (Holocentrum); the Leather-jacket {OligopUtes saurus)', the Hard-head {Chriodoriis) ; the Gar-fish {Tylosurus notatus); the Balaos ("Ballahoo") {Heniirhamphus balao and unifasciatus) ; the Green Moray (Siderafimebris) ; the Tarpum {Megalops atlaniicus) ; the Miller's Thumb [Synodus cubanus) ; the Catfish {Arius felis) ; and several kinds of Sharks and Eays. Sharks swarm about the wharves, feeding on refuse fishes, every fish which dies in the wells being thrown overboard by the fishermen. Especially abund- ant are Carcharias lamia, C. brevirostris, C. punctatus {terrce-novce), and Spliyrna tiburo. The names applied to the different species have at Key West a fix- ity of meaning which is not usual along the American coast. Generally each name used is applied to a single species and to no more, and most of these names have a high antiquity. They are now used for the same species in the Bahamas (whence most of the Key West fishermen have come), and the same names were in use there more than one hun- dred and fifty years ago at the time of the visit there of Mark Catesby. The Hogflsh, the Margate-fish, the Tang, the Shad, the Pilchard, the Bone-fish, the Lane Snapper, the Mutton-fish, the Mangrove Snapper, the Pudding Wife, are still commonly known here by the names given by Catesby, although these names are seldom applied to the same fishes elsewhere along the coast of the United States. From the catalogue of the fishes of the Bermudas, by Professor Goode, it appears that the same general nomenclature of the species is current in the Bermudas. From this, the common origin of the fishermen of the Bahamas, Ber- mudas, and Florida Keys is naturally to be inferred. There are but few Cuban fishermen in Key West, but as fully half of the customers at the wharf are Cubans, a Spanish nomenclature is also current. As this agrees fully with that given by Professor Poey, as in use at Havana, I need say little in regard to it, except that it, too, 80 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, runs back far into the last century, the names given to the plates of Parra being still current. A few names, not given by Professor Poey, may be noticed. The "Scamp" {Upinephelus falcatus) is here "Baca- lao" instead of "Abadejo," both words meaning codfish. The Sheeps- head, not mentioned in Cuban lists, although certainly sometimes sent from here to the Havana market, is " Sargo Raiado." The Eed Snapper here, as with the Spanish fishermen on the Texas coast, is " Pargo Colorado." The name, "Sailor's Choice," is one having a singular variety of meanings. Korthward along our coast it is sometimes ap- plied to the fish here known as Bream {Biplodus rliomboides). At Jack- sonville, Fla., the Sailor's Choice is Pomadasys chrysopterus, known at Key West as " Whiting," while at Cedar Key the choice of the sailor falls on Diplodus holhrooM. In Key West the Sailor's Choice is a kind of Grunt (Hcemulon parrce). Key West, Fla., December 20, 1883. 36— FOOO QIJAXilTIES OF TARPUM (IflEOAIiOPS). By C. J. KENIIVOBTHY. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I would respectfully suggest the propriety of your directing the at- tention of fishermen and fish dealers to the edible qualities of the Tar- pum. As a food-fish it is excelled by but few j and as it exists in great numbers it should be utilized. Jackson VLLLE, Fla., December 25, 1883. 37.— occurrence: of Miri.i: to 90,000 pounds of codtisb. As soon as tbey arrived at Glou cester and reported bow much tbe voyages bad been benefited by the use of frozen herring, the owners at once sent an oider to Captain Smith, who was in Boston, for 30,000 herring; but at this time all of the fish had been dis])Osed of for food, and consequently the Georges- men could not obtain them. Nevertheless, the seed had been sown from which the frozen-herring trade has grown to its present proi)or- tions, exerting an almost incalculable influence on the fisheries as well as i^rovidiug the masses with a large amount of cheap and wholesome food. 39.— MIIVrTE rTI»0:V the BEATH of OREN ITI. C'HAvSE, oeorqe w. ARTIIi^TKO.'SO, AlSn CIIARI>E$i H. UKOtVIVEI^Ii. By THE MICHIGAN BOARD OF FISH CO.IIMISSIOI^ERS. The Michigan State Board of Fish Commissioners directs this minute to be spread upon its records in respectful and affectionate remem- brance of a friend, as well as in sincere sorrow for the loss of their most efficient and helpful officer, Oren IM. Chase, superintendent of fisheries for the State of Michigan, and in memory of two of his most trusted and respected assistants, George W. Armstrong and Charles H. Brownell, the overseer and assistant of the Petoskey Station. In the fateful storm which swept over the Great Lakes on the 11th day of November, 1883, which will long be remembered throughout this State by reason of the loss of life occasioned, Oren M. Chase, George "VV. Armstrong, and Charles H. Brownell, w^hile engaged upon the work of this commission, were drowned in Little Traverse Bay, opposite the village of Petoskey. No man who knew either of them doubts that thev each met death as bravely and quietly as they met the duties and responsibilities of life, nor do we doubt that they made as brave a stiuggle for life as ever men made when overwhelmed by cruel seas and bitter cold which no mortal strength or skill could overcome or long resist. For each possessed the best things that made life dear and worth a manful struggle to re- tain, as sterling characters, health, and a hopeful future of honorable usefulness in their chosen work, and, more potent still, homes where their loss can never be repaired. Oren M. Chase was born at Eochester, in the State of New York, in the year 1840, where he spent his childhood, and at the age of about twenty years removed to Michigan, beginning life as a farmer near Dimoudale. By his own elibrts he cleared a farm of about 40 acres, upon which he remained for a number of years, and then returned to Eochester to reside. After his returube was emi)loyed by the New York Central Eailroad as bag^gagc master at Eochester. While con- 84 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. nected with the railroad, Mr. Chase became acquainted with the pioneer fish cultiirist, Mr. Seth Green, who, recognizing his many sterling qual- ities, induced him to enter the employment of the New York Fish Com- mission. Mr. Chase took uj) the duties with that energy and singleness of purpose which were characteristic of the man, and made rapid ad- vancement in the principles and practical detail of the work. In the summer of 1875, Mr. George H. Jerome, then superintendent of fisheries, applied to Mr. Seth Green for assistance in securing a com- petent person to undertake Whitefish work at Detroit, expressing at the same time a prefereuce for Mr. Chase. Mr. Green consented, and Mr. Chase came here for the season to inaugurate that work. But little time was required to satisfy the commissioners of Mr. Chase's entire competency, and he was given full charge of the operations, which were so successfully conducted by him that he was permanently employed. Mr. Chase remained in charge of the Detroit hatchery until Septem- ber, 1882, when he was appointed State superintendent of fisheries. He entered upon the work at Detriot with the crude apparatus then used, in the face of many discouragements, and achieved most honora- ble success. To his unfailing energy, consummate skill, and thoughtful, intelligent application to his duties, we owe all that is permanently use- ful in this department. He has perfected and simplified the apparatus for hatching by his invention of the automatic jar ; and by his thought- ful experiments and keen observation rendered safe and comparatively easy the methods of gathering the ova, and thus made it possible for the commission to meet the urgent necessity for oiDcrations that can be in- creased almost without limit. In addition to the skill and industry that made him a competent over- seer of a siugle work, he had also the business capacity, good judg- ment, address, and promptness of decision that made him an invalua- ble superintendent. He was just and considerate to those under him ; loyal and most helpful to those uuder whom he worked. He never spared himself or was afraid of M^ork that promised to avert disaster or give results of value. He was progressive, ready to learn, and never content to rest upon moderate results or partial successes. But admirable and valuable as Mr. Chase's official and technical work has been, he was more than a good officer in the force, or at the head, he was an honest, courteous, manly man. At this board we shall sorely miss his ]n^actical counsel, and his ready sympathy with every sugges- tion that looked to extended usefulness of the work in which his heart was so earnestly enlisted. Mr. Brownell had been employed for a number of yeai-s at the Poka- gou hatchery, where he won the confidence and respect of all by his intelligent devotion to his work, and his manly bearing. Upon the recommendation of the Michigan commission he was a[)pointed super- intendent of the Nebraska commission. That post he relinquished on account of a prolonged sickness in the winter of 1883, and upon his re- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 85 covery this commission was very glad to welcome him back and secure his valuable services. 3Ir. Armstroug, while not a regular employ^ until September, 1883, bud yet served for several seasons in gathering whitefish ova. He had gained the reputation of being one of the most skillful and capable among experts. He was also well known for his industrious habits, hon- orable dealing, and good judgment. When the increased appropriation, granted by the legislature, made possible extended operations by this commission, ^Ir. Armstrong was the first nmn engaged. They were tbree manly fellows that any commission might well have been proud of, as we were. They were three fast friends, who were al- ways loyal to each other and themselves, their families, and their friends. And this minute is the saddest that shall ever be made upon these records. 40 POACHERS OR DE^^TRl'CTI VE VISITORS OF FISH-PONDS. By JAMES AIVWIN , Jr. [Abstract, by Cbas. W. Smiley, of a paper iu tbo Transactious of the American Fish Cultural Associa'.iou for 18S1.] I. Kingfishers. — The notes of this bird are heard from early spring until cold weather, and even before the spring season is opened, as if impatient for it to come. He is never satisfied, being on the lookout from daylight till dark, and is ever ready for the plunge. He can take as many fish as the average sportsman. The best way to destroy him is by a small, round, steel trap, the kind without the shank or tail piece. Fasten it to the top of a 10 or 15 foot pole, near a fishing ground, where the bird may think it a splendid spot for observations, and he will drop both feet squarely into the trap. Occasionally it will take hawks and owls, but very few robbins or small birds. II. Ducks. — The domestic duck is very destructive, not only to fish and fish eggs, but to the food of fish. I have seen the tame duck de- vour a .trout G inches long. I have been annoyed by the wild ducks called saw-bills or shell-drakes, and I was not able to exterminate them by shooting. Eed flannel flags I found to have the eflect of scaring them away. III. Owls. — The common hoot or screech owl will cause some trouble. One day I found an owl iu a mnskrat trap, some 4 inches under water. He was after the fish food of the stream, such as the fresh-water lob- ster, caddis worm, shrimp, &c. The> can be caught in the kingfisher traps. IV. Herons. — The blue heron deals death with his long, heavy, sharp bill to everything in the fish line. He poaches mostly in the early morning and after dark, coming into shallow water, even within a rod 86 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of the bouse. He stands in the water perfectly motionless, and as tho fishes approach he strikes them. I have sometimes heard a great flop- ping and disturbance in the water at night time, and upon going to the place in the morning found heron tracks and a trout from half a pound to one pound in weight with a hole in his back or side into which you could put your finger. I suppose this fish to have been too strong for the heron that had mortally wounded it. To capture them, set steel traps in shallow water, taking careful pre- caution to secure them, or the heron will fly away with them. When you find him in the trap quiet him with a long club or a charge of shot, lest the savage bird inflict a bad wound upon you. V. Bitterns.— These birds are similar to the herons, though smaller, and do some damage. I always shoot them. VI. MusKRATS. — This animal feeds upon the caddis worm and other fish food, undermines the banks, and eats off the screen slats. I have seen a peck of empty caddis-worm cases in one pile on the bank at the water's edge, which had been left by the muskrats. These should be trapped in the winter and spring, when their fur will sell readily. I usually sell from $10 to $15 worth in a year. VII. Minks. — The mink is the greatest of our enemies. If he gets the notion of coming to your ponds he will annihilate the fish before you know it. He usually enters at the same place. Set your trap just under the water where he may slide into it as he is sliding into the pond. I have seen a mink slide down the bank of a stream under the water and come up with a fish time and again, with scarcely a failure. One mink is good for a hundred dollars' worth of fish in a short time. VIII. Snakes. — I have seen a 30-inch water-adder catch a 5 ounce trout, and have found three trout at a time in the stomach of the same variety. A gentleman told me this spring that last summer he was passing near a i)ond which contained brook trout, and he saw a snake glide down the bank into the water, and as the water was clear he watched it. It went into some moss that was on the bottom of the pond. Entering the moss from below, soon he saw its head appear in the top of the bunch of moss, and then, for the first time, noticed a small trout about 4 inches long that was almost over the snake's iiead. After slowly drawing its head out a little, it made a dart for the fish and caught him ; then the snake came out on the bank. The only method I have found for dealing with them is to kill them whenever they come in your path. In the months of May and June they may be found along the banks of streams or ponds sunning themselves, when a charge of No. 6 or 8 shot will put them on the retired list. United States Fish Commission, Fehmary 8, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 87 41 sijc€e:s»$ iiv RAiJmrve l.aivi>-l.ocke:i> sai.ition. By Dr. C. If. BARBER. [From letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I was very successful with the laud-locked salmou eggs which I for- merly received from you. Some of the fish have now been caught that weigh G^ pouuds, oue party taking 23 in a single day. Rutland, Yt., December 12, 1883. 45 PI^AIVTIilTG IRISH SHEI^IiS — IIEIilX ASPERSA ITliJl.tiER — AT WOOU'S nOI^L., iTIASS. By B. F. KOOIVS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] According to your request, I give you the facts concerning the Irish shells, Helix as2)er,sa Miiller, planted in connection with our work at Wood's Holl, Mass., August 31, 1883: About the last of July, as Mr. E. A. Andrews, a former member of the Fish Commission party, returned from Germany, his steamer stopped at Queenstown for the mails, and while waiting there he went ashore and gathered a few shells from walls along the sides of the streets of the city. He said they did not seem to be aciive at the time but rather dormant, simply sticking to the stones in the walls. He brought seven to Wood's Holl, and gave them to me with a request to plant them at some place about the shores, remarking that the climate of \\'ood's Holl resembled that of Queenstown very much, and he thought they would do well there. Wishing to have a witness as to the place, &c., I requested Prof. E. Linton to accompany me, and on August 31, 1883, we took tbe shells to Bush Island, at the end of Long Neck, and placed them upon a large rock under a small bushy oak tree, the largest upon the island. It stands 12 or 15 feet above the water and about the middle of the cres- cent sJiaped north side. In Binney's " Land and fresh-water shells of North America," he describes those from Charleston, S. C.,as introduced European species. He also states that they have been found at New Orleans, Portland, Me., Nova Scotia, and at at Santa Barbara, Cal. If they have flourished elsewhere upon the continent in widely different climates, we may rea- sonably expect to establish a colony at Wood's Holl. Mansfield, Conn., February 23, 1884. 88 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 43.— A CHINESE METHOD OF FISH-ClTIiTURE. By SMART, GOI.OSMITI1, AKD .^OHl^SOW. [Exti-act from The World Displayed ; or, A Curious Collection of Voyages and Trav- els, selected and compiled from the Writers of all Nations : By Smart, Goldsmith, and Johnson. First American Edition, Vol. VI, Philadelphia, 1796.] We canuot conclude our account of this species of animals and of China in general, without mentioning a singular method by which all kinds of fish are dispersed into diflterent provinces even before they have life. About the mouth of May the Chinese draw mats across the great river Yang-tse-Kiang in order to stop the spawuj which they know how to distinguish at first sight, though the water is scarce altered by it ; with this water mixed with spawn they fill many vessels, which they sell to the merchants, who go thither at that season in great numbers to buy it, and transport it into different provinces. This they sell by measure to those who have fish-ponds belonging to their houses. In a few days the young fry begin to appear in little shoals; but the differ- eut kinds of fish cannot be soon distinguished. 44.— SHAD IN OBEOON %VATEKS— A NEW SAI.1IION HATCHERV. By CHAS. I. Fir^lfiLY. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Last fall I caught a lot of shad, or what we took to be shad. They were certainly of the herring family, and had what we call a saw under the belly. I believe a lot of young shad were released in Upper Rouge River. This is the second year only that any of that species has ever been seen here. Mr. R. D. Hume, who owns the cannery at this place, and for w^hom I have been foreman the past four years, has built a hatchery for salmon. He had one here before, but run it only one year. This he intends to be permanent. I am running it and have so far, considering the cir- cumstances, been very successful. I only had eight female spawners and the corresponding males, for the hatcheries w^ere hardly ready. I have so far lost a little over 4,000 eggs in four weeks, the principal cause being from diffused light, which I have overcome by battening up the creek. I have splendid water, a ditch 3 miles long, a big reservoir 20 bj^ 20 feet, Ginch iron pipes, and two big flitmes to feed through. Where the screens are in the water it is splendidly clear. I will report further progress. Ellensburg, Oreg., Decemher 14, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 89 45 NOTES OIV THE FISHERIES OF GI^OUC'ESTER, MASS. By S. J. ilIARTII^. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Mackerel. — During the past week there have beeu 42 arrivals with salt mackerel. They landed 8,000 barrels mostly Xo. 4 mackerel. They average about 1,500 to the barrel. There were a few large ones. Last week small ones were plenty from Thatcher's Island to Cape Cod. Ves- sels coming from the eastward report plenty of small mackerel as far as Matiuicus. Four vessels from the bay of St. Lawrence brought 1,390 barrels, and reported mackerel plenty October 5 and G. They caught as many as they could take care of. I think there will be three vessels from Gloucester go down to the Xova Scotia coast after mack- erel. The prospect for large mackerel is poor. The mackerel from the Bay of St. Lawrence were of good quality and sold for $14 a barrel without being culled. Large Ko. 1 mackerel have sold for $23 a barrel ; 'No. 2 for $14 a barrel; No. 3 for $10 a bar- rel ; and there is no sale for No. 4. Glouoester, Mass., October 14, 1883. Pollock and cod have been scarce this fall. Forty sail of small craft which were out two days on the pollock grounds, came in with 2,000 pounds. There are no Sperling this fall, so that most of the boats will use nets. Gloucester, Mass., October 28, 1883. Mackerel. — The mackerel-catchers are all at Provincetown. There are plenty of small mackerel in Barnstable Bay. Vessels make good hauls Avhen there is a chance to get out. The weather has beeu bad for seining the last fortnight — wind northeast, with thick weather. Small mackerel were seen schooling on Middle Bank last night. We have got 13 sail of mackerel- catchers in the Bay of St. Lawrence, and 15 sail have gone down to Cape Breton Island after mackerel. There were plenty of mackerel schooling off Sydney, 0. B., last Tues- day. Some vessels made good hauls. Schooner Edward Webster, Capt. Solomon Jacobs, and schooner Warren I. Crosby, Captain Car- roll, went through Canso last Thursday, bound for the Bay of St. Lawrence, after mackerel. Gloucester, Mass., October 28, 1883. George's cod fishery. — The vessels that go to George's after codfish have done well. There have been three arrivals this week, with 40,000, 45,000, and 54,000 pounds of codfish, respectively. The time gone was fourteen days. They used squid for bait. 90 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Squid. — Squid are plenty on George's, on Casjie's, and in the Bay of Fundy. Tliey are plenty ou the whole coast from Grand Manan, Bay of Fundy, to Middle Bank. Vessels that have come in from Le Have Bank and Brown's Bank say there are i)lency of squid on all the fish- ing banks of the Nova Scotia shore. A few have been caught off the mouth of the harbor. Halibut fishery. — The vessels that go after fresh halibut have done well. There have been three arrivals this week from the south- west part of Grand Banks, with G5,0()0, 55,000, and 08,000 pounds of fresh halibut, caught in 140 fathoms of water. Gloucester, Mass., October 28, 1883. MovEiviENTS OF MACKEREL. — When the mackerel came on the coa.sts of Massachusetts and Maine the large mackerel came first, and jiassed to the eastward. Then came the small ones, which also passed to the eastward. The latter came up inshore this fall. Boston Bay was full of them all the time during the month of October. The large mackerel were farther oft' shore. They came across Cashe's. A few of them were caught at Chatham. Some of the vessels which have come in during the last two days saw mackerel ou the northeast part of George's. Those mackerel came out of the Bay of St. Lawrence. They come up the Cape shore as far as Cape Sable, then strike across to the north- east part of George's, and work southwest the whole length of the bank; how much farther I don't know. When they went to the eastward they went down the whole length of George's Bank, w^ent across to Cape Sable, and followed down the whole length of the Cape shore. Some of them went through the Straits of Canso. Some of them went down as far as Scatary Island, and then took a westerly course in the Bay of St. Lawrence. Some of the large mackerel went up by the island of Saint Paul and were not seen afterwards. Some vessels which were on the I^abrador coast after herring saw large mackerel there. Accord- ing to the last reports from the Xova Scotia shore there are plenty of mackerel there working westward. Gloucester, Mass., October 31, 1883. Monthly summary. — The amount of fish landed at Gloucester during the month of October was as follows: Shore mackerel 24,091 barrels; mackeral from the Bay of St. Lawrence, 4,343 barrels ; herring, 5,335 barrels; cod from George's Bank, 950,000 i)ounds ; halibut from George's Bank, 11,900 pounds; cod from Western Bank, 1,403,000 pounds ; halibut from Western Bank, 9,400 pounds ; cod from Grand Banks, 2,133,000 pounds ; salt halibut from Grand Bank 13,400 pounds; fresh halibut, G9G,000 pounds; Greenland halibut, 90,000 pounds; pol- lock, 588,000 pounds ; hake, 30,000 pounds ; cusk, 22,000 pounds ; haddock, 23,000 pounds; fresh cod, 12,500 pounds ; mixed dried fish by freight from Maine, 10,550 quintals; pogy slivers, 170 barrels ; cod oil sold here, 95 barrels ; cod imported from Nova Scotia, 700 quintals. Gloucester, Mass., November 4, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 91 Mackerel fishery. — The shore mackerel fleet all hauled up. There has been a large falling off in the catch of mackerel from last year- There have been 218,000 barrels taken this year against 378,000 barrels last year. There are 13,000 barrels on the wharf to-day; last year at this time there were 45,000 barrels. There are fifteen sail of vessels on. the Cape shore after mackerel. A dispatch came last night from the schooner Charles C. Warren stating that they caught 270 barrels o^ large mackerel last week in Margaret's Bay, 35 miles to the westward of Halifiix ; also one from schooner Warren J. Crosby stating that she caught 300 "barrels of large mackerel last week at Sydney. There is no news from the rest of the fleet. They are catching mackerel in nets all along the i^ova Scotia shore. Gloucester, Mass., November 11, 1883. A re:\iarkable haul of menhaden. — A dispatch to the Boston Herald under date of November 9, 1883, says: '' The menhaden steamers George Curtis and Vista of the George W. Miles Company bronght in over 1,000,000 fish last nighr. Valne, $5,000. This news is enough to fire the heart of every menhaden fisherman with joy. It is a most remarkably large haul, particularly for this time of the year. The fish now are fat and unusually fertile in desirable material." Gloucester, Mass., Novemher 11, 1883. Vessel statistics for 1883. — The following are the numbers of vessels and of men engaged in different branches of the Gloucester fish- eries during the year 1883: Mackerel fishery, 122 vessels, manned by 1,708 men. Grand and Western Banks fishery. 111 vessels, manned by 1,333 men. George's Bank cod fishery, 75 vessels, manned by 825 men. Fresh halibut fishery, 22 vessels, manned by 318 men. Shore fisheries, 50 vessels, manned by 418 men. Greenland halibut fishery, 5 vessels, manned by 70 men. There are, in addition, 25 small boats, with one man to a boat. Gloucester, Mass., November 11, 1883. Gale on George's Bank. — They have had a hard time on George's. IS'ovember 12 and 13 it blew a hurricane. Vessels arrived to-day with decks swept, sails torn, bulwarks gone, and cables and anchors lost. I think the worst is to come. Some of the haddock vessels arrived with the loss of dories and other damage. Mackerel fishery. — Two vessels arrived last night from the Bay of St. Lawrence ; schooner Fannie Belle, with 425 barrels of salt mack- erel ; and schooner S. E. Lane, with 200 barrels of salt mackerel. There are five more to come from the Bay of St. Lawrence, and there are eight still on the Cape shore. Gloucester, Mass., November 18, 18S3. 92 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Mackerel. — Four vessels from tlie Bay of St. Lawrence brought 1,180 barrels of salt mackerel. Ou the 9th of iSTovember the schooner Charles C. Warreu caught 250 barrels of mackerel at one haul of tbe seine in Margaret's Bay, N-ova Scotia. There are three more vessels coming from the Bay of St. Lawrence with 300 barrels of mackerel each. Tbat will end the mackerel fishing for this year. Gale. — Fears are entertained for the safety of four haddock catchers which were on George's Bank in the gale of November 12-13. Had- dock are plenty on George's Bank, but there has beeu no sale for them for the last three days. There are five vessels here with haddock to sell to the slitters at three quarters of a cent a pound. Gloucester, Mass., Novemher 25, 1883. Summary. — I send you the amount of fish landed at Gloucester dur- ing the month of November. Shore mackerel, 0,572 barrels; mackerel from the Bay of St. Lawrence 3,787 barrels ; mackerel caught ou the Nova Scotian shore, 551 barrels ; George's cod, 1,108,000 pounds ; George's halibut, 34,400 pounds; Western Bank codfish, 211,000 pounds; West- ern Bank halibut, 7,900 pounds. Fish caught in cod gill-nets, 1,330,000 pounds codfish, 174,000 pounds pollock. Haddock caught ou George's landed at Gloucester 495,000 pounds; shorefish, 21,300 j)ounds: hake and cusk, 3,000 pounds ; haddock, 4,000 j^ounds ; codfish, 18,000 pounds ; pollock, 49,000 pounds. Codfish caught in Bay of Fuudy, 51,000 pounds. Fish ou freight from Maine, 5,450 quintals hake, 500 quintals codfish, 40 barrels of herring. Fish imported from Nova Scotia, 607 quintals codfish, 10 barrels of mackerel. Fish caught in cod gill nets landed at Eockport and Portsmouth during the month of November, 183,000 pounds. Gloucester, Mass., December 3, 1883. Cod and halibut. — The vessels from George's Bank all brought in good fares of cod. They found plenty of squid on the bank all the fall and until last week, when the squid disai^peared. None of the halibut fishers returned last week and the price of halibut was high. All that the George's vessels brought in sold at 20 cents a pound. Gloucester, Mass., December 10, 1883. Monthly summary. — I send you the amount of fish lauded at Glou- cester during the month of December. George's codfish, 010,000 pounds; George's halibut, 22,000 j)ounds; fish caught in the cod gill- nets, 1,120,000 ])ouuds ; fresh halibut, 230,000 pounds; mackerel, 140 barrels; haddock, 230,000 pounds; cusk, 15,000 pounds; pollock, 3,000 i poimds. Fish imported form Nova Scotia : 472 quintals of cod, 100 ^ quijitals of pollock, 50 quintals of hake, 22 barrels of oil, 600 quintals of hake on freight froni Maine. Smoked herring from Eastport, 5,000 boxes; frozen herring from Grand Mauan,300 barrels. Fish caught in BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMJIISSION. 93 cod gill-iiets landed at other ports during the month of December 300,000 pounds. Gloucester, Mass, January 1, 1884. Herring. — There were three arrivals from Grand Manan with frozen herring. Herring are selling at $1.50 per hundred. There have been tliree arrivals from the banks with 20,000 pounds of fresh halibut the last three days. They sold for 2 cents a pound by the cargo. The George's vessels find fish scarce. Five vessels are bound home from Newfoundland with a full supply of frozen herring. Vessels. — Gloucester will have 50 sail ou George's after codfish. There will be 5 vessels more engaged in fi'esh -halibut fishing this year than there were last year. Four new ones will be added to the fleet which goes south after mackerel. Gloucester, Mass., January 15, 1884. Herring. — Four cargoes of frozen herring arrived this week from Grand Manan. The herring are very plenty at Fortune Bay. The whole fleet of 32 vessels is coming home with full cargoes. Halibut. — There have three vessels arrived from the banks this week with 1)0 pounds of fresh halibut, which sold at 8 cents a pound by the cargo. Gloucester, Mass., January 20, 1884. Monthly SUMMARY. — The amount of fish lauded at Gloucester during the mouth of January, 1884, was as follows : Salt cod, brought from George's Bank (48 arrivals), 817,000 pounds; fresh halibut from George's Bank, 150,300 })0unds ; shore fisheries with cod gill-nets, 843,000 pounds; fresh halibut from Banks, 177,700 pounds-; herring from Grand Manan, 2,020,000 by coirnt; herring from Kewfouudland, 3,714,000 by count; salt herring from ]S"ewfoundland, 420 barrels; haddock from George's Bank, 93,000 pounds; salt mackerel from Canso, Nova Scotia, 500 barrels. Gloucester, Mass., February 1, 1884. Halibut. — The vessels fishing on the eastern part of the George's Bank are doing well. They catch from 3,000 to 6,000 pouuds of halibut on a trii). The halibut bring a good price. Th6 average result of a trip to George's Bank is 18,000 pounds of cod and 3,000 pounds of hal- ibut. Herring. — From St. John to Eastport in the Bay of Fundy, her- riug are plentiful. The inhabitants of ISTewfoundland say they have never seen this fish so abundant. The thirty-six sail of vessels at New- foundland are coming home with firll cargoes of frozen herring, each of which averages G50 barrels. Twenty-eight cargoes of frozen herring brought fronr Grand Manan average 350 barrels each. Fifteen vessels more are at Grand Manan loading. Herring sell at 75 cents per hun- dred here. 94 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION." The catchers find plenty of haddock on the George's Banks. They caiiglit 4l),()00 pounds in one day last week. Halibut are scarce. Gloucester, Mass., February 3, 1884. Summary. — During the past week the amount of fioh landed here has been as follows: Fourteen arrivals from the Banks, with 290,000 pounds of fresh halibut; nine arrivals from George's Bank, lauding 140,000 pounds of salt fish and 45,000 pounds of halibut; 305,000 pounds of cod- fish brought in by the vessels using cod gill-nets; six arrivals from New- foundland with 2,930,000 frozen herring; one arrival from Grand Manan with 250,000 frozen herring. There were 75,000 i)ounds of haddock landed last week; 400 barrels of salt herring were brought iu from New- foundland. The weather is bad for frozen herring. The wind has been to the eastward for the last eighteen days, with fog and rain. Some of the vessels will lose one-quarter of their cargo by wet weather. Haddock. — Haddock are very plenty on George's and full of spawn. The haddock catchers in five days made trips averaging 50,000 pounds to a vessel. The netters are doing well ; they land the most of their fish at Portsmoutli and Eockport. Prices. — All kinds of fish were low. Haddock sold for 1 cent a pound, halibut for G cents, fresh cod for 2^ cents, and frozen herring for GO cents a hundred. Gloucester, Mass., February 18, 1884. Weekly summary. — During last week there were 15 arrivals from George's Bank, landing 379,000 pound of salt cod and 34,500 i)ounds of fresh halibut. Vessels using cod gill nets landed 340,000 pounds of large cod at Rockport and Portsmouth. There were 2 arrivals from the Grand Banks with 70,000 pbunds of fresh halibut. There was one ar- rival from the Western Banks with 4,000 pounds of salt cod, and 1G,000 I)Ounds of fresh ha>libut. There was one arrival from Newfoundland with 375,000 frozen herring; also one arrival from Grand Manan with 220,000 frozen herring. Schooner David A. Story made a trip to New- foundland in twenty-one days, the quickest time on record. Nine ves- sels are due from Grand Manan with frozen herring. Some of the vessels using cod gill-nets have hauled up for the winter, three of them having used up their nets. Haddock are reported very plenty on the western part of George's Bank. There has been so much haddock in the Boston market that it sold for 1 cent a pound all last week. Gloucester, Mass., February 24, 1884. Monthly summary. — The summary of fish landed in Gloucester during the mouth of February is as follows: Fifty-two arrivals from George's Bank aggregated 1,131,000 pounds of codfish and 109,000 pounds of fresh halibut. There were four arrivals from the Western Bank aggregating 75,000 pounds of salt cod and 54,000 pounds of fresh halibut. There were 183,000 pounds of cod taken by the gill-nets in • BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 95 Ipswich Bay. These were eighteen arriv^als from Grand Banks with 471,000 pounds oflrcsh halibut. There were also nine arrivals fromlS'ew- foundland bringing- .'i,!) 15,000 frozen herring and iOO barrels of salt her- ring. There were two arrivals from Grand INIanan with 570,000 frozen herring and one arrival from Halifax with 120,000 frozen herring. There were two arrivals from George's Bank with 110,000 pounds of haddock. Vessels. — There were 48 boats engaged in the cod gill-net fishery, most of which landed their catch at Portsmouth and Eockport. The gillnet fishing will continue in Iftswich Bay during this mouth. The cod caught on George's Bank are small and come from the western end of the Banli. They are full of spawn. Price. — The price of fresh fish this week has been high. Fresh cod sold for 4 cents a pound, fresh haddock for 3 cents a pound, and fresh halibut sold for 21 cents a pound. The price of salt fish renmins the same as last week. Frozen herring sold at 60 cents per hundred. Gloucester, Mass., March 3, 1884. Vessels. — During the coming week there will be about 20 vessels starting south after mackerel and 15 of the Grand Baulc fleet will start tbis week. Last week 45 vessels arrived from George's Bank with good fares. There was a heavy gale there February 28 and 29. The wind blew a hurricane from the northwest. All the vessels that have arrived are more or less damaged, and fears are entertained for the safety of the rest. Last week there were 3 arrivals with frozen herring from Grand Manan. Six more are on the way, which will close the herring business for this winter. The cod gill-netters have not done much this week on account of the rough weather. The vessels fishing on George's Bank caught their fish on the western edge in 28 and 30 fathoms of water; some of them had to cut their cables to avoid collision. Some had their decks swept of bulwarks, dories, and all. Two men were washed overboard. Haddock are plenty on the western edge of George's Bank. Four vessels arrived in Boston with 75,0U0 pounds each, which sold at 2f cents a pound, and w^as the result of two days' fishing. Gloucester, Mass., March 11, 1884. Cod. — During the past forty eight hours 13 vessels have arrived from George's Bank Avith an average of 30,000 pounds of cc>d to a vessel. These were caught on the western edge in water from 20 to 30 fathoms deep. The fish weigh about 12 pounds each. Two vessels from George's brought 00,000 i)ounds each while 2 vessels from Western Bank report no fish. • The mackerelers are getting ready to go south ; 2 sailed last Saturday and G to-day. By this week Saturday 25 vessels will have gone soutii, Haddock continue plenty on George's Bank. There are 25 cargoes i ■ 96 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. . Boston averaging 45,000 pounds to a vessel. The price is low, only 1 cent a pound to-day. Glouces'ier, Mass., March 17, 1884. Cod. — The vessels from George's Bank brought in good fares last week, aggregating 1,142,000 pounds. Most of these fish were caught in shoal water from 15 to 18 fathoms deep. The fish are of medium size, and full of spawn. Vessels that went to the Western Bank report the water very rough and fish scarce. Prices. — There were no fresh halibut landed last week. The price was 20 cents a pound. On Thursday fresh halibut sold for 22^ cents per pound. The codfish from gill-nets sold for 1^ cents per pound, and haddo<;k foi- three-fourths of a cent per i>ouud. SouTHEEN MACKEREL. — Duriug the weck 35 mackerel-catchers sailed for the south, and 10 more will sail next week. There will be 75 vessels in this fishery this spring. Two more vessels have been lost on George's Bank, one fisliing for haddock and one for cod. The loss oc- curred in the gale of February 28-29. The George's vessels find some squid in the stomach of the cod, and also small mackerel 7 inches in length. Gloucester, Mass., March 23, 1884. Summary. — Duriug the ])ast week there have been 25 arrivals from George's with good fares. There has been no fresh halibut landed for 14 days, though some of the vessels have been gone 7 weeks. Herring. — There have been 6 arrivals from Western Bank mostly with slim fares. There has also been 5 arrivals from Grand Man an with frozen herring, the last being the schooner Marg'ie Smith, which arrived March 27. That closed the frozen-herring trade. There are now 54 vessels in the south after mackerel. Last night we had a hurricane which drove some vessels ashore. The snow in some places is a foot deep, aud the thermometer went down to 30° F. Gloucester, Mass., March 30, 1884. Monthly summary. — The total amount of fish lauded at Gloucester during tlie month of March was as follows: Codfish from George's Bank, 3,408,000 pounds ; halibut from George's Bank, 09,370 pounds ; cod from Western Bank, 286,000 pounds; halibut from the Western Bank, 48,900 pounds; fresh halibut from the Banks, 70,000 pounds; haddock from George's Bank, sold to be split on the wharf, 305,000 jjounds; frozen herring from Grand Mauau, 2,203,000 by count. There was also re- ceived by freight from Maine 600 quintals of dried mixed fish. The schoouer Eeaper also brought from ]\Iaine 1,000 boxes of smoked her- ring. The cod gill nets have taken in March 1,137,000 pounds of cod. The boats, 18 in number, engaged in this fishery are doing well. Those that have used up their nets are fitting out for the spring fishing. There will probably be good fishing in I^^swich Bay all this mouth. Gloucester, Mass., Aiml 3, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 97 Vol. IV, Wo. 7. Washington, ». C April 17, 1884. 46.— REPORT OIV THE CONDITIOIV OF OVSTER-CVLTURE IIV FRAIVCE IIV tSSl. By DR. P. BISOCCIII. Tbe Ibllowiug explanatory remarks were prefaced to the copy of Dr. Broccbi's report printed in the Journal Officiel: * " In response to a reqnest long since made by the oyster-culturists of the Bretagne region, and to the wish expressed by the senatorial com- mission on the replenishing of the waters, the minister of agricultnre and commerce, following ont a decision dated the 30th of Jnne last, has established a course in oyster and fish culture, in the laboratory founded by Coste at Concarneau (Finistere). This course, which was intrusted to M. Brocchi, lecturer on zoology at the ifational Institute of Theoretic Agriculture {Institute National Agronomique), began September 5, and has continued a month. "Independently of the oral instruction, M. Brocchi is charged with the making of researches throwing light upon the important questions treated of in his course. He now addresses to the minister of agri- culture and commerce his first report uj^on his observations regarding the present state of oyster-culture." The preparation of the course of lectures on oyster-culture has led me to visit the principal oyster- cultural centers of France. It seems highly proper to render an account of what it has been given me to observe during this exploration and to present the actual state of oyster-culture in our country. OKIGIN OF OYSTER-CULTURE IN FRANCE. This industry, so new and so essentially French, has made rapid pro- gress. It is not hei'e necessary to give the history of o^^ster- culture. Its origin, however, is of recent date. Indeed, it was only after the publications and the efforts of M. Coste (185G-1858) that the attention of the inhabitants of our coasts was drawn to the jjossibility of raising- oysters artificially. These experiments, to which the state had dedi- cated considerable sums, led to many others. M. Coste, with an en- thusiasm which was perhaps excessive, but which, after all, produced happy results, then declared that this industry would become a new source of wealth to France. The attemjjts made simultaneously in the ocean and in the Mediterranean for the most part failed. However, and it has been too much forgotten, the experiment tried in Arcachou Bay was crowned Avith success. From that time the start was given and the oyster-cultural industry made rapid progress. ''Journal Officiel de la Republique FranQaise, Norembre 8j 1881, pp. 6181-6186. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 7 98 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. BRANCHES OF OYSTEll-CULTUEE. Oyster-culture compreheuds two very distinct branches ; on the one hand, production; on the other, raising and fattening. The production is the gathering of the embryos of the oysters, and the saving thus of a great number, the loss of which would be inevita- ble without the intervention of man. Every one knows that at the time when it is born the young oysttr is furnished with locomotive apparatus by which it is enabled to swim in the bosom of the sea. After having wandered a certain time the animal fixes itself on some extraneous body, loses forever its organs of locomotion, and becomes tlie mollusk well-known to all. But these embryos cannot fix themselves indifferently upon any substance which comes within their reach. It is necessary for the latter to be sufficiently smooth and clean. So it happens, in the natural condition of things, that a great quantity of these little beings, this naissain,* find no ob- jects to which they can adhere, fall on the bottom of the sea, and soon perisli. At last, those which have been able to fix themselves under favorable conditions find themselves exposed for a long time to many dangers. It is to obviate these perils that oyster-culturists place in the vicinity of natural beds various objects, designated under the name of collectors, destined to gather and preserve the spat. When the latter has attained a sufficient develoxjment, it is detached and delivered to the raiser. The raising consists in supplying to the spat the conditions best calcu- lated to promote its rapid growth, and, at the same time, sheltering it as much as possible from the attacks of its natural enemies. Next, they proceed to the fattening; that is to say, they exert them- selves to give to the animal tliat physical condition which makes it sought after by the epicures. Centers of production. — It remains for me to consider vsucces- sively the most important centers of production and raising. The two points in France where i)roduction is carried on upon a large scale are, first, Arcachou ; second, the Morbihau. ARCACHON BAY. In 1853 the oyster-cultural industry did not exist in Arcachon Bay. At that period, in fact, one of our most distinguished pisciculturists, M. Ohabofc Karleu, i)ublished a report on this jjart of France, in which one may read that the x)roduction of oysters was then absolutely neg- * The term naissain applied to oysters during all the earlier stages of their existence is of frequent occurreuce iu French oyster-cultural literature, and is used many times in the course of the present article. "When the mollusks are referred to in their pelagic or free condition vaissain y^Wl bo found to have been translated " fry " or " spawn," "whUe in those instances in which they are spolcen of after fixation, the word has been uniformly rendered into "spat," familiar words iu the American oyster-dialect, and less ambiguous than any others. — Translator, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 99 lectecl in the bay. It is just to add that IM. Chabot foresaw theu the possibility of raising oysters upon the tide-flats.* Oysters had once existed iu a natural state iu Arcachon Bay, but there, as everywhere, ignorance and improvidence had produced sad results. The natural beds were choked up with mud, and the oysters were disappearing rapidly. It was under these circumstances that, in. 1860, M. Coste resolved to establish iu this region some model parks. Three places iu the bay were chosen, and iu all the success was com- plete. As a result, one of the new j)arks, that of Lahillou, with an area of four hectares (9.88 acres), furnished, iu 18GG, more than 5,000,000 oysters. Kow, at the time wheu the work commenced at that point there was nothing there but mud. After having cleaned the earth they placed there 4(10,000 oysters (1865), and, as I have just said, iu the fol- lowing year the product surpassed 5,000,000. Such examples were well calculated to impress the coast population. Ai)plicatious for conces- sioiis immediately became uumerous, and, as I will shortly show, are continually increasing iu numbers. Some years later the Government, finding its example no longer necessary, conceded its model parks to the ^ocie^ central des naiifrag6<, only reserving a certain extent of oyster-beds which serve to supply the environing concessions with spawn. The reserved beds occupy an area of 200 hectares. No fish- ing is allowed in them except about once in three years, and after a committee, in which the fishermen and the owners of parks are both represented, has given its consent. The maritime administration is very careful of this reserve. Every year 240 cubic meters of little siiells are throv^n on the surface of the parks, and so form natural col- lectors. At the time it was last fished (1879) the reserve furnished 25,000,000 oysters, representing a value of about 250,0;i0 francs [850,000 " . In the month of April, 1881, when I was able to visit it, the beds were covered with beautiful oysters, and appeared to me iu excellent condition. The collectors employed at Arcachon consist almost exclusively of tiles, previously limed, and arranged in hives. Ten million tiles are put out each year. The most favorable season for placing the collectors seems to be, in this region, from the 12th to the 15th of June. The hives remain in place until the month of October; some oyster-cultur- ists, however, allow the collectors to remain the whole winter in the basin. The latter is a dangerous practice, the spat being liable iu that case to be destroyed by the frosts. However that may be, the young oysters are placed either in claires or iu nursing-boxes. The claires of Arcachon have been so often described t that it does not seem to me * In tho original the author quotes the words of M. Chabot, '^ dans la grande eau stir Ics Crassats"; crassata beiuga loc'al term for certain portions of the Arcachon Bay, ■which are laid bare at each tide. These crassats, upon which numerous pares are now located, are separated from each other by channels formed by the currents which cross the bay iu every direction. — Translator. tSee Report of Commissioner for 1880, pp. 939, and jjosi, pp. 957, 100 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. necessary to return to them here. I will, however, recall the fact that their depth varies, according as they are designed to receive the spat already detached or the tiles yet charged with young oysters. Indeed, a certain number of park owners leave the spat to develop for quite a while on the tiles themselves. The use of nursing-boxes [cakses] is general at Arcachon ; but, as the^^ are very expensive, some oyster-cult- urists have been obliged, in the interests of economy, to dispense with them. In return, some establishments possess a considerable number of them. Thus, in the month of April last, 4,000 boxes might be seen in a single park. It does not seem to me, however, Mr, Minister, that this is the place to enter into the details of the industry. I desire only to put before you the proof of the importance of oyster-culture in this part of France. The following figures, which I owe to the courtesy of M. Lhopital, naval commissary, have an interest, from this point of view, of the first order: Statistics of the oyster-cultural industry in Arcachon Bay, Tears. 18G5 1860 1867 isns 1&G9 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 18"'7 1878 187!) 1880 Number of parks. Conceded. 297 4 30 94 30 21 276 371 106 ,175 e-jo 300 301 285 184 144 Existing. Number ; ofoysterses- purted. 297 301 340 434 464 4^;') 761 1, 132 1, 238 2,413 3, 039 3, 345 3, 646 3, 931 4, 115 4,250 10, 584, 550 7, 052, 000 4,921,210 8, 500, 675 10,115,687 ClJ^\\, 140 4, 807, 500 10,706,740 25,711,751) 42, 542. 650 112,715,233 106,885,450 20.', 302. 225 170. 500, 225 160, 197, 275 195, 477, 357 Value. Francs. 338, 705 282. 070 191,175 310, 186 410.784 3. '.2, 066 218,332 537,515 I, 1.50,397 1,745,0.50 2,817,630 3,911,309 4,456.288 4, 426, 500 3, 944, 249 4, 2.34, 466 Mean prices per thousand. Francs. 40 40 16 37 45 58 55 50 41 45 25 20 22 25 25 25 It may be seen by an examination of the figures, ./trsf, that the number of pares, which in 1805 was only 207, was 4,259 in 1880; second, that, during the same period, the number of oysters exported has risen from 10,584,000 to 195,477,375, representing a value of 4,254,405 francs ; tliird, that the total number of oysters exported from 1870 to 1880 has exceeded 1,000,000,000, and it must be noted that no oysters can be sold outside of the country until they have obtained a minimum diameter of five centimeters. THE PORTUGUESE OYSTER IN ARCACHON BAY. It can also be seen that the mean price per thousand has very much diminished of late years. This results frojn the great quantity of Portu- guese oysters which have been introduced. And, in this connection, Mr. Minister, I cannot pass in silence the excitement which was felt in the oyster-cultural world following the introduction in our waters of the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 101 Portuguese uiollusk. Some distinguished oyster-cultuvists have, in fact, held that the Portuguese oyster is liable to cross with the Ostrea edulis, thus impairing the purity and diminishing the value of our indigenous oyster. These persons even announced that they had observed un- equivocal traces of this hybridization in the oysters coming from Arca- chon. This statement caused so ranch interest among the oyster cul- turists of Arcachon that one of the fishing inspectors in England urged his conntrymen to buy no more oysters coming from the Arcachon Bay. Allow me, Mr. Minister, to lay before you the result of my observa- tions on this point. Themollusk known under the name of the Portuguese oyster does not belong to the same genus as our indigenous oyster. While the latter ranks among the mullusks belonging to the genus 06' trea, the Portuguese oyster takes place among those which compose the genus Gryphee^ the species called Gryphee angulcusc {Gryplima angu- lata, Lamarck). In other words, the Portuguese oyster is not an oyster from a zoological point of view. To give any basis for the theory of hybridization between the two mollusks, it would be first necessary to prove that the zoologists have made a mistake in creating these two genera, and that Lamarck was wrong in separating the gryi^hseas from the oysters properly so called. Eeally, in the present state of science, it is impossible to admit the crossing of two species belonging to dift'erent genera. On the contrary, all that we know is opposed to the possibility of such a hybridization. So that, I repeat, until it is demonstrated that the genera GrypJuva should be struck out from our classifications, the fact of cross-breeding between the mollusk of the Tagus and our edible oyster cannot be admitted. Even admitting the generic identity of the two mollusks, the characters appealed to by those who believe in their hybridization do not seem to have any great scientific vahie. These characters, in fact, only relate to the coloring of the shell, and no one is ignorant what a variation of color there may be in animals belong- ing, incontestably, to the same species. Finally, to pass nothing in silence, I will add that from experiments made by MM. de Montauge and Bouchon-Brandely (experiments which do not appear tome to have been conducted with enough scientific precision) it would seem that the spermatozoa of the Portuguese oyster cannot fertilize the eggs of 0. edulis. I can affirm, for my part, that during my stay at Arcachon I have not noticed anything which can make me believe in the deterioration of tlie oyster coming from that region. To recapitulate, I do not believe in the crossing of the two mollusks ; but I hasten to add that the introduction of the Portuguese oyster into our waters does not seem to me without danger. We know that when two species are placed side by side in a limited space there takes place between them what an illustrious naturalist has named the struggle for existence. This struggle must sooner or later terminate in the defeat, the disappearance, of the weaker species. Under these conditions, the 102 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Grypluca and the ordinary oyster finding themselves face to face, the latter must inevitably succuml). The Portuguese mollusk is incoutest- ably more liardy, more resisting, and also, it seems to me, more prolific. The facility "with which it propagates itself is, in fact, very remarkable. It is known in what manner the Portuguese oyster took possession of a part of our coast. Some hundreds of these mollusks, accidentally introduced at the month of the Gironde, soon formed considerable beds. I have this present year seen the collectors placed on the shores of the Island of Oleron covered almost exclusively with Portuguese spat. I think then, IMr. Minister, tliat in most cases the culture of the Gryphcea practiced in the vicinity of parks of common oysters may be accom- panied with grave disadvantages. And yet, I must repeat, I have no evidence at Arcachon of the en- croachment of the Portuguese oyster. Here is, moreover, the entirely disinterested testimony of M. Lhopital, naval commissary, to whom I communicated my fears upon seeing the introduction of the Portuguese oyster in Arcachon Bay daily increasing. M. Lhoijital wrote to me lately : " Before the question of hybridization arose, this question of the in- vasion of collectors by the Portuguese oysters had already agitated the maritime population of Arcachon Bay. Some park-owners had even asked that the introduction of this oyster into our waters be strictly lirohibited, and at the beginning of 1878 the minister caused an inquiry to be made upon the subject. It is now recognized that the danger jiointed out was not serious. For more than twenty years there have been con- tinuously introduced great quantities of Portuguese o;^sters, coming either directly from the mouth of the Tagus, from the bay of La Corogne, from England, or from the mouth of the Gironde. Well, excepting per- haps one or two years, the reproduction of Portuguese oysters in the bay has been noticed to be very slight. The collectors that have been taken up this year contained none of them, so to speak, and I have had much difficulty in finding any specimens of Portuguese oysters on the reserved beds." M. Lhopital attributes this lack of reproduction on the part of the Portuguese oyster in Arcachon Bay to the purity of the water and to the absence of mud. I am much disposed to accept the exi)lanation of the naval commissary. It is, indeed, remarkable that wherever one sees the Portuguese oyster propagate itself rapidly one can aver also the presence of mud in suspension in the water. However, it appears to me, Mr. Minister, that the oysterculturists of Arcachon should take some precautions and watch attentively what takes place in their l^arks. Only a slight change in the currents would be sufficient to cause the water to become charged with mud and the Portuguese fry to invade the collectors. I do not think, however, that the state needs to interfere in this matter otherwise than by its advice. Such is, at the ijreseut hour, the condition of the oyster cultural in- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 103 dustry in Arcacbon Bay, a condition certainly remarkable and wortby of careful attention. MORBIHAN. Another important center for tlie production of tlie oj^ster exists on our Breton coast. It is known under the name of the oyster-cultural basin of Auray. The cultivation of the oyster iii this region is of recent date. Collectors were first placed in the rivers of the Morbihau about fifteen or sixteen years ago. The center of the business is in the rivers and inlets which open into Quib^ron Bay. The oyster-cultural estab- lisiiments occu^jy successively, in going from east to west, the creek of P6, the river of La Trinity, St. Philibert Creek, and Auray Eiver. In most of these rivers natural beds exist. The most important are those of Auray Eiver, which are about 22 kilometers long, and those of La Trinit6 Eiver and of St. Philibert, which have a length of about 1-5 kilometers. Unhappily these beds are in bad condition. They have this present year been carefully explored, with the aid of scaphanders, and the results obtained are far from being satisfactory. Here is, more- over, a table showing the result of the oyster fisherj^ in the Auray region from 1876 to 1881 : Statistics of the oyster fisliery in the Auray region, 1876 to 1681. Locality. Tears. Nnmber of per- sona engaged. Cm O R5 ^1 8-2 •ga o S t- -t^ ? t^ recarious state of the natural beds, the crop of young oysters does not cease to be abundant. Consequently, one can see from the figures which I have the honor to lay before you the marked in- crease of oyster production in the basin of Auray. In the season of 1876-'77, the number of oysters exported was only 7,200,000. In 18S0-'81, it reached 33,325,000. The oyster-culturists of this region have to struggle against a natu- ral obstacle, the mud which abounds in the rivers and inlets of the Morbihan. Owing to the ingenious arrangement of the collecting tiles, they have succeeded in triumphing over this difficulty. The collectors arranged in hives rax)idly become choked with mud, so this arrangement BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 105 has been discarded in favor of that which is kno^YU under the name of hoiiquet or champignon ninshroom. A dozen or fourteen tiles pierced at each extremity are fastened together by means of iron wires. These are attached firmly to the top of a stake from 1 to 1^ meters long, which can be easily fixed in the ground.* This system, the first idea of which is due to M. Leroux, has the double advantage of preventing the col- lectors from being choked with mud and of rendering the setting of these implements more easy and rapid. The time which appears to be most favorable for setting the tiles, in Bretagne, is from the 1st to the ?X){\i of July. This date is a month later than that at which the setting takes place in Arcachon Bay. The discrepancy is easily explained by the difference in temperature which exists between these two parts of our coast. The use of nursing-boxes is not so frequent in Bretagne as in the Bay of Arcachon. There are several reasons for this circumstance^ the one of the most importance is that, while the oyster-culturists at Arcachon cannot export their oysters until they have attained the size of five centimeters, the Bretons have the right to sell them outside the country in the condition of spat, and need not occupy themselves with raising them. The question of the cost, also, plays a great part, so much the more as the oyster-cultural industry is yet in its infancy in this region. Fi- nally, a number of Breton oyster-culturists replace to a certain extent the nse of boxes by the method which they call Vhuitre a tcssons (the oyster on potsherds). This is what should be understood by that ex- pression : The young oysters are left on the tiles for a certain time; then, in place of taking them off", they break into fragments the collector itself. Each oyster is then adhering to one of these pieces — to one of these tessons. This system, invented by one of our most distinguished oyster-culturists. Dr. Greppy, offers the advantage of placing the oyster in the best condition to resist the attacks of its natural enemies, the crabs, for example. Other oyster-culturists leave the oysters fixed to the collectors two years. They place the tiles, charged with their harvest, into submersible basins or simply into claires. The loss which always follows the gathering of the tiles is thus greatly lessened, but, on the other hand, some oysters are arrested in their development on account of being too closely pressed against the others. RAISING AND FATTENING CENTERS. I will jiot here enter into further details, but will now apply myself to the raising and fattening centers, the most important of which are Marenues and La Tremblade. Marennes. — Marennes has been known for many years for the pro- duction of green oysters ; but for some time this locality has been fur- * For an illustration and further description of tho bouquet collector see Report of Commissioner for 1880, pp. 959-96"2. — Trajstslator. 106 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. nisliiiig- to commerce great quantities of oysters from other parts of France, -whicli are brought here to be raised and fattened. The following figures, which I owe to the courtesy of M. Senne-Desjar- dins, show the importan(;e of tlie Marennes trade for the years 1880-'81. The number of oysters introduced at Miirennes was one hundred and ninety million, of which one hundred aiul thirty million were placed iu the live-boxes and depots, and sixty million were placed in the claires. Of the one hundred and thirty million in the rivers about forty million were Portuguese, and about ninety million French. The exportation of oysters from this place amounted to one hundred and fifty-one million. Of this number fifty-four n)illion Portuguese and forty-seven million French came from the depots and rivers, and fifty million came from the claires. So, then, Marennes has sent off this year one hundred and fifty-one million oysters, representing a value of 5,900,000 francs [$1,138,700]. For the reasons which I have already indicated, these figures should be increased rather than diminished. Marenues, outside of the oysters raised in its claires, has an important trade iu the.se moUusks. Of the one hundred and ninety million imported in 1880-'81, only sixty million entered the claires. It is also iuipossible not to remark how much de- velopment the Portuguese oyster business has taken. The one hun- dred and fifty-one million oysters sold this year are estimated to include fifty-four million of the Portuguese species. I must now dwell for an iu^tant on the care taken of their claires by the oyster-culturists of this region. Not that I wish to repeat facts here Avhich have been known for a long time, but because it appears to me that the management of the claires of Marenues could be imitated with advantage in other oyster-cultural centers. The claires are located on the two banks of the Seudre. They are not, like those of Arcachon, submerged at every tide, but only at the height of the si)ring tides. Some are even quite a distance from the rivei banks. They are parceled out iu sucli a manner that some are being prepared while the others are in operation. The preparation of the ground takes place generally in the month of March. It comprehends two operations, gralage and moistening. The gralagc has for its object the purification of the soil by evaporation ; it lasts about six weeks or two months. The claires are cut, that is to say, the retention of water is prevented, and they are no more visited by the sea except at the spring tides. They dry up iu the sun, crack, and grale. When the claire is graled, in other words, covered with a very dry layer, fifteen da.ys are spent in moisten- ing it. A small quantity of water is caused to enter and remain. The dry crust splits [sedelife — breaks in the grain) in the water; it produces a sort of effervescence, and the final result is a uniform deposit on the claire of a creamy layer called humor. The oysters can then be put in place, and commence to become green at the end of a fortnight. This operation should be gone through every year. The oysters are placed BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 107 on the bottom of the clairo and spaced witb the hand. About five thousand are spread on a surface of thirty-tliree acres. Until the present time the industry of Marennes has consisted exclu- sively in raising and fattening-. We may hope shortly to see produc- tion introduced into this locality. In fact, the marine commissary of this district, M. Senne-Desjardins, is applying himself actively to this ques- tion. Having lived a long time at Auray, M. Senucj-Desjardins is abreast of all the questions connected with oyster-culture. His intelli- gence, and the interest which he carries into his labors, give ground for the hope that this new undertaking will be successful. COURSEULLES. — ADVANTAGE OF FRESH WATER. — Ou many other points of our shore the raising of oysters is carried on. I do not think that I ought to pass here in review all the localities where this industry is prosecuted. I will, however, ask your permission, Mr. Minister, to say a few words to ypu regarding one of these oyster-cultural centers which appears to me to possess a peculiar interest. I wish to speak of the parks which have for a long time existed at Courseulles. These parks are situated in the neighborhood of the Seniles, a little water-course which empties into the sea in this part of our Xorman coast. The canals, through which the oyster basins communicate with the sea, are so disposed that when the sea rises it cannotj during the neap tides, pass over their flood-gates. Consequently the water is not renewed during this jjcriod. During the springtides the salt water can enter the canals, but only after mixing itself with the fresh water of the Senile. Undiluted sea-water never jienetrates into the parks. ^N^ow it has been long noticed that the oysters placed in the basins of Courseulles fatten rapidly and become of a particularly delicate taste. I repeat these facts because it seems to me to result from all that I have learned of others, and Irom all that J have been able to observe by my- self, that the mixture of fresh water with that of the sea is a condition which, if not indispensable, is at least most advantageous for the fat- tening of the oyster. At the same time, the currents incontestably exert a favorable influence on the raising, the growth, of these moliusks. French oysters transported to the mouth of the Thames, in water nearly fresh, speedily acquire qualities which make them sought for bj^ epicures. A great quantity of moliusks sold under the name of Ostend oysters have no other origin. It has also been remarked that the oysters gathered in the Chesapeake Bay are much fatter than those fished on other portions of the American coast. It is quite probable that this favorable condition is due to the numerous streams of fresh water which empty into this bay. I think then that the fattening of the oyster should be recommended on all parts of our coast where the natural con- ditions are such that a mixture of fresh and salt water can be obtained. At Lorient several establishments, where this desideratum is realized, are on the broad road to prosperity. These examples could easily be 108 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. jiuiUiplied. They have endeavored, for some time, to practice raising and I'attening in the basin of Auray. The oyster-culturists have here to struggle against the obstacle arising from the small degree of firmness which the soil presents. They succeed in triumphing over these bad conditions by macadamizing the mud. For that they cover the ground with sand and stones which end by forming a bed sufficiently resisting. I think that the Breton oyster-culturists will be able to thus raise oysters, but I very much fear that the fattening will not give good results in this region. In fact, except at a few privileged points, the want of fresh water will be a serious obstacle to perfect success. MEDITERRANEAN COAST. While oyster culture is comparatively flourishing on our ocean shores, it is not represented on our Mediterranean coast. All the attempts made in former times by M. Coste were without the desired results. I think that it is useless to dwell upon those unfortunate experiments, but there is some interest in examining whether the oyster industry should bi3 finally abandoned in this part of France. Several species of oysters at present live in the Mediterranean. These species are the following : I. The Osfrca edulis and its varieties. This oyster seems to live only with difficulty in the Mediterranean, at least in the part of it which washes our coast, and it never forms beds. Some individuals are found on a muddy bottom, at the depth of thirty to sixty meters, off the mouth of the Rhone. II. The 0. cyrnusii. This oyster very much resembles the edulis. It is principally distinguished by the greater length of the hinge-groove. It lives in the briny pools on the eastern coast of Corsica. III. The 0. cochlear. I cite this species simply for the sake of mention- ing it. It is, indeed, a very small and rare mollusk, inhabiting great depths (100 to 140 meters). It j)ossesses no interest from a gastronomic point of view. IV. The 0. sfantina. — This is a small species, rather abundant at Tou- lon, more rare on the rest of our coast. It seems to prefer to inhabit impure waters. Among these species only two are interesting from an oyster-cultural point of view, the 0. edulis and the 0. cyrnusii. All the attempts which have been made up to this time have related to the 0. edulis. Thus M. Coste used for his experiments oysters coming from the coast of Bre tagne. Now, as we have just said, this si)ecies of oyster seems to ])rop- agate itself with difficulty on the Mediterranean coast. Many zoolo- gists attribute this circumstance to the fact that the sea-water here is too salt, nowever that may be, it appears to me that new attempts should be made, directed this time to the oyster of the Corsican coast, the 0. cyrnusii. I am led to think that this species would give good results if it was introduced into the lagoons which aie so numerous along our southern coast, and to which I have already had the honor of directing your attention. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 109 CONDITION OF OYSTEE CULTURE AND DANGERS THREATENING IT. Kot onl3' does the new industry place a great quantity of mollusks on the home market, but it also exports a considerable number. Thus, in the last year, the French oyster-culturists sent to London twenty- eight millions of oysters. Belgium, likewise, receives several million annually. However, I am convinced that oyster-culture could attain a much greater development if it could be protected from certain dan- gers tbat menace it, some of which, at least, are really grave. Permit lue then to show you these dangers and the means which, in my opinion, should be put in operation to combat them. I have already had occa- sion to describe to you the rapid decadence of the natural beds. That is, without contradiction, the most formidable danger which threatens the oyster-cultural industry. It is important, then, to search for the causes to which should be attributed this state of decay. Two principal facts can be appealed to. It is necessary first to cite the pillage of the beds, which is carried on incessantly. The thefts are committed in open day. The plunderers not only attack the reserved beds, but have even been seen to install themselves on parks belonging to particular persons, break the nursing boxes [caisses, i. e., causes ostre- ophilcs — nursing boxes, or cages], and carry off the contents. The em- ployes of the navy, notwithstanding their good will and devotion, are not in a condition to oppose the depredations of these hardy robbers. In fact, the means which the maritime authorities have at their disposal do not i)ermit them, under most circumstances, to follow and appre- hend the robbers. Pirates of this kind, provided with rapid boats, knowing admirably the ground on which they operate, and always taking advantage of foul weather, are nsually very difiliculc to arrest. Coast- guards cannot work with effectiveness except Avhen they can have steam launches at their disposal. This means, already recommended by Mr. Senator Eobiu, appears to me the only one which can assure a serious surveillance. But this is not all. When, by a happy circumstance, the robber has been captured, the punishment which awaits him is really ludicrous. One may see a man who in a few hours has stolen oysters worth 200 or 300 francs, condemned to pay a fine of five francs! Another quite important cause of the decrease of the natural beds is their too frequent dredging. We know that to arrive at marketable size the oyster needs a time which may be estimated at two or three years. On certain portions of our coast, and notably in the rivers of Auray, the dredging takes place every year. The fishermen are rec- ommended, it is true, to throw back into the sea the oysters which are too small; but who cannot see that this recommendation has no effect? jSTecessarily, then, dredgiug should not be allowed on the same bed more than once in two or three years. Such is the practice adopted at Arcachon, and I have had occasion to say that its results are excellent. Another cause which opposes the development of oyster-culture, in 110 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Bretague at least, is the too higli rent, as I believe, which is exacted from the concessionaires of lands. In fact, while the rent at Arcachon is from thirty to fort^^-five francs per hectare, according to the position of the pares, the Breton oyster-culturists pay not less than one hundred francs for the same extent of laud. Now these lands are not adapted to any other use; they are absolutely valueless mud-sloughs {vaseres). The charge of 100 francs per hectare is, then, much rather that of a leas- ing than that of a concession. This is really a considerable tax, which lights on a new industry that merits, in every respect, to be protected and encouraged. In fact, outside of the interest which it possesses in itself, it should not be forgotten that oyster-culture gives occupation every year to a great number of persons, women and children, who would not be able, without that circumstance, to engage in any work, ever so little remunerative. GOYEENMENT ACTION REQUIRED. ' I think it would be desirable for the Government, I. To place at the command of the coast-guards a number of steam launches, the only boats which can pursue with success the pillagers of our natural beds. II. To regulate the dredging of these beds in such a manner that none of them can be fished except once in three years. III. To recommend to the competent authorities a greater severity in the iiunishment of thefts committed to the prejudice of the oyster-culturists. lY. To di- minish the rent required from the concessionaires of parks in the Breton region, so that the amount of this tax will not surpass that asked from those of Arcachon Bay. ADVICE TO OYSTER-CULTURISTS. In r«?gard to the advice to be given to the oyster culturists, such ad- vice will naturally find its place in the course which you have seen fit to institute. The persons who are engaged in this industry can, more- over, do much by themselves. In this order of ideas I will point out the foundation of oyster-cultural societies. The oyster-culturists of Auray have had the idea of grouping themselves together thus. Their reunion, which has taken the name of the Ostreacultural Society of the Bassin d'Auray, has already furnished excellent results. This society publishes a monthly bulletin, and, moreover, has founded an oyster- cultural museum of great interest to all those who concern themselves with questions pertaining to the cultivation of oysters. This example should be follo^v ed in all the oyster-cultural centers. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Such are the facts, Mr. Minister, to which I would desire to direct your kind attention. In concluding, permit me to tell you how much I have been aide.din my researches by the agents of the maritime admiii- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Ill istration. M. Broquet, lieutenant commanding the man-of-war Mous- tiqiie, MM. the naval commissaries Senne-Desjardines, Lhopital, Gestain, and Castelin, have procured for me valuable information. If I have been able to record in this report some fiicts possessing- interest, I certainly owe it to the kind complaisance which I have met with from the per- sons whose names I have just mentioned. Paris, October 30, 1881. 47.— A IVOTE OIV THE C'BJBAIV EEI.. By SETH E. MEEM. In Poey's Synopsis Piscium Cubensium and Enumeratio Piscium Cubensium is recorded a species of the genus Anguilla, Anguilla cuhana Kaup. V/ith a vicAv of testing the characters assumed to distinguish this from our species of the same genus. I have carefully compared specimens collected by Professor Jordan in Cuba with si)ecimens from Wood's HoU and one specimen from Chewalla Creek, Alabama, and am unable to tiud an y constant difference. I have also compared these spec- imens with a number brought from Venice by Professor Jordan last summer. They present the same difference found to exist in specimens from both sides of the Atlantic examined by me last May (Bull. U. S. Pish Comm. 1883, 430). In my opinion Anguilla culana cannot be con- sidered as a distinct species, but as strictly identical with the Anguilla rostrata. Below^ is given a table of eleven specimens, two from Cuba, three from Wood's HoU, one from Eufaula, Ga, and five from Venice. The proportions are gi%'en in hundredths of the length to end of last vertebra. All the specimens mentioned are in the museum of Indiana University. I am indebted to Professor Jordan for valuable aid. Dimensions. Locality. o w H w m ^ r^ o o o o ^ ^ 0^3 13 04 f t-. O g|o = ^ C' "-C o a o a ^ o r o Length of head Distance from end of snoat to front of dorsal Distance from end of snout to front of anal Distance from front of dorsal to front of anal Len.iith of mandible Length of pectoral DejUh of body at front of anal Distance from gills to vent Length of specimen in inches 13 34.J 44J m 13i 35 J 35 J 343 34 45 10 9^ 5i 6 4i 4 6 6 sn 30 45} 9i C 4 6 46 44 in 10 6J 6 12i 31 42s 113 5' 4 5i 27 42 llf 30 44 28 42 30J 31^ 30A| 29 18.116.213.121.7 4.45 7 ! I I I I 14 4J 3f -, 5J 30i 31 n.811.5 15 H 12 30J 43* 13A 12J 29 43i 14 5 4 5i 29A 9. 6:22. 4 -n.!' 5i 4 6i 14* 4 131 35 44| 95 5J 4i C 30£ 122^ 28J 42* 13| 34| 45| inj . ^^'^ 5A' 5g 30* |30f 112 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4S.— WIIITEFISH, liAKE TROUT, AND BKOOK TROUT IN FRANCE. [Extract from Proceedings of the Society of Acclimatizatiou.*] The manager of the piscicultural establishment of Bouzey writes to the agent-general: "I have the satisfaction to announce to yon that the Salmo namaycush are magnificent and very vigorous. We have had no losses up to the present time, though the absorption of the yelk-sac will be coniplete in eight days. The eggs of Goregonus albus have turned out finely, and there are nearly as many alevins as there were eggs. Five thousand of them have been jjut in the lake of Girardins, 10,000 in the Bouzey reservoir, 4,000 in a special piscicultural basin well adapted to them, and 1,000 remain on the tables, which we will try to raise if it is possible. The eggs of Salmo fontinalis are beginning to hatch and promise a fine result." Mr. Leon d'Halloy writes to the recording secretary : " I have received the eggs of Salmo namaycush and of Coregonus forwarded by the society. The Coregonus eggs have been hatched in the German apparatus which you caused to be sent to me. This apparatus has given excellent re- sults ; the eggs remain always very bright, and clean themselves very readily, as you told me would be the case. The alevins have been set free. Be particular to recommend to put the young of this species in deep water (of at least three meters), otherwise they will be lost at the age of six months ; before that age they may be raised in water 50 centi- meters deep. The Salmo namaycush are coming out well and the alevius are very vigorous. "All mj^ fish are doing finely. Some of my Salmo foniinalis (those Avhich you saw) reproduced this year. The alevins are more vigorous than those from the eggs which I have received during the year from Kew York. I am satisfied with the Loch Levin trout. What made me judge ill of this species the first was that, as with the Salmo fontinaUs, the journey- of the eggs in ice causes the embryos produced to be less vigorous." 40.— CAKa» BN AN aNSTAl-IiMENT OF SHAD FROITI JAMES RIVER. By E. G. BLACKFOKD. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] A barrel of shad arrived to-day in our market that were caught in the James River, Virginia. Among them was one German carp, weigh- ing 3i ])ounds. New York, Ajn-U 4, 1884. * Bulletin Mensuel de la SocUte Nationale d'Acclimatation de France, Mars, 1883, pp. 186, 187. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 113 Vol. IT, |Vo. 8. Washin$?ton, D. €. April S3, 1 884. 50— I^'STKUCTiOi'VS FOR TAKIIV« WHITE-FISH EGGS. By SEYMOUR BOVVER. Employes engaged iu collecting white-fish eggs for United States Fish Hatchery at Alpena, Mich., are desired to observe the following in- structions : Care should be taken to use live, ripe fish only. The spawners are ripe when they discharge their eggs freelj', in a liquid stream, when pressed along the belly towards the vent. The males are ripe when they yield the male principle or milt promptly by stripping with the thumb and fingers just forward of the vent. The ripe females can quite easily be distinguished from those that are not ripe, simply by touching the belly, the former being very soft and the latter more or less hard. In cases of doubt, however, it is well to take up the fish and try to start the eggs by crowding ; if ripe, the eggs will flow freely with a moderate pressure; if unripe, they come away, if at all, in bunches. Fish from which the eggs are running when taken from the net are in perfect spawn- ing condition (if alive) and may be manipulated at once. White-fish from trap-nets usually live twenty to thirty minutes after lifting, sometimes much longer, according to the weather ; but the males are too far gone for use whenever the milt is clotted or too thick to mix freely with the eggs. Whenever there is a scarcity of male fish good milters may be laid aside a few moments and then used a second time. Milt mixed with blood should not be used. To hold a fish securely, place its head between the left arm and side, and grasp it firmly with the left hand just forward of the tail ; this leaves the right hand and arm free to press out the eggs and milt. Hold the vent of the female close to the bottom of the pan, so that the eggs will not be injured in dropping; then, with the whole hand adapting itself to the natural curve of the belly, press or crowd slowly forward towards the vent, repeating the movement until the eggs are all discharged, or cease to flow freelj'. Then add the milt from two or more males as soon as possible, and mix thoroughly, but carefully, with a feather or the tail of a fish. Another si)awner may now be stripped into the same pan, and milted as before, if there is one near at hand so that it can be done with- out delay ; then set the pan aside and continue to take eggs as before, in another pan, and so on. Allow each pan of milted eggs to stand not less than two nor more than five minutes ; then add water until the pan is about two-thirds full. In very cold weather, however, it is sometimes necessary to add the water to the eggs immediately after milting, to pre- vent freezing. About fifteen minutes after the first water has been Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 8 114 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. added, pour it oft', riuse the eggs through one or two waters, and trans- fer them to a pail filled with water. Fill the pails not more than half, or at the most two-thirds full of eggs, and dip or pour oft" the water and refill with fresh as often as once in half an hour, until the eggs are trans- ferred to the shipping crates or floating boxes, or are delivered at the hatchery. Eggs must remain in i^ails or vessels, with frequent changes of water, at least four hours before being placed in the shipping crates ; but where floating boxes are provided, they may be transferred thereto at once, on arrival at shore. When ready to fill the crates, wet the flannel trays thoroughly in cold water ; dip up the eggs with a perforated dipper, allowing them to drain, and with a feather sj^read them uniformly on the trays, three or four layers deep ; then drain still further by tilting the tray and in- serting a knife blade between the flannel and franie to allow the drain- age to escape. It is important that the eggs should be moist, but not dripiniKj. Place the filled crates in a cool place, out of the sun. The tempera- ture should not be above 50^, nor must the eggs be allowed to freeze. In all cases forward to the hatchery as soon as possible. Make every eftbrt to handle every spawning fish ; and once obtained, the eggs must not be lost through carelessness or negligence. Employes remain at their stations until ordered elsewhere or to discontinue, and accomi)any the boat to which they are assigned on every trip to the nets. Alpena, Mich,, November 1, 1883. 51.-EXCHAIV«E OF I^AIVD-XiOCKED SAI>MOIV EGGS FROi^ ITIAIIVE FOK L.O. By Sir JAMES G. MAITJLAND. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I am happy to say the 5,000 land-locked salmon ova you so kindly for- warded me through Mr. F. Mather arrived in first-class condition on the morning of March 19. The eggs are not quite so large as salmon ova from this (the Forth) district, but are larger than those of salmon from the Tweed this spring. The effect of the epidemic with which that river has for the last several years been affected having been (by killing out the old fish) materially to reduce the size of the ova. I would like to send you some of our Scotch Loch Leven trout ova which I have successfully introduced into New Zealand. If you will kindly let me know how the cases should be addressed, I will forward them from here the week beginning Monday, November 24. Our best ova in this country always hatches out in December, while the ova from younger fish is frequently not spawned till February. STiRLiNa, Scotland, March 21, 1881. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 115 5^.— SUCCESS OF FISII-CUIiTURE. By MAX VOW DEI»I BOKNE. [Translated by Charles G. Atkins from tbo circular of the German Fishery Union.] It cannot be often enough repeated that not every kind of fish thrives in every water, and that we can expect success in fish-culture only when we put the right fish into the right water. If fish fry are to be planted in lakes or rivers, such places should be chosen for the de- posit of the fry as the fish themselves would select. Where failure is complained of, it is commonly the case that a species of tish has been planted in uncongenial waters, or it has been forgotten that the limited amount of fish food afforded in the water can only sustain a correspond- ingly limited weight of fish. When they undertake to stock the Havel at Potsdam with one or two year old salmon, bought anywhere, fiiilure is to my mind certain. The lake trout lives in lakes and resorts to rapid brooks to spawn on stony ground; therefore I hold it to have been wrong to plant the fry of this fish in lakes and carp ponds as soon as they had absorbed the yolk-sack. The same is true of the brook trout introduced from North America, whose fry were planted in lakes, while they naturally inhabit stony brooks. Vain I consider the turning out of salmon fry at the mouths of the streams, and the planting of young German char in brooks, for the former is at home in brooks, the latter in lakes. The grayling is not so widely distributed as the trout, and it is difficult to determine, in case of a river not already inhabited by this fish, whether it is suitable for grayling or not. In some instances the planting of grayling con- tinued for several years has been unsuccessful; probably these waters are not adapted to the species. Where, however, the appropriate conditions of existence are afforded the fish, and there is no lack of sustenance, success is not wanting. The transplanting of our brook trout to Australia, of our carp to Amer- ica, of the California salmon and the brook char to Europe, are facts that admit of no doubt. The successes of fish-culture are, of course, more readily observable when small bodies of water, brooks or lakes, are stocked than in case of large river systems; they are easier recognized in the culture of local fishes than of the migratory kinds that run to the sea and spend most of their lives there. SUCCESS OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT CULTURE. The Rhine. — Yon Winterstein reports from the Mosel district that the increase of salmon in the Prims is yearly more evident. In the Saner the yield is extraordinarily abundant, as well as at the junction of the 116 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Sauer aud Mosel. lu the Lower Mosel the salmon catch is satisfactory. Baron von Diicker, at Menden, says that there are a good many salmon in the Euhr as far as they couhl ascend in the long-continued low stage of the water over the almost imi)assal)le dams on the Euhr (with a favor- able stage of water they used to ascend as far as Herdecke), so that the Westphalian flsh-culturists may have the satisfaction of asserting that tbey have accomplished something. At Werden, for instance, sal- mon of all sizes can be seen morning and evening continually leaping. It is an interesting circumstance that at Witten, in September, Mr. Carl Lohmann took aSJ-pound salmon in the Ruhr with an artificial fly, a red i^alraer 20 millimeters long. At Hattiugen many salmon have been taken — in the Schleuse, as the reporter says. We hope that the capture is not accomplished in the same way as it used to be in the now abol- ished trap at Miihlheim. In the Main salmon appear more plentiful than formerly (report from Hammelburg). The greater part of the Khine salmon are caught in Holland, and the most of them come to the market of Kralings-veer. Since 1870, when the fish-breeding establish- ment at Hiiuingeu came into German possession, a great number of salmon fry have been turned out in the Rhine Valley. The following table shows that since that time the salmon fishery has improved, though, to be sure, it cannot be shown how much fish-culture has contributed to it, since the final result is the j)roduct of sundry factors in part unknown. CONDENSED STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS OF SALMON AT KRALINGS- VEER. 1870 21, 687 1871 23, 209 1872 32, 228 1873 58, 384 1874 77,080 1875 56, 43G 1876 42, 293 1877 , 44, 580 1878 49, 691 1879 38, 914 1880 41, 736 1881 44, 376 1882 55, 079 1883 79, 008 For the months of October, November, and December, 1883, it is as- sumed that the catch will average as in the thirteen years preceding. It will be seen that 1883 is the best year since 1870, even exceeding 1874. From the Ems district Von der Wengen reports that in July of this- year, in the Werse, at Muuster, the run of salmon was very good. The I BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMxMISSION. 117 Weser, according to G. Seelig, in Cassel, is now richer in salmon than formerly. The Elbe. — Prof. A. Fric, of Prague, communicates the information that so many salmon were caught in the valley of the Elbe in Bohemia that the price sank to one mark (24 cents), and in June to half a mark per pound. Formerly it was more than double these figures. Between Leitmeritz and Kolin, according to the testimony of H. Podhorsky (fisherman), more than 1,000 salmon have been cuaght this year, a num- ber hitherto unheard of. The most of them weighed 8 or 9 pounds. Schools of young salmon were also observed in the Moldau and Elbe, on their way to the sea. The Saale, though barred by difiQcult dams, was visited by salmon, and several were taken in the Upper Saale. Count Eantzau, at Breiten- burg, in Ilolstein, reports that in the Storthe salmon were more abun- dant than formerly. The Oder. — According to High Forester Ahlborn, of Schonthal, the increase of salmon in the Kiiddow for the past four years has been re- markable ; especially have many more small and medium-sized salmon been observed. At Borkendorf many salmon were caught at the spawning time, but no eggs fecundated. More efficient supervision is desirable there. Ac- cording to a report of the Fishery Union for East and West Prussia, small salmon of the size of Swedish anchovies (Stromling) were observed in great numbers the past summer in the Drage. The fishermen of Driesen had, as I am informed by Justice Prietz himself, a good catch of salmon. There were caught 04 salmon, of 14 to 35 pounds weight, that brought 1.1. marks per pound, so that the fishermen received 1,400 marks for them. This autumn the net fishery is still better. At Drie- sen, up to the middle of September, 148 fish of 10 to 35 pounds had been caught, and as the fishing season lasts till mid-October, the total catch must be reckoned at twice that number at least. In the Drage the catch at Steinbusch is reported likewise good, and the fishermen of Uscz, at the mouth of the Kiiddow, are said to have taken 8 salmon in a single night. Meclilenhurg rivers. — Councilor Brussow traveled in the spring with an official of the land district of Doberan along a part of the Baltic coast to inquire into the results of the planting of salmon fry, and which he found to bave been very considerable. Formerly in the district of Doberan on a stretch of coast 2i miles long lived three sea fishermen, of whom two followed the fishery only as a secondary occupation, and obtained but a scanty subsistence. Since 1880 the salmon fishery has become more important, and now in the same district there are eight fishermen subsisting exclusively and with comparatively ample earn- ings upon the sea fishery. Their catch consists mainly of salmon, sea trout, and herring, with a few flatfish and cusk. The magistrate of Wis- mar reports that the salmon fishery has much improved, and that in 118 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. consequence a certain Captain Bade has established himself in the neighborhood of the city and engaged in the sea-fishery exclusively. At the mouth of the Warne many hundreds of salmon are now y«arly caught. In consequence the magistrate has petitioned Hc.rr Brussow to have 30,000 to 50,000 salmon eggs hatched for him and the fry planted in the Warnow basin. On the whole coast of Mecklenburg the salmon fishing has experienced a remarkable improvement. I am sorry to say that undersized salmon are also caught and secretly sold. Schlesicig-Holstein. — Yon Stemann, at Reudsburg, writes that the Ehine salmon was extinct in these waters, but that now it is caught more plentifnlly than the sea trout. In the fall of last year fine speci- mens were sold at 50 pfenings (12 cents) per pound. Up to October 5, in the Treene, between Eggebeck and Tarb, G4 salmon were caught. To get salmon spawn several large inclosures were constructed to hold the fish until ripe. Since the fishermen catch plenty of sea trout, brook trout, and the hitherto unknown Ehine salmon, the repute of the Fish- ery Union grows year by year. The salmon have now reached a weight of 8 pounds each. In 1881 9 males of 3 to 4J i)ounds were taken, and in 1882 the first mature females of 6f pounds were caught, and 5,000 eggs fecundated. The Luhnau and Wehrau have got a very good stock of trout and sea trout, through the planting of fry. The results of fry- planting always consist in increase. Between Flensburg and Alsen- langballig many salmon and sea trout were taken this winter, which were in great demand, and brought the fishermen from 1.50 to 1.70 marks per pound. But a short time ago, in the neighborhood of Flensburg, at one haul 50 pounds of sea trout were taken, which brought the fish- ermen 80 marks. At Owschlag about 500 pounds of salmon and sea trout are caught in the winter. The Eider, below Rendsburg, yields many Rhine salmon and sea trout weighing from 3 to 7 pounds apiece. The catch of salmon and sea trout at the village of Brammer, which is very considerable for so small a stream as the Jevenau, gives striking proof of the increase of these fishes through the planting of fry. B. Eis- ner, fish breeder at Alt-Muhlendorf, reports that since the founding of the fish-breeding establishment, from a comparatively small number of planted fry, noteworthy good results have followed. Of the fry of sea trout liberated in 1881, according to the statement of fishermen, great quantities (basketsful) of the size of medium herring were caught at Eckernfoerde in 1882, in the basket-nets that stand in the bay of Eckern- foerde. In the spring of 1882 sea-trout fry were turned out at Neu- stadt, and now, as the fishermen say, in the bay of Neustadt, small sea trout are taken at every haul of the seine. Since great success has been experienced in other parts of the province also, the fishermen, otherwise hard to convince, take a lively interest in the matter. The German Fischerei Zeituug, No. 24, reports from London, under date of August 15, that the salmon fishery in Scotland has been extra- ordinarily productive the past month, so that the price fell to Gd. per BULLETIN OV THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 119 pound. Tlic rijiidly enforced close season of the salmon rivers, the pro- hibition of fixed instrnmeuts of capture at the river mouths, as well as the protection of the young- salmon and the spawning- places in connec- tion with the vigorous employment of artificial salmon culture are gen- erally regarded as the most important causes of the improvement in the salmon fishery. North America. — In the report of the Commissioner of Fisheries for 1879 (published in Washington in 1882), page G98, Livingston Stone makes the statement that since artificial fisli-culture has been carried on in California the salmon have increased immensely in the Sacramento, so much so that, although the canneries have increased and the sea-lions and the fishermen also, the salmon have nevertheless made a steady gain in numbers, or, in other words, the fishery commission has, with the aid of artificial hatching, beaten the sea-lions, the canneries, and the fishermen combined. SUCCESS OF THE CULTUKE OF BROOK TROUT.* The Danube. — The Fishery Union of Waldmiinchen has since 1879 yearly deposited several thousand trout fry in the brooks tributary to the Eegen. In consequence the catch of trout has considerably in- creased. The liHiNE. — Every fishery lessee is required to turn out yearly in the leased waters 100 trout fry for every cubic meter of water supply, and the trout-fishing is thereby remarkably improved. Wiirzhurg. — The ''Fish Brook " was fishless; it was stocked with .1,000 trout fry per year for three years past, and now it swarms with fish, of which the largest weigh a pound. Bibclhausen near Saarhurg. — The mountain brooks flowing into the Lower Mosel are now well stocked with game fish, and fishing is very remunerative. -v Birl-enjicld. — Since 1878, 5,000 young trout have been yearly turned out in the Trauu Brook Valley. Now trout occur there in plenty; even in the vicinity where formerly trout belonged to the rarities, edible trout are now again caught. The net result of artificial fish culture is here gratifying-. Montabaur. — The Gelb Brook yields notably more eatable trout since it has been regularly stocked with trout fry. Deutz, on the Sieg. — Franz Goebel turned out trout fry below Deutz eight years since. The fish ascend at high water as far as Deutz, and many trout now occur there, as was not the case before. Barmen. — Burdet Chevalier stocked the brooks that he had bought and rented with trout fry, and now has far more edible trout in them than before. * Each item in the following paragraphs, relative, to brook trout, sea tront, char, grayling, whitefish, carp, and eels, id accompanied by a reference to individual au- thority for the statement. Tbe names being mostly unknown to American readers, they are omitted by the translator. 120 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Fiicliten, near Nelieim. — lu consequence of artificial fisli-cultare, the Eulir and its tributaries in the neigiiborliood of FUcliteu are now better stoclced with trout than formerly. Menden, — Baron von Duecker caught, May 23, with a gray artiiicial lly, between 4 and C o'clock, forty-four trout and one grayling, a conse- quence of the planting of trout fry in the Honne; also on the Upper Euhr he had a good catch, especially on the spots where, in the spring, trout fry had been planted. The Wesee. Lauterberg. — The improvement in the stock of trout through the planting out of fry is very noteworthy, 1| to 2 pound trout being taken much oftener than formerly. The Elbe. — C. Arens, of Oleysiug^en, near Ellrich, in the Hartz, sev- eral years ago placed several thousand trout fry in tbe canal that feeds his mill, which before had no trout; these were re-enforced by some small fish that had escaped from a rearing pond. On September 21, of this year, the water was drawn off to cleause the mill canal, and on that occasion 48 pounds of the finest trout were taken under the causeway bridge, besides small trout and try in quantity. The millers of the neighborhood also find to their astonishment beautiful trout in their water-wheels, as has not in a single instance occurred before for a decade. From which may be seen the use of ijlanting fry, and that it is not ad- visable to catch too small fish. The mill canal has a gentle current, muddy bottom, a smooth shore, a maximum temperature of 77° Fahr., and is rich in insect life. The water is better for trout than spring water. Although they cannot spawn in it, they grow better than in a swift, stony brook. The water is often much roiled by rains, yet the trout stay in it and do well. Tbe fish turned over to the cook, even those weighing IJ pounds, had white flesh, fat and toothsome. Konigshrucli in Saxony. — Through artificial culture trout are estab- lished in wild brooks where they did not before occur. The Odee. Bprottau. — The town turned out trout fry four years ago, and in consequence trout are now often taken at Si)rottau. The Weichsb! . — Miller A, Ohlert, of Somers-inon-the-Brahe, catches fine trout for the table, the product of the planting of fry. Christburg. — A brook, utilized for trout culture, affords an abundance of table trout for private use and for sale. Aleclienburg-Schivcrin. — The northern outlet of the great Schwerin lake had formerly no trout, but brook trout of 6 pounds weight are now caught there — a result of fish culture. Allow me to add a single instance from England. As I was fishing this spring at Walton, above London, I was informed by my friend, T. R. Sachs, and other members of the Thames Angling Preservation Soci- ety, that the trout fishery has wonderfully improved in consequence of the planting of trout fry. Mr. M. Cooper Morris writes mo, that besides the Thames trout, lake trout and American brook trout were also taken. Certainly the catch is ten times as great as a few years ago. Formerly BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 121 it was understood that a Thames angler needed three years for the capt- ure of a single specinien of the giant trout liviug in the river. Last year one gentleman took 80 good trout. Next to the late Mr. Frank Buckland, unquestionably Mr. James Forbes has obtained the greatest return. He has a small but verj' prettily arranged fish-breeding estab- lishment near Chertsey bridge, and in ten years has set free in the Thames a total of 120,000 to 1.50,000 trout fry. At Sunbury, also, has artificial breeding been effective in improving the trout fishery of the Thames. At the annual dinner of the Thames Preservation Society, a list was submitted of trout taken with the hook in a single week in May, 1883, between Chertsey dam and Kingston. It embraces 18 trout, weighing in the aggregate 109 pounds 14 ounces, thus averaging 6 pounds each. There Avas universal satisfaction over the success, and not a doubt has come to ray ears that artificial culture deserves the credit. Mr. li. B. Marston, reports in the London Field, of October 30, that Mr. S. Wilmot has in the International Fishery Exhibition in London an 11-pound Xew Zealand trout that was sent to him by the Otago Accli- matization Society; it was caught with the hook, and larger specimens are often killed. About twenty years ago trout eggs were sent from England to Kew Zealand, and from those has it resulted that the rivers of that region are now stocked with noble trout. Dr. Francis Day re ceived from New Zealand two beautiful trout in ice; they reached Lon- don in good condition, and are undoubtedly Salmo fario. LAKE TROUT AND CHAR. Oekonomierath Briissow, of Schwerin, Mecklenburg, caught last winter in his lake, with the coarse net, several 3-pound trout. Ziccitzen^ near Jena. — The char flourishes very well in several ponds in Thuriugia. According to Oberbiirgermeister Schuster, of Freiburg, the success of the planting of char in the Lake of Constance is beyond doubt. GRAYLING. (Reports are given from seven diflereut localities, showing in each case an increase of grayling resulting from the planting of fry.) WHITEFISn. In the Schleier Lake in the Bavarian Alps, in the autumn of 1882, the first ripe whitefish were taken. There were Corego7itis marama, the well- known fish of the Madui Lake, which have been introduced to the for- mer locality since 1878 by the German Fishery Union. Success has likewise attended the introduction of Coregonus Wart- manni, the "blaufelchen" of Lake Constance, into North German lakes. A spent male was taken February 24, in the Talter Lake, a i)art of Spirding Lake. According to Professor Benecke, it was 34 centimeters long, 7.5 centimeters high, 4 centimeters thick, and weighed 305 grams. 122 BULLETIN OF THE UNITEt) STATES FtSH COMMISSION. On both sides were visible, on seven rows of scales, the remains of the excn^scences of the spawning season. In the same lake among smelts there was taken, A])ril C, a second specimen of "blaufelchen," which was identified by Professor Benecke, and which measured 32 centimeters in length, 7 centimeters in height, 3.5 centimeters in thickness, and weighed 284 grams. Mr. Ohlert, of Somersin, in West Prussia, reports that Mr. Caspar! took GO blanfelchen with the coarse net in winter in the Suramin Lake, where formerly only small maraenae occurred ; three years ago fry of Madu marcena and blanfelchen were introduced. Professor Benecke identified a spent male 22 centimeters long, 6.5 high, 2.7 thick, and weighing 220 grams. The same fish was sent to Dr. Gemmiger, of Munich, and by this gentleman also was recognized as a blanfelchen. (Five other instances are given of successful breeding of the white- fish in German lakes.) CARP CULTURE. Sprottau. — A few years since, two-year old carp were placed in the Sprottau, and fine large specimens were taken this summer. Potfidam, July 15, 1883. — The planting of carp in the waters of Pots- dam district has been attended by evident success. Berneuchen {Max von dem Borne). — Since the lakes of Berneuchen and the Mietzel have been regnlarly stocked with yearling carp, these waters have been wonderfully productive of beautiful, great table carp. The same is true of the Botzen Lake of Dolzig, but there it was not possible to catch great numbers of carp until, last winter, the net was enlarged so that the whole lake could be swept at a single draught under the ice. The success was complete. The net contained all the fish it could hold, mainly carp. The largest of these, about 4,000 pounds weight, were taken out, and the greater part turned back to allow the carp to grow larger. EEL CULTURE. Years ago Director Haack,' of Hiiningen, got a great quantity of eel fry from French rivers, and in the spring sent them by mail to all parts of Germany. From the planting of these fry in the lakes and rivers very good results have followed, in several cases within my own knowl- edge. This fall a spring pool, unconnected with any other water, and without outlet, was fished. Four eels were taken; they' were one and three-fourths years old, and the poorest weighed one and one-quarter pounds. In the spring of 1882 a few specimens of eel fry had been ])laced here to observe the growth. On the profitableness of eel culture, Mr. !N^ehrkorn-Eiddagshausen (Braunschweig) says that a short time ago he had a small pond fished out that he had a few years before stocked with 500 young eels, and hat about 250 young eels were found, ranging from one-fourths to one kilogram (.55 to 2.20 pounds), some specimens weighing even one and one- i BtJLLlEtiN OF THE UNlTfeD STATES FISH COMMISSION. 123 half kilograms (3. 3 pouuds). The cost of the above 500 eels, post paid, amounted to 6 marks ($1.92); the proceeds of the sale of 200 eels was 200 marks ($04); some 50 partly-grown eelstrausCerred to another pond had, besides, a valae of 20 marks ($6.40). Such success should induce owners of stagnant tish waters to make a trial of eel culture. Of special interest is the attempt to introduce the eels to the waters of the Danube, where, as is well known, this fish does not occur. As the Bavarian Fischerei Zeitung, No. 13, reports at Grossomehring, near Ingolstadt, about the middle of June, iu the old bed of the Danube, there was taken an eel GO centimeters (23.7 inches)' long, weighing 500 grams (18 ounces), which was very lively and well fed. 53.— NOTES OI¥ €OI>, SUKIMP, ETC., AT COI^D SPRIIVO HARBOR. By FRED MATHEK. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Bcaird.] At high tide the tom-cod {micro gad us) run up to the hatchery and eat the fresh-water shrimp, gammarns {?). I have a fyke-net set, and took ten of them to-day, and all had their stomachs crowded with this food. At high tide the water near the hatchery is only of a density of 1.02 to 1.05, and I have there taken menhaden, bluefish, tom-cod, Miircenoides gunnellus (L.) Gill, and a species of Pleuronectes which I have not worked out. 1 see that the 21. gunnellus, tom-cod, and the flat fish will soon spawn. Have only taken one gunnellus; kept it a week in ajar of salt water, and it died to-day. Its eggs were large and within a few days of ripening. It had only one ovary. Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., October 14, 1883. 54.— €ARI» CAUGHT IIV OOEECHEE RITER. By 0£OR€}E A. HU1>§0]V. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I sent to the l>5'ational Museum to-day some small fish which were caught in the fresh water of the Ogeechee Eiver, in a trap which had been set for herring, rockfish, &c. Being the first of the kind ever seen in this section, they are sent to you for identification. Savannah, Ga., April 14, 1884. Note.— The fish sent by Mr. Hudson arrived April 16, 1884 (N. M. Ace, No. 14280), and proved to be five carp of about one pound weight. — C. W. S. 124 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 55.— €AR1» APPEAR FERRVAKY 7, TAKE THE HOOK, AlVD ARE EX€EI.1LEI^T EATIIVO. JBy B. D. PAI.MER. Beiug under the impression that, in this latitude, carp spent the en- tire winter in the nuid in a state of torj)or, I was greatly surprised by seeing one spring out of the water in my pond last Thursdaj^, February 7, witliin thirty-six hours of the disappearance of the ice which had covered the pond for six weeks preceding, I tried my hook and line and caught live. Every day since, they have come to the surface for bread, although one day the mercury was as low as 38°. To-day they took the hook as freely as in summer ; and I caught 30 — ranging from 5 to 13 inches in length. Nearly all were scale-carp. They were par- ticularly good, being firm and delicate; much better than those caught in the summer. This size are much better as pan-fish than the very large fish. Sandy Speing, Md., February 13, 1884. 56 COMISION I>E PISCICUI^TURA DE EA REPUBIiICA MEXICANA. By AI.FKED V. LA MOTTE, [Comisioiicaclo General.] With regard to the foundation of the Mexican Fish Commission, I would state that last year the Government of Mexico opened communi- cation with me relative to the feasibility of restocking its waters with good fish. This culminated in my going to Mexico and making an ex- amination of the principal waters of the central portion of the republic in connection with other investigations which they wished made. On the receipt and acceptance of the reports, the Government tendered to me the honor of commissioner of fisheries for the republic, which I ac- cepted. 1 proceeded to locate a national hatchery at the springs of Chimealapan, in the State of Mexico, and carp breeding ponds in the park of Chapultepec, as I believe this latter fish will thrive well in most of the small lakes. On my return to Mexico, a Board of State Commissioners will be appointed for each State, and will proceed as rapidly as circumstances will permit toward stocking the rivers and inland waters. After completing my inspection of the rivers and lakes this year, I can form a more correct idea of my future movements, but so far as my present knowledge goes, I can see uo reason why fish should not abound in the waters of IMexico. Glen Ellen, Cal., A2)ril 8, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 125 3r.— NOTES ON FI8III>0 PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROiTI SAN FRAN. CISCO, CAIi., DURINO THE YEAR 18S3.*J By \¥. H. DALL. The followiug notes and tables give the result of a laborious searcii through the detailed exportatious cited in the Market Eeview of San Francisco, upon which the accuracy of the figures depends, except cept in the case of exports by rail, which in the railroad tables are given in pounds of freight without valuation, so that the value has been ar- rived at bj" assigning an assumed value derived from the average value of similar material exported by sea. This may be a little too high, as the weight of cases, &c., are probably included in the returns, but there is no doubt that the valuation of the shipments by sea (except in the matter of a few standard articles like canned salmon) is greatly under- estimated. These notes and tables give information which has a certain value, even if merely ai^proximate in precision, and which cannot be found elsewhere. It was thought, therefore, it might be acceptable for the Fish Commission Bulletin. Table 1 shows the exportation by sea and rail of invertebrate pro- ducts. jSTo absolute form being required for exports the classification is confused, but is given just as furnished by shippers. The dry shrimp meats are prepared by the Chinese in California, win- nowed of their shells (which go to China as a valuable fertilizer), and are sent not only to China but wherever large numbers of Chinese are found — as Australia, British Columbia, Hawaiian Islands, and Peru. The value of this apparently almost worthless fishery carried on by a few miserable but industrious barbarians is certainly surprising. The column " Haliotis " includes not only the shells which alone are shii^ped to England, but the dried meats of Haliotis rvfescens, which are prepared by fermenting under a bed of horse manure and then desic- cated in the sun. These last form the bulk of the exports to China and Chinese colonists in other countries. Under the head of " pearl shell" are included only the shells of the " pearl oyster" fished in the Gulf of California and brought thence to San Francisco for transi^or- tation to Europe. The column of "shells unspecified" includes both Haliotis and jDearl-oyster products as well as a small proportion of shells used for " shell work " or scientific purposes. There is unfortunately DO means of classifying the different sorts of exported shell. The shipments by the Southern Pacific Railway include chiefly goods en route for Europe via New Orleans. Those by the Central Pacific probably go to Europe via New York, excepting the small quantity *Reacl before the Biological Society of Wasbingtoa, April 5, 1884. 126 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. used by manufacturers in the United States. Good quality of pearl shell, especially of the selected Haliotis, is now cited at over a dollar a pound for fine buttons and pearl jewelry. Only the Haliotis shell is the product of our own shores, the others being from Mexican waters. Table 1. — Invertebrate products shipjwd hij sea and rail'from San Francisco, Cal., in 1883. Shipped to— Dry shrimps. Shrimp shells. Haliotis. Pearl shell. Shells unspecified. Value. Australia $2, 829 108 73, 785 $18 $2, 847 168 British Columbia Chilli - $26, 288 18, 780 6,462 $9, 885 $3, 665 63, 255 1,260 122 518 79 602 1 260 4,799 845 5 644 New York 1,818 200 1,818 200 "PaTiaTiia, ................ 79 1, 231 79 1, 231 npntral Pacific Railrond. . -.. 76, 700 278, 187 76, 700 Southern Pacifio Railroaid .. 278, 187 Total values 82, 891 26, 288 26, 105 9,885 425, 085 570, 254 Table 2 shows the exports of certain sorts of fishery jjroducts by rail and sea, and the above notes in regard to destination of railway freight apply also to this table. The same difficulties of classification also ap- pear here. Fish unspecified, canned fish, and dry fish are chiefly cod products; canned salmon seems to be always so specified. "Fish bones" go to China for manure. " Fish wings " are the lateral expansions of the skate, which make a gelatinous soup ; '• fish siuews " are a kind of isinglass ; " Chinese goods" are the male organs of the sea-lion, dried, used as an aphrodisiac ; the galls are used in cleaning silk ; all these are exclu- sively prepared and shipi)ed by and for the Chinese. Much of the oil shipped was unspecified ; the amount of " fish oil " given is only that specified to be such ; the total was perhaps twice as much more. Of walrus ivory 31,120 pounds were received in 1883. It is now extremely high, quoted at $4 and $4.50 in New York, though the valuation of the shii)ping list is only $1 per pound. Two hundred and eighty barrels of walrus oil were taken. Of whale products not included in the table there were 1,208 barrels of sperm oil, 11,917 barrels of Avhale oil, and 102,244 pounds of whale- bone obtained by the fleet of 1883. Oil works for refining the catch have been recently established in San Francisco, and but little of the oil will hereafter come east. The canned salmon statistics represent the movement at the port but not the total catch, much being shipped from the Columbia Eiver and Victoria. Of 155, 000 cases of Alaska salmon canned in 1883 only 36,000 were shipped from Sau Francisco. The movement in canned salmon will be largely decreased hereafter, as the Northern Pacific Hail- way will now ship and control the movement of all salmon bound east by rail from the Columbia, leaving to San Francisco and the two other BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 127 roads only the catch of the Sacramento Eiver and a few small streams of the California coast. The mackerel of the table is all Eastern mack- erel ; most of the herring is Eastern. The sardines are mostly American, which are rapidly driving out the imported article, of which only about 10,000 cases reached California from all sources in 1883 against over 13,530 cases reported in 1882. Table 2. — Goods aliipped hij sea and rail from San Francisco, Cal., in 1883. Goods manifested for. Asia. Austral- asia. British America. Central America. China. England. Fish, unspecified ptga.. l^ifth caniipd ........ ^-. cases.. 26 156 2 18 1,321 1,123 1,195 319 336 336 198 1,257 126 125 143 216 513 2,548 99 4 2 18 18 Codtish pkgs.. Dry tifib, general do .. Vitli hniics . ....d.0... "Fish sinftws ...,-. ...,-. do. . . 12 C 13 237 1,003 HeiTinjx, dry or wet do. . . 23 14 2.500 27 145 30 74, 070 3,083 3 1,425 Salmon : 4,035 1,530 65, 059 Pickled bbls.. Smoked pkgs.. Fish oil bbls . . Chinese goods . pk;2,'S- . 75 1 1,250 Walrus ivorv "DOUDds. . Sealskins casks.. 9 Total packages or pounds . . 4, 274 84, 750 1,361 2,779 5,168 65, 068 Total values exported $22, 181 396, 641 5, 599 47, 378 49, 994 286, 9C6 Goods manifested for. Hawaii. Oceanica. New York. Central Pacific Kailroad. Southern Pacific Railroad. Values. Fish, unspecified pkgs.. Fish cases.. 2,361 288 242 61 Pounds. 20, 390 Founds. 1,140 $60, 864 11 278 Codfish pkgs.. 1,654 179 10 690 Dry fish, general do .•. 36,717 3 838 Fish bones do . . . Fish wings do 350 Fish sinews do .. 277 Herring, dry or wet do .. 169 8 753 Mackerel kits.. 13 93 4,327 1,062 343 Sardines cases . . 4 017 Salmon : Canned do... Pickled bbls. . 1,125 2 10, 024, 840 1, 933, 640 13, 267, 375 176, 190 2, 320, 624 76, 431 50 Smoked pkgs.. Fish oil bbls.. 250 1 792 Chinese goods pkgs.. 4(-9 Sea lion galls do . . 77 Walrus ivory pounds.. 2,960 4 210 Sealskins cask.m.. 430, 540 12 409,410 659, 480 u ind 185 gyo g4(j Total packages or pounds . . 5,738 6,086 Total values exported $31, 154 34, 445 2,974 1, 060, 530 1, 405, 804 3, 343, 606 Over 100,000 fur-seal skins from American and Eussian waters were shipped by rail in casks, all of them intended for Europe. Excluding whale products, the exportation of fishery products from San Francisco in 1883 amounted to not less than $4,000,000, the foremost items being 128 IJULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. salmou, fur-seal skins, pearl shell of various sorts, cod, and shrimp i)rod- ncts, in the order of their value. In the table Asia includes Eastern Siberia, Japan, Batavia, and Ma- nila. Australasia includes Australia and New Zealand; Central America includes also Panama, Mexico, and some small shipments to Peru and Brazil. Oceanica embraces Apia, Bonham Islands, Borabora, Fiji, and Tahiti. There was hardly any specified mov^ement in shell-fish, most of the excellent canned products beiug consumed at home or as ship stores. A single shipment of six cases oysters to Mexico is noted. The total exports of the port of San Francisco by sea in 1883 were $47,049,172 ; the total exports of fisher^' products not including whale products were about $4,000,000, or nearly 9 per cent, of the total. It is ])robable that no other port of the United States can show a greater relative value of exported products due to the fishing industries. Washington, D. C, March 5, 1884. 58.— IN REOARI> TO THE "SEA-SERPENT" OF I^STERATURE. By Pa-of. SAMUJEI. GAMMAN. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I have no idea that we shall ever find a huge unknown lung-breath- ing Saurian as a foundation for the stories. The existence of types of extinct Sauria of various geological periods is possible but improbable. The geological record is very incomiilete. In the main it is the shoal water or shore and surfiice forms of the sea, and the land forms, that have been recorded by geology. And this record has become indistinct or entirely obliterated by changes in the rocks in the early formation. The earliest forms were marine and the depths were the original cen- ters of divergence. The earliest forms of animals in regard to solidity were like those now living in great depths, i. e., they were gelatinous, flabby, or loose in structure, and not bony and hard or such as would be I)reserved in the rocks. In consequence, it seems as if our hopes of solu- tions of problems of origin and divergence, of knowledge of the beginning itself were best placed on the results of the study of animals in condi- tions most similar to those of the beginning, on the results of deep-sea researches. Within a few years our imperfect apparatus has secured from great depths a host of strange creatures, but none of the largest or strongest. In fact, we have had scarcely more than mere suggestions of what may exist, and, in view of them, shoidd not be surprised at anything that may come up. If there is a '• sea-serpent" yet unknown to scientists, it is likely to prove a deep-sea fish or Selachian. Cambridge, Mass., January, 22, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 129 Vol. IV, ]¥o. 9. l^asliin^toii, B €. April S4, 1884. 59. -NOTES ON THE COD CIL.1.-IVJET FISIIERIES OF OI^OIJCESTER, MASS., 18S3-'S4. By S. J. MARTIN. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Captain Gill, of the boat Gracie, had four cod-nets given him that were worn out in catching codfish last winter. He set them, together with two new ones, and the first night he caught 5,500 pounds of pol- lock and 400 pounds of large codfish. The pollock averaged 21^ pounds apiece, while those caught on hand-lines average 13 i^ounds apiece. The pollock caught in nets are all female fish full of spawn. There are three boats which have nets set. They catch three times as much pollock and three times as much codfish as they do on hand-lines. Pollock and cod have been scarce this fall. Forty sail of small craft which were out two days on the pollock grounds came in with 2,000 pounds. There will be more cod gill-nets used this winter than there have been before since they began to be used. There are no Sperling this fall, so that most of the boats will use nets. Gloucester, Mass., October 28, 1883. There are five boats fishing with the cod gill-nets. They are doing first rate in catching pollock and cod. The schooner S. W. Craig, of Portland, one of the high-line pollock catchers, was in here last Wednesday. I went aboard to see the skip- per and gain what information I could concerning the pollock fishery. The conversation ran thus: "How do you find the pollock, captain?" "Pollock! there ain't none. I have been out two days with 12 men and got 2,000 pounds; that is bad enough." I said: "They are catching a good many pollock in nets. Do you see that small boat coming ? That is Horace Wiley's; he caught 3,000 pounds night before last, and caught as many last night. He has got three nets." "Where does he catch them?" " Off on a spot of rocks called Brown's." The captain said: "I will get some spirliug to-night, and go ofi* where they have got their nets set. We will give them fits, if we can get some new spirling." I answered: "Cap., it is of no use to go where they have got their nets set. If you do you will get no fish." "That be hanged for a yarn. I think that you can catch fish with spirling as well as you can with nets." I said: "Xo, sir; you can't do it." The next day he went out with some new spirling to where Wiley was hauling his nets. (The latter had picked out a dory full of cod and pollock.) He let go his anchor close to the nets. He ordered, "All BulL U. S. F. C, 84 9 130 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, bands over lines/' and was going to give them fits. He lay tliere two hours and did not catch a fish. I was aboard yesterday again. I said, " Captain, liow did they bite where the nets were ? " " That beats all," he replied; " we never felt a bite. I am going to Boston to order 25 nets." Gloucester, Mass., October 31, 1883. A month ago there was one boat using the cod gill-nets ; today 8 boats have them. The boat Gracie started four weeks ago to-morrow. Her three men made $145 apiece. The rest of this week there will be 16 boats using cod gill-nets. They have each got 15 nets 50 fathoms long and 2J fathoms deep, with a 9^-inch mesh. There is a prospect of a good winter's work with nets. The first boat that started has landed 15,000 pounds of large cod and 30,000 jjouuds of large pollock. Some of the hand-line fishermen have not caught as much as 10,000 l^ounds in the same time. There is but one boat which has nets set in I])swich Bay. She caught 6,000 pounds with five nets. All the shore fishing will be done with nets this winter, as the sperling are scarce. The prospect is good for a large school of fish this winter. Gloucester, Mass., Nommher 11, 1883. There have been landed this week 120,000 pounds of large cod, and 80,000 pounds of large pollock ; 35,000 pounds have been landed at Kockport by two boats. Six weeks ago there was one boat using nets; to-day there are 26 boats, with an average of 15 nets ea(;h; that is, 390 nets in all, or 19,500 fathoms of netting. All that is set to-night in Boston Bay. There are two in Ipswich Bay. The schooner Onward went out to-day with 35 nets to set in Ipswich Bay. The schooner Morrill Boy hauled her nets for the first time last Sunday. She has lauded 43,000 pounds of cod and pollock since then, and stocked $1,066.75. There were seven men in the crew, and they made $124 each, which is not a bad sum to take in one week. Two days out of the week they could not haul their nets, as there was too much wind. Last Wednesday they made $50 to a man. The hand-line fishermen are not doing any- thing, bait is so scarce. Gloucester, Mass., November 18, 1883. During the past six nights 487,000 pounds of fish have been caught in Boston Bay with cod gill-nets and landed in Gloucester. Four boats fishing in Ipswich Bay landed 55,000 pounds during the same period. There are 35 vessels now using cod gill-nets, which number, I think, will increase to 40 by the 10th of December. Boats fishing with hand-lines catch only a few small fish. Bait is high; spirling brings 50 cents a bucket. About all the fish caught inshore is by nets. If they could be knit fast enough the whole fleet would have nets. Fishermen buy twine and the women knit the nets. Everybody is at work. Some boats BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FKH COMMISSION. 131 have been waiting four days for the glass iloats. A great winter's work, is anticipated. Gloucester, Mass., November 25, 1883. The amount of fish landed during the month of November was as fol- lows: Fish caught in cod gill-nets, 1,330,000 pounds codfish, 174,000 pounds pollock. Fish caught in cod gill-nets landed at Eockport and Portsmouth during the month of November, 183,000 pounds. Cod nets, take the cake. Gloucester, Mass., December 3, 1883. Last week the cod gill-nets landed at Gloucester 590,000 pounds of fish. There was also lauded at Portsmouth and Eockport 84,000 pounds which had been caught in Ipswich Bay by 5 boats. The fish landed in Gloucester were caught in Boston Bay by 33 boats. The gill-nets catch not only cod but jjollock, pufl'ers, monkfish, and dogfish. The three puffers caught last week all contained young. The codfish average 25 pounds ai)iece and are mostly sold to split at If cents a pound. The cod gill-nets cost $12 apiece last winter, and this winter $14.25 apiece. We much need something to keep the nets from rotting. Some boats having used their nets about five weeks now have to get new ones; the nets are 50 fathoms only. If the nets rot as fast all the winter as they do now, each man will require three nets before April 1. These will cost $43 without the floats. The floats cost 22 cents apiece, which is too much. The catch of fish varies very much. In three cases boats caught 2,000 pounds of fish in one night, and on the next night caught 8,000 pounds in the same place. Most of the cod are full of ripe spawn. Gloucester, Mass., December 9, 1883. During the past week there have been lauded at Gloucester 430,000 pounds of fish, at Eockport and Portsmouth 81,000 pounds, and at Swampscot 48,000 pounds. These fish were all taken with the cod gill- nets. On one day it was impossible to haul their nets. All the nets have been in use five weeks, and are so rotten that new ones have been ordered. Forty-eight vessels are using nets this week. There are five boats from Swampscot using nets, having failed to do anything with hand lines. The business of the glass-blowers and the net-makers is; good. Gloucester, Mass., December 16, 1883. During the past week there have been landed at Gloucester 186,00© pounds of codfish, at Eockport 48,000 pounds, and at Swampscot 34,000 pounds, all taken in the cod gill-nets. During three nights of the week the men were unable to haul their nets. On Thursday morning wheis they hauled their nets some boats found they had taken 4,000 pounds of fish. On Friday morning not one fish was caught, although the nets were set in the same place. Some of the boats then shifted their nets. 132 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 3 miles off shore upon a soft bottom. Here they caught from 3,000 to 4,000 i)ouuds. Most of the large boats will go to Ipswich Bay next week. There are 54 boats using cod gill-nets. There are 5 dories with 3 gill-nets each from Salisbury. The weather has been very bad for cod gill-netting during the week. Gloucester, Mass., Decernher 23, 1883. The amount of fish landed at Gloucester during the month of Decem- ber was as follows : Fish caught in the cod gill-nets, 1,120,000 pounds. Fish caught in cod gill-nets landed at other ports during the month of December, 300,000 pounds. Gloucester, Mass., January 1, 1884. All the vesselsusingthe cod gill-nets are in Ipswich Bay. During the last ten days the weather has not been favorable for fishing. Sixty thousand pounds were landed at Portsmouth last week. In Ipswich Bay the fish are in one place. Four hundred nets are set in a place one- half mile wide by one-half mile long. The nets are across one another. The vessels have set their nets all over the bay, but find only a few scat- tering fish except in that one spot. There they get good hauls every morning, when there is a chance to haul the nets. The three vessels that have been fishing on the Georges have set their nets in Ipswich Bay. One vessel has 40 nets. Six boats have taken x\y> their nets. The boats are too small to fish in Ipswich Bay, and they have put their nets on larger vessels. I think we shall have a good report next week. The fishermen think strangely of the fish being in one place. They can find nothing on the bottom to keep them alive. Gloucester, Mass., Jannary 7, 1884. In the gale of January 4, the vessels using the cod gill-nets met with a great loss. They lost 35 nets and had a great many badly torn. No fish were caught for four days after the storm. The last three days the nets have done well. They have landed 150,000 pounds. There are 7 boats home preparing their n6ts. Fifty-two sails are using the cod gill- nets. The fish caught in the nets sell for 4J cents per pound. I think the nets will be used till the 1st of April. The fish are large, averaging 20 pounds. They are half spawning fish. Gloucester, Mass., January 15, 1884. Vessels using cod gill nets have done well the past week, except two days when the nets could not be hauled on account of driving snow- storm. During the week 409,000 iiounds were landed. The price has been high, 4i cents a pound the whole week. The netters never get any fish the day before storms and have learned to prophesy their com- ing. Gloucester, Mass., January 20, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 133 Fish lauded at Gloucester during the mouth of January : Shore fish eries, with cod gill-nets, 843,000 pouuds.- Gloucester, Mass., February 1, 1S84. Vessels using cod gill-nets have not done as well the past week as l)reviously. In Ipswich Bay there was a different school of fish. Their average weight was 10 pounds. The vessels are catching them on trawls. The netters are preparing for the Februaiy school. They have done a good winter's work and still have two months in which to use their nets. Fifty-two vessels are using the cod gill-nets, and I think 80 sail of ves- sels will use them next winter. Quite a number of the George's Bank tleet will also use nets next winter. Gloucester, Mass., February 3, 1884. There were 305,000 pounds of codfish brought in by the vessels using cod gill-nets during the past week. Gloucester, Mass., February 18, 1884. During the past week vessels using the cod gill-nets landed 340,000 pounds of large cod at Rockport and Portsmouth. Some of the vessels using cod gill-nets have hauled up for the winter, three of them having used up their nets. Gloucester, Mass., February 24, 1884. There were 1,803,000 pounds of cod taken by the gill-nets in Ipswich Bay during the month of February. There were 48 boats engaged in the cod gill-net fishery, most of which landed their catch at Portsmouth and Kockport. The gill-net fishing will continue in Ipswich Bay dur- ing this month. Gloucester, Mass., March 3, 1884. The cod gill-netters have not done much this week on account of the lough weather. Gloucester, Mass., March 11, 1884. The men fishing with cod gill-nets in Ipswich Bay have caught noth- ing to speak of for ten days. The boats, 42 in number, often catch as lew as 30,000 pounds in one night. March 13 they caught 75,000 pounds ; iMarch 14, the same. The price is low, 1^ cents a pound, to-day. Gloucester, Mass., March 17, 1884. The vessels using cod gill-nets did well last week, having landed 520,000 pounds. The schooner Morrill Boy took 7,000 pounds in two nights in Ipswich Bay. These were mixed fish, some very large and some medium size. These were half male and half female. Gloucester, Mass., March 23, 1884. The cod gill-net fishermen have also done well. Since last Monday they have landed 483,000 pouuds of large cod. It has been a good win- 134 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ter for the cod gill-netters. At one time there were 52 vessels using nets. At present there are but 18. Olouoester, Mass., March 30, 1884. The total amount of fish landed from the gill-nets thus far this season has been as follows : Pounds. In November, 1883 1, 987, 000 In December, 1883 1, 120, 000 In January, 1884 843, 000 In February, 1884 1, 803, 000 In March, 1884 1, ]37, 000 Total 6, 890, 000 Gloucester, Mass., April 3, 1884. «0 — STATEJWTENT OF THE CATCH QF THE SEFERAfi COITIPANIES EIVOAOED IIV THE SAL-MOIV FISHERIE!^ IIV KADIAK DISTRICT, jlT^ASKA TERRITORY, DIJRIIVCi THE TEAR 1883. By WITI. J. FISH£R. karluk fishing and packing company at kaeluk. liED SALMON. — 3,250 barrels, and 13,500 cases of 48 pounds each. Vessels and men employed: Schooner Marion, 235 tons and 8 men; schooner Callistoga, 29 tons and 4 menj natives, 50 j Chinese, 60j whites, 16. ALASKA commercial COMPANY. Kenai Station. King salmon. — 250 barrels. 1 white and 8 natives. Achiok Station. Bed SALMON. — 252 barrels. Schooner Olga, 20 tons; 3 whites and 12 natives. Seal Bay Station. Red SALMON. — 300 barrels. Schooner Three Brothers, 20 tons; 4 whites and 4 natives. AlexandrowsM Station. Ked salmon. — 500 barrels; herring, 50 barrels; schooner Mary, 10 tons, 10 men. CUTTING & CO. Kassilor Cannery. Salmon. — 14,862 cases of 48 pounds and fifty barrels. Bark Courier, 800 tons; schooner Manitee, 35 tons; 26 whites, 25 natives, 60 Chinese. Saint Paul, Kadiak Island, Alaska, JDecemher 10, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 135 61 SOIflE NOTES OIV TBE mUL.IL.£:T FISHERIES. By BARNET PHILLIPS. MULLET FISHING ON THE WEST COAST OP FLORIDA, AT CEDAR KEYS. The season for mullet fishing- in the neighborhood of Cedar Keys be- gins about the last of November and continues until the first ten days of February, the best months being December and January. The fish will weigh from 2 to 3 pounds; occasionally a fish of 7 pounds has been taken. The gillnet, seine-net, and cast-net are all used. The gill-net is 150 yards long, 8 to 10 feet deep, with a mesh of If inches, and is worked by one man in a boat. One thousand fish is considered a good day's work. The seine is from 60 to 90 fathoms long, 22 feet deep, size of mesh 1^ inches, and it is worked with 8 men in a boat ; a good day's take is 10,000 fish, although often as many as 22,000 are taken. The cast-net, a circular net, held in the mouth and thrown out by a movement of the arm, will take 100 fish a day, though 500 fish are not uncommon. The fish are all shipped to Cedar Keys. The gangs working seines are established along the coast, as far down as Tampa Bay, and small schooners of from 10 to 16 tons carry the mullet from the fishing camps. At Cedar Keys the fresh fish find a ready market, and are shipped through Florida to Georgia, and to South Carolina, in ice. A great many fish are salted, and the roes are cured. The method of preparing the roe is as follows : The roes are taken out carefully, and a peck of salt is used to the half-barrel of roe, and mixed with it. The salt and roe re- main together for 6 hours. They are then taken out, strained, and placed on planks, and put in the sun to dry. The roes are frequently turned. When dried, so as to be still somewhat soft, another plank is put on top of them, and they are pressed a little, so as to be flat. Care has to be taken that they do not become too hard.* They find a ready market all over the country. The fish are split, cleansed, and dry Liv^erpool salt is put on them ; they are then piled up or "banked" for 12 hours. A pickle is made, strong enough to float a potato, which is then put on the fish, and they are shipped in barrels of 200 pounds. Fresh fish are worth 2J cents each. Eoes alone without the fish 1 cent. The seines cost $125. When net and boat are furnished, the owner gets one third of the gross sales of fish. Clear Water seems to be the limit of the mullet fisheries, from Cedar Keys. The hands are principally white, one-eighth being colored, but * la Greece, Tvhere mullet are caught, the roes are preserved by the same process, only that when dried they are dipped in melted beeswax. 136 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. there are more of the latter coming into the business. Mullet fishing is largely on the increase. In shipping the fish from the fishing station, ice is used, which is taken from Cedar Keys. Off Charlotte Harbor, Florida, January 29, 1884. MULLET FISHERY AT LA COSTA IN CHAKLOTTE HARBOR. This fishing station consists of 23 men, mostly Spaniards, who came from Key West. Their catch goes to Cuba. The outfit is made up at Key West. The seine is 90 fathoms long and 20 feet deep. The fish- eries commence in August, and close about the first week in February. The mullet are split down the belly, the eyes cut out, and rough salted, and are shipped in this condition to Havana. The roes are prepared as at Cedar Keys. Last year the yield at this place was 1,500 quintals, but for this season the catch has been very small, the fishermen believ- ing that the unusual cold weather has kept back the fish. The men work on shares, the owner of boat and net taking one-third. The fish are worth in Cuba $3 a quintal and the roes $G. The fish begin spawn- ing in December. There is another fishing ranch for mullet on the same island, and one at Puuta Eassa. All of them have done a poor business this sea- sea. The general outfit for boats, nets, stores, &c., cost $3,000. Charlotte Harbor, January 30, 1884. HABITS OF THE MULLET, CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FLORIDA. Mullet are found all the year round, but the season for catching be- gins in August. Then they are very fat, but roes not yet well devel- oped. At the close of November and during December they are the fullest with roe. There are mullet which remain in Charlotte Harbor all the year round ; they are small, and will average from three-quarters of a pound to one pound. What are called ocean mullet come in No- vember and December. Generally the wind is from the southwest when they enter the harbor, or just before a norther is coming. The fish then will average from 1^ to 2 pounds, with occasional fish of from 3 to 5 pounds. Small or young mullet are not found in Charlotte Harbor — so says Mr. T. A. Gibuey. My informant, however, has found exceedingly small mullet, evidently the young fish, at Saint Joseph's Bay, Calhoun County, Florida. They were so small that many hundreds of them could be taken out of the water with the hands. It is generally the opinion of the fishermen that the farther south the mullet is caught the larger it is, and that off Cape Romano the biggest fish are taken. Charlotte Harbor, off Josepha Key, January 31, 1884. ^ BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COxMMISSION. 137 MULLET FISHINa IN MONKOE COUNTY, FLOEIDA, AT PUNTA KASSA, AND SANIBEL ISLAND. Puuta Kassa is the southern extremity of Charlotte Harbor. There is a mullet fishery here, aud one ou the island opposite, Sanibel Island. The gangs, called fishing ranches, consist of 13 men each, mostly Span- iards, with two boats for each company. Nets are used. The time of catching is about the same as at other points in Charlotte Harbor, though the fish are plentiful rather later, and remain somewhat longer. This business was commenced in this portion of Florida in 1873 by some New England fishermen, but the Spanish fishermen have taken their place. At present the postmaster, Mr. G. E. Shultz, believes fish have diminished in quantity, although there does not seem to be any certainty about this. The fish are prepared as at other points in Char- lotte Harbor, rough-salted, and shipped to Cuba. The business seems to have been unprofitable for this season, not because fish were scarce, but on .account of low prices. One of the gangs will return here about the 15th of February for what they call deep fish, such as sheepshead, redfish {Liostomus lyhiladelphicus), drum, and snook; this is the crevalle {Carangus hippos). These fish are rough-salted and sent to Cuba. Outfits come from Key West. Punt A Rassa, February 1, 1884:. MULLET FISHERIES AT CLEAR WATER, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA. This fishery is a fairly important one, being the nearest to Cedar Keys, the catch being forwarded to Georgia, South Carolina, and distributed in the surrounding country. In 1883-84 there were five gangs com- posed of some 4G men. They used for the most part seines, and occa- sionally gill-nets. They begin fishing about the last of September, and their work ends on the 1st of February. The gangs are entirely com- posed of natives. They employ some eight small A^essels of from 10 to 28 tons, which carry their catch to Cedar Keys. The fish are kept on ice during transportation. The 10-ton smacks will carry some 12,000 mullet, and the smack of 28 tons 50,000 fish. The men work on shares. The outfit comes from Cedar Keys. The business has been carried on with good success for about four years. At Cedar Keys the fish bring 2^ cents each, the average weight being 1^ pounds. Some small busi- ness is done in smoking the mullet at Point Pinales. There has been no diminution in the catch for the last five jears. With an idea of finding out how much oil these fish would produce, I was informed that 15 mullet would give about one quart of oil. The method of bringing the fish on ice to Cedar Keys seemed to be a very careless one, proper precaution not being taken to preserve tlie ice. At Cedar Keys there is an ice-house, the ice coming from Maine. Cedar Keys, February 17, 1884. 138 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 63.— ACCrilMATIZATIOIV OF SAI^iHO QUIIVIVAT IN FRANCE. By Prof. VALERY-MAYOT. ^From a letter to Raverot-Wattel, secretary of the National Acclimatization Society. J I deem it proper to bring to your knowledge some details regarding the results of the acclimatization of the California salmon which you had intrusted to my care during the three years, 1879, 1880, and 1881. As you will remember, I planted the first and third hatch of salmon in our little river Lez, near its source, whilst the second hatch was plant-ed in the river H^rault, near the city of Ganges, in the heart of the Cevennes Mountains. The catch of which I have already informed you comj^rised fish one and two years old, of normal size, some of which were caught in the neighborhood of Ganges, some kilometers above the city and above all the weirs, and others near Montpellier, below the last great weir of the river Lez. As far as I know, no fish were caught in 1883, neither in the Lez nor in the H6rault; but I must state the interesting fact, that at three different times there were caught in the river Aude, whose mouth is near Narbonne, salmon measuring 25 to 30 centimeters in length. It is, therefore, probable that the Sainton from the Lez and the H6- rault, finding it very difiQcult to clear the numerous weirs which cross these rivers, to a certain number ascended the river Aude, half of whose course lies in the mountainous region of Corbi^res, and which has not so many weirs. Do you not think it would be useful to make new attempts to accli- matize salmon higher up the river Aude — at Quillan, for instance ? I am entirely at your service, if j'ou desire that some such experiment should be made. National School of Agriculture, Montpellier, November 11, 1883. 63 — JDEPREDAXIOIVS TO OYSXFR BE:DS BV STAR-FISBE. [From the Evening Register.] It was reported yesterday that between jS'ovember 1, 1883, and the close of navigation in December, there were caught on oyster beds ad- joining the Bridgeport public beds about 15,000 bushels of star-fish. Since October 1 they have destroyed over liOO acres. From six to ten steamers have been catching starfish during the past six months, at an expense of $5,000. New Haven, Conn., April 5, 1834. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 139 64— BOW TO €OOK CARP AND TEIVCH. [From Chambers' Journal.] Carp, after being kept a few days alive in water free from the vege- table substances upon which they feed, become a luscious and nutritious dish even cooked au naturel ; but with sorrell sauce or a squeeze of lemon, are converted into a recherche entree. The false tongue of the carp has a European reputation as a delicacy. There are special recipes for dressing carp, which from their expensive character are not appro- piiate here. With the economical Germans, however, they are peculiar favorites, and from them we have the following method of making three excellent dishes — a soup, a stew, and a fry, with a single carp of about o or 4 pounds weight, of each of which we can speak highly from per- jsonal experience. Soup. — They take a live carp, either hard or soft roed, and killing it by a blow on the head, bleed it in a stew-pan, then scale it well, taking out and carefully preserving the entrails without breaking the gall, Avhich, with the parts adjoining, must be immediately separated from the rest, and thrown aside, as its slightest contact with the rest of the dish would injuriously flavor the whole. Ev^ery other part of the carp is convertible into excellent food. Having opened the maw, and thoroughly cleaned it, the roe is cut into pieces, and put in with all the rest of the entrails for the soup of the first dish. This soup is either made with the addition of gravy or strong meat broth, accompanied by herbs and spices, well seasoned, and thickened with flour; or, when intended as a meager dish, with that of a strong broth of any other kind passed through the sieve, a bundle of sweet herbs, and a season- ing of fine spices, salt, &c. Stew. — For the second dish, or stew, having slit up the carp on one side of the backbone, through the head, and quite down to the tail, cut oft' the head with a good shoulder to it; take the largest half of the body, containing the backbone, and divide it into three pieces, which, with its portion of the head, are to be put with the blood in the stew- pan, where they are dressed in any of the numerous ways of stewing fish, by putting in three or four glasses of ale in lieu of wine, and a little grated gingerbread, and sometimes only a small quantity of vinegar, adding sweet herbs, spices, and seasoning to palate. When serving up tliis dish, it is not unusual to add a little lemon or lime juice. Feted. — For the fry, or third dish, the remaining portion of the fish, divided as for a stew, is well dredged with flour, and fried brown and crisp in oil or clarified butter. Thus, particularly if a few savory force- meat balls, composed in the usual manner with the fish which makes the broth or gravy, be boiled in the soup, there is a dish not far removed from the richest turtle soup; a second dish in the stew may easily be 140 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. made equally aspiriug, on a small scale; and, lastly, a most delicate third dish, in the fine fry, which completes this curious division and subdivision of a single carp. It may be well to note that cariJ should never be boiled. The Tench. — The tench, although ever associated with the carp^ differs widely in its habits, as while the one is most capricious in its feeding, the other is to be taken without any great amount of skill by the rod full nine months in the year; and generally through mild win- ters, when the carj) is proof against every temptation and is said only to bite while the broad- bean is in blossom. The flesh of the tench is very firm and admirably adapted for stewing, its skin being pronounced by epicures to possess a savor comparable in its excellence to nothing- else. The simple secret of how to prevent the breaking of the tender skin of the tench is known to very few cooks. It is, however, merely by placing the fish in boiling fat and just turning it in the pan; and if for boiling, then taking it out, laying it in a cloth in boiling water until it is done sufiQciently. Served with a sauce made of the young- leaves of the field sorrel, it is a most appetizing dish. 65 REPORT OF AN £XAITIlIVATIOIV OF THF t^HAD FISHERIES IIV GEORGETOWN, S. C. By I.ieut. W. M. WOOD, U. S. N. After leaving Fernandina, Fla., I proceeded in this vessel to George- town, S. C, to investigate the shad fisheries there, and have the honor to submit the following report : We arrived there on the afternoon of the 5th instant. The shad season was found to be about over, and most of the fishermen had quit. I was fortunate enough to find Mr. E. Barnes still in town. Mr. Barnes is the largest owner of nets, and buys and ships all the fish caught in the vicinity. Accompanied by him, I took the launch and went up the Waccamaw and Pedee Elvers. I also went up the Black Eiver, a tributary of the Pedee, but only on the two former rivers and Winyah Bay, into which they empty, is any fishing done. On account of the character of the bottom and banks no seine-haul- ing is carried on, and the fishing is entirely by gill-nets. This year about thirty nets were fished, averaging 150 fathoms long, 6J to 5^ inch mesh, and 10 to 18 feet deep. They are not allowed to reach the bot- tom on account of snags. The average catch this year was about 800 shad per net. Many of the gillers live in flat-boats moored at convenient localities. Mr. Barnes's flat is at the junction of Jericho Creek and the Waccamaw. He fishes three nets, employing 9 men, viz, a superintendent, two men for each net, a cook and a marketman, who carries the fish in a small boat to town, 10 miles below. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES ITSH COMMISSION. 141 Mr. Barnes says they catch very few ripe fish of either sex, but take a good many "down-rimners," or spent fish. He believes all the fish go lonj>- distances above the highest fisheries, which are only a short distance from salt water, to spawn. On the headwaters of these rivers, owing to the natural difficulties and the absence of market facilities, the only shad caught are taken with bow-nets and short pieces of gill-nets, as on the Saint Mary's, and only used for home consumption. A great many shad are taken in Winy ah Bay before they leave salt water. The best of the season here is February and Marclr. On the day of uiy visit to Mr. Barnes's flat, the 7th instant, his total catch was .'» shad, and he quit fishing that day. He was paying 30 cents each, at first hand, for the fish he bought, and I see b^' the quotations in the Star of the 8th instant that they are being sold in Washington at $25 to $32 per hundred. It is possible that some little work might be done here before the open- ing of the season farther north. There would certainly be more chance ot success than in Florida, so far as my experience goes. I do not think much can be done where the catch of shad is taken by gill-nets, espe- cially as fished in Southern rivers. As a rule, comparatively few shad are taken at a drift, and of these the proportion of males and females is rarely equally divided. Still more rarely are the two sexes in the pro- per condition for spawning. Especially is this true when by force of INTRODlTCTffOIV OF HAWAIIAIV ITiriiliET IIMTO THE UNITED STATES. By Kon. JOHIV F. ITIILLEIR, U. S. S. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The Hawaiian mullet is a very good food fish, not equal to our black bass, shad, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and any other American fishes of the best sorts, but a fairly good fish, which grows rapidly to perhaps a pound in weight and is comparatively free from objectionable bones. It inhabits the salt water in the harbor of Honolulu, and is propagated 142 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. and reared iu artificial ponds which have been made in the salt marah lands near that city. There are many of these ponds, and large num- bers of these fishes are produced therefrom for the Honolulu market. The inhabitants there rate the mullet as next to the red-fish, which is taken in rather deep water and is not so abundant. I was informed th'at the mullet was a very hardy fish, easily cared for, and in the opinion of gentlemen of experience in such matters no difficulty would be found in transporting the small fish by steamer from Honolulu to San Fran- cisco. The climate of Honolulu is warm and mild even in winter, and it is possible that the mullet would not thrive in our cold regions, but no one at Honolulu seemed to doubt that it would do well in California. Mr. C. E. Bishop, a banker of Honolulu, owns a number of ponds con- taining mullet, situate on his place at Waikiki, a suburb of iJonolulu. He will give you full information in respect of these fishes. The United States Consul, Mr. David McKinley, is also quite familiar with the facts relating to the propagation of the mullet. Mr. Bishop, I have no doubt, would take pleasure in giving you assistance should you desire to obtain a number of the fish for the use of the United States Commission. I am quite sure that the Hawaiian mullet would prove a valuable ad- dition to the fo0d fishes of the United States. During my recent visit to Honolulu I made many inquiries in respect to this and other fishes, saw many sx)ecimens, inspected the ponds, and enjoyed the mullet* (very much indeed) cooked in many styles, iu all of which I found them good. Washington, D. C, November 13, 1883. 67 the: INCIPIEIVCY OF NIOHT-SEIIVINO FOR ITIACKEBEfj. By GEOKGE IflEKCIIANT, Jr. [From the Cape Ann Bulletin.] As early as 1864, seining operations were conducted in the night time fior pogies, as many of the old pogie fishermen (of whom I am one) can testify. Up to 1874, no mackerel of any account had been caught iu this manner, although there had been a few exceptional lots. In 1874, and up to 1877, a larger quantity was taken. Since the latter date, it bas been the general custom of the fishermen in the latter part of the summer and fall to expect to capture the greater part of their trip in this manner. Gloucester, Mass., JSovemher 9, 1881. * This is said to be Mugil ChapfalU Eyd. & Soul. voy. Bonite, Zool. I, p. 1'71, pi. 4, fig. 1. I suppose that like other species ofMuf(il it is migratory, and that it feeds on or- ganic substances found in mud aud sand. Of its propagation I have not yet been able to learn anything, Jordan and Gilbert do not mention it iu their Fishes of the Pacific coast. I am preparing a description. — T. H. Bean. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 143 «8.-TI'ATEKPROOFINO FOR H£RK1IVC}-IVET8. By TVILLIA]?! IIEARDER. [From the Fishing Gazette, March 29, 1884.] I am pleased to be able at any time to give any information to my brother fishermen, although some in our trade fancy that all recipes should be kept as trade secrets. I must beg to differ from the general run, for I am never happier than when I am showing an amateur how to tie a fly or repair a broken rod. We waterproof our herring- nets in different ways. One plan is to soak them in boiled linseed oil for a few hours, and then spread them out in the open air to dry ; this will take some three or four days, or sometimes more, according to the state of the weather. Another plan is to soak them in Stockholm or gas tar diluted with turpentine, and dry also in the oj)en air. These two plans are open to objections, for they make the nets hard and wiry, and fish do not get meshed so easily in a stiff net as they do in a soft one. The plan I like best is that I use for my lines. We make a solution by taking one-half pound of catechu (which can be obtained from any ironmonger or druggist) to every gallon of water, boil it until all the catechu is dissolved, then put in your nets or lines, and let them stay all night, taking care not to have any heat or fire underneath the vessel while the nets and lines are in. I generally add sulphate of copper in the proportion of one-half ounce to the gallon (this acts as a "fixer" for the tan). When the things are taken out they can be washed in clean water and hung up to dry. By this last method the nets will be found very much softer ; and I have proved from experience that nets preserved with oil or tar do not last as long a& nets preserved with the ordinary tan or catechu. Some firms put a small quantity of size with the catechu; this I disapprove of; it may look better, but after the first once or twice using, it is not only washed out of the twines, but takes a proportion of the tanning with it. Plymouth, England, 188-i. «9— TRANSFER OF 80FT-SIIFI.I. TFRRAPIIV FROM TflK ODIO TO TBG POrOMAC RIVFR. By J. P. DUKEHART. I put in the Potomac River, below the dam at Cumberland, on Au- gust 25, 1883, eighteen soft-shell terrapins, from the Ohio River, near Moandsville, W. Va. I will put in more of them this season at Wordmont, near Club Hou8©» I hope they may in time stock the Potomac. Baltimore, Md., April 6, 1884. 144 BULLETIN OP^ THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. yO— AC€liIMATIZATfOiV OF SALinO QUirVIVAT IIV FRANCE. By Dr. MASL,IEURAT-L,AOEMARI>. [From a letter to Eaveret-Wattel, Secretary of the National Acclimatization Society.] In the month of IsTovember, 1879, you sent me a box containing eggs of the Salnio quinnat. One hundred of the fry, well formed, after hav- ing remained five or six weeks under the ice, owing to continued frosts, were, in favorable weather, placed in the river Gartempe. Did these little fish survive, and would they find their way up here? I am happy to say that I can answer both these questions in the afiBrmative. Yesterday I caught one of these salmon, which was three years old last spring. Its lean condition showed j)lainly that it had spawned in the river; and it must be presumed that it was not the only one.» It weighs 1 kilogram. In summer, when it had its full weight, it must have weighed 3 or 4 pounds. I have no doubt that it was one of those wliich we had i)laced in the river in 1880. These salmon, which are ex- ceedingly valuable on account of their fecundity and their rapid growth, have therefore been acclimatized in our rivers; and this result ought to encourage the efforts of your society. Grand Boueg, December 17, 1883. 71.— NOTES OF A TKII» IIV THE OUI.F OF MEXICO. By BAKMET PHILLIPS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Further south we found swarms of mullet (cf. p. 135), and on several occasions killed enough for table use by shooting a charge of fiue shot into the schools. I have some idea that mullet oil might be a useful product if proper plants were put up. I left an order to have some smoked mullet sent me ; such roes as I ate on the coast were badly put up and hardly edible. In a fishery sense, the west coast of Florida is not developed at all. What struck me as remarkable was to see the shoals of porpoises sailing in very shallow water, just enough to float them, and feeding on the fish which swarm there. The feature of all the bays and creeks is that they are shallow. The struggle for life must be continuous. In some of the fresh water creeks, as those on the Caloosahatchee, we took a number of large water turtles, the biggest about 12 pounds. What was strange about them was that fully 75 per cent, of them had lost a foot or a leg, evidently taken off by a gar or an alligator. I wrote something about the sheeps-head being considered unwholesome at cer- tain seasons, but this would require further investigation. At Punta Bassa a 6-pound sheeps-head is used to bait a hook for shark, Times Office, New York, Fehruary 21, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STiTES FISH COMMISSION. 145 Vol. IV,IVo. 10. Washington, D. C. April »0, 1884. 73.— RIE:P0RT OIV the WORKINO of the ROIlrERS AND EIVOIIVE OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COIHITIISSION STEAMER ALBA- TROSS. By Passed Assistant Engineer O. TV. BAIRD, U. S. N. [From bis report for the quarter ending Jnne 30, 1883.] Though the ship has been in commission about seven months therei has been no opportunity to make a continuous voyage of any consider-^ able length with the vessel at or near her load draft of water, under' conditions of weather which would not influence the speed. The voy- age from New York to Washington, just after the vessel had been docked, cleaned, and painted, oflFered a tolerably good opportunity, as. the sea was smooth, but the wind, which was light, was ahead. The' coal used was the anthracite supplied to the Navy, and it contained a. considerable quantity of ash, clinker, and slate. The boilers, which, have never been tight, leaked less than ever before, which permitted ns. to carry more pressure. The quality of the oil used was bad, and the warming of the journals prevented us from urging the engines. The voy- age was a fair average one, on the whole, in point of speed, as it is our object to make economical rather than speedy voyages. The following results must not, therefore, be considered as for the^ maximum performance of the vessel, but for the conditions of ordinary cruising. This, however, does not impair the deductions for scientific: purposes : Duration of voyage 42 hours 9 minutes Total distance, in geographical miles, of 6,086 feet .^. 42^' Mean number of geographical miles per hour » 10.03. Total number of revolutions, starboard engine 200,. 197 Total number of revolutions, i>ort engine 200, 411 Mean number of revolutions per minute, starboard engine 79. 05 Mean number of revolutions per minute, port eagine 79. 06 Slip of the starboard screw in per cent, of its speed 14. 74 Slip of the port screw in per cent, of its speed 14. 7.5 Mean steam pressure in boilers, in pounds, above the atmosphere 60. 05 Mean pressure in starboard receiver above zero 25.53 Mean pressure in port receiver above zero 23. 78 Mean position of (both) throttle valves, in eighths 7. 20 Mean vacuum in condenser in inches of mercury 24. 46 Mean height of barometer in inches of mercury 30. 09 Mean point of cutting olf in starboard high pressure cylinder inches. . 26. 3.33 Mean point of cutting off in starboard low pressure cylinder inches.. 14.032 Mean point of cutting off in port high pressure cylinder inches . 19.780 Mean point of cutting off in port low pressure cylinder inches.. 17.831 Total number of pounds of anthracite coal consumed - 42,865 Total number of pounds of ashes, clinker, &c , 8,353 Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 10 146 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, Total number of poniids of combustible 34, 512 Mean number of pounds of coal per hour 1, 016. 97 Mean number of pounds of combustible per liour 818. 79 Percentage of refuse in coal 19. 40 Mean number of pounds of coal per bour per square foot of grate surface 10. 667 Mean number of pounds of coal consumed per hour per square foot of beating surface 0.4103 Mean number of pounds of combustible per hour per square foot of grate sur- face 8.589 Mean number of pounds of combustible consumed per hour per square foot of beating surface 0. 3303 Mean number of strokes per minute of circulating pump 80 Temperature of the air on deck ." 73. 73 Temperature of the injection water 65. 73 Temperature of the discharge water 93. 78 Temperature of the feed water 76.39 Temperature of the engine-room 119. 10 HORSES-POWER. Indicated horses-power developed in the starboard H. P. cylinder 93. 460 Indicated horses-power developed in the starboard L. P. cylinder 122. 240 Indicated horses-power developed in the port H. P. cylinder 110.224 Indicated horses-power developed in the port L. P. cylinder 131.602 Aggregate indicated horses-power developed in the starboard engine 215.700 Aggregate indicated horses-power developed in the port engine 241. 826 Horses-power required to work the starboard engine.. 22.116 Horses-i^ower required to work the port engine 22. 118 Net horses-power applied to the starboard shaft 193. 584 Net horses-power applied to the port shaft 219. 708 Horses-power absorbed in friction of the load on the starboard engine 14. 5188 Horses-power absorbed in friction of the load on the port engine 16.4781 Horses-power expended in the slip of the starboard screw 23. 278 Horses-power expended in the slip of the port screw 26. 838 Horses-power expended in friction of the starboard screw-blades and shaft on the water 21.278 Horses-power expended in friction of the port screw-blades and shaft on the water 21.279 Net horses-power applied to the propulsion of the hull 239. 642 DISTRIBUTION OF THE TOWER. Percentage of the net power applied to the shaft absorbed in friction of the load 7.500 Percentage of the net power applied to the shaft absorbed in friction of the screw- blades, hubs, and shafts on the water 10. 297 Percentage of the net power apj^lied to the shafts absorbed in the slip of the screws 12.122 Percentage of the net power applied to the shafts utilized in the propulsion of the hull -• 70.081 ECONOMIC RESULTS. Pounds of coal consumed per indicated horses-power per hour 2.222 Pounds of coal consumed per net horee-power per hour 3.246 Pounds of combustible consumed per indicated horse-power per hour 1. 739 Pounds of combustible consumed per net horse-power per hour 2.613 Pounds of coal consumed per mile 101. 336 Pounds of combustible consumed per mile 81.588 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 147 THRUST OF THE SCREWS. The net power applied to the propulsion of the hull by the two pro. pellers being- 289.042 horses is equal to (280.G42 x 33,000 =) 9,558,186 foot pounds of work per minute, and the speed beiug 10.03 knots per , /10.03XG08G \,^,„onn4' ^ • X ., ^ hour IS equal tcf .... - = 1 101^376 feet per minute; therefore the resistance of the hull and the equivalent thrust of the screws at that speeed was ( ^^Tr. ,,J^^ = J 9395 pounds. The thrust per indicated (9395 \ ^^y'rj26"= ) 20.31 pounds, and per (9395 \ iOlO 97 ~ y ^'^^ pounds. POWER ABSORBED BY THE FRICTION OF THE WETTED SURFACE OF THE HULL AGAINST THE WATER. Taking the resistance of the water to a square foot of smoothly painted iron of the surfaces of the hull moving at a velocity of 10 feet per second to be 0.45 of a pound, and (according to the method of Chief Eugiueer Isherwood, United States Navy) deducing from the speed of the vessel the mean speed of its immersed surfaces due to the inclination of the water lines there results a speed of 16.3507G feet per second, and a consequent surface resistance of (10^ : 0.45 : : 1G.3507G^ :) 1.2030G3 pounds per square foot at that velocity. The aggregate wetted surface during the above-mentioned voyage was 7,350.44 square feet, and the power , ,. ,. . / 7350.44 X 1.2030G3 X 1G.35070 X GO \ expended in this resistance was I oo .>,>/> = I 202.893 horses; consequently of the 289.G42 horses power required to (2G2.893 X 100 \ ~^S^07'4>> — ~ / ^^-^^ P^^ cent, was expended in overcoming the friction of the hull on the water, and the remaining 9.27 per cent was expended in displacing the water and overcoming the pressure of the wind against the upper part of the hull, the spars, and the rigging. THE CHANGE IN THE CRANK-ANGLE. The cranks, as originally arranged, at 145 degrees, diminished, to a small extent, the friction on the center main bearings by the almost op- posite position, and almost opposite crank efibrt. The indicator dia- grams taken from the high-pressure cylinders bear a very near resem- blance to each other, with the cranks at either angle, but in the low- pressure diagrams the difference is marked. Fig. C is from the starboard low-pressure cylinder with the cranks at 145 degrees. 148 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Fig. 5 is from tlie same cylinder, with the cranks at 90 degrees, but with the receiver enlarged from 1^% to 2y%, the volume swept bj^ the high-pressure piston. Tig.lJEngimwofJiir^ compound Qmiksat90!' Jo.' Fig. 4 is a diagram from the same cylinder with the cranks at 90 de- grees, but with the original volume of receiver, namely, ly%, the volume swept by the high-pressure piston. The relative contours of these diagrams and their variance from the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 149 liypothetically perfect diagram is marked, and if an engineer is willing to accept them as the ultima thtile he will doubtless decide in favor of that produced by the engines as originally arranged, namely, at 145 de- grees crank angle. The indicator is the stethoscope of the steam cylinder only ; it fails to give any indication of the work, either utilized or wasted, beyond the steam cylinder. It is manifest that a crank turned by a uniform moment is revolved with less labor and less injury to its journals than if turned by an in- termittent force ; by blows for example. Uniformity of torsion on the shaft is one of the great objects sought. This torsion may be demon- strated, graphically, by constructing diagrams whose abscissa is re- ferred to the length of the path of the turning force, and the ordinates to the moments of torsion. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the ordinates are cal- culated for the combined moments of the two cranks, the same units be- ing used for each. The lines c d, in these figures, refer to the path de- scribed by the combined eflbrt of the two cranks, and the ordinates, commencing with a h, and ending with a' 6', represent the moments of torsion. The curved lines represent the variation in the torsion, and the superiority of these torsion curves is in their nearer approach to the straight line c d. This graphic method might be pursued still further by applying a dynamometer to the screw shaft, which would indicate the thrust of the screw, wherein every increment or diminution in that force would cor- respond with those in the torsion diagram, but would be greatly re- duced in extent owing to the weight and consequent inertia of the heavy working parts. In changing the crank angle from 145 to 90 degrees the eccentrics were not disturbed ; the cushioning, lead, and release are the same in both cases; the same boiler-pressure and mean back-pressures are main- tained, and the same number of expansions are employed; consequently there can be no i^hysical advantage in the original over the present crank angle. The mechanical saving in the minute amount of friction eliminated in a single journal of each engine is much more than com- pensated lor by the saving of friction on the screw blades alone, by their more uniform velocity. The Katzenstein packing on the piston rods has worked so well that I feel it merits a special mention. I respectfully recommend it be placed on the H. P. valve stems. The Baird distilling apparatus has pro- duced 5,883 gallons of water during the quarter, steam being used from the main boilers, the ship being at sea under steam, and cylinder oil (a compound of petroleum) being used in the cylinders ; the water was good. The anemometer used in measuring the air currents in our ven- tilating tubes broke down, but the makers replaced it with a new one, since which time I have been recording air velocities, and hope, at the end of the next quarter, to be able to report on the ventilation of the ship. 150 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The electrical apparatus continues to give satisfaction ; the dynamo has been in operation three hundred and twenty- three hours and nine minutes during the last quarter. Four 3-light safety plugs have been melted out, and one key socket broken, all of which I promptly re- placed. I tapped the engine-room circuit and placed a lamp over the circulating pump, which was very much needed. Advantage was taken of the ship being docked, at I^ew York, to over haul the sea valves, screw propellers, shafts, and stuffing boxes. We found it necessary to entirely replace the packing of our stern bearings. There was some corrosion in the shafts near the brass jackets, all of which were carefully scraped and painted. The steam windlass, never having given any trouble, nor requiring any repairs, merits special mention. The steam winch and feeling engine have given scarcely any trouble, and have done their work admirably. The smithing of the ship has been satisfactorily done by one of our first-class firemen. The spf'aking tube has been overhauled, and many joints, hitherto leaking, have been repaired and telephonic communication re-estab- lished between the engine-room and pilot-house. The Dividson Pump Company voluntarily, and without compensation, supplied new stud bolts for the circulating pump, to diminish the lift of the valves and relieve the thump. The " Little Wonder" injectors work very well, one at a time ; if both are placed in circuit it is a little wonder if either will continue. They deliver the feed water hot, and are an acquisition when the main engine is not in operation. The receivers were ordered to be enlarged — by the engineer who de- signed the ship — when the crank angle was changed from 145° to 90°. This was effected by placing a large convex bonnet on each low-press- ure valve-chest. This increased the receivers from 1^-^ to 2j\ times the volume swept by the H. P. pistons. Seeing an excellent oppor- tunity for a valuable experiment I took the responsibility of putting only one of the new bonnets on, and selected the starboard engine for that purpose, so that for all the steaming recorded in this log-book, the port engine had the small receiver, and the starboard engine the large receiver. The results show no essential difference in the performance ; what little difference does appear is in favor of the engine with the small receiver. I therefore reduced the starboard receiver by restoring the original valve-chest bonnet. I would respectfully call attention to the high temperature of the engine-room, which I fear will become so great in hot climates as to seriously injure the men. The steam heaters have been overhauled, six new angle valves put in place of six broken ones. Two new heaters have been bought for the cabin (one being for the office) ; they have much greater surface tban BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 151 the old ones and will, consequently, keep the cabin more comfortable in cold weather. The springs on the drum of the reeling engine, found to be too weak, were replaced and doubled at the Washington yard. An additional drain cock has been put on the engine of Sigsbee sounder, i)art of the steam lead taken off, and a wooden cover put over the cylinder to pre- vent burning the gutta percha belts. The bolt sheared oif the arm of the circulating lyiimp for want of oil. A Detroit oil cup has been bonght and put in place, and this, being a sight feeder^ can be observed from the working i)latform. The counters, which were hitherto unsatisfactory, have been put in order by the Crosby Valve Company. The '^-iuch valve stems of the main reversing engines being too light (they bent), have been replaced by ^-inch stems. The boilers, having been recalked at the leaky corners by the Pusey & Jones Company, by the Washington yard and Norfolk yard, continued to leak ; at the New York yard soft patches were put on and then they leaked; our force on board has re- made the joints under these three patches, and are encouraged to find one is tight. A split elbow in the steam-whistle pipe was r^jplaced at Norfolk, the bell wires were overhauled, and additional bolts put in donkey check-valves at the same place. We have succeeded in adjusting one of the Svedberg governors, which works well, and when opportunity offers the other will be adjusted. Its position, however, is against it, as it is on the H. P. chest, where it is very hot, and 1 fear the mercury evaporates. One piston rod was discovered to have a transverse flaw. Though the flaw does not appear to increase, it has been considered necessary to order a new rod; this is now being made at the Washington yard. Steamee Albatross, July^ 1883. r3 HOW TO COOK CAKP. By C. 0£RB£R, Jr. I append a few receipts translated from a German cook-book. As a general rule the pond carp is not considered good to eat during the summer months, May, June, July, August (during and after spawn- ing), but at all other times it is a most excellent table fish. Eeceipt No. 1. — Clean a carp of about fi ve pounds well, and split and cut it into convenient pieces. Take three table-spoonfuls salt, half a dozen kernels black pepper, same of allspice and cloves, a few cardamoms, four laurel leaves, a medium-sized onion, some celery and a sliced carrot, and a quart of water (or enough to cover the carp); let these boil together fifteen minutes, put in the carp, scale side down, head pieces first, middle pieces next, tail pieces on top, and let boil fifteen minutes longer ; add one-half pound butter in small pieces, and a gill of red wine, or in jilace 152 EULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of wine pour one-half gill warm vinegar over the pieces of carj) before putting them into the pot, and add it to the boiling. Boil fifteen minutes longer; take out the pieces and serve with browned butter and slices of lemon. Receipt No. 2. — Clean and split a five-i:)ound carp and rub two table- spoonfuls salt well into both sides, and let stand two hours in a covered dish. Take some spices and herbs as in No. 1 , and boil thoroughly with one pint water, one pint red wine, one-half pint beer, one-half pint vine- gar, some lemon peel, bread crust, and one ounce sugar. After this has well boiled, cut the carp in convenient pieces, put into the pot and boil tilf only about half the sauce is left ; serve as before. Receipt No. 3. — Clean a good-sized carp carefully by opening it as little as possible, cut off fins and tail; make a number of crosscuts on one side, rub the fish well with two table-spoonfuls salt, let it stand cov- ered for some hours, then dry it with a towel. Make a filling of four ounces tallow or fresh fat pork, four yolks of eggs, some wheat bread slightly softened with water, three sardels, some capers, mace, salt, pepper, lemon peel, onion, and the liver of the carp (but be sure that the gall is first carefully removed), all chopped very fine; fill the carp and sew up the opening. Put it into a baking-dish with the cut side up with one pint wine, one-half pint vinegar, one-quarter i^ound butter, spices and herbs as in No. 1, and a few slices of lemon ; bake quickly for three-quarters of an hour and baste frequently. Don't turn the fish while baking. Receipt No. 4. — Take carp of one to two pounds, scale and clean well, rub inside and out with i)lenty of salt, let stand an hour or two, wipe dry with a towel, roll in well-beaten eggs and bread crumbs or meal, and bake in plenty of butter till nicely brown. Receipt No. 5. — Boil carji as in No. 1, place the pieces in a bowl with a few slices of lemon, add to the sauce one-half pint vinegar and boil same till only enough left to cover the carp in the bowl. Pour the sauce over the carp through a sieve and let it cool thoroughly. I tried receipt No. 1 on bass and found them excellent. Webster, Mass., December 10, 1883. 74 CARP DO EAT YOIJIVG FISHES. By J. A. RVD£R. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] A carp examined to-day was found to contain rij^e milt with active spermatozoa. About a dozen small fish were taken from the intestine, each one about an inch to one and a half inches long when they were alive. They seem to be young percoids or some small fresh-water Acanthopterygiaus. I have saved the remains for further study and identification. Washington, D. C, November 27, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STiTES FISH COMMISSION. 153 75.-AIVIVVAIi REPORT OIV THE KJiECTRIC Y^IOnTINQ OF THE UNITED STATES 8TEAmER AI.BATRONS, £>ECEiTIBER 31, 1S83. By Passed Assistant £ng:ineer O. IV. BAIRD, U. 1^. IV. [R68um6 of the quarterly reports.] The steadiness and uniformity of brightness of the lamps depend largely (almost entirely), on the engine driving the dynamo, and the success of the system lies more in the attention paid to the engine, where the plant is correctly installed, than anything else. Uniformity of speed is the great object sought, and to secure this Mr. Edison has adopted a highspeed engine, with a sensitive governor, represented in Fig. 1. This engine has a single steam-cylinder, 8^ inches in diameter of bore, and a stroke of piston of 10 inches ; it runs 300 revolutions per minute Fig. 1. very uniformly, the automatic cut-off regulating the quantity of steam admitted to the load on the engine. This particular engine is larger than should be employed for this plant, as the short cut-off at high pressures and light loads causes great cylinder condensation, not only diminishing the economy of the engine, but causing such incessant ham- mering in the cylinder that I have been obliged to introduce a pressure- regulating valve (Fig. 2), which limits the pressure to what is desired. Previous to introducing this valve, two cross-head keys had been sheared off and one cross-head broken, by water in the steam-cylinder. 154 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Had the smaller size of engine (6i by 8) been used, as I recommended, this diiSciilty would have been avoided, but the Engineer of the Edi- son Company, fearing a possibility of our permitting the pressur*^ to fall below 20 i)ounds, and the engine consequently failing to develop the required power, i)referred to give us this large engine, even at a greater cost to his Company. The Edison Company furnished drawings for the setting of the engine and its foundation, which design I followed implicitly. The plant is so installed as to bring the driving side of the belt on top, so that the slack falls from the pulleys. This results in slipping, particularly as the belt stretches, and when the arc lamps are thrown in circuit the belt slips and the dynamo often slows down from Fig. 2. 1,200 to 1,000 revolutions per minute. I procured a heavier belt, but the stretch soon permitted slipping. I then had a tightener put in. This has been of great assistance to us, but it augments the stretching of the belts very much. I have resorted to doubling the belts, i. c. running one belt on top of the other; this has diminished the slip- l)ing, but the belts tend to separate and run off in ojiposite directions ; to prevent this we have improvised guides. During the year the main valve of the dynamo engine broke — probably from water in the chest — and deprived us of the use of the i^lant about five days. With this exception the plant has been in operation every night when there was steam in the boilers. The dynamo (Fig. 3) has given but little trouble. The armature has worn somewhat, and six brushes have been worn away during the year. A spare armature has been i^urchased and is ready for use in event of BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 150 any accident to the original one. Except occasionally adjusting the brushes, the running of the dynamo requires but little attention, and Fig. 3. both the engine and dynamo are run by enlisted men in the Engineer Department. The wiring has required but little attention ; in several places the deck Fig. 4. leaked and the salt water short-circuited but there have been no serious mishaps. The trouble from this cause, however, has resulted in the de- 156 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. struction of the nearest cut-out plug:, thus preventing damage to the wire; in such cases I have added insulation to the wires to prevent a repetition of the accident. A few lamp sockets (Fig. 4.) have burut out — principally from arcing — and a few h{j,ve been broken by accident. I have provided myself with a number of the various-sized screws used in these sockets and Fig. 5. have been able to repair them myself. The arc lamp has destroyed two of these sockets, probably by arcing through the socket as the cir- cuit was opened or closed. For this reason I have substituted two key sockets (Fig. 4.) for two ordinary sockets at points where the arc lamps were attached, and am now making a special attachment which I think will eliminate this difficulty. Fig, 6. The safety plugs, shown in perspective in Figs. 5 and 6, and in sec- tion in Fig. 7, have answered their purpose admirably. The piece of solder {a, Fig. 6.) melts at a lower temi)erature than the wires, and is destroyed in event of a low resistance short circuit on the wires. Fig. 7. I have never known one of them to fail. When one of these safety l^lugs melts it breaks the circuit, and the lamps on that section are im- mediately extinguished. After discovering and reijairiug the damage, the circuit is restored by substituting a new plug in the cut-out block. Fig. 8. By indicating the engine I find the economy to be practically uniform. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 157 When using 45 lamps we get 7.77 per indicated horse-power; when using 50, we get 8.5 per indicated horse-power; and when using 70, we get 10.11. We have not, to my knowledge, ever used more than 70 lamps at one time, though there are 140 in the plant. The average number of lamps in daily use is about 47,* for which purpose we con- sume about 21 jwunds of coal per hour, and use, on an average, two- thirds of a gill of oil. Since November we have been using a light oil manufactured by the Vacuum Oil Company of New York, and find that we can run our light machinery with a smaller quantity. As this oil is used on the exhaust fan as well as the dynamo and its engine, it is im- possible to say what proportion each machine receives ; but from short experiments I conclude that the dynamo and its engine (when the Fig. 8. journals are in good order) will use about one-half a gill per hour. Assuming this to be correct, the cost of running the lights for the year has been as follows: The dynamo was in operation 1,592 hours and 45 minutes, during which time the consumption of coal for this purpose was 14 tons 2,082 pounds, at a total cost of $08.67. The oil used during the same period and for the same purpo83 is es- timated to be G7 gallons, the mean cost of which was 72^ cents per gallon, making the total cost for oil $48.57. The cost for repairs, preservation, and restoration has been as fol- lows : 2 K brushes, at $2.50 $5 00 4 Z brushes, at $1 4 00 2 cut-out blocks, at 32 cents 64 *As lamps are so frequently turned on and off in different parts of the ship, at all hours, it would be impossible to keep an accurate record. 158 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 34 Slight safety pings, at 8 cents $1 92 G G-liglit safety plugs, at 8 cents 48 4 20-ligbt safety plugs, at 8 cents 32 2 40-liglit safety plugs, at 8 cents '. 10 5 key sockets, at 92 cents 4 GO 1 wire shade-bolder, at 10 cents 10 1 pound insulation compound, at 12 cents 12 2 deep-sea lamps, at $1 2 00 2 attachment plugs, at 40 cents 80 3 pounds jSTo. 14 insulated wire, at 40 cents 1 20 1 pound Xo. 20 insulated wire, at 40 cents 40 G cigar-lighter plugs, at 55 cents 3 30 1 new valve 5 00 1 pressure regulating valve 55 00 1 new cross head 25 00 Shortening the belt 3 95 Amounting in the aggregate to 231 23 This does not include the cost of lamps and shades, which do not come in my department. Deducting the cost of the piston valve, pres- sure regulator, and cross-head [incident to an original error"], and also the cost of the deep-sea lamps, cigar-lighter plugs, and attachment plugs, which do not form i)art of the ship's illumination, leaves the cost of the light, in candle-power, per hour ( ^^ = ) 0.0234 ^ ' 1 ?i V1592.75x47x8 J cents. This is less by about 40 per cent, than the bare cost of an equiv- alent amount of gas-light in Washington City. The steadiness, brilliancy, and convenience of the light is all that can be desired, while its hygienic advantages over gas or oil-lamps is very great. When it is remembered that an ordinary gas-jet consumes about as much air as six men, and that the breathing-room per capita on board ship is so contracted, tliere ceases to be any comparison between our incandescent electric light and all other means of illumination viewed from a hygienic point. The convenience of being able to light a lamp without fire is great, and the safety of the system, especially at sea, makes it very valuable. The cheerful appearance of the in- terior of the ship when thus illuminated, as comjjared with the interior of other ships lighted with oil-lamps, marks a most agreeable contrast and goes far towards lightening the burden and easing the yoke of a life at sea. Our sub-marine lamps have been useful in attracting amphipods, squid, young blue-fish, silver-sides, &c., into the nets, when used near the surface. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 159 76 PI.ANTS FOR CAKI» POIVDS. By JOIfii^ IS. USSAKEJLl^Y. Tliofiivoriteiii my ])ondsis tlie water-purslane, tlie Ludwigia pahistris of the botanists, aj)laut which abounds there, but which I have not seen named in anyi)nbli^hedlistof i)lauts suitable for a carp pond. Of this the carp tear up vast (juantities, which float about in larj;e masses, throw- iiig' out roots and continuing its growth in the water. For i)lants to furnish food for the carp, procure some roots of the com- mon water-lily {Nymphwa odorata), and the more common yellow pond- lily {Nuphar adrcna), and any other water-plants accessible, except pond- weed {Fotanwgcton), and water-shield [Brascna peJtata). These latter are liable to take ])ossessi n of too large a portion of the pond, to the exclu- sion of more desirable plants. Procure, also, the seeds of the Tusca- rora rice {Zizania aquatica), the common reed of our tide-water marshes, on which the reed-bird grows so fat. The American lotus {Nelumhiuvi luteum) is indigenous to our own State, and I have it growing luxuriantly in one of my ponds. "There is a strange grandeur and an exquisite beauty about this plant which excite the admiration of all romantic lovers of flowers ; a sweet loveli- ness about them which creates a desire to possess and cultivate some of them. All water-lilies are lovely, but this one is gorgeous. The flowers are a light canary color, often five inches in diameter, and ex- quisitely' fragrant. The seed receptacle, like the flowers, standing out of the water, is a flat, circular surface, and constitutes the base of an inverted cone, which is perforated with holes for the accommodation of the nuts. These are the water chinquepins." A person who has seen this jilant growing in its native waters in southern New Jersey thus refers to it: "I have visited the Kew Gar- dens near London and the great botanical grounds at Paris and Cologne, and assert without hesitation that if all the flowers in the three were put together, they would not equal, as a spectacle, the lily plantation in this pond." No stinted praise, certainly, of our beautiful Nelumhium. Yet, beautiful as it is, it does not compare in stately grandeur with its congener, the Egyptian lotus. Its delicate rosy tints, on a ground of pure white, changing daily, its graceful petals expanding more than 10 inches when fully blown, entitle it, I think, to the rank of queen of the floral kingdom. Though a native of India, China, and Japan, being the sacred bean of the Hindoos, and, in their estimation, jiossessed of cer- tain wonderful mystic powers, it is perfectly hardy in our climate. Mr. E. D. Sturtevant, of Bordentown, informs me that he has grown it in the open air for the last six years with complete success, and that he has furnished it, with other choice Hlies, to Prof. S. F. Baird for the carp ponds at Washington, where it does well. Though not planted in 160 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. my pond till late in June, it flowered beautifully all the latter part of the summer. To these add the Florida yellow water-lily {Nymphasa fiava) and our own lovely water-nymph, intermixed with groups of the stately and graceful Tuscarora rice, and you have a water garden at comparatively small expense, such as no combination of the rarest and most costly land plants can rival. And if you wish to go to a little more trouble and expense, you can add other species of Xymphcca which are perfectly gorgeous, but which require protection during the winter. Even the queenly Victoria regia has been flowered by Mr. Sturdevaut in the open air with the aid of a little artificial heat. And this, too, may be made to adorn the carp pond. Most of our native watiT-lilies are " born to blush unseen and waste their sweetness on the " unsightly marsh. Carp culture is destined to bring them into the prominence to which their beauty and delicate odor entitle them; and as the rhizomas, tubers, leaf stalks, and seeds abound in farinaceous matter, they both feed the carp and render attractive the country home. I append a list of the plants which do well in my ponds, and which seem adapted to this latitude, and for the sake of accuracy and the scientific names : White water-crowfoot — Ranunadns aquatilis. American lotus — Nelumhiuyn luteum. Egyptian lotus — Nthimhium speciosum. White water-lily — Nymphcna odorata. Yellow water-lil> — Nymplicea flava. Yellow pond -lily — Nnphar advena. Water-cress — Nasturtivm officinale. Wat^r-milfoil — Myriophyllum, several species. Water-i^nTsl'dne—Ludwigiapaliistris. Cardinal flower — Lobelia cardinalis. Wat^r-chestnut — Trapa natans. Bladder- wort — UtricuJ/iria gibba. Horn wort — Ceratophylluin demersum. Water-starwor t — Callitriche heterophylla. Ca*:-tail flag — Typha latifolia. Bur-reed — Sparganium eurycarpum. Arrow-head — Sagittaria variabilis. Blue flag — Iris versicolor. Pickerel-weed — Pontederia cordata. Mud plantain — Heteranthera reniformis. Common rush — Juhcus effusus. Eice cutgrass — Leersia oryzoides. Tuscarora rice — Zizania aquatica. Eattlesnake grass — Glyceria canadensis. Manna grass — Glyceria jiuitans. Manna grass — Glyceria. obtusa. BORDENTOWN, N. J., 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 161 ¥ol. IV, ]¥o. 11. Uashmg^ton, 1>. C. July 31, 1884. 7r.— REPORT ON THE $>inAD ^ORK SN SOrXH CAROLIIVA IN 1883— TRANSPORTATIOIV OF SHAD E008 OiV TRAYS. By C. J. IldSKi:, Supei'intendent of Fish and Fisheries. According to the best information we have, there are about 52,000 shad taken annually in the waters of South Carolina. This constitutes the source to which we may look for our annual supply of eggs to prop- agate fry for restocking our rivers artificially. From fifteen to twenty thousand of this number are taken on Edisto Eiver, within a distance along the river of about eight miles; the remaining number are taken in the waters of Wiuyah Bay and along Waccamaw Eiver for a dis- tance of twenty or thirty miles, while a few are taken from Santee Eiver, and some, in small numbers, in most of the rivers from tide- water to the shoals of the up-country. As has been i^reviously reported, we have established a station, at small cost, on Edisto Eiver, the operations of which for the past season will hereafter be reported ; and it now remains for us to develop a station at Georgetown, and utilize, if possible, all ripe fish taken in the waters thereabouts. The fishing here is scattered over a wide area, and any work accomplished must, of necessity, be accompanied by many difficulties, and, at best, we can only hope for a limited number of eggs. To ascertain, if possible, some definite idea of the extent of the fisheries here, and the possibility of utilizing this point as a station, 1 visited, in June last, Mr. W. StJ. Mazyck, who lives on Waccamaw Eiver, with whom I had had some correspondence on this subject, and made a partial inspection of the fisheries, with a view of locating a station during the present season. I found that fishing on the Wacca- maw above Georgetown was done by drift-nets, at such distances apart as to render it impossible to attend all the boats with anything like a reasonable force, or with a reasonable hope of collecting sufficient spawn to justify the outlay it would have required to have carried on the vvork, as the fishing was all done in daylight, at which time we can obtain but few ripe fish. Besides these nets, there are some fish in Winyah Bay, and during the latter part of the season a number of the fishermen go up Sami)it Eiver, where they find shadding remunerative. At this season the fish here are in an advanced state, and a majority of those taken are ripe or in the ijroper condition to yield eggs. Mr. Mazyck, writing in May of the x)resent year, informs me that one of the fisher- men reported twenty-five rij)e shad taken on the 5th of April from one net. This would be, averaging 20,000 eggs to a fish, 500,000 eggs. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 11 162 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. This would indicate success if we can organize a force of spawntakers and establish a collecting station at Georgetown. To have a force of men regularly paid to take spawn, as is usuallj' the case, would be too expensive to think of where the fishing is so scattered. I therefore pro- pose, after instructing the fishermen in the art of stripping a shad, to furnish them with necessary pans, buckets, &c., and pay them so much a quart for all the eggs impregnated and brought to me in good condi- tion delivered at Georgetown. This can be done, as there is daily com- munication between this place and points along the river. TEANSPORTING EGGS ON TRAYS. It has been ascertained by the United States Fish Commissionery from repeated experiments, that the shad eggs can be kept for a num- ber of hours on damj) cloth spread on wire trays, and afterwards hatched successfully. This has been done for several years past by the Govern- ment, and is now the common mode of transporting the eggs from the fishing-grounds on Potomac Eiver to the hatching-stations in Wash- ington. To Mr. S. G. Worth, Commissioner of North Carolina, is due the credit of having shipped the first shad eggs in this way to any con- siderable distance. He reports success with several shipments last spring as follows : "From Avoca, in Bertie County, I sent to Ealeigh at various times during April and May a number of the eggs of the shad on trays of Canton flannel. The two points are distant about 220 miles, and the time they were on trays w^as thirty-one hours. The transfer was highly successful, and over 300,000 fry were hatched at the carp ponds near Ealeigh and released into Neuse Kiver, near by. The trays used were simple frames made of strips an inch square, with the fabric i)ut on with tacks. When the eggs were ready for transfer, a number of cloths were wet an-i wrote to Professor Baird, the United States Fish Commissioner, and told him of the shij^ment of eggs made to Ealeigh, and begged him to aid me in pressing the experiment further. With his usual courtesy, he promptly responded by sending three lots consist- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 163 ing of 400,000 eggs; the first in charge of a special messenger, and the two hitter by express. The first underwent a loss of 97 per cent, but the two latter, packed in accordance with my suggestions, suffered a loss of only 3} per cent." It will be seen from this experiment here given in detail that the old and tedious method of transporting shad fry, which are delicate in the extreme and very difiicult to transport, must soon give way to the trans- portation of the eggs instead, which will prove in every respect more satisfactory, as smaller loss will be incurred and the cost in money and labor much reduced. If we can succeed in collecting eggs at George- town, as above proposed, they can be easily shipped to Columbia, where a central station will be located, and from which point all the principal rivers in the State are in easy access. We planted from the hatchery on Edisto Biver 725,000 shad in that river; 300,000 obtained from the United States Fish Commissioner, and shipped by myself from Washington, were planted in the Catawba Kiver at the Charlotte, Columbia, and Augusta Eailroad crossing; and 350,000, obtained from the same source, were shipped in the Govern- ment car and planted in Congaree River at Columbia, besides other shipments made by the United States Fish Commission to the head- waters of Savannah River. HATCKERY ON EDISTO EIVER. Although the number of eggs taken at this point is small, never before having exceeded the take of this year, which was a little more than one million, this is probably the most available location in the State for a shad station. The water is clear, and in nearly every bend of the river there are sand-bars which are natural spawning-grounds for all fish coming to maturity before having i^assed this point in the river; and could we have the advantages of haul-seines along the river in the several seining-holes, used in former times, we would, I am confident, catch many more fish in ripe or mature condition than it is possible to do with the gill-nets. The mature fish tarry around their favorite spawning-places and are not captured with the immature ones which travel with the tide as soon as it begins to flood, at which time the nets are set. This season we have taken more eggs than in any previous year, owing, in part, to more favorable weather, and partly to the fact of our having a larger corps of faithful assistants. We were enabled to attend every net fished on the river whenever fished, regardless of cold, rain, midnight hours, and many other disadvantages under which we labored. The fishing was all done after dark, and at nightfall the men all left camp, some going 2 or 3 miles up the river, and others a like dis- tance in the opposite direction, and others at their posts at interme- diate points, all subjected more or less to hardships, and some remain- ing all night in open boats on the river, subjected often to rough and disagreeable weather. 164 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. I began work with five assistants, only one of the number having ever seen a shad egg taken before ; but after a short time, in which I explained the modus operandi of shad-stripping, by going through the process with a ripe shad in the presence of those who had no knowledge of (he work, they became familiar with the method and lost no eggs that came in their reach. While I was aware of the small number of fish released in comparison with our necessities and the work accomplished by other States, yet, in view of all the surroundings and the amount of money expended, the season's work was highly gratifying*, and a reasonable hope may be en- tertained that we will be able in a few years to increase the capacity of this station, so that the Edisto may be abundantly stocked and ship- ments made to other rivers. A few fishermen make their appearance on the river the latter part of January, and by the 15th of February they are all at their accustomed localities and the season is in full blast, and continues till the first week in April, when the shad become scarce and the gar-fish so numerous and destructive to the nets that the fishermen are compelled to abandon further operations and surrender the river to them. Their work of destruction is so sure and well-known that it has become a custom among the fishermen to raise a white flag over their camps when these fish appear — which is a signal of surrender — and in a few days' time they are abandoned. I opened the hatching-house here about the first of March and ordered the "McDonald automatic glass hatching jar"; but, owing to delays at the manufacturer's, I did not re- ceive them till late in the season, and so had to use the tin cans that were on hand. After the receipt of the jars the percentage of eggs hatched was much better, and had I begun the season with them the number of fish re- leased would have been greater. We are indebted to Colonel Mc- Donald, of Virginia, the inventor, for this jar, which far surpasses any other apparatus for shad-hatching that fish-culturists have yet known. 9'8.— REPORT OIV CAf^IFORIVIA TROUT DISTREBIJTIOIV M!S SOUTH (AROL.IIVA IIV 1SS3. By C. J. HUSKE, Superintendent of Fish and Fisheries. 'Dn application to Professor Baird for a supply of California trout eggs, he sent me 5,000 eggs from the trout hatchery on McCloud Eiver, California. I had previously prepared two temi^orary hatching- troughs in the department building at Columbia for their reception. They came to hand on the 8th of March, and, being engaged at the shad station, I was compelled to intrust them to the care of a novice, after having carefully unpacked and planted them in the troughs and devot- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 165 ing two days to his instruction as to the care of the eggs. He was de- vot 1884. 166 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. SO.— CUI^TURE OF EDIBLE SIVAIIiS. By RIJD. HESSEI.. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Eegarding the cultivation of the Selix pomatia and the H. adspersa, I have to report that if j ou intend a trial with either of these next year steps will have to be taken to get some of them during the next two months, as this is the season when they can be shii)ped best and can be found in the finest condition. I think we can get the H. pomatia in Bavaria or "Wurtemberg, and two other kinds, the H, adspersa and the H. 'naiiticoides — which latter I consider to be the best in taste of all — in Italy and Southern France (Genoa, Marseilles, and Bordeaux). In each of the countries the mediation of a consular agent might be requested. The prices are not very high yet in Germany, perhaps five or six marks [about $1.30] i)er hundred for selected ones. It may be that the H. adspersa and the S. nauticoides could be obtained for the same price. The Romans, as you know, raised these animals in their cochlearia about 2,000 years ago, and they introduced their cultivation into Ger- many and France. In Germany the practice was reintroduced by the monks of the eighth century in their convent gardens. They sometimes adopted the better plan of collecting them in the field and keeping them in garden-beds to fatten. The method which I desire to intro- duce is a different one from that used by either the Romans or the Ger- man monks : I raise them from the egg. The cultivation of these species is very interesting ; and in a rich country like America there is no doubt but that they will bring good prices in the market, notwithstanding the excellent oysters, clams, &c., which we have. I hope that you will decide in favor of this enterprise. Washington, D. 0., Novemher 17, 1883. 81.— AMERICAIV JSIiACK BAS.S PI^ACED IN TSE RIVER IVENE, EIVO- L,AIVI>. By JOHN T. IIEl^SMAN. [Abstract from the Fishing Gazette, December 1, 1883.] Of 1,200 black bass brought from the United States by Mr. W. T. Silk, 140 were placed in the river Nene. They were from 4 to 7 inches in length. The river has a number of small backwaters with swift cur- rents and gravelly bottoms, and also deep, quiet holes. Fishing will be prohibited for some years until the fish are well established. I think the l^ene and the Wellaud are the only rivers in England where the bass have been put ; but they are in several lakes. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 167 S3.— THE "KURR£N" AND ''KEITEIi" (FI8IUNO-VE88EIiS) OF TITE COVBfiAND HAFF. By EK]^ST AIVCH£R. The priucipal need of our fishing- vessels is that they should draw very little water; for the fishing-i)orts and landing-places along the entire coast of Lithuania are exceedingly shallow, the water often being only one foot deep, and in the northern part of the Haft' there are many banks which, under certain circumstances, cannot be avoided. This makes it impossible to have fish-tanks in our vessels, as these would cause them to draw more water and render them useless in many places along our coast. Our seine-fisheries are dependent on various local cir- cumstances, which are unfortunately of such a nature as to yield almost exclusively dead fish. The main object of all fishing- vessels is that they should be suitable for cruising and for casting the net in a fresh and heavy breeze and in short waves, and these conditions determine the method of building our vessels. The bottom is not even, but rises from the mainmast to the prow (one- third of the entire length) about 5 inches in a straight line. A stronger rise would make sailing easier, as well as cruising in calm water or long waves, but in the short waves of the Haft" it would prove an impediment. Towards the stern the rise is very inconsiderable. Thereby the vessel drags in the water and moves a little heavier than would otherwise be the case, but as it draws but little water this proves no serious difficulty, the steady movement of the vessel remedying the evil. Moreover, the yawing to which all vessels which draw little water are subject is avoided. Crosswise the bottom also slants a little towards the center and also towards the sides. This, of course, is not favorable to sailing with a fresh breeze, but it increases the strength of the vessel in a strong wind. The bottom should be as broad as possible and obtuse at both the stern and the prow, so as to make the vessel float in the water with ease. The sides of the vessel are not straight ; the lowest plank bulges out considerably, the second is somewhat straighter, and the third rises almost perpendicularly. Thereby the side of the vessel assumes the shape of a curve, on which the vessel rests when leaning over, and is enabled to withstand the rolling of the waves. Towards the prow the sides must be straight, so as not to cut the waves, but allow these to lift the vessel easily. A vessel constructed in this manner may cruise with perfect security even in the shortest waves. The vessel needs no ballast, but will be safest without any. The bottom is 3 to 3 J inches thick, and made of pine wood. The lower planks of the sides, made of oak 168 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. wood, are about 2J inches thick, and gradually diminish in thickness towards the top, the upper plank being only IJ inches thick. Of the sails, which are manufactured here, sprit-sails are the best in wind ; the two small foresails also render better service than a large stay-sail, and are therefore preferred by the fishermen. In reefing the mainsail, the small foremast is taken down entirely, and the sprit-sail remains spread. The mainsail is reefed from the toj). It is somewhat narrower at the toj) than at the bottom, and by reefing it from the top there is no danger of rolling the sail too tight and of tearing it. The reef-line is simply tied at the top of the sprit, and in reefing it is made loose and tied lower down. The great advantage of these vessels is their strength, as they can withstand almost any storm. I own a cutter built in the United States. In moderate wind I can always outsail our vessels, and even in a toler- ably stiff breeze I can cruise as well as they ; but if a strong wind springs up I can no longer cruise, but must think of my own safety, while our vessels keep on in their course. Kuss, East Prussia, July 1, 1880. 83.— IVOODEIV TANK FOR THE TBANSPORTATIOIV OF filVIIVO FTSS. By HIAX VOi\ 1>EM BORNE. The tank has a double bottom, in order that dirt may be separated from the fish. If water is j)oured into the tank, it will flow out by the pipe from below the upper bottom, and take the dirt out of the tank. There should be three inches of air below the cover. On warm davs some ice may be placed on the cover. Bekneuchen, February 29, 1884. ^uoTi'-en BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 169 84.— P£NNINO OF SAIiMOIV IN ORDER TO 8EC1JRK TIIEER F:00S. By C. J. BOTTEI»IA]¥WE, M. D. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] In the Dutch "Economist" of 1874 I gave a description of the fish- breeding establishment of the State of New York, and therein I men- tioned the United States salmon-breeding establishment on the Penob- scot, principally for the j)enning of the salmon from June till breeding time. As you are likely aware, the Dutch Government pays yearly $4,800 to salmon breeders for youug salmon delivered in spring, at the rate of 10 cents for yearlings, and not quite (f ) one dollar per hundred for those that are about rid of the umbilical sac, and ready to shift for themselves. For the latter they receive payment only if there is money left after delivering the yearlings. The breeders get their eggs from Germany from Schuster in Frei- burg, and from Gloser in Basel; but complain always that the eggs are from too young individuals, that there is always too much loss in trans- portation, that the eggs are so weak that after the fish have come out there is great mortality in the fry, &c. In this month's " Economist" I published the results on the Penobscot, and figured out that if breeders here set to work in the same style they would get at least four eggs to one, at the same price, and be independentv We have an association here for promoting the fresh- water fisheries, of which the principal salmon fishermen are members, and also several gentlemen not in the business, including myself. In the December meet- ing I told them all I knew about the Penobscot; and one breeder got a credit for $200 for getting ryje salmon and keeping them in a scow till he had what he wanted, and he has succeeded pretty well. Still this is only on a limited scale. I want to put up larger pens and in the style of the Penobscot. In order to do this I must know exactly what is done on the Penobscot and how. What is the size of the pen, how large area, how deep? Is it above tidal water? (This I take for grauted.) What is the situation of the pond compared with the river! What kind of failures were there, and the probable reasons therefor? In short, I would like a complete de- scription of the place, with the history of it. I hope you will excuse my drawing on you for such an amount, but as the United States is the authority in practical fish-breeding, we are obliged to come to you. I am sorry to say that I cannot report the catch of any iS*. quinnat, yet three fish have been sent in for the premium we held out for the first fifteen caught, but they proved not to be quinnat. Lately I heard that there were so many salmon caught in the Ourthe, near Liege, Belgium (the Ourthe is one of the feeders of the Maas), which was an astonishing fact, as salmon are seldom taken there. BERGE^sf OP Zoom, Netherlands, January 12, 1884. 170 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 85 — ITIEITIORAIVOA REIiATIVE TO IIVCI.OSURES FOR THE COIVFIIVE- MEIVT OF SAIvMOIV, DRAWIV FROITI EXPERIENCE AT BUOK8PORT, PEIVOBS€OT RIVER, ITIAIIVE. By CHARLES O. ATKIIVS. [In response to request of Dr. C. J. Bottemanne.] The Penobscot salmon-breediug establishment was founded in 1872, at Bucksport, in the State of Maine, near the mouth of the Penobscot Kiver. The location was primarily determined by the necessity of being near a supply of living adult salmon, to be used for breeders. After an exploration of the headwaters of the Penobscot, which lie mostly in an uninhabited wilderness, the conclusion was reached that the chances of securing a sufficient stock of breeders were much greater at the mouth of the river, where the principal salmon fisheries are located ; but to avail ourselves of the supply here aftbrded we must take the salmon at the ordinary fishing season, May, June, and July, and keep them in con- finement until the spawning season, which is here the last of October and first of November, As the salmon naturally pass this period of their lives in the upper parts of the rivers, it was thought essential to confine our captives in fresh water. Later experiments in Canada indi- cate that they will do as well in salt water, but the construction and maintenance of inclosures is much easier when they are located above the reach of the tide, to say nothing of the proximity of suitable fresh water for the treatment of the eggs. In the precise location of the in- closures several changes have been made, but they have always been in fresh water, and within convenient distance (5 to 10 miles) of the place where the salmon were captured. , In our experiments and routine work we have made use of four in- closures, which I will now describe. No. 1. — In Craig's Pond Brook, a very pure and transparent stream, an artificial pond 40 square rods in area and 7 feet in extreme depth, was formed by the erection of a dam. The bottom of this pond was mainly a grassy sod newly flooded. About half the water came from springs in the immediate vicinity, and the rest from a very pure lake half a mile distant. The water derived from the lake was thoroughly aerated by its passage over a steep rocky bed. The transparency ol the water in the pond was so great that a pin could be seen at the depth of 6 feet. This inclosure was a complete failure. The salmon placed therein were after a day or two attacked by a parasitic fungoid growth on the skin, and in a few days died. Out of 59 impounded not one escaped the disease and only those speedily removed to other waters recovered. Several, removed in a very sickly condition to the hike sup- plying the brook, recovered completely, from which it is safe to infer that the cause of the trouble did not lie in the lake water. Of the spring BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 171 water I have some suspicions, and should not dare to inclose salmon in it again. No. 2. — After the failure of the above experiment an inclosure was made in the edge of an ordinary lake by stretching a stout net on stakes. This water was brown in color, and objects 4 feet beneath the surface were invisible. The bottom was gravelly and devoid of vegetation. The depth was 7^ feet in early summer, and about 4 feet after the drought of August and September. The area inclosed was about 25 square rods in June, and perhaps half as much at the end of summer. This inclosure was entirely successful, very few salmon dying in it except those that had been attacked by disease before their introduc- tion, and all the survivors were found to be in first-rate condition in November. This site was not afterwards occupied, because it was incon- viently located, and was exposed to the full force of violent winds sweep- ing across the lake, and therefore unsafe. No. 3. — The inclosure in use for the confinement of the stock of breed- ing fish for the four years from 1872 to 1875, inclusive, was made by running a barrier across a narrow arm of a small lake (mentioned in official reports as " Spofford's Pond ") near Bucksport village. This body of water, about CO acres in area in the summer, receives the drain- age of not more than 5 square miles of territory through several small brooks, that are reduced to dry beds by an ordinar^^ drought. About a quarter of the shores are marshy and the rest stony. The water is highly colored by peaty matters in solution, and all objects are invisible at a depth of 2 feet. The bottom is composed mostly of a fine brown peaty mud of unknown depth. Aquatic vegetation of the genera Nu- phar, Nymphcea, Bragenia, Potamogeton, &c., is abundant. The water is nowhere more than 16 feet deep in the spring, and 11 feet in midsum- mer. The porti(m inclosed is 2 feet shoaler. The inclosure occupied sometimes 8 or 10 acres, and sometimes less. The barrier was from 400 to 600 feet long, and was formed the first year of brush ; the second and third years of stake-nets, weighted down at the bottom witli chains ; and the fourth year of wooden racks, 4 feet wide and long enough to reach the bottom, which were pushed down side by side. The brush was unsatisfiictory. There were holes in it by which the fish escaped. A single net would not retain its strength through a whole season, the bottom rotting away and letting the fish out, unless before the autumn was far advanced its position were reversed, the stronger part that had been above water being placed now at the bottom. This method was therefore rather expensive and not perfectly secure. The wooden racks were costly and heavy to handle, but quite secure. The salmon placed in this inclosure had to be carted in tanks of water overland about a mile in addition to transportation in floating cars from 3 to 5 miles ; they were transferred suddenly from the salt water of the river (about two-thirds as salt as common sea- water) into the entirely fresh water of the lake. To all the supposed unfavorable circumstances 172 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. must be added the high summer temperature of the water. During' August the mean was generally above 70° Fahrenheit at the bottom and several degrees warmer at the surface. Occasionally there was observed a midday temperature of 74° F. and once 76° F. at the bottom. Yet this proved an excellent place for our purjiose, a satisfactory percentage^ of the salmon remaining in perfect health from June to November. No. 4. — The inclosure in use since 1879 jat Dead Brook, Bucksport. It is located in a gently running stream bordered by marshy ground, with a bottom in part of gravel but mostly of mud, crowded with aquatic- vegetation. The water, supplied by two small lakes among the hills, i& cleaner than the average of Maine rivers, but does not in that respect approach the water of inclosure No. 1. The greatest depth is about 8^ fe^t, but in the greater part of the inclosure it is from 3 to 5 feet. The width of the stream is from 2 to 4 rods, and the portion inclosed is 2,200 feet long. The barriers to retain the fish are in the form of wooden gratings, with facilities for speedily clearing them of debris brought down by the stream. Better results were expected from this inclosure than from No. 3, but have not been realized. The percentage of .-^almon dying in confinement has been greater, amounting commonly to about 25 per cent of those introduced, and this notwithstanding the salmon are conveyed to the inclosure by water carriage the entire distance (7 miles) instead of be- ing carted in tanks. The cause of the trouble has not yet been discov- ered, but there is good reason for thinking that it lies in some of the circumstances attending the transfer of the fish from the place of cap- ture, and that the inclosure itself is perfectly suited to its purpose. This view is supported by the fact that nearly all the losses occur within a few weeks after the introduction of the salmon and almost wholly cease by the end of July. If the cause of disease was located in the inclosure, we should exi)ect it to be more fatal after a long than a short duration of the exposure of the fish to its action, and that with the smaller volume and higher temperature of August it would be more act- ive than in June and July. The above descrii)tion will, I think, give Dr. Bottemanne a sufficiently correct idea of the character of the inclosures we have tried. There are^ however, several other i)oints to be touched upon to put him in posses- sion of the practical results of our experience. The facilities for the recapture of the salmon when thesi^awning sea- son approaches must be considered. In the lake at Bucksport village (No. 3) we hoped at first that their desire to reach a suitable spawning ground would induce them all to enter the small brook that forms the outlet, which was within the limits of the inclosure. In this matterour expectations were but jjartially realized. Many of the fish refused to leave the lake through the narrow ojiening that was afibrded them, and were only obtained by pound-nets, seines, and gill-uets, all of which in- volved a considerable expenditure of labor and material. The drawing BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 173 ■of a seine in a large body of fresh water is likely to be a serious under- taking unless the bottom has been previously cleared of snags. In this respect the long and narrow inclosure at Dead Brook possesses great advantages, since it can be swept with a comparatively short seine. However, the influx and efflux of a considerable volume of water is of great advantage in enticing the gravid fish into traps that can readily be contrived for them by any ingenious fisherman. . The existence of a gravelly bottom in the inclosure must be considered a positive disadvantage, inasmuch as it affords the fish a ground on which they may lay their eggs before they can be caught; but the dan- ger of such an occurrence is less as the bounds of the inclosure are more contracted and the facilities for capturing the fish are better. As to the number of fish to a given area, I think we have never ap- proached the maximum. I should have no hesitation in putting 1,000 salmon in the inclosure at Dead Brook, which covers an area of less than 3 acres. Of course the renewal of the water supply, or its aeration by winds, is of importance here. The capture and transport of the fish in June involves methods re- quiring some explanation. The salmon fisheries about the u)outh of the Penobscot Eiver are pursued by means of a sort of trap termed a " weir." It is constructed of fine-meshed nets hung upon stakes, ar- ranged so as to entrap and detain the fish without insnaring them in the meshes. They swim about in the narrow "pound" of the weir until the retreating tide leaves them upon a broad floor. Just before the floor is laid bare, the salmon destined for the breeding works are dipped out carefully with a cloth bag or a very fine bag-net and placed in trans- porting cars or boats, rigged specially for the purpose, sunk deep in the water, which fills them, passing in at two grated openings above, and passing out at two others astern, and covered with a net to prevent es- cape. In a boat 13 or 14 feet long (on the bottom) we put 10 or 15 sal- mon, to be towed a distance of 7 miles. If the water is cool, twice as many can go safely, but there must be no delay. It is very important that this car be smooth inside, with no projections for the salmon to chafe on, and the gratings must be so close that they cannot get their heads in between the bars. If conveyance overland is necessary, a wooden tank 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, with a sliding cover, will take six salmon at a time for a mile and perhaps farther, and they may be jolted along over a rough road in com^jarative safety. It has been our uniform experience that all the salmon that survived till autumn were in normal condition as to their reproductive functions, and yielded healthy spawn and milt. On two occasions we sutiered serious losses of eggs. In neither instance could the loss be attributed to any defect in the inclosure, but on one occasion the conclusion was reached that the water which was well suited to the maintenance of the 174 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. fish was injuriouH to the eggs, rendering the shell so soft that they could not be transported safely. With the exception of the disasters enumerated above, there has been but one that I can recall, and that was caused by the bursting of our barriers at Dead Brook under the pressure of a flood. BucKSPORT, Me., April 7, 1884. 86.-E'UKTSIS:B JRE:P0BT of R. is. I1I7ITIX:>8 SAE.MON nATCHEBir,, OKEGOIV.* By CMARI.es I. FINELY. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I have carefully liberated about 12,000 salmon fry in a little stream called Indian Creek, a tributary of Eogue Eiver, Oregon. Nearly all the eggs that I lo.st were from non-impregnation. I had to spawn the salmon too early, but I did it then for fear of losing them altogether, on account of a freshet. We had them in two boxes afloat In the water. These boxes are made of sla^s 24 by 10 by 6 feet. Be- tween the 25th and 28th of August last I put into these boxes 100 salmon (50 in each box). Those that lived I left there until the 22d of November. In towing the boxes down the river one of them ran aground and a slat tore off, so that we lost 50 fish thereby. Of the other lot about half died. I think this was due chiefly to their being confined in too small a space. They got a good deal bruised before the middle of September. Mr. Hume intends to do away with the boxes and to build a large reservoir at the outlet of the hatching-house. I spawned in all only nine females : lost two from their getting away, and let one go for want of a male. I estimated only about 30,000 eggs, and from actual count the loss of eggs was 7,000. The loss of minnows and fry was about 1,000. The first eggs were j)ut in the trays on the 22d of November; the first embryo was discovered on the 26th of December; and the first fish was free the 27th of January, or in sixty-six days. The last salmon hatched February 17th, or eighty-seven days from spawning. On the 10th of March we commenced fishing, and on the 7th of April let them go, all large and healthy fry. As far as I could find, I had only ten crijiples, and some of these lived to become fry. I waited for Mr. Hume to come from San Francisco before turning them out. Under the circumstances, I feel much encouraged with my success. Mr, Hume intends to make the hatchery a permanent fixture here, and to have the river stocked to its full capacity during the coming winter. We have a capacity for about 1,000,000 eggs. Ellensburg, Oreg., April 27, 1884. * See previous report on page 88 of this volume. — C. W. S. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 175 87.- WHAT COOFISH SO:nE:TIITIX:S SWAIil^OTF.* By CAPT. J. W. COI.L.IIVS. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I send by to-day's express a knife, apparently of the kind known as a " haddock rii^per," which was taken from the stomach of a large cod- fish on Le Have Bank. The knife was presented by Captain Henry McEachern, of the schooner A. F. Giffbrd, of this port, through Capt. Benjamin F. Blatchford. Captain McEachern stated to me that the knife was found in the stomach of a 45-pound cod which was caught this winter on a trawl-line, in about 55 to 60 fathoms of water, latitude 43° 08' north, longitude 64° 11' west. As Captain McEachern is consid- ered very reliable, there is no reason for doubting the correctness of his statement, though it does seem strange that a fish should swallow such an implement. Gloucester, Mass., January 26, 1884. 88.— liEECn CUIiTURE. By RUB. HESSEL.. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The Hirudo medicinalis and the S. officinalis begin to propagate when three or four years old, at which age they are from three to five inches in length and from half an inch to an inch in diameter. They are raised extensively in France, especially on the moss-lands in the environs of Bordeaux, where the culturists call the adult worm by the unscientific name of Sangsue vache, " cow-leech." I have seen all the difierent kinds of ponds in use there, as well as in other parts of France, and in the Danube province of Austria-Hungary. I once laid out some ponds on my place especially adapted to the habits of the leeches, and to protecting them from their enemies. I then bought 10,000, including both species, one of which I got from Bordeaux and the other from Hungary. Two years afterwards, when my establiwshmeut was washed away by a freshet, I had about 100,000, about 60,000 of which were of marketable size. For the trial which you are intending to make, from 150 to 250 would * There is in the National Museum a package of 15 or 20 cards of the usual size of playing-cards (2f by 4 inches) which were taken from the stomach of a codfish. The comers are well rounded off, but the colors are in quite a good state of preservation. The cards were exhibited at the London Fishery Exhibition, and the fact that they came from the stomach of a cod is well authenticated. — C. W. S. 176 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. be enough to begin with. You might then have from 2,000 to 3,000 a year for distribution to the hospitals, &c. The propagable leeches sell for higher prices than the common-sized ones. I think that I paid 20 francs [$4J per hundred for the best of mine. They may be cheaper than that. 1 suppose the best thing to do is to get the price-lists from the different Bordeaux establishments, through the mediation of the United States consular agency at that place, so that we can see what kinds of leeches they sell, as well as their prices. The Becharde Brothers, rue Fondad^ge, Bordeaux, from whom I got my ^^vachesy''^ gave me entire satisfaction, both in regard to the quality of the leeches furnished and their healthiness. Washington, D. C, November 17, 1883. S9 EDSBr^C: QUALITIES OF CARP. By £I>1^AKI> THOMPSON. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I enjoyed reading the different opinions of men on the eating qualities of the carp.* I would venture to say it would be the same with beef, pork, or any other fish, no matter where it came from. It would be an utter impossibility to take any fish out of a muddy hole and expect it to taste like a fish out of a pond with pure, clear water, such as yoa could stoop down and drink out of. One fact which cannot be got over is that different food and water will make either animal, fowl, or fish taste differently, no matter where they come from or what their names are. I once sent Mr. Eugene G. Blackford two brook trout, about one- half pound each, and asked him his opinion as to flavor, and he pro- nounced them as good, if not better, than any he had ever eaten. Why? Because they were fed on the natural food for trout. Again, I have eaten trout that tasted very distinctively of liver. Why I Because they were fed on liver, &c. It is the food and water which makes the <;arp have so many dilferent tastes. I might ask one more question. Can you find two even in one family to whom things taste alike ? It is not so in mine. The carp is the best fish I know of for workingmen and mechanics, who rarely lack an appetite, and who will always consider the fish good when they can get it. My personal opinion is that it is a very superior fish, and I will even go so far as to say that I prefer it to trout. St. Johnland, Suffolk Co., E". Y., February 15, 1884. * Notes on the edible qualities of carp, «&c., by Chas. W. Smiley. BuU. F. C, 1883, p. 305. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 177 Vol. IV, ]¥o. 13. Wa§hmgtOBi, D. C. July 31, 1884. 90 ON THE SPECIMENS KEC'EIVED BV THE SMITaiSONBAN INSTI- TUTION FKOM THE UNITED STATES I.IFE-SAVIN« SERVICE. By Prof. S. F. BAIRD. The arrangemeut made by the Superintendent of the Life- Saving Service, early in the year, for the telegraphic announcement to the Smithsonian Institution of the stranding of marine animals lias al- ready been productive of important results. The series of specimens thus far received is in every way remarkable, and should the system continue to be so productive it is imi^ossible to say what good may not result to zoology. The first specimen received was that of a shark [Pseu- dotriacis microdon) fi'om Station ]S'o. 10, Amagansett, iS". Y., Mr. Joshua B. Edwards, keeper. This species had hitherto been captured only off the coast of Portugal, and its discovery in our waters was a matter of great interest to American ichthyologists. The only specimen known to be preserved besides this one is the type of the species. Shortly after this shark was received, a still more remarkable animal was announced from Station No. 8, at Spring Lake, N. J., Mr. Henry S. Howland, keeper. This was a pigmy sperm whale, which was en- tirely new to the North Atlantic, and apparently new to science as well. It has been provisionally named Kogia goodei. Few specimens of this genus have ever been coUectetl, and these from the most remote j)art8 of the globe, some from New Zealand, and one from Mazatlan at the entrance of the Gulf of California. These animals resemble the great sperm whale, to which they are closely related, but do not seem to attain a length of more than 9 or 10 feet, and are truly the pig- mies of their race. The New Jersey specimen was peculiarly inter- esting in that it was a female with young. In dissecting the animal a a fetus fully 3 feet long was found, which is probably the first ever seen. The enthusiasm aroused by the arrival of this specimen had scarcely abated when the stranding of another cetacean was announced from Station No. 17, at Barnegat City, N. J., Mr. J. H. Ridgway, keeper. This remarkable animal floated in upon the tide and was secured by Mr. Eidgway and his crew after considerable exertion. The curator of mammals and an assistant were dispatched from the National Museum and a cast of the exterior was made and the skeleton prepared for ship ment to Washington. As the huge animal lay upon the sand the ques- tion of its identity proved quite a puzzling one to the zoologist who viewed it; but when the skull was cut out, it was at once apparent that the animal belonged to the whales known as the Ziphioids, and proba- Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 — -12 178 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. bly to the species ZipMus cavirostris, au animal for which no common name exists, but which may be termed a bottle-nose whale. It is j)rob- ably the second specimen ever taken on the coast of the United States. Ziphioid whales have a most interesting history. In ages past they were very abundant, perhaps as much so as the common j)orpoise of to- day, but at present only stragglers are found in remote quarters of the globe. It would seem as if they were but the surviving relics of a great race, which sprung into existence, reached the maximum of its abun- dance, and declined long ages before man appeared on the earth. From Station :So. 20, at Fire Island, N. Y., Mr. Daniel S. Hubbard, keeper, and Station No. 37, at Turtle Gut, X. J., Mr. Uriah Gresse, keeper, came two specimens of a porpoise, which, unlike the cetaceans which have been already referred to, is of common occurrence on our Atlantic coast, and is probably also represented in European waters. The casts, however, which the National Museum was enabled to make, are i^robably the first of the species in any museum in the country, and with the skeletons which were preserved form an excellent basis for comparison with other forms. The animal is commonly known as the bottle-nose dolphin, and is identical with or closely allied to the species Tursiops truncatus. In addition to the shark previously mentioned several peculiar and interesting fishes have been received. Among these is a fish known as the " star-gazer" {Astroscopns anoloplms) from Station No. 6, at Deal's Island, N. 0., Mr. Malachi Corbel, keeper. The "star-gazer" is a southern species which occasionally strays northward as far as Cape Cod, but it is very rare in museums. A very closely allied species {Anolophus V. grcecum) is said to possess electrical powers in life. From Station No. 2, at Point Judith, E. I., Mr. Herbert M. Knowles, keeper, was received a specimen of the "lumpflsh." The "lumpfish" [Cyclop- terus lumpus) as a rule is an inhabitant of colder waters than that in which it was found. The " flute mouth " {Fistularia serrata) from the same station is a very rare species on our coast. The "angel fish" {Pomacanthns arcuatus) taken at Barnegat City, N. J., has not hitherto been known north of Florida. Washington, D. C, January 25, 1884. 91.— TFBIOHTS OF SALITIOIV TAKEN AT ITIcCr.OUI> RIVER STATIOIV IIV 1S80. By LIVII^GSTON STONE. The following table showing the weight of female salmon after spawn- ing, was accidentally omitted from the report for that year of the opera- tions at McCloud Eiver station. The average weight of those taken August 31 was 9| pounds ; of those taken September 9, 8| pounds ; of the entire lot, 9/y- pounds. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 17^ Salmon ialen August 31. No. Weight. I No. Weight. Pounds. 1 19 2 9 3 11 4 ( 5 16 6 8 7 8 8 14 I Pounds. 9 1 7 10 14 11 1 5 12 7 13 11 14 ' 10 15 8 16 5 No. 1 "Weight. No. , Weight. No. Pounds. 17 , 18 18 14 19 7 20 i 8 21 ; 8 22 12 23 6 24 1 16 ' Pounds. 25 12 26 5 27 7 28 14 29 j 8 30 1 7 31 j 12 32 ' 7 Weight. 33 34 35 36 37 38 Total Pounds. 13 7 5 7 6 9 367 Salmon taken Sepiemher 9. No. Weight. 1 I No. Weight, j ISQ. 1 Weight. No. Weight. No. Weight. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9ft Pounds. \ 11.5 12 5 3.5 14 6.5 15 8 8 6 9 5 7 9 8 15 13 10 1 6 ! 7 ' 7 7 8 ' 6 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 33 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Pounds. 11 12 il 6.5 8 6 ' 12 6 7 6 ,i 8 8 6 8 7.5 8 7 11 8.5 10 16 49 50 51 52 5^ 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 Pounds. 8 10 7 6.5 11 7 6 6 16 ' 14 10 10 14 9 9 9 7 6 7 8 8 9 9 9 73 74 75 76 77 78 ' 79 80 81 . 82 83 ,84 1 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 Pounds. 11 12 8 8 9 8 7 8 16 8 8 • 13 7 9 8 6 8 7 10 11 Jl 13.5 9 7 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 ni 112 113 114 115 Total.. Pounds. 9 7 5 12 8 8 14 6 7 7.5 7.5 7 9 8 7 8 10 8 12.5 21 22 23 24 1, 014. 5 9«.— VITAIiITY OF OERMAIV CARP ANO RESTOBATIOIV APPAREIVTIjY »EA». OF iDoini: By CHARLES W, SCUDDER. Wishing to examine some scale carp anatomically, on January 2(1 I visited the Central Hatching Station of the United States Fish Commis- sion in the Armory building, and called for dead carp, as they would answer my purpose as well as live ones. Mr. J. E. Brown handed me seven or eight, which were from 1 to 3 inches in length, and which had been thrown out of the tanks as dead. These I at once put into an envelope and carried home in my pocket. At least an hour later I removed them from the envelope and put them in a wash-bowl of water for cleansing them. I soon noticed that two of them were floating on their sides and occasionally gasping. A half hour after this, for the purpose of discovering how much vitality there might be in the two in which I had observed signs of life, I placed in the mouth, of each one a droj) of brandy diluted with an equal quan- 180 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. tity of water. These I returned to the bowl, and paid no further atten- tion to them until six hours afterwards. I then noticed that the two which had received the tonic showed a marked improvement, and were swimming on their sides nearly at the top of the water. I then changed the water and administered the same amount of brandy as before. Ou the following morning, thirteen hours after the first administration of brandy and seven hours after the second dose, the two fish in question were apparently fully restored, and were swimming naturally and ac- tively about the bowl. The restoration jjroved to be complete. United States Fish Commission, Washington, D. 6'., January 4, 1884. 93.— liOSS OF i^FE AND propf:ktv i!\ tme: qLiOuc'Estek fish. By Capt. J. \r. COLL.I]^S. I beg to submit the following statement of the losses, from Gloucester, of life and property in the New England fisheries during the past ten years, first saying that there is no available source from which to obtain similar faets relative to the fishing fleets of other Iv^ew England coast towns. The period covered by the statistics I give is from 1874 to 1883, inclusive, during which time Gloucester has had a fleet of, approxi- mately, 400 fishing vessels, carrying about 4,300 to 4,800 men. About one-half to possibly three-fourths of this fleet has been engaged in some branch of the winter fisheries, the rest of the vessels being hauled up for about five months of the year. In the ten years mentioned the total loss of vessels has been 147, of which number 82 have foundered at sea, 7 of the latter having been abandoned in a sinking condition. The total value of these vessels was $735,126. The total loss of life has been 1,233 men, 895 of whom went down in their vessels, which foundered at sea. It is a little difficult to get at the exact number of bereaved families which lost their natural protectors, since for one or two years of the period under considera- tion accurate record wa« not kept of the widows and fatherless chil- dren left by these disasters at sea, and even if it had been it would not show how many almost helpless parents have been deprived of their only means of support. As near as I can get at it — making what I believe to be an underestimate for the years of which I can obtain no statistics of the widows and children left — 322 women have been made widows, and 658 children left fatherless by the disasters to the Gloucester fleet alone. Many of these families have been left in utter destitution. There can be but little doubt that upwards of 75 per cent of the ves- sels lost at sea meet with an untimely fate simply because they are too shallow ; the consequence being that when caught in a gale they are BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 181 liable to be thrown on their beam ends, and, not being able to right be- cause of their shallowness, fill and sink. In a single gale, that of De- cember 9 and 10, 1876, no less than five Gloucester schooners were knocked down and barely escaped sinking. Three of them were dis- masted, two of which were abandoned, one went into Liverpool, Nova Scotia, nnder a jury-rig, while the others were not so badly damaged. The inference is that other vessels v.hich foundered in the same gale, and those that have been lost at sea on other occasions, were knocked down in a similar manner, and, failing to right again, soon sunk. Of course, with a deeper body to the vessels, and the ballast placed lower, there would be far less probabilit}' of such a mishap occurring, and even should it happen the chances would be a hundred to one that the vessel would right again. It is, therefore, altogether probable that the introduction of deeper fishing vessels in New England would save for Gloucester alone some- where about ^30,000 to $50,000 per year, besides a large number of lives. As an instance showing how terrible the loss is sometimes, I will say that from the 20th of August to the last of December, 1883, 16 vessels from Gloucester foundered at sea, carrying down with them 205 men, while the loss of property was little less than 1 100,000. Gloucester, Mass., February 21, 1884. 94.-K.OSS OF 1.IFE AND PROPEBTIT IIV TBE FISREBIES. By R. B. FORBES. I have perused with great interest the statements on the subject of the loss of life among the fishermen of Gloucester. The loss of 447 vessels and 2,600 lives in fifty-four years ending in 1884 is fearful to contem- plate. In 22 years ending this year the number of men lost was 2,140. There must be some cause for this large increase. It may be presumed that the increase of the number of vessels in the business accounts for the increased loss of lives in a great degree. Another cause must be the fact that the vessels are more crowded. Another prominent cause must be the fact that trawl-fishing in dories necessarily exposes the men to greater danger than hand-fishing. I have before me a 'long list of men who have been separated trom their vessels; many of these have been lost, while some have been rescued in a starving condition. No regular rule has been established for furnishing dories with condensed food and means for cooking. This should be done. Mr. D. W. Low, of Gloucester, has contrived means not only to feed persons, but to enable them to right their dories and to cling to them when capsized. If the owners of fishing craft do not feel interest enough to encourage the use of these means, there should be a law to compel them to do so; and if a 182 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. law cannot be passed to compel attention to the safety of the men, pub- lic opinion must be invoked to organize relief associations for the miti- gation of the existing evils. It would, perhaps, be considered out of place for me, who have had no experience in bank fishing, to give an opinion adverse to what is said by one brought up in the business (Capt. J. W. Collins), who attributes the loss of many of the vessels to capsiz- ing, owing in a great degree to the long masts and shallow hulls. A shallow craft is certainly more liable to be capsized than a dee]> one, but the spars of a schooner cannot contribute largely toward cap- sizing. Captain Collins is said to be in favor of putting out a drag rather than riding at anchor in stormy weather. No small craft should be without one, but I doubt if it would conduce to prevent collisions in the event of a fleet of vessels trying to keep head to the wind by it. The canvas-bag drag is an excellent thing to ride by in the open sea, where a single craft or a few craft may be exposed, and where there is plenty of room to drift; but in a crowd it would not tend to prevent vessels fouling with each other, as compared to riding at anchor with a long scope of cable. The drag is an excellent thing to assist in changing position, by reversing it with the tripping line and catching hold again. There are more fishing vessels run down by steamers than we hear of. The remedy for this class of losses lies in steam lines adopting regular courses (or lanes, as Maury called them), whereby the fishing-grounds most frequented should be avoided by the steamers, and the steam- routes where they cross banks should be avoided by the fishermen. Fog-horns should be made to work by compressed air power on board of fishermen, and every boat leaving the vessel should carry a good fog- horn as well as some means to show a powerful light. As to the com- pass, I should class that as a luxury which might be dispensed with much better than a supply of food; any intelligent seaman can tell near enough how he is heading by night or in a fog, but none can exist long without food and drink. As to comparing the safety of the yacht-like craft with the old-style fishing craft, I would make use of the same argument as I have used for steamers in fogs, namely, "go ahead in fogs and shorten the time at sea." The old banker may be a safer model in a gale ; but she is so long in making her trips that she en- counters more dangers in the aggregate than the sharp modern craft. The subject of oil to smooth the rough water is one that should be studied t)y fishermen. I feel sure that it would in many cases be found useful, especially when cast over from a vessel drifting ftist, bat its ntdity to vessels at anchor may be doubted; still if a crowd of ves- sels should all spread oil on the rough seas, those to leeward might possibly be benefited. I submit these remarks in the hope of calling more attention to the risks incurred by fishermen; and I close with the single remark that if more native boys of Gloucester should be used and fewer foreigners, we should hear much less of loss of life and some- thing more in reganl to preventing it than we now do. Boston, Mass., May 29, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 183 95.— KESfJSClTATIOiV OF APPAREIVTL,Y DEAD CARP. By MILTOW P. PEIRCE. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] From a lot of 1,200 carp one of uiy assistants threw out 110 which he supposed to be dead. I do not think they were dead, but only tor- pid, for one was left floating in the tank when it was replaced in the store. A small boy called who was going on the street-cars to a dis- tant part of the city [Philadelphia]. The mechanics gave him the supposed dead carp, which he wrapped in a piece of paper and placed in his pocket to show to his chum. After reaching his destination and })laying awhile, the two boys passed into a room where the goldfish tank stood when he thought of his carp. The boys thought they would give the lady of the house a surprise, and so placed the carp in the tank. An hour or two later the lady discovered a strange fish swimming in her aquarium in an erratic manner, and upon inquiry, learned from the boys the almost incredible facts. Two weeks later she called and related them to me, saying that the carp was well, lively, eat- ing readily, and growing rapidly. Wenonah, I^. J., March 31, 1882. 96 — REITIARKABL.E RESUMCITATIOIV OF FROZEN CARP. By CHAS. W. SMILEY. On the n.crning of January 4, 1884, 2,100 German carp were for- warded from Washington by express to Birmingham, Ala. Mr. F. L. Donnelly, a messenger of the Commission, proceeded by the same train to watch them on their passage and to take charge of them upon their arrival at Birmingham. The fish had been idaced in the usual four- quart tin pails, and packed in crates of IG pails each. Each pail con- tained 15 carp. Mr. Donnelly and the carp arrived at Birmingham at 1.30 a. m.. Jan- uary 6. The packages were left in the ofQce of the Southern Express Company through the remainder of that night, but placed within 10 feet of the stove in order to prevent the water freezing. The thermom- eter indicated +49 F. at the time of arrival. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the Gth, Mr. Donnelly examined the condition of the fish, and, in his official report dated January 14, says : " I was greatly surprised to find every drop of water in the buckets frozen into solid ice, and all the fish apparently dead; but upon close examination of their eyes, I thought perhaps a great many of them were still nlive though frozen solid in the ice." 184 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Mr. Donnelly thereupon conrageously undertook to see if any of the fish could be saved. He procured the necessary laborers, four large tubs, and a supply of water. He then broke the ice from the small pails, transferring such as contained carp to the water. He states that "in this manner a great number of fish were soon freed from their con- finement, and by constant working with them during the entire day we were able to save 1,300 fish." Although the thermometer continued to remain in the vicinity of zero, by careful management ho succeeded in keeping the 1,300 fish alive until the 8th and 9th, when they were distributed to the applicants throughout the State. The saving of 1,300 carp out of a lot of 2,100, under such circum- stances, may be considered a very remarkable achievement. Having prepared the foregoing statement from Mr. Donnelly's report? I sent a copy of it to Mr. L. H. Black, route agent. Southern Express Company, Montgomery, Ala., asking how far he knew the statements to be true. Under date of January 25, 1884, he wrote me in reply as follows: "As route agent of the Southern Express Company, my duties call me to Birmingham. I saw the carp first on the morning after their arrival at Birmingham and frequently during the day while Mr. Don- nelly was at work with them. My opinion is that this statement is correct in every particular. I give it from what I saw myself and from information Mr. Donnelly gave me during the day, while he was work- ing with the fish." Washington, D. C, January 30, 1884. 97.-DE8TBUCTIOIV OF SMAI^r. FISH ItV W£IB8. By SETH NICKERSOJV. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.l I desire to . call your attention to the great destruction of small fish along our shores by means of deep-water weirs. These engines of de- struction are set in water from 4 to 10 fathoms deep. Oftentimes last year, from many boat loads of codfish, hake, haddock, and other kinds of ground fish, together with mackerel and herring taken, only one bar- rel of fish large enough for market use would be saved. There were sometimes 25 barrels of fish thrown away, leaving the bottom of the sea covered with dead carcasses. If this destruction of spawn and young is not prevented we shall soon have no fresh fish from Provincetown. Formerly hundreds of tons of cod and haddock were caught here with hook and line and sent to Boston ; whereas, during the past year, we had to depend upon Boston for our own supply of fresh fish. Seining is bad enough, but deep-water weirs are the worst engines of destruction 1 ever saw. Provincetown, Mass., April 28, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 185 98.— CONCERI^IIIVO THE SAIilTIOIV FISHERIES OF BRETAONE, FRANCE, AND THE NEED OF FISH- WAYS AND RESTRICTIVE CEOISL,ATION. The crawfish is not the only thing threatened with extermination. Our last article on the truly blameworthy tolerance of the administration in regard to poaching in our waters has brought us a letter from a resi- dent of Finist^re. We give his exact words, so as not to lessen the ap- pearance of truth with which our correspondent has described that which passes under his eyes. He writes us : "Affairs in this country have reached their limits. Salmon and trout are threatened with absolute destruction. Notice what takes place: Salmon ascend the river to spawn ; at the mouth nearly all the fish are stoijped by the nets of the fishermen of the maritime inscription, whose right to fish with seines extends in the river as far up as the tide ascends. There i)ass, then, only a few salmon, which the nets of the residents along the river will harass all summer. You see what is likely to sur- vive for reproduction. " Nor is this all. At the time when these unfortunate fish choose a spawning-place, and when they are easy of capture by any one with a grappling-iron, with a basket even, great numbers are caught; and they can be seen carried to market with their eggs flowing from their bodies like the water of a spring. Also, one now sees but few young salmon j and, as it is acknowledged that after their sojourn in the sea these young salmon return to the streams where they were born, you can judge of the final issue : our rivers after a short time will contain no salmon. "The advantage of the fish-culturists lies in protecting the difi'ereut species, and in aiding the processes of propagation. The English un- derstand this and profit by it. Last year I saw in Aberdeen, a large city of Scotland, sea-trout weighing from three to four pounds sold at the rate of twehe cents apiece. Can any one pretend that our people would not be fortunate in sparing this wholesome and agreeable food for a like good market? On the other side of the department of Manche the mouths of the streams are allowed to be fished only every other day by the fishermen, including the fishermen of the coast as well as those of the streams ; why should it not be the same with us ? The salmon fishery should close on September 1 instead of October 15 ; but to make amends, it could open on January 1. Thus reproduction under normal circumstances would be assured ; but on the condition, of course^ of ascertaining by a strict inspection the manner in which the law is obeyed by those living along the streams. "Fish-ways are unknown in our rivers of Bretagne. It requires^ therefore, con6iderable water passing over the dams or slopes for the fish to be able to surmount these obstacles and continue their ascent. 186 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Now each in emulatiou of the other obstructs its end of the river, in order to push into a kind of close passage the migrating salmon, which, of course, never go out except to die. Millers also need a word. They make of their mill-wheels the most deadly means of destruction. When young salmon were there, they would take them by basketfuls in one night, salt down these young fish scarcely as large as sardines, and in case of superabundance would give them to their hogs. See where we are! Almost nothing is found in all our river-basins. It is true that England, Scotland, Ireland, and Xorway are willing to forward to us all the trout and all the salmon preserved in ice which the market of Paris calls for; but of course it is on the condition that we return them good French money, and ■'ihis last commodity begins to become so scarce here that perhaps it would be better if we were keeping it for ourselves." As we have the utmost confidence in our correspondent, we conclude that affairs in Bretagne are going exactly as thej' are in our streams of Central France, where, when the "prohibited" nets become too fatiguing to manage and insufficiently productive, they never hesitate to call in the aid of lime, of poison-berries (Coccuhis indicus), and at present, above all, of dynamite. Sluggish species of fish and migratory species are alike quickly passing away, since nothing is done to stop it. It will be with this plague — for it is one — exactly as it was with the phylloxera. In 1865, when the American plant-louse began its ravages among the rich vineyards of the Rhone, several hundred thousand francs were considered sufficient, following the example of Switzerland and Germany, to stop the career of the destructive insect. The indifference with which it was treated costs the Government an- nually millions of francs, and causes a loss to agriculture of something like a billion of francs every year. Even so in ten or twenty years there will arise a statesman of genius who will discover that our rivers are depopulated, and that this depopulation constitutes a crime of high treason against the nation, because it deprives the people of an eco- nomical kind of food, growing without labor, and one which our hun- dreds of thousands of acres of water ought to furnish us at as low a price as it is furnished in Scotland and China. In his patriotic indigna- tion this statesman will call all the flsh-culturists to his aid ; they will multiply breeding-basins 5 they will establish costly stations ; they will restock the waters, rivers, streams, &c., with the i^rodigality in such matters which should characterize the acts of every Government ; they willexpend a hundred millions of francs to obtain with difficulty a result which should be reached immediately and almost "free of cost," requir- ing merely some employes to execute the laws which are now little more regarded than scarecrows. Is to allow such a thing as this an act of good government ? In spite of our desire, which we share with all poor wretches, to be agreeable to the authorities, it is impossible for us with sincerity to answer yes. La Petije Fkance, A2)ril 25, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 187 99,— AiV ACT TO PUOMIOIT FISBIIAC; BV STEAM VESSEI.S WITH SJIIBKKEia OK PITRSE SEINES l!V AIVV OF THE WATERS WITHIIY THE JUKISDICTIOIV OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. Iiiti'odueed by Mr. \\. B. MILLER. [Passed April 8, 1884, without the siguature of the governor.]. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That it shall not be lawful for any person with steam ves- sels to take with purse or shirred nets any menhaden, porgies, herring, or other fish, in any waters within the jurisdiction of this State, includ- ing the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within three nautical miles of the coast-line of said State, either on his own account and benefit or on ac count and benefit of his employer; and every person who shall offend herein shall forfeit and pay two hundred dollars, to be recovered and applied iu the manner hereinafter directed by section four of this act; and the said steam vessel used and employed in the commission of such offense, with all the fish, tackle, furniture, and apparel, shall be forfeited, and the same seized, secured, and disposed of in the maimer hereinafter prescribed. 2. And be it enacted, That no steam vessel found in any of the waters within the juiisdiction of this State, including the waters of the Atlan- tic Ocean within three nautical miles of the coast line thereof, shall have on board of the same any purse or shirred nets, or seine or seines, with the necessary instruments and ap])liances for catching any of the fish mentioned in the first section of this act ; and the master, or owner or owners, of every such steam vessel that shall have on board the same any such nets, instruments, or appliances named in this section shall forfeit the sum of one hundred dollars, to be recovered in the man- ner and for the use mentioned in section four of this act; and said ves- sel, with all of the rigging, furniture, and appliances attached to the same, shall be liable to be seized, condemned, and disposed of in the manner directed iu the said last-named section. 3. And be it enacted. That any action under the first and second sec- tions of this act may be commenced by warrant in the court for the trial of small causes and be proceeded in as in other cases when the same are commenced by warrant; any law, usage, or custom to the contrary not- withstanding. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of all sheriffs and con- stables, and maybe lawful for any other person or persons, to seize and secure any such steam vessel as aforesaid, and immediately thereupon give information thereon to two justices of the peace of the county 'Official' copy kiudly furnished the United States Fish Commission, by Henry C. Kolsey, secretary of state. 188 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. where such vessel shall be held and secured, who are hereby empowered and required to meet at such time and place as they shall appoint for the trial thereof, and hear and determine the same, having first given no- tice of the time and place so api)ointed by notice in writing, over their hands, setup in at least three public places within the township where the said vessel is held, at least five days prior thereto, and also served at least five days previously upon the owner or master of said vessel, if he can be found within the county ; and in case the same shall be con- demned, it shall be sold by the order and under the direction of the said justices, who, after deducting all legal costsand charges, and pay- ing the penalty provided for by the first section of this act, shall pay over the remainder of the proceeds of such sale to the owner or claimanb of such steam vessel so seizetl as aforesaid ; one-half of said penalty shall go to the person or persons making the seizure, and the remainder shall be paid to the treasurer of this State for the use of this State. 5. And be it enacted, That if any person or persons on such vessel aforesaid shall refuse and not suffer to enter the same or resist, before or after entering, any of the said officers, or other i)erson or persons seizing the same, or otherwise resist them, or any of them, in the law- ful seizing of the same, then every person so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dollars, to be re<-overed and applied in the manner hereinbefore directed. 6. And be it enacted, That the sale and disposition of the property seized and condemned, as provided for in this act, shall be conducted in the same manner and upon the same notice as prescribed for the sale of personal property seized under execution issued under the act of the legislature of this State entitled "An act constituting courts for tue trial of small causes"; and all fish and property of a perishable nature, found in and upon said vessel, shall be sold under the order of said two justices, by giving one day's notice of the time and place of such sale, by setting up advertisements thereof in three public places in the town- ship where such property shall be held, and the proceeds thereof applied in the same manner as hereinbefore provided. 7. A7id be it enacted, That if any owner or claimant of said vessel or vessels and i>roperty seized as hereinbefore provided for shall desire to retain possession of the said property so seized, the owner or claimant of such property shall notify the officer or officers before whom the case is being prosecuted, iu writing, and request that the property so seized shall be appraised ; and the said officers shall be and thej' are hereby re- quired to prex)are a true statement of all property coming into their hands under the provisions of this act; and upon such request of said owner or claimant, three disinterested men shall be appointed, one by the officers, one by the claimant, and one by the joint action of the two appraisers, who shall appraise said vessel and property, the same to be surrendered to said claimant on his giving bonds for the amount of such appraisement, with good and sufficient security for the same and BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 189 the payment of all fines, costs, and exiwnses connected with such seiz- ure and prosecution, otherwise the said vessel or vessels and apparatus to be held as security until all of said expenses incurred are fully paid ; and in case of failure on the part of said claimant to comply with the l)ro visions of this section, saiu property shall be sold as provided for in section four of this act. 8. And be it enacted, That the fee« and costs and charges under this act shall be as follows: to the two justices, for all services thereunder, five dollars eaeh ; to the person making the seizure, or watchman placed in charge of said vessel, two dollars for each day and two dollars for each night that services shall be actually rendered ; to the person put- ting up the advertisements or notices or serving the same, fifty cents for each notice posted or served ; for all other services, the same fees that are paid in justices' courts for similar services. 9. And he it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. (State of New Jersey, Laws of 1884, chapter 96.) lOO — RBIEF OF THE OSJECTEOIVS MA1>E BEFORE liEOlV ABBOTT, GOVEBiVOR OF NEW JEKSEY, TO TDE "Aff;T TO PKOBISBBT FI!$H- INO BY STEAM VESSEIiS WITES SSIBRED OB PUBSE SEINES IN ANY OF THE \»^ATEBS \%ITIBIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OF NEVr JERSEY.'' By LOUIS C. d'HOMERGUE.* 1. The bill in question in its essential features is similar to the one vetoed by Governor Ludlow on the opinion of the then as well as now attorney-general of the State — said opinion being at present on record in your excellency's office, and which I respectfully desire to submit as part and parcel of this brief against this present bill. 2. The letter I wrote to Governor Ludlow under date of January 25, 1882, a copy of which is here appended, as a part of this argument. 3. This present bill is illegal as it is class legislation ; it permits one class of vessels to engage in the said fishiug and use of described nets, while it excludes another class of vessels from so doing. 4. The State of New Jersey, in becoming a part and parcel of these United States, ceded to the Federal Government the right to make treaties with foreign Governments, and in so doing parted with neces- sary jurisdiction in all matters pertaining thereto. The United States Government having made a reciprocal treaty with Great Britain to per- mit the citizens of either country to fish \\ithiQ its limits established by international law, the State of New Jersey cannot pass any laws con- flicting with the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, thereby an- nulling the provisions of foreign treaties. * Secretary of the United States Menhaden Oil and Guano Association, 82 John street, New York. 190 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 5. The provisious of the bill are against sound State policy, unjusi and discriminating, as it would drive tbose engaged in lishiug with steam vessels to take out foreign registers and f)roceed to carry on their busi- ness under the protection of a foreign flag. 6. The bill is illegal and unjust because it seeks to deprive a certain class of vessels of the right recognized by the Federal Government, which has registered and licensed these vessels to carry on the fishing business in the waters within the scope of its jurisdiction. 7. The bill in its i)rovisions is arbitrary and against the principle of all human laws, for it actually prohibits in section 2 a steam fishing vessel with its fishing gear to enter any port of the State under pain of confiscation or fine — whether the vessel by stress of weather, accident, springing a leak, or in any distress whatever, should be caught in any of the waters within the jurisdiction of this State, including the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within three nautical miles of the coast-line thereof. 8. The jurisdiction of any State along the sea-coast cannot extend be- yond low-water mark, in matters relating to commercial or industrial pursuits which the United States have the power to regulate and con- trol or which can be subject-matters of foreign treaties. lOl.-REPORT UPON THE RECEIPT AND HATCHINO OF AITIERIC'AIV IVHITEFISn OVA AI\» PT.AIVTIIVG OF THE FRY JIN AUSTRALIA.* By AI.FRED GREEIVFIELD, Honorary Secretary of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society. On the 11th of February, 1884, the steamship Zealandia arrived from America at Auckland with one million whitefish ova. The mail agent, in whose charge they were placed, instead of causing the box to be transhipped with the mails by the southern steamer then in port, which left Auckland immediately on receipt of the mails, telegraphed to me asking that instructions might be sent to the secretary of the Auck- land society "what to do with the ova." 1 immediately sent an urgent telegram requesting that they might be sent by the first steamer, but the message did not reach the secretary until the southern steamer had left. So the eggs were unfortunately detained in Auckland until the 14th, when, after receiving a fresh supply of ice, they were placed on board the steamship Takapuna, which arrived at AVellingtou about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th. The oVa box was immediately transhipped into a small steamer, which left that evening and arrived at Nelson at 9 a. m. on the 16th. It was then conveyed to the society's hatching-boxes and unpacked. A considerable quantity of ice was found on the top and sides of the trays. Four trays were taken out and * Addressed to Hod. Thomas Dick, Wellington, Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, and by him foi-warded to Professor Baird, under date of March 25, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 191 the ova therefrom pkiced iu the hatching-boxes. The temperature of the moss iu the box was 44"^ aud of the water in the hatching-boxes 54°. Of the four trays taken out the eggs in the first two were a good deal caked together, although apparently not dead. The others looked to be iu good condition. As soon as the eggs were placed in water hatching commenced, and the next morning a large number were hatched, but a very large proi)ortion of the eggs were found to be bad and had turned color. The temperature in the hatching-boxes had increased to G0°, and a few days afterward was as high as 66°. Great difficulty was experienced in keeping the fry in the boxes, although fine screens were used for the purpose. But as the water from the boxes discharged into the society's ponds, the fish were not lost. Immediately after the four trays were taken out the remaining fifteen trays were repacked with ice and sent by rail 24 miles, then by express van 30 miles, to an inland lake, called Eotoiti, and a place prepared in a creek, which runs into the lake, to receive the ova. Of the fifteen trays of ova placed in this creek a very large propor- tion hatched, estimated by the man in charge at two-thirds. The tem- perature was not taken, as both thermometers sent up were broken, but the water is much colder than in the society's boxes, and may be stated at about 48© or 50°. The same difficulty was experienced of keeping the young fry in the hatching place, although screens were used as in the boxes; and most of them got out into the lake a few days after hatching. I am there- fore unable to report on the growth and progress of the fry, except that those in the pond are growing and appear to be thriving. They have been frequently fed with blood. Had the society received notice of the ova coming, more complete arrangements would have been made for hatching, aud the results would have been better ascertained. In conclusion, I have the honor to ask you to be kind enough to cause a copy of this report to be forwarded to Professor Baird, of the U. S. Fish Commission, with the thanks of this society, as previously conveyed to you in my letter of the 21st ultimo. Nelson, N". Z., March 17, 1884. 103.-NOTES OIV THE COI> GIL.T.-IVET Flt^HEBIES OF OL.OLCESTEB, MASS., 1883-"S4. By S. J. MARTIN. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The cod gill-net fishing is most over, the fleet being reduced from 52 to 8 sail. Those remaining did well last week. The boats that used nets are now fitting out for spring fishing, and, had there been more nets, would have used them longer. Gloucestee, Mass., April 13, 1884. 192 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The remaining cod gill-net fishermen are doing well. Net fishing will probably be over by May 1. Gloucester, Mass., April 20, 1884. The cod gill-net fishing for this season ended yesterday morning. There have been 578,000 pounds of codfish caught in the cod gill-nets during the month of April. The amount of fish caught in nets from October 1, 1883, to April 26, 1884, has been large, exceeding the catch inshore of any previous six months. I have from time to time given you the figures. The schooner Morrill Boy, with a crew of seven men, divided into two gangs, and six nets to a man, began its winter's work on November 10, 1883, and has landed $4,300 worth of fish. Each of the crew made $410 clear of all expenses. Catching fish in nets is exi)ensive. The expenses of each of the crew of Morrill Boy were $100. The nets alone cost $14.50 each, and glass- ball anchors, buoy lines, and buoys had to be purchased. Five boats that commenced work on November 1, 1883^ with a total of forty-two men, did good work, each man having cleared $400. These men fished every night. The expenses of each of these men were also $100. There were fifty-two boats which used nets last winter, four hundred.and sixty-eight men employed, and one thousand five hundred and sixty nets used. The average price of the fish landed was $2.50 per hundred, and $285 the average share of each man. Gloucester, Mass., April 27, 1884. Three small boats, with five cod gill-nets to a boat, set their nets in Ipswich Bay last week, after the cod gill-netters had taken up their nets for the season. They caught 38,000 pounds of large codfish, half male and half female, notwithstanding there were two days that they did not haul their nets. If all the netters had set their nets, as many fish would have been caught last week as was taken during any week in the winter. I do not know how long the fish will remain in the bay; here- tofore none had been taken later than May 1. Gloucester, Mass., May 11, 1884. There have been caught in cod gill-nets during the past week 62,00§ pounds of codfish. Gloucester, Mass., May 18, 1884. There were 18,000 pounds of codfish caught in cod gill-nets last week. The last fish were taken on May 20. Gloucester, Mass., May 24, 1884. During the past month there were 128,000 pounds of codfish caught in cod gill-nets. Gloucester, Mass., June 4, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 193 Vol. IV, ]Vo. 13. \^^ashiBij?toii, ». C. July 30, 1884. 103.— OIV THE IVATlJKAIi AIVI> ARTIFICIAL FERTIJLIZATIOIV OF SEA IIEKRli\0 EOCiS.* By Prof. J. COSSAR ETVART, M, D. In 1862 Professor Huxley arrived at the conclusion that herring visit our shores twice a year in order to spawn, some schools arriving during the autumn, while others make their appearance during the winter. The herring which spawn during the autumn chiefly frequent banks on the east coast, while those which spawn during winter are most abun- dant on the west coast. A report of the Scottish Fishery Board refer- ring to the east coast spawning- beds was published in Nature on Novem- ber 29 last. The present paper deals chiefly with the Ballantrae spawn- ing-bed, which lies off the coast of Ayrshire. In 1862 Professor Allmau made some investigations for the Scottish Fishery Board, and succeeded in dredging and hatching what was con- sidered herring ova ; but since then, although important results have been obtained by the German and American Commissioners of Fisher- ies, little or nothing has been done in this country. When examining the Ballantrae bank the author of this paper suc- ceeded in dredging several specimens of herring ova attached to stones, sea-weed, and sea-firs. These stones coated with eggs varied from 6 inches to IJ inches in length, and from 4 inches to 1 inch in breadth, but in all cases the eggs were attached to a comi^aratively smooth sur- face, and they were arranged either in low cones or in comparatively thin layers one or two eggs deep. The eggs on the sea-firs were always at- tached in small clusters about half an inch in diameter around the stems. On examining the spawn found on the stones and sea-weed, embryos at various stages of development were at once visible, some of them appar- ently only three days old, while others had distinct eyes, and from their violent movements and their size seemed almost ready for hatching. Some of the egg-coated stones were taken to the University at Edin- burgh, where the eggs hatched on March 15, eight days after their re- moval from the spawning-ground, and to-day (March 17) they are three- eighths of an inch in length, extremely active, and swimming freely about in the water. By taking soundings over the Ballantrae bank in various directions it was ascertained that it consisted of rock, stones, shells, and coarse sand, and that the depths varied from 7 to 13 fathoms. The outer edge of the bank shelved at most points rapidly until a depth of 17 fathoms 'Abstract of a paper read at the Royal Society, March 27, and published in Nature, April 3, 1884. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 13 194 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. was reached, and at this depth the bottom consisted of fine, soft mud. While ou the east coast spawniug-grouuds, examined during the autumn, the surface temperature in most cases varied from 53° F. to 55° F. and the bottom temperature from 52° F. to 54° F., even at a depth of 40 fathoms ; the temperature at the Ballantrae bank varied from 42o.8 to 430.8 F. at the surface, and from 42o.8 to 43o.5 F. at the bottom. The corresponding surface temperature, however, on the east coast during the week ending March 8 was from 2° to 3° F. lower than at Ballantrae. According to previous observers: " When spawning takes place naturally the eggs fall to the bottom and attach themselves. But at this time the assembled fish dart wildly about and the water becomes cloudy with the shed fluid of the milt. The eggs thus become fecundated as they fall, and the development of the young ova sticking to the bottom commences at once." Mr. Mitchell, in his book on " The Herring," referring to the once famous spawning-bed off Dunbar, states that — "About August 30 the shoals began to deposit their spawn a short distance from the harbor, and on September 3 the fishermen found that a very large body of herrings remained fixed to the ground in the prog- ress of spawning, the ground being of a rocky or stouy nature." While many tisheimen believe that herring spawn on hard ground, some believe that they also spawn on a clayey bottom ; and while some think that they spawn near the bottom, others affirm that they spawn near the surface. Having secured at Ballantrae a large number of live herring, some of the largest and ripest males and females were placed in a large wooden tank into which a number of stones and a quantity of sea-weed had been previously introduced. After the fish had been about two hours in this tank the stones and sea-weed were examined. Although a few eggs were attached to both stones and sea-weed it was quite evident that the eggs had not been deposited in the same way as those found on the stones dredged on the previous day; but we were not surprised that only a few isolated eggs were found on the stones, because the fish had been disturbed every few minutes by the pouring of water into the tank. On reaching Eothesay the hatching-boxes and live herring were at once transferred from H. M. S. Jackal to the tanks — a tank into which comparatively little light entered having been selected for the ripest and most vigorous herring. In about half an hour after they were intro- duced a large, full herring was seenmovingslowly about the bottom of the tank, with four other fish making circles around her at some distance from the bottom. Appearing satisfied with a particular stone which she had evideutl.v been examining, she halted over it and remained stationary for a few minutes about half an inch from its surface, the tail being in a straight line with the tank and the pectoral fins near or resting onthebot- tom. While in this position a thin, beaded ribbon was seen to escape from the genital oi)eniug and fall in graceful curves ou the surface of BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 195 the stone, so as to form a slightly conical mass almost identical with a cluster on one of the stones dredged at Ballantrae. As this little heap of eggs increased — some falling to the left side one moment, while others fell to the right the next, according to the currents in the water — the males continued circling round her at various distances, while the other females in the tank remained apart. The males remained from 8 to 10 inches above the bottom of the tank, and formed circles varying from 18 inches to 2 feet C inches in diameter. Some of the males were swimming from right to left, others from left .to right, and although there was no darting about, no struggling among themselves, there was a peculiar jerking of the tail as they performed their revolutions. Soon the object of this peculiar movement was suflBcieutly evident. Three or four times during each revolution each fish expelled a small white ribbon of milt, which varied from half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in length, and was nearly a line in breadth across the center, but pointed at both ends, and somewhat thinner than it was broad. These delicate ribbons slowly fell through the water, sometimes reach- ing the bottom almost undiminished in size, but in most instances they had almost completely dispersed before the bottom was reached. In this way the whole of the water about the female became of a very faint milky color, and practically every drop of it was charged with sperms, as was afterwards ascertained. It will thus be seen that there is no attempt whatever on the part of the males to fertilize the eggs as they escape from the female. While the female is depositing the eggs at the bottom, the males concern themselves with fertilizing the water in the neighborhood, and it will be observed that the males are careful to guard against the influence of currents by forming circles around the female and shedding milt on the way. It matters little how the cur- rents are running, they are bound to carry some of the milt towards the eggs, the milt, like the eggs, sinking though not adhering to the bottom. This then is the natural process of depositing and fertilizing the ova of the herring in comparatively still water. When the female had de- posited a certain number of eggs at any given spot, she moved forward in a somewhat jerky fashion without rising from the bottom, and as she changed her position the males changed theirs, so that the female was always surrounded by a fine rain of short sperm ribbons. A specimen of Hydrallmannia sent from Eyemouth seems to indicate that the female moves about among sea-firs and sea-weeds in exactly the same way as she does among stones. On each stem of the colony there is a clus- ter of ova about the size of a small grape, and all the clusters had reached on arrival the same stage of development as if they had been deposited about the same time and by the same fish. This method of depositing and fertilizing the eggs accounts, I think, for all the eggs, or at least for a very large percentage of those found attached to sea-firs, sea-weeds, and stones, containing developing em- bryos. 196 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. When a female was depositing her eggs she was very easily dis- turbed; whenever anything was introduced into the tank she at once darted off. When strong currents were made, she at first seemed to apply herself nearer to the bottom, to make sure, as it were, that the spawn would get fixed before it could be carried away; but when the cur- rents were further intensified she at once changed her position, and ar- rested the escape of the spawn. A sx)awning female was held immedi- ately under the surface of the water so as to cause the spawn to escape. When this was done tlwe spawn escaped in long ribbons consisting of a single row of eggs. So firmly do the eggs adhere to each other that in perfectly still water the ribbon was sometimes over a foot in length be- fore it broke. When it had only about 2 feet of water to travel through, it fell in wide loops at the bottom, but when it had to fall over 3 feet the chain broke up into numerous segments which formed an irregular pattern on the bottom. From experiments made, it seems the further the eggs have to fall and the longer they are in contact with the water before they reach the bottom, they are more widely dispersed, and have all the less adhesive power. When the eggs are expressed in water moving rapidly in various directions, the chains soon break iuto short segments, and the individual eggs and the small groui:)S are often car- ried a considerable distance before they reach the bottom. A number of flat stones and pieces of sea-weed were obtained, and a spawning female held over them at different distances in still water, in water with gentle currents, and in water with strong currents. In this way we obtained groups of eggs which-.mimicked in a very striking manner all the arrangements of the eggs on the stones and sea-weeds dredged on the Ballantrae bank. When gently pressed, a beaded rib- bon, consisting of a single row of eggs, always escaped ; when there were no currents, it formed a conical heap ; when in a gentle current, the ribbon fell in irregular looi^s, the elements of which rearranged themselves so as to form a flattened cone ; but when strong currents acted on it the ribbon was broken into fragments and only a few eggs succeeded in fixing themselves to the objects introduced. When the currents w^ere strong, the males were seen not only to swim nearer the bottom but to expel longer ribbons of milt, which reached the bottom before getting dispersed, and remained visible sometimes for ten min- Tites. On gently expressing a male under the water it was never pos- sible to expel ^o tine or so short portions of milt as escaped naturally, but it was extremely easy expelling a ribbon from 18 inches to 3 feet in length, measuring 2 lines across and 1 line in thickness. Such ribbons fell to the bottom and remained almost unchanged for nearly two hours. They then assumed a segmental appearance, and in about three hours and a half had all but disappeared. Eggs were allowed to escape into a vessel containing fine sand, and into another containing mud. The eggs after being fertilized under- went the eLrly stages of development, but either owing to their moving BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 197 freely about with the sand particles or owing to their getting coated over with the sand and mud their development was arrested. I have not yet determined finally if the development is arrested when the eggs are detached while development is proceeding, but this seems ex- tremely probable. When at Ballantrae I noticed that the trammel-nets secured often more males than females. Mr. Wilson, fishery officer at Girvan, informs me that the ripest fish are caught in the trammel-nets, while most of the unripe fish are obtained in the drift-nets, and that at the end of the fishing season there are about three males taken for every two females, indicating not necessarily that the males are more abundant than the females, but rather that the males remain longer on the spawning- ground ; and Mr. Wilson believes that herring prefer quiet water free from strong currents when spawning, and that when the weather is fine the herring remain long upon the bank and deposit their spawn lei- surely, but when there are strong currents they either hurry the spawn- ing process or disappear into deep water. As to artificial fertilization and hatching I found, after many experi- ments a,t Ballantrae, that the best results were obtained when both the male and female were held under water while the milt and ova escaped, i. €., when the natural process of spawning is followed. ^n ordinary wooden tub was obtained and filled with sea-water. Into this a small quantity of milt was expressed, the male being held completely under water while the milt escaped. A glass plate was then held about 4 inches beneath the surface of the water, and, the fe- male herring being held about 1 inch beneath the surface, by gentle pressure the eggs readily escaped in the characteristic narrow beaded ribbon, and, by moving the fish over the surface of the glass, either a close or an open net-work could be formed. At first, where one loop crossed another, the eggs were two or more layers thick, but, either owing to the weight of the eggs or the gentle currents set up in the water, before a few minutes had elapsed the eggs formed a single and almost continuous layer, the net- work arrangement having disappeared. The plate was then allowed to rest for two or three minutes at the bottom of the tub, and a few short ribbons of milt were again intro- duced. After moving the plate once or twice across the top of the tub in order to wash off any scales that were adhering, it was placed either in a hatching or a carrying box. Many thousands of ova treated in this way contain extremely active embryos, which are expected to hatch on March 22 or 23. (Professor Ewart exhibited a number of specimens showing herring eggs attached to stones, sea- weeds, and sea-firs, and some of the herring fry hatched on March 24 from the eggs artificially fertilized on March 8.) London, March 27, 1884. 198 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. lo-j.— SHAD r:c:c;s seivt to coi^d spring iiarbor. ivew york, to BE HATCHED. By ITIARSHALL. I?IcDO]VAL,D. On May 19 I forwarded from Central Station, Washington, by express to Cold Spring Harbor, New York, 80,000 shad eggs, which were taken from the hatching jars at Central Station, and were twenty-four hours advanced in incubation. The eggs were placed on wire-bottom trays and securely packed in ice, so as to keep down the temperature. The success of the experiment, as reported below by Mr. Mather, superin- tendent of Cold Spring Hatchery, is gratifying, inasmuch as it promises most important applications in the development of the work of shad propagation. Under date of May 30 Mr. Mather reported as follows : HATCHING SHAD EGGS IN SPRING WATER. This experiment was a complete success. On May 20 I received the 80,000 shad eggs. Tliey arrived at G.20 p. m. and were put in the McDonald jars at 7.30 p. m. The temperature of the package was 55° and of the water 58°. They began hatching about noon on the 24th and finished near noon on the 27th. There was a little fungus on a small bunch of dead eggs in one jar one morning, but no trace of it in the others. The mean temperature was 60°.7 during the nine days they were kept, but the table given below shows that on two days only it rose above that figure, and on one of these it rose to 71°, thus making the mean tempe.rature higher than the temperature of seven days out of nine. The 78,000 fry were planted in the Nissequogue River, emptying into Long Island Sound below Smithtown, Suffolk County, New York. Date. Temperature of water. Loas. Eggs. Fry. May 20 C8 60 59 60 71 62 60 58 50 00 380 30 45 00 40 25 20 15 22 23 24 125 25 .. . 20 26 42 27 800 28 150 29 40 Mean temperature CO. 7 015 1.177 1,792 Washing'J on, D. C, June 16, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 199 105.-REPOKT OF A TRIP MAKE BV THE FISH HAWK TO THE I.O^VEK PART OF €HE»«APEAKE BAY, TO ASt"ERTAII\ THE CHAR. At TEK OF THE FB!^BIERIE$^ FOR SBBAW, HERRINO. ETC., IIV THE SPUa^'O OF J»S4. By JLicut. W. ITI. WOOD, U. S. N. [From a letter to Prof. S. F.Baird.] In obedience to your instructions I left Washington on the 24th of April on a cruise of investigation as far as the mouth of the York Eiver. I visited first the trap-nets on York Spit and in the Poquasin. There were about one hundred and eighty traps being fished here ; but the fishermen report a very bad season. They say they have not taken enough fish to pay expenses. At this particular time they were taking more menhaden than anything else. They report having noticed a good many young shad in their nets this spring, and I succeeded in finding two specimens among a lot of recently caught fish. They were respectively about 5 and G inches long. The probability is that these are last year's young fish which have passed the winter in the bay. From York River went to Mobjack Bay. Found here one hundred and seventy traps, and the same report as to a bad season. The next point was the mouth of the Eappahannock, where we found about twenty-nine traps. They also reported a poor season. All these people ascribed the poor catch to the prevailing westerly and northwesterly winds and gales, which they think kept the fish off" the shoals and in deep water. I ran over to the Eastern Shore and touched at Watt's Island, at the mouth of Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, but could find no nets being fished there. Then returned to the westward and entered the Great Wicomico. Here they say they had a fairly good season for the first two weeks, but that they had done but little since. About fifty traps fished here. At all these points about the same number of traps are being fished as last year. From the Great Wicomico entered the Potomac again, finding rather fewer nets in the lower part than last year. The trap-net fishermen near Mathias Point report the season as so far not good. Mr. Smoot, who fishes two traps, says the biggest catch for one day, both nets, was one hundred and fifty shad. At that time they were taking a good many menhaden of a fair size. Mr. Ewing, who fishes at Windmill Point, the lowest seine haul on the Potomac, reports a very bad season. He says he was behind in his expenses until a week or ten days previous to my visit, when they had a good run of herring, and he was enabled to catch up. Mr. Eobb, near Aquia Creek, and Mr. Waller, at Clifton, are both reported to have done well on herring. These seines all cut out between May 1 and 10 ; but, 200 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. if the season justifies it, Eobb will move up the river and fish Sandy Bai. The gill net fishermen in the Upper Potomac report a fairly good sea- son on shad. The first catch of shad in the bay was early in March. I submit herewith a table showing the number of traps at different points as far up as Indian Head, the places to which the catch is con- signed, and the maximum and minimum temperatures of the air and water at the different places visited. I find the fishermen, as a rule, call one trap a net, no matter if there are several in a line, such as might be called a single net of several traps. In this table it is the number of traps given without respect to their location. In regard to a record of the temperatures at these places during the fishing season, I can suggest no better observers than the light-keepers. There is a light at every point where trap-nets are fished extensively, and I believe the Commission already gets reports from most of them. They do not, however, from Point Lookout, which I consider a most im- portant station for such observations, putting out as it does into the bay at the mouth of the Potomac. There is a new Government wharf at this light, where such temperatures could be taken in deep water with- out trouble. Arrived baclv in Washington on the evening of the 28th of April, and secured at the navy -yard. Fish Hawk, Washington, B. C, April 30, 1884. Table, showing the places irliere fishing «'«8 prosecuted in the Potomac and Lower Chesa- peaJce,in the spring of ISSi, the number of nets, places of consignment, and temperatures of peake, air and watei •a . p 1884. April 25 26 26 27 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 Place of catch. Mobjack Bay York Spit and mouth of York Elver. Mosquito Point to Windmill Point Great Wicomico to Smith Point. . Ragced Point Lower Cedar Point Pope's ('reek to Nanjemoy Creek, both sides of rivei'. Nanjemoy lieach : Chicanuison Creek Powell's Creek Mattaworaau Creek . . . ■. Deep Point Occoquan Cieek Indian Head a o <0 to S s 1^5 170 180 29 50 7 *11 26 3 3 1 1 1 18 o 502 Place of consignment of catch. Baltimore and Phila- delpliia. Baltimore, Philadel- phia, New York, and Richmond. Baltimore Baltimore Washington Temperatures. Air. Max. Min Washington , Washington . Wasliington . Wasliington . W^aslungton Washington , Washington Washington 60 67 67 67 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 52 52 53 53 56 56 50 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 Water. Max. Min 56 56 56 56 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 52 52 54 54 55 55 65 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 * Nine on Maryland side, two on Virginia side. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 201 100.— THE IIVFJLUENCE OF ARTIFICIAI. PROPAGATIOIV UPON PRO- WUCTIOIV II>I>IJMTRATEI> BY THE SALMON IVORK OF THE SAC- RAMENTO RBVER, CALIFORNIA. By CHAS. \¥. SMII.EY. It is understood that about four years are required for salmon to ma- ture. I would therefore jjlace the yield of 1877 opposite the planting of 1873, and so on. For four successive years the yield has been nearly double the yield of the years preceding the artificial propagation, which commenced in 1873. This appears to have resulted from annually planting about two million fry. The planting of 500,000 fry in 1873 and in 1874 appears to have increased the yield by about a million pounds each year. No record of the production in Sacramento River prior to 1S75 is obtainable, but it is known to have been less than six million pounds. Young salmon hatched from eggs taken hy the United States Fish Commission and released in the McCloud Biver, a triiiitary of the Sacramento, in California. Year. 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 Month. September September September-October September-October October Number. None. None. 500, 000 500, 000 850, 000 1, 500, 000 2, 200, 000 Year. 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 Month. October October October October October-November Nnmber. 2, 500, 000 2, 000, 000 2, 000, 000 2, 2o(l, 000 4, 037, 000 18, 337, 000 Annual yield of the Sacramento River in salmon to the canneries. Year ending- Pounds. Year ending — Pounds. August 1, 1875 5, 098, 781 5, 311, 423 6, 493, 503 6, 520, 768 *4, 432, 250 August 1, 1880 10, 837, 400 9, 600, 000 9, 605, 280 9, 585, 672 August 1, 1876 August 1, 1881 August 1 1877 .. Auii^ust 1 1882 August 1, 1878 October 15, 1883 ." . August 1 1879 67, 485, 137 " The salmon were as numerous in the river this year as in any previous years, but the small num- ber taken was due to a feud between the fishermen and the canners as to the price to be paid for the fish. For three weeks in the height of the season no fish were taken, except for daily consumption in San Francisco and other markets. Pounds. The average yield during the past three years was 9, 590, 984 The average yield in 1875 and 1870, before any fruits of fish- culture could have appeared, was 5, 205, 102 Making a gain per annum due to fish-culture of 4, 391, 882 202 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The fisb are worth 50 cents apiece as they come from the water, their average weight being 7 pounds each. y-d\ne of the 4,391,882 pounds due to fish culture $313, TOG 00 Cost of hatching and planting 2,500,000 fry 3, GOO 00 Annual net profit 310, lOG 00 The expenditures by the United States Fish Commission on this work and the number of eggs obtained from 1877 to 1882 were as fol- lows : Fiscal year. 1877-'78.... 1878-'79.... 1879-'80.... 1880-'81.... 1881-'82.... Total Amonnt ex- pended. $7, 853 96 12, 730 64 12,875 55 13,587 20 C, 653 51 $53,700 76 Eggs pro- duced. 7, 033, 000 10,310,000 0, 650, 000 5, 800, COO 7, 500, 000 37, 293, 000 Average cost per million eggs, $1,440. This expenditure was greater than would be necessary merely to in- crease the supply of fish in the river. Of the 37,293,000 eggs obtained during tliese five years but 11,000,000 were used to produce what young were returned to the river. The other 20,293,000 eggs were sent to the Eastern States and to foreign countries. Additionally, the experience of the past will enable the commissioners to exercise greater economj^ One of the California commissioners stated to a committee of the legis- lature that " a million of salmon could be artificially hatched and placed in the river for less than $800; and if it were desirable, and the legis- lature made sufficient appropriation, the commissioners could fill the river so full of salmon that it u-ould he difficult for a steamboat to pass through themP Considering the fact that food does not have to be furnished, these fish, coming from their ocean feeding-grounds to the rivers, as they do, merely to spawn, his statement may be within the bounds of reason. Writing under date of January 6, 1882, Mr. B. B. Eedding, of San Francisco, Cal., said: "Since we commenced putting young salmon into the Sacramento, Pitt, and McCloud Rivers the number of canneries with money invested has more than trebled, and more jiersons are invest- ing money in new canneries. Eequests are coming fiom other parts of the State to have salmon hatched. Fish-hatching-, for the i^urpose of su])plying food, has at length become popular." U. S. F. C, Washington, D. C, April 15, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSIOir. 203 107.— TABL.es II.I.ITSTRAT1VE OF THE IVUTKITIVE VA1.1JE OF FISIT. By Prof. W. O. ATWATER. [Samples of fish, whole or dressed, and of oysters &c., iucludinfi or freed from the shell, as ordina- rily sold in the New Yoik and Middletown, Conn., markets, were found to contain: 1. Kefnse: Bone, shells, and other inedildo matters. 2. Edible portion: Water and nutiitive suli.stances. 3. Ingredi- ent.s of nutritive substance (nutrientsl : Protein, fats, caibo-h>drates, Sec, ('' nmi-nitro^ienous extract- ive matters "), and mineral matters — in parts in 100 by weight, as below (nutrients + water + iefuse= 100;. 1 Table I. — Percentages of refuse, ivater, and nutritive iugredieuts in specimens of food- fishes and invertebrates asjound in the markets. Kinds of food-fishes and inverte- brates and portions taken for analysis. FRESH FISH. Alewife, whole Black \ias8, whole Bluetish, entrails removed Cod, head and entrails removed. Eel, skin, head, and entrails re- moved Lamprey eel, whole rionnder, whole Haddock, entrails removed Halibut, sections of body Herring, whole , Mackerel : Katherlean, whole Eat, whole Average, whole Yellow perch, whole Pike perch, whole Pickerel (pike), whole Salmon : In season, fat, whole "Spent," lean, whole Shad, whole Smelt, whole Brook trout, whole Salmon trout, entrails removed. Wbitefish PEEPAEED FISH. Dried cod, boned and dried Salt cod, salted and dried Salt mackerel, "No. 1 mack- eral" ,< In shell, best ' In shell, average ' Solids, '■' edible portion aver- ago Long clams, in shell average Pound clams, in shell Mussels, in shell Scallops, edible portion (muscle) Lobster.s, in shell Crabs, in shell Crayfish, in shell Cannedoysters Canned lobsters Salt. P.ct. 2.9 15.3 8.2 L5 6.5 LO 1.9 8.3 Refuse bones, skin, shells, &c. EDIBLE PORTION. P.ct. 49.4 54.9 48.6 30.0 20.2 45.8 66.8 52.5 18.7 46.0 50.4 33.8 44.6 62.7 57.3 42.7 38.5 43.7 50.1 41.9 48.1 35.2 53.5 0.0 24.9 22.9 33.2 44.4 3,9 0.0 19.7 88.8 81.4 82.3 0.0 43.8 68.3 49.3 0.0 60.2 55.8 87.7 0.0 0.0 "Water. P.ct. 36.8 34.5 40.2 57.4 57.0 38.5 27.9 39.4 62.4 37.0 37. r 42.0 40.3 29.6 34.0 45.7 38.7 43.3 35.1 45.9 4". 2 44.9 32.2 14.7 38.8 32.8 48.6 19.1 59.2 68.4 34.9 10.2 15.2 15.4 87.2 48.3 27.3 42.7 80.3 3.3.0 34.1 10.0 85.4 77.7 Nutri- ents. P.ct. 13.8 10.6 11.2 12.6 22.8 15.7 5.3 8.1 18.9 17.0 12.3 24.2 15.1 7.7 8.7 11.6 22.8 13.0 14.8 12.2 11.7 19.9 14.3 82.4 21.0 36.1 16.7 30.0 35.9 29.7 37.1 1.0 3.4 2.3 12.8 7.9 4.4 8.0 19.7 6.8 10.1 2.3 14.6 22.3 Nutrients. Pro- tein. P.ct. 10.0 9.3 9.9 11.5 14.8 8.1 4.7 7.3 16.0 10.3 9.6 12.5 10.2 7.0 7.9 10.7 14.1 10.4 9.4 10.2 10.0 12.5 10.6 75.4 18 4 16.4 15.6 20.4 19.3 19.7 13.8 0.5 1.5 1.0 6.2 4.3 2.1 3.9 14.7 5.4 7.3 1.9 6.4 18.1 Fats. P.ct. 3.0 0 8 0.6 0.3 7.2 7.2 0.2 0.3 2.2 5.9 2.1 10.7 4.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 7.9 2.0 4.8 1.0 1.1 6.6 3.0 1.9 0.3 17.6 0.1 8.8 15.3 8.7 2L3 0.1 0.2 0.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.1 Carbo- hydrates, &c. P.ct. Mineral matters. 0,2 1.3 0.6 4.1 1.3 1.3 2.1 3.4 0.2 0.5 0.1 5.1 0.6 P.ct. 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 LO 0.6 0.8 0.7 5.1 2.3 2.1 LO 0.8 L3 L3 2.0 0.2 0.4 0.5 LO L8 0.9 L5 L4 0.7 L4 0.2 L5 2.5 * In respect to quantity of nutrients. ^Including solid and most of liquid shell contents as commonly sold. Explanations. — Latin names and results of a larger number of analyses from which the above were selected, may be found in accompanying sheets. 204 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table II. — Percentages of water and nutriiire ingredients in flesh, edihle portion {fr-eed from hone, shells, and other refuse matters) of food-fishcs, and invertebratts. fSpecimens of flesli of flsb and of edible portion (flesh and liquids) of oysters, etc., were found to con- tain water and nutritive substances, as below. The figures represent parts in 100 by weight. Pro- tein + fats + carbo-hydrates, etc., + mineral matters = nutrients. Nutiients + water = 100.] Kinds of food-fishes and in- vertebrates. FRESH FISH. Alcwife — Black bass , Bluefish . . . Cod Eel Lamprey eel llouuder Haddock Halibut Hen ing Mackerel: Rather lean . . . Fat Average Yellow perch Pike perch Pickerel (pike) Sahnon : In season, fat. "Spent," lean . Shad Smelt Brook trout Siilnion trout Whitefish Salt. Per cent. PUEPARED FISH. Dried cod, boned and dried artificially Salt cod, salted and dried .- Salt mackerel, "No. 1 mack- erel," salted Smoked haddock, salted, smoked, and dried Smoked herring, salted, smoked, and dried Canned salmon, California (Oregon) Canned fresh mackerel Canned salt mackerel, "No. 2 mackerel, " salted INYEKTEBRATES, SHELL-FISH, &C. Oysters, shell contents, i nfe- rior ' Shell contents, best' Shell contents, average' solids,^ edible portion, av- erage Long clams, shell contents, average Round clams, shell contents . Mussels, shell contents Scallops, edible portion (mus- cle) : , Lobsters, edible portion Crabs, edible portion Crayfish, edible portion Canned oysters Canned lobsters 3.0 20.6 10.6 2.0 11.6 1.0 1.9 10.4 Water. Per cent. 72.8 76.6 78.2 82.0 71.4 71.1 84.0 81.4 75.2 68.6 75.1 63.4 73.1 79.2 79.6 79.7 62.9 76.9 70.4 79.0 77.5 68.9 69.2 14.7 5L6 42.6 72.9 34.4 61.8 68.4 43.4 91.4 80.8 87.3 87.2 85.9 86.2 84.2 80.3 81.8 77.1 81.2 85.4 77.7 Nutri- ents. Per cent. 27.2 23.4 21.8 18.0 28.6 28.9 16.0 18 6 24.8 3L4 24.9 36.6 26.9 20.8 20.4 20.3 37.1 23.1 29.6 21.0 22.5 31.1 30.8 82.3 27.8 46.8 25.1 54.0 37.2 29.7 46.2 8.6 19.2 12.7 12.8 14.1 13.8 15.8 19.7 18.2 22.9 18.8 14.6 22.3 Nutrients. Protein. Per cent. 19.7 20.5 19.3 16.4 18.5 15.0 14.0 17.1 18.5 19.0 19.4 18.9 18.6 18.8 18.5 18.7 22.9 18.4 18.8 17.5 19.2 18.5 22.7 75.4 24.4 21.3 23.4 36.8 20.2 19.7 17.3 4.5 8.2 5.7 6.2 7.6 6.5 7.7 14.7 14.5 16.6 16.0 6.4 18.1 Fats. Percent. 6.0 1.7 1.2 0.4 9.1 13.3 0.7 0.3 5.2 10.9 4.2 16.2 7.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 12.9 3.6 9.5 • 1.8 2.1 11.4 6.5 1.8 0.3 22.8 0.2 15.7 15.7 8.7 26.4 0.6 1.7 0.9 1.5 0.9 0.4 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.0 0.5 1.6 1.1 Carbo- hydrates, etc. Per cent. 1.9 7.3 3.2 4.1 2.3 4.2 4.2 3.4 0.6 1.2 1.0 5.1 0.6 Mineral matters. Percent. 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.0 O.G L3 1.2 LI L5 ' In respect to quantity of nutrients. '' Shell contents as commonly sold, including whole of " solid," and most of liquid portion. Explanations of technical terms, Latin names, and results of a larger nnmber of analyses from which. tb« abov« were selected, may be found Lu accompanying sheets. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 205 Table III. — Comparative expensiveness of actual nutrients of foods, illuairaied hj costs of protein. m [The costs of the nutrients (actual nutritive ingredients) in a given food materia] may bo computed by comparing the amounts of tlio several nutrients, protein, fats, and caibo-hydrates, it contains, with its market price, one pound of protein being assumed to cost, on the average, five times as much, and a pound of fats, three times as much, as a pound of carbo-hydrates. Tlie computed costs of the same nutrient, e.g., protein, in different foods, thus affords a basis for comparing the relative expensiveness of the foods, as in the figures below.] Meats, vegetables, etc. Beef: Sirloin, medium fatness... Same, at lower price Kound, rather lean Sa ne, lo^ye^ Corned, lean Flank," very fat Mutton : Leg Side, medium fatness , Pork :' Very fat Smoked ham , Milk, 8 cents per quart Cheese : Wholemilk. Skimmed milk Wheat flour, best Corn (maize) meal Oatmeal Beans Potatoes," 50 cents per bushel Potatoes," $1 per bushel c- a -"S 'O o g "9 .2 ft (H §» P4 o $0 25 $1 08 20 86 18 70 16 62 18 56 15 36 22 1 07 20 59 16 30 18 48 4 61 18 38 8 19 5 19 3 12 5 15 5 14 0.8 14 1.7 28 Fish, etc. Salmon : Early, in season , Same, when plenty Shad Shad, when abundant Bluetish Haddock Halibut Mackerel Mackerel, when abundant.. Cod , Cod, at lower price Alewife Canned salmon Salt mackerel Salt cod Salt cod, lower Oysters, 2 25 cents per quart Oysters, 2 50 cents per quart Lobsters DO a Contains very little protein. 2 Shell contents, edible portion. JOS.— HO W^ TO AVOI» A SOFT OB MUDDY TASTE OF CARP. By E. Z. BUTCHER. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] We catcli large bufifalo-fish sometimes in summer, in hot weather, out of ponds with muddy bottoms. To prevent the muddy taste that some compUiin of in carp, I find this the best way : Kill the fish as soon as caught, clean directly, soak in ice water a few minutes, then sprinkle with salt slightly, and hang up to dry. The above will make them Jirm, siceet, and good. I know whereof I speak, as I have bought, dressed, and sold fish for ten years; and those who complain of carp, if dressed and served as above, would not know them as the same fish. Solomon City, Kans., March 7, 1884. 206 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 109.— RECOKIVAISSAIVCE OF FI.ORIDA RITEBS WITH A VIEW TO SHAD HATCHIIVO. By WM. HAMLEN. In obedience to instructions, I left Washington on the 28th of Feb- ruary, 1884, for Florida, for the purpose of examining the rivers of that State, and to ascertain their yield of shad and the possibilities of es- tablishing shad-hatching stations. 1 arrived at Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday morning, March 1, and proceeded to the fish market, in which I found 29 shad. From the market I went to the fish dealers and discovered 45 shad, a total of 74, of which number but 5 were roe shad. All the fish were very small and hard. In conversation with a dealer, he informed me that he had not shipped, up to this date during the present season, more than 300 fish, whereas five years ago -he shipped ten or twelve thousand by March 1. I also made inquiry about the fishing on the Saint John's Eiver, and was informed that no operations were being conducted on that river this season. Saint Mary's Eiver. — On the afternoon of March 1 1 left Jackson- ville for Boulogne Station, which I reached at 5.40 p. m. Spent the night there, and early next morning, March 2, i^rocured a boat and went up the Saint Mary's Eiver to about 8 miles above the railroad bridge. Found no fishermen on the river at all in that location, but saw a large number of shad " washing." Eeturned to Boulogne, where I spent the night. On the 3d of March I proceeded down the river as far as Calico Hill, where I found 33 shad, all hard. On the morning of the 4th went still further down the river to Orange Bluff. At a point about midway between Calico Hill and Orange Bluff found five men fishing bow-nets for shad. They averaged about 15 shad each on a tide. At Orange Bluff there were three bow-nets and one gill-net. The former averaged about 15 shad each to a tide and the latter about 25. I hired a man and boat at Orange Blutf, and left about 3 p. m. for King's Ferry, where I arrived at 6 p. m. On the way I overhauled three bow-nets, and examined 33 shad which were all hard. At King's Ferry I found three bow-nets which averaged 15 shad each to a tide. The fish at this point were very fine, the roes and males being about equally divided. That same night, March 4, overhauled 7G shad in three gill-nets be- longing to Captain Fisher, between King's Ferry and the Brick Yard. Of this number I stripped 13 ripe females from which 240,000 eggs were obtained, which were deposited in the river. In the afternoon of March 5, overhauled 54 shad that had been caught in daylight. Found none ripe. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 207 March 6 examined 58 shad taken in same three gill-nets. Found 5 ripe fish from which were taken 100,000 eggs, which were also placed in the river between Brick Yard and King's Ferry. Of the localities examined thus far, I think that either King's Ferry or Brick Yard would be the best point for establishing a shad-hatching station. Captain Fisher commenced operations on January 5, and caught 9 shad at Brick Yard Landing on January 18. He will continue to oi)erate until April 15, if the fishing warrants it. I was informed that on March 9, 1877, some of the fishermen on the Saint Mary's caught as many as 126 shad in two hours' fishing. The net used was a bow net, 11 feet deep, 8 feet wide, and 2-inch mesh. Satilla EiVER.— On the 7th of March 1 left King's Ferry for Fer- nandiua, where I expected to receive further orders. Eemained at this point until the 11th, when I received a telegram instructing me to go to the Satilla River and examine it for evidences of shad. Accordingly I left Fernandina on the 11th for Saint Mary's, Ga., for the purpose of ascertaining the route to Satilla, and to secure the serv- ices of a guide. This having been accomplished, I left Saint Mary's on the morning of the 13th by road for the Satilla Eiver, where I arrived, at Jefferson, about 28 miles above Brunswick, at 1 o'clock. Procured a boat and went down the river, but found no shad fishermen at all. Interviewed a man named Henry Thomas, who told me that he had been living on the river about thirty years, and before sawmills were built on the river they used to get 25 or 30 fish from bow-nets in a night's fishing, but that now shad were so scarce they were unable to do any- thing in that line. George Scott informed me that he has not seen a shad taken on the Satilla for six or seven years. They caught nothing but trout and bream in their bow-nets ; the river was too full of logs to fish gill-nets. Captain Richardson expressed the same views. Returned to Saint Mary's on the 14th, and proceeded to Fernan- dina to report the result of my investigations. Received telegraphic instructions to remain at Fernandina until arrival of the steamer Fish Hawk, which was due there the 18th. Fish Hawk work. — Fish Hawk arrived in the morning of the 18th at 7 o'clock, and on the 19th she went up the Saint Mary's River to King's Ferry and selected a position at that point for trying to catch shad and secure eggs, but the fish in this run of shad at that time were very "hard." On the 20th, I went up the river as far as Calico Hill, where I fished all night, but caught nothing but male shad. Returned to King's Ferry on the 21st and joined the Fish Hawk. Found a telegram instructing me that as soon as Fish Hawk was located to proceed to Washington and report. I accordingly left on the 22dj and arrived in Washington on the morning of the 24th. 208 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Eecommendations. — My investigations proved that the best place for capturing- shad was the Saint Mary's Kiver between King's Ferry and Brick Yard, and if a vessel properly equipped for the purpose could remove the logs from the river at the places indicated, I think a suc- cessful season would be assured. A hatching station might be located at King's Ferry, where there is a large saw-mill, store for supplies, etc., and plenty of wharf room on which to locate a steam-pump and hatching cones. Fuel is abundant and very cheap, and there is a branch railroad to Hillyard Station. The hatching station should be supplied with a small boiler and steaui- pump, and fifteen cones should be put up. To run this station success- fully, I should recommend that ten men be assigned to duty at it. Lumber is very cheap at the mill, should any be needed. The station should be established about the first of February in order to give plenty of time before the fish begin to run, to clear properly the hauls and reaches on the river of logs, so there should be no impedi- ment to the drifting of the gill-nets. 1 should also recommend that two sturgeon nets be supplied — one above and one below the gill-nets and seines in order to protect them from destruction by the sturgeons, which are very plentiful. These nets should be 12-inch mesh, of 42-thread, 40 fathoms long, to fish about 18 feet of water. Washington, D. C, April 7, 1884. IIO.-NOTS; ON THE BREEDIIVO OF fEIiS. By EDTl^ARD H. THOMPSOIV. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] T mailed you yesterday a box containing specimens of the AnguilUdce (young). Yesterday morning, while working up material on the '' Gel- asmi of Buzzard's Bay," I noticed the following facts : West Falmouth Harbor is an inlet from Buzzard's Bay and terminates in a sandy marsh densely carpeted with marsh-grass. Through this marsh a narrow ditch has been cut to drain a contiguous cranberry bog. The ditch has of late years been completely stopped by a thick jjlank l^laced athwart it, thus forming a complete cul-de-sac. The plank is above common tide-water, but is generally dripping with water that trickles through from the bog above. The part of the ditch of which I speak is hardly, if ever, free from the water, which comes principally from the cranberry bogs. A thick black mud lies on the bottom. As I passed the plank I noticed upon it a singular appearance. Approach- ing closer, I found it to consist of a large number of tiny eels massed together in a solid bundle. The mass, 1 should say, could have been contained in a pint measure. FoKEST Hill, W. Falmouth, Mass., May 17, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 209 Tol. IV, ]¥o. 14. Waishingrton, D. €. July 30, 1884. 111.— ANTON PINTSCH'S JTIOVABI^E FISH- WAY.* By Dr. ITI. NOWICKI. At Kurczyn, on the river Poprad, in Hungary, there is a high weir which prevents the sahuou getting up to the spawning ground, and has caused a falling oii" in the number of salmon. It was therefore decided, in connection with the attempt which was being made at the time to increase the salmon in the Weichsel district, to open up the Poprad Eiver again to salmon. Count William Migazzy, president of the Upper Hungarian Fisheries Society, and to whom the improvement iu Hungarian fisheries owes so much, took steps to provide the weir with a salmou ladder at his own expense. The construction of the ladder was intrusted to the forest oflScer at Kurczyn, Mr. Anton Pintsch, who carried it out in a most creditable manner, inasmucli as at very small cost he made a wooden movable lad- der, which he attaches to the weir every year iu the autumn. The idea was, at any rate, an original one as compared with the multiplicity of kinds of fixed ladders of massive build, those iu use in Great Britain, for example. This ladder answers admirably in practice, and met with entire approbation from the members of the Fish-breeders' Conference, which was held at Dresden last year. It may therefore claim to be somewhat particularly described here and brought under more general notice, especially as Mr. Pintsch has had the great kindness to supply for this purpose the accompanying design and also give instructions in the use of the ladder. The wooden weir {a b c) occupies the whole width of the river, about 125 yards. Its face (c) rises perpendicularly to a height of over 3 yards in a low water, so that except in a high flood the difference of level be- tween the water below the dam and that above is too great for salmou to overcome, and for just this reason the use of a ladder is imperative. The broad dam head {a b), with gentle slope, is boarded horizontally ; its ridge (a) is horizontal lengthways, and without crown. Below the dam are several deep pools, in which the salmon lie, and it is over one of these just below the weir that the fish pass is placed. The ladder {d e) has parallel sides (/), and a level bottom (d e) is made of strong 21-inch planks, 10 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet 6 inches wide. The blocks {(j) are placed widely apart to allow room for large salmon to move about between them easily. The height of these blocks corresponds with the depth of water required for salmou, and the fall is that of the 'Forwarded by the author; also published in Deutsche Fischer ei-ZtUung, April 22, 1884. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 14 210 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. floor of the ladder. The ladder rests on strong beams [h), and is kept in its place by several small posts (t), which are let into the beams. Its up- per end is supported by the wood- work [Ic I), and the lower by the float or platform (n). The wood-work {Ic I), close to the front of the dam (c), is lower than the dam edge, and consists of the two piles (A-) and the sup- porting beam (?) mortised on to them. The beam is fastened to weir by strong iron clami)s {m, 1 inch square), which go through it, and are se- cured by nuts or screw ends underneath. On this support [l) the up- per end of the ladder rests free, so that its floor is level with the top of the weir, and just touching it, while the sides of the ladder are higher, so that the water can flow down between them. The ends of the sides Anton Pintsch's movable fishway. (/,/), where they meet the ends of the guides {v, v), are cut at angles (see illustration) to . permit of the ladder working in its place, as the platform rises or falls. The small space between the ladder (d) and the edge of the dam {b) can be covered by a board nailed to the dam, if it was necessary to prevent any water falling through. The i)latform {n) floats on the surface of the water, and is held fast by the two bars {s s) which are fastened to hooks in the weir and plat- form. The platform is formed of several 8-iuch to 9-inch logs of well- seasoned wood (n). These are fastened together by the stout piece (r), on which rests the cross-beam (o), the ladder being kept in place by nails in the supports {p), which act as axles on which it works. The BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 211 end of tlie ladder (e) projects beyond the platform, and touches the surface of the i)ool, or dips into it a little, according to the amount of water flowing over the ladder. It will be seen that as the water rises or falls the platform rises or falls with it. In a small water the plat- form rests motionless; but in a heavy water, forming waves under the weir, it shakes. The converging guards (v, v) are for the purpose of directing the water which comes in at to, under the beam z, upon the ladder. They are about 12 inches in height, and provided with two blocks, like those in the lad- der (<;), to break the force of the water, and enable the fish to get over. The object of the beam {z) is to control the amount of water passing into the ladder at ic (the height of this opening being only about GJ inches), and prevent too much water flowing over. In spring and summer high waters prevail in the Poprad, enabling the salmon to get over the high dam ; but in autumn there is generally a low water, and the ladder is necessary in September, October, and November. A flood does not injure the ladder at all, but the winter's ice would tear it away; so, as it is easily taken down, it is then taken away and put so that the platform gets dried well by the sun. The wood-work (fc I) is left in its place, as being out of danger from ice. The construction of the ladder, including wood, iron, and labor, costs only $15 at Kurczyn, and the cost of removal and replacing, with any necessary repairs, about $3 or $3.50. The ladder has only been used two autumns, and Mr. Pintsch has often had opportunities of seeing salmon ascending it without difficulty. Before it was put up he had frequently noticed numbers of salmon collected in the pools below the dam, and making vain efforts to get over it, and at lastgetting caught by the fisher- men. But since the ladder has been in use the salmon are rarely seen waiting in this way, as it enables them to get up at once. Models of this ladder are in possession of the Galician Fisheries Society, the Austrian Fisheries Society in Vienna, and the German Fisheries Soci- ety in Berlin, and drawings of it have been sent to England and Amer- ica. As a movable and cheap salmon ladder it seems preferable to the costly fixed aftairs. With the necessary modifications required by differ- ent conditions in dams and rivers, it offers exceptional advantages, espe- cially where expense is a consideration, and there is not much water to play with. These are my reasons for recommending it. Cracow, April 27, 1884. REMARKS ON PINTSCH'S FISH- WAY BY BRUSSOW. The question of movable salmon-ways has been discussed among fish- culturists for some time, and the problem seems to have been solved in a very simple and happy manner by the above-mentioned invention ; only it will be necessary — (1.) To weight the platform or raft n n with some stones, so it may 212 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. sink deeper into the water, and tliat the foot of the hidder may contain more water; (2.) To increase the height of the opening w, which is only IC centi- meters, to 25 centimeters, because otherwise a large salmon cannot slip through below ; and (3.) To place the diverging walls on the weir v v somewhat wider apart at the upper end, or, in other words, to make the opening w to somewhat longer, so as to get more water into the ladder and make it easier for the fish to ascend. NOTE ON PINTSCH'S MOVABLE SALMON LADDER, BY E. B. MARSTON. In a recent account of salmon fishing in Scotland, I referred to the dams on the river Don in Aberdeenshire as preventing the ascent of salmon, except in high waters. Being of opinion that there is often not much good done by merely describing a disease unless you can also suggest a remedy, I said if any of my Aberdeenshire readers desired it I would give some account of the McDonald fish way. Several gen- tlemen asked me to do so. Now the only objection that I could think of as likely to be raised against the McDonald pass was its expense, which would probably be very high. But in the German Fischerei-Zeitung of April 22, I find an account of a movable ladder invented by Anton Piutsch, forest-officer of Kurczyn, in Hungary. This ladder is fully described in the German Gazette by Dr. M. Nowicki, of Cracow, and it seems to me to be in every way well worthy of trial in this country. It seems to me that we are much indebted to Mr. Piutsch for invent- ing, and Dr. Nowicki for describing, such a very i)ractical and ex- tremely cheap salmon ladder. It can hardly fiiil to succeed if used on such rivers as the Don in Aberdeenshire, at the horrible weir at Arma- thwaite on the Eden, at Totnes weir on the Dart, and other similar places where, except in heavy waters, salmon cannot pass up stream. Fishing Gazette, Mmj 24, 1884. 113 TKAIVSFERRIIVG CATFISH FROM THE POTOMAC TO THE COIj- ORADO RIVER, ARIZOx\A. By MARSHALL, McOONALD. * One hundred catfish were sent to Arizona with the recent shipment of 1,000,000 shad for the Colorado Eiver. Of these 10 reached destina- tion and were delivered to Commissioner Gosper, at Prescott, Arizona, who will deposit them in the Colorado River. United States Fish Commission, Division of Distribution, June 28, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 213 113.-AIV ADVEIVTCRE \»^ITH A WIf AI.E IIV THE RIVER TAV, SCOT- liAND." By Capt. J. W. COLLINS. A somewhat remarkable adventure with a whale took place iu the river Tay, ou the east coast of Scotland, in the early part of January, 1884. The appearance of a whale in such a locality — some distance up a river — may, I think, be considered extraordinary, especially at this time when the eager pursuit of man has done much toward reducing the numbers of the larger cetaceans, and has also rendered them shy and wary of approaching such places. It may, however, be explained that during December and January the estuary of the Tay was swarming with young herring, and the whale followed these in and continued to feed on the fish for five or six weeks i^revious to the attack which re- sulted in his death. The appearance of a whale on a part of the Scot- tish coast famous for its whalemen, attracted considerable attention, and several attempts were made to effect its capture by crews of Dundee whale-boats, but the whale constantly eluded those who were pursuing it. On one occasion it came within 4(!0 yards of Broughty Ferry, where it " breached," leaping clear of the water. This action ou the part of the whale was like the leap of a salmon, though less active. It rose almost perpendicularly till clear of the water, canting to one side as it fell. It then swam down stream, as if to leave the river, but sub- sequently returned. On Monday, January 7, a determined effort was made to kill the whale, which was seen that morning about 10 o'clock off Broughty Ferry. Three boats, one of which was a steam launch, and the others six-oared rowing boats, started in jjursuit, heading out toward where it had last been seen. As the steam launch had arrived near to the Newcombe Buoy, the whale came up to blow close by. The men were on the alert, and as the black back rose above the surface the harpooner threw his iron, which was buried iu the shoulder of the whale. A flag was im- mediately hoisted on the funnel of the little steamer to announce to the crews of the other boats that she was " fast." This was encourag- ing, and the rowers gave way to overhaul the launch, reaching which the boats were taken in tow. The struggle made by the whale after it * The account here given of the appearance of a whale in the Tay, the attack made upon it, and its subsequent death, has been compiled from newspaper clippings — chiefly from the Edinburgh Scotsman — which were sent me by Mr. T. F. Robertson Carr, of Edinburgh, Scotland. The facts contained in the newspaper accounts have been sftrictly adhered to. It may be mentioned as a parallel case to that given here, that in the city hall (Rathhaus) of Bremen there is a picture of a whale that was killed in the river Weser, near Bremen, in the seventeenth century. From this it would appear that whales occasionally venture Bome distance up estuaries when in pursuit of food. 214 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. was first struck was far less violent than was expected. For some time it swam along so leisurely that a row-boat could keep up with it, and there would then have been little difliculty in getting- in another iron, as the " fish " rose every two minutes or so to blow. The shallowness of the river made it impossible for the whale to go down any distance below the surface, as it would doubtless have done in deeper water, and as it did not run fast the whalemen kept a short line, only seven or eight fathoms being paid out. After it was struck, the whale headed for Broughty Ferry, and in about fifteen minutes was oft" that place. The weather was tiue, the water smooth, and large crowds of people had assembled to witness the chase. Off Lucky Scaup it was deemed desirable to get in another harpoon. For this purpose one of the rowing boats pnlled ahead of the steam launch. As the whale rose to blow at short intervals it was not long be-_ fore a favorable opportunity presented itself, and as its back came above the water, the large gun at the boat's bow was fired by the harpooner, the " iron" getting well " fast". Up to this time the whale, feeling its way down river toward the sea, had not exhibited any remarkable speed. When struck by the second harpoon, however, it displayed some of its power in a determined effort to escape. It seemed, how- ever, to be somewhat dazed — "gallied" as whalemen call it — for it swam in zigzag directions, occasionally going at quite a moderate speed and then rushing through the water at a tremendous pace. It was thought at this time that the secoud iron had reached its "life," and that the boats would meet with success, for the whale began to spout blood iu consid- erable quantities, coloring the water in his wake a reddish tinge. The flurry continued for some time, the whale making desperate rushes hither and thither in the vicinity of Lucky Scaup, until it at last seemed to get its bearings on the south side of the channel, and started seaward again, keeping that side of the river. It was now going at so rapid a pace that the last boat to fasten lost its hold and was quickly left far astern. As at the beginning, the steam launch was now the only boat fast, though the second row-boat still held on to the steamer's stern. As there was danger that the launch's harpoon might also draw, the crew of the row-boat, by great exertions, pulled ahead of the steamer, and taking advantage of a favorable opportunity, fired, the iron getting well "fast." The whale, notwithstanding it had been spouting blood for some time, seemed to start off seaward with renewed energy after it had been struck the third time. The whalemen did their best to further disable the " fish," firing rockets at it whenever its back rose above the surface. In the meantime the boats had been lost sight of by those who were on the river side at Broughty Ferry. When it became generally known that the boats had fastened to the whale it was thought best to send a steam-tug after them to render any assistance which might be required. Accordingly the tug Iron King started down the river early in the after- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED StATES FISH COMMISSION. 215 noon and overbauled. the whale at the mouth of the Tay, not far from the Biuldonness light-house. No time was lost in sending forward the whale-boat, which the steamer had picked up, and it, too, was soon fast* Between 3 and 4 o'clock the harpoon line of the steam launch was got on board of the tug, which then shut otf steam. Thus, in addition to the two boats and launch, the whale had the larger steamer to pull along. But, despite this weight, it exhibited a wonderful amount of energy, swimming swiftly about for a time in various directions. The crews of the boats improved every chance to attack the whale, the keen- pointed lances being repeatedly thrust into it almost to their sockets. From the wounds the blood flew in all directions, giving the surround- ing water a crimson tint. Meantime, instead of succumbing, as one might expect, it continued the flurries for several hours, sometimes heading seaward and then retracing its course up the river. In the course of its struggles the whale rose under one of the boats and lifted one end, with its crew, entirely out of water, but luckily no damage was done. In the meantime the steam launch was sent off to Dundee to procure a supply of bomb-lances aud rockets. By the time, however, that the launch reached the river's mouth with the new equipment of whaling implements, night had fairly set in, and the weather being thick added to the darkness, so that no trace of the whale and its pursuers could be obtained. The crews of the tug and whale-boats had done their best to keep the "fish" inside of the estuary until the launch returned, knowing, too, that if once outside they would have less chance to kill it; but in this they failed, and, what made it worse, in the attempt they parted two of their harpoon lines. This was specially unfortunate, for there were no more harpoons left on board the boats. Nothing, therefore, could be done but to let themselves be towed along, and wait for the " fish "to tire himself out. Heading along the northern side of the Tay, the whale took a run over the shoal water of the Gaa Bank, and by this means temporarily^ shook off the steam-tug, which was obliged to let go, fearing to bring up- on the bank if she held on. Between C and 7 o'clock in the evening the bar of the Tay was crossed aud the struggling ceta- cean headed off into the open sea. The tug had been watching an opportunity to get hold again, and when deep water was reached, about an hour after she let go, she got fast to the line. At first the whale headed ofit" toward Bell Rock, on an easterly course, but after awhile struck off in a northerly direction. It was evidently somewhat confused as to the course it should take to es- cape from the land, for after getting almost otf Montrose, about mid- night, it changed to the opposite direction and again started for Bell Eock. This was passed at a distance of about four mi'es, and when the whale had reached a position within six or seven miles of the Carr Rock, which lies at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, it again changed its 216 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. course and swam iu a northerly direction iij) the coast. As soon as day broke the harpoon-gun was loaded with an iron bar four feet long, and this was discharged into the body of the whale. Two marliuspikes were sent after the bar, and these were followed by all the iron nuts and bolts that could be found on board. At first these seemed to have con- siderable eifect, for about 8 o'clock iu the morning the w'hale stopped running fast, settled down level with the water, and rolled from side to side, inspiring the whalemen with the hope that it would soon die. But after a few miuutes of comparative inaction the whale started off again with such great energy that it pulled the harjioon line in two at about half-past 8 o'clock a. m., when the boats and tug were nearly half way between Bell Rock and St. Andrews. This was certainly dis- couraging to the boats' crews to see the " fish," which they had so confidently counted on killing, going off free. They could, however, do nothing, except to steam along after the whale, hoping that it might soon die from its numerous wounds, or that an opportunity might offer to get hold of the end of one of the harpoon lines that trailed behind in its wake. Unfortunately the wind soon began to breeze up sharply from the eastward, and a choppy sea getting ujjjthe chase had to be re- luctantly abandoned. On the return of the tug and boats it was reported that the whale was a humpback {Megaptera sp.), and it was estimated to be CO to 70 feet long, with fins 9 or 10 feet iu length. But this animal, which had shown such wonderful vitality and pow- ers of endurance, though it escaped from its would-be captors, was mortally wounded, and a short time later its floating carcass was picked up and towed into Stonehaven by some Gourdon fishermen. It was sold at public auction; and, according to there ports, the sale was the occasion of quite a lively competition between Professor Struthers, of Aberdeen University, who wished to obtain the whale for scientific pur- poses, and Mr. Charles Ferrier, Green Market, Dundee, who wished to secure it for public exhibition. Bidding commenced at £10, and the price rose gradually till it was knocked down at £220 to the latter gentleman. Professor Struthers has arranged with Mr. Ferrier to get the skeleton of the whale for Aberdeen University after it is unclothed. The tug Excelsior went to Stonehaven for the purpose of removing the carcass. A strong hawser was attached to the tail of the monster, and the Excelsior steamed slowly around to Dundee. The whale was towed underneath the 70-ton crane at Victoria dock. To the unin- itiated the task of raising the animal from the water to the quay seemed an impossibility, and it was confidently asserted that it would have to lie in the water all night. Those who had the matter in hand, how- ever, quietly proceeded with their operations. The huge tail was first gently lifted, and a big chain coiled around it. An attempt was to be made to lift the fish from the water by the tail. It was freely asserted that it would never stand the strain, but would tear asunder in the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 217 process. On the signal being given, tbc crane was set in motion. It rose, foot by foot, and wben at last it was altogetber clear, three ringing cheers were spontaneously given by the spectators. As it bung in mid-air its huge iiroportious were set off to full advantage, and the spectators had a fine view of the form and appearance. While it was hanging thus suspended, its length began gradually to increase from the mouth downwards. At first it was thought that it was stretching oat by its own weight, but a closer examination showed that it was the tongue that was hanging down. The weight was too great, and the tongue fell into- the dock. Two lorries were set ready to receive the carcass, and after several attempts it was placed in po- sition. Having been securely fastened, eighteen horses were yoked to the lorries. The "fish" much improved in appearance after being- taken out of the water. The fins and tail were white, the glossy skin appearing beautiful in the moonlight. The time occupied in lifting the " fish " out of the water was a little over an hour. While suspended from the crane, ready to be lowered on the lorries, one of the engineers was hoisted up to the index of the crane, and ascertained that the "fish" weighed 16 tons 8 cwt. The whale was exhibited in East Dock street, Dundee, for a few days. It is stated that several scientific gentlemen in different parts of the country are anxious to secure the skeleton. Washington, D. C, May, 1884. 114.— ClJJLiTIVA TING TROUT IX OREGOIV. By B. F. DOTl^ELI.. [From a letter to M. McDonald.] I have just commenced cultivating trout near Portland, Oreg. I have a large spring and a good creek for trout, and I wish to obtain the most approved apparatus for hatching the eggs. I hatched in the William- son box, last spring, 12,000 eggs, and the young fry are doing very well. Large fine spotted trout, weighing 6 to 15 i^oundseach, were caught last month in Applegate Creek, 10 miles south of this place. They were ascending the creek to spawn. I bought several of them which were full of eggs. They are called by the fishermen here Eogue Eiver trout. I think they are of the same species as these in California, which are called the rainbow trout.* I intend to manipulate some of their eggs next year and ship them to my hatching house and ponds at Portland. They are very delicious in flavor and nearly equal in size to the silver- sides of the Columbia and W^illamette Elvers in North Oregon. Jacksonville, Oreg., June 11, 1884. *The fish is, in all probability, Salmo gairdneri. — T. H. Bean. 218 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 115 NOTEI^ OIV THE OREAT rAKE FISHERIES, DEPI.ETIOIV OF BliACK BA$^!!i, ETC. By Dr. E. STERLING. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] As you seem to be collecting for the National Museum everything that pertains to fish and fishing, I send a landing-net, fish-spear, gaff- hook, and fish-line dryer, all of home make. The landing net is not such as is made by the manipulator of the salmon or trout rod, but such as did good service among the Lake Erie Islands some fifteen or more years ago, when black bass averaged from 3 to 5i pounds each, and blue pike {Lucioperca) by the thousands from 5 to 20 pounds each. With a school of the former ranging from one to many hundreds there was no time lor playing with the split bamboo. It was "bait, j^auk, and hist in" 500 pounds of this fish in part of a day's fishing; and this was lively work and glorious fun. The many friends at home who partook of the harvest of the lake will agree with him and cry, " Eepeat, old fisher-friend; the pot and frying-pans are again empty." The pound nets have little to do with the depletion of the black bass among the smaller islands of this group, as in many cases they are not set within several miles of them. This depletion is caused entirely by hook and line fishing. I have never known a black bass to be taken in a gill net. This fish, a few years so numerous and of full weight, is now fast disappearing, and when found in the market runs from one-half a pound to 2h pounds each. To be suie, there are a few out-of the-way jdaces where they hold, to a certain extent, their own in size and num- ber, but this will continue only for a short time in the future. The blue pike used to go in such immense schools as to destroy the bass fishing while on the grounds. They are a lazy fish on the hook compared with the former and afford little sport to the angler. They drive the bass away by their numbers and voracity, so that if he is not fishing for the market and wishes to continue his bass-fishing, he must change his locality. However, there is some excitement in pulling in two or three 10 or 15-pound pike, especially if you wish to see great ex- pause of glass eyes, extended gills, shark-like teeth, and a maw large enough to take in the fish himself, but it soon becomes more than work — monotonous. The landing net was of my invention. The maker of it, often furnish- ing several for his customers, proposed to have it patented, to which I agreed, but unfortunately for us, on application to the Patent-Office, some one had been there for the same purpose ten years before us. The nets were identical, only mine had the best arrangement for attaching it to the handle. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 219 It is rare to find the blue, yellow, goggle-eyed, wall-eyed, or white pike (all the same fish, Liicioperca, only variations of the same species, the result of difit'erence in their surroundings, neither does the difference in structure amount to anything more, and perhaps not as much) on tlie market averaging more than H pounds from the upper lakes, per- haps 2 pounds, and all scarce at that, 10 to 14 cents a pound undressed. Twenty-five years ago you could buy a 15-j)0und fish for a quarter of a dollar, and pay a good price at that. Cleveland, Ohio, 3Iay 27, 1884. 116.— SPAWNING IN OERITffANY OF THE IvAROE-ITIOUTIIED B£.A€K BAS» SENT FKOxll THE UNITED STATES IN 18Sii. By MAX YON DEM BORNE. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Bau-d.] You will recollect that you kindly sent to me, in the fall of 1882, by Mr. George Eckerdt, 7 large-mouthed and 75 small mouthed black bass. In consequence of the long passage the greater part of the lot died, so that I had this spring 3 large-mouthed old fish, and 10 small-mouthed two-year-old bass. To-day I had the satisfaction of finding that the three large fish had spawned, and the pond actually swarms with fry. I have canght with a small net more than 2,000 and have put them into another pond which is free from other fish. I have no doubt that next spring the small-mouthed bass will spawn, and that the experiment will be successful.* Berneuchen, Germany, June 15, 1884. lir TRANSPORTATION OF CliAIUS ANI> OYSTERS, By R. E. C. STEARNS. [From a letter to Richards & Harrison, San Francisco, Cal.] In reply to your question as to the best method for transporting clams and oysters, I would say as to clams that they are in my opinion more difficult to handle than oysters, and further, that the abundance of sev- eral varieties of clams on the west coast of America, from and in Puget Sound south along the coast at many points to San Diego, would not warrant the exj)eriment. * Another effort was made this year to send black bass to von dem Borne in charge of Captain Briand, of the French line of steamers from New York. Mr. Blackford de- livered 40 bass, March 26, on the steamer with orders to leave them at the Havre Aquarium subject to order of von dem Borne. Unfortunately the fish all died at sea in transit. — C. W. S. 220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. As to the oysters which you speak of as occurring at one of the Ku- rile Islands, if to be sold for immediate consumption, the large ones (adult) are what you want. If, on the other hand, you intend to plant them for subsequent business purposes the smaller ones are better — safer, measurably, to transport, &c. As to what place you had better plant them in, I am not i)repared to answer, as I do not know the conditions or peculiarities of the region in the Kuriles which enter into the particulars of the habitat. It would be l)rudent to bear iu mind that these and similar mollusks do not stand heat well. The cool season of the year would be best for the experi- ment. The oysters should be put in rather oi)en crates and mixed in with rock or bladder weed, and frequently watered with sea-water en route ; kept shady and cool all the time, and jarred or shaken as little as pos- sible, and planted where they will be covered by the tide to the extent that prevails in their native bed ; and as a suggestion I should think that near the head of Drake's Bay, on the coast north of San Francisco Bay (which you will see by the map contains a " bight," as the sailors call it), with a rocky or shelly bottom, would or might be a good place. After planting you will have to look out and protect the bed from the star-fishes, periwinkles, and whelks which are as fond of oysters as the genus homo. If you should deem it best to attempt the experiment, please have your men collect any and all shells as well as some of the larger indi- viduals of the oysters, and send the same to this Institution so that we may examine them here. U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C, June 13, 1884. lis CATCHBIVG FISH IN A CREEK IIV TENNESSEE BY A ^VATER- SNAKE. By J. S. IVAKNJER. Just one mile from where I write a bold spring issues from under a rock and sends out so considerable a stream that it affords power for an old-fashioned saw-mill three-fourths of a mile from the spring. Just a few rods from where I am writing fish 8 to 10 inches in length are caught as they come up stream. Last year I saw a water-snake leav- ing the creek with a fish about 5 inches in length, just as described by Mr. Nye, in Fish Commission Bulletin, 1883, page 190. I killed the snake, rescued the fish, and returned it to the water, but it seemed to be too badly wounded to recov^er. The snake was making way for a l^lace of safety where it might devour its prey. JoNESBOKo', Tenn., June 14, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 221 119.— REPORT UPON THE SHAD AND HERRIIVO EI>«iIIERIEK«l OE TJSE POTOMAC RIVER EOR 18S4. By CiWYNN HARRIS. [From a letter to Col. M. McDonald.] SHAD. Number of shad landed and inspected in Washington - 231,111 Number of shad landed at Alexandria, Va 74, 000 Number of shad landed at Georgetown 670 Number of shad shipped by steamer Corcoran * 19, 000 Number of shad shi pped to Baltimore by steamer Sue 9, 200 Number of shad sold on the difi'ereut shores and from trap-nets 13, 500 Total number 347,481 HERRING. Number of herring landed and inspected in Washington .5, 640, 812 Number of herring lauded at Alexandria, Va 2, 998, 000 Number of herring landed at Georgetown 200, 000 Number of herring shipped to Baltimore by steamer Sue 58, 000 Number of herring sold on the different shores and from trap-nets 1, 400, 000 Total number 10,296,812 The first herring of the season was caught February 18th. The first shad was taken on March 3d. The herriug product shows an increase of 1,307,551 on the catch of 1883, while the shad figures indicate a decrease of 32,335 as compared with the figures of 1883. (See page 13 of present volume.) 130 A IVEW METHOD OF PROTECTIIVG THE EGGS OF CARP ANI> REARING T5IE AOli^G. By L,. T. liVHEELER. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I have now had three years and a half experience in the raising and hatching of German carp, and it may be that my experiments may be worth something to others, particularly in the South. All still-water ponds should be as deep as possible so as to prevent stagnation and to insure a certain supply of water when the rainfall is alone to be depended upon. As it is next to impossible to keep out native fish, I had to resort to partially artificial means to hatch and protect carp. I have adopted the following plan with eminent success : About the 1st of May, having first procured a quantity of long sea- moss, I tie it in small bunches and lay it in shallow water near the bank, * These figures were taken from the account furnished by the clerk of the steamer. 222 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. attaching it safely to the bank where it will have as good an exposure to the sun as possible 5 carp will not spawn in the shade. By the 5th of May in this latitude (32°) the carp will begin to spawn. They may be seen in great numbers, fluttering near the banks in shallow water, and they will be sure to find the moss and to deposit innumerable eggs upon it ; the eggs will adhere to the moss from three to four days and then drop off. To protect the eggs and the young from the ravages of other fishes 1 constructed boxes 10 feet long and 5 wide. The gunnels or side pieces are 1 by 12 with a good water-tight bottom. The ends of these boxes are made of wire cloth suf6ciently fine to prevent the escape of the smallest carp and to admit a constant flow of fresh water. The bottoms are covered an inch deep with pure sand. When placed in the water they sink until the water stands from G to 8 inches deep in them. As soon as I discover the eggs on the moss I gather up the moss and lay it in these boxes, putting weight enough on to keep it barely under the water. In eight or ten days, according to the temperature of the water, the young will be seen. It is best to anchor these boxes in the middle of the ijond, where they will be subjected to the action of the wind and waves and have as fair an exposure to sun as possible. After the young are two or three weeks old they should be protected from the midday sun. It is wonderful how many can be hatched in a box of the size given. As the growth increases they should be divided and kept until they are large enough to take care of themselves, which will be in two or three months, if there are game fish in the pond. I com- mence feeding when a month old by sprinkling corn-meal iu the boxes, but not enough to leave a residuum. Carp do not spawn in this climate until they are two years old, and at three they spawn enormously. They begin by the 5th of May and run from three to five days only. I had only one that was as late as the 25th this year. I did not observe it spawning but one day, though I watched it closely day and night. I placed all the spawn of this one in a box by themselves; yesterday I bailed the water out of this box, straining through a wire sieve ; it is simply wonderful how many young there are — too many to count. I am now selling the young, having sold to one man 1,000 at $15 per hundred, and have demand for every one that I can hatch. I have given the cultivation of the carp the closest attention, en- deavoring to find out the most simple way to hatch and protect them, and one that any farmer could understand and adopt without requiring much time or attention. I have been eminently successful, and there is no reason why others should not be. My oldest carp are now three and a half years old and I iexpect to exhibit one at the fair iu Kew Or- leans that will weigh thirty pounds. CoRSiCANA, Tex., Jnly 1, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 223 121 IVEKO OF A rVATIOIVAl, I^AW TO KEOUI.ATE THE SIZE OF ]T1E»II OF UOTH FOUIND Ai^D ailLt. NETS ON THE OREAT £,AKES. By I.AFI.IW & CO., Wholesale Dealers in Oystei's and FisTi. [From ca letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] We would respectfully call your attention to the sizeof the whitefish now being canglit at Saint Joseph, Mich. A fisherman tells us that three years ago large quantities of young whitefish were put in the water there. This spring the same whitefish are being taken out by the tons. The fish are small, only half grown, and will not endure warm weather long after being taken ; they are about 8 or 9 inches in length. If they were allowed to grow another year they would increase in quan- tity and the same fish be a No. 1 fish. The reckless waste of the fish is due to the men fishing there with small mesh gill-nets. We are told some of the meshes are only 3J inches. If there was a national law pre- venting the using of any gill-nets less than 4f or 4§ inches mesh, these small fish would escape and mature into good solid fish. The majority of regular fishermen around the lakes favor stringent laws preventing the taking of small fish, but take no steps, as they don't want to incur the ill-will of their neighbors who use small nets. Chicago, III., {No. 40 State street), April 25, 1884. We send you a sample in alcohol of the quality of whitefish caught at Saint Joseph, Mich. You can see the fish are immature, and if not caught for one or two years more would become large, besides increasing in numbers by si)awning. No State law will reach these parties, for the reason that State or city ofQcers will not push people when they depend on their popularity at home for appointment or election, and besides the mischief is done outside of the jurisdiction of the State of Michigan. Michigan City does nearly as much fishing, and that is in the State of Indiana. At the northern end of the lake it would be hard to determine which State had jurisdiction, Michigan or Wisconsin. In many cases fishermen go 20 and 30 miles away to fish and bring their fish with steam- tugs to shipping points. They could easily prove if arrested in one State that fish were caught in the waters of another State. A national law could be enforced in many places by the Life Saving Service assisted by the revenue cutters. To limit the size of meshes of both pound and gill-nets for next season would work no hardship on fishermen, as they renew their seines each spring. The fish are literally caught out in I^ake Michigan, and where there ought to be a large source of food sup- ply to a rapidly filling country, it is being foolishly wasted by a few men to make a living for the time being, who do not intend to stay in the business permanently. 224 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. . A law ought also to be enacted regulating the depth of water in which fishing should be done during the spawning season, and there should not be the reckless waste of tiout there is each fall. They are caught all around the lake in such quantities that many are valueless and cannot be sold for food. In Green Bay and at Ahnapee, Wis., and in fact all along the western shore of Lake Michigan, trout are caught by the ton and thrown away, because the demand falls off when the catch in- creases. They are not fit to salt. In June sturgeon are caught and killed for the value of the caviare, when the fish are so abundant that they scarcely bring the cost of transportation. In the spring, all through the Green Bay couutry, fine large roe pike are recklessly taken from the water and wasted for almost nothing. If, when caught, they were thrown back into the water their sjiawn would increase the supiil}^ for future use. We would suggest to you to write to H. O. Wilson & Co., at Saint Jo- seph, Mich. They fish with large mesh nets, and they could probably give you other facts. One fisherman, when told he was doing wrong in fishing out such small fish, laughingly remarked that the United States were going to juit 10,000,000 more in at Saint Joseph this year for their benefit. We give you a few names of intelligent fishermen at different points around the lake. If you wish to get their ideas, one and all talk of favoring a stringent national law — even those now busy catching small fish. Names of fishermen and their addresses: G. H. Smith & Sons, Cedar Grove, Wis. ; John Borkenhagen, 490 Second avenue, Milwaukee, Wis. Louis Schultze, fisherman, Milwaukee, Wis. ; F. Kocher, fisherman Milwaukee, Vv is. ; H. von Ells, fishermlin, Milwaukee, Wis. ; II. O Wilson & Co., Saint Joseph, Mich. ; Fagau & Fairchild, Sheboygan Wis.; F. Kochn <& Sou, Sheboj'gan, Wis.; Daane Bros., Vostviile Wis. ; N. Niguette, Two Elvers, Wis. ; John McDonald, Ahnapee Wis. ; E. S. Minor, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. ; J. O. Lindquist, Menekau- nee. Wis. ; E. Boaler, Green Bay, Wis.; L. Bainbridge, Menomonee, Mich. ; LeClair & Gundersen, Jacksonport, Wis. ; IST. Saunders, Fay- ette, Mich. ; Feltus & Bro., Fayette, Mich. ; Ainsworth & Co., Sault de Ste. Marie, Mich.; A. Booth & Sons, Chicago, 111., fish at Escanaba, Mich.; C. Endress & Son, Whitefish Point, Mich. ; Boutin & Mahau, Bayfield, Wis. ; I. Chambers & Bro., Saint Ignace, Mich.; I. Moule & Co., Saint James, Mich, ; E. Conuable & Son, Petoskey, Mich. ; Little Traverse Bay Fish Company, Harbor Springs, Mich. ; Coates & Ar- nold, Mackinac, Mich. ; M. D. Pool, Pent Water, Mich. ; A. Warner & Co., Pi'Ut Water, Mich. ; Cooley Levague & Co., Duluth, Minn. ; Daw- son & McKe one. Detour, Mich. ; Powell Bros., Marquette, Mich. ; Hausler Bros., South Chicago, 111. ; I. Degurgus, Ludington, Mich. ; AVilliam Siuith «& Co., Frankfort, Mich.; Storms & Co., Montague, Mich. ; Waiteman & Lanford, Montague, Mich. ; Shriver Bros., Sauga- t»;ck, IMich,; Charles Kimball & Sou, Michigan City, Ind. Chicago, III., 3Iay 7, ]884. BuU. U. S. F. C, 1884— (To face page 225.> PLATE I. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 225 Vol. IV, ]¥o. 15. IVa^hington, D. C. July SO, 1 884. 133.— REPORT rPOiV THE PROPAGATION OF STRIPED BASS Al' WELiDOJV, IV. C, IIV TME SPRIIVO OF 18S4. By S. O. il'ORTII. Haviug coini)letecl a successful season of work iu the propagation of striped bass at Weldon, K. C, aud as agreed upon viith the United States Fish Commissioner in April last, I beg to report the following results: On April 1, 1884, I sent Mr. C. M. McDowell to take charge of the station, and supplied him with such help as he needed, at first with three men and subsequently with four others, as necessity required. At the time of his arrival the river was somewhat full aud very muddy, as it is on all occasions after rains on headwaters. Ko rockfish had been caught at the time of his arrival, and, indeed, no other fish had been caught except a few shad. I at once put him at work constructing a small hatchery, which he did with the assistance of three employes with a cash outhiy of $35. The buildiug was small, being 10 by 16 feet, but well equipped with McDonald jars to the number of fifty or more. Tiie water supply was drawn from the flume of the mills of Mr. T. L. Emry, of Weldon. Hy April 10 a few striped bass were taken, but they were small. The height of the run of fish occurred between April 20 and May 1. IS^o ripe fish were seen until April 10, when the river temperature was 58°. The weight of the fish taken on this date was 19 pounds. The last ripe striped bass was taken May 17, when the temperature of the water was 70° to 72°. From the above statement it would appear that the season for hatching strii^ed bass at Weldon would occur between April 10 aud May 20. The first fish from which eggs were taken was caught May 2; the roe was in good condition, the weight of the fish being 15 pounds. Upon examination it was found that the roe was two-thirds spent, but the eggs taken and impregnated numbered 200,000, the quantity being estimated on the basis of 20,000 ])er liquid quart (impregnated eggs). These eggs were placed upon trays, the hatching jars not being in position for work, but only 50 per cent were found to be good ten hours afterwards, owing to the exceedingly filthy water which at that time was not filtered. The second fish taken was found May 2, at 7 p. m., weight 42 pounds after being strii)ped of its eggs. The ovaries were about full, but some of the eggs could not be taken from the fish and were left behind. Of those taken the estimate as above shows 1,150,000. As stated above the hatchery was not ready for the reception of these eggs and all were put into the river in an impregnated state excej^t 50,000 which were Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 15 226 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. placed on trays where tbey were kept fourteen hours with a loss of 50 13er cent. The remaining 25,000 impregnated eggs were put into the river. The third lot of eggs were taken May 6, at 7 p. m. The fish was one- third spent and weighed 11 pounds ; the number of eggs taken was 350,000. The hatchery was still not ready. Of these eggs 40,000 were thrown away owing to the lack of milt. The remaining 310,000 well im- pregnated were placed directly into the KoanoRe Eiver, as were the others previously. On May 12 the fourth fish was taken, weighing 12 pounds and con- taining 210,000 eggs. This fish seemed to be about half spent. While these eggs were in excellent condition, 100,000 were ui)set by the care- lessness of a negro boy who sat down upon a loose plank upon which the pans were resting. Of this lot 30,000 were sent by express to the central hatching station at Washington for examination, but they were shipped at such an early stage that coagulation took place. Of this lot 40,000 were placed in the hatching jars and successfullj' hatched from the shells with a loss of 10 per cent, while the remaining few thousands unaccounted for were lost in transferring from buckets to jars, and in rough handling. The next fish taken was on May 16, its weight being 15 ijounds. A considerable portion of this fish's ovaries was spent, but 60,000 eggs were taken and impregnated and found to be in excellent condition. They were placed in the jars and 42,000 young fish were successfully hatched. Of this lot 25,000 were placed immediately in the Roanoke Eiver at the hatchery, and 15,000 were reserved in the aquarium for the inspection of visitors, who were numerous. Of this reserve lot of 15,000 about half ijerished while being kept in confinement, and the re- mainder, 7,500, were placed in the river on the 17th of May. These eggs hatched in thirty-six hours in a temperature of 70° to 72^ F. These eggs hatched earlier by eight hours than I have found them to hatch iu- previous years' experiments in like temperatures. The last fish was taken on May 17, at 6 p. m., and its weight was 14 pounds, the ovaries being tolerably full. Four hundred and twenty thousand eggs were taken, which were successfully impregnated and in- troduced into the jars; 210,000 fry were successfully hatched and re- leased in the river, and 10,000 eggs which had been placed upon trays were successfully hatched, the try being kept ujion trays about sixty hours after hatching. R:^suMi;. — Number of fish from which eggs were taken, 0 ; number of eggs taken, 2,420,000; number of impregnated eggs placed in Roanoke River before opening the hatchery, 1,535,000; number of eggs placed in hatching jars, 520,000; number of fish hatched, 298,000; number of fry actually planted, 280,500 ; percentage of hatching of eggs handled in McDonald jars, upwards of 50. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 227 From the experience of this season one di£ficulty has been overcome which heretofore seemed insurmountable, viz., the successful hatch- ing of fish from the eggs. In my former experiments and in that ot jMaj. T. B, Ferguson, where the rock-fish eggs were handled in Mc- Donald jars and Ferguson cones, there was a very great loss of eggs in the process of hatching; but in the experience of this year it has been found that by working the McDonald jar with a small quantity of water, one quart of water every three minutes, barely keeping the eggs in motion, the hatching resulted in ujjward of 50 per cent of the total, showing a great advance on previous work with this fish. The water used at Weldon is usually of a muddy character and requires filtering for any kind of hatching. The method of filtering used in the experiments this year was that of placing one tray above another, thus making a series of from 6 to 15, covered with coarse blanket, canton flannel, cheese cloth, and bagging. After operations were commenced but a small quantity of water was found necessary, and through these cloths the filtration seemed quite sufiicient. It may be well to call to your mind again the fact that the striped bass handled at Weldon, were taken almost exclusively in skim nets from bateaux which ply the river from Weldon, a distance of two miles be- low, and secondarily from fish-traps w^hich are used on the fiills atWel- don. About 50 or 60 of the canoes fish there daily during the height of the season, when as many as 6 to 25 fish are taken in each boat per day. All of the ripe fish observed during the season were taken from these boats except three large specimens captured some distance above the falls and above Weldon. Much zeal was required to collect the ripe fish from so many boats scattered over so long a distance, but by dint of effort and careful handling of the fishermen, it is believed that no ripe fish were lost during the time when the hatchery was prepared to receive the ripe fish. At a signal any of the fishermen along the line would know whether ripe bucks were required, and so complete was the co-operation that there was no hesitation on their part to bring the fish promptly forward. The catch during the season of 1884, like that of last year, was abnor- mally small, reaching a good many thousand short of an average year, and said to be the smallest catch ever known. During the season of 1883, 9 ripe fish were handled; during this season, 12 were handled; but of the 12 fish, ova were taken from only 6. The total number of eggs this season was 2,420,000. Of these, 1,535,000 were placed overboard in an impregnated state, the hatchery being unprepared for their recep- tion, but of the 530,000 handled in the hatchery on May 12, and subse- quently, 298,000 fish were hatched, showing a percentage quite credit- able in work so new as this. At Weldon there were actually planted 280,500 fry. It is my opinion that Weldon, N. C, is altogether a favorable place for hatching this species ; as the falls which obstruct the river at this 228 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. point cause an accumulation of fish which are in better average spawning condition, perhaps, than an equal number of tish which may be found anywhere else in so small an area. If the total number of eggs bandied this year could have been turned at once into the hatch- ing jars, the result of the season upon the basis of 50 per cent would have been 1,210,000 fry. The hatchery which was left behind is in first-rate condition, and everything favorable for future operations and in such readiness that in any other attempt there need be no risk whatever of losing any ripe spawn which may be procured there. As to the possibility of pro- curing this spawn, it may be well to say that the fishermen almost without exception, though they number more than one hundred, are in lull accord with the work of artificial propagation, and are ready to lend every assistance in their power toward building up a permanent station at that place. I have examined with considerable care the striped bass at the fish-, eries known as Calm Point, Kittyhawk, Mizell's, Eock Point, and others lying below, between the mouth of the Roanoke Elver and James ville, a distance of 25 miles, and also in large numbers those taken fronthelarge seines just below the mouth of theEoauoke, and furthermore in the pound nets about Edentou, and have so far failed to discover any point ap- proximating Weldon for the puri:)ose of propagating these fish. It occurs to me that quite a great deal has been accomplished this season at Weldon in having discovered so many million of eggs in such a poor season, and furthermore in finding that the eggs may be success- fully handled in the apparatus generally used to-day. As far as the keeping of the fry is concerned there is no difficulty ; in former experi- ments I have found no difficulty whatever in keeping them alive in ordinary shipping cans a period of twelve days with moderate changes of water through the tin strainer tube. I feel gratified at the result at Weldon, and assure you, while my expectations were not fully met as to the number of eggs we should get, that I am entirely satisfied as to the result, and feel all confidence in any future labors at that point. I am glad to state that the citizens of Weldon themselves showed a ready and untiring interest in developing there a station unequaled in any other locality in which I have operated. Before concluding this report it may be well to mention that while Weldon is a small town, containing only about 1,500 inhabitants, it is yet a very considerable railroad point, fiv^e roads terminating there. During the height of the season as many as two hundred visitors a day were welcomed to the hatchery; and during the season probably up- wards of two thousand were received. Table I shows the whole work in brief, and Table II the water and air temperatures during the period of actual oiierations. Ealeigh, N. C, June 11, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 229 Note by Me. T. B. Ferguson. — The repoitof S. G. Wortli, superiu- teudent of fisheries of North Carolina, on liis striped bass hatchinj? oper- ations, conducted at Weklon, N. C, under the ausi)ices of the United States Fish Commission, contains a matter of great importance to alarge number interested in fisheries and in fishing \Yho have anxiously looked for successes in this direction. As this fish is one of the most impor- tant and interesting of all the food-fish of the Atlantic coast, the pos- sibility of arresting its alarming decrease has been looked forward to with great anxiety by many. Mr. Worth's report is not so important as a record of work that hag actually been accomplished as in having demonstrated the practica- bility of carrying on this important work at the point selected for these operations. I have never doubted the ability of our experts in fish-culture to care for and develop with but slight loss the eggs of this fish. The difticulty has been in finding a place where the mature fish could be obtained with any certainty. The Roanoke River near Weklon having proved to be such a locality, I cannot too strongly urge that immediate steps be taken for the estab- lishment of a hatchery at this point, so equipped, and equipped in time for the next season's work, as to insure successful operations on a large scale. Table I. — Hatching and planting of striped bass or rock-fish at Weldon, N. C, 1884. [Under the direction of S. G. Worth, superintendent; C. M. McDowell, captain of the force.] Date. 1884. May 2 2 G 12 16 17 Total. OS ^ Pounds, 15 42 11 12 15 14 Condition of ovaries. Two-thirds spent. . Ovaries full Onc-thiid spent One-half spent One-third spent. . . Ovaries nearly fuU. o , BASS, ETC. By FRANK COXE. [From a letter to Hou. M. C. Butler.] I have taken great trouble for tlie past six or eight years to get our rivers thrown open so that shad and other fish can come up as they did forty years ago in great abundance. My iilautatiou is in the fork of Broad and Green Rivers, in Polk and Rutherford Counties, ISTorth Caro- lina, and after they join form Main Broad River, which, together with the Saluda, make the Congaree at Columbia, S. C. The streams I live on are now open to the ocean, as is evidenced by the run of shad at my place. For the last four weeks I have had all the shad and other fish, such as Southern black bass — known here as river trout — that I wanted. My mother, who is eighty years of age, says that when she was very young the river was plentifully supi^lied with shad and many other kinds of iish. I give these points to show that the rivers are open to salt water, and by referring to the maps you will see that we are nearer to the coast than by anj- other stream running out of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ten miles .above me is Hickory Mountain Gap, at the foot of Bald Mountain, wliere the shad have actually been taken in con- siderable numbers. 1 believe that it is now an acknowledged fact that shad and salmon must have highly aerated water to lay their eggs in or they will not hatch. Such water is to be found only in our numerous riffles and shoals, which the shad run to from instinct. ConseVpiently the Cherokee Dam, which is about 30 miles below me on Broad River, and was built some forty years since, was the cause of the fish almost disappearing from the river below, as eggs deposited there would uot hatch and the fish could not pass above it. Fortunately this dam has at last washed out, and we see the good effects of it in the increased quantity of fish from one end of the river to the other. If the run is kept open I am satisfied we will have one of the finest streams for fish on the Atlantic coast. I would like to have a million or two of shad put in here if possible. Landrum Station, on the Spartanburgh and Asheville Railroad, is about 12 miles from here, and I would have them brought over myself from there. The only trouble this season in pro- tecting the fish has been with the dynamite cartridge. We have a ganger here for a small distillery a few miles below, who was seen throwiug these cartridges in the river, which destroyed every fish, large and small, in 50 feet around ; and when he was told he would be indicted, said he would like to seethe State ofticer that could arrest him, and the trouble is that three-fourths of the people believe what he says. Green River, N. C, June 7, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 233 135 rriEMORAIVDUM OF THE PRESENT C'OIVDHTIOIV AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE OYSTER IJVDUSTRV. By Lieut. FRAWfCIS ^VINSLOAV, U. S. N. I have tbe honor to submit the following memoranda relative to the present condition of the oyster industry, with special reference to the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and 1 would respectfully press upon your .consideration the necessity for as elaborate and extensive meas- ures as possible to arrest the deterioratiou of the fishery and oyster beds before the latter are entirely exhausted. The last census gives 22,195,370 bushels as the product of the oyster industry of the United States. Of this yield the Chesapeake and Dela- ware Bays produced 19,712,320 bushels, or considerably more than three- fourths of the total. Since 1880, however, prices have increased so rap- idly that there is a well-founded opinion that the product of the two bays is rapidly decreasiug. The exportation of oysters from the Ches- apeake and the Delaware has fallen from nearly 1,000,000 bushels per annum in 1880 to about 500,000 bushels in 1883 ; and the increase in the price of the Delaware stock indicates an insufficiency of that supply equaling 500,000 bushels, or there is reason to suppose that there is a falling oft" in the product of the Delaware during the last three years of about 1,000,000 bushels, nearly half the yield in 1879. In the Chesa- peake the indications are more serious. Prices have doubled within the last five years, and, judging by them, the product has fallen off siuce 1880 between 4,000,000 and 6,000,000 bushels. The report of the Maryland oyster commission states that the oyster beds of Maryland " are in im- minent danger of complete destruction," and that iu the last three years they have lost about 40 jjer cent of their value. The production of the Maryland beds iu 1880, according to the census, was over 10,000,000 bushels. A deterioration of value of 40 per cent would indicate a de- crease in the production of 4,000,000 bushels, which results agrees with that arrived at through the comparison of prices. Mr. W. M. Armstrong, a prominent oyster-planter of Virginia, has recently testified before the legislature of that State that the i>roduc- tion of the Virginia beds has, of late, fallen off two-thirds. The yield of the Virginia beds iu 1880, according to the census, was about 7,000,000 bushels ; therefore the dimiuutiou of the product is about 4,000,000 bushels at the least. I think 8,000,000 bushels would be a low estimate of the decrease in the Chesapeake and Delaware siuce the last census. During the last two years packing and canning houses in Baltimore have frequently been compelled to stoj) Avork on account of the insufficient supply of oysters (see Baltimore Sun, January IG, 1882), and I was informed last winter by tbe most prominent ijacker iu Balti- more that he was forced to take at a high price stock so inferior that 234 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. it would not have been oifered in the market five years back. The only locality along the coast where the supply is not diminishing at an alarm- ing rate is in Connecticut. But that State produces but an inconsid- erable quantity of oysters compared to the yield of the great bays. The importance of arresting the deterioration of this important industry does not need argument ; but from the nature of the fishery and the character of the fishermen no effectual steps can be taken until the usefulness and necessity of intelligent cultivation according to the most approved modern methods is made apparent to the men engaged in the business. The benefits of systematic culture must be actually aijd tan- gibly before them before they can appreciate their value ; and I know of no other way to accomplish this end than by the establishment of small model oyster farms in the Chesapeake and Delaware regions. I know by experience that the fishermen cannot be reached by anything written or said ; they can only be taught by what I may call " object-les- sons." The value of model and experimental stations is attested by the great influence such establishments had in assisting the French oyster- culturists in their efforts to restock the oyster beds of the French coast. In 1858 there was a very great scarcity of oysters, and in consequence the Imperial Government undertook the restocking of the beds and the establishment of model oyster farms. To-day the waters of France are again prolific, and the numerous oyster farms, breeding establishments, &c., are all coj^ies of the model establishments of the Government. In addition to the operation of model farms, I would iiress the import- ance of continued investigation of the embryological life of the 03'ster. The effect of the various influences to which it and the mature animal are exposed should be determined as early as possible. Knowledge of those influences and intelligent ai)preciation of their effects are absolutely necessary to the success of oyster-culture. Thousands of dollars would be annually saved to the Connecticut oystermen if they could determine, with even approximate accuracy, the date when the attachment of the young brood would occur. Hundreds of thousands would be saved if they had any reliable method of determining the probabilities of the spawning season. Careful, continuous, and elabor- ate study and investigation alone can determine these points and oth- ers of equal importance. Considering the value of successful determi- nation, not onl3^ in a scientific aspect, but i:)ractically, no effort or exj^ense should be spared to obtain it. Obviously the investigation cannot be undertaken by the fishermen, and if not accomplished by the Government it must rest unsettled for many years. The area of the great beds of tlie Chesapeake and Delaware Bays is 471,171 acres; and the product per acre was, in 1880, 41 bushels. At present it is certainly not more than 25 bushels. If the deterioration continues at the same rate, the result is too evident to need comment. That remedial measures should be taken is an imi^erative necessity. Washington, D. C, March 12, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 235 126 RE POUT KKSPECTirVO THE PRESENT CONDITION AN'O FU- I [ ISK PROMPLCTM AT SAINT JEROITIE CREEK FOR THE %VORK OF OVSTER CULTURE. By JOHN A. RYDER. I have tbe honor to report that, in my opinion, the place is eminently well fitted for the pnrpose of oyster experiments since the recent im- provements there have been made, and, that with sundry minor im- provements, it can be made to offer still greater advantages. These will be discussed in another part of this communication. I have, as requested, instructed Mr. Kavenel in the art of taking" oyster spawn successfully, and have also indicated the lines of experiment which I thought it desirable to follow in the administration of the work to be there conducted, as follows : 1. Artificial rearing from artificially fertilized eggs in some of the smaller inclosures now prepared. 2. The introduction of collectors of various forms into the ponds and open waters under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish Commis- sion. The collectors which I have recommended are the following: 1. Shells strewn upon the bottom. 2. Tiles, slates, bricks, «&c., coated with lime, and then with cement. 3. Oyster shells strung upon wire and suspended from stakes. 4. Brush or faggots fastened about the margins of the ponds. I have suggested sundry variations in the use of these devices which I have very fully explained to Mr. Eavenel, and I think he will make an effort to do his best to get favorable results. The following suggestions I would respectfully submit, in the hope that a sufficient appropriation may be granted by the present Congress to carry out improvements which are still desirable, as follows: The orighial pond, as it was when the Commission first obtained i^os- session, is still in large part too deeply covered with mud over the bot- tom to be available in order to obtain the best results in oyster culture. I would therefore suggest that this portion of the property be dredged outduringthe coming winter in order to deepen this water-right consid- erably as well as to extend its area where the shores are marshy. This is now the more necessary since the canal has been cut from the creek to the original pond, as a consequence of which the rise and fall of the tide is so much greater that the water is too low at low water to rear and fatten oysters advantageously in this portion of the domain. The ponds which have been excavated by Mr. Eavenel seem to be suitable for the work, and can be used in their present state for experi- ments in artificial impregnation and rearing. The larger ponds which have been inclosed by the work of the dredg- ers are well suited for planting oysters, since those seen by the writer 236 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. had made a good growtli during the present season. The bottom of these ponds also needs to be excavated in certain phices in order to make them deeper and available for jdanting purj^oses. The bottom over almost the entire extent of these ponds is hard enough to support the planted oysters, so that no further preparation is needed in them than some slight excavating, which I think might be done at low tide with a scoop and a pair of horses or oxen. The open grounds, or those not yet inclosed but which open to the creek, are also valuable, since there is an " oyster bar " on this part of the property which could be worked to advantage for supplies of seed oysters in "shelling" and ordinary planting, besides which it might be considerably extended by judiciously directed efl'orts. The many desirable features which now unite in Saint Jerome's Creek Station as an experimental establishment would render it now in the highest degree impolitic to abandon the place, especially in view of the large expense already incurred in its equipment and the really valuable improvements which have resulted from that expenditure. The fact that oyster spat could be taken at Saint Jerome's has been abundantly proven, as shown by my results in 1880; and I doubt if any other place on the Chesapeake offers advantages which in reality sur- I)ass those now existing at this station. The Avork now to be done is of that character which will enlist the sj^mpathy and interest of the oystermen of the vicinity. We have it in our power to do considerable this season towards demonstrating that the culture of oysters can be so greatly improved by simple and ra- tional methods that the ordinary cultivator may safely undertake the work. The cultivation of "cove" oysters must also be insisted upon, and inasmuch as Saint Jerome's really fulfills the conditions ordinarily found in the best "coves," the extension of that form of the oyster industry may be greatly aided at this station ; since it is well known to dealers that such oysters are more valuable in the markets, and better in every way, it will be our province to show how this kind of work may be increased, as I have already shown why such is the case in Ibrmer reports. Altogether, I therefore report favorably to you of the station and its future, though I am not unmindful of the fact that it may happen that the efibrt to make improvements during the summer may cripple the experimental work ; so that I would suggest that the experiments in culture and spat collecting be pushed with unremitting vigor from the 25th or latter part of June to the 1st of September next, so as to ob- tain as large a showing of valuable data as possible, and, if possible, not to permit any other work to interfere with the obtainment of tangi- ble results. The entire bottom of the canal, 5 to 6 feet in depth, is also available for cultural experiments to test the effects of currents in fattening and BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 237 growth. Observations which I have made from time to time have shown me that oysters grow as rapidly at Saint Jerome's Creek as at any phice in the bay, and that they are exceptionally "ftit" and "large in the flesh" early in the season, and that they are possibly on that ac- count more prolific than the oysters from the open waters, which get less food than those in the waters of this creek, where the choicest food of the oyster is to a large extent held in by the partially land locked condition prevailing, while this food is generated much more ruindlyin such places on account of the more effective action of the sun's rays in warming the shallow confined waters. Washington, D. C, June 17, 1884. 137 OIV THK OCCURRENCE OF COKAr,S ON THE CiRANJD bANKS. By Capt, J. W. COL.L.IWS. Eelative to the occurrence of corals on the slopes of the outer fishing- banks, I beg to say that the place of greatest abnudance— of the Prim- noa reseda more particularly — is on the eastern slope of Banquereau, in from 150 to 200 lathoms or more, and latitude 44° 28' N. This " spot," which is several miles in extent — the latitude given marks about its center — is covered to such an extent with a coral growth that it seldom happens that trawl-lines set on it are all recovered. The fishermen have learned to avoid the place somewhat, and they have given it the name of " The Stone Fence " Stones of considerable size (as large as the fishing lines will lift) are not infrequently pulled up, and it is possible that a proper investigation of this locality might result in securing some rocks containing interesting fossils. On what is called the " Middle Prong " of Banquereau, in 44° 13' north latitude and 58° 02' west longitude, in from 250 to 350 fiithoms of water, I found considerable many corals in July. 1879, and among others several specimens of the gold-banded coral, the latter being more plentiful than I have seen it elsewhere. This place is small, however, not more than three-fourths of a mile in diameter, and would prob- ably be somewhat difficult to find, unless the weather was fine and clear. Eeferring to the last-mentioned locality, I find the following in my journal, under date of July 30, 1879, the vessel then being anchored in 205 fathoms, latitude 44° 14' north, longitude 58° 03' west: " Four of our trawls were on the ' Spot,' which bears about southeast by east from the vessel, and is about two-thirds of a mile distant, to its near- est edge. It is about three fourths of a mile in diameter; the bottom, 'catchy,' having a growth of corals of various kinds, including the fol- lowing varieties: Gold-band coral {Keratoisis or«rt^«), great tree coral {Fuvugorgia), bush coral {Acanella normani), and tree coral {Primnoa reseda).'''' Washington, D. C, June 6, 1884. 238 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. laS.— REPORT OF ANALYSIS OF A SAMB»L,E OF FISH OVANO MADE FROM SAI>ITIO!V OFFAI^, BY MH. JOSEPH SPRATT, OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COI^UmiSIA. By Prof. W. O. ATWATER. The sample, as received, was fine, dry, and in excellent mechanical condition. The analysis shows an usually large amount of nitrogen and i)hosphoric acid. ANALYSIS. Per cent. Water 11.28 Nitrogen 9. 88 Equivalent to ammouia 12. 00 Phosphoric acid 5. 51 Fat (oil) 11.61 Statements explanatory of the composition, commercial values, and agricultural uses of fish guano may be found in the report of the United States Fish Commission, 1877 (pp. 229,230, &c.), from which it will be seen that this sample is of unusually high grade. It has indeed higher percentages of both nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and is, consequently, more valuable for fertilizing purposes than any of the specimens men- tioned in that report. It has also a large content of fat, which would, with the nitrogenous matter, give it a very high value for food for stock, in case, as is by uo means impossible, fish refuse should ever come into use for this purpose. I learn by inquiry that fish guano, like other nitrogenous fertilizers, is just now rather cheap and not much in demand in the market. "The 10 per cent ammonia grade has," I am told, "been selling in bulk at factory (near New York) at $24 per ton." This is at the rate of $2.40 per unit of ammonia. At this rate guauo, like Mr. Spratt's sample, with 12 per cent ammonia, would be worth $28.80 per ton. The per- centage of phosphoric acid is very large, and some buyers might; make allowance for it. These, however, are matters upon which I am hardly competent to give fall information. As a fertilizer, fish guano is used mainly in connection with phos- phates and potash salts. Used alone its effect is generally inferior to that of materials which contain relatively more phosphoric acid and less nitrogen, and it has, on that account, not come into general use among farmers. It is, however, very much employed by manufacturers as an ingredient of mixed fertilizers. Of late nitrate of soda has been very cheap and has reduced (though I presume only temporarily) the de- mand for fish fertilizers. In short, the sample is one of a very high grade of fish guano, and unless I greatly err such material will be in- creasingly in demand in the future. Chemical Laboratory, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., July 9, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 239 I29.-8IVAKI1S CATCDIIVO FISH. [From Forest and Stream.] The writer, who has fished more or less each season for many years, has long- been aware of this habit of snakes taking fish, and after care- ful observation I am firmly convinced that fish furnish a great source of diet to a large portion of the snake family. On Saturday- last, the writer with a companion was fishing for inckerel in the outlet of a pond near this city, and while thus engaged we were treated to a very remarkable exhibition of this habit among snakes. As our boat was slowly paddled along the shore among the lily pads, the writer, who wielded the rod, noticed a large striped perch alarmed at our approach, dart into a small cove, and the next instant there fol- lowed a great commotion in the water. As our boat was moved slightly so as to obtain a better view, we saw a large snake holding the strug- gling perch in its mouth above the water, and making its way slowly to the shore. Scarcely had it reached the bank with its victim when there rushed from some hidden retreat among the bushes another snake, at least a foot longer than the other, and instantly a terrible struggle took place between them for the ftsh. Over each other they rolled and writhed upon the ground. One instant both would be tugging at the fish ; then the fish would lie upon the ground, and over its struggling form the snakes would roll in battle in a desperate contest for the mastery. At last by a mighty effort the larger beat off" the smaller, seized the fish in its mouth, and glided into the water, whereupon the smaller became the attacking party, and another terrible fight took place in the water. At last, as though becoming tired of the unequal combat, the smaller one disengaged itself from the fray, and with a slow, tired motion swam slowly ashore among the bushes when the other, holding his ill-gotten prey at least a foot above the water, went quickly ashore. It was now time for us to show our hand, and picking up a stone each (for we had previously landed so as better to view the fight) we cast them at his snakeship, and he was soon dead. The perch was a fine specimen, 8 inches in length, was in good con- dition, gills bright red, and had the luster in appearance that denoted a healthy condition ; it was quite exhausted by the rough treatment and from being out of the water so long, but after we returned it to the stream, after a few erratic movements, it slowly swam out into deeper water. The snakes were both bluish-black in color on back and sides, belly was a deep bloody-orange color, and the one we killed was 4 feet and 10 inches in length. These snakes were no doubt the common black water-snake {Tropidonatus sipidon), Lowell, Mass., June 19, 1884. 240 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 130.— OCCURREIVCE OF BffiAt K OROUl^ljlR OR JKW FI8II OFF RLOCK By CHAS. ^V. SMILEY. On Thursday, May 15, a strange fisli was seen by the crew of the schooner Carrie E. Parsons, Capt. Albert Greenlow, of Gloucester, Mass,, about 20 miles southeast from Block Island. When seen the fish was near the surface of the water, on its side, Mith the side-fin and tail in motion. The men at first thought it was a sunfish. They rowed up to it in a dory, threw a harpoon into it, and towed it alongside the vessel, when it was taken on board and put in the ice-house. It was easily captured. On arriving at Gloucester, May 17, the captain pre- sented it to the representative of the United States Fish Commission, Capt. S. J. Martin, who telegraphed to Professor Baird for instructions as to its disposition. Captaiu Martin states that no one of the hundreds of j)ersons in Glouce^iter who came to see it could identify it. On Mon- day, 19th, it was packed in ice by the Atlantic Halibut Company and forwarded to Washington by express, where it arrived the next day. It was over 6 feet in length and weighed 300 pounds. On May 21 Pro- fessor Baird replied to Captain Martiii concerning it : " The strange fish referred to in your letter was duly received to-day, in excellent con- dition, and proved to be, as I thought it would, the southern jew-fish, the existence of which much farther north than Florida we have not been aware of. The fish itself is not considered, especially when it is large, very palatable, but this specimen answers a very important pur- pose in fixing its geographical distribution. It will also give us an op- portunity of making a plaster cast. We have had a specimen of about the same size from Florida, but I think not in so good preservation." Tarleton H. Bean, curator of the Department of Fishes of the United States irrational Museum, under date of May 26, 1884, made the follow- ing report upon the specimen : "After having examined the large black grouper which was for- warded from Gloucester last week, I have reached the conclusion that it is Epincphehis nigrittis (Holbrook), a species which Dr. Holbrook, in his Ichthyology of South ^Carolina, published in 18G0, mentioned as be- ing rare and known only in the waters of South Carolina. It has not been known to occur in any waters north of that State, as far as I know. The species is known as the black grouper, and specimens weighing 300 pounds have been recorded before; the example received from Gloucester weighed 300 pounds. A cast and the skeleton have been preserved. The fish had evidently strayed away from its natural habitat, and its presence off Block Island must have been accidental." United States Fish Commission, June, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 241 Vol. IT, ]%o, 16. l^^aslaiisg-toia, I>. C. July SO, 1884. 131.— KIiS*©KT OF A TKB1» EV THE STEAITEEK FB8BS SBAWIfc TO THE SAINT MABVS ANH SAl.^T JOMIV'S BIVEKS TO HATCH JSHAO. By I^icMt. IrT. M, l»¥i>OI>, CoaaBBiaaucIiaag-. I have the honor to report that under present conditions but little can be done in the way of shad propagation on the Saint Mary's Eiver. The stream is narrow, deep, without shoal places, and has stron.^ tidal currents. Its banhs are very steep and overgrown bj^ thickets to the water's edge. The only tishing done is with the bow-net and a very few gill nets. I have only been able to find eight gillers fishing in the few reaches, miles apart, that are comparatively free from snags. On ac- count of snags and the narrowness of the river the longest nets used by these men are only 25 fathoms and some as short as 12 fathoms. They commenced fishing the 1st of January, and the catch to date, for the va- rious gillers, runs from 100 to 700 shad. An average of about eight per day for the best. I have had one gill-net fished every tide since the very day of our ar- rival. The best any one net has done on a tide has been eleven shad and two sturgeon. The ordinary catch is from two to nine. I have also sent spawn takers to overhaul the fish taken by the other gillers who are within reach. Of all the fish we have seen, but a very small number have been ripe ; and never yet have male and female been taken together in proper condi- tion. As the total daily catch of fish is so small the odds are largely against many of both sexes being in proper condition. A few of the few ripe shad taken have been over-riije, but the majority have been as hard as when first caught in the Potomac. While Hamlen was here I took him 25 miles further up the river to overhaul the fish taken in the bow-nets fished there and to try one of our gill-nets. He could not fish the latter on account of snags, and the fish taken in the bow-nets were in the same condition as further down. I have made every effort to use our seine but have at last given it up. We took even less fish in that way than in the gill-nets. There is only one place I could find where it v/as practicable at all, It took two days hard work to partially clear the haul of snags and saw-logs, and in all the hauls we made not one was perfectly clear. The snags could probably be removed in time but even then it would not pay to fish a seine on this river. As the Saint Mary's is so narrow it can only be hauled on slack water, for if laid up or down stream while the tide is running, to cover a part of a reach, it will either be swept into the other bank or below before it can possibly be landed. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 16 242 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Our biggest haul with the seine was four shad. Usually we caught nothing. I doubt whether anj' but gill-nets will ever be used here by proiessional lishermen. The fyke-nets might be used here successfully in place of the bow-nets. The latter are fished in the deep water close to the bank and the fish seem to follow the shore close at certain i)laces, probably look for spawning-beds. A fyke set in these spots would prob- ably take a large number of fish. A firm of Northern fishermen, engaged in shippingshrimpandfishfrom Fernandina, asked me to let them know if it would be possible to haul a seine in the Saint JMary's. If so they Avould fish one next year, but, as stated above, they would not be justified in attemi>tiug it. So far we have not been fortunate enough to secure a single impreg- nated egg, and for the reasons given above I do not think this river will ever be a favorable locality for shad i^ropagatiou. Since the first two days we have taken no sturgeon. The only other fish taken have been one small rock, several gar, a few bream, and some catfish. King's Ferry, Fla., March 26, 1884. I have just returned from Jacksonville, where I went to see if there was au}^ chance for shad work on the Saint John's. There was no chance^there for shad propagation. I consulted the principal fish deal- ers, and they told me that very few shad are now coming in. Much longer nets are fished in the Saint John's than here, but the heaviest catch for the season, from January 1 until now, for one boat, was only 1,100 shad. Mr. Mervin, the largest dealer, spoke vaguely of some lakes way up the Saint John's, where he thought enough spawning fish could be taken in the height of the season to make it an object. He also said that the Saint John's shad are smaller fish than those taken elsewhere. The Saint Mary's shad run as large as those taken North. I have nothing to add to my former report. ■ We have kept up our operations steadily, and have caught about the same number of shad, but still have not been able to get an impregnated egg. King's Ferry, Fla., March 27, 1884. 133.— REC'ONIVAISSAIVCE OF THE 8SIAD FBSMKKIES OF ^VIIVVAAV BAY AI\I> BTS TBlStJTAKBES BV THE STEAITIEK FISBI HAAVK, By l>ieut. W. M. ^VOOD, Conasaaasiding:. After leaving Fernandina, Fla., I proceeded in this vessel to George- town, S. C, to investigate the shad fisheries there, and have the honor to submit the following report : We arrived on the afternoon of the 5th instant. The shad season was found to be about over and most of the fishermen had left. I was fortunate enough to find Mr. E. Barnes still in town. Mr. Barnes is the largest owner of nets and bags, and ships all the fish caught in the vicinity. Accompanied by him I took the launch and went up the BULLETIN OF THP: UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 243 Waccamaw and Pecdee Eivcrs. I also went up the Black River, a tributary of the Pecdee, but only on the t\vo former rivers and Winy aw Bay, into which they empty, is any fishing done. On account of the character of the bottom and banks no seine haul- ing is carried on, and the fishing is entirely by gill-nets. This year about thirty nets were fished, averaging 150 fathoms long, 5^ to 5^ inches mesh, and IG to 18 feet deep. They are not allowed to reach the bottom on account of snags. The average catch this year was about 800 shad per net. Many of the gillers live in flat-boats, moored at convenient localities. Tdr. Barnes's flat is at the junction of Jericho Creek and the Wacca- maw. He fishes three nets, employing nine men, viz., a superintendent, two for each net, a cook, and a marketman, who carries the fish in a small boat to tovrn, 10 miles below. Mr. Barnes says they catch xbiy few ripe fish of either sex, but take a good many " down runners," oj spent fish. He believes all the fish go long distances above the highest fisheries, which are only a short distance from salt water, to spawn. On the headwaters of these rivers, owing to the natural difficulties' and the absence of market facilities, the oulj^ shad caught are taken with bow-nets and short pieces of gill-nets, as on the Saint Mary's, and used for home consumption alone. A great many shad are taken in Winyaw Bay before they leave salt water. The best of the season here is February and March. On the day of my visit to Mr. Barnes's fiat, the 7th instant, his total catch was three shad, and he quit fishing that day. He was paying 30 cents each at first hand for the fish he bought, aud 1 see by the quotations in the Star of the 8th instant that they are being sold in Washington at $25 to $32 per hundred. It is possible that some little work might be done here before the opening of the season further north. There would certainly be more chance of success than in Florida, as tar as my experience goes. I do not think much can be done where the catch of shad is taken by gill- nets, especially as fished in Southern rivers. As a rule comparatively few shad are taken at a drift, and of these the proportion of males and females is rarely equallj" divided. Still more rarely are the two sexes in the proper condition for spawning. Espe- cially is this true where by force of circumstances these nets are fished only in the long, deep reaches of the river and never allowed to fish near the bottom. Consequently it seems to me most of the fish taken are those running up or down from the spawning-beds near the head- waters, where they cannot be caught except in limited numbers by the bow-net, &c. We left Georgetown on the evening of the 7th instant, arriving ofi:' the Chesapeake early on the morning of the 9th, touched at IN'orfolk for a couple of hours, and then proceeded to Washington, D. C, arriving on the evening of this dare. Washington, D. C, April 10, 1884. 244 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 133.— EXTKACTS FKOOT A EEPOKT OF B^fVESTECJATEONS ©F THE SHAS> FSSiaEKSES AIVfi> RIVEKS SOIUTIB OF CMAKS^ESTOIV, S. €., 'iVITia A VIE^V TO ESTABtiBSBIEIVG STATIONS FOK ASiTSFlCIAl. PISOPAGATION. ISy T. B. FERGUISOIV. I arrived iu tlie Lookout at Savannah during the afternoon of March . 20, 1883. The fishermen and fish-dealers in Savannah reported a great scarcity of shad during the season botb in the Savannah and neighbor- ing rivers from which the market derives its sujiply. Shad were sell- ing readily at from $1.50 to $2 jier pair. • In order not to lose time I decided to make the examination of the Saint Mary's Eiver before proceeding to the Saint John's so ran up the river as far as the town of Saint Mary's, a place of about 1,000 inhabi- tants, where we arrived at 4 o'clock, March 21. Engaged a pilot to take the steamer up the river, and left Saint Mary's about an hour later with a strong flood-tide runuing, and reached Clark's Blufi", a distance of about 30 miles, at 7 o'clock. At this point I interviewed Mr. Pierson, who keeps a store at the Bluff, and learned from him that the fish were very plentiful this season, but not so much so as a few years back. He takes an average of 100 shad a day in his gill-net, and in the immediate neighborhood there are a number of gill-nets fished. The hoop-net was iu use at this point a few years ago and many shad were taken in this manner. This net is operated by dragging at the side of the boat. Its use has been almost entirely sui^erseded by the introduction of the gill-net. The nets used at this point were of 5-inch mesh, about 11 feet deep, and 65 yards in length. An admirable location for a haul seine is reported at Brick Landing, about a mile above Clark's Blufl". This reach of the river is a favorite place for the shad, and most of the fishermen of the neighborhood drift their nets in this locality. !No doubt, at small cost, a haul might be cleared and large numbers of shad takeu. Soon after our arrival a drift was made with the gill-net with which the steamer was snpi)lied, and although it was not properly rigged for this special locality several shad nearlj" ripe were taken. The males were quite ripe. We overhauled, in addition, the catch of two other boats, and found males predominat- ing; a few ripe females and spent fish were taken. The water of the river showed G5° F. at this date, indicating a good temperature for shad hatching. A large female sturgeon, measuiing 7 feet 11 inches, with roe fully developed, was taken in our gill-net. A few miles up the river is King's Ferry, which is 8 miles from the station of the Jacksonville division of the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railroad. We learned that a tramwaj^ runs from the station to this point. ISTo doubt, this would be a good locality to establish a station either with the Lookout or Fish Hawk, unless, i^erhaps, it was BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 245 found advisable to select a railroad crossing', which is some twenty-five miles further up the river. We heard all the eveuiuj,^ the shad " splash- ing" around the steamer. Had we been provided with hatching- ai)pa- ratus, no doubt a large number of eggs could have been i^rocured at this time in the immediate vicinity. Being satisfied from the interviews had with several of the residents of the neighborhood that good shad-hatching work could be done at this station or further ui^ the river, I determined to proceed with the investigation of the Saint John's River, so got under way at G.30 a, m,, on the 22d, and reached Saint Mary's after one or two stoi)s on the river, at 12 m. Eeached the Saint John's sea-buoy at 3.30 p. m. Taking a pilot we crossed the bar at almost extreme low water, the steamer draw- ing a few inches over o feet. Stop])ing at Mayport, which is situated on the right bank of the Saint John's Eiver near its mouth, for the purpose of taking in wood, w^e se- cured some excellent oysters from the waters near by. Leaving May- port, we ran up to Jacksonville, reaching that city at 7 ]). m. Observed on the way up many gill-nets set for shad. The fishermen generally complain of the scarcity of fish. Saw several nets overhauled without capturing a single shad. The most important fisheries of the Saint John's Kiver lie between Jacksonville and Mayport, and gill-nets are ex- clusively used. Yellow Bluff', a small settlement below Jacksonville, is the center of the shad fishing on the river. The fish taken at this point are shiiJi^ed to Jacksonville, and there marketed or reshipped Xorth. As the principal portion of shad taken in this river areca})tiued in salt water, there is no opportunity afforded of securing eggs in large num- bers, the spawn being in an immature condition. On the 23d we visited the market at Jacksonville and had an inter- view w'ith Mr. Sullivan, the principal fish-dealer of the town, and learned from him that the fish were generally received about 9 o'clock from the points down the river ; that none came to the market from up the river. On this day, Friday, March 23, 184 shad were received. On overhaul- ing these we found that at least two-thirds were females, and the eggs apparently about a week or ten days from maturity. The fish were of good size. We were informed hy Mr. Sullivan that the fish examined represented the catch of nine nets of 150 fathoms in length. These nets were of 5-inch mesh and 15 feet deep. It was his opinion that shad w^ere getting more and more scarce every year. Up to that date last season he had shipped 35,000 shad ; this year only 10,000. He was of the oi)inion that by the last of the month the fish would be found ripe ; but I would exceedingly doubt our ability to find eggs in a sufficiently advanced stage taken anywhere in the neighborhood of the mouth of the river where the water is very salt. The males were sell- ing at about 80 cents per pair, and the roe shad at $1. Mr. Sullivan attributes the falling off in the catch to the closing of the mouth of the river by the jetties recently .constructed by the Engineer Department, 246 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. and also to the great numbers of sharks and porpoises which are fre- quently seen in the narrow channel of the river. The shad in their uii- gratiou are met by great numbers of their enemies and are driven away. We got under way at 11.15, from Jacksonville bound for Palatka, which point we reached at 4.15 in the afternoon. At this point I had an interview with S. J. Keynolds, of Lowell, Mass., wlio had been for years a mackerel fisher, sailing from the port of Gloucester. I learned from him that he had fished several years in the Saint John's. This year he operated eleven nets, 5-iuch mesh, 50 meshes deep, and from 175 to 210 fathoms long. Two of these nets were now operated at Welaka several miles up the river. According to law, fishing commences on the Saint John's on December 1, and closes on April 1. He had not seen a ripe shad this season. I learned that Mr. J. W. Merian, of New York City, operated seven nets of about 150 ftvthoms long at Palatka; that W. B. Cross, a native of the State, operated two nets of about 200 fiithoms. These were all the nets fished in the neigborhood of this city. I caused the nets, five in all, that were being fished that night on the river, to be ovei hauled and only 8 shad w^re taken ; they were all females, with eggs immature. At P'llatka we secured the services of James Garret, colored, as pilot for th*^ upper river, and sailed for Lake Monroe on the 24th. At George- town T caused five nets to be overhauled and found that they were of 4-inch mesh, too small for shad. One channel bass and several m.ullet and black bass were taken during our stop at this point. The fishermen thought that shad could betaken in considerable numbers at this point, but there were no nets fished for them this year. Last year they re- ported that they were captured in some abundance in water no more than 2 feet deep. Finding 5.^ feet on Velusia Bar, we had no difBculty in reaching the upj)er river, i^oticing the black bass jumping in the river just above Lake Barefoot, we stopped for two hours and took some nineteen with the lly. They were fat and in exceedingly fine condition. Proceeding up the river, we reached Sanford at 8 p. m., Avith windblov.ing hard from the southeast. On going ashore I learned that there were only two fisher- men operating in Lake Monroe. Mr. Alonzo Gitson fished two nets on the upper bar, one 50 and the other 25 f\ithoms ; and Mr. John West fished the lower bar with two nets of 50 fathoms each. The average catch was from 30 to 40 shad a night, the maximum of the season being 00 shad. They reported that they had taken ripe shad some time previous. Those I caused to be examined were within three or four days of being ripe. The usual market price was 50 cents per pair. Having learned that there was little prospect of establishing a hatch- ing station on Lake Monroe, we left Sanford at 6.55 on the morning of the 25tb, and droi)ped down the river to Blue Spring, reachiiig there at 9.20. Found black bass exceedingly plentiful at this point. With two rods, fishing exclusively with the fly, 40 were taken in a short BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 247 time, the largest weigbiug 5 ponuds. Seeing a large number of fish at the point where the water from the Blue Spring enters the Saint John's Elver, we set the seine around them. The bass, however, jumped over the cork line and none were taken. Some GOO catfish, measuring from 12 to 25 inches, were taken in the net, and these were fish that could not readily be shaken out, as they had become entangled i.i the meshes, the men in hauling the net having endeavored to get rid of the same by shaking them out. The fish con- gregate around the entrance to this spring in immense numbers, pos- sibly attracted by the sulphur of its waters. At many j^oints on the river large numbers of shad might be taken, but the present plenty of gar and catfish in this river, judging from the experience obtained at those points where special examination was made, would render it almost impossible to fish for shad without having the nets destroyed by these fish. We left Blue Spring on the 2Gth, and after leaving pilot at Palatka proceeded down the river. Chief Boatswain's Mate Hanilen reports that in the morning before sailing he could see the catfish in immense numbers in the sulphur water just where the spring creek enters the Saint John's. During the day spent at Sulphur Spring, while playing two black bass that I had hooked on the rod at the mouth of Snake Creek, a small alligator, apparently about 4 feet long, took hold of one of the fish close alongside the boat, and before it could be frightened away left the marks of its teeth on the fish. At S p. m., it becoming very dark and blowing fresh from the northwest, we anchored for the night ofl' Magnolia. On the 27th we proceeded down the river, and after a short stop at Jacksonville reached its mouth in the afternoon. Having been informed that large numbers of sheepshead were being taken in the neighborhood of Saint Augustine in the Matauzas River, near Matanzas Inlet, we sailed on the 28th for Saint Augustine, which we reached at 2 p. m. At Saint Augustine I learned from Mr. Alex. Iwanowski, an intel- ligent river pilot, that we were a little early to procure ripe sheeps- head, and that it was doubtful whether the Lookout could bo taken through the Matanzas River. I learned from him that sheepshead were taken a little later in the season in large quantities near the inlet, both north and south of it; that numbers of channel bass and drum could also be taken at this point. The water had been so abnormally cold this season that the fish were late in coming to the inlet. It was his opinion that spawning sheepshead could be readily iirocured in the Matanzas River a little later in the season. The Lookout was ordered to return to Washington for service in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, at which point she arrived on April 19, after having been detained by bad weather on the w^ay. As imperfect as the investigations of the shad fisheries of the southern coast were, they satisfied me that Saint Mary's River should be selected 248 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. as the basis of operatious during the next season, and that operations may be carried on in this liver on a sufficient scale to warrant its being occupied. No doubt- in ordinary seasons ripe shad will be taken on this river early in March, and with a floating hatchery, such as the Fish Hawk or the Lookout, equipped with gill-nets sucb as are now used in the Saint Mary's Elver, and one or two haul seines, a large number of young- fish can be produced before the season commences in the waters in the immediate vicinity of Washington. The facilities for transporting the young fish to other rivers of the South are ample, as the station may be located on the river within reach of the crossing of the Jacksonville division of the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railroad, and by the roads intersecting with the Fernan- dina and Jacksonville Eailroad. An experimental station should be established on the Saint Mary's River during the coming season, and it should be ready for operations by the 1st of March. I would recommend, in addition, if Saint Mary's is selected as the river for our future operations at the South, that large numbers of young shad and herring be transported from the stations near Washington and deposited in the Saint Mary's, in order to more quickly increase the supply of shad in this river, and enable us to secure the adult fish in larger numbers in tlie future. Washington, D. C, June 15, 1883. 134.— XOTE ON THE 5JESTKUCTION OF MACKEKEBL, BSY i>©«FISH. By Capt. 3. W, COI.I.INS. Capt. Joseph Smith, of Gloucester, Mass., tells me that while off Wood Island, Maine, in August, 1880, he observed what he supposed to be at first a moderate-sized school of mackerel at the surface of the water. On closer inspection, however, he found that only a small num- ber were mackerel, probably not exceeding more thanhalf or three-fourths of a barrel, and these were completely surrounded by an immense school of dog-fish. The body of dogfish was formed in such a manner as to in- close the mackerel on all sides and underneath, completely preventing their escape. Captain Smith had an opportunity of observing the mack- erel closely, and says that many of them, he noticed, were bitten by the dogfish, some being deprived of their tails, and others having wounds on their sides. He is of the opinion that every one of the mackerel was ultimately eaten by the dogfish. It is probable, he thinks, that at first a much larger body of mackerel was surrounded. The school of dogfish he estimated to contain at least enough for one hundred barrels. Another school of dogfish surrounding a small body of mack- erel was seen on the same day. Washington, D. C, July 7, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 249 135. -NOTES OIV THE FISHERIES OF C£,OU€ESTER, MASS. By S. J. MAKTIl^. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Mackerel. — The following Gloucester vessels arrived at Kew York yesterday with good fares of small mackerel, which sold at $1 per hundred, namely : Schooners Golden Hind, 80 barrels ; E. L. Eowe, 90 ; Henri y. Woods, CO; Electric Light, 70; Ethel Maud, 125; J. E. Gar- land, 100 ; Goldsmith Maid, 80 ; Martha C, 100 ; Addison Center, 80 ; Henry Dennis, 100 ; also schooner Elsie Smith, of Portland, 150 bar- rels. Gloucester, Mass., April 4, 1884. Summary.— From April 1, 1884, to date there have been fifty arrivals from George's Bank with an average of 18,000 pounds of cod and 400 pounds of halibut to a vessel ; twenty arrivals from Western Bank with small fares averaging 23,000 pounds of salt cod and 7,000 pounds of halibut to a vessel ; and twehe arrivals from Grand Bank with an average of 31,000 pounds of fresh halibut to a vessel. Mackerel. — The mackerel fleet has not done well, the catch being small. Some of the vessels were ten days in getting to market, and their cargoes had to be thrown away, as the mackerel were spoiled. It takes from 800 to 1,000 mackerel to fill a barrel. The greater part of the mackerel has been caught 30 miles southeast of Hog Island. Gloucester has eighty sail engaged in the fishery. Most of them bring their mackerel to market fresh. The weather out south has been rough up to the present time. Nine- teen seine-boats have been lost and some vessels have been badly damaged. Gloucester, Mass., Aiyril 13, 1884. SUiMMARY. — Last week there were forty-two arrivals from George's Bank with light fa'res, averaging 14,000 pounds of salt cod and 300 pounds of fresh halibut to a vessel ; twelve arrivals from Western Bank, averaging 35,000 pounds of salt cod and 5,000 pounds of fresh halibut to a vessel; and 3 arrivals from the Banks with fresh halibut. Halibut. — The number of vessels engaged in halibut fishing is larger than last year, there being an addition of four vessels each from Glou- cester and Portland. Mr. Samuel Pool, of the Atlantic Halibut Com- pany, of Gloucester, Mass., is at Halifax buying halibut and shipping them to Boston. Herring. — Herring appeared on the coast on April 15, and were schooling from Eace Point, Cape Cod, to Thatcher's Island, going east. A school of small mackerel was seen 4 miles southeast of Chatham on 250 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. April 15. There were twenty-five vessels in New York with fresh mack- erel, three-fourths of which were small and sold as low as $1 per thou- sand. Some of the mackerel caught were so small that the fishermen threw them away. Three fares that were carried in last week were large fish and sold for a good price. Gloucester, Mass., A^yril 20, 1884. Summary. — Last week there were eighteen arrivals from George's Bank, averaging 13,000 pounds of salt cod and a few halibut to a vessel; seven arrivals from Western Banks, averaging 45,000 pounds of salt cod and 3,000 pounds of halibut to a vessel ; three arrivals from the Banks, averaging 28,000 pounds of salt cod to a vessel ; and four arrivals from the shore grounds, with average fares of 5,000 pounds of mixed fish to a vessel. There were 15,000 gallons of cod oil brought from In ova Scotia by freight last week for Gloucester parties. Gloucester, Mass., April 27, 1884. Monthly Sumimary. — The number of pounds of codfish lauded at Gloucester during the month of April, 1884, vras 2,000,000 less than April, 1883. The fishing at Western Bank this year was a failure. The amount of fish landed at Gloucester during the month of April was as follows : George's Bank cod, 1,802,000 pounds; George's halibut, 59,240 pounds; Western Bank cod, 1,210,000 pounds ; V/estern Bank halibut, 109,000 pounds; GrandBankshalibut,538,000 pounds; shore cod, 172,000 pounds; haddock, 220,000 pounds; frozen herring, 100,000 pounds; fresh herring, 25 barrels ; salt herring, 433 barrels ; mixed fish by freight from Maine, 500 quintals ; and 533,000 pounds of large cod caught in nets in Ipswich Bay. There were 15,863 gallons of cod oil landed from Newfoundland. Pollock. — Two schooners arrived at Gloucester this morning with 70,000 pounds of pollock. These fish were caught with seine 4 miles from Chatham, and were the first fish of the kind caught this season. Mackerel. — Schooner Henry Denois arrived from the south with 280 barrels of mackerel, the first that have been brought here this sea- son. Captain McClaiu thinks the prospect fine for a good catch. Gloucester, Mass., May 4, 1884. Summary. — During the past week there have been twenty-seven ar- rivals from George's Bank with small fares of 12,000 pounds of codfish to a vessel ; five arrivals from Western Bank, averaging 35,000 pounds of codfish to a vessel ; five fares from the Banks, averaging 20,000 pounds of fresh halibut; and six arrivals from Chatham, aggregating 200,000 l)ounds of pollock, caught with seines. Mackerel. — The outlook for the mackerel fishery is hopeful, the others dull. Two vessels arrived from Boston yesterday, one with 300 barrels and the other with 400 barrels of mackerel. Mackerel sold yes- terday for $6 a barrel, and last Monday, for $8.50 a barrel. Gloucester, Mass., May 11, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 251 Summary. — During the past week there have been sixty-three arrivals from George's Bank, with small fares, averaging 13,000 pounds of salt cod and 400 pounds of halibut to a vessel; five arrivals with fresh halibut, averaging 40,000 pounds to a vessel ; twelve arrivals Avith pol- lock, aggregating 455,000 pounds ; and nine arrivals with salt mackerel, landing 1,374 barrels. Seven arrivals from the shore fisheries landed 140,000 pounds of mixed fish. The pollock were caught with seine from 3 to 4 miles off Chatham. The first mackerel that were caught last year this side of Cape Cod was on May IS. On May 14 of this year 20 barrels of large mackerel were caught with seine. Herring and Salmon.— There have beeu 70 bairels of herring caught in traps, aud 1 salmon, weighing 12f i^ounds, cauglit in a trap at Kettle Island. Gloucester, Mass., May 18, 1884. Black Grouper. — I will send you Monday morning for identifica- tion a strange fish,* said to measure o feet in length, but actually meas- uring over 6 feet. The fish when seen was on its side, with its side fin at the surface of the water, and was thought to be a sunfish. It was easily captured. Xo one of the hundreds of persons who have been here to see the fish have been able to identify its genus and species. I hope to hear from you concerning its identity. Gloucester, Mass., 21ay 18, 1884. The strange fish was caught 20 miles southeast from Block Island. The fish when seen was on its side with side-fin and tail in motion. When seen the men thought it was a sunfish ; they rowed up to it in a dory, threw a harpoon into it, and towed it alongside the vessel, where it was taken on board and put in the ice-house. The fisli was cauglit Thursday, May 15, schooner Carrie E. Parsons, Capt. Albert Greenlow. There is no expense on the fish except the box. The Atlantic Halibut Company gave me the ice. The captain asked me if I could get him the history- of the mackerel fishery and one of the last bulletins. If you will send them to me I will forward them to Captain Greenlow when the vessel is in. I am glad the fish was in good order when it arrived in Washington. Gloucester, Mass., May 25, 1884. Summary. — During the past week there have been thirty-nine ar- rivals from George's Banks, landing an aggregate of 980,000 pounds of codfish ; thirteen arrivals from the Banks, aggregating 220,000 pounds of fresh halibut, and 980 barrels of salt mackerel landed by ten vessels. There have also been landed during the past week 70,000 pounds of haddock, 75,000 pounds of shore fish, and 198,000 pounds of pollock. * Identified by Dr. T. H. Besm as Spin ephel us nigritns. Weighing 300 pounds. (See his statement, page 240.) 252 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Halibut. — The vessels fishing on George's Banks are doing well. There are thirty-one vessels engaged in halibut fishing. Gloncester has a large fleet in the business. Fresh halibut sold last week at 3^ cents per pound. Mackerel. — Ninety sail of the mackerel fleet are ofi" Chatham, where large mackerel, full of spawn, are caught. Five hundred barrels of mackerel that were caught in weirs were shipped from Nova Scotia last week. The mackerel that are caught at Nova Scotia are also large. The first mackerel caught in weirs at Nova Scotia last year was on May 20 against May 16, this year. Most of the vessels of the southern mack- erel fleet are at home. They did not make large catches. The 340 barrels of herring caught in traps last week were sold to the fisihermen for bait. Menhaden. — The following extract is from the Boston Daily Adver- tiser, of Friday morning, May 23, 1884 : "A correspondent says that Mount Hope Bay and Taunton Eiver have been visited by a tremendous mass of menhaden, the like of v.hich has not been reported for a long time. They came unexpectedly, as few had been noticed till recently. This irruption of menhaden may, perhaps, account for the sudden departure of the scup. They abound all over the bay, but generally move in immense schools, one of which was playing around the piers of the iron railway bridge, and made the river below the bridge, in some places, almost solid. Captain Springer, an old fisherman employed at the draw, estimated the school at the bridge to contain 1,0U0 barrels at least. Capt. C. C. Winslow, who passed up from below with the fishing schooner Peuekese, reports that Seconet Eiver, below the Stone Bridge and Gould Island, is almost solid with menhaden." Gloucester, Mass., May 24, 1884. Salmon. — A salmon weighing 21^ pounds was caught in a trap at Kettle Island on May 21. Gloucester, Mass., May 24, 1884. Monthly Summary. — During the month of May there were one hundred and sixty-two arrivals from George's Banks, landing 2,724,000 pounds of salt codfish, and 82,000 i)ounds of halibut ; thirteen arrivals from Western Bank, landing 1,120,000 pounds of salt codfish and 69,420 i^ouuds of fresh halibut ; twenty-six arrivals from the Banks, land- ing 594,000 pounds of halibut ; and twenty arrivals with 436,000 pounds of shore fish, one-fourth each of cod, haddock, hake, and cusk. There were also the following arrivals : Twenty-six arrivals with 1,055,000 pounds of pollock f twenty-eight arrivals with 3,780 barrels of salt mackerel. There were 392 barrels of herring and 132,000 pounds of haddock caught in trajjs in the harbor last month. The pollock were caught with seine off Chatham. In May of last year 500,000 pounds of cod- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 253 fish were lauded (loni Cape North, while none have been hinded this 3'oar, tlie ice preventing the vcss barrels of n)ackerel imported from Nova Scotia. Mackeeel. — We have sixt}^ sail of mackerel-catchers on the Nova ^ Scotia coast, and they extend from Cape Sable to Cape Canso. Some of the vessels have done well, but all of them were late in reaching the Nova Scotia shore. A large btsdy of mackerel passed to the eastward before the arrival of the vessels. The first mackerel caught at Cape 254 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Sable this year was on May 14, and on last year June 12. Mackerel have been going by Cape Sable for four Aveeks, and are still passing. A large body passed down the ISTova Scotia shore. Contrary to the ex- pectations of the fishermen, the ice did not prevent the mackerel from entering the Bay of Saint Lawrence. In 1840 the ice was so late in leaving the Bay of Saint Lawrence that the vessels could not get to the Menhaden Islands before June 1. The catch of mackerel that year was very large. To-day I went on board of the schooner Lizzie Jones, which arrived from Cape ^North, Cape Breton Island, and ascertained from the cap- tain that on JuneO the ice came down 8 miles from the shore. He says there M'ere large schools of mackerel between the ice and the shore. The Nova Scotia vessels which go to the Magdalen Lslando to set their nets for mackerel arrived there June 10,- and found jjlenty of mackerel at Pleasant Bay. Some mackerel were taken from traps at Prince Ed- ward's Island on June 11. Most of the mackerel fleet will go to North Bay; some of them are now at Cape North. There are no large mack- erel on this coast, and the vessels will not catch small ones, as there is no sale for them. The schooner Chocorua arrived from the southeast part of George's Banks, and reports plenty of mackerel schooling in 45 fathoms of water. Gloucester, Mass., June 15, 1884. . Summary. — During the past week there were landed at Gloucester 1,290,000 pounds of cod ; 95,000 pounds fresh halibut; 120,000 pounds of hake, haddock, cask, and i)olIock; 2,018 barrels of mackerel, caught oft' Newfoundland ; and 740 barrels of mackerel from Nova Scotia, caught in weirs. Mackerel. — Large mackerel are scarce here, but small mackerel are abundant from Block Island to the Bay of Fuudy. Most of the mackerel fleet has gone to the Bay of Saint Lawrence, though but few fish are caught there as yet. Three vessels have just arrived from the Nova Scotia coast with salt mackerel. Captain Jones says that the fishermen aronnd Halifax say that they never before saw so many mackerel pass down the Nova Scotia coast as this spring. Captain Jacobs thinks that the lateness of the ice in the Saint Lawrence has caused many of the mackerel to go to the Newfoundland coast. Squid are abundant, the weii's being full of them at North Truro. The George's Bank fishermen use them for bait. Dogfish are plentiful. Four fares of small mackerel arrived to-day, three fares being from the Nova Scotia coast. The small mackerel are hardly worth catching. They sold yesterday for $3.25 a barrel, including the barrel. Large No. 3 sold for $9 a barrel, including the barrel (worth about 80 cents). Gloucester, Mass., June 22, 1884. Monthly Summary. — The amount of fish landed at Gloucester dur- ing June is as follows : There were one hundred and forty -five arrivals BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 255 from George's Bank, lauding 3,470,000 pounds of salt cod and 89,130 pounds of fresh balibut ; twenty-three arrivals from Western Bank, landing 1,888,000 pounds of salt cod and 31,000 pounds of fresh hali- but. There were 185,000 pounds of salt cod landed from Cape North; 100,000 i30unds of salt cod and 18,000 i^ounds of salt halibut from Flem- ish Cap; 1,000,000 pounds of shore fish, being mixed half cod and half hake and cusk ; 575,800 pounds of fresh halibut, caught on the Banks ; and 203,000 pounds of pollock, caught with seines off Chatham. Mackerel. — The mackerel landed during June is as follows : Caught on the New England coast, 12,058 barrels ; caught on the Nova Scotia coast with seines, 2,000 barrels. Four arrivals from the Nova Scotia coast brought 130,000 pounds of salt cod and 00,000 pounds of haddock. From the Nova Scotia coast there have been imported to Boston 23,000 barrels of salt mackerel, most of this amount having been caught in weirs. Gloucester, ]\Iass., July 2, 1884. 136 CATCmrVO AIiElVIV£8 AVflXR HOOKS BA1TE» tVITH ££1^8. By A. K. CRITTEI^fDEN. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.*] While crossing the bridge over the Medomak Eiver at Waldoboro', Me., this forenoon, I noticed on the bank of the river belov,' some twenty or more boys fishing with rod and line, and evidently having good luck, as about every second some one drew out a fish. The fish looked like alewives, but as I had never known them to be taken with baited hooks I came to the conclusion that they were large smelts. On going down to the bank and investigating I found them to be indeed alewives, and I found the bait the boys were using to be live eels, from two and a half to three inches long, which they hooked in the center of the body, leav- ing them to wriggle at will. In some cases the hook would hardly strike the water before an alewife would be fast to it. One boy had taken over a hundred, and the others had various stocks. I asked the boys how they learned that they could catch them with eels, and all the answer I gained was that, "the boys told them they could.'' I found that the river was alive with alewives. Men were taking them with dip nets at the fish-way, in the dam just abovcthe bridge. I observed that hundreds of young eels were making their way up the fish-way, and when an alewife broke water among them they scat- tered as though frightened. Possibly this fact led the boys to think they were eating the eels, and were thus induced to try them for bait. The alewives were decidedly frisky-, some of them at times jumping several *This letter having been referred to Hon. Theodore Lymau, he states "that on Cape Cod alewives are often taken with shrimp bait or with artificial fly." — Editor. 256 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. iuclies flit of the water, Tilietber to catcli guats or for mere sport I am unable to say. I remarked to one of the men dipping' them that he was taking a good fare, and iie replied that what 1 now sav/ was not a "ilea bite" to what was taken last year, when a man and liis son dip})ed 70,000 from that very jdace in a single day, he being "high liner" for 1883. This method of taking alewives with eels was entirely new to me, and thinking possibly it might also be so to you I venture to ad- iress you in relation to it. Knox Hotel, Thomaston, Me., 3Tay 10, 1884. 137.— ©JV TSaE CUI^TBVATIOIV OF SOFT.SiBEI.Ii CKABS. By. CMAS5I.es C, l^ESl^lE. In our harbor and along our coast are found millions of the common blue sea-crab, and I have for the past two years been considering why it is that, with the number that are to be found here, we cannot get a supply of soft-shell crabs. The same crabs are found along the coast of Maryland and other States adjacent, and yet I have hunted and failed to tind many. At one time I found three and at another tiir.e four. But in no instance have I fofind a half dozen, even after hunting a whole day. I would be greatly obliged to you if you would kindly tell me if there is any artificial way by which 1 could secure a suppl3\ CHARLESTOiSr, S. C, Ajjril 24, 1884. liEPLT BY professor BAIRD. If you have the same blue crab (which I jiresume to be the case) as the one furnishing the -'soft-shells" of the Chesapeake Bay, there is no reason why you should not find them in this condtion, which is merely their state after the old shell has been thrown off and the new one is being formed. You might try the experiment of penning up the crabs in a shoal I)ond, fed by the tide, into which small fish and other marine refuse can be brought by the tide through a grating. By taking flat stones, bundles of brush, or other substances of a sim- ilar character, and laying them over the bottom, you furnish a refuge under which the crabs can crawl. By lifting up these branches from time to time you can find the crabs under them. This process has, I belie^'e, been actually made the subject of a pat- ent, but the inventor is dead, and the patent, probably, has long since run out. Of course the defenceless crabs are readily devoured by their stronger relations, and it is therefore advisable to keep them where they can be properly protected from such destruction. Washington, J). C, A2ml 26, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 257 Vol. IV, Tlo. 1 7. Washington, ». C. Jsaly 30, 188i. 138.— A FIHH-EATIIVC; I»t.ANT. By G. E. SIMMS, Jr. [In the Fishing Gazette, May 31, 1884,] I have recently discovered amongst the aquatic weeds placed in my aquarium, where I have also a large number of newly-hatched perch and roach, a novel and unexpected enemy to the pisciculturist in the bladder traps of Utricularia vuJgaris^ which is capable of catching and killing young fry. My attention was first drawn to it by observing that several of the tiny fish, without any apparent cause, were lying dead on the weeds, while the rest of the brood looked perfectly healthy and in good condi- tion. At first I was somewhat puzzled at the strange position in which thay were lying, and in trying to move one with a small twig I was still more surprised to find it was held fast by the head, in what I thought, when I pulled the plant from the water, were the seed vessels; and a still closer examination revealed the strange fact that others of the little fish had been trapped by the tail, and in one or two instances the head and tail of the same fish had been swallowed by adjacent bladders, thus forming with its body a couDecting bar between the two. At first I was undecided how to act, for I could bring to memory no instance in which I had seen the existence of a piscivorous plant — i. e., one preying on vertebrates — recorded in any book I had ever read, and I was unwilling to make such an assertion without the opinion of some one better capable of forming a judgment on the subject than myself; so I placed one or two good specimens in a glass jar and went to the Museum, where I was fortunate enough to see Professor Moseley, who immediately verified my suspicions. According to Bentham's Handbook of British Flowering Plants, the Utricularia vulgaris, or greater bladderwort, is widely distributed over Britain, and although it is local, yet where it is found it grows luxuri- antly, seldom appearing in the rivers, but chiefly confining its presence to still ponds and deep ditches, the places where it is most likely to work mischief to the young fry. A peculiar fact in connection with it is that it has no roots at any time of its life, and the floating, root-like branches which are covered with numerous capillary and much divided leaves are interspersed with tiny green vesicles, which were supposed by a former school of botanists to be filled with water, by which means the j^lant was kept at the bot- tom until tlie time of flowering, when the water gave place to air, and the plant then rose to the surface to allow its bloom to expand. As a matter of fact, these vesicles exercised no such function, their Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 17 258 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. real work beiug to entrap minute crustaceans, worms, larvae, &c., for its snpjiort, and without a good supply of wLich it is impossible to keep it alive in an aquarium. Their form is that of a flattened ovoid sac, or, in other words, when seen under a low-power microscope, they are precisely like a human stomach, and tbey are attached at their hinder extremities each by a very short and fine pedicle or foot-stalk in the axil of the leaves. Each, too, has an opening at the opposite free extremity, somewhat quadrangular in outline, from either side of which i^roject two branched processes, called by Mr. Darwin antennae. In fact, I do not suj)pose they could have received a more appropriate name, because in appearance the whole bladder intimately resembles an eutomostracan crustacean, the s^hort footstalk representing the tail. On either side of the quadrangular entrance several long bristles pro- ject outwards, and these bristles, together with the branches of the antennae, form a sort of hollow cone surrounding the entrance, and there cannot be the slightest doubt that they act as a guide for the prey. The entrance is closed by a valve, which being attached above slopes into the cavity of the bladder, and is attached to it on all sides except at its posterior or lower margin, which is free, and forms one side of the slit-like opening leading into the bladder. Differing materially from the color of the bladder itself, which is of a brilliant green, the valve is colorless and transparent, and is extremely flexible and elastic. Animals enter the bladders by bending inwards the posterior free edge of the valve, which, from being highly elastic, shuts again imme- diately. The edge is extremely thin and fits closely against the edge of the collar, both projecting into the bladder, and it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for any animal to escape, although I have observed a long ■worm do so at the expense of a part of its body ; yet, as a rule, it is a case of " all who enter here lose hope." To show how closely the edge fits, it was found that a daphnia, which had inserted its antennte into the slit, was held fast a whole day, and on other occasions long narrow larvse, both dead and alive, were seen wedged between the valve and the collar with their bodies half in and half out the vesicle. When a fish is caught, the head is usually ]mshed as far into the blad- der as possible till the snout touches the hinder wall. The two black e^es of the fish then show out conspicuously through the wall of the bladder. So far as is known, there is no digestive process in Utricularia neither is there any sensibility to irritation. Mr. Darwin was unable to detect either, his opinion being that whatever nutriment the plant obtained from its prey was by absorption of the decaying matter, and it would appear that the longer of the two i)airs of projections compos- ing the quadrifld i)rocesses by which the vesicles are lined, which pro- BULLETIN OF TffE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 2.')9 ject obliquely inwards and towards the end of the bladder, acts, together with the spring valves at the mouth of the bladder, in utilizing each fresh struggle of the captive for the purpose of pushing it further in- wards. If any of my readers wish tor specimens of this interesting l)lant I shall be enabled in a few days to forward them at a very nom- inal cost. Of its destructive powers all I can say is, that out of 150 newly- hatched perch placed in a glass vessel only one or two were alive two days subsequently, and I hope in a few days to be in a position to speak of its powers en natura. I must also tender my hearty thanks to Professor Moseley for his un- selfish kindness and courtesy in furnishing? me with notes and all neces- sary information, at a time when his hands are lull with this term's work, and any one who knows rightly the duties of an Oxford professor will agree with me that the position is an arduous one. Such men as Professor Moseley are few and lar between, for, like fishermen, I find that among scientific men there is an amount of jealousy which ought not to exist, and I therefore regard the action of Mr. Moseley in this matter with such feelings of gratitude as are not easily obliterated. 37 Broad street^ Oxford, England. 139.— A CARIVITOnOUS I»t,ANT PREYINC OIV VERTETBKATA. By Prof. H. Hi. MOSELEY. [From Nature, May 22, 1884.] An interesting discovery has been made during the last week by Mr. G. E. Simms, son of a well-known tradesman of Oxford. It is that the bladder-traps of Utricularia vulgaris are capable of catching newly- hatched fish and killing them. Mr. Simms brought to me for examina- tion a specimen of Utricular lava, a glass vessel, in which were numerous young roach newly hatched from a mass of spawn lying at the bottom. ]^umbers of these young fish were seen dead, held fast in the jaws of the bladder-traps of the plant. I had never seen Utricularia before, and am indebted to my colleague, Prof. Burdon Sanderson, for the iden- tification of the plant and a reference to Cohn's research on it. Mr. Simms supplied me with a fresh specimen of Utricularia in a vessel with fresh young fish and spawn, and in about six hours more than a dozen of the fish were found entrapped. Most are caught by the head, and when this is the case the head is usually pushed as far into the bladder as possible till the snout touches its hinder wall. The two dark black eyes of the fish then show out conspicuously through the wall of the bladder. Rarely a specimen is seen caught only by the tip of the snout. By no means a few of the fish are, however, captured by the tail, which is swalli)wed, so to speak, to a greater or less distance, and I have one specimen in which the fish is caught by the yelk sac. Three or four instances were observed in which a fish had its head swallowed by one 260 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSiON. bladder-trap and its tail by another adjacent one, the bodj' of the fish forming a connecting bar between the two bladders. I havenot been able to see a fish in the actual process of being trapped, nor to find one recently caught, and showing by motion of the forepart of its body signs of life. All those trapped were found already dead, but I have had no opportunity of prolonged observation, and it will be remembered that Mr. Darwiu in his" account of the trapping of Crus- tacea, worms, &c., by Utricuhrria, states that he was not able to ob- serve the actual occurrence of the trapping of an animal, although Mrs. Treat, of New Jersey, often did so. I tliinlv it probable that the fact described by Mr. Darwin, and which is easily verified, that the longer of the two pairs of projections composing the quadrifid processes by which the bladders of UtricuJaria are lined "project obliquely in- wards and towards the posterior end of the bladder," has something to do with mechanism by which the small fiyh become so deeply swal- lowed, so to speak. The oblique processes, set all towards the hinder end of the bladder, look as if they must act together with the spring valves of the mouth of the bladder iu utilizing each fresh struggle of the captive for the purpose of ])ushing it further and further inwards. On cutting open longitudinally some of the bladders containing the heads and forei^arts of the bodies of fish and examining their contents, I found the tissues of the fish in a more or less slimy deliquescent con- dition, no doubt from decomposition, for Mr. Darwin failed to detect any digestive process in Utricularia. The quadrifid processes were bathed iu the slimy semi-fluid animal substance, and the ])rocess(S themselves appeared to contain abundance of fine gianuhir matter, possibly the re- sult of absorption, but the large quantity of surrounding animal matter present rendered the observation uncertain. The usual swarms of in- fusoria were present in the decomposing matter. Specimens of the Utricularia with the little fish fast in the bladder- trap, and their heads or tails hanging out, can be well preserved iu spirits, and show the conditions well, notwithstanding that the i^lant becomes colorless, and there is no longer the marked contrast between the glistening white dead fisli and the green bladders, which in the fresh condition rend« rs the combination of the trap and ))rey conspicuous. Mr. Simms, by whose permission 1 write this, intends shortly to pub- lish an account of his observations himself. I have advised him to en- deavor to prepare spirit specimens of Utricularia ])lants with nunierous trapped fish in situ for sale to those interested in the matter who my care to apply for them.* His address is 37 Broad street, Oxford. * Specimens of the entrapped fisli were received from Professor Moseley by 1 lie United States Fish Commission June 'J, and arc deposited in the National Museum. The Utricularia is a large, rootless, water-plant, which lloats freely iu the watei'. Its leaves bear the small bladder's which entrap the fish fiy. Eleven ^pecie8 are enumerated iu the Fish Commission Bulletin, 188:}, p. 2(50, as useful in carp noiids. While these do not include the vulgaris, it is probable! that some of these mny have tlie same ability to catch the small fish. In that case even these plants nnist be excluded from carp ponds. -C. W. S. Bull. U. S. F. C, 1884.— (To face page 261.) PLATE II. The Fish-catching Bladderwort ( Ufricularia vulgaris). BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 261 140 THK FISH-EATINO I7TRICU£.ARaA, OR BliADDERlVORT. By Piof. H. N. MOSEI.EY. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I felt sure tbat the specimen of Utricularia* would be of much interest to you. I am soi ry tbat probably I cannot procure for you any more speci- mens with fish entrap])ed this year. Mr. Simms was unfortunately taken ill a few days after he brought his discovery to me and has been unable to set about preparing; specimens since. The season for spawn of the common river fishes was alread}' far advanced when the discovery was made, and I found it before I expected too late to get a satisfactory supply, and also have found the matter not so simple as 1 at first sup- posed. I found that a certain residual number of a certain batch of young fish remained weeks with the weed untrapped, either because the weed is only able to catch them when the weather is warm, or be- cause they learn by exi)erience (impossible), or because the plant soon ^ i^es its activity in confinement (?). Other experiments seem to show at possibly one certain species of young fish get caught. The matter idently requires a great deal of investigation. I have only very few tsp^cimeus, such as I sent you, and I intend to exhibit these at Montreal and possibly at Philadelphia, and to read a short paper on the matter. I can send you plenty of our living Utricularia vulgaris &\\o\\\(\jo\\ care to have it. I see Asa Gray in his manual refers to Var. Americana as most common in the United States, but no doubt the two varieties will act alike as to young fish. You will no doubt at once try the plant with young carp^ I have not found any case of a young fish already trapped by any specimen of the Utricularia taken from the pond in which it grows here, although there are many fish in the pond. 14 St. Giles, Oxford, June 20, 1884. 1 il— MEMORAXDITM OF SO.IIE RESUt,TS OF FISH-CCL,TURE AT,- RFA»V ATTAIiVEO. By MAKSBBALL McDOIVALD. Carp. — The carp wherever planted under favorable conditions and receiving reasonable care and attention have grown, bred, and multi- *The sjiecimen has been figured under the direction of Mr. John A. Ryder (see plate I). Three of the figures are original ; one is copied. — C. W. S. ExPL \NATiox OF THE PLATE. — Fig. 1. VtricidarUi vulgaris, nat. size; plant lu flower. (From Maout and Decaisue.) Fig. 2. A single chister of leaves enlarged twice, show- ing the little bLiddcrs in position, one of which has siczed a young fish by the head. Fig. 3. A single bladder enlarged sixteen times, showing the two branched filaments at the open end. Fig. 4. A bladder enlarged seven times; a young fish has been seized by the tail. 262 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STAGES FISH COMMISSION. plied rapidly. Thirty thousand distinct bodies of water in every sec- tion of the United States have been occupied with this fish. These represent an aggregate area of 100,000 acres of waste water, which have been converted to profitable, almost spontaneous, production, yielding at a moderate estimate 20,000,000 pounds of food per annum and add- ing $1,000,000 annually to the value of the products of the country. Black Bass. — The black bass has been acclimated in all of the rivers of the Atlantic slope, and while not increasing the aggregate food pro- duct of the areas occupied by them, the introduction of this game fish has indirectly contributed to the prosperity of various sections by at- tracting sportsmen and summer residents. Trout. — The mountain sections of New York, iS^ew Hampshire, and Vermont have their game and fish well preserved through the efibrts of the State fish commissioners ; the trout streams being kept up by arti- ficial propagation or planting, and by protection. The summer visitors who are drawn to this region by the fame of its hunting and fishing leave there annuallj' $15,000,000, according to the statement of the New Hampshire commissioner. The larger part of this is to be credited to the efforts in artificial propagation systematically carried on there. California Salmon. — The efforts to acclimate this species on the Atlantic slope and in the Mississippi basin have proved abortive, un- favorable temperature conditions, as I have elsewhere shown, having militated against success. This, however, is to be regarded as an ex- jieriment in acclimation rather than in fish-culture, the artificial propa- gating and planting of this species in the Sacramento Eiver having carried the annual production of that river up to double the volume it had before planting was inaugurated, and added to its aggregate value $300,000 per annum. Whitefish. — The propagating and planting of this species in the Great Lakes was undertaken in the face of a rapid decrease, which fore- shadowed the exhaustion of these fisheries in a few years. This decrease has been arrested, and the product is again slowly on the increase. Shad. — The results of the artificial propagation and i)lanting of shad cannot, in the absence of accurate statistics covering the whole coast, be definitely stated. There is no question but the production of the Chesa- X)eake area as a whole is steadily on the increase, though local causes determine local failures of the fisheries each season ; local statistics, be- ing the only mi^asure of increase that we have, of course can furnish us no data by which we can determine the general advance in production. Th'is, however, is shown by the decreased cost per pound of the shad from season to season in the face of a continually increasing demand brought.about by increasing population and increased facilities for dis- tribution, the price to-day in the markets of Baltimore and Washington being from $12 to $20 per hundred and Irom 3 to 4 cents per pound. Washington, D. C, May 4, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 2G3 143.-NOT£!^ OIV THE BI.IJEFISII, ITIOKTAI^ITY OF FLORIDA FI!>$HES, ETC.* By H. D. PIERCE. LFrom letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] The bluefish with us is a migratory fish, going north in the spring and returning about the last of November. I never knew of any being taken in summer. The fish I have taken while in spawn would weigh, I should judge, about 6 or 7 pounds; the male fish were not quite so large sa the female. I have never seen them in large schools ; they come suddenly and leave the same way. I have never seen or heard of any south of Cape Florida, although I have heard that a few have been taken here in Biscayne Bay. Another thing I have noticed about them is when you have a very cold winter north they are more plenty than when you have a mild winter. If I had known that information was wanted about their spawning, I could easily have pro- cured it at that time ; but I will send my son, who is somewhat of a naturalist, to observe them the coming winter and i)rocure such informa- tion as you want about them. Will you give me some information as to how to keep the ripe eggs so as to get them to you without their spoiling, as the weather is very warm here at all times. In regard to my theory that it was cold water which killed the fish, I did not mean in the Gulf of Mexico, but on the Atlantic seaboard of Florida, where I have seen it happen several times, but I have no doubt it is the same in the Gulf. I think that I ought to be a pretty. good judge of cold water, as when a boy I took many a swim in the ice-laden streams of Maine, and later in life many an involuntary plunge into the waters of the Arctic Ocean to get out of the way of the flukes of the bow-head whale ; and I must say that I never was so thor- oughly chilled as on that afternoon in July on the coast of Florida. Ou that occasion, while disrobed, I saw two or three fish floating about, just alive. I caught one, what is called here a grouper, and carried it home. The next day, upon going to the bea(;h, there were thousands of them ashore, and many floating helplessly about on the surface of the water. They extended about 2 miles along the beach. I have seen the same thing twice since. The only reason or cause that I can give, and I do not know as it will hold good, is that the Gulf Stream, in its rush north- ward, must have a counter-current inshore, running south. If the Stream can force the warm water of the tropics from the equator to 50^ or 55^ north latitude, why may not the counter-current bring to Flor- ida occasionally a body of water cold enough to kill fish such as live in the tropics'? Of late years I have not kept myself posted at all * Continued from Bulletin, Vol. Ill, 1883, p. 332. 264 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. in regard to tbe investigations tliat have been made with respect to tlie Gulf Stream and the currents of our coast; but if I had the proper in- struments, I woukl take the temperature of the water from the shore to the edge of the Stream from Cape Florida to Jui)iter Inlet, 90 miles at least, several times a year. " - I wiil try to capture some porpoises, so as to send the entire skele- tons. I have the lower jaw of what I called a calf sperm whale. The entire whale measured about 18 feet in length. I opened the skull cavity and took out about two gallons of head oil. I saved nothing but the lower jaw. If it will be of any use I will forward it. The jaw is small, not much larger than a pori^oise jaw. I think some reference was made to it some two years ago hy a man named Spencer, of Jui)iter Light. I have never seen any seals on this coast. As to manatee, I think that skulls and skeletons of them could be obtained from the Indians. I have seen during the summer in oSTew Eiver, some 13 miles north of here, quite a number, and about two weeks ago I saw three opposite the station not more than 200 feet from shore, going north towards IS'ew Eiver. While out on the reef fishing last week, I caught two remarkable fish, something I had never seen before in these or any other waters. They were a flat fish, weighing about three pounds. If I could have saved them I would have sent them to you, but we are so completely out of the world that nothing can be procured here in the way of jars, alcohol, or any other preservative. If you would put something of that kind here I would gladly save all specimens, and we find some queer ones sometimes. BiscAYNE Bay Life-Saving Station, Miami, Fla., October 13, 1883. There is one other fact in sui»i)ort of my theory of cold water. In November of 1876 I happened to be here at this place on business. I was then living at Lake Worth. While here we had a heavy norther and it was very cold, the tbermometer falling to 40°F. Ice formed in tubs and pails on the second day. I i)rocured a boat and went out on the bay and picked up about 50 pounds of pompauo, which were chilled to death. The bay and the shores of the ocean were covered with fish of all kinds, which acted in a similar manner to those I had seen off the coast. About noon of each day, while the sun was hottest, no fish could be seen, showii.g it was the cold. Of tbe many different kinds I did not see one of our migratory fish. Tbej' could stand the cold. Of the fish seen dead in tbe Gulf of Mexico, and which perished in the wells of vessels, there were no migratory fish, but were all natives of the trop, ical sea. Ilere the principal fish killed were mullet, a few barracudas, snappers, tarpon, pompano, moonfisb, grunts, «&;c. It chilled the crocodiles so that I captured one 5 feet long with my hands. Bis- cay ue Bay is almost open to the ocean. Tbe warm waters of the Gulf BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 265 Stream flow in and out at every tide, but it did not make any change in the temperature of the water. If it had, the fish would have escaped. BiscAYNE Bay, Miami, Fla., November 3, 1883. I cannot imagine any conditions that would bring the cold water to the surface. The Smithsonian Eeport (page 466) mentions the so-called poisonous water as being discolored and running in long patches or streaks. If the h\ i)othesis assumed there that the dirty water was due to the overflow of the glades or swamps, and that this water had poisoned the fish was true, there would not now be a live fish on this coast. From last November (1882) to October 15, 1883, there had been no rainfall on this coast; the everghides were particularly reeking swamps, basking under the hot tropical sun for almost one year. The Indians who had come out of them in the beginning of winter could not go back again. It is but natural to sui)pose that under such conditions they would generate a vast amount of poisonous water. The end came October 15, when it began to rain ; it rained for eight days; the everglades got such a wash- ing as perhaps they had never known before. As fir as the eye could see from this station, north, east, and south, it was everglade water, which all came from New River, 13 miles north of the station. There were no dead fish to be found on either the east coast or the west coast. I noticed it particularly, for if I had found dead fish, I should have to abandon my theory of cold water. As it is, I hold to it more firmly than ever. In regard to the epidemic of 1880, it took place on the west coast of Florida. The hurricane, which immediately preceded the epidemic, was from the northeast, blowing directly off shore. It was i^robably blow- ing at a rate of from 60 to 100 miles per hour, making an overtow that would bring cold water from almost any dei)th, and of course it would roil the water so that it would be streaked with various colors. They would naturally infer that it was everglade water. The fish that live in the glades do not suffer from the poisonous water, and I have never seen a hole that was 5 feet across that did not teem with fish, turtles, and alligators. I have been in this station one year, but have lived at Lake North, Fla., 60 miles north, for the previous twelve years. I have stated that I knew of no condition which would bring cold water to the surface, and then went on to make just such a condition, but I think I can prove the latter assertion. AVhen we have hurricanes here, on the east coast of Florida, if they come first from the northeast and end at the southeast, they make a very heavy undertow by blowing the surface water to the shores. At such times and under such condi- tions we never find any dead fish or anything else of marine life on the coast. But when our hurricane comes from the southeast, and, after blowing eight or ten hours, suddenly becomes calm, while the stortt center passes; or, when it suddenly comes in from the southwest or off the land, blowing with a force that would put to ghaTie a Kansas cyclone, 266 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. that off-shore wind creates an enormons overtow ; aod, as it does not lower the surface of the water in the ocean, the cold water from the depths below must taUe the place of the surface water. Under such conditions as I have just described, go to our ocean beach from Cape Florida to north of Tupiter Inlet, and it will be found covered with fish of all kinds, except such as are known as surface fish, or those that live near tbe surface. They are all, icithotit exception^ rock or bottom fish; and many, judging- from their looks, must have come from a great depth. What is it that brings them to the shore if they are nut paralyzed by the cold water I It is after such a time as this that I think I can supply you with a great many kinds of fish new to science. I have seen many kinds that I never heard of and had no names for. BiscAYNE Bay, Miami, Fla., JSFovember 24, 1883. I have the i)leasure of informing you that I have sent the whale's jaw, through the kindness of Mr. Colonns, of the Coast Survey. I was un- able to procure any bluefish spawn the past winter, but in a conversa- tion with Mr. Colouna, who has wintered on Lake Worth, he tells me that they have caught with a seine large quantities of roe bluefish, eat- ing the roe. It is a fact worthy of notice that of the large quantities taken, trolling with hook, none had roe, and the seine only developed the fact that there were not any roe bluefish. I am located so far from what seems to be their favorite ground that 1 cannot do much, but if I should be transferred to the Jupiter Life-Saving Station, when built, I should be better able to note their habits, &c. February 26, trolling for Spanish mackerel, I caught seven; weight of the seven, 1.5 pounds ; found spawn in them about half grown. Feb- ruary 27, I caught two Spanish mackerel, and found spawn about the same size as those caught the day before. March 8, saw large schools of young bluefish, about one month old, moving south. Miami, Fla., April 7, 1884. 143.— CHARACTER OF TIfK CARP IIVTROfl>l CED BV CAPT. HENRY ROBI.'>SO.\ ABOLT ISaO. By JOSEPH O. KEDDIKO. [From a letter to Prof. S. F, Baird.] I inclose a communication from Mr. O'Meara, of Santa Eosa, Cal., to the San Francisco Bulletin. Under date of March 4, 1884, he says : "I first saw French carj) in the autumn of 1837. The fish were in the artificial fish-ponds of Capt. Henry Robinson, of Newburg, N. Y. ''Cajitain Robinson commanded one of the five lines of packet ships which regulaily traded between New York and Havre, and had accu- mulated a fortune. His country seat at Kewbuig wa« a splendid es- BULLETIN OF THE (JMTED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 2G7 tate of beautifnl grounds. A small stream ran througb tbe tract; its bed was in a deep ravine, and its waters emptied into the Hudson Riv^er. "A copious artificial fishpond, in the center of which was a small is- land surmounted bv a summer-house, was midway between the broad front gateway and the mansion. There was a narrow bridge across the fish pond to the summer-house, and from the bridge could be seen hund- reds of French carp, which Captain Eobinson had himself brought with great care from France in his own ship. The place was in charge of a man named Beckwitli, a trusted agent of Captain Eobiuson, during his absence on his voyages, and he devoted especial care to the fish-pond and the carp. " They were the first of that species of fish I had ever seen, and I re- member their form and appearance as well as I do the place, its owner, and all that I have described of the one and the other. I have seen tlie carp bred from the imported stock of Mr. Poppe, in Sonoma County, California, and on first seeing those I immediately recognized them to be of the same species as the carp I had seen in Captain Robinson's fish-ponds. Although I was young at the time I distinctly remember what Captain Robinson said in his enthusiastic description of the fish. "At what period he first brought them to this country 1 know nothing. I remember, however, that he had added to the original stock the year I visited his place, and I am sure that my recollection of the fish itself is as clear as it is of the varieties of fish in Isew York Harbor, in the ISTorth and East rivers, whicli I used to catch when a boy." Mr. Robert Poppe, of Sonoma, introduced some carp from Germany in 1872 and claims that his were the first German carp introduced. Mr. O'Meara calls both " French carp." Are both Cyprinus carpio ? REPLY BY PKOFESSOB BATED. There is much uncertainty as to what was done in the way of intro- ducing carp before the efforts of Mr. Poi)pe, in 1872 ; but while it is doubtless the fact that Captain Robinson brought over fish, there is no certainty that they were the genuine carp. I am inclined to think that they were the Prussian carp, an allied species much inferior in value. A so-called carp is found in great abundance in the Hudson River. I have seen wagon-loads brought up by a single haul of the seine. These appeared to me, when I saw them, to be hybrids between gold- fish and the Prussian carp. In former times it was very difficult to obtain perfectly pure breeds of carp, as they were kept largely in the same waters with goldfish, with which they hybridize very readily. The improvement in the stock is due almost entirely to the Germans, neither France nor England yet having anything b-^tter than the old- fashioned variety, which is of poor quality. Washington, D. C, March 15, 1884. 268 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 144._SEVEKAL OPIIVIOIV$4 UPON IBOn' TO CATCH CARP. Compiled by CHAS. W. SITIII.EY. In response to numerons reqnests for information as to the best way to catch a few carp at a time, and without draining a pond, I have ex- amined the principal English sporting books, and have extracted what they have to say on this subject. The first item, however, is by an American who understands fishing for carp. With line and hook.- — "When I fish for carp I have a fifty-foot line done up on a reel with six or seven small hooks on the line, and without any pole. I bait the hooks with stale light bread, which floats on the surface of the water, and the carp come to the top to suck it down. As soon as they feel the hook thej' start to run and I reel up the line and play with them until 1 worrj'them ont and land them with- out further trouble. After catching one in this way they become very wild and timid, and it is a long time before I can get them to show themselves again. I caught only one with an angle-worm." — Oscak Keid. Saint Louis, Mo., August 21, 1883. Baits. — "Carp are esteemed among the richest fresh-water fish we have in the kingdom, and are as cunning as foxes. The angler, there- fore, must be 'wide-awake' to catch him, and also as patient as a saint. He may, however, fish for him at any time in the day dnring warm weather. The bait may be either worms or paste. Of worms the blu- ish marsh or meadow is the best, but a red worm, not too big, will do, or a large gentle; of paste, the best is made of bread and honey, and the spot intended should be well baited beforehand. In a large pond, to draw them together, throw in either grains, or blood mixed with cow-dung, or bran, or any kind of garbage; follow this with some of the small baits you intend to angle with. If you fish for carj) with gentles, jiut on your hook a small piece of scarlet cloth, about the bigness of a pea, soaked with oil of peter (by some called oil of the rock), and keep your gentles for two or three days in a box smeared with honey ; and while you are fishing, chew a little bread and throw it in about the place where your float swims. In this way, with due patience, you will prove a match for these crafty fish." — [From Eoutledge's Hand- book of Fishing, London, p, 39.] Baits. — " Carp are very uncertain. After a shower on a warm, damp evening, is the best time for fishing. A boileOTES ON THE CULTIVATION OF FISH-OTOSTEY AMERICAN— IN FKANCE.* Brook trout. — Mr. Despres has written from ISTauteuil-en-Vallee : " I Lave ouly a small number of fry [of Salmo fontinaUs] from the- eggs which you sent me last year, about 200. These specimens, al- though kept under circumstances only half satisfactory, are in very goodl condition, having- attained on the average from 10 to 12 centimeters- [about 4 inches] in length. I think they would have reached a greater size if thej' had been furnished with regular food independent of what they found in their basin. I intend to give this to them in the future."' [Bulletin, March, 1883, p. 1G5.] California salmon. — In returning thanks for the salmon eggs, which had been sent him, Mr. Kathelot has written from Grand-Mont- rouge : " The eggs of the Salmo quinnat Avhich you sent me in December, 1881^ came very well. The first, which I i^laced in a basin in the open air, are large enough ; they have attained a length of 22 centimeters [about 8 inches]. Those which I left in my laboratory and which I placed some- montlis after in the same pond are smaller, not having enjoyed while- young the same food as the first, which, in addition to the horse-flesh, which I give them, found in that stagnant water little worms and other- animalcules which increased their growth. They have endured during- the hot weather a temperature of 22° C. [71o.6 F.]. They live for th& present on very good terms with the blays, gudgeons, barbels, and craw- fish. Towards the last of October a quantity of poplar and other leaves, having- fallen into the pond, the water became much colored. Seeing that mj fish would not eat, and not wishing to pursue the experiment further, I was obliged to proceed to clean out the basin. I give these details in order to show that the iSalmo quinnat does not require a par- ticular kind of water." [Bulletin, March, 1883, p. 165.] The control of waters. — Mr. A. Leroy read from a note on the depopulation and restocking of the rivers of France. Mr. Eaveret-Wattel i^ointed out, on the occasion of this communica- tion, the considerable damage done in the rivers by the inadequacy of certain provisions of the legislation in regard to fish, by poaching, and, * Translations of items in the Proceedings of the Societe Naiionale d'AccIimatalion publi.shed in the Monthly Bulletin of the society. Translated by H. P. Jerrell. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 18 274 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. finally, by tlie polliitiou of the waters, which are poisoned by waste matter from many manufactories. The President of the Society said that, apart from these diifereut causes of the destruction of fish, there is another, on which too much could not be known to call the attention ; this is the '• cleansing to a clean border," prescribed by the administration for all the little water, courses. The banks would become absolutely vertical walls 5 all the plants on which fish sjiawn would disappear. Now, it is precisely in the little watercourses tributary to the principal rivers that the fry especially are developed. Thus the cleansing to a clean border, when it is not absolutely necessary in order to facilitate the running of water and to assure tl^e supply of manufactories, ought to be done away with as one of the deeply to be regretted causes of the disappearance of fish. Meanwhile, far from being an exception, this cleansing is really an ab- solute and obligatory practice. From this results an appalling destruc- tion of fish. Ml. Millet remembered that the question of the depopulation and restocking of the watercourses has often been the object of particular attention on the part of the Society of Acclimatization, which has seen many of the measures which it has proposed for remedying the evil adopted by the administration. Among these measures stands the cre- ation of reservations for fish, from which excellent results have been obtained. More than 820 kilometers [about 510 miles] of navigable streams are actually made into reservations, in which all trespassing, even that with the floating line, is prohibited for five successive years. While recognizing the good effects of reservations, at least in certain places, Mr. Raveret-Wattel thought that it would be well not to ex- aggerate the efficacy of this measure. In fact, the reservations protect the carnivorous and destructive species as well as those which are not; and the rapid increase of perch and pike has contributed much of late years to the diminution of the other species. Mr. Millet did not believe that the pike spawned in the reserves. As to the perch, it is easy to destroy the strings of eggs which it attaches to the water jilants. [Bulletin, April, 188 «, p. 263.] In making an annual report on the works of the Society in 1882, C Raveret-Wattel spoke as follows : WniTEFiSH. — "Important shipments of eggs of different foreign sal- monoids have been sent you again this year by generous donors, among whom, as always, we have to mention first Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Com- missioner of Fisheries of the United States. About 250,000 eggs of the whitefish {Coregomis albns), sent from New York by his orders, have reached you in perfect condition, and you have been permitted to under- take a very interesting experiment in the acclimatization of this species, the introduction of which in our fresh waters would be a valuable achieve- ment. Mr. Fred Mather, a member of the Commission of Fisheries, has. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 275 as usual, Uad the kiudness to lend his co-operation in this shipment, for which we cannot show ourselves too grateful. CALiFOiiNiA SALMON. — " Several gifts, likewise very precious, have been made to us by the German Fishery Association, which, on the proposition of its eminent president, von Behr, has generously made it possible for you to attempt the stocking of our waters with choice species which are recommended either for the quality of their flesh or the rapidity of their growth. Let us recall, moreover, that it is due to the gifts previously made to our society by von Behr, that you have been able to announce this year the complete acclimatization of the Cali- fornia salmon {Sahno quinnat), in regard to which Messrs. Eathelot and Clermont have given you interesting details. Fish-ways. — ''Knowing that the Society of Acclimatization interests itself in all questions which relate to the restocking of rivers and to the protection of migratory fish, the Minister of War ajii^ealed to your knowl- edge of the subject, with a view to the construction of a fish-way for salmon on the Dourduf Eiver at the dam belonging to the powder mill of Pont-de-Buis, department of Finistere. The numerous documents which you possess, from the Commission of Fisheries of the United States and from other sources, relating to fish-ways for salmon, have permitted you to inform the administration regarding the different systems in use and the types which are most advantageous, considering the cost of their establishment and maintenance as well as their utility. CKOSS-BREEDiNG.^"Mr. Seth Green, of Bochester, K Y., one of the veterans of American fish-culture, has given you an account of his very curious experiments in the cross-breeding of different species of salmon. Such experiments should be attentively observed, both as a matter of scientific interest and for the practical results which may be obtained." [Bulletin, May, 1883, p. 71.] Lake trout. — Mr. des Vallieres, of Meaux, gave an account of the results which he had obtained from the fertilized eggs of the great Euro- l)ean lake trout, and of the Salmo namaycush : " The first of these shipments, which contained a small lot of impreg- nated eggs, reached me in very satisfactory condition. These eggs pror duced fry in the proportion of 95 per cent. The eggs of the Salmo namay- cush, which were sent to me in great numbers, have been mostly spoiled when they reached me. I estimate that 50 per cent of the eggs were thrown away on their arrival; and during the period of hatching prob- ably 15 per cent more died in the ^gg or perished at birth. I attribute these numerous losses to the freezing which took place during the pas- sage from America, and which has produced morbid effects more or less active. Immediately after the absorption of their yelk-sacs, the fry of these two species [S. namaycush and the great European lake trout] were 27G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. put into a little canal, derived from the Brasset, a stream "wLich empties into the Marne some liiindreds of meters awav. This little canal, well arranged and full of ranninci^ water, is suited to these fish, which are g^rowing: in a normal way and will afterwards be set free in the Brasset, whence they can spread in the Marne and ascend its tributaries. It will not be out of place to remark that the waters of the Marne are suited to the salmon family, for trout weighing 1 or 2 pounds have been taken this winter at Meaux itself. '' In the breeding of which I have the honor of giving you an account, I noticed that the Sahno namayciisli grew with such rapidity that in two months they were larger than the great European trout hatched three weeks earlier. They also appeared more hariiy and more easy of acclimatization." [Bulletin^ July, 1883, p. 426.] Landlocked salmon. — Mr. Eivoiron wrote from fichelles, depart- ment of Isere, among other things, as follows: " In m\' last letter I told you that two-thirds of the fertilized eggs of your landlocked salmon still remained to be hatched. The hatching took place under the best possible conditions, and I had from the whole lot only a very few spoiled eggs, which became white immediately after the hatching. As a result of leaving one of the troughs exposed a little too much to the sun, we lost about fifty. I put them in the shade, and think that we have now lost only a hundred in all. They are veiy pretty, quite large, and have been taking food for fifteen days. They are fed on insects and the larvse of the gnat and the water-flea. We can produce with our six basins about a kilogram \2^ pounds] of insects daily." [Bulletin, July, 1883, p. 427.] Brook trout and California salmon. — Mr. Noordoek-Hegt, of Apeldoorn, ^Netherlands, has written : " My fish-cultural establishment is succeeding. During the past week, under the direction of the commission appointed by the Government, Professors Hubrecht and Hoffman, I have set at liberty in the Yssel Eiver more than 200,000 fry and 5,300 3'oung salmon a year old. I have kept over 100,000 fry, of which it is probable that a part will also be set free, and the rest will remain in my basins until they reach the age of one year. I have a hundred California salmon {Salmo quinnat) which were born in my basins and are now four years old. These fish have never been to the sea, and yet they are in excellent health. Their average length is 50 centimeters [about 19^ inches]. In October we succeeded in fertilizing a number of their eggs, and the fry are now doing wonderfully well. This fish [California salmon] is much more hardy than the lihine salmon. " My experiments with the Salmo fontinaUs, an American trout, and a very pretty fish, have also been successful. I had imported eggs from America for two successive seasons. Nearly all of the eggs perished; however, from the two lots, we saved several hundred young fish. In BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 277 October last those of the first lot were eighteeu or uiueteeu months old, and we have already been able to impregnate artificially a few hundred of their eggs, which have given us the same number of fry, and all arc in tbe best condition. lam sure that if nt> disaster occurs we shall prodnce the SaJmo quinnat and the Salmo fontinalis by thousands. " I have had this year more than G0,000 fry of common or river trout and of lake trout [probably European], all coming from fish hatched in my establishment. So there is reason to be pleased, and I would be happy if I could show you the results of my work. I have sent to the International Fisheries Exhibition at London a model of my hatching shed, a plan of the establishment, and twenty bottles containing fish, which were all, without a single exception, born in my establishment." [i^wZZe^in, July, 1883, p. 428.] Brook trout. — Mr. Despr^s wrote from Nanteuil-en- Valine, among other things: "The preceding parcels of eggs which have been sent me have given good results. I have at the present time a hundred of i^almo fontinalis about twenty months old, some of which are more than 20 centimeters [about 8 inches] long. These are the ones which have received as extra food horse-flesh chopped up fine. The others, which have had at their disposal only the natural food which they were able to gather in a basin of considerable size furnished with aquatic plants, show a less develop- ment, but their health and vivacity aje all that could be desired. This experiment in comparison has convinced me that it is necessary to give them, when they are about seven or eight months old, some artificial food in addition to that which thej' can find in the water, which is prob- ably iusutficieut to allow them to attain a good development. "The specimens of last year are likewise in good condition. They are as yet too small for me to state precisely their number. A rise of water caused me to lose some of them, because of an unfortunate arrange- ment of the basin which contains them. I have remedied this, and in future will watch with care that a like accident may not happen again. The escaped specimens i^robably have gone to grow up in the little stream which flows near by the establishment." [Bulletin, February, 1884, p. 188.] Salmo carpio. — Mr. Kleiter, director of the fish-cultural establish- ment at Munich, announced the sending of 2,000 embryonic eggs of Salmo carpio, which he was directed to make to the Society of Acclimat- ization on the part of the German Association of Fish-culture. At this, Mr. Kaveret-Wattel recalled to mind that the Salmo carpio of Lake Garde is an excellent species of trout, which never becomes very large, but whose flesh is much like salmon and is of an exquisite flavor. One fish- cultural establishment alone, on the shore of Lake Garde, is occupied with multiplying this species, so interesting to propagate, and remark- able, moreover, in this, that the spawning season is continued with cer- tain individuals till June. [Bulletin, March, 1884, p. 290.] 278 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Lake trout. — Mr. Dubard, of Vilars-siir-Oucbe, likewise requested a sliipment of trout eggs. He wrote : "I am encouraged to make this request of you by a precedent which assures me of abnost certain success. Last year I bought from differ- ent persons 3,000 impregnated eggs, nearly all of which were afterwards hatched. After keeping them in the hatching ajiparatus for a fortnight I set these little trout free in a brook of running Avater 20 meters [22 yards, nearly] long by l.J meters [5 feet] wide, and there I fed them up to the age of three months on chopped tish without appreciable loss. At this time these young fish had attained on the average 35 millimeters [1.4 inch nearly] in length. Then, thinkingthatthere was nothing Inrther to fear, I set them at liberty in my sheet of water which is fed by many good-sized springs. I ought to say that since then I have seen but little of them, but this is explained because of the depth of the basin, its extent, and the quantity of weeds which cover the bottom. If it is possible, I would prefer to receive some eggs of lake trout, which grows, as I have heard it remarked, much more rapidly than the other species." [Bulletin, March, 1884, p. 290.] Lake teout and California salmon. — Mr. Focet wrote from Bernay : "In reply to your letter of January 31, 1884, inquiring of me the re- sults which I obtained from some shipments of salmon eggs which your society was pleased to send to me last year, I will state that the result was generally good. In fact, from the incubation of about 12,000 eggs of different kinds of salmon, I obtained about 10,000 fry, which have, on the whole, done well during the four months in which I have fed them on grated cooked meat, frog spawn, and codfish eggs. But I was obliged at the end of this period, being no longer able to feed them or to keep them in my apparatus, to set them free in the streams of Eisle and Charentonne. I have taken good care of some specimens in my reservoirs, but only a few, as I have trouble in securing theai from two great dangers, 1st, the variation in the depth and condition of the water, and, 2d, the voracity of water-rats and otters. " In brief, the reports on fish culture, which I have made for ten years have been until now, and will be for the future till further orders, the same, as far as I can put in execution industrial fish culture, that is to say, to so care for the fish that it can be turned over for consump- tion after three or four years of living in a closed basin. However, my labors have not been without good results I have restocked two water- courses of a length of at least 24 kilometers [about 11 miles]. Trout there are so abundant that recently, because of an accident which hap- pened to the reservoirs of the gas-works, the ammoniac water killed more than fifteen hundred trout in the course of no more than 2 kilo- meters [1:^ miles] in the waters of the Charentonne. A fine of more than 1,500 francs [$300] was imposed on the gas company. You see BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 279 from this what an abundance of fish there was. Some months after- wards, to my great surprise, the evil was repaired. The fish from be- low, ascending the wat^ircourse, were sufiicient to restock it as before. "At this time all our natiu'al spawners are numerous and in good condition, and we look for the best results. "One word with reference to the small number of salmon which we find again in proportion to the young fry set at liberty. On the aver- age each year I set free about eight thousand young trout from my pur- chases, and about two thousand fry of different kinds of salmon which are presented to me. We ought, then, to find them in the same propor- tions; but we do not. They report to me each year about fifteen or twenty of these specimens, which is a very slight proportion, as you see, and yet for several years I have set free especially lake trout and California salmon. Do they migrate also like the common salmon?" [Bulletin, March, 1884, p. 300.] Bkook: teout. — Mr. Despres wrote from Nanteuil-en-Yallee : "Last year I received from the Acclimatization Society some eggs of Salmofontinalis, the hatching of which was conducted under the best conditions, and the loss was almost nothing. After the reabsorption of the yelk-sac, which was also accomplished almost without loss, the fry were let run in a basin of oblong shape with a little continuous current on a bottom of sand and gravel with water-plants. I j udged that with larvae and animalcules their food would be sufBcient without having recourse to artificial nourishment. "At the end of eight months I collected about a third of the fry of a size varying from 8 to 10 centimeters [nearly 4 inches in length |. I be- lieve that their development would be greater if a suitable artificial food should be added to that which the young fish naturally fiud in the water. "This year I intend to try two methods with the eggs of the Salmo car- ina, which have been sent me. I would be glad to try them also with some eggs of the Sah7io fontinalis, if the Society can spare a few. "The best food, which causes no loss because of congestion of the gills, would be the living prey ; but it is almost impossible to procure this in sufficient quantities to supply laboratory basins. In default of this, I have given them with moderate success raw meat, which was tender, and reduced almost to a paste and then mixed with water; the ground flesh of little fish gives the best result. "My Salmo fontinalis are still in my basins. I would like to know whether they can live long in captivity, as the common salmon of France cannot. I am inclined to believe that they can, because their skin and shape show that they are of a variety of trout, either the common or the salmou -trout." Mr. Eaveret Wattel remarked, on the occasion of this letter, that the iSalmo fontinalis, which is more generally and properly described to-da^ 280 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. under the name of Salveliyms fonti7iaUs,is an American species of gray- ling {Oinble- Chevalier), which inhabits the little watercourses rather than the lakes, whence it gets its common name of brook trout in the United States. It is an excellent fish, of sluggish habits, which can be raised easily and advantageously in closed basins. [Bulleiin, March, 1884, p. 301.] Brook trout. — Mr. Gamier, president of the Linnsean Society of Northern France, forwarded a report of Mr. Lefebvre, on the results ob- tained fi'om eggs of different species of salmon forwarded by the Accli- matization Society. Mr. Lefebvre states that he has succeeded in projja gatiug Salmo fontinalis, and that by means of artificial impregnation he has obtained hybrids from this species and the common trout. The eggs have been furnished by one species and the milt by the other, and vice versa. The crossing of grayling (female) and Salmo fontinalis (male) has been less successful, and only a few fry were obtained. [Bulletin, March, 1881, p. 300.] Trout. — Mr. Leroy wrote from the country seat of Roussainville: " I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of some trout eggs. They arrived in good condition except five, which I fear are spoiled, and ten whose existence seems to me doubtful. I have not thrown them away, nevertheless, but have placed them for hatching in the dif- ferent vessels. My three sets of hatching api)aratus are placed each under a tap, from which flows, without cessation, spring- water at the temperature of 8° C. [IG^".! F.J, all in a half-darkened room. These eggs appear to me to be in an advanced period of incubation ; two or three have hatched already." [Bulletin, March, 1881, p. 306.] Salmon, trout, whitefiSS, &c. — Mr. Waguer, director of bridges and roads, and manager of the fish-cultural establishment of Bouzey, wrote from Epiual : <' Duringlast year (1883) we received from the Acclimatization Society some eggs of Salmo namaycush, S. fontinalis, S. salar subsp. sebago, Coregonus alhus, and G. marcena. These eggs were in very good condi- tion and hatched well, in the i^roportion of 80 to 100, with the exception of the landlocked salmon which gave only 50 to 100. The fry of the two kinds of Coregonus, after the sacs were reabsorbed, were distributed in the fish-pond of Bouzey, which is supplied by the brook of Aviere as well as by the waters of the Moselle River, and whose maximum depth is 15 meters [49i feet]. Moreover, we succeeded in raising a hun- dred of each of these two species on the hatching tables by means of little fly larvfe, microscopic insects, and finely strained beef's brains. These fry were kept in a basin 1^ meters deep, and have attained a length of 9 centimeters [3^ inches, about]. " The young of Salmo namaycusJi, Salmo fontinalis, and landlocked salmon were raised on the hatching tables by means of insects, fly larva?, and beef's brains. In June they were placed in breeding- trenches of from 4 to 5 decimeters [about 15 to 20 inches] in dex^th, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 281 supi>lied by running water, and tlieir food has been continued with minced horse-flesh. The .young of Salmo namaycusli and 8. fontmalis have succeeded well and have attained a length of from 10 to 12 centi- meters ; but the landlocked salmon have not given the same result. All these fry were kept during the winter in the lower trenches of the hatching shop, and in the spring are to be distributed in the outside basins and preserved at the establishment. Last autumn we noticed that the males were full of milt, but that the females had no eggs ; be- sides many females have died. There are still sixty of these fry which weigh fron\ 250 to 300 grams [about S| to 10| ounces avoirdupois], and we will try to keep them for reproduction, if possible. " In 1882 we distributed some fry from little Fera of the Lake of Constance, in the fish-pond of Bouzey, and we had this winter the satis- faction of catching specimens from 18 to 22 centimeters in length. " I avail myself of this letter to ask the Society to send us, if it is possible, some eggs of Salmo qiiinnat, S. namaycusli, and S. fontinalis, in order to distribute the fry in the fish-pond of Bouzey and in the reser- vations of the jMoselle, while preserving a few of each species at the establishment." [Bulletin, March, 1884, p. 397.] Salmon. — Mr. Bartet, chief engineer of bridges and roads, gave the following account ofresultsobtainedfrom eggs of the diiferent species of salmon which were distributed by the Society and placed for hatching in the aquarium of Trocadero : " Sixty per cent of the eggs were successfully hatched. The food which was givea the fry at the beginning was mud-worms chopped fine and afterwards whitefish, also chopped fine. Their growth has not been rapid ; and the youngfish are yet in the inclosed water, and have not been set free in the river. During the first four months after the hatching we lost many of these fish, and now only a tenth part remains. Befoie placing them in one of the aquarium troughs and taking thera out of the hatching apparatus, we kept them, for about two months, in an intermediate basin 5 decimeters in depth, with a bottom of pebbles. The less mortality was j^roduced in the hatching apparatus. "That apparatus consists of eight troughs i^lacedin a row one above the other, each trough being 50 centimeters long by 20 centimeters wide and 15 centimeters deep, whose inner walls are sheets of glass her- metically sealed. It is supplied by water from the Vanue, which is j)re- viously filtered through a sponge contained in a terra-cotta pot, from which the discharge is about 150 liters an hour. The eggs were placed on screens formed of a framework of wood and a rod of glass. " The hatching is conducted normally ; that is to say, it takes ijlace in about six weeks after impregnation, and the reabsorption of the umbili- cal sac occupies the same time. The temperature of the water is kept at between 9 and 10^ C. [about 50° F.j. The surviving fish, put to- gether in a common trough, are in good health." [Bulletin, March, 1884, p. 308.] 2^2 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 146 rVOTES ON TOE HSSTOKY OF TME FISEI-EEOOK. By K. t^HKISTENSEN.* The fact that prehistoric hooks are but seldom noticed iu nmseiims is not owing to their rare occurrence or rare discovery, but to their small size and to their appearance, which is not apt to strike the eye 5 [)0s- sibly, also, becanse they closely resemble other implements and are therefore easily confounded with them. The number of undoubted fish- hooks, however, is large enough to show that angling is one of the most ancient occupations. The oldest fishing implements, however, correspond very little to the newer idea which we connect with the word " fish-hook." As long as no metal was em])loj^ed there was no material from which a real hook, answering to our ideas of the same, could have been made ; there was moreover no type of such an' implement. On the other hand, the idea was readily suggested that, if fish could be eanght by means of a har- poon fastened to a line, without inflicting a mortal wound, the same ob- ject might be reached in a still more satisfactory manner if the fish could be caused to swallow a harpoon or arrow-head fastened to a line. Angling is therefore of more ancient origin than net-fishing. The oldest hooks which have been found are shaped like an arrow-head, having one and sometimes two, three, or more suialler or larger well-pointed beards. The museum of the Antiquarian Society of Prussia, in Konigs- berg, possesses a number of such hooks. All these hooks show very careful workmanshii), and are of such slender form, so well adapted to the nature of the material (bone or horn), as to favor the supposition that this article has been in general use for some time, and has gradu- ally undergone various improvements. These implements date from the Neolithic Age (second period of the Stone Age), and their enormous size will convey an idea of the size of fish caught in those times. A similar implement from the same period is preserved in the Royal Mu- seum at Dresden, but its shape so closely resembles that of an arrow- head that it is impossible to distinguish it from this. Hooks made of flint are very rare. Two which have been found in the Swedish province of Skiine furnish ample proof that the Scandi- navians were likewise acquainted with angling at a very early period. Frequently small flint splinters having a bent point are found, showing evidences of workmanship which in some cases Vv'ere evidently meant to be tied to a handle at their thick end, and which jjrobably in this way have served as hooks. An implement made of horn and preserved in the Konigsberg Museum, above referred to, also favors this expla * ^' Zur Geschichte des AngeUiakens," in Deutsche Fischerei-Zeitung. Translated b> Herman Jacobsox, Vol. IV, Noa. 12 and 15, Stettin, March 22 and Ai^ril 12, 1881. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 283 nation. It will not seem strange that implements of so nnassnming a character but rarely find their way into our museums. The fact, how- ever, that angling- has, till within a comparatively recent period, been the favorite mode of tishing, much more so than net-lishing, finds further proof in the circumstance that in the houses of the lake dwellers at Schiissenried numerous remnants of pike and of Siliir us glanis have been found, but none of any other fish. A second and entirely different form of hooks, shaped like a weaver's shuttle, was known in very ancient times; the central portion was con- nected with the line, and thereupon entirely enveloped in the bait, so the fish might swallow it whole. This method has still been preserved in some parts, where eels are caught by means of a darning needle fast- ened to the line and almost hid in the bait. There has been a steady development from the arrow-head to the real bent hook, as is shown by an implement which is preserved in the museuui of the "Society for Pomeranian History and Antiquity" at Stettin. This rare piece was found imbedded 14 feet deep in marl near Eeddies, district of Rummelsburg, in Pomerania. Its material is bone, and at its inner bend the marrow -side of the bone is laid bare, showing that the bone was not sawed lengthwise but crosswise. This gave to the implement a much greater degree of durability, and produced the outlines of its form at the very beginning of the work. Even the double hook was employed before metals came into use. Such a double hook was made from the antlers of a stag, and found in one of the habitations of the lake-dwellers in Switzerland. At first sight it presents the appearance of grotesque clumsiness, but on closer observation it is seen that the hollows (especially the one on the right side) are a pretty exact facsimile of a modern hook. It will, therefore, not seem improbable that the eccentric position of the center of gravity was not accidental but intentional. Only the right hook is x^ointed, its form being better adapted to its purpose, and liaving a tendency to turn upward; that is, it is better calculated for catching fish; while the left hook was probably intended for fastening the bait. We have more hooks from the Bronze Age, which in Eastern Germany extended to the fourth and fifth centuries. Their material being more pliable, they assume lighter and more slender forms ; they have as yet no beard; but artificial bait, though in its simplest form, seems to have been employed at that early time. The Historical Museum at Liibeck possesses some hooks which are made of thin bronze leaves with very sharp points. They have i)robably served as small metal fish. I am in doubt, however, as to the use of the holes found in pairs in some of them. It seems all the more probable that these implements are arti- ficial bait shaped like fish, as some of the South Sea Islanders were in the habit of employing artificial bait even before they knew the use of metal. In the collection above referred to there is an implement of this kind consisting of a long and narrow piece of mother-of-pearl, to which a hook made of horn is tied firmly. 284 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The oldest iron hooks known are those found in the ramparts of Old Liibeck. As Old Liibeck was surprised and entirely de^itroyed by Eoce, Priuce of Eiigeu, in 1138, and as the new city was not built in the same place, the jjeriod from which these hooks date is well defined. The smaller of the two is evidently much older than the larger, and the properties of the metal have been so little utilized as to justify the sup- l)osition that this hook dates from the beginning of'the Iron Age, while the hirger isclearly of much more recentdate. Here we find well-known forms reminding us of the hooks which we used in our boyhood's days. There is, of course, as yet, a great difference between these hooks and those found in the ramparts of Old Liibeck, for even the most inexperi- enced boy would hardly use such gigantic hooks, and even in those days so clumsy a beard would have been laughed at ; but as to its general plan this hook does not differ much from the well-known hooks formerly used in Germany. I will mention an old darre which was found near Alt-Bliesdorf, dis- trict of Ober-Barnim, and now in the collection of Mr. Wallbaum in Sucow. It has the size and shape of a tablespoon without a handle, but is quite flat, and made of copper. At the broad end there is a hole for the line, while the pointed end is inclosed by a shuttle-shaped double copper cover (resembling a shell), from which protrudes a medium-sized iron hook of good shape. Spoon and hook are, therefore, firmly con- nected by this cover by means of three pegs. This implement very closely resembles the spoon-shaped darres which are still in common use. The merit of having fashioned hooks from steel, according to rational principles, and answering manifold purposes, belongs undoubtedly to the English. Max von dem Borne has described these hooks in his well-known work ^^ Angeljischerei" (Line fishing) in the most exhaustive manner. During the year 1880 many different forms of hooks have been brought to our notice througli the Berlin Exposition. Some of these hooks have been developed in certain localities independent of other forms, while some are the artificial i^roducts of industry, and liave been thrown into the market to await the verdict of the fishing public. Among the hooks peculiar to certain localities I first mention the Japanese hooks. These have very small beards, and are made of thin wire, v.'hich is more pliable than elastic; this is all the more surprising, as the Japanese are unexcelled in the manufacture of steel. If, therefore, they give their hooks a certain degree of pliability, this is probably inten- tional, and may perhaps be exi)lained by the circumstance that their entire fishing apparatus is exceedingly fine. In Berlin they exhibited rods measuring G meters in length, with a very thin point, and a line which throughout its entire length has only the thickness of a thin horsehair. At the first glance it will be seen that these hooks are entirely original, and considering the very high degree of development to which line-fish- ing has attained in Japan it cannot be doubted that these various forms BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 285 are carefully adapted to certain definite purposes. If we only knew these 2)urposes we would undoubtedly learn much from the Japanese. Many of these forms have been adopted by English manufacturers. The artificial fly also has gone through a course of development in Japan entirely peculiar to that countr3\ Those which were on exhibition in Berlin consisted of hooks of the smallest kind given in our illustration ; the head is of brass, perfectly round, with a diameter half that of the width of the hook, the body is either red, black, or gold colored, or has all three colors. From the head six to eight brown hairs run along the body, extending twice its length, and surrounding it on all sides; every- thing about it displays an elegance and accuracy of workmanship which need not fear comparison with the finest English flies. In Switzerland, in the canton of Tessin, a iieculiar form of hooks has been employed from time immemorial. They have no beard, and an exceedingly fine and long point, and are used for catching ISabno thy- ftuiUm^ trout, and " may-fish." The Chinese produce clumsy imitations of English hooks, but their own hooks are peculiar, having exceptionally small beards, not on the back of the point, but on the side. This is of great importance, for the beard wliich is commonly used, and which is on the inner side or back of the point, has two disadvantages ; in the first place, it is as unfavorably located as possible for the rapid entering of the hook, which therefore frequently does not catch ; and in the second place, it is inclined to come out of itself, for when it enters, a hollow space is created between the beard and the lower bend of the hook, which is prevented from closing up by the portions of the hook which surround it on three sides. Whenever the person holding the line momentarily ceases to pull, the hook gets a chance to slip back, and the beard but too readily finds the necessary space to glide out of the wound without catching any- where, especially when the parts where the hook has entered are lean and possess but little elasticity, as is the case with the pike. But if the beard is placed more or less on the side of the point, this ofiers the important advantage that the beard does not hinder the entering of the point ; the hollow space referred to above will also be created, but it is not, as in the common hooks, between the beard and the bend of the hook, but on the side of the latter, and is consequently less in- clined to close up immediatelj'. The point of the beard, moreover, does not lie right over the center of the hollow space, but close to its edge. Even if the hook should slip back, the beard will always keep close to the edge of the wound, and will, in most cases, fasten itself somewhere, thus preventing the hook from slipping out entirely. Placing the beard at the side of the point, therefore, offers two decided advantages, without having a single disadvantage ; and it is really surprising that manufacturers have not given more attention to this matter. Of new forms which have recently been brought into the market, the following deserve special mention : 1. Longshanks, or hooks whose handle is twice as long as is com* 28t) BULLETIN OF THJ: UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. monly the case. This secures a steadier aim, the injurious angle is de- creased, and makes a much longer extent of gut line possible. The l)lace where the gut line touches the point of the shank is much less exposed to any motion, and the frequent breaking of the gut at this point is avoided. These hooks, however, are as a general rule only suited to such bait as will cover the entire shank. It certainly speaks well for these hooks that they were almost simultaneously adopted both in England and America. 2. Warner's ueedleeye hooks. The new catalogae of J. Warner & Sons, Kedditch, shows a whole series of diflereutly constructed spring double hooks (eight in number). Other hooks of this kind have been known in Germany for some time; a hook of a particularly practical construction was exhibited at Berlin by the firm of Bradford & Anthony, of Boston, Mass. The same firm has introduced a hook which substitutes an entirely new principle for the beard. As the tongue which takes the jjlace of the beard -acts like a spring, the mouth of the fish will, in biting, slip past the point of the tongue, almost without meeting with any resist- ance, and from that moment any loosening of the hook by accident be- comes impossible. Unless something tears or breaks, the fish is hope- lessly caught. The considerable angle of this hook will give no trouble, considering the ease with v.iiich the slender point enters ; in fact, it proves an advantage, because the catching capacity of the hook is thereby considerably increased. The ])rinciple underlying this hook is doubtless very ingenious, and unless unforeseen difficulties hinder its practical application, we probably stand at the threshold of a new epoch in the history of the fish-hook. 147.— CAliIFORlVSA TU05JT PI^AIVTEW irv KOAIVOKE RIVER flIV jeJI.Y, 1SS3, RETAK.E1V IIV JUNE, 1SS4. By MARSHALL. McBOl^ALD. There was received to-day, by express, from Capt. J. W. Snmpter, Big Spring, Roanoke County, Virginia, a California trout weighing, when fresh, about 10 ounces. This was taken in Eoanoke River in the vicinity of Big Spring, and is one of 50 planted therein in July, lb83, having been hatched at Wytheville, Va., in March, 18S2, from eggs taken at Baird Station, California, and forwarded by express to V\"ythe- ville. Captain Sumpter states that this is the third trout taken, the others having been returned to the river. He says there are a great many small ones, about an inch long, in the branch and the pond, running in schools of 10 or 15 each. Washington, D. C, June 16, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 287 14S.— THE FISH OF LAKE CHA]tIPL.AIIV. By C. HART MEKRIAM, M. I>. [From a letter to Forest and Stream, iiublished February 22, 1883.] The principal market fish of Lake Champlain are: Perch, Perca americana^ Schrauck. Wall-eyed i)ike, iStizostedium vitreum (Mitch.), J. & C. Black bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lac), Henshall. Pickerel, JEsox hicii(s, L. Lake shad, Coregonus clupeifonms (Mitch.), Milner. Midlet, Myxostoma macrolepidotum (Le S.), Jord. Bull-iiout, Amiurtts vulgaris (Thomp.), Nelson. Eel, AnguiUa rostrata (Le S.), DeKay. Sturgeon, Acipenser ruhicundiis, Le Sueur. The above list is not supposed to include all the food-fishes of the lake, but those that are couimonly sold in the markets. Of these, the pike, black bass, pickerel, and "lake shad" are by far the most im- portant, each averaging from 3 to 0 pounds in weight, and retailing" at Plattsburg for 12^ cents per pound. A few bass are taken with the hook and line and some are speared; with this important exception all the market fish are caught in nets. What is here known as "lake shad" is a true whitefish, equal in every respect to the whitefish of the Great Lakes. How it came by its local name I cannot imagine, unless, because of its superior flavor and the absence of shad in Lake Champlain, the early inhabitants thought they would do it honor by giving it the name of the most esteemed of the food-fishes of the world. It frequently attains the weight of 8 pounds, and individuals are sometimes taken that turn the scales at 10 and even 12 pounds. The perch are small and sell for 10 cents per dozen. The mullet averages from 2 to 6 pounds in weight, though sometimes growing" to be much larger, and retails for 6 cents per pound at Plattsburg. The bull-pout weighs a pound or a little over, and sells for 8 cents per pound, dressed, or 20 cents per dozen fish, undressed. The eels average from 2 to 5 pounds, and sell for 20 to 50 cents a piece. The sturgeons weigh from 20 to 100 pounds each, and bring, at Platts- burg, 10 cents per pound, dressed, and 8 cents undressed. Many are speared every spring when they ascend the river to spawn. They run up the Missisquoi with great regularity about the 24th of May, but the dam at Swanton, Yt., prevents them from reaching their old spawning- beds; hence, after remaining less than forty-eight hours, they return to the lake. Whether the spawn is deposited on their way out I have been unable to ascertain. On the 24th of IVlay last, a miller speared ojie from the bridge at Swanton that weighed 88^ pounds, measured G feet 1 inch in length, and contained a bucketful of spawn. Several others were killed in the shallow rapids under the bridge at this time. The next 288 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. morning sturgeon were seen sporting "like porpoises" in the deeper water below, after wbicli they immediately returned to the lahe. They occur at Swanton with such surprising regularity that many of the in- habitants keep spears in readiness for them, and I am told that they rarely vary more than a day or two in the time of their appearance. The only fish markets of any importance on Lake Champlain are at Burlington, Vt , and Plattsburg, jS". Y., the fish selUng for a trifle less on the Vermont side. The hotels do not generally patronize the markets, but purchase direct from the fishermen. Practically, all the fish are taken in nets, and those caught after the latter part of April come mostly from certain parts of Grand Isle, which belongs to Vermont. In March and April seines are set to catch the fish upon and on their way to the spawning-beds. Last spring (1882) there were six large seines in the Missisquoi River below Swanton. Few escape to deposit their spawn. The same method is practiced in other rivers, and I am credibly informed that for a period of six weeks each spring from 30 to 40 barrels of fish are shipped daily from the north end of Lake Champlain alone. Most of them go to New York. Inquiries at Rouse's Point disclosed the sig- nificant fact that an average of 25 to 30 barrels pass through that place daily " for a period of at least five weeks in the months of March and April." In the spring of 1878, 20,000 pike died in a small pond in which they were placed to await '" a raise " in the market i^rice. Locust Grove, N. Y., February 15, 1883. 149.— A liAIVD LOCKED SAt,I?aON CAtTGHT IN ERIE CAIVAt,. By ^VATTS T. JLOOMIS. • [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I have just received a line from Capt. L. A. Beardslee inclosing yours asking about the " California salmon " caughthere. The fish was caught in the Erie Canal at this place, and was, according to Seth Green, a land- locked salmon. A large number of landlocked salmon were jdaced within two or three years past uj^onthe headwaters of the Moose River, and the way here from there is easy. A large number of California salmon were placed in the Mohawk at this place ten or more years ago, and so far as I know were never heard from. If they visited the sea they could not get back, as Cohoes Falls stands in the way. Little Falls, N. Y., May 28, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 289 Vol. IT, ]\o. 19. Wa^ihmglon, ©. C. Aisg^. IS, 1884. 150.— Oi\ THE POSITIOi'V AND CMARACTER OF TME FISHINO CiROUIVJDS OF THE «UJLF OF MEXXCO. By SILAS STEARNS. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I can furnish but a general idea of the position of the Gulf flshing- gronnds. We have our courses and exact spots to go to, but I do not think that in so general a search as the Albatross proposes to make they would be of much use. Our experience has been that wherever there is rocky bottom there is good fishing. So far we have fouud none below 40 fathoms, when the rocks end and the muddy bottom begins. Our present fishing- grounds extend along the edge of deep water, i. e., 40 fathoms from a point southwest from Pensacola light to the neighborhood of south from Cape Saint George. Inside of this belt are numerous small gullies con- taining coral, but they are nearly fished out and are rather hard to find. In our range the inshore spots are most numerous in 17 fathoms south from Phillips, or Ocala Inlet. Everywhere south of Cape Saint George good bottom is found closer to the shore, in fact within 2 or 3 miles of it. As can be seen from a chart it extends much farther off. In this section rocks occur in ridges and knots rather than in gullies, and the fauna is largely difterent. I think that the character of the fishing-grounds of the coast would be well illustrated by examining along the following courses : Starting just north of Key West in lati- tude 240 50' N., longitude 82° W.5 steer northwest 136 miles, then going gradually from the inshore to the offshore grounds; then turn inshore northeast half east to reach the grouper grounds in 7^ fathoms, at a i)oint much fished by the Key West smacks. Fi^om this point, if the coast is followed by steering northwest by north 65 miles, many of the grounds as far as Anclote Keys, of probable future use- to Lampa and other places near by, would be found ; then steer west by north half north 117 miles to go over the grounds lying off Cedar Keys and to reach the eastern limit of the Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans fisheries. As before stated, west of this point it is only necessary to ruu along the edge of deep water to gain a good idea of the bottom, the fishes, &c. There is an area, marked doubtless on most of the charts, in longitude 88° W., latitude 29° K, which we think is shoal and would furnish good fishing. If it is found to be what we suppose, it would be very conven- ient for the iS'^ew Orleans vessels. We are interested to learn the results of experiments with trawls in these waters. Pensacola, Fla., December 7, 1883. BuU. U. S. F. C, 84 19 290 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Eed Snappers and Pobipano. — I seud by express to-day a little box containing a bottle of fine sand-worms, a bottle of siiouge-like stuff ■which the red snappers are now feeding upon, and a few of the pompano shells. During the past month the red snappers have not been biting well, being filled with this spongy matter. We have not noticed the same kind of food in such abundance before this, and 1 have had a good chance to observe such things. A short time ago I had examined 450 large snappers' stomachs, and in only one case found anything but the matter that I am sending. Snappers are rapidly becoming scarce. The " pompano shells " are the favorite food of the pompano. It is in pursuit of them that the fish come in shoal water along the sea beaches. The fishermen claim that when these shells wash ashore, pompano are present. We are getting pompano and other shore fishes from Tampa and vicinity. Other kinds, like the bluefish, have not appeared this winter, but I think they will come back some time. Pensacola, Fla., March 8, 1884. 151.— A CAL.IFORIVIA SAl,ITIOIV TAItElV IIV JAMES RIVER. By W. RUSSELL ROBII\SON. [From a letter to M. McDonald.] It gives me pleasure to report to you the capture on the T6th instant, about 20 miles below the city, in a herring seine, of a California salmon of 0 pounds' weight. The fish was kept for me several days, but the messenger not finding me it was cut up and sold in the market. The fisherman bringing it to market did not know what it was, but it was recognized by a fish-dealer who purchased it for $1. This dealer is familiar with salmon, as he very often gets on order small lots of the Atlantic salmon frozen from New York dealers. The pink flesh and fat condition is mentioned by a gentleman who bought a part of it, and the remains of the head place beyond doubt the fact of its being a sal- mon. I do not know whether it was male or female. It appears to me highly improbable that the only salmon entering the river should be caught, and I have high hopes of others being reported. I have seen all the important dealers, and ofiered controlling price for any other that may come in. I hope to seud you a fresh specimen on ice. May not climatic or other causes, as yet not understood, be the reason for such a long delay in the return of the fish from the sea. Mr. Palmer and our association are very much cheered. It is a pleasant break of the monotony that has hung over the James River salmon (xuestion for these many years. BXCHMONPj Va., May 26j 1884, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 291 153 THAIVKS OF THE EXECITTIVE COMJUITTEE OF THE I.OIVDOIV irVTERNAIIOIVAL FISHEKIES EXHIBITION FOR THE PARTICIPA- TIOIV BV THE UNITED STATE.**. By JAMES RUSSELL EOWEEE. [Dispatch No. 666, to Hon. F. T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State.] I take great pleasure in transmitting herewith a copy of a letter ad- dressed to me by the chairman of the executive committee of the great International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883, requesting me to convey to the Government of the United States the special expression by His Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales, by the president, and the members of the executive committee, of their gratitude for the admira- ble manner in which our Government has so effectively and generously responded to the appeal for co-operation in the past exhibition. I am also requested to bring to the notice of the Government of the United States the valuable services of Professor Goode and other gen- tlemen in organizing the American section of the exhibition and in the jury department. Legation of the United States, London, Novemher 19, 1883. letter from MR. EDWARD BIRKBECK, CHAIRMAN, TO MR. LOWELL, NOVEMBER 16, 1883. I am desired by His Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales, the presi- dent, and by the members of the executive committee of the Interna- tional Fisheries Exhibition to request your excellency to convey to the Government of the United States the special expression of their grati- tude for the admirable manner in which the Government of the United States has so effectively and generously responded to the appeal for co-operation in the past exhibition. It has been a matter generally acknowledged by all classes of the community that it was impossible to conceive a better interpretation of the wishes of the promoters of this exhibition than that so method- ically and so ably rendered by the learned and experienced staff of gentlemen who were charged by Prof. Spencer F. Baird to give the benefit of their experience and advice to us. The rapid organization and the specially successful arrangement and decoration of the United States court have been the theme and the general admiration of the public, and I trust that we may be allowed to request you to bring under the notice of your Government the eminent services of the learned Prof. G. Brown Goode, who has so worthily and actively repre- sented the Commission of Fish and Fisheries. His services have not only been of an administrative character, but the active part which he 292 I5ULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. has taken in tlie conferences and in the discussions which have taken place throughout the exhibition were acknowledged to be of very great benefit and advantage to all those concerned. We would wish also to bring under your excellency's notice the ser- vice of the assistant commissioners, Messrs. Earll, Bean, Clark, and Cap- tain Collins and the gentlemen in charge of special exhibits, who have so ably carried out the dnties intrusted to them by your Government. And, further, we cannot conclude without exx)ressing our gratitude for the eminent services rendered in the jury department, for the whole of the Exhibition, by the following gentlemen, namely, Messrs. Earll, Hitchcock, Eussell, and Clark, and also Captain Collins aud Lieuten- ant McLellan, who were so good as to undertake the onerous duties of the jury work. (The great International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883. Koyal Horticultural Gardens, Exhibition Eoad, South Kensington.) London, November 16, 1883. 133.-JPKOPO»ED PKOPAGATIOIV OF CATFISII AS A FOOD-FISO. By DATID S. JORDAN. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I feel very favorably inclined toward the catfish for the purpose men- tioned. The two best species, so far as my experience goes, are Amiurus nehidosus and A. melas. The white cat of the Potomac (A. albidus) is good looking, but I have had no experience with it in life. A. neMdosus {catns : atrarius) is the common cat of the Schuylkill, Delaware, Hudson, and the Great Lakes. It is the species so success- fully introduced into the Sacramento, and it is now daily in large num- bers sent to the San Francisco markets. I should suppose that some seining point on the Great Lakes or the Delaware Eiver would be the best place to get this. A. melas is darker and grows rather smaller. It is very hardy and grows rapidly, getting its full size in about three years. It is widely distributed, but I have found it commonest where I was born, in the Genesee country. I had these on the farm, when a boy, and reared them in a large frog pond, fed by rains only. They are at least not in- ferior to the other in hardiness or in quality as food. Of the larger cats A. nigricans, reaching a weight of 25 to 50 pounds, is probably the best. In the South are numerous others of which A. nataUSj also a small species, seems to promise most. But for the North and for other countries, A. nebulosus is probably best worth trying. Indiana Univeesity, Bloomingto7i, Ind.^ April 30, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 293 134.— BROOK TROUT FROITI :UOIVA1>!VO€K IvAKE AND CRinTIIVE I^AKE, NEW IlAnPSIIIRE. By TAKtETOW H. BEAN. Curator of Fishes, National Musenm. With reference to the trout recently received from Mr. Walter J. Greenwood, fish and game warden, Dublin, N. H., I have the following communication to make: These trout have also been made the subject of a letter to Mr. Eichardson from Mr. J. H. Kimball, of Hillsborough, N. H. ; they have been referred to, also, in the Boston Journal of March 22, under the title of " Dublin Trout;" and are also mentioned in Forest and Stream of March 27, 1884, page 170, second column, under the title "A Peculiar Fish." After a careful examination of the individuals received from Mr. Greenwood I arrive at the conclusion that they are the common brook trout {SalreUnus fontwaUs), differing in no respects, so far as I can see, from the usual type of the species excepting in their pale colora- tion and few vermilion spots — variations which I have frequently ob- served in trout from widely different localities. In order to aid in deter- mining the species I record the following characters of the Monadnock Lake trout: It is a SalreUnus without hyoid teeth. The gill rakers are 15 or 16 in number; there are about 115 tubes in the lateral line, the number of rows of scales of course being much greater. The eye equals the snout in length and is contained 4J times in the length of the head. The maxilla reaches a little beyond the vertical from the posterior margin of the orbit and is nearly one-half as long as the head. The origin of the dorsal is nearly midway between the tip of the snout and the root of the irpper caudal lobe. The length of the pectoral is one-sixth of the total without caudal. Dorsal, 10; anal, 10. Coloration, silvery gray on the upper parts, whitish below ; pectorals, ventrals, and anal largely ver- milion ; vermilion spots on the sides, few in number. Washington, D. C, April 5, 1881. THE DUBLIN TROUT. [From fhe Boston Journal of March 22, 1864.] The peculiarities of Dublin trout have caused the speculations of anglers and others, during the last half century at least, and as the subject seems to be revived bj' the Dublin fish wardens, the following letter from Professor Agassiz, written about twenty-five years ago, will be interesting. After some male specimens were sent, as Professor Agassiz requested, he wrote that the examination of them only con- firmed his previous opinion that the trout were specifically distinct, 294 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. adding that tliere must be others like them found elsewhere, as nature did not make a distinct species for one little locality; this last letter cannot now be found. Dear Sir : I duly received the two si)ecimens of trout which you have forwarded to me. Thej' reached Cambridge in a perfect state of preservation, and I was not a little surprised on examining them to find that they belonged to an undescribed species. I have carefully compared them to-day with all the trout occurring in the United States which I have thus far been able to secure, from Lake Superior to Lab- rador, and as far south as they reach, and I find them to difier specifi- cally from all. As the specimens are all three females, I should be much obliged if you would secure some males for me. Should so-called lake herring, or whitefish, as they are also called, be found in your waters, which I suppose to be the case, I would be much obliged if you could secure some ot these for me. Allow me to close by returning my best thanks for the specimens you have sent me, which I have at once put up in my museum. — ^L. Ag-assiz. Cambridge, Mass., October 12. THE CRISTINE LAKE TROUT. 1 have examined the trout recentlv received from Cristine Lake, New Hampshire, whence they were sent by Mr. S. M. Crawford, and find them to be Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitch.) Gill & Jor. The j>roportions and other specific characters are the same as in the Monadnock Lake trout recently reported upon, but the coloration is different. The ground color of the sides and upper parts is a rich purple, the sides are profusely ornamented with crimson spots, and the pectorals, ventrals, and caudal, even now, are largely suffused with vermilion. Another peculiarity of these trout is their elegant shape. Washington, D. C, April 8, 1884. 155.-8IVAKES DESTKUCTIVE TO CAKP. By RUD. IIESS£L. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] During the past few days a great many snakes have appeared at the ponds, many of which have been killed, as follows: August 4, 16; Au- gust 5, 3l*; August 0, 52; August 7, 32; August 8, 39; August 9, 14; August 10, 15; August 11, 21. This makes 221 snakes killed in one week. In the smaller snakes I found from 9 to 15 young carp, and in the larger ones sometimes over 25, besides undigested skeletons of fish. They contained no frogs or tadpoles. We can, therefore, see that one BULLETIN OF TSE UNITED STATES ElSH COMMISSION. 295 medium-sized snake devours 40 jouug carp per day, for they digest very quickly. That would make for 225 snakes 9,000 carp per day, and 03,000 per week. That number is correct, sir ! and it shows that snakes are more injurious than cranes, herons, and other birds. I kill them by shooting, oftentimes seeing only a small part of the head in the water, or hiding beneath water-plants. I have had oppor- tunity to see how they catch the young fish, and how they devour them. An old wall constitutes their best hiding-place. I often shoot them sitting in the cracks of the old wall, the head looking outside, watching the poor little fishes. United States Carp Ponds, August 12, 1883. August 15 and 16, I did not kill any snakes, by reason of the low temperature and rain. On the following days I killed, 72: August 17 52 ; August 18, 7 ; August 19, 8; August 20, 5. ■ United States Cakp Ponds, August 20, 1883. The snakes, so numerous in the ponds for some time past, have almost wholly disappeared. During the past five days I shot only 3, though watching closely for them. Since July 1 we have killed, over 900, mostly by shooting. United States Carp Ponds, August 26, 1883. During the past week I killed about 150 snakes in the west pond. To-day I killed 19. All had young carp in their stomachs. United States Cakp Ponds, Septemler 25, 1883. 156 WHAT ITIIJSK-RAT!« SOITIETIITIES EAT. By CIIARI.es CARPENTER. LFrom a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] An old. trapper, who trapped for years in the marshes of Sandusky Bay, tells me that musk-rats usually live on the roots and tops of water- plants, but in severe winters, when tlie water freezes deep, they do eat fish. The winter of 1842 and 1843 I spent on Put-in Bay Island (South Bass Isl.). I trapped and speared a little. It was a severe winter. The shallow water froze to the bottom, and on opening some houses, I found half-eaten fish in them, which, I think, were black bass. In one house I found the remains of two fish of good size. A few years ago I saw a musk-rat on the ice before my house, and on looking at him with a sjjy-glass, saw he had a large fresh-water clam which he was trying to open. Mr. S. G. Goodrich in his Animal King- dom, page 483, says, " In winter, when hard pressed, they sometimes devour each other, and when one is wounded the others eat him." Kelley's Island, Ohio, January 29, 1884. 296 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. lar THE DESTRrCTBOIV OF CAKP BY THE MUSK-IRAT (FIBEB ZaBETni€U8).-METHOI>S OF TRAPPIIVCJ THE KODENT. By HEWRY TV. EL,I.I©TT. [Abstract.] On June 10, 1883, I placed forty choice goldfisli in my pond. Later in the season the water became low and so clear that the contour of the bottom and the contents of the pond were exactly revealed. On August 25 only five goldfish remained, but these had grown remarkably. No fish had been seen dead or iujured, though the pond was constantly under the eyes of myself and family. No geese, ducks, turtles, water-snakes, bit- terns, or kingfishers had been noticed about the pond ; and, concluding that the fish had escaped at the outlet pipe, I placed a wire screen over it and dismissed the subject. Towards the end of September I saw a large musk-rat in the pond, but the animal saw me at the same time and instantly disappeared. As I knew well that there were no musk-rat burrows in the banks of my pond, I concluded thnt it must live in a 6-inch tile-drain that served as an inlet pipe. Accordingly I immediately put a common steel-trap into the tile, and had the satisfaction of catching the musk-rat a few days afterwards. A neighbor told me that this was the destroyer of my fish, but I answered that the authorities denied a fish diet to the musk- rat, declaring it to live upon vegetables, grain, and mollusks. I began to think anew upon the subject, however, and called upon another neigh- bor, who has a large carp pond. Like myself, he was unable to account for the loss of his fish, but on drawing off his pond and finding only one large carp instead of the hundreds he should have had, and discovering seven or eight musk-rat holes in the banks, he concluded that these musk-rats were the cause of the destruction and disappearance of the fish. I have since learned that carp ponds in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois have been robbed and the fish destroyed by musk-rats. The attention of fish-culturists should be quickly drawn to this danger, and the prompt destruction of the musk-rats may save much loss in the propagation of carp and goldfish. The nocturnal habit of the musk-rat in feeding renders trapping the only practicable method by which to get rid of this pest. A common steel-trap should be set, placed under the water at the entrance of the musk-rat's hole, a stout stake being driven into the bank above and the chain securely attached to it. The musk-rat when either coming out or going in is likely to step upon the flat trigger and is caught, when it may easily be killed. * *The American Field, of October 20, 1883, gives the following instructions for catch- ing mnsk-rats : "Get half a flozeu of Ncwhouse's steel- traps. Set them near the edge andnnder the water in abont 1 inch of water. Put upon a stick slanting out over the water and in front of the trap, a piece of parsnip. Set the trap lightly. This will catch every musk-rat, they beiug vegetable eaters as well as fish eaters." — C. W. S. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 297 The hog-like character of carp in plowing np the bottom and banks of the pond, thereby keeping the water muddy and rendering them- selves invisible, enables the entrance to the musk-rat's burrow to be concealed until the water is drawn off. The fry and older carp stupidly poke themselves into these burrows, thus making themselves an easy prey to these active rodents. When ice forms, and the carp settle numb and torpid to the bottom, then, in my opinion, the ravages of the musk-rat are most to be feared by the fish-culturist; but before that time he should get rid of these pests.* Cleveland, Ohio, Wovemherl, 1883. 158 — THE MUSK-RAT AS A F5SH EATER. By C. HART MEBRIAM, M. D. That the musk-rat is not commonly considered a fish eater is evident from the absence of reference to such habit in the published accounts of the animal. Eobert Kennicott is, so far as I have been able to as- certain, the only author who mentions this trait. He says : " Except in eating raollusks, and occasionally a dead fish, I am not aware that this species departs from a vegetable diet." ["Quadrupeds of Illinois Injurious and Beneficial to the Farmer," 1857, p. 106.] At a meeting of the Biological Society of Washington, held in the National Museum, December 14, 1883, Mr. Henry W. Elliott spoke of the "Appetite of the Musk-rat." He stated that in certain parts of Ohio the musk-rat did great injury to carp ponds, not only by perforating the banks and dams and thus letting off the water, but also by actually capturing and devouring the carp, which is a sluggish fish, often re- maining motionless, half buried in the mud. In the discussion that fol- lowed, Dr. Mason Graham EUzey said that from boyhood he had been familiar with the fact that the musk-rat sometimes eats fish. In fact, he had seen musk-rats in the act of devouring fish that had recently been caught and left upon the bank. The president, Dr. Charles A. White, narrated a similar experience. On the 7th of February, 1884, I brought this subject to the notice of the Linnfean Society of New York, and asked if any of the members knew the musk-rat to be a fish eater. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns said that he had long been familiar with the fact, and that it was no uncommon thing to see a musk-rat munching a dead fish upon the borders of the salt marshes along the Hudson. He has shot them while so engaged. "Under date of November 16, 18d3, Dr. Hessel, superinteadeut of the Governmeut carp ponds at Washington, says: "The musk-rats have now taken to their winter quarters, and not one is to be found at the ponds. Four weeks ago I smoked out all their holes with sulphur and saltpeter. I then filled them up with earth."— C. W. S. 298 BULLETIN OF The united states fish commission. He further stated that the musk-rat is very destructive to nets, destroy- iug the fishermen's tykes iu scores by entering them in quest of fish and then tearing the nets in order to escaj)e. Dr. A. K. Fisher said that at Sing Sing, N, Y., he had often known musk-rats to enter fykes, sometimes drowning, but oftener escaping by gnawing the meshes, thus doing considerable injury to the nets. He supposed they entered the nets because placed in their line of travel. He further stated that he knew that fykes made of fine wire were used with success iu capturing these animals. Mr, William H. Dall, the well-known Alaskan explorer, now of the Coast Survey, kindly favors me with the following: "In July, 1863, I visited Kankakee, 111., on a collecting tour for river mollusks. You know how musk-rats throw up mounds of the shells they dig out. I ex- amined many of these for unios, &c. On several I saw the skeletons of fish (chiefly suckers, I believe), partly or wholly denuded of their flesh, aud showing the marks of musk-rat, or, at least, rodent teeth. I also saw the shell of a common mud-turtle so gnawed and in the same situation. I did not see the animal in the act of feasting, which, I be- lieve, is done chiefly at night ; but I have no doubt that the fish and turtle were eaten by the musk-rat as well as the mollusks associated with them in the same pile." Under date of March 5, 1884, I received from Dr. Fisher the most valuable record yet obtained concerning the habit in question. Dr. Fisher writes: "A few days since two young men were fishing through the ice for pickerel, with live bait, at Croton Lake, Westchester County, New York. Several times they were troubled by having one of the lines pulled violently off the bush and run out to its full length. Finally they saw the line start again, and pulling it up quickly they landed a large musk-rat on the ice." Here is an authentic instance, not of a musk-rat eating dead fish on the bank, but of actually capturing a live fish in the water under the ice. Fortunately the fish was attached to a hook and line, and the musk-rat was caught and killed. In the year 1820 there appeared in a New York newspaper (The States- man) a series of articles entitled " Letters on the Natural History and Internal Eesources of the State of New York, by Hibernicus." They were reprinted in book form in 1822. Their real author was Governor De Witt Clinton, a man of letters, eminent as a statesman, distinguished as a scientist, aud justly celebrated as a philosopher. In the ninth let- ter he speaks of the musk-rat as the most formidable foe of the canal, stating that it perforates the banks and thus lets off the water. Ees- pecting this animal as a fish eater, he says : " In winter, when the water is frozen, musk-rats go under the ice and prey on the fish. They are very destructive to trout, which is already iu the canal." Locust Grove, N. Y., March 29, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 299 159.-IVOTES OIV A DISEASE AFFECTINO CRAVFFISH IIV GERMANV.* By C. RAVERETWATTEL. The disease affecting crawfish, which is now doing so much damage in France, rages with perhaps even more severity in some parts of Ger. many and Austria, where this epidemic is the object of the research of many investigators whose hibors have often been mentioned in the Bulletin of oar society. One of the last numbers of the periodical of the German Association of Fish -culture t contains some information on this subject which has seemed to me worthy of recapitulation, because it states some new facts which it may be useful to record. Max von dem Borne, founder of the important fish- cultural establish- ment at Berneuchen, has observed the progress of this disease in the Mietzel River,| a stream GO kilometers [about 33 miles] in length, which flows from the Lake of Soldin and empties into the Oder River near Clewitz. The Mietzel, which is unfortunately obstructed by eight dams which hinder the passage of fish, is a stream abounding in fish, and moreover greatly esteemed until recently for the abundance and size of its crawfish. "At Berneuchen," says Max von dem Borne, '' where the river belongs to me for about 10 kilometers [about 6 miles] we have also this year (1883) taken many crawfish, which have been made use of at the time of reproduction." During the first fortnight of September they began to see these crustaceans leave the water and scatter along the banks for several yards. On the 10th of that month they could still make a good catch. But soon a sort of migration took place ; the crawfish seemed to flee, to abandon the Mietzel. Numbers of them, large and small, dead or dying, could be found daily on a horizontal metallic lattice placed at the mouth of the brook for trout. Most of them were muti- lated, having lost one or more members. On September 14, sixty of these crustaceans, kept in a well-boat in the middle of the river, died in a mass, and on proceeding to fish the river on the 16th and 17th, it was learned that there was not a single living crawfish left. It was in 1880, and from the Oder, that the disease began to invade the lower course of the Mietzel. The following year it ascended as far as the dam of the metallurgical works at Kutzdorf. In 1882 it appeared further up. Finally, in 1883, one could see it gain ground and hasten its advance from month to month, for, during the month of October alone, it i^assed over two dams. The waters of the Mietzel are not pol- * La maladie des £crevisses en AUema(jne. From the Bulletin Mensuel de la Societ4 Na- tionale d'Acclhnatation de France. February, 1884, p. 200. Translated from the French by H. P. Jerrell. \Circulare des Deutsclien Fischerei-Verein, 1883, No. 5. t Max von dem Borne, Die Krehapest in der Mietzel. 300 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. luted by waste matters from any manufacturing establishment; tlie appearance of this epidemic, therefore, cannot be attributed to this cause. Moreover, symptoms of disease have never been noticed among the fish inhabiting this river. Max von dem Borne proceeded to experiments, which seem to show that the cause of the disease is found, if not in the water, at least in the mud of the river. He said : " I caused to be sent me by a leading fisherman of Soldin (a locality further np the river than Berneuchen, and not yet contaminated) some perfectly healthy crawfish, which I placed in a cemented trough at ray establishment. This trough was traversed by a strong current of water coming from the Mietzel, and the bottom was covered with a layer of mud taken from the same river, but no diseased or dead crawfish was put in this trough. Nevertheless, at the end of nine days all the healthy crawfish which I had placed there began to show signs of disease, and in a day or two afterwards all were dead. I always noticed the following symptoms : The crawfish contracts on one side ; it continually rubs its head and eyes with its walking claws ; the whitish color of the lower part of the abdomen becomes red ; and the animal lies on its back and dies. It is worth saying, however, that the crawfish which I placed under observation on the 18th and 26th of last November have remained perfectly healthy up to the present, and they are even occupied iu spawning." At the request of Max von dem Borne, von Liustow*, physician of the staff-office at Hameln, has given special attention to this disease among crawfish, and the examination of a great number of these crus- taceans which he has made leads him to admit that he is certainly in the presence of a parasitic disease. Dr. von Linstow has also stated that the disease propagates itself in ascending watercourses. As soon as they feel the disease the crawfish become restless. Generally they leave the water, wander around on the banks, and on the way usually lose some claws and often their pinchers, and finally they lie on their backs and die. Like Max von dem Borne, Dr. von Linstow believes that the water contains the cause of the mischief, and that it serves as a vehicle for it. He has seen, in fact, that if healthy crawfish coming from localities as yet uncontaminated are placed in streams where tlie epidemic rages, these crustaceans are quickly attacked by the disease and destroyed in a little while. Dr. von Liustow says : " The researches made with a view of discov- ering the cause of the evil have given rise to different opinions. Ac- cording to Professor Harz, of Munich, the disease might be caused by the trematode, now for a long time known under the name of Distoma cirrigerum, which might invade the muscles of crawfish iu great num- bers. My attention was then immediately directed to this parasite, but " Mittheilungen dea Herrn Dr. von Linstow in Hameln iiher dig sogenannte Krebspest, BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 301 I have not found a single member of this species in the many diseased or dead crawfish which I have examined. In consequence, it is per- fectly clear to me that it is not this parasite which does the mischief. I will mention some leeches, some Branchiohdella astaci, Odier, and B. parasita, Henle^ as well as some psorospermic corpuscles 0.15 millime- ter [.0059 inch] in length, a few of which were found in the thorax of certain crawfish. By analogy with what takes place in various contagious diseases, some persons have been led to think that a crypto- gamic growth could be the cause of the mischief. But the results reached in following out this hypothesis have been entirely in the nega- tive. Oji the contrary, it is certain that nearly all the organs of the diseased crawfish — the tissues of the heart, the cavity of the stomach and also of the intestines, the nerve ganglia, most of the muscles, the adipose tissue, the gille, &c. — are full of a multitude of little ovoid, cellu- lar substances, which sometimes accumulate in such quantity at cer- tain points that the organs are torn asunder. This accounts for the frequent loss of claws. These ovoid corpuscles measure 0.02 millimeter [nearly .0008 inch] in their longest diameter and 0.013 millimeter [about .0005 inch] in their shortest diameter. They can easily be colored red by picrocarminic acid." How do these corpuscles get into the organs of the crawfish 1 This is difficult to explain. We do not find that they make any kind of mo- tion, even when we get them from crawfish which have scarcely ceased to live. It is supposed that these cellules spread progressively in the water during the decomposition of the dead crawfish, and that in this new condition they continue a certain development. "I have no doubt," says Dr. von Linstow, " that they belong to the animal king- dom and to the sub-kingdom of Protozoa, and it is probable that in its perfect state the parasite should be classed among the Gregarinidte or the Amoebea." The question of learning whence these corpuscles come, and how we can protect the crawfish from them, remains as j'et entirely unanswered; but a step is taken towards its solution when we discover the enemy to be opposed. Henceforth the problem to settle, as Dr. von Linstow con- tinues, would be, so Dr. Leukart thinks, that of the cultivation of this parasite outside of the organs of the crawfish ; and if its development can be attained under these conditions ^e shall doubtless arrive at the determination of the question by what means and in what manner the parasite finds its way into the tissues of the crawfish. When we consider the difficulty there is to distinguish, without the aid of the microscope, the diseased crawfish from those which are healthy, we can ask whether the consumer has not some risk to run from the put- ting up for sale of crawfish which were already somewhat aftected. The reply. Dr. von Linstow afiirms, is that the crawfish, even though diseased, can be consumed without any fear, because the protozoan which causes 302 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. tbe disease is not among the number of the parasites of man, and also because it is inevitably killed by cooking the crawfish. In conclusion, I would add that according to Mr. Oscar Micha, who carries on both at Berlin and at Cologne a considerable trade in craw- fish, a few very young crawfish are beginning to reappear in many of the streams where extermination was complete and where no attempt at restocking has yet been made. Koav, as in these streams no adult crawfish was able to escape destruction — when, on the one hand, the immigration of individuals coming from uucoutamiDated localities seems improbable, and when, besides, we meet no specimen of an age capable of reproduction — we are led to think that the young crawfish which ap- pear were born before the invasion of the epidemic, which they alone have been able to resist. In this case the imniunity which they would have enjoyed should be attributed to the fact that the very young crawfish have the habit of burrowing and passing the first part of their existence at a great depth in the beds of the rivers. In their holes, where they often are more than a meter [yard] from the water, no doubt they can escape the action of certain noxious influences and of certain principles of disease carried by the water. Thus it could be explained how the epidemic, which could have brought about the disappearance of all the crawfish of a river, has nevertheless spared those crustaceans which were out of its reach under the protection of a thick layer of earth. New observations will doubtless i^ermit it soon to be settled in this respect. 160.-FliOAT8 FOR THE SO-CAL,I.ED FATTEIVIIVO OF OV8TFRS. By JOIIf* A. fSYDER. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Biiird. ] You have sent me some letters regarding Weems's floats for fattening oysters. What their structures are like 1 do uot know, but doubtless some one has a patent on them. The simplest and most practical structures of the kind which I have seen are. the storage and fattening floats used by Mr. Conger, of Frank- lin City, Md., and now in use by all the shippers and planters in the vicinity of Chincoteague Bay. I have already described them briefly in my i)aper on the result of the work at Stockton, although I have been informed that similar structures, or rather structures serving sim- ilar i)arposes, are in use on the oyster-beds along the shore of Stateu Island, ISTew York. It is probably a fact that in all of these contrivances they take ad- vantage of the effect produced by fresher water upon oysters which have been taken from slightly Salter water. The planters of Chinco- teague call this " plumping the oysters for market." It does not mean BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 303 that the oysters are augmented in volume by the addition of substan- tial matter, such as occurs during the actual appropriation of food, but only that the vascular sj>aces and vessels in the animals are tilled with a larger relative amount of water due to endosmose. It is a dealer's trick to give his product a better appearance in the market, and as such I do not think deserves encouragement, but rather exposure. Mr. Conger, who claims to have been the originator of the floats used in Chincoteague Bay, has actually resorted to warming fresh water to 60° F. in winter by steam pipes running underneath the wooden in- closure surrounding the "fattening" or "plumping" float. Une good "drink," as he expressed himself to me, renders the animals fit for sale and of better appearance. Conger's floats are simply a pair of windlasses supported by two pairs of piles driven into the bottom. Chains or ropes which wind upon the windlasses pass down to a pair of cross pieces, upon which the float rests, which has a perforated or strong slat bottom, and a rim 18 inches to 2 feet high. These floats I should think are about 8 feet wide and 16 feet long, perhaps 20. These structures are usually built alongside the wharfs of the packing and shipping houses and are really a great convenience in conducting the work. Washington, D. C, November 1, 1883. "WEEMS'S" FLOATS FOR FATTENING AND IMPROVING OYSTERS. We have just commenced our business and have very flattering pros- pects of success. I inclose a letter received from one of our patrons, which I will be glad if you will kindly read and return to me. On Saturday last I took a load on one of our floats (about 5 p. m.) and returned the oysters to the party's wharf Sunday afternoon. The oysters were shucked Monday morning. Before they were fattened, a tubful shucked 6 quarts " ordinary " and 2 quarts " selects "; after they were fattened the same quantity shucked 6 quarts " ordinary" and 4 quarts " selects." Besides the increased quantity, the party said the condition and flavor of all were much improved. The water is yet com- paratively warm, but as soon as we have a good frost that will cool the water we are confident of getting much better results. The process until now has been a monopoly (although the means used are greatly inferior to our float), controlled by Mr. D. D. Mallory and his successors, Messrs. A. Boot & Sons, who used their process with great satisfaction and profit. Messrs. H. F. Hemingway & Co., L. W. Counselman & Co., and William Taylor, esq., of this city, have had considerable experience in fattening oysters, and it will no doubt attbrd them pleasure to give you any information on the subject you may de- sire.— L. ]S^. Cox, Manager. Baltimore, Md., October 25, 1883, 304 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The result of our experience with your float, coupled with our thorough practical knowledge of oysters, enables us to pronounce your float a success, and we recommend its use to every oyster packer in the country. "We think you can with safety prepare to do a large business in float- ing oysters, as a single practical test will demonstrate beyond a doubt the great advantage in the way of increased quantity and improved quality and condition of the oyster after floating to be gained by the use of your float. Your charge of 5 cents per bushel for the use of your floats is very moderate and reasonable. If 3"ou can do the work, and will make it known that you are pre- pared to do it, we think that within three weeks you will be working for every i^acker of any consequence in the city, and that you will be taxed to your utmost to fill the demand that will be made upon you. After October 1 probably we will require two of your floats every day. — H. F. Hemingway & Co. Baltimoee, Md., September 24, 1883. 161.— THE COI^UMBIA RIV£B SAIiI?IOIV— A IIATCIIERIT IVEEOfO. By E. C. HOL,DE]V, Secretary. The Astoria Chamber of Commerce respectfully asks for the estab- lishment of a salmon hatchery, by the General Government, on the Columbia Elver or its tributaries. It is expected that the railroad will be connected with the river, form- ing a continuous uninterrupted line across the continent before the month of August, 1883, and in time to distribute any spawn taken in that year. The Columbia Elver salmon for distribution would be unequaled, while the restocking of the parent waters would be of great value. The catch on the Columbia in I8.S2 was not less than 1,000,000 fish, and surely so great an industry and consumption needs fostering. We ex- ported from the Columbia Eiver, in 1882, 510,000 cases, valued at $2,900,000, There are 21 salmon canneries now at Astoria and 10 more within 30 miles, representing a jjermanently invested capital in ground, buildings, machinery, &c., of at least $850,000. Ko other river in the [Jnited States produces so fine a quality of salmon (quinnat) ; it is pre- ferred in every market of the world, has more oil and a finer color and flavor, and commands an average of 15 per cent in price over the pro- duct of any other river. Astoria, Oreg., December 29, 1882. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 305 Vol. IV, No, SO. lV«shisa§-|©B9, ©. C. Ai^g. 19, 1 8§4. 163 BRIEF NOTES ITJPOJV FISH AN5> TME FISHEKIES. By CIIAS. Vi^ §ITI!J^E¥. [Mainly extracts from the official corresj)ondence.] Cause and cuee of muddy flavou in fish. — J. M. C, writing in Forest and Stream, of March C, 1884, says that three years ago, during the months of June, July, and August, the creeks in Fillmore County, Minnesota, were teeming with brook trout, and he seldom, in a day's fish- ing, failed to take 50 fish, averaging half a i^ound each. Kow, be is satis- fied with half a dozen of tbe same average weight. The first great cause of the decrease was the breaking up of all land that could be tilled for wheat. The wash irom plowing filled the streams with mud, and no suit- able places were left for spawning. He says that trout caught when the streams are muddy lose all their flavor, while in from five to eight days after the water becomes clear tliey are as fine-flavored as before the flood. Last summer, from the middle of May to the last of June, he caught from one to five bass nearly every day. When the water was muddy the bass were contaminated ; when clear, they were free from an 3^ taint of mud. The past five years grangers have paid more attention to stock- raising, and have seeded down the valleys, hence the wash is small. Plants are again growing in the running brooks, alfording cover for trout, and their quality has improved. M. P. Pei'rce, speaking of the edible qualities of carp, illustrates the same fact bv Jersey chickens, which are raised on offal, and then fed on j)ure food and clean v>'ater for a short time i^rior to being offered for sale. Vitality of carp deprived of water. — In a letter dated Char- lottesville, Ya., March 18, 1884, Mr. R. T. W. Duke writes : " On Saturday evening I caught icith a liooh a carp which would weigh about 4 pounds. I i)ut it in ray bath-tub filled with water. Yester- day, about 8 o'clock a. m., I put the carp in a small box surrounding it with wet moss and forwarded to Lynchburg by express. It reached there about 4 p. m., and I learn this morning from my friend to whom it was sent that when taken out and placed in a tub it was as lively as could be. We ate a small carp Sunday morning and thought it very good." Danger of confusing pure German carp with the poor hy- brids OF native waters. — Ke]>lying to an inquiry about the carp in the Hudson River, Professor Baird says : " I cannot speak positively in regard to the action of Captain Robin- son in connection with the carp.* I can only say that I have examined * Refeieuce to Capt. Henry Robinson's carp will be found on p. 25, BnllU. S. F. C, 1882 ; and on p. 266 of this volume. Bull. U. S. F. C. 84 20 306 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. numbers of specimens of the so-called carp of the Hudson Eiver, and found it to be essentially a goldfish, reverted to its original condition. I think it likely that Captain Eobinson's carp were the so-called Rus- sian carj), a very inferior variety, which had hybridized with the gold- fish introduced at the same time by him or some one else, and i^roduc- ing a combination without the virtues of either. I can at any rate say tliat the fish introduced by the United States Fish Commission are totally different from any previously in Eastern waters, and of much superior quality as an article of food. Some years ago, when at Sing Sing, I examined several cart-loads of so called carp, with the result indicated. I have since examined various fish sold as carp in the Kew York market, and with the same results." The food value of the caep. — When writing to Hon. J. G. Car- lisle, Speaker of the House of Kepresentatives, January 4, 1884, Pro- fessor Baird said : " There is naturally much difference of opinion as to the value of the carp as an aiticlo of food. No one who has at his command the choice fishes, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, mack- erel, sheepshead, red snapper, &c., would be likely to attach a high value to the flesh of the carp. But in Germany and Austria it consti- tutes the principal article of consumption in the interior, and brings pre- cisely the same price in the city markets as the native trout. In Berlin it brings about 25 cents per pound. Much, of course, depends upon the mode of cooking and the idiosyncrasies of the taster. ''What we claim, in patent specification parlance, is to furnish a fish which can be reared with a minimum of labor in waters of any charac- ter— warm or cold, muddy or clear, confined or extended — and one that will attain an enormous growth in a very short time, and by its readi- ness to live on vegetable offal, will convert such substances as corn, pumpkins, squashes, cabbages, wild rice, seeds of aquatic plants, &c., into wholesome animal food in countries where other varieties of such food cannot be obtained. It may safely be stated that a given amount of vegetable matter fed to carp will produce twice as much flesh as when given to pigs or poultry." Carp in Susquehanna Eiver. — Mr. A. C. Krueger, of Wrightsville, Pa., July 22, 18^4, reports a carp weighing about 4 pounds, being taken in a set-net below the Columbia dam on the Susquehanna. It had doubt- less escaped from some private pond, but may have been in the river some time. Carp in Lake Erie. — Mr. C. Sterling, secretary of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, writing from Monroe, Mich., December 10, 1883, reports that one of the Monroe fishermen had found in his catch of whitefish a fine specimen of German carp, which weighed 3f pounds. The pond fiom which it was taken was located in Lake Erie, about three-quarters of a mile from the mouth of the Eaisin Eiver. BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 30V Price-list of carp, goldfish, and silveefish. — Mr. H. W. C Muth, of MouHt Healthy, Hamilton County, Ohio, who received 40 carp from the United States Fish Commission December 15, 1880, is success- fully rearing them for sale. His price-list for 1883 was as follows : German carp (scale, mirror, and leather) : 25 for $3: 50 for $5; 75 for $7 ; 100 for $8 ; 10 per cent off for 500 or more. Fringe-tailed goldfish (red, pearl, and variegated): 25 for $8; 50 for $15; 75 for $20; 100 for $25; 10 per cent oft" for 300 or more. Goldfish (red, pearl, and variegated): 25 for $4; 50 for $6; 75 for $8; 100 for $10; 10 per cent oft" for 300 or more. Silverfish: 25 for $1; 50 for $1.50; 75 for $1.75; 100 for $2; 10 per cent off for 500 or more. Prices of scale and mirror carp. — Charles S. Medary, Passaic Valley Carp Fisheries, Little Falls, New Jersey, submits the following price list of carp: "Mirror carp, ten months old, $75 per 100; mirror carp, ten months old, selected, $85 per 100; scale carp, ten months old, $70 per J 00; scale carp, ten months old, selected, $80 per 100 ; special rates on large orders. In warm climates these fish will grow to 14 or 16 inches long by Novem- ber next, and many will spawn this year. In northern climates they will grow to 8 or 10 inches by November next, and spawn next year. Orders must be accompanied by remittance. No orders filled for less than $25. Cans for shipping, $2 to $3, according to size." The carp reared by the United States Fish Commission in 1878. — In a report upon the distribution of carp prior to July 1, 1881 (Report of the Commissioner for 1882, p. 943), it is stated that carp were first brought to Washington in the spring of 1878, and that they " first spawned in 3879." It appears from the follox^ing letter by Professor Baird to an applicant, and dated December 10, 1878, that a few young were reared that season, but that none were taken from the ponds for distribution : " The only way of securing the carp is by drawing off the water of the pond in which they are confined, and storing the fish of different grades, sizes, and species in separate reservoirs until the original x^onds fill up again, when the breeding fish are restored to their place. The young fry can then be taken at any time and shipped to destination. "Asthe construction of these reservoirs involved extensive excavations in a malarious part of Washington and the exposure to the air of some fifteen acres of mud and rank vegetation, it was considered inexpedient to commence the work until the occurrence of Irost or even ice about Washington should give the assurance that no injury to the public health was likely to result, this feeling of course being intensified by the yellow-fever epidemic of the present year and the fear of involving the city in any evil consequence. 308 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. " It was not until early in November that the work upon the reservoirs could be commenced, and this once begun, although i)rosccuted with great vigor, was retarded by bad weather, the defection of workmen, the difficulty of obtainiog the i^roper kind of cement for the brick-work, and other causes beyond our control ; and it was not until the begin- ning of December that these reservoirs were finished and ready for use. " By this time, however, it was ascertained that the carj) had gone into winter quarters by burying themselves in the bottom of the pond, and, as the drainage of these ponds would leave the fish in the exposed mud and involve their certain death, it was considered necessary to defer further action until the coming spring. Probably in the early part of April the work will be begun and the stock of young fish avail- able for distribution ascertained, " It is, of course, impossible to say now in what numbers this stock exists, but we hope to be able to supply a considerable portion, at least of the applications already on file. In any event we shall have a much larger number of breeding fish in 1879 than we had in 1878, and we have every reasonable assurance that in the summer of next year a supply of fish will be available sufficient to meet the current require- ments." The carp trade in Austria. — From one estate in Southern Bo- hemia from 370,500 to 492,000 pounds of carp are sent to Vienna annually. Marsh-hens and night-herons catch carp. — Under date of July 17, 1883, Dr. End. Hessel writes : " The other day I shot a marsh-hen with 38 young carp in the stomach and a uiglit heron containing the heads of 78 young carp." Carp sent to the Sandwich Islands. — Writing from Wailuka, November 17, 1882, F. H. Enders, M. D., says : " On August 27, 1882, 20 carj), recently arrived from California, and measuring from 1 to 1^ inches in length, were placed in a pond about 150 feet square by from 1 to 5 feet in depth. It is supijlied with water from a spring. On No- vember 15, 1882, the pond was drained and 15 fish found, noue of which measured less than 11^ inches and some were 13 inches in length and very fat. The water of this pond contains about 1 per cent of iron and a dense growth of moss from top to bottom. It is prolific in tender buds and shoots, upon which the fish subsist, as they have never been fed since being put in the pond. These fish, I presume, will spawn in a few months, when we hope to raise at least 10,000 next year, as they have no enemies to disturb them." Carp sent to Cuba. — I have received by the steamship Newport, of New York, two large cans containing twenty-six live German carp. Three of them died during the trip, and as I was obliged to keep them in the cans for a day while I found a place to put them until I could take BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 309 tbem to ni3' fariu, seven of them died during that day. I suppose it was on account of the heat they felt on the sudden change of climate. I hare the rest in a very large fountain in the open air, and I have no doubt they will be all right.— J. N. Od yards. Havana, Cuba, 3Iarch 17, 1883. Carp sent to Brazil. — It is with pleasure I report the safe arrival of thirteen beautiful specimens of the survival of the fittest out of one hundred carp which was shipped to me from New York by steamer Bor- ghese. They were thirty nine days at sea. The greater portion of them died before the steamer reached St. Thomas. None died during the last ten days of the voyage. Your instructions for keeping them were not carefully observed. The person who had them in charge fed them on hard-boiled eggs.— J. W. Couchman. Eio DE Janeiro, Brazil, Bua do Ouvidor, Ifo. 130, January 6, 1883. In a letter dated January 24 Mr. Couchman writes that, owing to an accident to the tub in which he was keeping the thirteen carp pending the completion of his pond, all but four perished. These four had been making rapid growth. Carp, goldfish, ides, and catfish handled at Central Sta- tion.— Mr. J, E. Brown makes the following statement of the number of pond fish handled at Central Station during the season of about eight months ending June 1, 1884 : Leather carp : Received 149, 500 Shipped by express and car 148, 7G8 Scale carp : Eeceived 19, 178 Shipped by exjDress and car 14, 341 Mirror carp : Eeceived 12 Shipped by express and car 8 Goldfish : Eeceived 4, 100 Shipped by express and car, or delivered to applicants. . . 3, 514 Golden ides : Eeceived , 24 Shipped 19 Catfish : Eeceived , 150 Shipped by car 100 Some of the fish were in very poor condition when received, particu- larly the scale carp, in which there was considerable loss. Washington, D. C, June 7, 1884. 310 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Shipment of adult carp to South Carolina, — Tbe transporta- tion of adult fish is very rarely attempted, especially as the Commis- sion is not able to furnish them to applicants. Very unusual circum- stances, however, made it desirable to send twenty large carp to Mr. B. J. Donaldson, Georgetown, S. C. Messenger F. L. Donnelly took charge of them at 5 p. m., April 10, 1884, and left Washington via At- lantic Coast Line Eailway, reaching Georgetown at 4.40 p. m., April 11. As Mr. Donaldson's plantation is located on an island in the river sev- eral miles above Georgetown, it was necessary to keep the carp at that place overnight. Notwithstanding the close attention given them, one of the smaller died. The other nineteen were delivered safely on the following morning. The larv^ of mosquitoes as food for carp. — Lahaway makes the following statement in Forest and Stream : '' Does the carp feed on the mosquito in its larval form of ' wiggler' and ' tumbler"? From a fact that came under my observation last summer I am decidedly of the opinion that they do. My carp ponds, four in number, are located in Ocean County, New Jersey, in the cranberry region, vrhere, as is well known, mosquitoes do abound. Three ye;irs since I constructed a pond of about five-eighths of an acre but a short distance from the house, and was not mistaken in my supposition that this pond would not tend to diminish the sui)ply of mosquitoes. But last May I placed in this pond a few carp, received from the Government the preceding autumn. In August last, when bilter complaints were uttered all over the country at the abundance of mosquitoes, we had very few, so few indeed that my attention was attracted by it. Some carpenters in my employ at the time reported that while on their way to my place they were ' nearly eaten up ' by these pests, but when they got there they ceased to be annoyed by them. " The female mosquito, as is well known, deposits her 250 or 350 eggs on the surface of quiet water. These hatch out in a few days, and are known to many country people as the ' wiggler.' In ten to fifteen days these are changed into ' tumblers', in which form they remain five to ten days, thus spending from fifteen to twenty-five days in the water before they become denizens of the air and acquire their musical and phlebotomizing capacities. The carp doubtless find their larvai most palatable tidbits, that are greedily sought after. In one particular the chosen habitats of carp and mosquitoes are alike, both delighting in warm waters." Ocean County, N. J., February 12, 1883. Fish bureau in Portland, Me. — About April 1, 1884, a fish ex- change was organized in Portland, Me., with forty-two members. Mr. George Trefethen was made president and Mr. O. B. Withen, secretary. Shad hatching in Connecticut. — Last season Mr. Henry J. Fenton, by direction of the State commission, went to the fisheries of Farm- BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FiSH COMMISSION. 311 ington Eiver, aiul as the shad were caught collected the spawn, after which the fish were taken to market. From these eggs he raised 3,200,000 young, and turned them into the same river to return three or four years hence. California teout in Delaware River.— The American Angler, of April 5, 1884, announced that California trout are making their ap- pearance in Delaware River, a boy having taken a twopounder near Narrowsburg, N. Y., March 28, 1884. Sheepshead abundant. — Writing from New York, June 12, 1884, Mr. E. G. Blackford reports the catch of sheepshead along the coast from ilforth Carolina to Long Inland as exceptionally large and of good quality. They sold as low as 5 cents per pound during the first week of June. On the weight of brook trout. — On page 9 of the Bulletin for 1882 of the United States Fish Commission, Livingston Stone has given some weights of 8almo fontinaUs {Salvelinus). Professor Agassiz pronounced the Rangeley trout to be true Salmo fontinalis. The trout in question, said to have been caught by Mr. Page, but really caught by my col- leage, Mr. Stanley, weighed 10 pounds, and was a true fontinalis. The Salmo oquassa never attains a greater weight than G or 7 ounces; it is peculiar to Rangeley and Moostocmaguntic Lakes. Mr. Stanley, some three years since, in dipping for oquassa or blue-back trout in October, caught in his net a Salmo fontinalis of the enormous weight of 12 pounds.— E. M. Stilwell. Bangor, Me., September 17, 1882. A LARGE HERRING. — A herring measuring 13 inches in length, 7 inches in girth, and weighing 12 ounces, was forwarded by Mr. Wilson, fishery oflicer, March 28, to Prof. Cossar Ewart, Edinburgh University. The herring, which is' a splendid specimen, was caught about 3 miles south of Girvan, oft" Ardmillan Point, by Dugald Robertson, Campbel- town, in the seine trawl-net. [Edinburgh Scotsman, March 29, 1884.J A iviETHOD OF DESTROYING NOXIOUS FISHES. — The method fre- quently adopted by fish-culturists to destroy noxious fishes is to intro- duce quicklime into the pond. This for a time exerts a very destructive influence, but before long becomes inert by slaking and forming a harm- less combination. If the water is drawn off" after liming, of course it would be very much better, and at the end of a week carp or any other fish could be introduced. Dr. Rud. Hessel, suijerintendentof the carp ponds, said, i?"ovember 23, 1883 : •' Some four hundred eels have been killed during the last eight days in the east pond, and there are still more. One barrel of lime is required to exterminate them." 312 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Tanks for TRANSFERRma fish from the Mississippi Eiver to Kansas. — The followiug is extracted from a letter of W. S. Gile, of the Kansas State fish commission: "My plants of native fish in the streams of the State this season were an entire success. In order that I might l)lant fish of such size as to become spawiiers the coming season I had some zinc tanks made and incased with wood holding about two bar- rels of water, laid them down, had a hole cut in the top at one end large enough to put in and let out the water and fish, filled the tank two- thirds full and set it endwise with the car to prevent too much slopping, and aerated when the cars were standing with an air pump with about 6 feet of hose attached. In this way I transported nine varieties of fish caught in the Mississippi over 500 miles with good success. Each plant contained two varieties of i)ike a foot long." Venango, Kans., December 27, 1883. Menhaden, herring, eels, and lobsters. — Mr. Willard Nye, jr., writing from New Bedford, Mass., Kovember 23, 1883, says: "The latter part of October there were a good many menhaden in the Acushnet Kiver, and the middle of this month they were quite plenty around Mon- tauk Point, Long Island. The fishermen speak of there being considera- ble increase in the schools this year over last. They have caught a good many of those fall herring in the traps around here for the past month, and they are as round and fat as mackerel, if not more so. If potting for eels is not stopped soon, they^ will exist only in the memory of the inhabitants when they used to be plenty. I was surprised at the number of lobsters crawling around on the sand shoals — south of Gardner's Island, Long- Island Sound — and there did not seem to be many fishermen to catch them — i^erhaps this explains it." Inspections of marine products in the District of Columbia for eleven years ending June 30, 1883. [From the reports of tbe health officer.] Tears. Shad. Herring. Bluefish. Fish (bunches). Stur- geon. Oysters (bushels). Claras. Crabs. 187.3 852, 900 3, 789, 800 .326,200 553, 761 496 448, 557 524, 000 336, 600 1874 C28. (i37 6, 5G7, 240 89, 841 507, 291 919 569, 372 1, 103, 000 297, 250 1875 404,215 1, 074, 4G5 56, 430 557, 203 1,240 305, 737 1,110,725 446, .525 187G 319, 079 1,488,950 47, 500 483, 111 919 355, 437 704, 975 316, 498 1877 131,199 2, 572, 124 5,450 301,749 635 295, 997 863, 470 347,415 1878 121, 7S5 2, 507, 500 40, 425 271, 727 1,000 351,317 938, 225 306, 450 1879 327, .^37 3, 497, 2."i9 70, 570 219. 635 952 316,377 148, 079 584, 661 1880 .321,235 6, 858, 839 253,458 179, 556 1,094 361, 427 1,301,750 698, 789 1881 4G2, 517 9, 628, C83 349, 483 201, 444 1, 124 319, 702 994, 390 342, 344 1882 350, 309 6, 439, G35 1C4, 757 211,208 1,759 359, 354 989, 921 364, 508 1883 258,711 4, 900, 426 01,310 296,419 1, 753 353, 402 1, 247, 064 587, 335 Total . . 4, 238, 124 49, 984, 921 1, 465, 424 3, 903, 164 11, 950 4, 036, 679 9, 985, 599 4, 688, 375 Successful introduction of lake trout, Salmo namaycush, in France. — 0. Raveret-Wattel, writing under date of Paris, Octo- ber 4, 1883, says : " You will learn, doubtless, with pleasure, that the eggs of the lake trout that vou have had the kindness to forward to our society BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 313 have very successfully hatched. The fry are tbe most lively that I have ever seen. They thrive marvelously well, and are almost twice as large as the fry of our common trout of the same age. Salmo namay- CMsA seems to be a very remarkable fish — extremely baidy. It is cer- taiuly a precious species in all regards to acclimate in our fresh waters, and we are much indebted to you for having afforded to our society the possibility of the experiment." The sal:.ion ckop of 1883.— Mr. Eobert E. C. Stearns, of Berkeley, Cal., has forwarded the following statement, taken from the San Fran- cisco Chronicle of Thursday, December 13, 1883. "There were taken from the Sacramento Elver and tributaries for the year 1883, ending October 15, and delivered to the different pack- ing firms 451,957 si)ring salmon and 1(;0,512 fall salmon, weighing 7,319,988 pounds. The wholesale dealers have received 115,004 spring- salmon and 52,902 fall salmon, making a total number of 780,405 salmon, weighing 9,585,672 pounds." Columbia Eiver salmon. — The run of salmon on the Columbia Kiver has been very large. Eecently the canners were obliged to throw away six thousand fish, which, with their i>reseut facilities, they were unable to take care of. The canners have been doing their utmost to keep up with the fishermen, but the supply exceeds the canners' abilities. It is thought that the season's catch will be unusually large. [From The American Field, July 26, 1884.] Salmon canning in British Columbia. — The Delta Cannery is the largest in British Columbia. Commencing operations only five years ago, its business has assumed such proportions that it now^ employs a force of over 400 men, 280 Chinese and 160 Indians, and a fishing uutfit consisting in part of 38 boats and nets, 2 seines, 1 steam -tug, and 4 scows. The cannery covers a space 160 by 120 feet, is two stories high, and in some respects is the best furnished on the Pacific coast. It is provided with a boiler 16 feet long and 4 feet in diameter, twelve tanks, two retorts of 3,360 cans capacity each, filling and solderingma- chines, four lacquer baths, and every convenience for the rapid and thorough performance of the various operations necessary to secure the highest degree of perfection in the prei)aration of this most excellent article of food. Chinamen, under the supervision of experienced white foremen, are emi^loyed for the canning process and ludians for catching the fish, receiving from $1.25 to $2 per day, the net tenders the latter amount. The daily catch per boat ranges from fifty to three hundred salmon, the fleet sometiDies bringing in twelve or fifteen thousand. This reason (18821) the run has been so extraordinary that the Delta Cannery put up 1,280 cases in a single day, and 6,600 cases in six days. Messrs. Page & Ladner, the managing partners of the firm, showed me their product for the last mouth, amounting to the enormous quantity 314 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of 25,000 cases, or 1,152,000 cans, covering every available space of the immense lower floor to the lieigbt of over 5 feet, the largest number ever packed by any one establishment daring the same period of time. Two hundred and fifty barrels of salmon, or about 13,000, were also salted within the month. The company ship their goods direct to Lon- don or Liver{)ool through the firm of Welch, Rithet & Co., of Victoria. — [Newton H. Chittenden^ in " Guide to British Columbia."] The salmon canneries on Feaser River. — Mr. Louis C. d'Homer- gue, of Brooklyn, N. Y., writing to the Daily Eagle of that city from San Franciso, Cal., in April, 1S82, says: "The salmon canneries on the Fraser River are eleven in number, and these caught and shipped to England 580,000 boxes, containing each 48 cans of a pound each, while on the Columbia River, in the United States, thirty-two canneries only made 300,000 boxes of 4 dozen cans each. In this country our resources are allowed to be drawn ui)ou without regulation, while in the English possessions everything is well regulated. Under English laws no can- neries or fish-rendering works under the new law can be established on the Mackenzie and Fraser rivers, except at a location indicated by the fishing commissioner under a yearly license of $250 and a tonnage license for each boat employed ; they can only fish for certain fish at and between certain times, and then only in the districts indicated within their licenses. The number of factories at various localities is left to the discrimination of the fishing commissioner, who being aj)- poiuted for life at a round yearly salary and being a man of great knowledge in such matters cannot be improperly influenced. The re- sult of tins restri<;tive system is that every British subject engaged in the fisheries is doing well and the fish are plentiful, while those on the Cohnnbia are scratching every year harder, from the comparative scarcity of fish, which will, probably, in a few years disappear, as they have in the Sacramento River." Hatching Salmon at Dennysville, Maine. — Mr. Benjamin Lin- coln makes the following statement: The Fish Commissioners of our State sent me 40,000 salmon eggs. I succeeded in hatching out and putting into the river 36,000 young salmon in good condition, which, if nothing hapi)ens, ought to increase the run of salmon in our river. It is stated that this river (the Dennys) is the only river in the United States in which the salmon will take an artificial fly. Do you know whether that is the case ; and, if so, what can be the cause of it ! We have taken three here this spring with rods. But it is so cold and wet that there are but very few in the river. Dennysville, Me., June 2, 1884. Ripe sculpins in Vineyard Sound.— Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, in letters to Prof. S. F. Baird, writes as follows: "Day before yesterday i found sculpins in the Sound very plentifully, and every one was a BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 315 milter. Last mouth I could catch iione but those with ejrgs. Some of tlieiu had 8 rays iu the dorsal fin and some 9 rays. In the aual fin there were 13 and 14 rays." Wood's Holl, Mass., November 23, 1883. " I seud to day some jars of sculpin spawn that washed ashore on Nobska Point, and some white roes from the milters. ^N^ovember 20 I M'eut off in the Sound fishiuf;- and found the sculpius very ])leiity, and all were milters. I went again yesterday and fouud them still verj' plenty and all milters. The milt was running out of some of them. Still the spawn is very small and black on the outside. There have been no sculpins caught with eggs for about a month. Then they were all females and no milters. Can it be that the spawners come along and lay their eggs, and then the males come along in three or four weeks and milt them ? I have tried every fall, iu October and the first of November, and never caught a milter, but ever^- one had eggs, then they would go iind I did not try again, thinking the sculpins had all gone by." Wood's Holl, Mass., Noremher 30, 1883. Large halibut and pompano. — April 24, 1884, INIr. E. G. Blackford, of Fulton Market, New York, received a halibut which with head and tail on weighed 42G pounds. It was the largest he ever handled. May 30, he received his largest pompano, weighing 35 pounds. It was caught off the coast of North Carolina. Sharks. — Commander J. E. Bartlett, of the Hydrographic Office, United States Navy, at Philadelphia, sent the following memorandum: June 10, 1884 : "American steamship D. J. Foley, at Philadelphia, from Port Antonio, on June 6, ran through an immense school of sharks from latitude 35° 30' to latitude 30° 30' on the meridian of 75° W. The captain reports that he shot GO of them." Thk Eocky Mountain whitefish (Coregonus williamsonii) IN Orkgon. — In forwarding a specimen of this fish for identification Mr. I. E. JMoores wrote: "They are a very tine pan fish, by some claimed to be equal, if not superior, to our mountain trout — very solid and white flesh. They are found iu Mill Creek, a tributary of the Willa- mettt- Eiver at Salem, 175 miles from the ocean. They come in immense quantities with the first fall rains iu October and November, hundreds and thousands being taken by seines along the creek and in ponds caused by the overflow. They are very nearly of one size and length, and when alive, having no slime whatever, they can be handled as readily as corncobs. As far as we can learn reliably these fish are only found in Mill Creek, and there only since the construction of the locks at the falls of the Willamette two j'ears ago. Several of us who have given the subject some attention, are of the opinion that they are a salt-water or estuary fish, and have come through the locks at Oregon City in their fall migrations for spawning." Portland, Oreg., February 27, 1883. 316 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. EECORD OF WHITEFISH EGGS KECEIVED AND HATCHED AT DRUID HILL HATCHING HOUSE, BALTIMOEE, MD. I.— Lot of 50,000 received Becemher 20, 1882. Of this lot 49,407 hatched February 12, 1883; of which 54 fish were lost iu handling, making a total loss of 047. The average temperature of air during incubation was 34^°, of water 38^°. The fry were deposited as follows : Date. Place. Numljer. 1883. Feb. 14 10, 000 15 10, 000 16 0 leeusborough 10, 000 17 Third Haven 10, 000 18 Sherwood's Mills 8,861 Mar. 4 Deep I^raDch . 492 Total 49, 353 II.— io^ of 100,000 received Becemher 30, 1882. Of this lot 95,500 hatched February 5,1883, and the fry were deposited as follows : Date. 1883. Feb. 14 14 15 15 19 21 23 27 28 Place. North East Eiver, Cecil County, Maryland Millington, Chester Eiver, Kent County Octoraria Kiver, Cecil Connty , Maryland Big Elk River, Cecil County, Maryland Patiipsco River, Howard County, Maryland Curtis Creet, Anne Arund( I County, Maryland Mount Winans, Baltimoic County, Maryland Laurel, Patuxeut River, Howard Connty, Maryland Trausquakiug Eiver, Dorchester Countiy, Maryland Total Number. 15, 000 15, 000 11, 500 11, .'OO 10, 000 5, 000 5, 000 15, 000 7, 500 95, 500 A NEW HATCHING BOX. — Prof. Cossar Ewart, F. R. S., has devised a new hatching box for adhesive eggs, to take the place of the "Clark" hatching box, The advantage of Prof. Ewart's box is that the glasses are arranged in a horizontal position, so that the embryos when hatched pass at once into comparatively still water, instead of having to run over and under a varying number of vertical glass plates. Transferring fertilized herring eggs to spawning beds. — Professor Ewart has described an easy method of stocking spawning beds, capable of being readily used by the fishermen tliemselves. AH that was required was an ordinary wooden tub and a shallow, galvan- ized-iron tray about 20 inches in diameter, with the bottom consisting of two portions each hinged to a central bar so as to open downwards. The object iu view is to deposit stones on the spawning bed coated with fertihzed ova. To do this the tray is placed in the tub, which is then BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 317 filled with sea-water. In the tray a number of flat stoues are arranged; the water is then fertilized, and the stones coated with eg^gs. This done the tray is lowered to the bottom by m ans of four cords, two at- tached to the rim of the tray and one to each half of the bottom. When the tray has reached the sea-floor the cords attached to the false bottom are set free and the tray raised by the cords attached to its edge, the result being that the egg-coated stones are left at the bottom. By this method the fishermen, without any trouble or expense, could add two hundred or three hundred eggs for every herring they removed from the :!'3a, and thus do their best to restore the balance of nature which their operations disturb. [From Nature, ilarch 27, 1884.] Destruction of' fish by Dutch i^eis. — Extract from letter of L. H. Hardy, dated Ealeigh, IST. C, January 19, 1883 : '" We have in Car- teret Conuty, North Carolina, a great many fish, and our people live by catching and selling them. For the last four years our waters, both in the sounds and ocean, have been obstructed by Dutch nets, which have proved very destructive to our fish. Thousands offish too small to be serviceable are caught by these nets and suffered to remain in them until they are dead, and then turned out to drift upon the shore in numbers that would seem incredible to relate. Sometimes these small fish are taken and worked up for manure, and at other times they only go to feed the crabs. Thus millions of good fish are being de- stroyed yearly that are not worth a cent while so small. These nets do more damage on the outside, in the ocean, than they do in the sounds." Termination of the treaty of Washington in 1885. — At a meeting of Gloucester fishing owners and masters of fishing vessels held in that city in 1882, a memorial to Congress was adopted, wherein, after citing the 33d article of the treaty, it was continued: " Now, therefore, we, the outfitters, owners, and fishermen of the United States, knowing and believing that the results of said treaty have not only been detri- mental to the interests of the United States, but unjust and monstrous in the valuation by the Halifax commissioners of the British shore fish- eries, do hereby pray your honorable body to cause notice to be given at the earliest practicable moment of the desire of the United States to terminate the operation of the fishery articles of said treaty, and all other treaty provisions relating to the fisheries on the shores of Canada and Newfoundland, for the following reasons : To the end that the Brit- ish and American fishermen may each in their own waters enjoy the right to take fish unmolested, and have equal commercial rights in the waters of either country." Edible qualities of the pole flounder. — In the New York Times, of August 14, 1882, Mr. Barnet Phillips said : " There are many varieties of flat-fish in our waters, variously designated as the smooth flounder, the rusty flounder, the sand flounder, the four-spotted flounder, 318 BULLETIN OF TUE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. but none of them are equal to the English sole. The dabs and flukes of the New York markets, if properly prepared, are, however, quite edible. But there is one flat fish, the pole flounder (Glyptocephalus cyn- oglossus), which, found on our coast, is quite the equal of any sole caught in European waters. It resembles in form the general appearance of the flat fish, but is more elongated, and will weigh from 2 to 3 pounds. The mouth is exceedingly small, and, strangely enough, for this reason, as the fish cannot easily take the hook, it has not as yet been caught with a line. As it lives in rather deep water, it has to be taken with a drag-net. Some years ago its presence was determined by the United States Fish Commission, and from time to time these fish have been dis- tributed to the appreciative in order that their quality should be tested. Last week Professor Baird forwarded to Mr. E. G. Blackford some half dozen of these pole flounders, with the request that the merits of these fish should be determined. The pole flounder was found to be in every respect the equal of the sole. Its flesh was firm and white, without that muddy flavor peculiar to our flounder. One peculiarity of the fish, in which it differs from the flounder, is that the spines which surround the fish, the continuous dorsal fin, are not set into the body with hard bones, which in the flounder fill the mouth with spiculgs, re- calling a jjin-cushion. These bones in the pole flounder are placed in a gelatinous substance, which forms one of the most agreeably edible por- tions of the fish. If this fish could be caught iu quantity it would be- come a most important addition to our catalogue of American fishes, for it would replace, if not surpass, the sole." The shad fisheries at Lake Monroe, Florida.— Writing from Sanford, Fla., March 3, 1881, Mr. D.L. Way says : "Mr. Fisher, who is conducting the shad tishenes attheheadof Lake Monroe, states that shad are now ripe with roe, and that he could fur- nish from 50 to 75 a night that could be stripped. He says that when he takes a ripe one he either strips the eggs into the water or lets the fish go. He is deeplj^ interested in the preservation of the roe. He further says that in about ten days, or at any time thereafter, he can furnish 200 or 300 for stripping every night. The shad spawn as far up the Saint John's and tributaries as there is running water. The bar at the head of Lake Monroe is a noted spawning-ground for shad. Owing to a large extent of shallow water there, with clean, sandy bot- tom, and facilities for protecting the spawn and young fish, it Mill be a most desirable place for a hatchery. He likewise says he has had much experience in this very line, having assisted Seth Green as early as the year 1863 in catching and stripping shad. "After the shad -fishing season is over this year he is going to seine for catfish and gars (two fish that are specially destructive to siiawn and young shad) and sell them for fertilizing imrposes." BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 319 The shad fisheries near Havre de Grace, Md., 1883. — On June 20, Frank L. Donncll}' proceeded to Havre de Grace, Md., to ascertain as far as practicable the catch of the different seines operated in that neigh- borhood, and also the statistics of the shipments of fish from that port, both to Baltimore and to northern markets, the length of seines used at the diflercut fisheries, &c. He visited the owners and persons in charge of the six principal fish- eries in that vicinity, and from them obtained the facts compiled below: Table of Havre de Grace shad fisheries, 1883. Fishery. 1. "Western float 2. Eastern flo it 3. Tho island fishery 4. Float fishinfj 5. Float Ashing 6. Float fishing Total Length of Depth Ifumber of of seme. seme. men. Fathoms. Feet. 800 26 40 800 23 40 930 30 45 417 40 40 7.50 20 50 510 25 44 4,207 20 to 40 259 Number of shad taken. Kind of power used. Boat wing. 7,800 Engine .. 5,500 ...do 8,000 do 5, 500 ': 2 horses . . 13,367 i Engine.. 6, 800 ! . . . do 46, 967 Land wing. 3 horses. Do. Do. 2 horses. Encino. 2 horses. 6 engines; 15 horses Sales of fish. — He learned from the only wholesale shippers of fish in Havre de Grace that their sales were almost exclusively in Philadel- l)hia, and this season (1883) they had shipped to that city 16,500 shad, which had been caught by gilling or drift-net fishermen. The Baltimore market is supplied by bay fishermen and "run-boats" from the float and shore fisheries. It was impossible to get an accurate statement of the shad shipped to Baltimore. It will be seen from the above that 46,967 shad were caught by the six principal fisheries in the vicinity of Havre de Grace. Also 10,500 shad were caught by the gilling or drift-net fishermen on the Susque- hanna, making a total of 62,967 shad. If statistics from all the floats and shore-fisheries and drift-net fishermen on the Susquehanna River and at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay could be gathered, Mr. Don- nelly thinks it would show a total catch of 100,000 shad for the season. Washington, D. C, June 27, 1883. Shad hatching in Connecticut in 1884.— The catching of shad, for the purpose of securing the spawn for artificial propagation on the Housatonic River, closed about July 1. Mr. Fenton, who has had charge of the hatching, gives some very interesting facts in regard to it. The total number hatched out and deposited in the rivers will ex- ceed 3,000,000, of which one-half have been emptied into the Connecti- cut River, at Enfield Bridge, and the remainder into the Housatonic. Mr. Fenton estimates the average number of eggs secured from each fish at 30,000, although, at least in two cases, he has secured fish that had 320 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. over 60,000 eggs each, the eggs from the two fish filliug a common-sized milk-pan. The fish were emptied into the river at the turn of the flood tide, so that as the tide goes out the young shad are carried down the river far enough so that the impurities emptied into the river from the paper-mill may not kill them. Mr. Fenton seems to think that the acids discharged in tlie river are not so destructive to fish as is generally sup- posed, and says, in support of his views, that several days since, just after the hatching of several thousand shad, the vats of the paper-mill were discharged into the river while the tide was rising, and conseqneiitly the impurities were forced np the river to the hatching-boxes, a few hundred yards above the mill, filling them with impure water, so that the young fish could not be seen ; but after the tide went out and the water became pure no perceptible harm had been done the fish. Besides the young shad jtlaced in the river here, the United States Fish Commissioner placed 1,000,000 fish in the river at Milford, although he is doubtful if many of these live to reach the Sound, as not only do they have to run the risk of being devoured by the bass and pickerel in the lake, but the passage of the dam during the month of Septem- ber, when the water is low, is doubtful, and if they take to the canal and pass through the water-wheels of the different shops, they go to sure death, as has been seen at Windsor Locks. [Forest and Stream, July 17, 1884.] PENNma EOCKFisH AT Batteky STATION. — Lieut. W. F. Low, TJ. S. N., who was in charge of the station in April, 1883, wrote : "I am in- formed that last Jnne some four hundred rockfish were placed in the pool at this station. The last authentic account I have of them before the ice formed is from Mr. Mitchell, the lighthouse keeper, who tells me that he saw a great many of them on several occasions near the surface of the water and always swimming in the same manner, namely, round and round. Since I have taken charge of the station (five weeks) four dead ones have been found, all very thin. Yesterday we made a haul in the pool and captured two live ones and a dead one. The dead one was cov- ered with mud and had evidently been dead some time. Of the live fish one was a male and the other a female. The female measured 28 inches and the male '20. Both were in i^oor condition and no evi- dence of food was found in them. The head of the female was much bruised, as if from constant rubbing against some hard substance. The haul was not a very thorough one, as the seine hung several times, and we were obliged to lift the leads some distance from the bottom on each occasion." Battery Station, Havre de Grace, Md., April 5, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 321 VoL IV, No. 21. Washinj^ton, ». C. Aug. 13, 1884. .163.-THt: SPECKI^EO CATFISH. By J. F. JO-^ES. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baud.] The general species of fisli is common, but the valuable and highly aj)preciatcd variety that I have domesticated is different from all of the kind, both in habit and color. The "speckled catfish" is naturally a pond fish, and found only in one locality^ in the South ; at least, such is my information and observation. That locality is on Fhnt Eiver, running south and emptying into the Oiattahoochee some distance be- low Columbus, Ga. Many years ago this fish was plentiful, being found only in still water, lagoons, or ponds. The Flint Eiver runs through the Pine Mountain. Not far south or north of the mountain these fish cease to occupy the waters and inhabit only the tributaries to the river, including a space of about 50 or 75 miles. Some time since I determined to try and domesticate them, and the effort has resulted in success. The species is easily tamed or domesti- cated. They can be tiaiued like pigs; incrcse and grow fast when well supplied with food; subsist upon vegetation, but in the absence of it can be fed any kind of fruit, such as peaches, apples, persimmons, watermelons and the like, corn, wheat, and sorghum seed. I put fifty, 3 inches long, in a cotton basket and set it iu my pond. I fed them well on corn shorts and dough. Iu the short space of six weeks they grew to be 0 and 7 inches long and trebled in weight. They spawn when one year of age, and twice a year — May and Sei)tember. Last spring I procured only eight wild ones. -After feeding them well up to this time they have spawned in May and September and have filled my pond. They have grown to be 15 and 18 inches long and weigh 4 and 6 pounds. They take care of their own young and trouble no other fish, bite readily at hooks, and offer all the sport at catching that a trout does. They resemble the leather carp more than any other fish, are oval from head to tail fin on the back, and have a sharp mouth. The under part, or belly, is as white as cotton. The sides and back are as spotted as a leopard. The flesh is perfectly white and tender, and no better for the table is to be found ; bones are rather small and slender. At the same time they carry more flesh than any fish I ever saw. They love a pond of clean water and a mud bottom. All the floods that come cannot wash them from their home unless the whole of the poud is carried away. They will not go in running water if they can avoid it. Disturb them, and, like a carp, they will sink in the mud to hide. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 21 322 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. They cau be caught conveuieiitly in a gill-net, but with great difficulty in a seine. My liond covers 5 acres of land, the largest and best i^ond in Western Georgia. It is a jjcrfect mass of fish aud has been constructed only eleven mouths. The water is from an inch to 5 feet deep, aud abounds in vegetation. I could sell it for a fine price, but I would not exchange for the best four horse farm in Georgia. The twenty little carp you sent me last winter, then about 3 or 4 inches long, are now 20 inches in length. I had two old ones that I bought, and they have stocked my pond with hundreds now about 8 or 10 inches long. HoGANSViLLE, Ga., October 31, 1883. I am anxious to send you some of my " speckled cat," and to have you test their value as a domestic fish in the Government ponds. I can send you some alive without danger. I am sending the September spawn all over the Southern States now, and when they are proi>erly introduced they will give the laborers or farmers all the meat needed. HoaANSViLLE, Ga., November 5, 1883. 164.— the: ihioratioiv.^ of the: sal.itioiv (salitio saxlAR li.) iiv the BAIiTIC\* By Prof. A. J. MAI.I»ICJREr¥. From time immemorial there have been caught in Finland salmon in whose mouth or entrails have been found hooks of a form and charac- ter entirely unknown in these regions. In all the salmon streams which fall iuto the Gulf of Bothnia, not exceptiug the most northern, the Tornea and Kemi, it is quite common to find such hooks. They are found every summer, even in the Kymmenc Kiver, which empties into the Gulf of Finland, although not so frequently as in some of the other rivers. At the Raatti salmon fishery in the Ulea Eiver, where all sal- mon are cleaned before tbey are sold, the fishermen gather every year a large number of strange hooks taken from the mouths and stomachs of salmon. Thus, I was informed during my last visit to Raatti in August, 1883, that among about 3,000 salmon caught since the end of J une, weigh- ing on an average from 25 to 30 pounds, there were at least 25 fish from which brass hooks Avere extracted. At the Klockarsand's government fisheries in the Kumo Eiver, near Biorneborg, a considerable number of similar hooks are taken from salmon every summer. With few exceptions, of which I shall speak later, the hooks found, in salmon are of the same kiud. The}' are made of brass wire, varying in thickness from 2 to 2^ millimeters [from one-twelfth to one-tenth of an * ^' Laxena {Salmo salar L.) vandringari Osteysjlin." From Aftryck nr Shorten, No. 2j 1884. Translated from the Swedish by Herman Jacobsqn. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 323 iucli], a little compressed at the bend of the book, aud varying in length from 9.5 to 31.5 centimeters. Most of them measure about 10.5 centi- meters [4 J inches] in length ; and the opening of the hook has a breadth of from 2^ to 3i centimeters [from 1 to 1 1 inches]. To the hook there is frequently attached a piece of line, varying in length, generally still good, and measuring 1.5 to 1.8 millimeters [about one-sixteenth of an inch] in thickness. To this piece of line, if it is of sufficient length, there is gen- erally attached a few inches from the hook a leaden weight of conical shape, bored through lengthwise, and weighing from 10 to 20 grams [about half an ounce]. Occasionally one or two letters or other marks are engraved on these weights. Fig. 3 shows such a brass hook with its weight, taken from the stomach of a large salmon caught last Jxily at the Muhos salmon fisheries in the Ulea Eiver, about 4 miles from its mouth. On this weight the letters C and K can easily be distinguished on each side. Fig. 2 shows another hook of the same kind taken from a salmon near Uleaborg. All the hooks referred to as well as the weights are hand-made, and therefore var}^ somewhat in size and shape. The many hooks which have passed through my hands, and which had been 324 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. taken from salmon caught in the rivers Toruea, Kemi, Simo, Ijo, Hau- kipudas, Ulea, Sukajoki, Pybajoki, Kumo, and Kymmene, have all been of the same general type, and were evidently all intended for the same object. As the question whence these characteristic and frequently occurring hooks and weights came is of great interest even from a practical point of view, 1 have given some time to its examination. The result of my researches show with a considerable degree of certainty that tliese hooks came to us from the north coast of Germany, where they are very gen- erally used during winter for catching salmon. From statements by Professors Wittmack, Benecke, Mobius, and Heincke, it appears that during the winter months, especially during March and April, very suc- cessful salmon fisheries with hooks and lines are carried on along the northern coast of Germany from Eugeu to Memel, at a depth of from 30 to GO meters [about 16 to 32 fathoms] and at a distance of from 10 to 30 kilometers [about 6 to 20 miles] from the shore. This method of catching salmon seems to have been very generally used from ancient times on the coast of Pomerania, where it is more common than in any other part of the German coast. According to Professor Benecke, however, it has during the last twelve years spread as far east as Memel, and possibly also to some parts of the Russian coast. The apparatus used in these fisheries resembles in all its leading features the salmon-liue used on the coasts of Skane and Blekiuge [Sweden], but the hooks and weights as well as the line are different from those employed in southern Sweden. Professor Benecke, of Konigsberg, to whom I sent a brass hook taken from a salmon caught in the Ulea River, wrote me a letter entirely con- firming the conclusion at which I had arrived, namely, that these hooks came from the coasts of Prussia and Pomerania. As they are not used in any other part of the coast of the Baltic or anywhere in the Baltic, it is evident that the salmon carry these hooks to Finland from the Prus- sian and Pomeranian coasts, where they are used in the salmon fisheries and where the fishermen annually lose a considerable number. Occasionally large hooks of tinned iron or steel wire are found in sal- mon caught in Finland. These hooks are of an entirely different kind from the Pomeranian brass hooks, and the two in my possession do not at all resemble each other. The one taken from a salmon caught near Christinestad by Mr. Hasselblatt, and presented to me by ^Ir. H. O. Foutell, of Christinestad, resembles in shape, looks, and size the hooks which are used in winter for catching salmon in the open sea near Bornholm,* and in the southeastern i^artof Skane and Blekiuge. This hook is fastened to a conical leaden weight by means of a peculiarly constructed hem J) line, measuring about 3.5 millimeters [about oue-eighth * Capt. Ivar Breuner, of Helsingfors, .has had the kindness to send nie, for the purpose of comparison, two salmon hooks, with lino and weight, brought by him from Born 'olm. These hooks, even to the smallest detail, are the exact counterparts of the iool from Christinestad. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 325 of an inch] in thickness, and is nearly 9 centimeters [3i inches] long, the opening- measuring 3.5 centimeters [If inches]. The hook, weight, and line so exactly resemble the apparatus of this kind used near Bornholm and in southeastern Skane for catching salmon, that there can be hardly any doubt that these hooks came from Bornholm and southern Sweden. The other iron hook, which was taken from a salmon caught in the Kumo Eiver, and a sketch of which is given in Fig. 1, also greatly resembles the Skane salmon hook, but is somewhat Fig. 4. longer, measuring 11.5 centimeters [l^^ inches], and is made of somewhat thicker wire. The end of a thick and strong hemp line, which is still attached to the hook, shows that the line was of the same kind as those used in salmon fishing near Bornholm, in Skane and Blekinge ; and it is therefore tolerably certain that this hook likewise comes from the same region of the southern Baltic. The fact that these iron hooks are but rarely taken from salmon caught in our streams is probably owing 326 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. to the circumstance that the Scandinavians nse much stronger lines for salmon fishing than the Germans. Besides the above-mentioned hooks 1 alien from salmon which are unknown in Finland, I have recently received from H. O. Fontell, of Christinestad, a hook made of thick, flattened brass wire taken from a salmon caught in the sea near Christinestad by Mr. Hasselblatt. This nook is about 4 centimeters [li inches] long, of a very peculiar shape, and is firmly attached to a double brass wire 40 centimeters [15f inches] long and almost 1 centimeter [two-fifths of an inch] thick, which passes through two holes in the hook. I do not feel positive as to whence this strange hook may have come, but I suppose that it must have come from the Eussian shore of the Baltic. To give a better idea of this hook I have sketched it in Fig. 4. Dr. Rudolf Lundberg describes the hook and line fisheries for sal- mon which are carried on on the southeastern coast of Skane as fol- lows :* " Fishing with salmon lines begins in autumn after the close of the herring fisheries, and is continued all through the winter whenever the weather permits. These lines are constructed in such a manner as to float on the surface and are fastened only at one end, the other being free, so it can float with the current. The part which keeps the apparatus in its place is called the 'string,' and is anchored at the bottom by means of a large stone. After the stone has been sunk, about a fathom of -the string is hauled up, and a glass float is fastened to the string. Eight: to twelve fathoms above this another glass float is fastened, and from 4 to 6 feet below this the line is fastened to the string. The line is kept floating near the surface by means of four wooden or cork floats. At l)resent only three hooks are used (formerly five or six were used) on each line, whose length is oO fathoms. The hooks, made of tinned iron wire, are tolerably strong (8 centimeters [3 inches] long and almost 4 centime- ters [1^ inches] across the opening), and arebaited with herring which are cut just below the anal aperture, and are attached to the hook in such a manner that its point passes through the eye, and sticks out at the side. The salmon lines are set, one after the other, at such intervals that they may not become entangled when swayed to and fro by the current. The glass float before referred to keeps the string up in the water and prevents its being carried about by the current. This appa- ratus is set at a depth of from 20 to 30 fathoms, the farther from the shore the better. As long as the water is still warm in autumn, fresh bait should be put on the hooks every day. When the water gets colder, * The Germau method of catching salmon with lines resembles (to judge from Professor Bcnecke's description) very much the Swedish method; but the Germans seem to nse only one hook for every line, -while the Swedes use three. It is said that the Germans nse as bait, besides herring, also roach and Cypriuus rinila; and there are frequent complaints that the hooks are lost. The salmon are also frequently devoured by seals, which leave euly tke kea«l. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 327 the herring will keep three or four days without turning sour; if the bait becomes stale the salmon will not bite. During the autumn sal- mon fisheries there are four men in a boat with from 40 to GO salmon lines." Tbe occurrence of strange hooks in salmon caught in the rivers empty- ing into tbe Gulf of Bothnia, both in Sweden and Finland, was men- tioned a century and a half ago. Thus Nils Gisler says in the " Trans- actions of the Swedish Academy of Sciences " for 1752, p. 99 : "In the Angermaun River there are annually caught many salmon from which large hooks are taken, some of steel and others of brass. Some of these hooks have pieces of line attached to them in a good state of preserva- tion, some of them measuring 2 fathoms in length, with leaden weights sometimes resembling in their shape church bells, with letters, names, and places of residence marked thereon. In the Njurunda River two hooks were taken from salmon in 1728, which in their shape differ greatly from other hooks. Such hooks are not often found in this river, as the large sea salmon do not often enter it, unless there is very high water, as was the case in the year referred to above. The hooks found in the other rivers are generally all of one and the same kind. Speci- mens of hooks taken from salmon in different places have been sent to the Royal Academy of Sciences. I do not know whether they are found in all kinds and varieties of the sea salmon and in the lake salmon and salmon trout. Sometimes hooks have been taken from salmon which had been caught far up the streams ; thus one was taken in 174G from a salmon caught G miles up the Lulea River. * * * Here, in Norr- botteu, such hooks are not used." From time immemorial salmon-fisheries with hooks and lines have been carried on during the winter near the coasts of Bornholm. The apparatus used is very much like the one used in Skane, and the salmon-fisheries, especially net-fisheries, are said to have increased very much in these waters during the last ten years. It is specially reported that the number of small salmon and young salmon, weighing from 1 to 3 pounds each, has increased greatly since 1874, when these fisheries were comparatively" small. The number of salmon-nets, which in 1874 was small, amounted in 1880 to upwards of 6,000. On the Baltic coast of North Germany the salmon-fisheries, both with hooks and lines and ■with nets, have considerably increased of late years, and the number of young salmon, weighing from 1 to 3 pounds, has i)articularly in- creased. The firm of M. Radmann & Son, of Berlin, report that last year 40,000 young salmon, weighing on an average 1^ pounds, were brought to Berlin from the coast of Pomerania. The comparatively frequent occurrence in the salmon caught in our rivers and on our coast s of brass hooks like those used on the coast of North Germany proves, beyond a doubt, that many of the salmon, after hav- ing visited the coast of North Germany, return to our waters. Others have, during their migration to the Gulf of Bothnia, visited Bornholm OS, 28 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. and the southeast coast of Sweden, as the iron hooks used in those localities and taken from salmon caught in Finnish waters prove con- clusively. Since it is well known that the salmon as a rule return, for the purpose of spawning, to the rivers which they left as young fry, we are justified in supposing that the largely increased number of salmon and young salmon which during recent years have visited the coasts of Born- holm, Pomerauia, and Prussia, are principally, and perhaps exclusively, fish which have been hatched in the salmon rivers of Finland and Northern Sweden. It is only about twelve or fourteen years that the salmon have been protected in the Finnish rivers, and during this period the salmon- fisheries in the Southern Baltic have increased aud improved to a very noticeable degree. But if Finland (and also Sweden) is to enjoy, to a greater degree than has hitherto been the case, the fruits of protecting the salmon in the rivers of Finland during the spawning period, the catching of young salmon near Bornholm and on the coasts of North Germany ought to be stopped as soon as possible. This object would be greatly furthered if some international arrangement on this snbject could be arrived at between all the Baltic States. By marking salmon it has been found in England and Scotland that the various kinds of salmon during their stay in the sea prefer to visit certain portions of the coast in order to seek their food. Thus, accord- ing to Frank Buckland, the coast of Norfolk, especially near Yarmouth, is said to be the favorite place of the bull-trout [Sahno eriox], which is found in large numbers in some of the English and Scotch rivers. David Milne-Home, who possesses the most thorough knowledge of every- thing relating to the salmon-fisheries in Scotland, and more especially in the river Tweed, states, as an instance of how soon a fish of the salmon kind can change its feeding-ground, that a bull trout which, on March 29, 1852, had been marked in the Tweed with a silver thread bearing an inscription, was caught near Yarmouth on April 2, of the same year, after having traveled almost 300 miles in four days. Another fish was marked in the Tweed on March 10, 1880, and was caught near Yar- mouth on May 5, 1880, after a journey of fifty-five days. As the salmon {Sahno salar), according to the experience gained in Scotland, is said, during its visits to the sea in seeking food, to prefer places where there is a sandy bottom, and as on the German coast between Memel and Rugen, near Bornholm, and on the southeastern coast of Sweden, the bottom of the sea is sandy, and as all the other conditions for a success- ful production of salmon food are found there, the cause of the regular visits of our salmon to these coasts must be found in these circumstances. The regular migrations which the salmon undertake in spring to the rivers emptying into the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland are made exclusively for the purpose of spawning. Helsingfors, Finland, Eussia, February 6, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 329 165 GKEAT RESUIiTS OBTAIIVEW WITH lilTTLiE WATER.* By Dr. BRUMME. I am of opinion that nothing is so much calculated to advance the in- terests of the fisheries, and more especially of artificial fish-culture, as truthful accounts of the establishment and working of artificial fish- hatcheries. I presume that most readers have, like myself, perused with pleasure and attention the various reports on practical experiments, without in the least disparaging theoretical treatises on different sub- jects connected with fish-culture, whose value and proper place in fish- cultural literature no one will deny. For the practical man and the fisherman, however, communications regarding the experiences of others will be of special interest } for they will cause him to think and institute comjiarisons with his own experiences, and may help him in making the best use of the natural conditions of his own locality. I myself owe to such accounts and reports relative to different fish- cultural establishments as have frequently been given in these columns, the impetus and directions for creating a hatching and feeding estab- lishment for trout and salmouoids, under such i)eculiar circumstances that a description of these and a brief account of my little establish- ment will perhaps be found welcome by some. There is a small spring at my disposal which rises under a neighbor- ing water-mill, and which, even during a rainy season, yields only 20 to 25 liters [about C gallons] of water i)er minute. The water is perfectly clear all the time, and both in summer and winter its temperature is constantly 7|oR. [49^^ F.]. For about GO paces the water runs under ground, through wooden jiipes lined with zinc, and then flow-s into my grounds. My entire establishment consists of three basins laid in cement, the first holding 1.1, the second 13, and the third 20 cubic meters of water. The water in all these basins is renewed in about twenty-five hours. Although the change of water is exceedingly slow (there is ab- solutely no current inside the basins), the temperature of the water — even during a period of excessively hot weather, such as we had during last July — will never be higher than 10^=5 R. (54^° F.), because the basins are in the ground and their sides are, consequently, not exposed to the rays of the sun ; and because, in view of the possibility that the rays of the sun may be very hot, the entire establishment is surrounded by an earth wall 0 feet high, planted with shrubs and trees. During midsum- mer only the declining sun of the evening reaches the surface of the water in the basins, while the fish can enjoy the cool shade during the other part of the day. The water in the basins is 80 centimeters deep, with the exception of the first and smallest basin, into which the spring * " MU tcenig Wasser viel erreichhar." From Deutsche Fischerei-Zei the Ches- apeake Bay. With a very slight exception, every one engage 1 in fishing has sustained a positive loss. For instance Moxley's Point - »perated by the late James Skidmore's heirs did nothing. Heretofore tb 'S shore has been reckoned as first-class among the successful ones ; ne st in detail is Bryan's Point, operated by Mr. Conrad Faunce, an old ind reliable fisherman; then comes Greenway, Pamunkey, and Chapi?ian's Point, before considered good shores, but this season they are fa 'lures. The above shores are on the Maryland side. On the Virginia f ide we have Ferry Landing, White House, Stony Point, and Freestone F oint. These shores generally yield a small but sure profit, but this seasc n they made signal failures, losing in the aggregate about $7,000. The o/^ly exception to this general rule of loss is the Clifton, operated by Mr. Waller; The Gums, fished by Mr. Jerry Eaub; and Windmill Point, operated by Messrs. Ewing & Co.; the last three named being the thren lower shores on the Virginia side. Their success is attributable to the peculiarity o) location, being shallow and flatly formed, together with t\ combination of circumstances such as the great rains in February and March, and northwest winds that prevailed during the month of April. These ^ores were the great center of attraction for the branch herring. In regard to the artificial plants, were it not for the services of the United States Fish Commission, necessity would compel a cessation of fishing the large shores; and the Potomac, as far as the large fisheries are concerned, would be a thing of the past. In view of the fact of there being no legislative protection for shad and herring, they are fished in season and out of season, hence the almost extiuctiou.of one of our best food-fishes. The following will show the decline in the numbers of shad. Dur iug- the present season there have been caught and brought to the fist BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 341 whuif in tbis city 220,721 sliad, while in 18C8 Mr. John Gibson sent wloiie from Stony Point and High Point 210,205, nearly as many shad as all the fishermen on the Potomac sent to the wharf the ])resent season. At that time all the following shores were fished : On the Maryland side: Tent Landing", Moxley's Point, Bryan's Point, Green way. Gut Land ing, Pamnnkey Point, Chapman's Point, Stump !N"eck, Budd's Ferry, and Goose Bay. On the Virginia side: Ferry Landing, White House, Stony Point, High Point, Marshall Hall, Freestone Point, Cock Pit Point, Opossum Xose, Mr. Hoes', The Clifton, Arkendale, The Gums, Tumps, Windmill Point, and Caywood's, besides a host of smaller shores not jieutioned. Some of the large fisheries were leased and rented for large . SAffilU OIV. By CHARLES G. ATKIIVS. A. — Systematic position. — There have been thought to be several distinct species, or at least several naturalists fiiiding landlocked salmon in this or that district have thought them new species and have called them iSalmo sehago, S. gloveri, &c. Within a few years Dr. Bean and oth'ers in Washington have carefully compared them with S. salar, and fiind no specific difference. The difference in g'ze is commonly very great, landlocked salmon in £42 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. general being but one-foorth or one-fifth the size of the river or sea salmon. There are also diflerences in color. Landlocked salmon never in the breeding season assume so bright colors as male river or sea salmon. Aside from these unimportant differences may be mentioned as more important the difference in habits, landlocked salmon not going to the sea, as a rule, though it is likely that it sometimes has occurred to stray individuals to descend the Saint Croix or Presumpscot to the sea. They find tbeir normal sea in the lakes. Also it may be noted that though in maturity the landlocked salmon are smaller, in embryonic stages they are larger, the eggs being perhaps 10 per cent greater in diameter. Another interesting point of comparison is the retention of the embry- onic markings to a much greater age by landlocked salmon than by river salmon. I have seen a Sebago salmon 13 incbes long with the dark bars on the sides still very distinct, and in removing the skin of adult land- locked salmon, I have found the marks still distinct on the under side of the skin and on the membrane that still covered the flesh, as though the restriction of the landlocked salmon to fresh water had stopped its development, keeping it still in a somewhat embryonic stage. B. — Range. — Four districts in Maine, viz.: 1. Basin of Presumpscot Eiver (Lake Sebago, &c.), 2. Basin of Sebec River, a branch of the Penobscot. These salmon are not known to be found in other parts of the Penobscot Basin. It is singular that they have not spread all through the Penobscot, as it has many lakes seemingly well suited to them. 3. Basin of Union River, Bancock County. 4. Basin of Saint Croix River. The fish of the Presumpscot and Saint Croix had earlier a wider range than the others, and in both rivers were occasionally caught almost down to tide-water. Within twelve years I have seen two that were taken at Cumberland Mills on the Presumpscot. C. — Size of adults. — This varies much. The Sebago fish often reach 8 and 10 pounds, and sometimes 15. Saint Croix (or Schoodic, as we commonly call them) salmon rarely exceed 6 pounds, and average 2^. They are larger in some i^arts of the Schoodic Lakes than others, but these dilferences are not constant. For instance, in 1875, those caughl at Dobsis were nearly twice as large as those of Grand Lake Stream, but the latter have increased in size year after year, until now they are about the same size as the Dobsis fish. The Union River fish are large, about like the Sebago salmon ; the Sebec fish are about like the Schoodic in size. There are local differences recognizable to one acquainted with the different varieties, but hardly to be described. One interesting point of diflerence between Schoodic and Sebec fish is this : Sebec fish mature at a smaller size than the Schoodic,* and, while still small, frequent the *Latei- researches iudlcate that this is true only in comparison'with the fish ol Grand Lake. In some of the other Schoodic lakes we find fish that mature when ol gmall size. BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 343 same gronnds with the large fish. Sebec salmon, apparently mature, having lost the red spots and dark bars, may be taken on the same day, all the way from 8 inches up to 2 feet in length, but of Schoodic salmon, as taken at Grand Lake Stream, I have never seen a mature tish Avhich was less than 12 inches long, very few are less than 15, atid never one that had lost bars and red spots was less than 11 ; and these small fish, as well as the smaller ones with bars and spots (8 or 9 inches long), are rarely found with the larger fish. D. — Grand Lake Stream. — This is the headquarters of the variety of the Schoodic Lakes. That is, to no other stream do so many salmon resort to spawn; and in no other lake do so many find their home as in Grand Lake. After the prevailing backwoods sj'stem of nomenclature, the stream that flows out of Grand Lake is called Grand Lake Stream. Here, as in many other instances that I know of, the salmon move down from the lake into its outlet at the spawning season instead of up into the tributaries. It follows that the young fish, instead of dropping down with the current as young sea salmon do, are in the habit of as- cending their native streams till they reach deep water above. Grand Lake is one of the finest sheets of water in Maine, with clean, wooded shores, and very clear water. Grand Lake Stream is a bright, dancing stream, 3 miles long, with quick water almost every rod, and abundant spawning grounds. E.— The breeding- operations. — For eight years we have been conducting almost the entire business of spawning for the fish. Our traps span the stream at the outlet of the lake. Ko fish now get past us except hj accident. With fine-meshed nets we build a series of in- closures. Those which the fish first enter are on the principle of a weir or pound, and few fish ever get out against our will. Thej' come in mostly by night. Every morning we count our catch and sort them, taking spawn from all that are ready. The earliest fish begin to spawn in the stream before the end of October; we begin to take eggs a few days later, from the 4th to the 8th of November. Many of the females have to be kept some days before they are ripe. (Not so with the Penob- scot fish— sea salmon — which are generallj all ripe together, and some days earlier than the Schoodic.) The yield averages 1,600 eggs i)er female. We commonly catch four females to three males. The males come in earlier in the season. The first run is nearly all males ; the last, nearly all females. The ripe fish continue to come in until Novem- ber 20; sometimes not all are manipulated till December, Often there is severely cold weather during the spawning season. We operate under cover of a roof. Sometimes ice shuts us off" from communication with the lake ; but if not, we take the fish we have manipulated in cars and tow them 1 or 2 miles up the lake, where they are set free. One- fourth of the spawn taken is hatched here and the fry let loose in Grand Lake, to avoid exhausting the supply. There has been no falling off as yet. The fry are planted along the shore scatteringly where there are loose, rough rocks for them to hide under. 344 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. We have three spawn houses, or rather one developing house (exclu- sively so) and two batching houses. The developing house is fed with lake water. Its location compels us to vacate it in March, but the long stay of the eggs in the cold lake water keeps development back, so that none are hatched and grown enougli for planting untilJune, when their natui-al food has become abundant. Our best hatching house stands on the lake shore and is a very sub- stantial structure, partly under ground, with massive stonewalls; it has capacity for developing 4,000,000 eggs or hatching 1,000,000. Troughs are arranged on six floors, and water runs through the series, so that it can be used at least three times, with ample facilities for aeration. We pass water from one trough to another by letting it fall in a broad, thin sheet over the side of the trough. This is very effectual, and young hatched in this house are exceedingly vigorous. The above hatching house covers 1,500 square feet of ground. We have also a neat little cottage for the superintendent, a lodge for the foreman, an ice house, and a wood-house, all in convenient proximity. Our method of manipulating fish is perhaps common. We use the "dry method" wholly. Ten-quart tin milk-pans receive the spawn and milt. The fish are used just as the "dipper" hands them up, male or female first, as may chance. After the eggs of four or five fish are taken and well milted another hand takes them, agitates them diligently for a few minutes, and then washes them off at once, after which they stand in pans on shelves till it is convenient to carry them to the hatching house. Careful observation has shown that impregnation is instantaneous upon contact of milt, and all agitation and waiting is merely to secure contact. Milt in pure water loses spawn in a few seconds, retaining scarcely any power after one minute. Eggs likewise soon lose their capacity lor im- pregnation if put into water ; but a little water does no appreciable harm within a few minutes. Either eggs or milt can be exposed to air for hours without losing power. The mucus that comes with the eggs from the fish does not act on milt or eggs like i)ure water; milt in it retains its power for hours. If males are scarce we strain out the milted liquid irom a spawn pan and use it again. In a can standing in water I have kept it forty-eight hours and then used this mixed mucus and milt effectively. Three-quarters of our eggs are shii)ped away. The owners are Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the United States. We pack iusphag- nous moss, wet to imbed the eggs, and dry to surround this mass. Sur- rouuded by 3-inches dry moss they go on a sled, in the morning, with the temperature 10 to 15 degrees below zero, 28 miles (taking the whole forenoon), without the frost penetrating to them. The eggs are ready to pack as soon as the eyes become black. We send all off' from Janu- ary to March. What we keep hatcn in May and are set free in June. BucKSPORT, Me., February 15, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 345 171.— ivoTc: orv the rgceneratioiv of the scales of the oer. ma:\ carp. By JOHN A. RYDER. In the early part of 1884 a fine specimeu of the German carp, of the mirror variety, was brought from the carp ponds to the Armory Buikl- iug, where it was placed in one of a number of large aquaria. Unfor- tunately in handling- the specimeu, which is now nearly 18 inches long and 5 inches wide, one of the largest scales of the large lateral series was knocked off, so that after a careful examination the writer expressed himself satisfied that the injury received by the fish was considerable, and that there could be no doubt that nothing of the scale remained, though it is probable that the '' bed " or tissue from which the scale grew was preserved, but the outer investment of the scale was almost altogether gone. The scale in question was situated just behind the right oper- culum, and was nearly or quite an inch wide vertically. Dr. K. Hessel, who was present when the scale was knocked off of the fish, picked it up and kept it. There is therefore no doubt whatever that it was wholly removed. After abQut five months have elapsed, or at the time of the present Tvriting, an examination shows that a new scale has been formed in the situation where the first one grew, similar in form to the old one, but apparently thinner, the outer skiu investing it being also less densely pigmented than that which covers the scale in a corresponding position on the opposite side of the body. When the scale was first lost the surface from which it had been removed was congested, though the irritation in the vicinity seemed to subside after a fortnight or thereabouts, so that but little evidence of the injury remained, except the whitish appearance of the skin where the scale was originally situated. It is still lighter in color, but is otherwise perfectly healthy, though the fish had been tor a time infested with fungus, from which it recovered entirely, in spite of the fact that an abraded surface was exposed which would render it more liable to succumb to the inroads of the vegetable parasite. To what extent the scales of fishes may be regenerated, and under what conditions, the writer is not able to say, but there is no doubt ^vhatever that such regeneration sometimes occurs, as in the case cited above. Without taking the trouble to look u^) the literature relatiur to the regeneration of the scales of fishes, of which there does not, so far as he is aware, seem to be much, the writer has thought the fore- going well authenticated case of the regeneration of these structures worthy of record, so that others might be profited in case it should be desired to investigate the subject still farther. It is doubtless true that, as in the case of the nails, where if the underlying epidermis 346 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. or " nail bed " is lost tbe nail does not again grow ont, so in the case of the fish, if the entire investment of the scale, both internally and externally, was removed the latter wonld not be formed again. This observation has some slight jn-actical valne, since in the trans- portation of young carp it frequently happens that the scales which, as in many fishes, are not firmly embedded in the superficial layers of the skin, are accidentally removed in handling, even when considerable care is exercised, to the apparent injury of the individuals. If it is true that under ordinary circumstances scales which have been lost without impairing the tissue from which they have been formed are again pro- duced in the situation and of the same size as the scales which have been removed, then it is evident that such an injury is not very serious, even if not desirable, and that it will not very greatly interfere with the growth and health of the young fish. Washington, D. C, July 25, 1884. 173 — THE STIJRGEOIV FISHERY. Bj H. C. IIOVEY. In the month of May, when sturgeon most abound, the market is usually supplied with other and choicer varieties of fish. Hence, until recently', this really valuable food-fish has been neglected and its com- mercial importance underestimated. This difficulty has been met and overcome by the enterprise of New York packers. The process con- sists in placing the sturgeon, as soon as caught and dressed, in a large freezer, where, by a patented method, they are frozen solid as they lie in boxes. This process is so perfected in the works at Salem, N. J., that 125 sturgeon, averaging 85 pounds each when dressed, can be frozen every seven hours. The fish are afterwards taken out of the boxes and stored in large rooms, through the center of which a freez- ing apparatus extends which is charged anew every day. By this means the fish can be kept for months until they come into demand. The sturgeon range from Georgia, in winter, to Saint John, N. B,, in summer, and are followed up in their season by men expert in their capture. Large gill- nets are used in this business, each about 200 fathoms long and with meshes a foot in size. The Delaware Eiver is the principal field of operation. Sturgeon enter this stream about the 22d of May, and in such immense numbers that nets about a quarter length have to be used, larger ones being at that tiuie unmanageable. Mr. Blacksou, an experienced fisherman, tells me that he has seen them so abundant that his net would sink with tlieir weight as soon as it was thrown out. The average catch per net is from 25 to 30 fish apiece at each cast. This lasts about two weeks. The sturgeon move steadily up-stream towards the head of the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 347 river, and tbcu suddenly disappear about tlie lOtli of June, after wliieb they must be sought elsewhere. How they get out of the river with- out being caught is a mystery. All that the fishermen know about it is, that one day they are busy catching fish and the next all their nets are empty. The boats used in this business are all constructed on the same plan ; about 1*4: feet keel, 7 or 8 feet beam, capable of carrying about 30 stur- geon apiece. A boat load of big ones looks, oddly enough, like a load of small logs. The flesh of the sturgeon, as is well-known, is rather coarse and oily; and, as much depends on its right prepaiation for the table, we took some pains to inquire how it is cooked by the wives of the fishermen themselves, who ought to know as well as anybody, seeing that it con- stitutes a staple article of their diet. From several methods recom- mended, we give the two that seem the most promising : The first method is to cut the flesh into slices aud parboil them to get rid of the superfluous oil, and then fry them in a thin batter. The second method is to cut up the meat into squares, 2 inches thick, which are to be thoroughly boiled, and then pickled for two days in spiced viuegai^ after which they are ready for eating, and are considered excellent hj the fishermen. The usual way of preparing sturgeon for market, however, is by smoking. Strij^s an inch or two thick are put through a pickling pro- cess, then hung on hooks over slow fire of corncobs or sawdust of hard w^ood. After thus smoking for a single night they are ready to be shipped to any part of the country. The preparation of caviare is an important part of the business. While this is not yet in as general use in this country as in Russia and other parts of Eurojje, where it is in so high esteem that no repast is served without it, it is coming into favor, especially in the Western and Southern States. There are two sorts of caviare, the soft and the hard, the latter being "Worth about twice as much as the former. The value of the best hard caviare in the South, early in the spring, is said to be from 15 to 20 cents a pound. In order to make the best article, it is necessary to strip the roe from the sturgeon as soon as possible after the fish has been caught. Before being dried, it is rubbed through a coarse sieve to break the eggs apart, and to free them from the membranous tissue. Next, the roe is thoroughly salted, after which it stands a certain length of time. Then it is emptied into fine sieves, where it remains till it is so dry as to roll like shot. The finished caviare is packed in casks previously lined with napkin linen, each layer being salted with fine table salt. Each keg holds about 150 pounds. With proper care, the caviare may be kept for a year or longer. For the trade it is often canned like fruit, in which condition it will stand transportation to warm countries and will keep an indefinite length of time. It may be eaten as put up 348 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. without further preparation, though it is thought to be improved by the addition of a little vinegar or lemon-juice. Pressed caviare is a favorite with Eussian soldiers, who are said to take a liberal supply in their knapsacks whenever they are going on a long march. Improve- ments might be made, no doubt, in the preparation of American ca- viare, and the subject is worthy of receiving the especial attention of packers. Scientific Amebic an, July 26, 1883. 173.— THE ClTIiTIVATION OF THE SEA.* By I>r. KARL YON SCHERZER. Yesterday's meeting of the Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge {Gemeinnutzige OeseJIschaft) was taken up by an exceedingly interesting and instructive lecture by the ministerial counselor, Dr. von Scherzer, on the subject of " The Cultivation of the Sea." " Neptune's empire is far more fertile than the most productive field. There are no waste places in the water as there are on the land, and it is only owing to the comparative ignorance as regards nature's institu- tions and purposes that thus far aquatic animal and vegetable life has been cultivated only to a very limited degree. How many thousand square miles of virgin soil would have to be plowed to i^roduce unin- terruptedly as much nutritive substance as the vast sea produces without ever becoming exhausted ! The constant and rapid increase of x)opulation, in connection with its constantly-increasing demand for food, makes a corresponding increase of the articles of food an absolute and urgent necessity. Agriculture is encroaching upon the jiasture- grounds which are needed for stock-raising, and threatens to make meat still more expensive than it is at present. For this reason it seems the part of true wisdom to benefit mankind by supplementing the in sufficient harvests of the fields by the harvests of the watei^y empire." In this connection Dr. von Scherzer in his lecture gave a vast number of highly-interesting facts, which deserve to be known in wider circles. In Great Britain 120,000 men and 37,000 boats are engaged in the fisheries proper (not including the various manufactures of fishery products), and the capital invested in this maritime industry amounts to about 1,000,000,000 marks ($238,000,000). The quantity of fish an- nually caught in British waters amounts to about 000,000 tons, so that on an average every fisherman annually catches 5 tons of fish. At Billingsgate, the famous London fish-market, about 800,000 pounds of fresh fish are sold every day, which as to nutritive matter corresponds * Die Bewirthscha/tung des Meeres. In Leipziger Tageblatt nnd Anzeiger. Leipsic, March 13, laS4. Trar>«lated from the German by Heeman Jacobson. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 349 to about 1,000 head of cattle. The anuual total value of the British sea-fisheries is 500,000,000 marks ($119,000,000). Norway, with its imfavorable climate aud its small population of about 1,800,000, annually exports 50,000,000 marks' worth of fisher3^ products (§11,900,000)' which does not include the amount consumed at home, valued at from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 marks ($3,570,000 to $4,760,000). France employs 22,000 boats with 80,000 men in the sea-fisheries proper, and 40,000 persons (mostly women and children) in the coast- fisheries, the total yield amounting in value to 70,000,000 marks ($16, 660,000). Italy's harvest of the sea annually amounts to 40,000.000 marks ($9,520,000) ; and Russia's annual harvest from the sea-fisheries alone amounts to 70,000,000 marks ($16,660,000). The German Empire, on the other hand, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whose combined population is about one fourth of the entire population of Europe, and whose coasts are washed by the waters of three seas rich in fish, have as yet done but little towards the cultiva- tion of the sea, and towards gathering; in the harvests which it affords to any one who stretches out his hands. According to official statis- tics the entire German coast states have not more than 30 large fishing establishments, employing about 300 persons, while the small estab- lishments number 10,700, emjiloying about 14,000 persons, making an average of hardly 1^ persons to each establishment. This state of affairs can scarcely be considered satisfactory, considering the fact that Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, the two Mecklenburgs, Oldenburg, and finally Prussia, with its long coast line from Stralsuud to Memel, offer numerous ojiportunities for maritime enterprise. Unfortunately there are hardly any exact and special data as regards the annual result of the German sea-fisheries. Even the voluminous and expensive official report of the Berlin International Fishery Exposition of 1880 does not give the desired information. From various commercial reports we gather the fact that the entire quantity of products of the sea imported into Germany in 1882 repre- sented a value of 77,000,000 marks ($18,326,000), including 52,800,000 marks' ($12,560,400) worth of salt herring! But it is not stated in these reports how much of this quantity was imported by foreign fish- ermen in vessels sailing under foreign flags. Even in such a specifically German ocean as the North Sea we find but comparatively few German fishing vessels, while the English, Dutch, Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians enrich themselves from this sea, and thereby also increase their naval strength. The annual result of the Austrian sea-fisheries, which emploj' about 9,400 persons and 2,900 boats, scarcely reaches 4,000,000 marks ($952,000), and therefore bears no i)roportion to the wealth of fish contained in the Adriatic, and to a coast line extending for more than 2,600 nautical miles. 350 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. After Dr. vou Scberzer had given an interesting sketch of the vast extent of the fisheries of some conutries outside of Europe, especially in the United States, accompanied by some characteristic illustrations of the most important treasures of the watery kingdom, he passed from the sea-fisheries to the fresh-water fisheries in rivers, ponds, and lakes, and gave a vivid description of the vast and truly beneficent efforts for improving the fisheries, made by the United States Government, efforts which have been crowned with the most astonishing and brilliant re- sults. In this respect Prof. Spencer F. Baird, the distinguished ich- thyologist and director of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution at Washington, which, under the modest motto, "to diffuse knowledge among men," has done so much for science and accomplished such great results, has, by his wise and extensive measures, given a great and healihy impetus to artificial fish-culture, and has in these efforts been supported most liberally by his Government, which, during the years 1871 to 1879, has appropriated no less than $1,300,000 for this useful purpose. From the almost overwhelming mass of statistical data and instruct- ive information, which kept the attention of the audience till the end of the lecture, we will quote only the following as showing the vast importance of the cultivation of the sea. The daily quantity of fish food consumed per head of the population is : In London, one-seventh pound ; in Paris, one-half pound ; in Berlin, one-fortieth pound 5 in Vienna, one four-hundredth pound. This comparatively small quantitj'^ in the German cities indicates a neglect in the matter of utilizing the vast treasures of the sea as food for the masses, for recent scientific in- vestigations have shown that one hundred parts of fish-flesh contain 12 or 13 per cent of blood and strength-producing matter, therefore only 5 per cent less than beef, and 4 or 5 per cent more than wheat bread. One pound of beef costs, in Leipsic, from 70 to 75 pfennige (about 16 to 17^ cents), including a great many bones (for the butchers of all civilized nations have made the custom of the so-called " throwing in" of the bones an economical principle), while one pound of codfish, even at the retail price, only costs 20 pfennige (4i cents). "All that is needed for supplying the great masses of our population all the year round with a chea]), well-flavored, and wholesome article of fish-food is to cultivate our water area in a suitable and rational manner, to improve our means of communication, and to reorganize our local markets." The large audience rewarded the lecturer by loud and long-continued applause. Dr. von Scherzer stated that he would gladly comply with the wish of the chairman and publish a full report of his lecture, thereby making it accessible to a larger circle. Leipsic, Germany, March 12, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 351 174.— THE FISH OF DEVIL.'S T.AKE, DAKOTA. By HENRY W. I.ORD. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Devil's Lake is about 50 miles long, and bas a sbore-line of over 300 miles. Tbe water is sligbtly salt, very brigbt and clear, and in many places said to be very deej). The water has the greenish tint of sea water, and along the shore where the waves are beating and evaporat- ing on the roclis and sand it produces the exact smell ot the sea-shore. The only fish in the lake of any size are the common long-nosed pick- erel of the eastern i)or.ds and rivers (of the Esox familj^, T think). They are very numerous, and are caught in great quantities. Of small fish, the minnows are in vast numbers. The settlers all think that the minnows are young pickerel, but I am convinced that not one in a thousand is pickerel, though they look enough like tliem to suggest the idea. I think they are a little thrown back and come to maturity at about 2 inches in length. I also observe among them a very few of what are usually called shiners, so common in all eastern brooks, but have never seen any that were more than two and a half inches long. When I talked with you it seemed to be your opinion that the rockflsh (striped bass, I suppose), so numerous in the Potomac, would thrive here. I have no doubt they would. You also thought the whitefish would do well. I have no doubt that the several varieties of land- locked salmon and lake trout would thrive admirably. Of course all kinds would be subject to depredations from the pickerel, but the mill- ions of other minnows in the lake would at least divert attention from thanew plant and give them good chance for escape. I think it would be very important to send a good supply of eels. I believe they would thrive prodigiously. They could not get away, as the lake is abso- lutely landlocked. Directly north of the city, and 6 miles distant, are the Sweet Water Lakes, a group of lakes which appear, according to the map, to be connected. These lakes have no outlet. They extend about 12 miles in length, and cover much ground. They appear to be deep. There have been a few settlers on the banks for two or three years, and they all agree that there are no fish of any kind in these lakes, except very small minnows, which are, as I saw yesterday, very numerous. The water in these lakes is entirely fresh and sweet and pure. I think that a supply of black bass should be sent both for these fresh lakes and for the large lake. They will hold their own against pickerel or any other predatory fish. Eels would also do well in the fresh- water lakes. Devil's Lake, Dakota, July 28, 1884. 352 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 175.— NOTES ON THE FISB AND FISRERIES OF JAPAN. By CHARLES H. BALDWIN. The Japanese are a very poor people, and you will probably realize it more wlien I tell you that the lower Government officials receive a salary of only 8 or 10 yen per month, and on this in many cases they have to supjDort large familes, pay house rent, &g. Ten yen is equal to $0 silver. In feet, without the least exaggeration, were the inhabitants to eat three square meals a day, as we do, the nation would become bank- rupt in less than three months. Fortunately rice and vegetables, their only diet, are cheap. Clothing and house rent ditto. Fish is a luxury and dearer here than at home. They are to a great" extent warm-water fish ; at least, all that are caught in this section of the country. Spanish mackerel are quite plentiful. We have also the true mackerel, but for some unexplained reason it is never found fat in our markets. In fact, as we have them they are genuine leather-bellies, and the poorest fish in the market. Sharks, skates, and dogfish are eaten, in fact anything looking like a fish, no matter how far gone, will find consumers. Flounders, such as we used to catch at home from the wharves, sell readily here for about 15 or 20 cents. We have two excellent species of salt-water fish, which I think would be appreciated by our fishermen, viz, the tar {Sawanus margmolUs) and the sawara. The former is shaped something like the shad, but of larger size, often 2 feet in length. The meat is firm and white with- out any fat, but an albuminous jelly makes up for the lack of this and gives the fish a fine flavor. The sawara is shaped much like the barra- cuda and spotted in the same way, but is much larger, has some fat, and the flesh has a fine flavor. The methods pursued Uy fishermen here in taking fish are very de- structive and tend to make fish scarce. Very few are caught by hook and line, but mostly in drag-nets. Some time ago a friend of mine, editor of the local paper published in Kobe, whose father is one of the Government inspectors of salmon fisheries in Scotland, visited the salmon-trout fisheries on Lake Biwa. These fish, by the way, never go to the sea, although the affluent of the lake would permit it, but ascend the small streams running into the lake to spawn. At the mouth of one of the principal streams where the largest fishery is situated, we noticed a large net stretched completely across the river, and we asked how the fish could ascend the river. " We never allow any to go up," replied the fishermen quite naively. This we found to be the cause of the fish becoming scarce. The local government has now removed the obstruction. There is a fish-breeding establishment on the lake, under the direction of natives who learned the art in the United States. KiYOTO, Japan, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 353 Vol. IV, j¥o. 9SI. WashsBa^toK, D. C. Awg. 14, 1884. 176.— DESTKICTSOIV OF Filial CAUSKD BV NETS OF S:TIAL,r MESH IN LAKE iUICiaiGAN. By G. A. SlIELEY. I spend from six weeks to two luontlis dnriug the siirainer fishing with hook and line in this vicinity. While yisiting the different fishing camps I have inquired as to the size of raesh used in pound fishing. I find it varies from 3J inches to 1^ inches. The latter is proving very destructive, as they catch with the 1^-inch uet all the smaller-sized whi te- fish and trout. Tons of these are destroyed yearly, until now the gill- net fishermen cannot catch one where they formerly caught hundreds. The cause of this is the destruction of the smaller fish, which are killed by being handled in the pounds. It will not be but a short time before whitefish will be as scarce in Lakes Huron and Michigan as they are in Lake Erie. Their disappearance in the latter lake is due to pound-nets and the small meshes used. I have inquired of fishermen and find that in their opinion net-fishing (at least the pound) should be discontinued during the month of jSTovember, as it is then that the fish go to the shoals to spawn, and in this locality you will find pounds set on both sides of the shoals and in such a jiosition as to catch great numbers of the fish before they spawn. The fishermen bring from one to three tons of whitefish to Mackinaw daily. Those who, have been engaged in fishing, and are still fishing, state that the small meshes destroy tons of fish which if allowed to have their freedom would in a year or two become large fish. Fish which four years ago brought on the island about 4 cents per pound are now sell- ing at 9 cents. The cause of this is the scarcity, and at the present time there are but a few i)oints near here where any can be caught. I should think that, if not contrary fo law to use revenue cutters for the purpose, it would be of great benefit to the consumer and the country at large to have one of these cutters ordered to inspect these nets and see that they use no meshes smaller than allowed by law, and also, if it could be done, to have the pounds removed from the vicinity of spawn- ing grounds during the month of November. Congressman Springer advised me to write you on this subject, as I am very much interested in the preservation of the fish in the lakes. Mr. Springer is at present visiting the island, and could assist you in obtaining information as to the facts I have stated. Cedar Poixt Cottage, MacJcinaio, Mich., July 21, 1884. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 23 354 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 177.-IVOTES UPOIV OYSTER EXPERIMEIVTS IIV 1883. By Lieut. FRANCIS ^VINiSLoW, U. S. N. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baiid.] 1 have delayed from day to day to inform yon of the progress of my experiments at Hampton, lioi)ing that I would be able to announce some definite result, but we have bad such bad luck since the middle of June that as yet we have been unsuccessful in securing the attachment of the spat. Our first experiments were full of promise. 1 found, as I wrote you, a number of young oysters fastened to the glass collectors in my apparatus and at about the same time Dr. Brooks found them in his troughs ; but no subsequent experiments have brought about like results. We found, however, that there was no difficulty in keeping the young in the troughs after the shell had formed, and after experimenting M'ith my apparatus (an arrangement of glass tubes) for a month I concluded to have a number of wooden troughs made, and after depositing oysters in them, keeping up a constant current of water until the oysters had either disappeared or attached. The troughs, four in number, are 4 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, with a total length of G4 feet. Parti- tions are i)]aced at an angle with the sides, so as to intercept the water and increase the length of the current and form as many eddies as pos- sible. The bottom and sides we have covered with glass and shells for "cultch." The length of the current is 110 feet and over four hundred eddies are formed in it. The young oysters, after the shells have de- veloped, are placed in the head of the troughs, and though exposed to a strong, steady current of water, which is constantly changed by means of a steam pump which is kept going night and day, very few escape from the lower end, the majority remaining in the eddies. Those at present in the troughs have been there over two weeks and though we have not of late found any on the glass slides, we have washed them off the shells and so far as I can judge a considerable number are still living. Our greatest trouble, an unaccountable one, has been in secur- ing the artificial impregnation of the eggs successfidly. Not once iu twenty times do the eggs advance as far as the first stages of segmen- tation and during the last two weeks we have been successful but once in carrying the eggs to the swimming stage. Neither Dr. Brooks nor myself can explain the failure ; the difticulty is one we never experienced before. We have varied every influencing condition and have used oysters, from every locality in this vicinity without effect. Since the middle of June we have not succeeded ten times, though we have fer- tilized eggs nearly every day. The oysters are now nearly through spawning, and but little more can be done this season. I have written to New Haven to find out the condition of oysters in the sound and BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 355 sbonkl the report be favorable and tbe next examination of tbe troughs indicate a continuance of tbe experiments as advisable, I will, with your approval, move uj) to Long Island Sound and make this attempt. Should the Fish Hawk come in before I leave I will try and arrange for the transportation of the troughs by her. Fort Monroe, Ya., August 4, 1883. After I wrote you last from Fort Monroe I made several examina- tions of the glass slides in the oyster apparatus with fairly satisfactory results. Though the young oysters had not fastened themselves to the glass, yet they had grown somewhat and were vigorous and healthy, with plenty of food in their stomachs. The slides examined had from one to four oysters on each, and fully four hundred slides were in the apparatus. It is hardly possible to find, with the microscope, so small an embryo as that of the oyster on an opaque body such as an oyster shell, but I have no doubt that many more embryos were caught by the shells and partitions in the troughs than we detected on the glass slides. As the animals were doing so well I thought best to continue the ex- periment until some result was reached, which end would be attained shortly, as the oysters at the last examination were over three weeks old and are now nearly five. Finding it impossible to fertilize the eggs suc- cessfully, and as I was advised by Mr. Eowe, of this place, that the oys- ters here were doing well and still spawning, I concluded, in the absence of instructions from you, that I would make an attempt at New Haven. I accordingly left the apparatus at Hampton in charge of Dr. Brooks, with instructions to continue it in operation until the oysters either attached or disappeared. Any results obtained are to be made public through the Fish Commission, but I do not anticipate anything of value from a biological point of view. I hope, however, that the young oysters have fastened by this time, and I regret that I cannot give you definite information upon that point. I find the oysters here i)retty well out of si)awn, not more than one in twenty being tit for fertilization. I have made some experiments, but not with sufficient success to justify setting up an apparatus at all similar to the one at Hampton. I am sorry that I did not get up here sooner, as the season has been very favorable and a large attachment of spat is expected by the oyster growers ; but so far as my labors are concerned, the season is about finished. i!fEW Haven, Conn., August 22, 1883. I have lately received a letter from Dr. Brooks reporting the result of the final examination of the water troughs containing the artificially raised oysters. The examination was made on the l!lst and 22d of August, but I Tegret to say without success, the young oysters having disappeared. Dr. Brooks writes that he went over all the ohells and slides very carefully without success, but as he subse- quently examined all the oyster, ground in the vicinity of Hampton, 356 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the piles of the wharves, shells along the beach and on the beds, and oysters, without finding any young of this year's growth, he thinks it possible that the failure of the experiment was due to conditions isnd iiitlueuces beyond our control rather than to any inherent defect in the apparatus. Coupling the absence of any "set" about Hampton Eoads, with the difliciilty we experienced all snmmcr in securing the fertilization of the eggs, it is possible that Dr. JJrooks is correct in his opinion. Certainly the oysters did not die for want of food, as when from four to five weeks old they were in a healthy condition, with fall stomachs and receiving an abundant sup})]y of water. I much regret that we should again have failed both in producing young oysters and in gaining additional information of biological inter- est. We have, however, discovered a niethod by which food can be sup- plied the oysters in unlimited quantities, which is a considerable ad- vance, and may lead to the solution of the problem in the future. At my request Dr. Brooks has stored the troughs with the apparatus and furniture of the Johns Hopkins laboratory at Hampton, so that they may be readily available for next summer should you consider it advisable to continue experimenting. North Dunbarton, N. H., September 13, 1883. ir§ — THE OYSTER AS A P©I»Uff>AK ARTICLE OF FOO0 IIV IVORTH AMEKBCA.* By CARL RUI^IPFF, Memher of the German Parliament, [Read at the meeting of the Germau Fishery Association, March 8, 1884.] Accidentally I learned last year, partly from the president of the as- sociation and partly from the jjublished reports of the association, that after all attemj^ts to transplant the Kortli Sea oysters to the coasts of the Baltic had failed, the same failure had to be chronicled as regards the efforts to transplant to the Baltic the North American oyster {Ostrea rirginica). The reasons why none of these oysters have propagated in the Baltic have been thoroughly investigated by Professor Mobius, of Kiel ; and it has been ascertained that the failure was owing to two causes, viz., the smaller degree of saltuess of the water (in the North Sea and on the coasts of the United States, 2^ to 3 per cent ; in the Baltic only ].3 to 1.5 per cent), and the colder temperature generally prevail- ing during a considerable part of the winter. Further investigations of the German Fishery Association directed attention to more northerlj^ districts of the American continent ; and * TJe'ber die Bedeiitung der Avstern filr VolKserncihritiiff in Nord-Amerila. From Circu- lar No. 3, lySt, of the Germau Fishery Associatiod, Berlin, April 4, 1884. Translated from the German by Herman Jacobson. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 357 through the kind assistance of the Canadian Government it was proved by actual observations made near Prince Edward Island, not far from the mouth of the Saint Lawrence, relative to the saltness of those coast waters and to other circumstances, that the oysters in those regions, which are ver^' plentiful, are for four months out of the year exposed to the most severe cold (often causing these waters to be covered with ice), and that the natural conditions greatly resembled those of the Baltic. These observations have made me feel confident that an attempt to transplant oysters from Prince Edward Island to the Baltic would prove successful ; and I have therefore taken all the necessary steps to have the experiment made this spring. I took up this matter with a great degree of interest, as a ten years' sojourn in the United States had given me the opportunity to learn the great importance of oyster-culture, not merely to supply the tables of the rich, but also to produce a popular article of food for the masses, which the oyster has become in a constantly growing degree. As far as my statistical information goes, the United States during last year consumed at least 30,000,000 bushels of oysters (200 oysters to the bushel). Kew York alone consumed about 20,000 bushels per day, making the enormous quantity of 4,000,000 oysters per day. This does not include the clams, the annual consumption of which in the United States I estimate to be at least 8,000,000 bushels. The clams are bivalves, having very thick shells and resembling the oyster. They bury themselves in the sand of tlie coast, and can, when the tide is down, be dug out with very little trouble, as the places where clams are hid under the sand can easily be recognized by the narrow channel left in the track of the clam, so as to keep its connection with the sea water. Many people prefer clams to oysters, and next spring I intend to oiier a chance for making an experiment on a large scale to acclimatize (hem with us ; that is, I shall place a quantity of clams at the disposal of the fishery association for distribution along the coast of North Sea. The coast of the Baltic is not suitable for the purpose, be- cause the less degree of saltness would be unfavorable to propagation. Oysters, as well as clams, have in the United States actually be- come articles of food for the masses, including even the poorer classes. Three causes have principally contributed towards this result : 1. Oysters and clams are cheap articles of food in America. 2. The way they are prepared, even among the poorer classes, is ex- ceedingly simple. 3. The poor classes in America entirely agree with our epicures that oysters and clams are a great delicacy. Of the cheapuesy of the oysters in America I shall immediately con- vince you, wht-n I state that for the larger number of consumers, espe- cially the laboring classes, the oysters are taken from the shell as soon as caught, and are, as in Xew York, taken in barrels to the markets during the night, and are there sold by the liter [quart]. Such a liter 358 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES ElSH COMMISSION. varies in price from 5 to 10 cents, and therefore costs on an average 30 German pfeimige. To this are added 2 quarts of milk, at 12 pfen- uigo = 24pfennige, some salt, pepper, &c., and broken crackers to the value of 30 pfennige, and we get a most excellent souj) or stew, enough for four persons (costing about 25 cents). The second cause, the easy mode of preparing the oysters, is self-evi- dent, for it takes only about ten minutes to cook such a soup, and this is done simply and cheaply on the small oil-stoves which are so gene- rally used in America. Unmarried laborers find in the common restau- rants, for the trifling sum of five cents, an oyster stew which is sufficient to satisfy their hunger. As regards the third point, I can testify from my own experience that an oyster stew prepared in this manner is a most delicious dish, highly relished even in the best circles. You are probably acquainted with the fact that in the United States oysters are eaten prepared in many different ways — stewed, roasted, broiled, pickled, &c. — and I am firmly convinced that these various methods of preparing oysters would soon become popular in Germany if oysters would cease to be a mere luxury and be sold cheajily every- where. Permit me to embrace this ojiportunity to remind you of another point, and one which awakens in me feelings of chagrin, viz., the fact that more than 6,000,000 marks [$1,428,000] of German money annually goes to foreign countries for oysters imported by us. This financial reason ought to compel us to increase our own oyster-culture, if possible. After the necessary beds of 03'ster shells, which form the best founda- tion for oysters, have been i)repared in various places along the coast of the Baltic pointed out as favorable by Professor Mobius, I shall furnish a large quantity of both kinds of Canadian oysters — the long- one {Ostrea canadensis) and the round one {Ostrea edidis) — to be i>lanted in the places iudicated, hoping that they may become the starting- points for the constant and jiermanent spreading of these valuable shell-fish. If we succeed in transplanting oyster-culture to the Baltic, there will be no limit to the fertilitj' and the spreading of tbe oysters, for, according to Brooks, a full-grown oyster produces 9,000,000 eggs. It is to be hoped that the association will finally succeed in developing this small seed-grain to that point to which it has grown in the United States, viz., to furnish a cheap and palatable article of food for the masses. On the continent of Europe we are constantly making efforts to ren- der our soil more fertile ; and we should endeavor to do the same not only with regax\l to our rivers and brooks, but also as regards the sea, and, by the experiments to which I have referred, make ourselves inde- pendent of foreign countries as regards the production of oysters. Berlin, Germany, Marcli 8, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 359 179.— BRIEF IVOTES UPON FIi<«II Aivi) FISHERIE^i By CHAS. \%\ SMILEYi [Mainly extracts froui the official correspondence.^ Prices of small nets. — For the benefit of correspondents wlio ar6 continually inquiring about nets for taking carp and other pond fish, the followi ig prices are quoted from the catalogue of William Mills & Son, 7 Warren street, New York. Probably other dealers furnish about the same things at corresponding prices : Fine mesh, minnow nets Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Cotton dip nets, three-quarter inch mesh Do Do Inches Cotton long. (each). 12 $0 30 14 35 16 40 18 50 20 60 24 75 30 1 00 36 1 25 48 16 30 20 35 24 40 Linen (each). 45 50 50 65 75 00 25 50 50 A SUGGESTION FOR AVOIDING THE DANGER INCIDENT TO THE TRANSFER OF FISH FROM THE SMACKS TO THE COLLECTING STEAM- ERS.— Mr. John Bland, of 62 Harley street, Cavendish Square W., London, writing under date of December 17, 1883, to General Chester A. Arthur, President of the United States, makes the following sug- gestion : "In a paper read at one of the conferences held in connection with the exhibition it was said that one of the most arduous and dan- gerous duties of the modern sea-fisherman was to carry the fish from the smack in which they were caught, to the collecting steamer, more lives being lost in this part of the work than in any other. It is obvious that it would be very imprudent in rough weather for the steamer to attempt to stay alongside the smack a sufficient length of time for the whole of the take to be transferred directly from one to the other, so a small boat has to go to and fro several times, to the great risk of its occupants. "An extremely simple and inexpensive method of saving this danger- ous labor has occurred to me. I would suggest that, at a distance of sixty or a hundred yards, the collecting steamer throw by rocket a slight line to the smack. By means of this line the smack would draw to itself an endless rope, to be arranged over a loose block G or 8 feet above the deck. A box or barrel of fish would be attached to the lower part of the rope, by means of a simple hook, then dropped overboard and drawn to the steamer by steam power. A few minutes immersion would 360 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. not do the slightest harm to the boxes, and, as the water would support the greater part of the weight, a dozen packages of fish might be at- tached to the rope at the same time, with a short distance between them, say one box for every G yards of rope. By this means I believe the catch could be transferred day or night, and in almost all weather, with a tenth part of the present hibor and no risk to life or boats, as quickly as the steamer could haul the boxes up her sides. A supply of empty cases could be sent to the smack in the same manner." A RAINBOW TROUT REARED FROM EGGS BROUGHT FROM CALIFOR- NIA.—On February 19, 1884, Mr. H. R. Clarke, of the South Side Sports- men's Club, of Oakdale, Long Island, wrote to Professor Baird as fol- lows : " I send you, per Adams Express, a rainbow trout measuring 20 inches in length and weighing 3 pounds 4 ounces. It died day before yesterday. 1 thought I would send it to you just to show the size and form, its colors being almost faded out. It was raised from the eggs you so kindly gave us four years ago. I measured one this morning that is 23-| inches in length. I think it will weigh over 4 pounds, being four years old in IMarch. There are at the present time in our preserves 104 from the original hatching of the 1,000 eggs from you, 1,050 two years old, and over 10,000 one year old. Those two years old will weigh from one-half to 1^ i)0unds." Growth of rainbow trout. — A correspondent of Forest and Stream, wilting from Waterville, N. Y., March G, 1884, says: "Two years ago about 10,000 California mountain trout were put into a pond in this village. The next spring we found that the growth of these trout, compared to that of our native trout, was astounding. The fol- lowing August one weighing three-quarters of a pound was caught by a small boy. I would never have believed that their growth was so rai)id had I not seen the fish weighed. The trout at the time this large one was caught were a little over a year old. Now many of our fisher- men are wild on the subject of California trout, and we shall put 20,000 more into the same pond again this summer. But for one, I do not think that they compare with our own brook trout in gameness, flavor, or beauty. But our experiment was a decided success. For the past three or four years we have been stocking our streams with brook trout, and find the fishing very much improved thereby. Unless some- thing unforeseen occurs we shall continue to stock them every year." The value of a whale. — C. A. Williams & Co., of Xew London, Conn., received returns, May 20, of the sale of the i)roducts of a whale captured recently by the crew of ship Lizzie P. Simmons, of that port. The whalebone fetched $12,230 and the oil $3,490 in Scotland, making the total value of the whale $15,720. This is the largest yield from a single whale on record. The monster was caught in Cumberland Inlet. [New York Tribune, May 22, 1864.] BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 361 « Sending trout eggs from Germany to England. — According to the Fishing Gazette of January 19, 1884, Dr. F, Zenk, proprietor of the Seeweise FisL-breeding ELstablishment near Wlirzburg, Germany, is sending to England lake trout eggs, Salmo fario. Tliey are forwarded in a square box containing another smaller, perforated box embedded in damp moss. This being opened disclosed more damp moss, beauti- fully cool, and in the midst of this, enveloped first in coarse wadding and tlien in fine muslin, a nest of splendid eggs. A lot received by the Fishing Gazette contained only a dozen or two of dead ones in the whole lot. The dead eggs, being white aiid opaque, are easily dis- cerned by their contrast to the beautiful, translucent, orange-tinted, eyed ova. Dr. Zenk offers 80,000 of these eggs at 9 shillings uer thousand. Those hatched and deposited in England last year and the year before are reported to be doing very well. Arrival of German trout eggs. — The steamer Donau, of the Korth German Lloyds, recently brought 70,000 eggs of Salmo fario to this country. Forty thousand of these were consigned to Mr. E, G. Blackford on account of New York. The eggs were of two kinds, large and small, and were sent to Cold Spring Harbor for distribution. They have been divided between North ville, Mich.; Central Station, Washing- ington; Wytheville, Ya.; Caledonia, N. Y.; and Cold Spring Harbor. They came from the ponds of Mr. C. Schuster, Freiburg, Baden, and were in good order. The North German Lloyds made no charge for transportation. [From Forest and Stream, March 6, 1884.] Dead fish. — Thousands of dead fish, mostly perch, have been washed ashore off Lake Mendota during the past week. It is said that Street Commissioner Bishop removed from the city shore of Mendota one day not less than 15 tons of dead perch. Dr. Eowley, of Middleton, reports that the shoresiu^ar his village are covered with victims of the same finny tribe, and the peoi)le out there are considerably alarmed as to the consequences of so much decaying matter. From microscopic examina- tion of the dead fish, Dr. Eowley has come to the conclusion that the deadly animal is a parasite, which attacks its victims near the gills. The first symptom of distress is noticed by the fish throwing its head out of the water and gasping. In a few moments it is entirely helpless. The water of the lake for days pa..t has presented thousands of floating bodies of fish. It is thought the worst is now over. The health of the city prompts vigorous work.— Madison, Wis., July 19, 1884. [From the American Field, July 26, 1884.] Shad in the Potomac, 1854 to 1881.— Mr. Withers Waller, writing from Markham, Fauquier County, Virginia, says : "When I commenced fishing in 1854 there were fifty large seines hauled on the Potomac. Now I doubt if there are more than eight or 362 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FiSH C0MML'?SI05?. ten. During all the years from 1854 to 18G0, inclusive, fish were very abundant, veitli the exception of 1857, when there were scarcely any, and the fishermen lost heavily. From 1854 to 1800 we caught an aver- age each year of 1,500,000 herring and 30,000 shad, with the excep- tion of 1857, when there were no fish. In 1861, '02, '03, '04, '05, and '00 there was no fishing on the Virginia side as low down the river as Stafford County, near Aquia Creek, and I suppose very little anywhere on the Potomac. 1877 and 1878 were good seasons, the catch amount- ing to from 800,000 to 1,000,000 herring and 15,000 shad. In 1879 there were scarcely any fish. With a seine 1,200 fathoms long, and worked with fifty men and seven horses, 1 caught only 150,000 herring and 4,000 shad during the season of thirty days. Since ihen there has been a gradual increase, ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 herring and 8,000 shad, which has scarcely paid exi)enses, and unless there is a change within the next five years there will not be a large seine hauled on the Poto- mac. Artificial hatching has not come up to my expectations, though there is no telling how scarce fish would be but for the artificial propa- gation. I think if the Government would rent the shores on four or five creeks, which could be worked at the cost of building two small steam- launches, and allow no fish to be taken out of these creeks, that it would do more to restock the river with fish than the same amount of money laid out in any other way. Take all the shores in Aquia Creek, for in- stance, which could be rented for $500 to |800. Some other creeks could be rented in the same way. This plan, together with the hatch- ing, would, I think, give us a plentiful supjily offish. First breeding- of salmon and trout in Canada, — Breeding salmon and trout by artificial process was first practiced in Canada by Eichard Nettle, esq., then superintendent of fisheries, in 1858, in a Gov- ernment hatchery at Quebec. The experiments were measurably suc- cessful. Mr. Nettle was enabled to deposit vivified eggs in considerable numbers and to hatch out and distribute a large proportion of living healthy fry. He also transported im])regnated ova to Australia. This enterprise was authorized by several ministers, the Hon. Mr. Cauchon, Judge Sicotte, and the Hon. William MacDougall. It was not continued by the latter because the means provided by the legislature were ab- sorbed in controlling and improving the salmon rivers proper, all avail- able resources being required to guard the streams against destructive practices which had brought the salmon fishery in the province of Que- bec to the verge of ruin. Mr. Nettle, however, succeeded single-handed, and with a very meagre outfit, in proving thefeasibility of breedingsalmon and trout by artificial means, and he deserves the credit of initiation and perseverance involving severe exposure and strong personal enthu- siam. Another successful instance of artificial salmon-hatching occurred in 1807, under instructions from the Hon. P. Mitchell, on the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, conducted by Messrs. Stone and Goodfellow, BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 363 assisted by W. H. Venning, esq., inspector of fisheries for that prov- ince.—W. F. Whitcher in the Montreal Gazette, May 5, 1884. Decline of the Canadian salmon fisheeies. — Eegarding the alleged increase of produce from rivers in which salmon artiticially bred have been placed, and the corresponding decrease from rivers depend- ent on natural propagation, Mr. W. F. Whitcher, formerly inspector of fisheries of Ottawa, Canada, says in the Montreal Gazette of May 5, 1884: "That a fluctuating decline of the salmon fishery since 1874 has oc. curred throughout the eastern section of the Dominion of Canada it is useless and unwise to deny. The precise extent to which this declen- sion has been arrested during a series of years, on the one hand by reserving and guarding the natural spawning grounds, eradicating abuses, imposing restrictions in the modes, and curtailing the periods of fishing, by constructing fish-ways and removing obstructions to the ascent of salmon, by opening up new and extensive breeding areas, and by regulating and protecting the inland fisheries generally, and on the other hand by planting salmon fry artificially hatched— all of these form a fair subject for impartial inquiry." He then gives figures, from which I compile the following table: Tahle of salmon caught in Quebec, New BrnnswicTc, and Nova Scotia for fourteen consecntive years, 18G9-'82. Tears. Period preceding artificial hatching. 18G9 1870 1871 1872 1873 • 1874 Period of artificial hatching. 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 Pounds. Per cent, of 1874'8 yield. 2, 466, 920 41 4,0;:', 992 66 3, 64 (i, 475 60 3, 745. 302 62 5,F4',929 91 6, 047, 994 100 3,413,192 56 2,615,555 43 3, 332, 935 55 3,712,476 61 3,1(2,638 52 1, 7( 8, 645 28 1, 282, 6b9 21 2, 142, 886 35 In the three provinces named, under the natural system there was a gradual increase in the yield. Artificial fish-hatching was resumed in Eastern Canada in 1873-'74. After eight years of artificial hatching, the quantity fell in 1881 to 21 per cent of what it was at the beginning. Mr. Whitcher seems opi)osed to artificial hatching, and the above figures are used to argue its ineflBciency. Of course the advocates of fish-culture should also stare these facts squarely in the face, and ascertain what are the causes of this remarkable decline in the midst of their best efforts. 364 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Califoknia salmon reared in Wisconsin. — The first California salmou put into Geneva Lake were deposited in April, 187G. There were 25,000 sent to rae from the United States hatchery in Michigan. Later in the season the Wisconsin commission put in 15,000 more. There were about twenty taken last summer weighing from 2 to 4 pounds each. This summer I had heard of only four or five having been taken, the largest of which weighed 3^ pounds, so that I was hardly i)repared for so large a fish. He was 30 inches long, 18 round, and weighed 12| pounds. It was a male fish, so of course I cannot report on the development of the ovaries. The hooks in maw and jaw were well developed, and as this is about the spawning season of the California salmon I feel convinced that the pair were looking about for a spawning idace. The flavor of the salmon was most excel- lent. The meat was of a light pink color, but not as dark as the native California salmou we find in the markets. In other respects it was quite as good. It was taken by a boy while trolling with a spoon hook near the shore, in about 15 feet of water. An hour after, Mr. William Welsher, the superintendent of the hatchery and ponds, saw another one, about the same size, in the locality where the first one was hooked. From this circumstance I infer that they had paired and had come up from the deep water to look for a spawning ground or for a way ou.t of the lake. They were near the mouth of a small stream which empties into the lake, and which has its source about one mile back. — X. K. Fair- banks, Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, August 5, 1880. We have taken another California salmon in Geneva Lake, or rather in the stream emptying into it. On Sunday, Sept. 19th, Mr. W. A. Welsher went to the brook to catch some minnows for l)ait, and heard a splashing in the brook under a bunch of willows. Supposing it to be a mink or musk-rat, he did not at once go to the spot, but, as the commotion continued, he took an ob- servation, and to his surprise discovered seven or eight large salmon. He had no means of capturing them at the time, but the next day went with a net and propagation-pans, expecting to take both male and female fish. He only found one — a fine female weighing 8^ pounds and full of ripe eggs. These fish were spawning, and of course were up this small brook for no other i)urpose. It is a small stream, only 1 mile from the springs which feed it to the lake, but has water enough for them to get up without trouble, and has also a good many holes and hiding-places. — Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, September 23, 18-0. Trout-breeding. — I commenced the first of last December to catch trout from the spawning beds by fishing through the ice with a beard- less hook. I got 30,348 eggs, of which I hatched 95 per cent or more. I had on one screen 2,300 eggs, and I kept account of the bad ones. I took out 92 bad eggs, and I think it was about the average. I have BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 365 the very best of running water. I did not kill or lose more than 11 trout in the operation. I finished catching for spawning purposes on the 7th of January, 1884. The trout spawned here in Crestine Lake until May. On one spawning bed I took some occasionally all winter, in order to satisfy myself that they were spawning all winter. Those that I caught thus I put back. — S. M. Crawford, Camp Percy, Stark Water, N. H., July 26, 1884. Note on sea bass, skates, etc. — Mr. Fred Mather, writing under date of July 29, 1884, says : " I spent last week at Pasque Island, by invita- tion of Mr. James L. Vallottou, of the Pasque Island Club. Six men fished all the week and only took six fish ; the largest one was 17^ pounds. I did not take any. The Cuttyhunk Club is not taking many, neither is the Squibnocket Club, nor are the trap-net fishermen. "At low tide we took plenty of sea bass, which are not yet spawning there. 1 obtained four eggs from two skates and they had many yelks yet to cover, showing that they have just begun. The eggs are now at bold Spring Harbor, N". Y." A LARGE bass.— L. B. Crooker, collector of internal revenue, Au- rora, 111., reported in 1880: "I saw weighed and measured a small- mouthed black bass caught in Fox Eiver, near this point, the other day. Its weight was 7 pounds C ounces; its length, 23 inches. This is the largest fish of this variety I have ever seen during a lifetime in the West. I believe it to be the largest ever caught in K^orthern Illinois." Fish and oysters for New South Wales. — Mr. Cbarles Kahlo, consul at Sydney, New South Wales, reported, under date of August 28, 1883, that the annual consumption of dried, salted, and preserved fish is about 5,000,000 pounds annually, about one-half of which is brought from California. The duty on fish is 2 cents per pound. The oysters found in this and adjacent colonies are of a very poor quality. If American oysters could be shipped in cans so as to arrive in good condition they would meet with ready sale. [House Mis. Doc. 12, Forty-eighth Cong., first session.] Export of pearls and pearl-shells from Mexico. — The fol- lowing table has been compiled from report of Warner P. Sutton, con- sul general at Matamoros, November 30, 1883. [House Mis. Doc. 12, Forty- eighth Cong., first session, part 2, p. 233.J Articles. Average for five years, ending June 30, 1882. • Year ending June 30, 1882. Tear endins June 30, 1883. Total for seven years, ending June 30, 1883. Dollars. 32, 984. 02 Dollars. •Ai .'■lOn nn Dollars. 18, .nOO. 00 44, 414. 00 Dollars. 220,920.10 Pearl-shells 42,856.27 1 71,141.82 329, 837. 17 Total 75, 840. 29 108,641.82 62, 914. 00 550, 757. 27 3 (J 6 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Imports and exports of Germany. — The imports and exports of cod and lierring are given by Commercial Agent Smith, of Miiyence, in kilograms, as follows [House Mis. Doc. 12, Forty-eighth Congress, first session, part 2, p. 727] : Period. In September. 1882 In October, 1882 ... In September, 1883 In October, 1883 ... Dried cod. I.nports. 54, 200 82, 600 9:!, 700 148, 300 Exports. Salted herring in casks. Imports. Exports. 600 : 11,986,200 9,600 500 I 12, -JCO. 500 I 13,600 900 10, G72, 800 ' 10, 800 1,900 14,170,000 I 22,500 The alleged capture of a salmon in the Hudson. — Writing from Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., August 9, 1884, Mr. Fred. Mather says: "Early in June I went with Mathew Kennedy, of Hudson, one of the State game protectors, to capture the illegal pound-nets near Rhine- beck, which were a great nuisance to the shad fishermen. Mr. Kennedy is a shad fisherman, in season and by lawful means, himself, and he told me that some time in May last he captured a salmon in his shad seine on 'Hudson Middle Ground.' The fish would weigh about three pounds. Mr. Kennedy inspected it and allowed it to go again. He has fished for over twenty years, and has seen salmon in the markets, and seems confident that his fish was a salmon." Effects observed hy N. Simmons upon temperature produced by lorapping a cotton comforter about a round-shouldered fish-can. Honr temperature observed. June 12, 1 p. m June 12, H p. m June 12, 5 p. m June 12, 7 p m June li, 9 p. m June 12, 11 p. m June 13, 1 a.m. Temperature of > Temperature of water in covered water in uncovered can. can Variation. Price of carp.— Under date of August 15, 1884, Mr. K L. Kabler, of Bedford Springs, Campbell County, Virginia, advertises in the Lynch- burg News that he has 150,000 scale and mirror carp for sale, as follows : Those 2 to 3 inches long S3 per hundred. Those 3 to 5 inches long 5 per hundred. Those 10 to 12 inches long 12 per dozen. Those 12 to 18 inches long 20 per dozen. In making this and similar announcements the U. S. Fish Com- mission passes no judgment upon the purity of the carp, as it is not informed ui^on the facts in the case. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 367 00 00 00 ss &5 i MA 5 a £.1 (S > o w f o ( w: i 00 «7i o a 2 « rt&H go a C HMO ■C t^ m to « £.3 03 ^ - CO "■So 5 I a -t?- .- = -= =J; g = = W. '^ = 5 _ M j: n = -a -f, n o -= -S 5 2 c (^^1 - " 5- a: (."E-o 3 :,-: S^ S »: '^ S o p ,^ o 4^ a p jj :p.i:a. 3 3 S o av" a e -r s ■-. a - • t:°° DCJ*-JjoC o °-"aS^.2S2 ^.. ^ c3 c3 -; Ch ci X I c3 S = S •■ o o cj a >S go ="" 3°-* a " in o. ^co b ,B bi§-5;-3- 2 .S a o .~ - CO c:. ai<2|S=f.a2s • J=- iT — -►! i ^i .ti -r ;" c-.':3'-5^ = « > I s ,~ .^ T o ..ii, '^ cj g - « a ( 5 » °".,>n '3 2? ^^SciSE."^"*^.-' ■s-i.-r-S .»o 4^ q -w •" '^ _, +J CO — ■ ^. I a o CO >, fe J3 - i T: U CO o 3 rtT 7a» o gS .. -p'^ 3§ --3 _ _ _ .^ /-. _J gj , © 5^ . .0 5 5 -r2 2 cc- .- — — o ^ =..--cc 3 "B.-^CS^ " 5 « I '3 '-" 3 ?, a -iS fa a: — f. 2. f- -r :; C.= '^ - o ;- -p. "^ ^" HH Ch • a r " o &( cf =^ £- = -=00" -^ a n Si o ci x • -1 tr cj >i -^ 2 a rt & " 2 3 "-' ^, ^ ^ ci '^o -S a 2 -13 s -o or =«c£??5 * 2 cc_^b 3 i-i2 .2'^" |5 I'S"^ s P.g.S-52S2^ 2- isi^ ?.,?£'?;- -.a S -.a ! ^ • ^1 ■ * " '.S"3^ c tE-s 5 '*^';'fa3«.aS'5eH -o -•?£ .Wr?2o o - - ''^ r- .3 ■*; s-c--^3a^ "^^u ct p, C ca _ -' -3 C.O T a i=< 3 , -7- 2 3 £■ '^- fa ■= - §5 g--^ _g 5 ... ° g 5: ^ o i3 - o C3 t> O +J i5 -d n a 0 2 rs 3 3 0 0 0 m M M J3 bC 3 o .a 3 O o IS I 9 O o o o 0-1 u 3 3 a O m 3 a p O m 13 9 O m 3 a u M t3 3 a i-H 3 a S a p 1 P4 ^ H3 •inouoa •90t;jans P CO CO ■>i< a P4 bC P ■bi§ p fe O '^ 1-1 1.3 t-1' - CO O o CO o •aoijB^s JO -o^ o 368 BULLLTIN OF THE UNITED STATLS FISH COMMISSION. ro o '<** •- oD • o C •- -; X ;: L- 15 -y a. ,-S -^ .s 00 0 S-=.?<:=ao 05'; 10 : in. 06'. lofatht , 2 ; Mei ndcr.s, 1 , 05'; lo- ot heavi horns, 1 _- CD .. TO 3 a „ ts g Pr/ = 0 > S-i5 a ^:o-5-g'^-k 1 i <£> iri ^ 5 ■-■ _: "^ — 1 , • « . — 1 urs +- C-. f-* —CO ■" S cj —X 3 2 0 ut over wire rr graviti —68° l< Phycis utthef wire rn Specify F. ; 10 Pk P^ d n ■^ ci IN !(-( O -p" ^i" a tn oQ o <0 V •J ^ fc o ,4 ,4 FI8II.— QIIEKIK** OF lVII.I.IAi?I ROSEIVSTini., JR., WITH RFPLiIES. By JOH]V A. R\ DEK. I have an aquarium with goldfish, and there are several things that I do not understand : 1. The water I am using in the aquarium is from a well slightly tinged with alum. Will this injure them? I have been using the same kind of water for six mouths. 2. There collects on their mouths, back, and fins a white substance. What is it f And what is the cause ? 3. Occasionally I take the goldfish out of the aquarium to clean it, and in putting the goldfish back with fresh-drawn water in the aquarium, at first they move oft' very lively; but in the course of an hour thej' commence to swim on top and seem to breath the air. This they will continue to do for nearly a whole day. Why is this"? Why is it also that when coming to the top they blow out bubbles ? 4. Day before yesterdaj' I cleaned it. Yesterday and to-day there are two of the goldfish that go to the bottom, and rest perfectly flat on the pebbles in bottom. I have the aquarium in my store near a win- dow. A little sun will strike it of an evening, and I have it arranged in this manner: A tin tank, holding 16 gallons of water, is raised about 24 inches above the level of the water in the aquarium and is connected ■with a lead pipe, coming under the anuarium, and a small pipe is ex- tended from tlje lead pipe up through the center of the aquarium and the spray is thrown 3 feet high. Every day I have fresh water drawn. The aquarium holds 30 gallons of water. 5. I am feeding them on a food (which is specially prepared for them) of which I send you a sample. 6. Will these goldfish spawn in the aquarium ? How should I treat them if they do ? 7. There are two of them with their tails seeming to shed. What is the cause f 8. Is there anything I can put In the water to make them healthy ? Union Springs, Ala., March 14, 1883. REPLY BY MR. RYDER. 1. I do not think the alum in the water is good for the fish. 2. The accumulation of white substance may be from the water, or possibly may be fungus. The description is not definite enough to decide. 3. Fish will come to the surface when it is warm and snap the mouth as though for air. The air-bladder of the goldfish communicates with the throat or stomach, which accounts for the bubbles expelled. 382 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4. When the lisli lie on the side it is usually a sign that tbey are sick, or do not have enough pure water. 5. I do not know the nature of food used, or, judging by the sample, whether it is the best for the purpose. 6. The goldfish will spawn in an aquarium, but in order to give them a chance to deposit their eggs in a safe place, there should be a water- plant, upon which the females will discharge their ova, and to which they will adhere, and on which they will hatch out. 7. Those with the tails "seeming to shed" have i)robably had the skin abraded or injured by rough usiige. 8. There is nothing that can be put in the water that will make the fish healthy. Avoid nostrums, but make the conditions of life normal to the fish and they will thrive. It has been the writer's experience with large goldfish that if there are enough of water-plants io a spacious tank, or even if the sides are merely coated with an abundance of mi- croscoi)ic green algte, that they will take little food which they may be oftered and live apparently in perfect health for years. Too many plants in the water are just as bad as none at all. The plants give off oxygen to the water, which is of advantage to the fish. Washington, D. C, Ajyril 13, 1883. 187.— EXPORTS OF FISII.Oir, FROITI IVORWAY, 1878-'8«. By FREDRIK M. TVAI.I.E]^I. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] As far as now known, the exportation of fish-oil (including whale-oil, &c.) has been as follows : Tears. 1878 1879 1880 1881 18812 (January 1 to October 31) Liters. 11,900,000 *3. 143,980 ]2, 700, 000 3. 35,i, 350 If), -JOO, 000 4,015,850 10, too, Oi;0 2, 763, 540 8, 750, 000 2,311,750 Gallons. * This is calculatod on the basis of the United States standard gallon of 231 cubic inches, which con- tains 3.785 liters. The liter contains 61.028 cubic inches. The proportion of cod-liver oil in 1882 was less than in other years, as the whale and other fisheries were more successful than usual. The quantity of cod-liver oil exi)orted must be over 60 per cent of the whole, while the cod-liver oil for medical purposes (three grades) is at least 33 per cent. The price of this oil for medical purposes fluctuated greatly in Europe during the spring of 1882. At present the price of the best grade (" steam refined") is $20,80 per barrel. During 1881 its average price was $22.25. Bergen, Norway, December 21, 1882. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 383 188.— TEN QUESTIOIVS COIVCERIVBIVC; THE IIABITS A!VB> BREEDING OF LANDLOCKED !!tAL.llION, TFITH REPLIES/ By CHARLES G. ATKINS. Question 1. Do they live only in large lakes Laving a depth of more than 100 feet! Answer. The depth of the lakes inhabited by them is not ascertained •with certainty, but I believe that some of them will be found to be less than 100 feet deep. As to area, some of the lakes I believe to measure less thau 1,000 acres. The largest, Lake Sebago, measures about 50 square miles. Question 2. Do they live only in lakes surrounded by mountains (alpine or sub-alpine lakes) ? Answer. The lakes in which they most abound are surrounded by low land. Lake Sebago is in a flat sandy country, and around Grand Lake in the Schoodic chain are probably no hills that rise more than GOO feet above its surface. None of the others are in a strictly mount- ainous country. Question 3. Are there many lakes in the United States in which landlocked salmon are found ? Answer. All the lakes in the United States containing them are about twenty in number, included in four small river basins in the State of Maine. This is a very small proportion of the lakes of the country, the .State of Maine alone having several hundred of them. Question 4. What Is the usual weight in the market ? Answer. The usual weight of the landlocked salmon from the Schoo- dic lakes is 2 pounds ; from the Sebago region, 5 pounds. Question 5. What is an extraordinary weight? Answer. An extraordinary weight is 5 pounds for the Schoodic fish and 12 pounds for the Sebago fish ; though the former sometimes reach 10 pounds and the latter 18 or 20. Question 6. Are they more esteemed and sold at a higher price than lake trout? Answer. They are esteemed higher than any of the trout. Question 7. In what month do they spawn ? Answer. They begin to spawn in October, but perform the operation mainly in November, finishing about November 20. Question 8. Do they spawn in the lake like whitefish, or in rivulets like lake trout ? Answer. They spawn in running streams like the brook trout {8. fon- tinalis), which also often lives in lakes, but the true lake trout always spawn in tl)e lakes like whitefish. * The questions were asked by Vou Behr, president of the German Fishery Associa- tion. 384 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Question 9. Mr. Palmer says they are not good for pond culture ; ia it so? Answer. In small artificial ponds their growth is less rapid than that of brook trout. Question 10. Are they caught by angling f In what month I What baits are employed ? Answer. They are taken with hook and line, mainly in May and June, often in July, September, and the winter months. They will take bait to some extent all mouths in the year. The usual baits are, in May, the rind of salt jjork; in June, the artificial fly; in the winter, a small liv- ing fish. 189.— KEPOKT ON BI.ACK BASS SEIVT FBOm AMERICA TO OERMANY lis 18S3.* By MAX VON DEM BORR^E. Of the 7 wide-mouthed and 45 narrow-mouthed bass which Mr. Eck- ardt, jr., brought from America in February, 18S3, the greater number died, probably in consequence of the long journey, so that this spring there remained only 3 of the former and 10 of the latter, which 1 placed it two ponds, supplied %ith gravel beds for spawning. The 3 wide- mouthed fish were ready to spawn, but the 10 narrow-mouthed ones will not reach tbat condition until next year. The former are probably best suited for the water of the lead region, such as I possess, and the latter for stony bottoms. To day I had the pleasure of noticing in the pond containing the 3 wide-mouthed black bass a large number of young fish of shape entirely unknown in these regions — small fish of a i)itch-black color, resembling tadpoles. With a fine gauze catcher we caught more than 2,000 in about au hour, and placed tliem in a jiond containing no fish whatever, but a great number of diminutive crustaceans ( Flohlrebse). I have, therefore, reason to hope that this importation has proved a success. The 3 old fish have grown very rapidly, and have now reached half an arm's length. I am waiting to hear from Professor Beneke relative to the use of the diminutive crustaceans ( Flohlirebse). From Dubisch 1 have learned how to raise enormous quantities of infusoria for fish-food. Beeneuchen, Germany, 1884. * Mittheilungen iiher hlackhasa. From Circular No. 4, 1884, of the Germau Fishery Association, Berlin, June 30, 1884. Translated from the German by Herman Jacob SON. Note. — An account of the spawning of the black bass sent to von dem Borne in 1882 will be found on page 219. — Editor. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 385 Vol. IT, I¥o. ^5. Washington, D. €. Sept. 16, 188i. 190.— ARRAIVGEinKNT WITH TIIK lilFF-SATINO SERVICE AND THE: LimiT-HOUIstE BOARI> FOR tOI.I.El'TINC; WHALES, PORPOISES,, SHARKS, AIVO STRANOE FORITIS OF ITIABINE L.IFE. By CHAS. T¥, SMILEY. Eeports of the stranding of strange animals upon the sea-shore are^ often found in newspapers, but for practical purposes are of little value^ because time has usually elapsed sufficient to allow the specimens tO' decay or to be removed. In order to enable the Fish Commission tO' secure some of these forms of life the Commissioner addressed the fol- lowing letter to the superintendent of the life-saving service : " I beg leave to call your attention to a service, in the interest of science and of the fishing industry, that can readily be rendered by those connected with the life-saving stations. "As United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, I am desir- ous of obtaining a complete collection (to be deposited in the National Museum) of illustrations of the various marine animals, the occurrence or capture of which is only occasional. I refer more particularly to whales,, porpoises, blackfish, grampuses, and the various other forms of the- whale family. These are frequently thrown ashore by the storms, or stranded in shoals, or taken in weirs, but beyond exciting a passing in- terest on the part of the bystanders, very little further is heard of them. In addition to these, I may mention the great basking or bone^ shark, and any unknown or unidentified marine monsters, such as might possibly suggest the idea of the far-famed 'sea-serpent.' " I would ask, therefore, that instructions be given to the persons con)- nected with the Life-Saving Service, during the period of official duty or at other times, to advise me promptly, by telegraph, of the appear- ance, in their vicinity, of any such animals, and to endeavor to keep them in proper condition and prevent their being cut or otherwise mu- tilated until I can send some word. I would cheerfully pay the full value of the oil or blubber of these animals, so that there might be no inducement to cut them up. A telegram sent to the nearest station, addressed 'Professor Baird, Washington, D. 0.,' will come to me with- out prepayment being required, if marked 'Government business, col- lect.' If out of the reach of the telegraph, the announcement maj' be sent by mail. On receipt of this communication, which should give some idea of the nature and condition of the specimen, 1 will at once respond — in some cases sending an expert to prepare the specimen for the Museum. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 25 386 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. "Some of these animals, if not too large, can be forwarded directlj to Washington ; others I may wish to have cast in plaster on the spot and the skeleton only removed. "I would also be glad to be informed, in a similar manner, of the first appearance, at tolerably long intervals, of schools of mackerel, men- haden, blue-fish, porpoises, blackfish, i&c." Under date of February 2, 1883, Mr. S. I. Kimball, the superintendent, issued a circular to all the keepers and crews of United States life- saving stations, prefacing it as follows : " Your attention is called to the letter addressed to this office by Prof. Spencer F. Baird, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and you are requested to render him all the assistance possible in furtherance of the objects specified therein not incompatible with the performance of your regular duties." In just one week from the date of that circular the following telegram was received from J. B. Edwards, keeper of Amagansett Station JS^o. 10, via East Hampton, Long Island, February 9, 1883: " Have specimen of shark 9 feet 8 inches long. Three feet around largest part. Not identified by any one here. Weight 200 to 300 pounds. At present fresh." The fuller account by letter soon arrived. It was as follows : "The head, shajjed nearly like a shark, quite flat, noteeth, and as large as any part of the body ; mouth quite large ; eyes I think more like a beast than shark ; the skin rough like a shark, dark gray color. The fish is different from anything we have seen here before. It is not a sea-ser- pent, but a new kind of fish to us. Length, 9 feet 8 inches } weight, about 300 i)ounds." The shark was sent for and proved a valuable specimen. Other reports followed every few weeks, so that nine months later the follow- ing list was furnished by Professor Baird to a correspondent applying for it : " Quite a number of specimens have been already received, including some of much interest on account of their rarity. The animals reported thus far have been cetaceans and fishes, but it Is probable as time passes we shall obtain specimens not only of vertebrate animals, but of the invertebrates as well. You will observe by the following list that many of the specimens were from New Jersey : Dolphin {Tursiops suhridevs), Fire Island, N. Y. Pigmy sperm-whale {Kogia goodei), Spring Lake, N. J. Dolphin {Tursiops subridens), Turkey Gut, near Cape May, N. J. Bottle-nose whale [Zlphiiis cavirostris), Barnegat, N. J. Shark {Pseudotriacis microdon), Amagansett, N. Y. ' Star-gazer' {Astroscopus sp.), Life-Saving Station 6, N. C. 'Lump-fish' [Cyclopterus lumpus), Point Judith, R. I. 'Flute-mouth' {Fistularia serrata). Point Judith, R. I. 'Angel-fish' {Pomacanthus arcuatus), Barnegat, N. J. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 387 " No such arraugement as the one under consideration exists in any other country. " Its importance to the advancement of the knowledge of the larger marine vertebrates cannot be overrated. Hitherto zoologists have been forced to content themselves with examination of specimens of which the stranding has been reported indirectly through the newspapers or otherwise. In the majority of such cases the rapid progress of decom- position has made it impossible to preserve more than the skeleton, and so it has come about that the external appearance of many large species is quite unknown. By the present admirable arrangement, however, and the extension of our railroads, a specialist can be dispatched to almost any point on the eastern coast in time to observe in a fresh state any stranded animal which may have been reported. "Washington, D. C, ^'^ovember 13, 1883." In return for the services rendered by the Life-Saving Service, copies of the reports of the Smithsonian Institution, and the reports and bulletins of the Fish Commission, are sent to the Atlantic coast stations. Under date of November 13, 1882, a letter similar to that addressed to the superintendent of the Life-Saving Service was addressed to Vice- Admiral Stephen C. Rowan, U. S. N., chairman of the Light-House Board. Under date of February 13, 1883, the chairman of the Board addressed a circular to all keepers of light-stations, quoting Professor Baird's letter, and saying : " Your attention is called to the letter addressed to this office by Prof. Spencer F. Baird, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and you are requested to render him all the assistance possible in further- ance of the objects specified therein not incompatible with the perform- ance of your regular duties." Very little has resulted from the instructions to light-house keepers, as their duties do not call them to patrol the coast. WASHiNaTON, D. C, July 31, 1884. 191.— UIS^X: OF l^IOHT IN SEA-FISHIIVO.* That light exercises a certain influence on fish is an ascertained fact; but how far it operates to attract or repel is uncertain. The drag-net fishermen have learned that, when there is much phosphorescence in the sea, herring enter the nets reluctantly, as the light which the nets produce by their movement in and through the water frightens the fish away. The idea underlying the method by which light is utilized for the capture of anchovies, of which more is said further on, is that its in- fluence is more to repel than to attract fish. It is, however, not our purpose here to pursue this question further, but only to mention some 'From ]s!or8k Fiskei-itideride, Vol. Ill, No. 2, April, 1884, pp. 114-116. Translated by Tarleton H. Bean, M. D. 388 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. examples of the use of light in sea-fishing without regard to the mode in which it op- rates. Periodically there appears in autumn, from August to the close of October, a i)ike-like fish, Belone acus^ in great schools. They are cap- tured on dark nights in the following manner:* Upon arriving at the fishing place the sail is taken in, whereupon they pull cautiously around searching for the schools. These are easily discovered, because they are constantly pursued by dolphins, which gorge themselves upon the Belone. As soon as a school is discovered a fire is kindled in an iron vessel which is fastened to the bow, whereupon the boat is swung noiselessly around many times in order that the light may be thrown in all directions. "Attracted by this," says the author, "the fish collect around the boat and remain near it, often even following its revolutions. Thereupon the school is decoyed literally to the shore as it follows the boat, which is rowed cautiously towards the beach. In doing this, however, care must be exercised not to touch the bottom, as the least shock will frighten the fish away. A couple of meters from the shore the headway is stopped, the oars are taken in, and the fish are scooped up from both sides with dipnets. At first a few fish are scared off, but they quickly return and join the main school, which does not move. In this way a thousand kilograms of fish are frequently taken in the space of a couple of hours." At many places in the Mediterranean anchovy fishing is prosecuted in a similar way. When a school has collected around the torch-bear- ing boat, another boat encircles it with a net, whereupon the lights are extinguished. The spell is broken ; a quick stroke of an oar in the water causes the last remnant of them to disappear, and in the meshes of the nets the deluded fish must pay the penalty of their recent blind- ness or confusion. In your country, in Alten^ord, possibly also in other places, light is sometimes employed in the herring fishing in autumn. When the school has been brought to a standstill by the use of light, the fish are scooped ui) with dip-nets, and the yield is often gratifying. During the London Fisheries Exhibition there was exhibited from Tarragona, Spain, a boat with an open well in the middle in which well could be placed a box furnished with a glass bottom and in its lower por- tion with glass sides, in which box lamps could be placed. The box was lowered so far that the glass sides and the flame of the lamps were be- low the bottom of the boat so that the light could shine in all directions. So far as I remember, it was especially intended to be used for the cap- ture of cuttle-fish. In Newfoundland, also, light is often employed in the capture of these mollusks. The fishermen make a fire on the shore and the light so absorbs the attention of the cuttle-fish that with the in- coming tide they are stranded on the beach where they are picked up. Where it frequents the deep water, and where there is a long beach, the method of fishing just mentioned as occasionally employed will be * Nicolas Chr. Apoetelides, La peche en Crrhce. Athens, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 389 worthy of a trial, though iu such places it is not used for the capture of cuttle-fish. Here is employed au artificial decoy fish made of wood formed nearly like a fiat-bottom boat Avith pieces of glass set iu the bot- tom and sides. It is of the size of the body of au average cuttle-fish, and is trolled after the boat. Accordiug to the author previously men- tioned, the ancient Greeks towed after the boat a female in order to attract the males, which were then scooped up with the net. Since at the present time it is often difficult to procure a female, the modern Greeks substitute for the natural decoy an artificial one. The capture of fish by means of light is extensively employed in shal- low-water and in fresh-water fishing, but it is confined to the taking of fish singly. In the sea fishery light is employed also in some places, as we have seen, for the capture of fish in schools. The reason why this " auxiliary weapon " has not come into general use is twofold : partly because of technical difficulties, and partly because its operations with the means which people hitherto have been able to command have been confined to a very small territory in comparison with that operated upon by other means of capture. The development of the electric light will probably lead to its more extended use in the fishery service than hitherto; but we assume that its especial use must be as a means of dazzling the fish, which will arrest them until they can be caught with other implements. Its use in the purse-net and trawl-net {Synkenot) fishing is therefore only a question of time. 193.— TBE mODE OF I^IFE OF EEL,8.* By HJBRR HIIVKELMANBT. When yon ask fishermen how it comes that the yield of the eel fish, eries on our Baltic coast varies greatly in the different years, you will always get the answer that this is owing to the direction and the force of the wind. Observations on the mode of life of eels, made by me for a number of years, have fully corroborated these statements of the fish- ermen. As far as our coast is concerned, the eel fisheries are most successful in autumn, during a southeast wind, while when the wind is from the northeast, east, and south-southeast, the results of the fisheries in most places leave much to be desired. During all other winds from the west the yield of the fisheries is reduced to a minimum, so that they become absolutely unprofitable. Of less influence than the direction of the wind is its force. It may, however, be laid down as a rule that the stronger * Ueber die Lebensweise der Aale. From Circular No. 3, 1884j of the German Fishery Association, Berlin, April 4, 1884. Translated from the German by Herman Jacob- son. 390 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the wind the richer the yiekl, provided that a sudden storm does not destroy the fishing apparatus before the eels have begun to move. The migration of the eels in autumn is carried on during the night, beginning about one hour after sunset; is strongest from midnight till 2 o'clock in the morning, and ceases about one and one-half hours before sunrise. Views are greatly divided among fishermen as to whether, during day-time, the eels hide among tbe aquatic plants near the shore, or whether they stay in deep water at a greater distance from the coast. As far as my own observations go, I am led to suppose that during day-time the eels only avoid the shallow places where there is but little vegetation, but that as a general rule they keep at no great distance from the coast, in order to continue their migration in the evening. This migration is going on the more cautiously the calmer the weather, and for this reason mauj eels cannot be caught in standing apparatus during calm weather and in clear water. I thus remember that during a beautiful but very dark September night 100 eels were caught with a small net at a single haul, near a large number of fish-baskets from which the following morning only from 15 to 20 eels were taken, although it is certain that many eels were constantly passing the baskets. To watch the eels among the fish-baskets along the coast, select a very dark autumn night, when the sea is strongly phosphorescent and when there is absolutely no wind, or the evening twilight soon after sunset, and full opportunity will be afforded to observe the life and do- ings of the eels. It is only under very peculiar conditions of weather that the eels migrate in large schools. It is probable that when the sky is thickly clouded — but even then only during a storm — the largest schools move along our coast, although large masses have been observed in various places during calm weather. In the autumn of 1879 I ob- served soon after sunset a large school of eels in the Little Belt whose appearance astonished me very much. When later I mentioned it to the fishermen of the neighborhood, I was told that the eels often formed an immense ball, rolling along the coast towards the north. There can- not be any doubt that this migration towards the Cattegat is connected with the spawning of the eels. It is a very rare occurrence to find a migratory eel on the coast in spring, while so called summer eels are often caught with fish-bas- kets and spears. Among the summer eels I have never succeeded in finding a male, much and often as I have searched for it. Among the migratory eels caught last fall in the Gjenner Bay there was a male eel, measuring 51 centimeters [20 inches] in length, the largest which I have ever seen. The number of male eels seems to increase with the saltness of the water, so that more male eels are invariably found among those caught on the coast of Zealand than among those caught on the coast of Schleswig-Holsteiu. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 391 i9« THE WEIGHT OF FI!!)H IIV DIFFERENT €OIVI>ITI©IVs : " We have seen no mackerel yet, though we were over to the west shore on June 27, and down the island June 28. Again we saw none yesterday, but to-day a few were to be seen with a school of herring off Surrey. There are about a dozen sail, some of which have been to Chaleurs Bay, but found no mackerel. We left forty sail at North Cape." Again, in a letter dated Surrey, Prince Edward Island, July G, 1884, Capt. Charles Martin says : " There are 45 sail here to-day. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 411 No fish schooling yet. Yesterday the wind was southeast, to-day it is southwest." Gloucester, Mass., July 13, 1884. During- the past week there have been 54 arrivals from George's Banks, with average fares of 23,000 pounds of salt codfish ; 5 arrivals from Grand Banks, with 120,000 pounds of salt codfish to a vessel ; 8 arrivals from the Banks, with 24,000 pounds of fresh halibut to a ves- sel ; and 24 arrivals, averaging 350 barrels of salt mackerel to a vessel. Most of these mackerel are small, and were caught in the Bay of Fundy. No mackerel have yet been caught in the Bay of Saint Lawrence, and 50 of the 1G5 sail that went there for mackerel are on their return home. Tlie disappearance of the mackerel that were seen clown the Nova Scotia shore is a mystery which has not yet been solved. If the whole fleet comes on this coast, small mackerel will sell at a low figure. Yes- terday small mackerel sold at $4.50 per barrel, with the barrel, which is worth 70 cents. There are 10 sail of mackerel catchers in the harbor, with 3,500 barrels of mackerel that were taken in the Bay of Fundy. I think mackerel will be sold to-morrow at $4 per barrel. Gloucester, Mass., July 20, 1884. SuivoiARY. — There has been the largest amount of fish landed at Gloucester the past week of any week in eight years. There were 67 arrivals from George's Banks, with 1,680,000 pounds of salt cod ; 17 ar- rivals from the Grand Banks, with 2,780,000 pounds of salt cod ; 7 arri- vals fiom the Grand Banks, with 182,000 pounds of fresh cod and 65,000 pounds of hake; 80,000 pounds of shore cod; 120,000 pounds of cod from the Western Bank ; 220,000 pounds of salt cod from Banqereau; and 6 arrivals with 1,000 barrels of salt mackerel. Mackerel are re- ported plenty in the Bay of Fundy, but of small size. To-day 5 ves- sels arrived from the Bay of Fundy, with 1,500 barrels of salt mackerel. Gloucester, Mass., July 27, 1884. SujNEMARy. — The amount of fish landed in Gloucester in July was as follows: There were 186 arrivals from George's Banks, with 3,841,000 pounds of salt cod and 36,900 pounds of fresh halibut ; 28 arrivals from Grand Banks, with 4,120,000 pounds of salt cod and 19,000 pounds of fresh halibut ; 9 arrivals from Western Bank, with 660,000 pounds of salt cod and 6,500 pounds of fresh halibut; 9 arrivals from the coast of Nova Scotia, with 302,000 pounds of salt cod and 8,500 pounds of halibut ; 34 arrivals from the Banks, with 780,000 pounds of fresh hal- ibut; 522,000 pounds of shore fish ; 22,818 barrels of mackerel from the Bay of Fundy; 770 barrels of mackerel fr.)m Block Island ; 478 barrels of mackerel from the Bay of Saint Lawrence ; 260 barrels of mackerel caught in traps ; making a total for July of 246 arrivals, with 9,445,000 pounds of cod, 850,900 pounds of halibut, and 24,326 barrels of mack- erel. Gloucester, Mass., August 6, 1884. 412 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 200— SAIVITARY REPORT OIV OI>» PROVJDEIVC'E ISIjAIVD, IIIVITED fSTATES OF COEOiMRIA. By C. G. H£RI\I>0]\, P. A. SUKGE©^, U. S. N. The island of Old Providence is situated abont 250 miles north of Co- lon, from which place it can be frequently reached by schooneis trading between the two places. This island, with Santa Cataliua, from which it is separated by a very narrow and shallow channel, is some 4 miles long from north to south and from 2 to 3 miles wide. With the adjacent island of Saint Andrews, it forms a jiart of the State of Cartagena, and is governed bj^ an official appointed by the Bogota Government, resi- dent at Saint Andrews. The island is mountainous in its central part, one peak being as much as 1,100 feet above the sea. Its structure is coral line. On the northwest part is a harbor nearly a mile wide and extending about the same distance into the land. The mountains and hills are very rocky and covered with thickets of thorny bushes. The soil is not, as a rule, arable except along the sea-shore, where there are many little farms which extend entirely around the island. The seasons are the wet and dry ; as a rule, the former begins in the latter part of April or the first of May, and continues up to the first of December. During the dry season the trade-winds are continuous, and keep the temijerature at about 78° F. During the rainy season the heat is op- pressive. The arable portion of the island is very productive ; sugar-cane, the cotton-plant, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, bread fruit, yams, and both sweet and bitter cassava grow abundantly. The bitter cassava is eaten by the people np to a certain stage of its growth, after which it is fed to the hogs which thrive ui)on it. Excellent oranges, limes, pines, cocoa-nuts, tamarinds, &c., grow in abundance. Uncommonly line l)Oultry, good beef, kid, large and small pigs, can be bought at very reasonable prices. The adjacent waters swarm with fine fish and turtle. The population, numbering between 800 and 1,000, is a mixed one, and contains but few pure whites; it is for the most part a mixture of negro and Indian, with a streak of Spanish and American blood. The negro element is for the most i^art from former slaves, who were sent over from Jamaica. The Indian and Spanish elements come from the mainland, and the American from seamen who have visited the island in trading vessels. The men are uncommonly tall, well developed and fine looking, and as a rule are industrious and thrifty ; they engage in farming, fruit-growing, and stock-raising; many of them are expert fishermen and turtle catchers, and not a few are enqiloyed as seamen on vessels engaged in trade between the island and the United States, the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 413 Spanish main, and Colon. The women are for the most part employed in household duties, though sometimes they work on the farm. As a rule they marry young ; the child-bearing period, as a rule, begins when they are sixteen, and often continues up to the fifty-second year. Many of them are very prolific ; several of them told me they had given birth to as many as fifteen children. While this may be true in many cases, I saw a large number affected with serious uterine disorders, which seemed to be due to early child-bearing, and who had been more or less disabled for years. A number of them dated their trouble to a protracted and hard labor, which had occurred early in their married life, and since v/hich no conception had taken place. During labor they are attended by mid wives who have no knowledge whatever of obstetric procedures. I»had an opportunity to converse with some of the midwives, and while they seemed amiable and anxions to do their best for their patients, they had absolutely no knowledge of the subject. The people generally are very courteous in their manners and amiable to a degree. They are scrupulously neat in their persons and dress. The whole population, judging from those I met, is an uncommonly intelligent one. It was the exception to find an adult who was unable to read and write, and in walking about the island I several times saw children, with books and slates, standing by their elders and saying lessons to them. Education is encouraged by the Bogota Government, and a schoolmaster is paid from the i)ublic funds. A strong religious sentiment seemed to pervade all classes, many of them being members of the Baptist Church, of which there are two in the island. The mar- riage ceremony must be performed by a magistrate, and, as a rule, is afterward also solemnized by a minister. A number of people live along the shores of the harbor, and though without any sharply defined boundaries, this settlement has been named Isabel. Upon the arrival of the ship at Isabel I learned from some natives who came on board that a number of people in the island were greatly in need of medical attention. The next morning I went on shore and Jiad a conversation with a Mr. Archibald, the leading merchant of the island, who corroborated the statement. I proposed to him to have a room fixed up for me as an ofSce at some convenient place, and told him if h^ would do so I would come in at certain hours every day during the stay of the Albatross in port and do what I could for the people. To this he readily assented, and immediately began to fit up in his own house a large, well lighted and ventilated apartment for an office ; he also sent out word to various parts of the island by peo- ple who came in during the day to make purchases that I would be at his place every morning. I was met at the outset by a difficulty in the great scarcity of medicines in the island and the entire ab- sence of even the simplest surgical appliances. Two merchants in the town kept for sale a few medicines, but their stock in trade was very 414 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. small, and consisted principally of patent purgative preparations ; a small quantity of quinine and tincture of the chloride of iron was found. In this dilemma the medical and surgical outfit of the Albatross was drawn on as far as stores could be spared. I was told that no physi- cian had ever resided in the island, and that sometimes the people, when very much in need of professional advice, go up to Saint Andrews, or even to Colon ; but only a few can afibrd to do this, as the trading schooners charge heavily for a passage. The island seems to have been singularly free from epidemics of all kinds. No vaccination has been practiced for years, and yet there has not been a single case of variola introduced, notwithstanding the commercial relations existing with Colon, where the disease is not at all uncommon. I urged upon several of them the importance of vaccination, for should the disease ever once get a foothoM its ravages would be great. Unfortunately the Albatross was without virus at the time, otherwise I would have been allowed to vaccinate many. It may be that they are protected to some extent against vari- ola and yellow fever by the negro element running through many of them. This island presents an excellent field for professional work for well qualified medical missionaries, or for a young practitioner, who, during a residence here for a year or two, would gain a far more extensive per- sonal 'experience than he could, as a rule, hope to gain at home in a much greater length of time. The place is easily reached, at frequent inter- vals, by trading schooners from Colon. The following enumeration of diseases will give an idea of the nature of the cases which I saw during my visit to this interesting island: Febris intermittens and remittens, adynamia, diabetes, lumbago, rheu- matismus (articular and muscular), anaemia, senectus, epilepsia, hysteria, neuralgia (facial and intercostal), cataracta, conjunctivitis, ptrygium, hypertrophia cordis, pal])itatio, asthma (catarrhus, bronchial, and nasal, acute and chronic), phthisis, pleuritis (with purulent effusion), ascites, congest io hepatis, ccmstipatio (acute and chronic), fistula in ano, pro- lapus ani, splenitis (acute) ; also one case of chronic enlargement of spleen, vermes (lumbricoids, common), gonorrhoea, phymosis, necrosis (of ribs and of bones of foot and leg), eczema, ulcers (leg and foot), vul- nus laceratum (almost entire scalp had been torn from head by ma- chinery of a sugar-mill), ammorrhcea, menorrhagia, prolapsus uteri, lacerati cervix uteri, ante and retro flexures of uterus, ovarian tumor, lucorrhcea (very common). The amount of venereal disease in the island is very small, only three cases in all being seen, and these were in men who had contracted the disease elsewhere. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross, Kexj West, Fla., April 16, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STA.TES FISH COMMISSION. 415 201.— TREATMENT OF THE €ASEl,I>A.raffILiL,EK THERIMOITIETER. By LOUIS P. CASELLA. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 1 regret to learn the difficulties you describe iu connection with some of ray thermometers. I incline to believe that I could correct most of the thermometers you may have which are not broken, and will be most glad to do all in my power, if you will let me have them, telling your assistant to pack them carefully so as to prevent their being further disaiTauged. The usual precaution against disarrangement in the first instance is that they should not be kept lying flat; that when sent from place to place the indices should be lifted well up from the mercury. If by chance a small portion of mercury gets over the bottom of the index, hold it flat and use the magnet to draw it slowly up. With the head quite raised, tap it smartly on the i^alm of the hand, the portions of mercury become detached and fall down to the main column. Warm tlie surface freely before the fire, then hang up ; they thus become united. As these are the only thermometers that register the maximum and minimum temperature they were adopted w'th my arrangement, and have thus shown the temperature of all depths of the sea in a way that has not yet been contradicted, though I regret this tendency to disar- rangement which I have acknowledged from the first. Should you send yours for repair, I propose adopting an arrangement of case that will, I hope, enable mo to employ an easier kind of index. This I will try to have ready so as to apply to yours or to part of them when they come. 147 HoLBORN, London, E. C, May 21, 1884. 203.-HATCHIi\G RfiACKFI^U AND 8PAIVI.«$II MACKEREL. By R. E. EAKLE. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] This morning, while at the fish-wharves, I discovered that nearly all of the blackfish {Centropristis atrarius) were thoroughly ripe, and eggs would run from fully 50 per cent, of the females in handling. I took a number of thousand and impregnated them. They sink readily in salt water, and have a diameter of i>V of an inch. I saved some iu alcohol and glycerine. Many of the other species are well advanced and will spawn in iwo or three weeks at most. I shall try to get a full series of ovaries in alcohol for future examination. Charleston, S. C, March 25, 188Q, 416 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. I have spent a week with Colonel McDonald at New Point, on Mob- jack Bay, where we have been engaged in collecting specimens and sta- tistics of the extensive i)ouud fisheries of that locality. We found several species rii^e or nearly so; among them were a number of impor- tant food-fishes, including the Spanish mackerel {Cyhium maculaUim) and porgy [Ephipims faber). These have free sinking eggs about ^ of an iuch in diameter. The Spanish mackerel are next to tlie shad the most important species in the locality; they are just beginning to spawn, and the height of the season will probably not occur before the 1st of July. We secured several thousand eggs of the porgy and kept them until well advanced, but could not remain long enough to hatch them out. I^OKFOLK, Va., June 6, 1880. Spanish mackerel have been taken in fair numbers in this vicinity for two weeks. I cannot yet report anything definite, but will write in detail soon. May be obliged to go further down the sound before I can gather satisfactory information. Crisfield, Md., June 24, 1880. The work in hatching of mackerel at Crisfield has been a great suc- cess and I have hatched out fully half a million young mackerel. The course will probably not answer for the work, but I have an impression that a very simple and inexpensive apparatus can be constructed and made to answer admirably. The spawning season has hardly arrived, but most of the fish are well matured. I am now on my way down the bay to examine the lower pounds with a view to eidistiug the sympathies of the fishermen in the work in case you should decide to begin hatching mackerel, and also to gather addi- tional data about this and other species. On board steamer Helen, July 1, 1880. The outlook for extensive work in the artificial i)ropagation of the Spanish mackerel is excellent, and Cherrystone, an excellent harbor on the eastern shore of Virginia, is the most desirable location. The pound owners in that locality are thoroughly interested in the matter, and offer not only to furnish all the eggs needed free of charge, but also to assist in the work as much as possible. I am fully convinced that a station located at Cherrystone, with the necessary apparatus, could easily hatch out a hundred million young mackerel by the 1st of Sep- tember. The eggs are unusually hardy and hatch in from 18 to 20 hours. The Ferguson bucket could be made to answer in the work, but by far the best apparatus would, I think, be the Clark hatching trough as modified for the cod work. I send you by to-night's express a bottle of young mackerel hatched at Crisfield, Md., Juno 30, and have quite a quantity of them here. Washington, D. C, July 8, 1880. # BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 417 Vol. I¥, No. 37. Washiaigton, ®. C. Sept. ^5, 1884. ao3 THE si<:a-fisiie:rbes of fkance and A£.01ERS. By BE]\JAiriIN F. PEIXOTTO, U. S. Cousul at Lyons. [From Reports of tlie Consuls of the Uu.ited States ou the Commerce, Manufactures, &c., of their Consular Districts, pp. 659-661, inclusive.] 1. — Fisheries of France. In my dispatch No. 281, of December 9, 1882, I gave some account of the sea-fisheries of France for 1881.* I have now the pleasure to re- port some additional facts relating to the fisheries of 1882. Boats and fishermen. — During the year 1882 the French fisheries employed 22,891 boats, of an aggregate tonnage of 156,287, while 136,- 799 persons were engaged in fishing. Value. — The value of the product caught amounted to $17,941,878, representing an increase over the product of 1881 of more than $1,930,- 000. All the branches of fishing were not equally favored. Herring. — The catch of herring, for example, which furnishes no small part of the little ports of the Kormandy coast from Dunkirk to Havre, suifered seriously from bad weather, a portion of the fishing fleet being dispersed by the tempests. The yield from the herring fislieries reached only 56,250,000 pounds, against 87,750,000 pounds, the capture of 1881, while the merchantable value fell from $1,737,000 in 1881 to $1,447,500 in 1882. OoD. — The cod -fisheries were better ; 156 boats left for Newfound- land at the commencement of the season, with an equipment of 5,165 men. They returned with over 40,000,000 pounds of fish, which brought $1,679,679. In 1881 they captured 39,600,000 pounds, which sold for $1,505,400. To Iceland, where the cod is also found, 211 boats, with 3,698 fisher- men, were sent. Their capture amounted to 27,000,000 pounds, against about 22,000,000 pounds during the previous year, which realized $2,- 895,000. sardine-fisheries. Coasting fishing is followed by those who have but slight resources, and who are unable to form connections with commission and forward- ing capitalists. These fishermen are aided by their wives and cLiildren. Sardines form the principal, if not exclusive, object of their search. For several years they have been compelled to abandon their usual fish- ing grounds and have recourse to the open sea. Their boats not being * Published in Consular Reports, No. 27. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 27 418 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. equal to this enterprise, tlie Governmeut lias come to their assistance for the construction of the projier vessels. At several points, and notably at Croisie, a large number of fishermen have vessels of 20 to 25 tons, with which they explore the deeper sea. The past year, how- ever, the fish again approached the shores, enabling the small boats to make considerable capture and of large size. As a whole, the sardine-fisheries for 1882 were excellent; 512,000,000 sardines were caught, selling for $3,088,000, an increase of considerably over a million dollars from 1881. It is said, however, that no dependence can be placed upon the continuance of such good luck, and boats of proper and sufficient capacity must be built to explore the open sea. Coasting fishing was not less prosperous for other varieties. Over 119,000,000 pounds of varied sorts of fish, valued at $7,500,000, were taken. In fact, it is this product which furnishes the general markets and supplies the jiopular demand. ARTIFICIAL OYSTER BEDS. Special mention must be made of oysters, the commerce in which, re- ferred to in my report before mentioned, has continued to largely in- crease. In 1881, though tbe yield was greater (374,985,770 oysters), the price obtained was but $397,918, whereas with tbe product last year of only 155,701,399 the sum of $144,514 was realized. The industry of artificial rearing of oysters continues prosperous. The parks produce largely and yield good profits. The quarter of Teste alone furnished for consumption from the 1st Septemper, 1881, to the 15th June, 1882, upwards of 268,000,000 oysters reared in these beds. The total shell-fish product of 1882 amounted to 372,841,830, bringing $310,471. It will be seen that it is the artificial culture which almost exclusively supplies the market. There are, at present 45,464 oyster parks in France, established on public lands, and paying the Government a trifling rental. These parks, or beds, occupy over 46,000 persons, of whom 16,317 are seamen exempt from taxation. They cover an area of over 29,000 acres, and every year an average of 725 acres are developed. It is an industry which requires little capital, and, iiroperly understood, yields regular and certain profit. 2.— Fisheries op Algeria. The foregoing remarks relate to France, properly speaking. Her colonies, and particularly Algeria, should not be overlooked in taking account of her fisheries. For the first time, this year the Government has made a report on the Algerian fisheries, from which I deem it of interest to present tlie following interesting features : Of fishermen, 4,916, mounting 1,044 boats, were engaged in the Alge- rian fisheries in 1882. The value of the fish caught amounted to $784,148, consisting principally of mackerel, thon, allaches, sardines, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 419 and anchovies. Scarcely any mussels or oysters were taken, but shell- fish abound plentifully. The total capture exceeded 11,000,000 i)ounds. As a general rule, the coast of Algeria yields abundance of fish. Fishing is particularly good in the Gulf of Oran and Arzew, but from these points to Castiglione, a distance of over 1,200 miles, fishing is little followed, for the lack of a market along the seacoast. Algiers and its neighborhood is a very important center for fish ; so is the Bay of Callo and the town of Phillippeville. At Bone and La Calle there is less animation, but sedentary species are here caught ^v'hich are not found elsewhere. Coral-fishing is special to Algeria, 10,000 to 45,000 pounds of coral being the annual product. La Calle is the central point of this industry, occupying yearly ICO boats and from 1,200 to 1,300 men. The coral yield of 1882 represented a value of $190,000. Coral is obtained by means of a wooden apparatus in the shape of a cross, having in its center a leaden slug or stone for ballast. Nets, the meshes of which are loose, are hung on the bars of the cross and dragged at the bottom of the sea and among the nooks and crevices of the rocks. These nets, winding about the coraline plant, break up or off its branches, which adhere to the meshes. The apparatus is drawn up by the fisherman whenever he thinks it sufficiently laden. There is also a net provided with large iron nails, having thus great force, to break the coral, but this apparatus is prohibited. The scajihandre, or cork jacket, is used only in exceptional cases. Algerian fisheries would no doubt become more productive if greater facilities were afforded for communication with the interior. I cannot close without again urging the importance of encouraging our home fisheries. It is an industry of twofold importance. It is fol- lowed by a class of brave and hardy men, from which, as in other countries, may be recruited our best sailors. In the near future, when our merchant marine will once more assume the importance it possessed before the late war, this class may give us the force we shall then re- quire, and American sailors sail American ships once more. United States Consulate, Lyons, October 24, 1883. S04 — I>I8€(JSSIOIV AT THC: DRESDEIV COIVFEKEIVCE IIV 1SS3, ©F THE KIIVDS OF FI»)H EOOS TO BE OBTAIl\£D FROiTI THE U.MTEO STATES. In general the conference agreed that the experiments in acclimatiz- ing American fish have been accompanied by many valuable results. Mr. Haack and Mr. Schuster did not strongly favor the California salmon {Salnio quinnat), because experience had taught them that at * Die Fischereiconferenz in Dresden 18^3. E. EuifUhrung ausldndischer Fischarten. From the Bayerische Fischerei-ZtUuug, vol. ix, No. 13, Munich, May 16, 1884. Trans- lated from the German by Herman Jacobsox. 420 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. tlie time of sexual maturity this fish had not proved hardy, and because they also thought that its meat did not have as delicate a flavor as that of other species of salmon. Dr. Staudinger stated that in the region of the Danube, where the migratory salmon {Sahno solar) is not found, there were many who desired to see the California salmon introduced. No special desire was expressed for American lake trout, but Dr. Staudinger suggested, and was in this unanimously supported by the conference, that, considering the great value of the American whiteflsh {Coregonus albus), and the favorable results of hatching experiments, more eggs of this fish should be imported, particularly with the view to continuing the experiments which had so far proved successful, and which could be called thoroughly successful only if continued on a large scale. It is desirable to well stock such alpine lakes as the Walchen Lake, Ammer I^ake, &c., with this species. As regards the American brook trout {Salmo [Salvelhms] fontinalis) Yon Belir stated that quite a quantity of eggs of this fish had already been produced in Germany, and that he would see to their proper dis- tribution. Dr. Staudinger thought that the Salvelinus fo7itinalis would certainly flourish in the brooks of the alj^ine and subalpine regions. In these regions no trout are found, and for this very reason people took great interest in seeing the Salvelinus fontmalis acclimatized. For this purpose Dr. Staudinger, supported by Mr. Schuster, considered it very desirable to continue the importation of the eggs of this fish from America. The conference approved and recommended that the eggs should be furnished, especially to those hatching establishments where successful attempts had already been made to raise the Salvelinus fon- tinalis. Messrs. Haack and Schuster warmly advocated the importation of eggs of the rainbow trout {SaJmo irideus). Mr. Haack considered this species of fish the most valuable and iiromising of all the fish intro- duced from America. Mr, Schuster also stated that the eggs and fish of this species are particularly valuable, although he was not quite so enthusiastic on the subject as Mr. Haack. The conference recom- mended to acquire as many eggs of the rainbow trout as possible, and to carefully distribute them. As regards the American landlocked salmon it seemed to be the i)re- vailing opinion that for the present no more eggs should be asked for. It was thought that this fish would ofler no greater advantage than our own German lake-trout, and it was not deemed desirable to mix too many species of closely related fish. The importation of eggs of Trutta carpio from Garda Lake, in Italy, did not meet with favor. On motion of Mr. Staudinger, however, 20.000 to 30,000 more eggs may be obtained for Ammer Lake, which seems well adapted to it. Munich, Maij 16, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 421 205.— NOTES OIV THE DECREASE OF LOBSTERS. By KICIIARD RATIIBUX. [A paper read before the American Fisbcultural Association.] One of the most important of our sea-coast fisheries is that afforded by the American lobster, the Homarus americanus of naturalists. This interesting crustacean, the largest of its kind in xs'orth American waters, ranges from Labrador in the north to Delaware in the south, but is most abundant and most sought for along New England and the south- ernmost of the British coast provinces. Its great abundance and rare flavor are not unfrequently mentioned in the early annals of New England, and it probably formed an important element in the food supply of the sea coast inhabitants Of colonial times. As a separate and distinct industry, however, the lobster-fishery does not date back much, if any, "beyond the beginning of the present century, and it appears to have been first developed on the Massachusetts coast, in the region of Cape Cod and Boston, although some fishing was done as early as 1810 among the Elizabeth Islands and on the coast of Con- necticut. Strangely enough, this industry was not extended to the coast of Maine, where it subsequently attained its greatest proportions, until about 1840. Concerning the history of this unique flsheiy but few authentic records of any kind exist, nor was any attempt ever made to estimate its extent and value prior to the census investigations of 1880. We are, therefore, left without much reliable data for comparing its past and present conditions, and for solving the many problems which now, in the minds of many, seem to threaten its continued prosperity. The great question at issue, and one which demands the earnest atten- tion of every lobster fisherman and dealer, is whether lobsters are de- creasing in abundance and will eventually become rare and difficult to obtain, or whether they are still as plentiful as ever and show no indi- cations of approaching extinction. While we hope for the latter, we are forced to acknowledge that a careful study of all the materials at our command inclines us to the belief that the abundance of lobsters has very perceptibly diminished within com])aratively recent times, and that, unless some active measures are instituted to prevent continued decrease in the future, a great and irreparable injury to the fishery will ensue. Although, as we have just 'said, the lobster-fishery is without a care- fully recorded history, we have been enabled, through the assistance of many intelligent fishermen and dealers, some of whom have shown them- selves to be very capable observers, to trace back the conditions of the fishery through a number of years. The results so obtained have been embodied in a report prepared for publication by the United States Fish Commission. It has been suggested that a short statement of some of the facts bearing upon the supposed decrease might be of interest to the 422 BULLETIN OF TflE UNITED STATES FlSH COMMISSION. members of this association, and it is for that purpose that the following brief notes have been prepared : Concerning the distribution of lobsters, it may be stated that a few stray individuals have been occasionally recorded from the extreme northeastern corner of Virginia, but the Delaware Breakwater may more properly be regarded as the southern limit of their range. On the ISTew Jersey coast they are somewhat more abundant, and give rise to a lim- ited fishery in the neighborhood of Atlantic City and Long Branch, Though formerly quite plentiful and extensively fished for in New York Bay and Hell Gate, they are now nearly exterminated from that region, due to overfishing combined with the pollution of the waters by the refuse from large factories. Along the Connecticut shores they are moderately common, while at the eastern end of Long Island and in the region of Block Island, the outer Elizabeth Islands, and Martha's Vine- yard they afford a very profitable industry. The entire coast line of Massachusetts abounds in lobsters wherever the character of the bottom is suited to them ; but overfishing has nearly depleted some of the shallow-water areas which were once prolific, as at Provincetown. The sandy shores of New Hamiishire furnish only a moderate supply, but on the Maine coast the^* are much more abundant than anywhere to the southward, and the yearly fishery greatly exceeds in quantity and value those of all the other States combined. This State is, in fact, the main source of supply for all the principal markets of the United States. Contrary to the belief of many persons, the lob- ster is not a migratory animal in the common acceptation of that term as applied to fishes. On the approach of cold weather it leaves the shallow areas near shore and retreats into somewhat deeper water, where the temperature remains milder and more uniform during the winter. As the spring advances it returns to its summer haunts. These spring and fall migrations vary as to time and extent on different por- tions of the coast, occurring earlier in the spring and later in the fall at the south than at the north. During the summer they often approach very close to the beaches, and in some favorable localities, especially on the coast of Maine, the traps set for their capture become partially un- covered at low water. The more usual depths for the summer fishery are, however, those of a few fathoms. The winter grounds are in depths of twenty to fifty or sixty fathoms, and generally not far from those of the summer, especially in regions w'here the water deepens rapidly. In so far as it has been possible to make the observations, it is sup- posed that the different schools of lobsters, if we can so define them,rii- turn to about the same shallow places every spring, and do not journey northward or southward along the coast to any very great extent, al- though there may be a gradual interchange of ground in the course of time. If this supposition be correct, as appears most natural, and there are many facts to substantiate it, each geographical region is more or less independent of all others, and not influenced by large and frequent BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 423 migrations from tliem. This division into distinct schools, and defined geograx^hical regions, while an arbitrary one, not strictly existing in nature, serves to simplify tlie argument which we desire to make, and which is to tliis eflect : That continued overfishing in any one region will tend to eventually reduce the stock of lobsters in that region, with- out the hope of its being replenished by early accessions from neighbor- ing regions, and that the almost total depletion of that region is, there- fore, quite within the bounds of possibility. This is not the case with such truly migratory fishes as the mackerel, menhaden, and herring, and the laws which govern the movements of the latter cannot be applied to the lobster. In support of this proposition there are several well- aulhenticated instances of the almost entire extinction of lobsters in what were formerly regarded as exceedingly rich regions, and since lobster fishing has been more or less abandoned in those regions, the abundance of lobsters has never perceptibly increased. Another strong jiroof of the continued decrease in abundance of lob- sters has been the gradual decrease in the average size of those brought to market. It is not rational to suppose that lobsters grow less rapidly now than in former years, or have in any way become dwarfed in size. On the contrary, it has been overfishing, restricted by legislation which protects the young, and influenced by the higher prices paid for the larger individuals in the fish markets which has caused the greater dim- inution in the supply of large lobsters. A strict observance of existing laws may prevent the total extinction of the species, but it cannot main- tain the average size of those taken for market much, if any, above the limit prescribed by those laws. This limit in nearly every instance is, moreover, about the size of the young female just beginning to spawn, and, therefore, with absolutely no protection for the spawning female, excepting in the close season, during which there is but little spawning, it is doubtful whether existing legislation is of much avail. A careful consideration of all the facts available certainly indicates that a marked decrease in the size of lobsters is proof of an equally great, if not a greater, diminution in the supjily. It is not possible within the scope of this short paper to strengthen our conclusions with a long array of facts, but the brief statement of some of our evidence must here suffice. One of the best illustrations of the great decrease in the abundance of lobsters is furnished by the once famous fishing grounds of Cape Cod. The lobster fishery was first started in this region about the year 1800, by Connecticut lobstvrmen, who carried nearly their entire catch to Ase^ York city. As early as 1812, the citizens of Proviucetown began to entertain fears that unless some restrictions were placed upon the fishery, the extermination of the species would be speedily effected. Protective laws were at once passed by the legislature of Massachusetts, and from that time to the present they have been continued in one form or another, but all without avail unless it may have been to somewhat 424 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. prolong the fishery wbicli might otherwise have been much earlier de- stroyed. The fishermen of Provincetown did not themselves engage in lobstering until about 1845, but between then and 1850 the fishery was greatly expanded and a large trade started with ISTew York city. In fact about this time the latter market received nearly its entire supplies from the vicinity of Provincetown. A great many men engaged in the fishery, using the old style of hoop-net pots and catching from 100 to 200 lobsters each every night. These were i)rosperous times, and yielded the inhabitants of the town a profitable income. The carrying smacks obtained large fares and were kept busy. No marked diminution in the supply was noticed until about 18G5, since which date there has been a vapid decrease in abundance from year to year, obliging the lobstermen to resort to other occupations for a living. In 1880 there were only eight men engaged in lobstering, and although they used the most improved appliances, their annual gross earnings were onb" about $G0 each. On the coast of Maine, although the fishery is of much more recent date, it has already exhibited many unfortunate changes, and in numer- ous places there has been a marked decrease in the average size of in- dividuals caught. The shore fisheries have also, in some cases, been well nigh exhausted, and the fishermen forced to resort to more distant grounds. When the fishery first began, hoop-net pots were in general use, but soou after the introduction of lath pots competition caused them to be universally employed. From year to year the fishermen in- creased the number of pots they used, and the custom of setting them trawl fashion rapidly came into vogue. These changes were due to the competitions of trade, the desire to obtain larger catches and for one man to perform the work of two. The fishing grounds were strained to their utmost, and there was no fear of an overstock, as the canneries were ready to buy all that were not taken by the market smacks. More recently the fishermen have begun to return to the old method of setting their pots singly, and why ? Because they say the lobsters are more scattered over the bottom, and that by altering the position of the pots every time they are set they fish better. But why should they be more scattered now than formerly unless they are more scarce'? In 18G4 lobsters were so abundant at Muscle Ridges that three men tending forty to fifty pots each caught all the count lobsters which one smack could carry to market, making a trip once in eight days. In 1879 the same smack was obliged to buy the entire catch of fifteen men in order to obtain full fares, and at times required to visit other localities to complete the load. Regarding the Booth Bay region, very nearly the same may be said. As late as 1850 lobsters were very abundant about the islands of Booth Bay Harbor, and the fishery was carried on close to the shore in slight depths of water. The season lasted about six months, and each man setting fifty pots could make about $500 during the season. By 1869, the number of fishermen having increased, however, the season's stock BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 425 was reduced to about $175 per mau, and the average size of lobsters had greatly diminished. This caused the fishermeu to try farther out from shore, and the fishery is uow mainly carried on in depths of 25 to 35 fathoms. The facts of these changes were furnished from many places in this section between Cape Small Point and Pemaquid Point. The canneries have undoubtedly largely iniluenced this result on the coast of Maine, as all sizes of lobsters large enough to pay for the handling are consumed, and the ready market thus afibrded has tempted the fishermen to save every specimen that enters their traps. It is un- questionably this extensive destruction of the young that has hastened the decrease ; but that the decrease is not solely due to the presence of canneries is evidenced by the statements we have already made re- garding other sections of the coast. In the Saco district, although there are no canneries located nearer than Portland, a smack trade between the fishing grounds and the can- neries to the eastward has recently been started, and several witnesses have testified to a marked falling off in the proportionate catch since it began. The average catch i)er man is now about one-third what it was twenty years ago, and while in 1876 a barrel of lobsters averaged 65 by count, an average of 80 lobsters is now required to fill a barrel. On the ISTew Hampshire coast the decrease for twenty years is stated to have been from 50 to 75 per cent. From Ehode Island and Connecticut we have comphiints regarding a decrease in abundance and size of lobsters similar to those already noted from the more ]S'orthern States; but the statements we have given constitute but a small proportion of the evidence we have obtained. That this evidence is unimpeachable as to a general and lasting de- crease we would not now affirm, but to our miiids it has been conclusive. To press a definite and unfavorable opinion, however, regarding so ex- tensive and valuable a fishery after the meager returns of a single in- vestigation, extending through only one or two years, would scarcely be justifiable, but it has seemed to us that public attention should be now attracted to the subject, as it appears in the light of the Tenth Census. Tbe fishery has had such a rapid growth, and the demands upon it have so exceeded its capacity, that the problem of weighing evidence has been somewhat difficult. The total catch of lobsters has increased from year to year, but so has the numl>er of fishermen and tlie number of traps used even in greater proportion, and the grounds have been enlarged until they now cover an exceedingly broad area, and extend into deeper water than was ever dreamed of formerly in connection with this fishery. The decrease in the average catch per trap and man, in the yearly earnings and in the average size of lobsters, has kept pace with the increase in the fishery; the inshore grounds in many places have been nearly depleted, and in some of the deeper areas the lobsters are so much scattered that it is no longer profitable to set the traps in trawls. If a continuous, and rapid (^ecrease should be proved, 4'26 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. what can be done to stop it and insure the future prosperity of the fishery? The task of remedying the evil will be much more difficult than the proof of its existeuce, aud the question is one regarding which we have as yet no definite ideas- Past legislation has certainly not been very effective, nor can any laws avail much until the true character and extent of the evil has been determined; neither are laws beneficial unless they can be en- forced; an exceedingly difficult task in the case of any fishery. The question of artificial propagation has been raised, and a few un- successful attempts have already been made to carry it on. But the failures have not been without cause, as we do not yet even know the rate of growth of lobsters, or whether they require six or a dozen years to attain the adult size, which is about ten or eleven inches. Imme- diately after hatching they swim freely about at the surface of the water, and continue their erratic ways of life during most of the first season, after which they settle down upon the bottom and assume their future habits. The first task, therefore, which we suggest for the would-be bene- factor of the lobster fisherj" is a most thorough investigation of all points bearing upon the natural history of the species, upon the changes which have occurred in the fishing grounds, and upon the relations of the total catch for each section to the number of fishermen aud traps set, and the average size of the lobsters taken. WJ ,h the census returns, soon to be published, as a starting point, a plan of the work can be easily sketched out, and the figures there giv^^ nay serve as a basis for future calculations. 206.— BEARING €AKI» IIV AJLKAL.IIVE: WATER. By E. S. STOVER. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. BaircL] Your request for si^ecimens of young carp raised in alkali water and sample of the water is received, aud I shall take great pleasure in complying. I received this lot of carp from Mr. Menaul at Laguna, N. Mex., in the spring of 1883, he having received them from you the fall before. As it was the first in this part of New Mexico I gave them some very severe tests, simply to see if they were hardy and would do well in alkali water. I dug a small hole in the ground that was full of alkali, the whole ground about being incrusted with it, and in this hole which filled itself from the surface water I put two of the carp, really expect- ing that it would kill them. But to my surprise they flourished in it, aud, if anything, did better tliau those which I put in the basin of my fountain which contained pure water from the well. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 427 Wlien winter came I took all of them (some 18) and put tbem in a large tank of pure cold water fed by a windmill from a deep well, and kept them there until April last without anj^ food whatever, or with- out, any mud or other substance for protection. The tank Avas about 10 feet deep and froze over several times during the winter, the thermom- eter standing as low as 14° above zero for several weeks. From this tank I transferred them to a shallow pond dug in the alkali bottom near by, which has simply been supplied from the surface water drain- ing in through the quicksand. In this pond at the age of two years and after such treatment they have bred, which I think proves conclu- sively that they are a very hardy fish. I did not lose one of them dur- ing the tests or since. Since putting them in the pond I have fed them liberally on corn-meal mush, wheat bread, spoiled cheese, &c., and they have grown wonderfully. I am confident they will be a great success in the Rio Grande Valley and other parts of New Mexico. The Rio Grande is well stocked with catfish, suckers, eels, and sev- eral other varieties. 1 am confident that carp would do finely in it also. Albuquerque, N. Mex.. August 10, 1884. •M)r ON THE SCARCITY OF MACKEUEIi IN THE GUIiF OF SAINT r.A\VRENCE. By Capt. J. W. COLLII^S. In view of the fact that the reciprocity treaty with Great Britain will soon expire by limitation, and that it is possible another may be nego- tiated, affecting to a greater or less degree the prosperity of the fishery industries of the United States, I assume that additional and reliable information relative to the mackerel fishery in the Gulf of Saint Law- rence may be of interest. The accumulation of such data may enable the legislative and executive departments of our Government to gain a more comprehensive idea of the subject under consideration and to es- timate more accurately than could otherwise be done the probable gain or loss to our fishing interests by a renewal of the treaty on its former basis. It is not, of course, necessary for me to dwell on the well-knowK fact that the extraordinary claims made by Canada when the treaty to which I have referred was made, and also before the Halifax Commis- sion, were based chiefly on the assumption that fisheimenof the United States derived great profits from being able to participate in the inshore mackerel fisheries of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Therelore I beg to submit the following facts relative to the mackerel fishery of the Gulf, and which I have obtained from an interview with my brother, Capt. D. E. Collins, who returned last Saturday, August 30, from a cruie^ v- the Gulf: He left home June 18, in the schooner Susie Hooper, of this port, fully equipped for a mackerel trip, and carrying two purse-seines and 428 BUTJL,ETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. two seiiie-boats. Together with many others of the mackerel fleet that sailed about the same time, he went directly to the Gulf of Saint Law- rence, which he cruised over in all directions looking for mackerel wher- ever he thought they were liable to be found. He estimates that a fleet of 200 New England mackerel vessels — the finest we have and commanded by the most expert and experienced fishermen — were in the Gulf seeking fish in every nook and corner, whenever the weather permitted. Notwithstanding the utmost exer- tions that might be expected from ambitious and capable men were put forth, June and nearly all of July passed away without any mackerel being taken worthy of mention. Indeed, before the end of July ma^iy of the fleet had become discouraged and left the Gnl/, in some cases, I think, without a single barrel of fish. However, many vessels remained, and as late as July 20, while riding out a "breeze" under the lee of the West Cape of Prince Edward Island, my brother counted 110 other mackerel schooners at anchor in the same place. It may be stated here that the weather during July was exceptionally rough, so much so that the vessels were compelled to seek shelter under headlands, capes, and in harbor, a considerable portion of the time. Some half-dozen strong- gales occurred during the month. As a matter of course, this kind of weather hindered seining operations, and what is worthy of remark, is the fact that the vessels on our own coast at the same time were hindered little^f any by unfiivorahle weather. In the latter part of July the Gulf fleet saw some mackerel about Tignish, Prince Edward Island, and on the New Brunswick coast op- posite, in the vicinity of Aliramichi Bay and Escuminac Point. A few good catches were obtained by the lucky ones, but these were excep- tional, the majority getting small catches or nothing. The Susie Hooper took 37 barrels. As soon as this. "spurt" was over she went to Bradelle and Bank Orphan, where from Tuesday, August 4, to Saturday, August 8, she took 150 barrels of mackerel. These were the last she caught, though she remained in the Gulf three weeks longer. These fish were taken about 35 to 40 miles from the land, Perce Hills being just dis- tinguishable above the water. Leaving the locality where the fish had been taken, as no more could be seen, the Susie Hooper stood to the westward, entered Chaleur Bay, and August 10 was at Paspebiac. On the following day she sailed out of Chaleur Bay, stretched across to North Cape of Prince Edward Island, and then worked down the north side of that island until she reached East Point a few days later. It goes without saying that a sharp lookout was kept for schools of mackerel, but none were seen until she was near East Point. During the remainder of her stay in the Gulf the Hooper cruised about the south side of Priace Edward Island, from Eastern Point to Georgetown, and in Saint Georges' Bay, ;iorth of the entrance to the Strait of Canso. As previously stated, noth- ing was added to the fare. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 429 My brotlier tells me tbat the scliools of fish about the northern part of Prince Edward Island, that were taken near the last of July, were composed largely of lnu^ring, comparatively few ma(;kerel being mixed with them. There were enough, however, to tempt the eager fisher- men to set their apparatus and to take the risk of having their seines torn on the bottom. The mackerel, both there and about the southern part of the island, were generally in such shallow water that they could not be caught in seiues, since the latter would catch on the rocky bot- tom. And it often happened that the fishermen had the mortifying ex- perience of seeing their seine torn to shreds and the mackerel they had surrounded making their escape through the holes, On one occasion Capt. Solomon Jacobs set his seine in the shallow water oft" George- town. It caught foul of the bottom, was. torn all to pieces, and even the purse rings were stripped oft". Another source of annoyance was the horse mackerel, which were very abundant, and which often inter- fered to hinder the fishermen from making good hauls. On a certain occasion Capt. John Y. McFarland had sounded out a spot of clear bottom where he could shoot his net without fear of having it torn on the rocks. Watching his opportunity he at length got a chance to set his seine around a fine school of mackerel. While it was being pursed up he saw the fish passing into the net beneath the boat's bottom. But the sequel proved that the smaller fish were being driven by horse mackerel which had also entered the seine,, and when they found them- selves enclosed by a circle of twine, they made a desperate rush, tear- ing their way through the net in all directions, not only injuring the ap- paratus very seriously, but at the same time causing the escape of the mackerel that otherwise would have been captured. Besides all this, the mackerel did not "show up" well in the Gulf, and, as a rule, could not be seen for longer than five minutes at a time. In consequence, the fishermen had scarcely time to get into their boats and leave their vessel's side, after seeing a school of mackerel, before the fish disappeared and perhaps not to be seen again. The mackerel that were about the North Cape of Prince Edward Island, early in August, apparently moved down the north side of the island. These were followed by a fleet as far as East Point. It was supposed that schools of the same body of fish were seen, at a later date, August 15 to 20, in Saint George's Bay, oft" Cape Jack, at the northern entrance of the Strait of Canso, and even in the strait itself. These fish, of which only momentary glimpses were obtained, were sup- posed, and doubtless correctly, to be making their way out of the Gulf. But whether or not they were the same mackerel that had been ob- served a short time previously off North Cape, is, of course, impossible to determine, though this is the opinion of many of the fishermen. To sum i\\) the results attained, up to this date, we have the following: Of the fleet that went to the gulf, some fifteen or twenty vessels have obtained fares ranging from 300 to 600 barrels of mackerel j three- 430 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. quarters of the fleet have made losing voyages, and a considerable uumber of these have only from 10 to 100 barrels for their season's work. As an illustration of the difficulties and uncertainties attending the Gulf fishery it may be stated that Capt. Eben F. Lewis arrived yester- day, after spending the whole summer in the bay, with only 45 barrels of mackerel. And when my brother came through Causo, August 22, Capt. Solomon Jacobs was reported to have less than 100 barrels. Even these had been taken recently, for Avhen Captain Jacobs was in Canso to refit early in August, after having spent nearly two months cruising in the Gulf, it was reported in the press that his eutire catch to that time amounted to but one trout and a single mackerel. Cousideriug that Captain Lewis and Captain Jacobs have for the past five or six years been the " high-line" mackerel fishermen of the United States, and that both of them have made catches and stocks that have never been equalled by any others, it will be easy to see that the failure of the Gulf mackerel fishery is due to causes that may be considered unsurmouutable. A better idea of this subject can, in my opinion, be gained from the foregoing statements than might be obtained from a great mass of data of the ordinary kind. For in the majority of cases it is clearly shown that skill, tact, knowledge of the grounds, and the most determined energy, have utterly failed to accomplish results that might reasonably be looked for where the conditions are at all favorable. It is worthy of remark that, in the mean time, the vessels on our own coast — chiefly in the Gulf of Maine, a few at Block Island — have made exceedingly large catches. I think it would not be an exaggeration to say that 1,500 to 2,000 barrels of mackerel have, in several instances, been taken by a single vessel since the middle of June. And in some cases schooners have left the Gulf of Saint Lawrence almost empty, and ten or twelve days later have arrived in Gloucester with a full fare — 300 barrels or upwards — caught ofl' our own shores. In this connection I desire to mention that Capt. S. J. Martin, the Fish Commission agent, has done the Gloucester fishermen a very im- portant service by replying to telegrams sent him from ports in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and by acquainting the skippers of some of the vessels with the state of affairs at home. Feeling assured that the in- formation he sent was reliable they acted upon it, and immediately left the gulf. In some instances that have come under my observation these vessels arrived in Gloucester with full fares, caught in the Gulf of Maine in less than two weeks after getting the news from home. It is difficult to estimate correctly how much good may have been done, for news sent to one skipper might influence the action of a dozen others, who, knowing the first had sent a dispatch of inquiry, would naturally wait to learn and profit by the reply. Gloucester, Mass., September 1, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 431 aOS WOTE!!t OIV THK SCOTCH HERRllVG FISHERIElil. By T. F. ROBEKTSON CARK. [From a letter to Capt. J. W. Collins.] The bcrriug fishing is now iu full swing; there never before were known snch takes. Fancy 4,000 crans of herrings thrown into Frazer- bnrg bay. The prices were very low this last week, in fact will not pay the wear and tear of gear. One thing that is operating very impe- riously against the fishing is that a great many fishermen iu the north use a very small meshed uet. They go 35 to 50 miles off" to meet the shoals, and in most cases tow in. This is at the beginning of the sea- son. The fish are then too oily, not fit to cure for the continental market, and, in short, they are perfect rubbish. The English markets have been packed with this stuff", selling ut 12 for a penny. Now, when the fine, large, matured herring go into the market, the buyers object to giviug a decent price for them. They have got up a cholera scare, so, for these two reasons, fishermen and all concerned in the herring business are having a hard time of it. Bekwick-on-Tweed, England, August 11, 1884. 309.-POKPOISE-FI^miVO AT CAPE MAY, IVEW JERSEY. By FREDERICK W. TRUE. Curator of Mammals, U. S. National Museum. Having received an invitation from the officers of the Cape May Por- poise Oil and Fishing Company to inspect their operations, I visited the locality in middle of the present month. My assistant and myself re- ceived all possible courtesy during our visit, and I would here renew the thanks which I offered verbally to the president of the above-named company. The species of porpoise captured is known to science as Tursiops tur- sio, and although, so far as I could ascertain, our fishermen have no common name for it, it may, at least for the present, be designated in English as the Bottle-nose dolphin. It reaches a length of 10 or 11 feet when full-grown. The color of the back and pectoral and dorsal fins is a gray of greatest or less depth, while the belly is pure white. The beak is rather short and stout, and there are forty-four or forty-six teeth in each jaw. The species is one of the commonest in the North Atlantic, occurring both on our coasts and those of Europe in great abundance. The company was organized early in the present year principally by gentlemen of Cape May City. Although the capital invested is con- 432 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. siderable there have been large drains upon it for apparatus for experi- ments, some of which have not led to satisfactory results. The fishery was commenced with two steamers, but it was found upon trial that the nets could be better monaged by the use of one steamer and several small-boats. The tug-boat now employed is of fair size, but is consid- ered to have too much wood-work above deck, which prevents the nets being properly stowed. The tug is accompanied by two yawls and a surf-boat. The crew consists of about twelve men. Two kinds of nets have been experimented with, one having wiugs and a very long, nar- row pot (thus somewhat resembling in form a fyke-net), the other beiug a simple net of stout twine with large meshes. The latter net is the one at present in use. With it is employed another net having tine meshes. The method of the fishery is a simple one, aud consists merely in l^atrolling the shore with tbe steamer and surrounding by means of the nets any school which is met with near land. The coarse-meshed net is X)aid out around the school somewhat in the manner adopted in the menliaden fishery, and the fine-meshed net is then run around inside the first. The use of this second net is to entangle and drown the por- poises as well as to prevent their breaking through the coarser net. The ends of both nets are brought to land, and the hauling-iu is done from the beach. In the haul which I witnessed a school of about twenty-five porpoises was surrounded, but unfortunately three of them, in their efibrts to es- cape, rolled up the nets at the bottom and allowed the rest to escape. The bottle-nose dolphin does not attempt to jump over the net as the " puffing pig" (Phoccena communis) does, but seeks to escape by diving beneath or breaking through it. The company has thus far captured over two hundred specimens. The products obtained are oil, hides, meat, and fertilizer. All por- tions of the body are utilized. I was informed that the blubber seemed to be growing thicker at this season. The hide and blubber are re- moved together. The skin is then laid on an inclined currier's board and the blubber shaved off and dropped into a tub below. The oil is extracted by heating the blubber in large boilers. Experiments have also been made in cold -pressing. The dressed hides are sent to Newark, iN". J., to be tanned, and the flesh finds a market in Philadelphia. The bones and other refuse go to form a fertilizer. The energy with which the fishery is prosecuted merits success. There are many difficulties presented by a new enterjjrize of this char- acter, which are not encountered in long-established industries. There is a crude porpoise fishery at Hatteras which has been in exist- ence many years. It is my intention to visit the locality during the coming fall, for I suspect that the species of porpoise captured is en- tirely distinct from that taken at Cape May. U. S. National Museum, August 25, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 433 ' Vol. IV, IVo. 28. Washington, B. C. Sept. 29, 1 884. 210 rVOTE ITPOIV THE EFFECT OF HlCSn PBESSBTKES OIV TEIJE T2- TA«,ITV OF MIi-^UTE FIIESH-\*'ATEB AI\» SALT-^VATEK OfSOAN- By A. CERTES. I have the honor of presenting to the Biological Society the note* which I deposited in the Academy at its session of March 17 last, on' the cultnre under shelter of germs from the waters and sediments of the Travaillenr and the Talisman. [Comptes rendus, No. 11, p. C90.)) On this occasion I ask permission to give a brief review of some new experiments which I have made with various microscopic organisms hj subjecting them to high pressure for a period varying from seven hours to seven full days. This communication will, I hope, tend to lessen, if not to cause to disappear entirely, the differences, more apparent than- real, which Dr. Regnard pointed out at the last session between the- conclusions reached by his experiments and by mine. Thus I fully agree with Dr. Regnard's opinion " that the infusoria of the surface of the sea could not, without slow acclimatization, live in the depths, and! that for these parts, as for all the others, there must be an abyssal fauna." It is nevertheless true that our experiments differ, both as to. the aim we have in view and the conditions under which they have' been made. As far as I am concerned I have made it my aim to find out by whatr processes organic matter has been reduced to an inorganic state in the- great depths of the sea. After the expedition of the Travailleur, in, 1881, I at first searched directly for " microbes " by examining micro- scopically the sediments ob^tained by osmic acid and treated with color^ ing reagents. JSTot finding anything by this process, I had recourse to. the method of cultivation ; but from the very beginning I was fully aware that it would not be capable of producing genuine '• microbes " from great depths, like those from the material gathered by the Talis- man, but that I would have to place these " microbes " under their normal conditions of physiological activity. It is difficult to produce these conditions, and it is only by way of experiment that I at first sought to ascertain the effect of high pressure on unicellular organ- isms, both infusoria and " microbes," which we find near the surface. 1 had also to study how to avoid sudden pressure and a sudden stop- page of pressure, which in nature occur only by way of accidents. At my request, and by the kind intercession of Mr. Cailletet, Mr. Ducretet has slightly modified the regulations for using his apparatus. * Dc Taction des hautcs prcasiovs siir la vUalU6 des min'o-organismes d'eau douce et dkau de met: Paris, 1884. Translated from the French by PIerman Jacobson. Bull. U. S. F. 0., 84 28 434 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. In the apparatus whicli I use there are two receivers and two manom- eters instead of one. The receivers are either isolated or j^laced in communication, just as it is desired, by means of a stop-cock, which allows to accumulate the pressure or to decrease it, without too many precautions, in the first receiver. One can then, by means of the stop- cock, transmit the effect which has been obtained from one receiver to the other, as slowly as is desired. Thus in all my experiments, except when I made a mistake, it has taken nearly half an hour to rise from 0 to 500 atmospheres, and vice versa. In order to rei)roduce still more completely the conditions of nature, I have endeavored never to exceed from 400 to 500 atmospheres, which represent the average pressure of the depths explored by the submarine expeditions. If I have rightly understood Dr. Eegnard's different communications, these conditions, except as regards the experiment of which he has given an account at the last meeting, differ very materially from those which he sought to produce. No wonder, therefore, that the results obtained by me differ from his. By working in the manner indicated, and always taking care to de- termine beforehand the species of infusoria or small organisms which I subjected to pressure, I have obtained the following results : At a pressure of 100 to 300 atmospheres, maintained for seven, twenty- four, forty-eight and seventy-two hours, certain organisms were killed ; others came out of the apparatus as lively as they entered; others again fell into that state of latent life of which Dr. Eegnard speaks. At 450 to 500 atmospheres the number of live organisms decreases, and that of dead organisms, or those which have fallen into a latent life, increases. In the first experiment — of which I have already given an account to the academy — the Chlamydococcus pluviaUs, when subjected for seven hours to a pressure of 100 to 300 atmospheres, all came out of the apparatus as lively as they were when put into it. The majority of the other in- fusoria had died. In a second experiment, prolonged for forty-eight hours, at a pressure of 300 atmospheres, fresh-water infusoria, such as Paramecium colpoda and Vorticelles, had fallen into a state of latent life ; others had died. On the other hand, Eiiplotes charon, Euplotes patella, and Pleuronema marina, marine infusoria, had remained active. Other species, especially Holosticha flava and Actinophrys, had died. In the last experiment which I made, fresh-water organisms were for thirty-six hours subjected to a pressure of 520 atmospheres. When taken from the apparatus most of the Chlamydococcus aj^peared to have iallen into a state of latent life ; some had died, and others were still active ; but entirely green individuals had resisted in greater number than those whose chlorophyl had begun to assume a red color. In the same tubes I was able to show to two of your colleagues, a quarter of an hour after they had been taken from the apparatus, rotifers in full activity. The tardigrades, which had fallen into a state of latent life, revived more slowly. In all the experiments certain "microbes," which BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 435 were very numerous in the tubes, when subjected to pressure disap- jjeared, others moved about as soon as taken from the apparatus. It appears, therefore, that under the conditions which I produced, the effects of high pressure vary not only between the different species but also between the individuals of the same species. It seems, more- over, that it makes a great difference whether the pressure or stoppage of p-essure is more or less rapid. It is therefore not impossible that with a stronger pressure continued for a long time no surface organisms would survive, but that they would all indiscriminately die. This should be proved by experiments. I cannot pass in silence the effect of high pressure on the carbuncled, charred "bacterid." With Dr. Eoux we subjected carbonaceous blood to a pressure of COO atmospheres for a period of twenty-four hours. This blood retained all its virulence, and exi^eriments made with it proved entirely successful. It will be seen that in none of these experiments had I touched the problem of fermentation or putrefoction. The experiments made by Dr. Regnard with yeast seem to agree with what is already known re- garding the sleep of the mycodermic cells which are found in sparkling and sugared wines. At a certain given moment these cells no longer decompose sugar, either because they have become subjected to the paralyzing action of carbonic acid, or because their food gave out, or, finally, because — as Dr. Eegnard's experience also seems to prove — the pressure produced by the tension of gas hinders the fermentation. But it may also be asked whether other ferments, especially those possess- ing much body from great depths, do not obey other laws. This is the l^roblem which at the present time engages my attention, and which I am endeavoring to solve. 311.— OIV THE i^CARCITV OF ^lACKEREIi IN THE OULiF OF SAINT LiAl^RFNC'E. By Capt. J. J¥. roi^LIMS. The results which have been obtained ^n the mackerel fishery of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by American vessels during the present season, are clearly and forcibly set forth in the following notes and sworn state- ments of captains, for which I am indebted to Capt. Fitz J. Babson, collector of customs at Gloucester. These facts, which may well sup- plement those already submitted concerning the same subject, dem- onstrate in the strongest possible manner that so far from deriving any benefit from a participation in the fisheries of the Gulf, the vessels of New England have suffered a severe pecuniary loss by leaving our own waters. It is worthy of notice that of the reports obtained from ten vessels three came out of the Gulf ivithout a single barrel of inacl-erel, and of the catch made by the other seven schooners, only 50 barrels 436 BULLETIN OF TllK UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. offish were talen iHfhin the ihree-vnJe limit. It is also noteworthy that the captaius who have submitted and sworn to these statements are known to be experts in the mackerel fishery, their vessels are among the finest of the New England fishing fleet, they carried large and ex- perienced crews, and in every instance when they did not come directly home from the Gulf, they succeeded in catching large fares of mackerel in a few days oft' our own shores. The vessels all belong to the Glou- cester fleet. Taken in their chronological order, we have first a statement from Capt. Stephen B. Cole, master of schooner Delia E. Norwood (74 tons, IG men in crew), who arrived from the bay of Saint Lawrence * July 19, having been cruising for three weeks iu the Gulf without catching any mackerel. ''We were in all parts of the bay, and did not at any time see any mackerel. In coming from the bay and while on the coast of Maine, we took 374 barrels of mackerel, [worth] about $1,500. I consider that we lost by going into the bay $3,000 at least." Capt. William W. King, master of schooner John S. Bray (79 tons, 16 men), who arrived in Gloucester, July 27, from a six weeks' trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence caught only 15 barrels of mackerel in the gulf, none of which were taken inside the three-mile limit. The follow- ing, dated Gloucester, July 30, 1884, is the statement of Captain King : "When I first went into the bay [Gulf of Saint Lawrence], I went to East Point, Prince Edward Island, where there were about 17 American vessels; never got a mackerel or saw one. From there went to North Cape [P. E. I.] with the fleet [but] got nothing there; then to West Cape, Prince Edward Island ; got nothing there ; came back to Malpec; went down the "bend" of the island; from there to Margaree [Island], Cape Breton shore; got nothing ; went to Cape George Bay; went to North Cape [P. E. I.] again ; from there to Escuminac; got nothing this time; came back to Cascumpec and got 15 barrels [of mackerel]. One vessel, the Isaac Patch, took 35 barrels [of mackerel], which were all that were taken to my knowledge. We were [purse] seining ; did not see a vessel hooking or hand-lining for mackerel while in the bay. Saw no large bodies of mackerel anywhere. Saw a few mackerel in schools containing from one to five or six barrels. Coming back, off" our own shores, saw large bodies of mackerel, and took 250 barrels between Mount Desert and Seal Island. "It is my judgment, based on an experience of ten years' successive fishing, that the mackerel off our own shores are always moving in large Indies, and are available for seining, but when they go into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence they break up and scatter for food, and in this condition are not available for seining. The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is almost always spoken of by the fishermen as "The Bay," or the " Bay of Chaleur," sometimes as the "North Bay," and nore rarely by Ihe name of Gulf. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 437 " When the baud-line or hookiug process was the only means used for taking mackerel tliere were five or six hundred vessels in the Gulf in one fleet, and by the large amount of bait thrown by them the mackerel were brought together iu large quantities. But under our ])rcs('nt means [system] of taking, viz., seining, no bait is used, and consequently the gulf mackerel fishing is worthless and useless to the American fisherman. " WILLIAM W. KING." Capt. George H. Martin, mast-er of the schooner Ethel Maud (77 tons, IG men), of Gloucester, arrived home July 30 from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where he spent a week without having taken any mackerel at all. Captain Martin made the following statement: " I, George H. Martin, master of the schooner Ethel Maud, of Glou- cester, do hereby say on oath that I have just returned home from a mackerel trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence ; that I was unable to pro- cure a single barrel of mackerel iu the bay, but on my way home I secured a full trip off Mount Desert. I gave the gulf a full trial for the taking of mackerel, and from my own personal observation, and from aU that I could ascertain, I do not consider the fishery of any value whatever to our people." — Geoege H. Maetin. " Sworn and subscribed before me this 30th day of July, 1884." — F. J. Babson, collector. Capt. George McLaiu, master of the schooner Henry Dennis (91 tons, 16 men), arrived at Gloucester, July 30, from a six weeks' cruitje in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. He brought home 138 barrels of ma<}k- erel, of which none were taken inside the three-mile limit. Captain McLain says, "I do not consider the gulf fishery of any value what- ever to our people." Capt. William P. Gray, master of the schooner Commodore Foote (Gl tons, IG men in crew), who arrived July 30 from a trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, makes the following statements : " I, William P. Gray, master of the schooner Commodore Foote, of Gloucester, do hereby on oath depose and say that I went from Glou- cester on a mackerel trip bound for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence ; that I took ISO barrels of mackerel 15 miles oft* Cape Sable, which I lauded at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and sent home; thence I proceeded into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where I passed six weeks ; that I went all over the bay, giving it a complete trial for the taking of mackerel, and only succeeded in taking 30 barrels of mackerel. I consider that 1 am $3,000 stock out by going into the bay for mackerel, and I do not regard the gulf fisheries of any value whatever for this season. On the contrary they have proved a big outset." — William P. Gray. " Sworn and subscribed before me this 30th day of July, 1884." — F. J. Babson, collector. 438 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Capt. Merrill B. King, master of schooner M. S. Ayer (76 tons, 10 men in crew), arrived at Gloucester July 30 from a cruise in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where he spent four and one-balf weeks seeking for mackerel, but without taking a single barrel. Captain King makes the following statement: " Coming home, oft' Mount Desert, Maine, took 370 barrels of mack- erel. The going to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence was a great damage to me, my loss of time and failure to take any mackerel making a loss of $3,500." Capt. Joseph I. Tu^jper, master of the schooner Jennie Seaverns (107 tons, IC men), arrived in Gloucester August 15, from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. He caught only 55 barrels of mackerel during the eight weeks spent in the gulf, none of which were taken inside the three mile liuiit. Capt. Tupper says : " On returning from the bay, and on the coast of Maine, we caught 400 barrels of mackerel in six days ; value of which is $1,800. I regard the pecuniary damage to me by reason of going to the bay at $4,000." The schooner Landseer (94 tons, 16 men in crew), Capt. James Mc- Donald, arrived in Gloucester August 21, having spent two months in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, during which time 105 barrels of mackerel were caught, 50 barrels being taken within the three-mile limit. The value of these fish caught within 3 miles of the shore, exclusive of the cost of barrels, salt, packing, and inspection, was $250. Captain Mc- Donald tersely sums up the results of his trip to the gulf in the follow- ing sentence : " I regard my loss by reason of going into the bay at $2,000." Capt. James L. Anderson, master of the schooner William H. Jordan (86 tons, 18 men), who arrived in Gloucester August 20, stated that he spent four weeks in the bay, but caught only 30 barrels of mackerel. On his way home he took 300 barrels of mackerel in ten days' fishing off the coast of Maine. He owns another vessel, which remained on this coast, and he says of her : "My other vessel caught 1,030 barrels of mackerel while I was in the bay." Capt. John P. Aiken, master of schooner Bartie Pierce (90 tons, 17 men), returned to Gloucester August 25, from a five weeks' trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where she took only 20 barrels of mackerel. When it is understood that statements similar to those given above might be multiplied by taking the testimony of almost every fisherman that has been engaged this year in the mackerel fishery of the Saint Lawrence, it will be easy to comprehend the fact that while the method of taking mackerel with purse seines remains in vogue, we can count on deriving little or no benefit from a participation in the iu-shore fish- eries of the British provinces. Gloucestee, Mass., September 9, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 439 313.— TWO HUlVDRED TONS OF DEAD FISH, lTIOSTL,V PFRCII, AT JLAKE MENDOTA, ^VISCOIVSIN. By PIIILO DUJVNlI^rO and others. We take the libertj" of addressiug the United States Fish Commis- sion upon a matter of some concern to this community, and do so upon the assurance of Dr. Philo R. Hoy, of Eacine, and Governor Rusk, that the matter will receive ftivorable consideration. Madison lies between two of a series of four lakes, the larger one of which is known as Fourth Lake, or Lake Mendota, and the smaller, Third Lake, or Lake Menona. The discharge of water is from Fourth Lake into Third Lake, and so on from Second to First Lakes to the Rock River. All of these lakes are well stocked with fish f perch, pickerel, white and black bass, whitefish, and some other varieties. The same families of fish are found in each lake. About two weeks since, the perch of Fourth Lake commenced dying in all parts of the lake. As they came to the surface they were driven by the waves to the shore. Great numbers have been driven upon what may be called the city shore, becoming very offensive. Probably ui)on this shore a greater portion of fish have been driven than ujmn other parts of equal length of the shore of the lake. What we designate as the city shore is probably three-quarters of a mile in length, and its form, together with the prevailing winds, have tended to bring upon it a somewhat greater portion of the fish than have gone to the other i)or- tions. The city has had a force of men constantly employed in the work of burying the fish as they come in. The force has averaged from twelve to fourteen men with teams. On one day thirty-eight were em- ployed. It is estimated by the street superintendent that he has buried in excess of a hundred tons, calling a wagon load with double side- boards a ton. The fish dying are mostly perch. Latterly quite a num- ber of whitefish have been found with the perch and a few suckers and white bass, but no more of the varieties of fish other than perch and whitefish than we expect to find each year. The perch will average about a quarter or a third of a i>ound in weight. A day or two since some perch minnows were noticed to be dying. We are told that the dying continues up to this time. We are inclined to think that fully 100 tons have been buried, but we feel quite justified in saying tJiat 75 tons have. The lake is from 0 to 8 miles long — 8 at the greatest length — and from 2J to 5 miles wide — 5 at the greatest width. Assuming that twice or three times as many fish as have been buried lie upon other parts of the shore, the destruction of fish, chiefly perch, is fully 300 tons. Can you explain the cause f Although the flow of water is from Fourth Lake into Third Lake, and so on, the fish in Third, Second, and First lakes are not as yet affected. 440 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. A small quantity of sewage (that is from a few private sewers) is dis- charged iuto Fourth Lake ; alsoeome chemicals from the laboratories of the State university, and also a little gas tar from the insane asylum gas works situated on the north side of the lake opposite the city. The sewage, waste chemicals, and tar are put into the lake at three points each remote from the other. Bat it is also true that a much larger amount of sewage is discharged iuto Third Lake, in volume not less than three or four times that which is discharged iuto Fourth Lake and as well as some gas tar. Dr. Hoy was called here, and has made an examination of the fish. His report upon the same is to be sent to us later. He is also to write you upon the subject. Professor Birge, of the State university, is saitl to have made some examinations also, and is reported to have sent the results of his examination to you. By express we send you ajar containing several of the fish taken just before death. We hope that your examination of these fish, with the aid of such suggestions as Dr. Hoy and Professor Birge may make, will put you in possession of the facts of the case sufficiently for an opinion as to the cause, and if possible enable you to suggest a remedy for this calamity. It were a calamity if it wore merely the loss of the fish, but there may be in it also a threat of sickness to our people. In passing upon this matter will you be good enough to give your opinion upon the significance of this as threatening sickness. It may be proper to state that various suggestions have been made as to the cjuise of this trouble. One is that a small worm attacks the gills or throat of the fish ; a worm is said to have been taken from a "weed upon which the fish had been feeding, the weed being found to some extent in the intestines of the fish. Anotlier is, that it is caused by a parasite feeding upon the gills. Dr. Hoy undertook to analyze the "water of the lake, and reports it nearly as pure as the artesian water with which the city is supplied. It is also said that in years past the fish of this lake in considerable numbers have died. Every year there are some dead fish. In or about 1844 the whitefish came ashore in quantities as great as the perch now, and on several occasions fish in considerable numbers have come ashore. (Philo Dunning, State Commissioner, and B. J. Stevens, Mayor of Madison.) Madison, Wis., August 4, 1884. The Dead Perch in Wisconsin. — A singular disease is afi'ecting the perch in the lake here, which I am unable as yet to account for. They are dying in great numbers. About 200,000 have died in the past two weeks. They show no trace of fungus or other disease. The only thing which is unusual about them is the gills, which, with the liver, are gorged with blood. Whether that is abnormal for a fish which dies of disease, 1 do not know. There is no fungus, the dying fish having a perfectly clear skin ; they are fat or lean, male or female, full or fasting. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 441 Perch are about the ouly fish that are dying; at least 95 per cent, of tbem are perch. There are a few white bass, still fewer sackers, and an occasional pike and sunfish. (E. A. Brigs, Professor of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., July 28, 1884.) Mr. Dunn's Theory. — Elaving for years past followed the business of a fisherman for a livlihood, I am frequently asked, What kills the perch in Fourth Lake? My suspicion was not aroused to a great ex- tent until 1 saw, day by day, an unaccountable increase in the death- rate. A living parasite or worm exists in the lake that causes the trouble. The color of this parasite on first being taken out of the water is of a light gray, with *,reen stripes crosswise of the body, about one- half au inch in length. It is generally found where the weeds and grass are the thickest, adhering to the stems of the grass and weeds where it is easily seen by the perch who frequent these places iu quest of food. The perch immediately detach the parasites from their hold, and they are at once forced towards the stomach for digestion, but on reaching the walls of the throat they fasten themselves as they do to the grass in the lake. All eflbrts on the part of the fish to remove them are use- less, as their adhering powers aie similar to those of a blood sucker. The parties hejctofore examining the fish have nut beeu able to detect this parasite, consequently their verdict was that nothing could be found as to the cause of the deaths. The fish on coming to the surface are almost dead, with hardly life enough left to move about. On examining these you will almost in every case find nothing. Now and then you will find some specimens containing this i)arasite fastened to the wall of the throat iu the region of the gills. Then we must look there for the cause of trouble. The parasite attacks the throat and causes intlam- mation by irritating that part of the body. The fish is finally overcome and strangulation takes place. In order to test what I say, catch some perch in the neighborhood where there seems to be the most in a dying condition. Let your line down to the bottom and you will have no trouble in catching the fish. You will, in every case, find three to ten of these parasites working in the throat of each fish. While the fit>h are dying they release themselves and return to tlieir natural abiding- place on the grass and weeds. The writer verily believes that no other fish existing in the lake will feed upon these parasites except the perch. If any other did partake of them, the same result would follow. In regard to the whitetish dying: It is nothing unusual, as more or less die, according to the temperature of the water, every year. The hotter the summer season, tbe more dead whitetish will be seen floating on the surface. They live iu the coolest water in the lake, which is the deepest. The presence of any large fish drives them out of their favorite place, and being naturally very tender, when they pass into water of a great deal higher temperature, death ensues. Try this experiment: Take minnows out of the lake in the summer season and place them in well- water; death follows. Now, take minnows iu winter-time out of the lake 442 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. aud put well-water upon them, and death also follows. There is too suddeu a change of temperature. Apply this experiment in the white- fish case, and you have the reason of their death. (From Wisconsin State Journal, August 5, 1884.) The birds dying also. — About ten days ago the swallows and sparrows began to die at the State Insane Hospital, and day by day many of the innocent creatures have fluttered helpless to the ground and soon become dead. Great numbers of the birds abound around the hospital, and the sudden aud numerous deaths, not only in the im- mediate neighborhood of the hospital, but throughout the entire farm, have occasioned genuine surprise. The birds will suddenly drop to the ground while flying through the air overhead, in places entirely remote from telegraph wires, trees, or other obstructions against which it is possible to injure themselves, and die without a flutter or any indi- cation of pain. The doctors and attendants at the hospital have repeat- edly thrown the birds into the air again, in the hope that tbey would be able to resume their flight, but in every instance they have fallen back to the earth again, to die. Governor Rusk has observed a few of the dead b;rds around his home, and others residing on the shores of Lake jMendota have noticed the same phenomenon. Superintendent Buckmaster,of the State Insane Hospital, has atheory in regard to the cause of their deaths. He says that myriads of flies swarm upon the putrefying bodies of the dead perch upon the shores of Lake Mendota, where they feast, and that these flies are eaten in great quantities by the birds, which would indicate that the death of the lat- ter is attributable to the same cause as that of the former. If the birds really do die from eating the flies, then the superintendent states that he believes the fish, upon which the flies feed, are troubled with blood- ])oisoniug. The mystery of the fish mortality certainly deepens, and is greatly intensified by the fatality which has so recently stricken the birds. In this connection it may be well to say that a little boy residing in this city drove off the railway bridge into Lake Menona, a few days ago, and was stung so severely in one of his eyes by some animal beneath the surface of the water that he has been unable to use it in any way since. When he sustained the injury he saw no object, and feels confi- dent that it must have been done by some insect or worm very small in size. (From Wisconsin State Journal, August C, 1884.) Two HUNDRED TONS HAULED AWAY. — The mortality of perch and other fish in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, continues, and scientific men froui various parts of the country have been called to investigate the matter. Thus far 200 tons of dead fish have been hauled away from the shores of the lake by the city authorities. The worst mortality prevails when the lake is very still or gently stirred by a south wind. On a rough estimate 3,000,000 fish have died in the lake, and their bodies have drifted to the shore. Perch are the only fish dying whose death can.not BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 445 be accounted for. Wliitefish are going to a certain extent, but they die every year ou account of being driven from the cold water near the mouth of the springs which supply the lake, where they congregate, into the warm water which prevails everywhere else. A few pickerel also are seen dead, but not enough to cause the idea of an epidemic. It is the perch which get the best of fishermen now by their death. The dead perch range in size from one-half pound to2 pounds. They have strewn the shoie for nearly four weeks. Cart-loads are taken away and buried, but still the shore is covered with their carcasses. Every gale, every breeze that blows, strews them over the waves. Theories are numerous re- garding this disease. One attributes it to an insect that gets into their windpipe and chokes; another notices a black spot near the gill and attributes to its presence the cause of which death is the effect. (Madi- son Transcript, August 7, 1884.) S13 — DESTRUCTION OF FISII>FOO!> BV BL, ADDER WORT (Vtricularia). By S. A. FORBES. [From Forest and Stream, September 4, 1884.] While the very interesting fact of the destruction of young fishes by the bladderwort is occupying the attention of your readers, permit me to mention another method than that of direct destruction by which these plants must often greatly hinder the multiplication of fishes in waters infested by them. In an article on the entomostraca of Lake Michigan and adjacent waters, which I published in the American Nat- uralist for July, 1882, I remarked that in ten " bladders" of Utricularia vulgaris, taken at random, I found ninety-tbree animals, either entire or in recognizable fragments, and representing at least twenty-eight spe- cies. Seventy-six of the animals found were entomostraca, and belonged to twenty species. Nearly three-fourths of both individuals and si)ecies were cladocera. Just one-third of all the animals found in the blad- ders belonged to the single species Acroperus leueoceplialus Koch. Now, my studies previously made of the food of young fishes, reported chiefly in the third bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History, showed that the principal food of all 3'oung fishes, with quite insignifi- cant exceptions, consists of the very class of minute animal forms which the bladderwort is constantly engaged in selecting from the water by means of the hundred of bladders with which each plant is covered. It thus not only occasionally entraps the youngest fishes, but likewise habitually and continuously contends with them for food, and may be said to thrive largely at their expense. Normal, III., August 29, 1884. 444 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 314.— NOTI<:«§ OIV TOE FISHERIES OF OI.OUCE8TER, ITIASS. By S. J. MARTIIV. [From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Summary. — Last week wituessed tbe largest receipt of fish at this port for several years, the total amount of codfish lauded beiug 4,020,000, of which 3,080,000 pouuds was brought from Graud Banks. One-balf of the fish from Grand Banks was brought by Nova Scotia vessels. There were also lauded 212,000 pouuds of fresh halibut aud 12,565 barrels of mackerel, including 95G barrels from the bay of Saint Lawrence. The 2G0 barrels of herring caught in nets and traps in the harbor have been sold to the fishermen for bait. Mackerel. — Small mackerel are plenty on the eastern shore, and extend from Mount Desert to Cape Sable in the Bay of Fundy and as far up as Graud Manau. Large mackerel are scarce ou the New Eng- land coast, the amount caught being about 5 barrels out of every 100 barrels. The remainder ranks as No. 2, No. 3, aud No. 4. They bring a low price, and sold yesterday at $3.75 per barrel, with the large ones iucluded in the lot. I hear trom tbe Bay of Saint Lawrence from thre« to four times a week, and learn that the prospect for a large catch of mackerel is good. On August 12 aud 13 the vessels made large hauls off Souris, Prince Edward Island, one vessel catcbiug 400 barrels of mackerel in two days. Mackerel are late in North Bay this summer, owing to the length of time ice remaine25 pounds, and sold at 5 cents per pound. On August 1 there were 4 swordfish brougbt in, and sold at 10 cents per iwund. Gloucester, Mass., August 17, 1884. Codfish. — During the past week there have been eighty-seven ar- rivals from tbe fisbing grounds, landing 1,878,000 iwands of salt cod- fish, two-thirds of which was brought from Grand Banks. There were BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 445 six arrivals with 105,000 pounds of fresh halibut. There were four ar- rivals to-day from Grand Banks. Four vessels from jSTova Scotia sold their fish at $1.00 per hundred pounds. The Grand Banks cod-schooner Ethel, of Nova Scotia, had 37o,000 pounds of salt codfish, the largest trip of salt codfish ever landed in Gloucester by one vessel. This cargo ■was sold at $1.05 per hundred pounds. The Gloucester firms will lose a great deal on the Grand Banks fish, as the Nova Scotia vessels are stocking the place with fish at low prices. I have known some firms to pay $2.25 per hundred for Grand Banks codfish. Mackerel. — There have been landed 8,417 barrels of mackerel caught in the Bay of Fundy, and 3,551 barrels caught in the Bay of Saint Lawrence. There were shipped from Canso by rail 1,314 barrels of mackerel. The mackerel tak(.n in the bay are of good quality, large and fat, three-fourths of the amount caught being No. 1, and the re- maining quarter No. 2. No. I mackerel from the Bay of Saint Law- rence sold at $13 per barrel, and the Bay of Fundy mackerel sold at $3.75 per barrel, '* as they run." Vessels from North Bay report mack- erel schooling from Cape Canso to Cape Sable, and that they are of the same size as the mackerel in the Bay of Fundy. Gloucestee, Mass., August 24, 1884. Monthly summary. — The receipts of fish at Gloucester during the month of August were as follows: Eleven million eight hundred and twenty-six Thousand pountis salt cod, 647,250 pounds fresh halibut, 147,900 pounds salt halibut, 41,322 barrels salt mackerel, 370 barrels 'herring, and 85 swordflnii weighing 20,340 pounds. The above fish arrived from the following grounds : George's Bank, 118 fares, 2,578,000 pounds salt cod and 40,050 pounds fresh halibut; Grand Bank, 41 fares, 8,380,000 pounds salt cod and 72,500 pounds salt halibut; Grand Bank, Banquereau, &c., 21 fares, 599,000 pounds fresh halibut ; Western Bank, Banquereau, «S:c., 9 fares, 474,000 pounds salt cod and 5,400 pounds salt halibut ; Bay of Saint Lawrence, 14 fares, 7,332 barrels salt mackerel ; American shore, 88 fares, 33,990 barrels salt mackerel; shore fishing grounds, coast of Maine, &c., 314,000 ]X)und8 salt fish, mixed ; swordfishermen, 85 swordfish, weighing 26,340 pounds ; traps near Gloucester, 370 barrels herring, 100 barrels mackerel ; off Gloucester Harbor, in seine, 134 bluefish. The first arrival from the Greenland- fleet, schooner H. M. Rogers, brings home 80,000 pounds salt cod from Flemish Cape, and 70,000 pounds salt halibut taken off the Greenland coast. Gloucester, Mass., September 1, 1884. The Greenland halibut fishery. — I have gained the following information about this fishery, two vessels having arrived from that region during the past week. These vessels came iiome earlier than in former years and have left several vessels on the coast. The two schooners arrived are the M H. Perkins and Herbert M. Rogers. The 446 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. former vessel fisliecl in tlie usual grounds of Holsteinberg and brings Lome 80,000 pounds of flitches of halibut from Greenland besides 70,000 pounds of codfish taken on Flemish Cap. She reached Greenland July 12, about a week earlier than others of the fleet, and found fish at once, and haying secured a full fare left Greenland August 2, which is about the date of beginning the fishery there in past years, the size of fish ranging about as usual. The weather was fine and no difficulty was experienced in fishing. She left on the ground the schooners Shiloh, Mist, Byron Hines, Mary E., Herman Babson, and the Sarah Putnam. The last-named vessel belongs in Beverly, Mass., the Byron Hines hails from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and the other vessels are owned in Glou- cester. The particulars of the other vessels will be reported as fast as they arrive. The Herbert M. Eogers fished on a new spot of ground in latitude 63° 33', about 30 miles off shore from Candham or Cudport; the water was from 00 to 84 fathoms deep ; used halibut and cod for bait and found halibut abundant, securing a full fare of 70,000 i^ounds of flitches in fourteen days. This vessel had stop])ed on Flemish Cap on the way to Greenland and caught 80,000 i)ounds of codfish. She left Greenland July 28, having been there since July 14. This is the shortest time- trip ever made to Greenland, and by far the shortest stay on that coast. Iceland halibut fishery. — Three vessels are engaged in the Ice- land halibut fishery. They left Gloucester May 20, 22, and 24. They are the schooners Alice M. Williams, David A. Story, and the Concord. No definite information has yet been received from this fleet, although from meager reports it is expected they will secure full fares. The' weather has been favorable. Will write about the trips as soon as they get home. They are expected any time now. SwoRDFiSH FISHERY. — The fishery for swordfish ofF the New Eng- land coast this season is very prosperous. The fleet numbers 42 sail, hailing from ports all the way from Newport to Portland. The fishing began at the usual time and is likely to continue through this month. A number of the fleet have landed their catch here and found ready sale. In August 85 swordfish, weighing about 24,000 pounds, were shipped from here to New York and other markets. The first arrival here was on July 28. The fish were caught on W^esteru Jeffries, and sold at 10 cents per pound. The fare was 28 fish, which averaged about 320 pounds each. This makes 113 swordfish landed here fresh, weigh- ing about 33,000 i)ounds. The largest fish weighed 613 pounds, ex- clusive of head and tail, and was one of the first lot brought here. The price during August was from 4^- to 5 cents per pound fresh, or $12 per barrel salted. The salt ones were landed by mackerel vessels — about 20 barrels, or about 4,000 pounds, being the catch thus far of the mack- erel men. This amount may be added to the 33,000 pounds of fresh. The weight of the fresh fish, as given above, is exclusive of heads, swords, and tails, so that the live weight of the fish would be much greater. BULLETIN OF THE UXITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 447 The season began off Block Island and gradually worked eastward, striking- the southern part of George's and then across George's, and on the shore grounds, particularly Jeffries' Bank, where all of those landed here were taken. I have talked with the skippers of the vessels and they say this is tbe best year they ever had, both because the fish are plenty and prices good. Tlie captain of the Village Belle, of Newjiort, who was here last week, Wednesday, said he caught 31 swordfish in a week's cruising off' Noman's Land, all big fellows, and in one day he had 7 fish struck and captured. He sold the catch at Newport, as did many of the other vessels. Jle had just come here from his cruising south of Cape Cod. The fleet has been north of Cape Cod for tbe past fortnight or three weeks, and they are now cruising from abreast of Boone Island to Mount Desert Eock. The schooner Morrill B03', of Gloucester, Capt. Eussell Gill, fitted out for swordtishing July 16, and has landed since that date 40 swordfish, about 13,000 pounds, without beads and tails, realizing 5J cents per pound at Portland. The fleet now land much of their catch at Portland, which is the only market east of here. Some go to Boston. The only other landing places that I know of are New Bedford and Newport. I will report any further information I can gather about this fishery. Mackerel. — Mackerel are very abundant on the New England coast, though small in size. The price is very low, only $3.50 ]ier barrel, in- cluding the barrel — that is before they are packed. In the bay of Saint Lawrence, Gloucester mackerelmen have in some cases done well, secur- ing full fares of large fish that sold for $10 to $11. Tbe catch by the Gloucester fleet in tbe bay in August was between 7,000 and 8,000 barrels as against 33,000 barrels on this shore. Tbe season bids fair to be a great one for mackerel. During tbe last few days they have been close in sbore about Cape Ann. Traps along shore hereabouts taking large quantities were full of mackerel this morning, but no sale for them, as the canneries here have shut down. Tbe cannery of J. J. Burns & Co. is probably i^ermanently closed and tbe firm in litigation with numerous parties — a regular failure resulting from poor management. The factory of James G. Tarr & Bro. is closed for a short time on ac- count of the low price of tbe canned product. Gloucester, Mass., September 2, 1884. The past week has been a busy one in some branches of the fisheries, particularly the mackerel fishery and tbe swordfish fishery. In the George's Bank codfishery the number of arrivals has been twenty-four, with fair trips. From tbe Grand Bank there have been several arrivals with full fares. The second vessel of tbe Greenland fleet to arrive reached here September 1 with 90,000 pounds flitcbed halibut and 50,000 pounds of cod. Tbe sword fishermen have landed about 200 fish during tbe week, and report them still abundant westward of here. 448 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The vessels in this fishery now number about 100 sail and are largely bakers, belonging along the Maine coast. Mackerel have been very abundant, a large fleet arriving daily with full fares. The number of vessels arrived here the twentj'-four hours with mackerel has been 39, with 12,230 barrels; of which 10,909 bar- rels were shore catch, and the rest taken in the Bay of Saint Lawrence. About 20 vessels are now in the bay. The catch there this year by the American fleet, numbering 49 sail, has been between 12,000 and 13,000 barrels. Gloucester, Mass., September 8, 1884. 315.— TRAPPINO OASPEREAV IIV TAIVOIPAHOA RITCR. By J. DOCK. IIARRELI.. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] We are also beginning to note the increase of the gaspereau in our river. Previous to the war they were plentiful, but during the war there was a system of trapping inaugnrated, which in a few years almost ex- terminated them. They are white, resembling the bufialo in shape, and have been caught here weighing from 20 to 50 pounds. They have two bones imbedded in their head that seem to have no connection with any organ of the head whatever. They have been caught this size by means of a trap known here as a wing-dam trap. This is built with a strong fall to the mouth and latticed to allow the water to pass through; fingers extend back of the fall-board which i>reveut the fish from taking any side advantage of the current and force of water produced by the fall-board. The trap is generally placed in the middle of the river in shallow water, and a dam constructed on each side to the bank is built of stakes and brush in the shape of a letter V, with the trap in the center where the wings join. The dam is built to raise the water to a depth of 3 to 4 feet above, and allows no fish to proceed down stream without being caught. A current is produced in front of the trap so that if one of any size stops within 3 feet of the month of the trap, in the twinkling of the eye he feels himself going over the fall-board. Then there is no chance in the world for him to save himself. This is a system of trapping that should be a direct violation of the law. Bass* are found to be on the increase here, and are discovered in numbers from 3 inches long upward. They are very game when hung with a hook. OsYKA, Miss., Avgust 1, 1884. *A specimen sent was pronounced by Dr. Bean to be the fresh-water drum or sheeps- head {HapJoidonotus (jrunniens). — C. W. S. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 449 , ]¥o. 29. IVashifligtoM, I?. C. ©ct. I, 1881. ai6 OIV MAIVUFACTUKED FOO£> FOB TKOUT AND CARP.* By »J-. C. O. IIARZ. Food-flour (Futfermchl). — The compoiieut parts are the same as iu the food cylinders {Futttr zyUnder)^ but its looks indicate a less de- gree of decay and worth lessness. Here, likewise, the presence of artic- ulates can easily be proved. The meat-flour {Fleischmehl) does not play such a prominent part, and after the food has been weighed several times, it may possibly form one-third of the whole. Peas and corn can easily be distinguished and considerable quantities ofother cereals can be noticed. On the basis of my extensive and careful examinations I think I can state with certainty that the two kinds of food in question are composed of the following ingredients : 1. The cylinder-food consists of: Parts. Ground meat (including articulates) CO to 65 Eape or linsued 5 to 10 Corn 9 to 10 Peas 9 to 10 Flour, among it some oat-meal 5 to 10 Cookiug-salt 10 2. The food-tlour [Futtermelil) consists of: Parts, Ground meat 30 to 35 Eape or linseed 19 to 21 Corn 9 to 10 Peas (or vetches) 18 to 22 Flour and oats 18 to 22 Cooliiug-salt 1 to 2 For the preparation of fish-food I would (on the basis of the analysis of the food referred to above) recommend the following receipts : 1. For cylinder food, take — Price of the best quality. Ground meat Ground linseed Rape seed flour Coarse com flour Peas .. Coarse flour (if possible, wheat) 12 65 [$3 10] *EinFiscbf utter ziir ForeUen und Karpfen. From the D. F-Z., Vol. VII, No. 14. Stet- tin, April 1, 1884. Translated from the German by Herman Jacobson. Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 29 450 BULLETIN OF THH UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. This mixture, witli tlie addition of 10 pounds of cooliiug--salt and water, is kneaded into a stiff, tougli paste, and by means of a sausage- squirt, with an opening tbe size of a thick lead-pencil, laid out on boards which are sprinkled with flour, and there allowed to dry. It is jiossible that an addition of ground cockchafers will make the food more enticing for the fish and it is worth while to try it. In that case one might use 50 pounds of ground meat and 15 pounds of cockchafers. The corn might be replaced by peas or field beans, which are cheaper and much more nutritious, and the food would doubtless be imjjroved thereby. 2. For the food-flour {F utter melil) take — Pounds. Price of the best quality. Ground meat 30 15 10 20 20 Marks. 4 50 Linseed flour 50 Kape-seed flour 75 Corn 65 Peas 1 60 Grain, flour 1 00 100 9. ro [.$2 33] To every 100 pounds of the mixture as much as 10 pounds of common salt should be added. If we examine the quality of the articles of food analyzed above, as to their chemical composition, and especially as to the quantity of par- ticularly valuable substances contained in them, we arrive at the fol- lowing result : There are contained in — Proteine Fat Hydrates of carbon A.— Cylin- der-food. Per ci-nt. 53 10 16 :B.— Feed- flour. Per cent. 35 12 30 According to Dr. E. Wein, the practical value is as follows : A. [ (53 + 10) X 16] + [10 X 3.2J = 10 marks, 59 pfennigs [$2.52]. B. [ (35 + 12) X 16] -f [30 X 3.2] = S marks, 48 pfennigs [|2.01]. But, as was stated above, when we buy the ingredients we must pay 12.65 marks [$3.01] for cylinder-food, and 0.90 [$2.33] for feed-flour. We refer here, of course, to the best quality, for an inferior article may be bought from dealers for 22 marks [$5.23]. Under these circumstances there is of course no xnospect of making it pay to raise fish on these sub- stances. In food suitable for fish-culture one Icoks, of course, for a certain per- centage of albuminous matter, fat, and hydrates of carbon j but in using BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 451 the different iugredients one should see to it that there is not too great a difference between their i)ractical value and their price. It ^^ ill be found to be exceedingly injudicious to use corn for this purpose. For corn, oats, or rye may be at any time substituted to advantage; for, ac- cording to Dietrich and Konig, tliere are, on an average, contained : Proteine. Fat. Hydrate of carbou. In corn . . In rye... In barley In oats... Per cent. 8.09 13.31 12. 09 12.66 Per cent. 3. 5 to 4.05 1. 9C 2.09 6.09 Per cent. 65.43 65.16 64.97 54.30 Corn costs at present about 6 J marks ($1.54) per 100 pounds, while the other three cereals may be bought for from 4 marks 30 pfennigs ($1.02) to 5 marks ($1.19). Instead of linseed or rapeseed, sesame cake may be used to advantage, which costs only 5 marks ($1.19) per 100 pounds, and contains 33 per cent, albumen, 13 per cent, fat, and 24 per cent, substances free from nitrogen. A pound of fat or a pound of albumen would therefore cost only 10 pfennigs (2.3 cents), and a i>ound of hydrates of can on only 2 pfennigs. In order to make the mixture more binding it will be found advantageous to add a few kilograms of linseed cake per 100 pounds. Peas may be entirely omitted, or the cheaper vetches may be substi- tuted for them. A portion of the ground meal n)ight also be omitted, or be replaced to advantage by cockchafers. Dried cockchafers can easily be ])rocured for 9^ marks ($2.26) per 100 j)ounds, while ground meal costs 15 or 16 marks ($3.57 to $3.80) per 100 jjounds. The composi- tion of both these articles is very similar. According to Dittman, dried cockchafers contain — Per cent. Proleiue 66.5 Chitiue 4.52 Fat 16.06 Particles of ashes 4. 52 while ground meal contains, according to Dietrich — Per cent. Water 8.86 Proteine 75. 06 Fat 12.30 Ashes and sand , 2. 30 According to Pott — Per cent. Water 10 48 Proteine 72. 46 Fat 12.42 Ashes and sand 4, 88 452 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. And according to J. Lebmann — Per cent. Water 10.14 Proteiue 73. 52 Fat 12. 70 Aslies aud sand ;}. 77 As with domestic animals, so with fish, favorable results can be looked for onl3' if the food is fresh and of the very best quality. The outlay for this food should be as little as possible, for otherwise, taking into consideration the great difficulties connected with the raising of tish, the use of artificial food will hardly repay the trouble. I would, therefore, advise fish ciilturists to buy the necessary ingre- dients and mix their own food; then they will know what they have and can draw correct conclusions trom the results, and, if necessary, make improvements in the food. Food bought at random has always two great defects. In the first place one does not know its component parts, and in the second i)lace it is possible that the component parts are of the most inferior quality. I would strongly recommend to fish culturists the following mixture: FORMULA. Pounds. Percentage of — Proteine. Fat. Hydrates of carbiin. Ground meat =. 60 20 4 16 44. 50 7.20 0.90 Sesame cake 6. 60 2. 60 1.12 0.30 1. 92 0. 96 4.60 Linseed cake -- - .. 1.30 Oats 8.64 Total 100 54.14 11.06 15.44 TABLE OF COST. Practical value. ri, A 4. cn„ ,i„ C 44. 5 per cent, albumen — 44. 5x 16=7.121 .Tt^i w ' P" • \ 7. 2 per cent, fat = 7. 2 x 1 6=1. 15 ( containing ^ 0. 9 per c<>ut. hydrates of carboii= 0. 9x 3.2 > Sesame cake 20 pounds, ^ | ^ P/^^". '^ P™teinB J = 9. 2 x 16= 1. 47 J containing \ i. Q per rent.' b'vdrates of carbon=: 4. 6 x 3.'J = 0. 14 S coniainin^ ( 1. 3 per cent, liydrates of carbon = l. 3 x 3.2=0. 04 ^ i 8. 61 per cent, hydiates of carbon=8. 64 x 3.2=0. 27 Total Value in marks. 8.29 1.61 .26 0.78 Cost in marks. 9.30 1.00 .40 1.07 10.94 11.77 [$2.60] [$2.80] BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 453 The difi'erence between the practical value and the price is therefore very small, and the expense can be still further reduced if a portion of the ground meat is replaced by cockchafers and a portioin of the oats by cheap Hour. 3ir.— ON MANUFACTrRED FOOD FOR TROUT AIV1> CARP.* By CARL NICKLAS. There has lately been published an article by Prof. G. O. Harz, giving the results of his microscopic examination of my food for trout and carp manufactured by Louis Goos, of Heidelberg. These results astonished me, for Dr. Harz has found in this food, with the exception of ground meat, all sorts of ingredients except those of which it is composed. The following sentence is characteristic of the entire examination: " I was not able to arrive at any definite results as to the ijresence or absence of linseed." In order to be absolutely certain that Goos had manufactured the food in strict accordance with my receipt, I informed him of Dr. Harz's ex- amination, requesting him to have the food, which had already been chemicidly examined at Marburg, also analyzed microscopically. I give below the result of this analysis : Maebukg, May 9, 1884. Mr. Louis Goos, Heidelberg : The specimen, of fish -food transmitted November 3, 1883, by the As- sociation for Furthering Fish-culture in the district of Kassel (Mr. Georg Seelig, in Kassel), when examined March 25, 1884, was found to contain — Per cent. Water 13.34 Proteiue substances 46. 75 Fat 10.50 Hydrate of carbon -. 16.87 Wood- fiber 1.60 Mineral substances 10.83 This fish-food, according to the microscopical examination, is mainly a mixture of ground meat (meat-flour), an article of food which at pres- ent is used very extensively in agriculture, and flour i)repared from the fruits of leguminous plants (probably vetches) ; its ingredients are, therefore, highly nutritive. "Wheat and oats occur in small quantities, and indeterminable substances in exceedingly insignificant quantities. Prof. Dr. DIETRICH, Director of the Experimental Agricultural Station. « II Ein Fischfutter fur Fordlen und Karjyfcn." From tbo DeuUche Fischei-ei-Zeitung, vol. vii, No. 23; Stettin, June 3, 1884, Translated from the German by Herman Jacobsox. 454 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. I can accept this as a correct result, because it does not expect more from the microscope tlian that instrument can accomplish, and leave it to my readers to compare it with the result obtained by Dr. Harz. It is evident that insignificant quantities of indeterminable substances cannot be avoided, and every farmer knows that even if he cleans his grain ever so carefully some particles will slip in which do not belong to it. Dr. Harz's article, however, causes me to make the following state- ment: To avoid mistakes I must state that the "food-flour" which Dr. Harz examined is no fish-food — would, in fact, be very expensive if used as such — but a dog food manufactured by Goos tor many years. I therefore need not consider it at all in this connection. I was greatly surprised by Dr. Harz's statement that the food, after having stood in a room for twenty-four hours, developed a peculiar, dis- agreeable odor. From my own experience I must term this as pure imagination, for I kept this food for at least six months in my study, partly in small pieces and partly in open cigar-boxes, and I could never discover even the slightest odor. Since I moved into my present quar- ters— in October, 1883 — I keep this food in my garret, and although it has become damp during winter, I cannot discover any odor whatever. I also keep a small quantity in my room, for feeding the fish in my aquarium, and cannot notice any odor. It is possible that the food examined by Dr. Harz had for some time been kept in a damp cellar and become infested with roaches and other vermin, which would to some degree explain the result of his examination and the odor. Owing to the nature of the ingredients which Dr. Harz thinks he has discovered in the food, he has come to find it expensive, for which, however, I cannot blame him very much, since in my article "on the artificial feeding of carp"* I made use of the expression, "I have not taken into account the cost of producing the food, thus iilacing it at a much lower price." T have corrected this mistake in my article on the same subject in the Baycrisclie Fischerei-Zcittmg, 1883, No. 1, 19-23, and I would recommend Dr. Harz to study this article. He has, moreover, not taken the salt into account. On the other hand Dr. Harz's erro- neous calculation may be excused by the circumstance that he has based it on the cheap ingredients of the food, as erroneously found by him, while it consists of comparatively expensive materials. If Dr. Harz will take into account the cost of production and the salt, and consider that the manuf'acturer wants not only to make the interest on the capital invested in buildings, machinery, implements, &c., but also some net profit, he will hardly find Mr. Goos's price too high. A person who manufactures the food himself will of course obtain it cheaper than if he buys it; but whether the gain will pay for the labor is a question which will be answered differently according to circum- * F. C. Report 1882, p. 1009. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 455 st; uces. For a person wlio needs but little of this food it may be advantageous to manufacture it himself ; if lie does this, lie is not bound to follow the receipt for my food as manufactured by Goos, but he ^vill find in my article referred to above several receipts, and may make different combinations based on my standard. There will be less doubt of fish takin<^ kindly to this food than to that made according to Dr. Harz's receipt. But persons who have to use the food in their ponds hy the hundred-weight — and in preparing my food I principally looked to feeding on a large scale, for which purpose the food should be made so as to keep for a long time — will, I think, do decidedly better to buy the food than to manufacture it themselves. It involves a considerable outlay for nuichinery, implements, and labor. Leaving out of the question the matter of expense, it will prove more advantageous to buy tlie food, because the fish will then always get the same kind of food, which is of some importance. A change of food is invariably followed by a temporary decrease in the weight of the fish. I shall not follow Dr. Harz in his theoretical digression on the prac- tical value of my food, as this would lead me too far ; and I will only state in this connection what I said as early as 1879, in my work, " Agri- cultural double book-keeping and its relation to the income of farms," on page 30, on the practical value, which is of a relative character and cannot, asE. Weiu does, be expressed in absolute figures, such as those employed by Dr. Harz in his calculations. Briefly stated, the "practical value" of an article of food (or in fact of anything) is represented by the net gain over its price, obtained by using it, when it may be said to meet the requirements and circum- stances of the buyer; while the " value of an article when bought" {an- Icmfs icert) is a price which yields a net gain above the mere price paid for it. This ap[>]ies to my fish-food, as I believe I demonstrated in the article referred to, by figures, even if only ai^i^roximately. Proof of this is furnished in Harz's article where he says " that the food has found great favor, and enjo3^s an excellent reputation among practical men." Dr. Harz finally thinks that he is rendering a great service to fish culturists by recommending to them for fish-food a mixture of se- same, lindseed-cake, and oats. As regards the qualitative chemical combination Dr. Harz has followed my standard of fish-food, and noth- ing can be said against him in this respect ; but I have serious doubts whether trout will eat sesame and linsef d-cake, or oats. At least I have never heard that they eat anything of the kind. It may be pos- sible that carp will eat such food. It is therefore doubtful whether fish- culturists when having my food and other kinds of food which have stood a practical test will venture to experiment with it. Munich, Bavaria, May 20, 1884. 456 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 218.— KRIEF NOTES UPOIV FISH AND FISBTEKIES. By CIIAS. \r. SMILEY. [Maiuly extracts from the official correspondence.] The FISHERIES OF Syria. — TLe tisLeries along the coast of Syria are neither extensive nor important, the fish caught being of inferior quality, lloach, mullet, and tunny are the principal varieties, and may be taken in all seasons of the year. Fishermen are few, and the amount of capital invested in boats and fishing tackle is small. The fisheries controlled by the governor of Beirut are leased to the highest bidder annually, who receives 20 per cent, of the value of all fish caught in his district. Last year the lessee paid $3,280, which sum forms part of the sum appropriated to defray the expenses of the court j^resided over by the local governor. The value of the fish is estimated at $20,000. A coarse sponge is found near Beirut, but little attention is given to sponge-fishing on the Syrian coast. (From reports of the consuls of the United States on the commerce, manufactures, &c., of their con- sular districts, page 641.) Carp for sale. — Mr. L. H. Pigg, editor of the Pittsylvania Tribune, Chatham, Yn., writes under date of September G, 1884, that ^he has 150,000 young carp for sale at the following prices : For 100 carp, 2 to 5 inches long $5 For 500 carp, 2 to 5 inches long $20 For breeders, per pair $2 to 5 For a five-gallon transportation can f 1 Mr. Pigg obtained 25 carp from the United States Fish Commission November 11, 1881, and 20 more November 8, 1882. The fish-catching bladderwort. — Prof. A. S. Minot, of Boston, states that he has observed young fish trapped by Utricularia when at large in the natural condition. Mr. C. J. Bottemaune, of Bergen-op-Zoom, Netherlands, calls atten- tion to the following record on this subject: In the " Physiologic of Plants" of Prof. Hugo de Vries, Amsterdam, C. L, Brinkman, 1880, I find, page 205, that Utricularia vulgaris " if a small water animal swims against one of the bladders it is caught at once;" and page 206, "if a branch with leaves of Utricularia is put in a glass of water with plenty of animal life, after a few hours every bladder has caught one or more of them." Pie adds : Ever since, I have taken the Utricularia as eaters of fish embryos, as I call the newly hatched fish till they have got their proper form and are able to care for themselves, and was under the im- pression every one knew it, as the book was printed for the use of the higher class ot schools (viz, Uoogere, Burgerscholen). BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 457 319 TUE CANADIAN FlI^UKRIES. By I.. Z. JONCAS. [Abstract of a paper, read before the British Association for the Advancement of Science at its Montreal meeting, August, 1884.] The paper begins with some geueral reference to the importance of the subject, and with a quotation from a report by the Hon. Peter Mitchell, the first minister of marine and fisheries, whose thorough knowledge of every branch of that department, and whose zeal and ability in the application of that knowledge to the performance of his duty as minister, made it one of the most important under the Govern- ment. The writer then proceeds to deal with the extent of Canada and of its fisheries: "Bounded by three oceans, on the north by the Arctic, on the east by the Atlantic, and on the west by the Pacific Oceans, it has over 5,500 miles of maritime coast, washed by waters abounding in the most valuable fish of all kinds. Of its numerous inland seas we may mention the Hudson Bay, the Strait — which would be better named a sea — of Davis, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the Atlantic Ocean, the Polar Sea, and Baffin's Bay on the Arctic Ocean. We might also mention the Straits of Belleisle, of Canso, and Northum- berland, and the Bay of Chaleurs, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the Bay of Fundy between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the Gulf of Georgia between Vancouver and the mainland of British Columbia. In addition to which are the Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Outario, the largest of many others, great inland seas, the area of which is equal to 27,000 square miles." Mr. Joncas points out that, excluding the great inland seas of the Northwest Territory and the sea-coast of British Columbia, whose fishery resources have not yet been fully developed, the older Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, have 2,500 miles of sea-coast and inland seas, besides smaller lakes and rivers abounding in fish of great com- mercial value. "Whether, therefore, we regard them as being abun- dant and important for domestic use, or in their much larger import as a valuable resource, capable of ever-increasing development and limit- less reproduction, employing an amount of capital reckoned by many millions of dollars, and engaging the labor of hundreds of thousands of persons; encouraging maritime pursuits, fostering commercial marine, promoting foreign trade, keeping always and productiv^elj' in active training an independent spirited class of sea-faring men, the teeming waters of the British-American possessions present to our view a national property richer than any moneyed estimation could express." Coming to the question of the value of the fisheries, Mr. Joncas claims that they are the richest and most profitable in the world. According to the reports of the fishery department the value of Cana- 458 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMTSStOK-. (lian fish product in 1870 was $7,573,000; in 1880 it liad increased (o $14,n00,0()0, and by the latest rcporl, tlian for 1883, it had reached $17,500,000. He j)oints out that aitliongh our system of inspection and oversight, and our method of collecting statistics have greatly im- proved, they are still necessarily imperfect, and do not include the enormous catcb which goes on by settlers for their own consumption; and he claims that the $17,500,000 can be considered as repre- senting only the fish pre])ared for ex])ort or sold on the Canadian markets. He estimates the value of fish caught and consumed by the native poj)ulation of Manitoba, the Northwest, and British Co- lumbia at $5,000,000; and of the other provinces of the Dominion at $14,000,000, making in all the sum of $.'50,000,000 as the annual value ot the lish exported and used for domestic coissnmption in the Dondnion, The paper then goes on to prove by comparison that "the fisheries of British North America are the most i)roductive of the whole world." In Canada we have 50,000 men regularly emi)loyed in the fivsheries; their labor, as seeu by the last official return, produced fish to the value of $17,500,000, or $350 for each fisherman. Great Britain employs 113,010 men, and their labor, according to the hgures given by H. R. H. the Duke ot Edinburgh, produces GI5.000 tons of fish, representing a value of $35,000,000, or $309 for each fisherman, a diflereuce in favor of the Canadian of $41. In the United States are employed 132,000 fishermen, the catch being valued at $44,500,0:i0, or $337 per man, a difi'erence in favor of the Canadian fishermen of $13. It is ])ointed out that an important part of the $44,500,000 worth of fish taken by the United States fishermen were caught in Canadian waters. "It must also be noted," Mr. Joncas remarks, "that on account of the severity of our climate our fisheries can only be worked about seven months in the year, from the beginning of Ai)ril to the end of October, so that the Canadian fisherman earns in seven months $41 more than the English fisherman, and $13 more than the fisherman of the United States, who work from January to December.". The conclusion of the writer is that the Canadian fisheries have not yet reached 25 per cent, of their possible development, a fact due in some part to the inferior equipment heretofore emjdoyed in the fisheries as compared with that employed in United States and British fisheries. In this respect, however, improvement is taking place. "Owing to the encouragement given by our public men during the last years, the building of Canadian fishing craft has ])rogressed rapidly. The swift schooners of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and of the other maritime provinces, can already by their sailing qualities compete fairly with the American fishing vessels, reported to be the best of their class in the world." Reference is made in the paper to the use of the steamers now used in our lakes, in the fisheries, to the sums of money spent by the Government annually in building harbors of refuge and light-houses, and to the bounty of $150,000 aniumlly given to the encouragement of BULLETIN OF THE UNITJED STATES FISH COMMTSSIOK. 459 tJie fishermen, and a stronfj appeal is made for still further enconrage- nieut. Kopljing to the question as to the possible exhaustion of the fisheries by their greater development, the writer states that fresli-Wiiter fisheries, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, &c., and the sea shell-fish- eries, such as oysters and lobsters, may be with time exhausted by indis- criminate fishing, and he points out that these fisheries should be l)rotected by severe and thoroughly enforced regulations. These regula- tions are in force in Canada, and are producing good results. He claims, however, without saying that protective regulations are unnec- essary in th<^, case of the sea fisheries, those of cod, mackerel, herring, &c.,that it is impossible to exhaust them, or ev-en to appreciably lessen their numbers by the means of fishing now in use, especially if protecting them during the spawning season, we are content to fish them from their feeding-grounds; and in proof of this he cites the fact that for 300 years fishing in the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence has been going on without diminishing the supply of fish ; on the contrary, every year " millions are added to the millions caught before." It is admitted that in certain localities there may be an apparent decrease at certain seasons, but this is due to accidental causes. "The changes in the migration of fish may be due to the temperature; to the currents or to the disappear- ance from certain places of those myriads of small fish which serve as food to the cod and other fish. It must also be remembered that fish are erratic in their habits, and that they are plentiful today in locali- ties where they had not been seen for many years." The fecundity of cod, herring, and mackerel negatives the idea of exhaustion, and refer- ence is made to the report of the royal commission, presided over by Professor Huxley, as establishing the same fact. The law of compen- sation in nature, by which portions of the world more favored for agri- culture by climatic conditions, are compensated for in our northern climes by immense fish preserves, the great fishing interests being, as stated by Hervey, "dependent on the Arctic current as the farming interest is on the rain and sunshine which ripen the crops." The Arctic seas and the great rivers which they send forth are swarming with minute forms of life, constituting, in the words of Professor Hind, in many ])laces a living mass, a vast ocean of living slime; and the all- pervading life which exists there afitbrds the true solution of the problem which has so often presented itself to those engaged in the sea fisheries, where the food comes from which gives sustenance to the countless millions of fish which swarm in the waters of Labrador and Newfoundland and in the Dominion and United States waters. It is computed that while the cold water area subtending the coast of the United States is about 45,000 square miles, that subtending the British American shores is 200,000 square miles, a proof of the superior value of the British North American fisheries. Only one-half of our 5,000 miles of sea-coast has been properly worked. The most impottantof the deep-sea fishing grounds are the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia 4f]0 BULLETIN or THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. from the Bay of Fundj^ round the southern part, around the coasts of Cape Breton, Kew Brunswick, and Prince E(hyard Ishind, embrace the Bay of Chaleurs and the Gaspe coast, and extend to the island of Anti- costi, the Labrador, and the Magdalen Islands, and along this coast the cod, the herring, the mackerel, the lobster, and numerous other fisheries of less importance .are carried on successfully. The COD-FISHERY.^-Last year the^atch amounted to 1,611,580 quin- tals, valued at $0,360,000, adding to which cod souuds and cod oil to the value of $225,555, we have a total, as the value of the cod-fishery last year of $0,591,555, divided as follows: 2^"ova Scotia $3, 977, 599 Quebec 1, 778, 290 New Brunswick 716, 496 Prince Edward Island 119, 170 Total 6,591,555 And in this sum is not included the quantity consumed by the twenty thousand families engaged in this industry. The cod-fishing season varies somewhat in the different provinces, but may be said generally to be from April to November inclusive. Some interesting particulars are given as to the mode of carrying on the cod-fishing, especially as to the catching of the caplin as bait, it being stated, as illustrating the immense shoals of caplin that fill the bays, "that a man standing in- shore, with a casting net, will often fill a cart in less than an hour; with small seines a couple of men can fill a small boat in about the same time." These caplin are of considerable commercial value. On tlie dis- appearance of the caplin about the end of June, the lauuce, the herring, the mackerel; the squid, the smelt, the clam, &c., are used as bait. The cod being mostly taken by hand lines and set lines, the cost of bait is great, being estimated at one-fourth the value of the cod taken. AVith the view of decreasing this proportion, the example of Norway, v.here the gill net is largely used in the cod-fishery, is recommended to beiol- lowed. It is found to be much more profitable than fishing with set lines or bultows. The cod-fishing is carried on in Canada either in vessels of a tonnage of from 00 to 100 tons on the Great Banks or in open boats at a few miles from the shores. Vessels employ.'-d in the fishery are manned by from ten to thirteen men, the owner of the schooner, who also supplies all necessary fishing tackle, receiving half the catch. In Quebec and Prince Edward Island the fishing is carried on chiefly in open boats, and hence at great disadvantage, so much so that the reports show a noticeable diijiinutiou in the quantity of fish caught in the Province of Quebec during recent years, a fact which induces Mr. Joncas to urge very strongly improvements in fishing ves- sels and gear, and the abandonment of the vicious supplying system by which advances in food and clothing are made to the fishermen at the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 461 coiuniencomeut of each season, leaving, as it does, the flsliermen almost constantly in debt. The principal markets lor dry codfish are Italy, Spain, Portngal, Brazil, British and Spanish West Indies, and the United States. The finest cod in all America, it is claimed, is cured on the coast of Gaspe, in the Province of Quebec, where the effects of the mists generated by the Gulf Stream are least felt. According to latest statis- tics, the West Indies paid us for dried codfish $2,000,000, United States over 8500,000, Brazil $500,000, Europe $500,000, and British Guiana $250,000. The incidents of the cod-fishiug are very valuable. Oil is taken from the liver; the head, tongue, and sounds form a good article of food; the offal and bones are converted into an excellent fertilizer; the roes are used as a bait for the sardine fisheries of France and Spain, and the swimming bladder is converted into isinglass. Great regret is expressed b}' the writer at the absence of enterprise in the Province of Quebec for the utilization of these incidents of the cod-fisheries, and some interesting facts are given in order to prove how valuable a re- source thev might be made. The Herring Fishery. — This, excluding local consumption, and the quantity used for bait,~was valued at $2,136,000. This sum, although considerable, represents only to a small extent what this industry is capable of in the matter of development. In the Province of Quebec, with its ten thousand fishermen, 1,100 miles of maritime coast, numer- ous bays, famous for their abundance of herring, the annual export of herring does not reach 2,000 barrels. The writer's opinion is that the export of herring, if the industry was i)roperly encouraged by capital and developed, would easily reach from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 annually, and he bases this opinion upon an examination of what has been and is being done in Great Britain, France, Uolland, and other countries. As soon as the ice disappears in the spring the herring come in in immense shoals. Those caught early in the season are less valu- able than are those caught between the months of August and Decem- ber. The former are sent chiefly to the West Indies, the latter, carefully gutted, are packed for the United States and European markets, the best being the celebrated Labrador herring. The following was the export of herring in 1882 : Pickled, 423,042 barrels $1, 739, 943 Smoked, l,0(i0,416 boxes 311, 807 Fresh, 16,050,000 pounds 83, 533 2, 135, 383 The Mackerel Fishery.— This fishery in Nova Scotia and Xew Brunswick particularly is steadily improving, the class of vessels now used bearing fair comparison with those used by American fishermen, which are said to be the finest in the world. The Quebec fishermen have, however, given but little attention to the mackerel fishing. •' The mackerel is met with off the coast of Nova Scotia, in the Bay of 462 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Fiindy, in the Gulf of Causo, but nowhere is it more plentiful than in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, off the coast of Prince Edward Island, in the Bay of Ohaleurs, and in the numerous coves and bays formed by the group of islands called Magdalen Islands." The chief market for our mackerel is found in the United States, although some are sent to Great Britain and the West Indies. The annual value of the mackerel fishery, according to recent returns, is $1,250,000. Lobsters. — The development of the lobster canning business has been very great in recent years. In Prince Edward Island there was in 1S7I only one establishment; ten years later the number had in- creased to 120. There were put up on the island in 1871, 6,711 cans; in 1878, 1,649,800 cans, and in 1882, 6,300,000 tans. In 1870 I^ew Brunswick had one canning establishment, putting up 20,000 cans, ten years later 6,000,000 were exported from the province to different markets. ISTova Scotia exported 30,000 cans of lobsters in 1870, and 5,000,000 in 1882. Quebec is behind in this industry as well, producing last year but 800,000 cans of lobsters. There are to-day in Canada 600 establishments engaged in canning lobsters, the product of which is 17,500,000 cans, valued at $3,000,000, almost as much as the value of the product of our herring and mackerel fisheries combined. These figures represent 52,500,000 lobsters taken in Canadian waters in 1882. The number of lobsters taken in England does not represent 3,000,000 in each year. The ease with which the shell fisheries may be exhausted and the difiiculty of reviving them has induced the Government to impose regulations for the i)reventiou of indiscriminate fishing of the lobster on our coasts. The Fresh-water Fisheries. — Coming to the freshwater fisheries Mr. Joncas deals first with the salmon fisheries, and states that they show a tendency to gradual decrease, and this in sjnte of the regula- tions made by the Government limiting the fishing season, prescribing the implements that may be used, and providing by artificial breeding establishments, at great oost, for the replenishing of the rivers. He urges, without reflecting upon the devotion and intelligence of the pres- ent fishery overseers and guardians, that more should be appointed, and a more constant and effective protection thus aff'orded ; and he urges moreover, that the angler, who indulges in fly fishing for sport, should be required to stop at the same time as the fisherman who fishes for a living is comi)elled to take up his nets. The salmon fishery, however, is far from exhausted. In 18S2 Canada exported salmon, fresh, canned, and pickled to the value of $3,0(10,000. The United States is the prin- cipal market for fresh salmon and Great Britain of salmon preserved in tins. British Columbia is the most fanjous of the provinces for its salmon fishery, the indnstry having already assumed large proportions. In 1870 the catch was 3,00(»,000 pounds; in 1882 it had increased to 12,000,000 pounds. The capital invested in the salmon fishery of Brit- ish Columbia is estimated at over $2,000,000. In addition to the canned BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4G3 salmon exported from British Columbia over 5,G0O barrels of salted saluiou have also been exported, the demand for the fish thus preserved being steadily increasing. Trout of all kinds abound in many Canadian rivers, and the best are the sea-trout and the salmon-trout. Whiteflsh and trout fisheries are carried on on a large scale chiefly in the lakes of Ontario. These lakes are properly called great inland seas, Sui)erior covering an area of 31,000 square miles, and Erie, Huron, and Ontario combined, 5l>,(*0^^ square miles. Many rivers empty their waters into these lakes, and these abound in food-fish, the delicacy and flavor of which are well known ; saliaon- trout, whiteflsh, sturgeon, pickerel, pike, bass, perch, &c., abound in them. The fishermen of the Canadian lakes use gill-nets and trap-nets, and their vessels are either sailing boats of from 20 to 30 feet in length, or small steamers called fishing tugs, one advantage of the latter being the speed with which fish can be conveyed to railway stations to be transi)orted in refrigerators to market. The produce of whitefish, trout, &c., from the lakes in 1882 was 4,500,000 pounds, sent fresh to market, besides 5,079 barrels of the same fish salted, 9,753 barrels of trout, aud 41,380 barrels sturgeon, bass, pike, mukallonge, and other fish, making a total of 56,197 barrels, or a total of 15,739,700 pounds as the marketed products of the lake and river fisheries. There are besides these the river fisheries of the maritime provinces, giving an aggregate value for the fresh- water fishes of the Douiinion of $4,000,000. The paper closes with some reference to the general commercial value of the fisheries, it being claimed that " the fisheries are not oidy important to us in consequence of the vast amount of wealth that can be drawn from the deep, apparently without dimin- ishing or exhausting its source, but because by this means a body of able and hardy seam, en maybe found to conduct the commerce of a maritime country during peace and to become its gallant defenders on the ocean in time of war." 2aO.— ON TME ABUIVDAIVCE OF HA1.IBUT NEAR ICELAiVlJ. By Capt. J. \V. COLLII^S. While in England, in the summer of 1880, after leaving the Berlin Fishery Exhibition, I was told by English fishermen, sailing from Grimsby, that they had often found halibut in extraordinary abundance while fishing for cod at Iceland. I was much interested in these state- ments, first because Capt. John S. McQuinu, of Gloucester, went to Iceland in the schooner Mambriuo Chief, m 1873, on a "salt halibut" trip, and failed to get a fare — a result which until now has prevented other Gloucester fishermen from visiting that locality ; and second, because I knew that, if halibut are as abundant in the waters around Iceland as they were represented to be by the Grimsby fishermen, Amer- 464 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. icaii vessels might, by going there, make far more profitable voyages for flitches than they are liable to make on the west coast of Greenland. Bearing this in mind, and considering it important to obtain as much knowledge of practical value to American fishermen as possible, I took every occasion while in Loudon, in the summer of 1883, to gather additional testimony on this subject, from both the fishermen and ves- sel owners that visited the Fisheries Exhibition. Several of the latter had once been fishermen. Those with whom I conversed relative to this matter were among the most reliable and intelligent men of the class to which they belong. There was, too, such a remarkable similarity in the statements, each individual telling the same story, of the almost marvelous abundance of halibut about Iceland, that I felt certain that so many experienced fishermen could not all be mistaken or misled re- garding a fish with which they are so familiar. Several told me that on some occasions they have been obliged to stop fishing for cod owing to the great numbers of halibut on the banks, since these fish were of no value to them, and actually proved a nuisance by destroying their gear. The Grimsby vessels which go to Iceland are welled smacks — local!}' known as " Codmen" — that fish with hand-lines for cod and ling, salting their catch until a few days before their departure from the fish- ing ground. The fish taken during the last two or three days' fishing are put in the well and kept alive for sale at the home port, the salted cod usually being sold at Faroe Islands. I felt so sure of the correctness of the information I had obtained relative to the abundance of halibut at Iceland, that, while at Glou- cester last winter, I called the attention of several })arties to the mat- ter, who were either fishermen or interested in the fisheries. Among others, I gave to Capt. John Dago a detailed statement of what I had learned from the English fishermen. In previous years Captain Dago had made several trips to Greenland for flitched halibut, and I have recently learned that, acting on the information I gave him, he has gone to Iceland this summer. Another schooner, the Alice M. Williams, from the firm of D. C. & H. Babson, of this city, has also gone on the same voyage. The question of the abundance of halibut at Iceland will be pretty definitely settled by the result of their cruises. Nothing defi- nite has yet been learned of the success of these two vTSsels, but had they not met with a reasonably fair prosi)ect for making a good catch, it is probable they would have been home before this. If they meet with good success, a new field will be o[)ened up to the enterprise of our fishermen, which at thits time is of special importance owing to the scarcity of halibut on the banks, and the difficulties at- tending a voyage to Davis Straits. I shall acquaint you with the result of those experimental trips when the vessels return home and the facts are made available, I have much confidence in a favorable issue. Gloucester, Mass., Avgust 16, 1884.. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4G5 Vol. IT, ]¥©. 30. WashiBagtoii, ©. C. Oct. 1, 1884. 231.— AKTinCIAIi SEA tVATJKK FOK A<{UABIA/ By U. E. HOFFMANN. Ill fornier years hardly any salt-uater aquaria were found in inland countries, because the expense and trouble of furnisliing a constant sup- ply of salt water were too great. Ev^en the Berlin aquarium, with its abundant funds, was so far from the nearest sea-coast as to make the supply of natural sea- water uncertain, and it suffered from this condi- tion of afiairs. The people of Berlin wittily called this chronic condi- tion of their aquarium its " sea-sickness." Although every new institu- tion has to pass through a period of so-called " children's diseases," this peculiar "sickness" of the Berlin aquarium proved very obstinate, and even threatened the life of the young and tender child whose birth had been hailed with so much joy. The Vienna aquarium had to pass through similar experiences, and the stockholders were obliged to pay dearly for the experiment. As matters stood at the Berlin aquarium, the use of artificial sea- water seemed very desirable; but many a well- l)lanned experiment based on scientific i)rinciples proved a failure ; for, although the component jiarts of sea water are well knov/n, and any chemist can easily prepare it from a receipt, it seemed at first impossi- ble, in a chemical way, to breathe the " breath of God " into our scien- tific sea- water, and to impart to it the secret of true vitality. At last, however, long after the institution had been opened. Dr. Hermes suc- ceeded in solving the problem in a scientific manner, and x)roved in the most incontrovertible way that the maintenance of inland salt-water aquaria was no longer dependent on the nearness of the sea-coast. Dr. Hermes succeeded in satisfying every demand, as regards sea- water, within one week. The very bold assertion of the director of the zoophyte aquaria in the zoological garden in Regent's Park, London, that artificial sea- water, even if a chemical analvsis cannot discover the least difference between it and natural sea-water, is never beneficial to animals and plants, has been disproved by the success of the Berlin aquarium. Since we have succeeded in manufacturing artificial sea-water which possesses all the qualities necessary for the life of animals and plants, and which, by the use of suitable apparatus, can be kept fresh for years, nothing prevents inland towns from having sea-water aquaria, which, in many respects, are peculiarly interesting. * Ueber Mnslliches Seeivasser fiir Aquarien. From the Deutsche Fischerei-ZeHuiig, voL vii, No. 30 ; Stettin, July 22, 1884. Translated from the German by Herman Jacob- sox. Bull. U. S. F. 0., 84 30 466 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. As sea-water aquaria have a great future iu Germany and will rap- idly increase in number if proper directions for their maintenance are given, I will describe the mauufucture of the water in such a manner that any onecan easily prepare it himself. To 50 liters (about 13J gallons) of pure hard well water take 1,325 grams (46i ounces) of common salt, 100 grams (about 3J ounces) of sulphate of magnesium, 150 grams (about 5J ounces) of chloride of magnesium (chlormagnesium), and 60 grams (about 2 ounces) of sulphate of potassium, all of which can be obtained at any drug store, but generally not entirely pure; and foreign admix- tures and impurities may easily cause the death of all the animals. Each of these chemicals is dissolved in water by itself; afterward they may all be poured together and allowed to stand quietly for several hours, so that little stones and other impurities may settle to the bottom. All particles of dirt floating on the surface should be carefully removed by dipping. The mixture is then poured into another vessel and diluted with fresh water until the hydrometer indicates the proper degree of saltness. The quantities given above will produce about 50 liters (about 13^ gallons) of sea-water. This composition I have ascertained comes very near to that of natural sea-water, for, besides the component parts given above, it also contains small quantities of soda, iron, and potash. I obtain the chem- icals for preparing my sea-water, which contains all the seven ingredi- ents in their true proportions, from a friend of mine who is a chemist and am prepared to supply others. Most of the sea-water found in the market contains only the four first-mentioned salts, and is likewise suit- able for filling the basin. One should be careful, however, not to put ani- mals in such freshly manufactured sea- water, as this would almost beyond a doubt kill them. It is well known that sea- water is 0.027 gram heavier than fresh water; its weight is therefore 1.027. Everything in excess of this weight must be carefully corrected from time to time by pouring in fresh water as the water evaporates, while this is not the case with the salts. The solid ingredients of sea-water constitute about 3^ per cent, of its weight, or one-half ounce to a pound of water. A hydrom- eter is indispensHble for ascertaining the degree of saltness. Newly manufactured sea-water should be placed in the open air in some cool place, and allowed to staiid for some time. If one has any live salt-water algte adhering to stones they should be added, because they impregnate the water with oxygen. After some weeks the algae will spread all round them clouds of diminutive seeds, which adhere to the walls and quickly grow under the influence of light. By supplying oxygen they make the water, after it has been filtered several times, still more fitted to receive animals. Of sea-plants, the green ulvse and the confervfe are particularly suitable for recently manufactured salt water. In the beginning only a few hardy animals should be placed in the water, which will flourish and thrive in it; and after awhile an at- BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 467 tempt may be made with more tender animals, whicb, if placed in the water in the beginning-, wonld probably have died. If no algne can be obtained, the water should be allowed to stand longer. Any one who can aliord to wait until a green cover of algse spreads over the panes, will do well to defer placing the animals in the Avater till that time, and a little patience is very commendable during the entire process. Like wine, salt water, if i)roperly treated, improves with age, as special ap' l^aratus coulinuallj' sui)ply it with oxygen by night, and keep it agi- tated. The water in the Hamburg aquarium has not been changed for fifteen years, and is still perfectly clear, transparent, and odorless, in short, of the very best qualitj' ; and all that has to be done is to make up for accidental losses or evaporation. The water of the salt-water aquarium is changed or filtered onl}' when it begins to get turbid, or if some change is to be made in the arrangement of the aquarium. It will always be advisable, however, to keep at least a double supply of sea- water on hand, and i)lace it in the cellar in well-corked bottles, as any sudden emergency will then be fully met. I have never been able to obtain natural sea-water which was as clear as the artificial, through which one can see everything distinctly, even in the most remote corner of a large aquarium, which it would be very difficult to do in natural sea-water. I have brought up sea- water in a dipper, which, when poured into a glass, was as clear as crystal and had a brilliant blue color; but this is possible only on the high-seas, and when the water is brought up from a considerable depth. Fisher- men take too little care and trouble in this respect ; close to the shore they will dip up the water resembling a thick, yellow, and stinking Juice, and ship it to other places. For this reason I use artificial sea- water prepared in the manner indicated above, and even without add- ing any plants, I succeed in keeping my animals alive. It is self-evident that the principal point in constructing salt-water aquaria is the treatment of the water, which, after all, is the element which decides the well-being and sickness, life and death of the animals. Care should he takeu to keep the water well supplied with oxygen, which is easily done by means of the aerating apparatus ; and to see to it that the normal proportion between the salts and sea-water is always main- tained, and as soon as anything appears to be wanting in this respect, it should be supplied. As soon as the water begins to get turbid, it should be filtered, and during an abnormal state of the weather it should be cooled. Only when these conditions are fulfilled, will it be possible to keep up a successful saltwater aquarium; only thus shall we be enabled to have in our rooms an exact representation of the bottom of the sea, with all its mysteries and wonders. I, therefore, repeat in conclusion, "The treatment of the water is the main thing." Berlin, Germany, Jtdy 22, 1884. 468 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 83« THE OYSTER IIVDUSTRV OF THE WOllliD. By G. BROWJV GOODE. [Abstract of a pai^er read before the American Fisliciiltural Association.] The oyster industry of the world is seated chiefly iu the United States and France. Great Britain also has a few natural beds still remain- ing, and a number of well-conducted establishments for oyster culture which are supplied with seed oysters from continental oyster parks. Canada, Holland, Italy, German^', Belgium, Spain, Portugal, ]3enmark, Norway, and Russia have also oyster industries, which are, however, comparatively insignificant, and in the case of the last two countries hardly worthj^ of consideration in a statistical statement. Eecent and accurate statistics are lacking except in two or three in- stances. A brief review by countries, in the order of their importance, was presented. The oyster industry of the United States was shown to employ 52,805 persons and to yield 22,195,370 bushels, worth $30,438,852, and that of France in 1881 employed 29,431 persons, producing oysters valued at $3,404,505; the industry of Great Britain yielded a product valued at from two to four million pounds sterling; holland was shown to have a considerable industry in the province of Zeeland, and to have produced native and cultivated oysters to the value of $200,000; Ger- many has an industry on the Schleswig coast valued at about $400,000, while the products of other European countries mentioned were too in- significant to deserve a place in this brief abstract. An estimate of the total product of the world was presented as follows, the figures being given in the number of individual oysters produced : United States 5, 550, 000, 000 Canada 22, 000, 000 Total for North America .' 5, 572, 000, 000 France 680, 400, 000 Great Britain 1, GOO, 000, 000 Holland 21, 800, 000 Italy 20,000,000 Germany 4, 000, 000 Belgium 2, 500, 000 Spain 1, 000, 000 Portugal 800, 000 Denmark 200, 000 Eussia 250, 000 Norway 250, 000 Total for Europe 2, 331, 200, 000 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 469 The oyster industry is rapidly jiassinj? from the hands of the flsher- nion into those of oyster-cnltiirists. The oyster, being sedentary, ex- cept tor a few days in the earliest stages of its existence, is easily ex- terminated in any given locality, since, although it may not be possible for the fishermen to rake up from the bottom every individual, whole- sale methods of capture soon result in covering up or otherwise de- stroying the oyster banks or reefs, as the communities of oysters are technically termed. The main difference between the oyster industry of America and that of Europe lies in the fact that in Europe the native beds have long since been practically destroyed, perhaps not more than (J or 7 per cent, of the oysters of Europe passing from the native beds directly into the hands of the consumer. It is probable that from 00 to 75 per cent, are reared from the seed in artificial parks, the remainder having been laid down for a time to increase in size and flavor in the shoal waters along the coasts. In the United States, on the other hand, from 30 to 40 per cent, of all the oystei's consumed are carried from the native beds directly to mar- ket. The oyster-fishery is everywhere carried on in the most reckless manner, and in all directions oyster-grounds are becoming deteriorated, and in some cases have been entirely destroyed. It remains to be seen whether the governments of the States will regulate the oyster-fisheries before it is too late, or wdl permit the destruction of these vast reser- voirs of food. At present the oyster is one of the cheapest articles of diet in the United States, while in England, as has been well said, an oyster is usually worth as much as, or more, than a new-laid egg. It can hardly be expected that the price of American oysters will always remain so low as at present; but, taking into consideration the great wealth of the natural beds along the entire Atlantic coast, it seems prob- able that a moderate amount of protection will keep the price of seed oysters far below the present European rates, and that the immense stretches of submerged land along our coasts e-pecially suited for oys- ter planting may be utilized and made to produce an abundant harvest, at a much less cost than that which accompanies the complicated sys- tem of culture in France and Holland. 233.— BRIEF 1VOTE8 IJPOIV FISBI AIVD THE FISHERIES. By CIIAS. "W. SMILEY. [Mainly extracts from the official correspondence.] Fish-culture in Oregon. — Mr. B. F. Dowell, writing from Jackson- ville, Oreg., August 30, 1884, says : The yearling trout at my ponds near East Portland are from 6 to 8 inches long, and those hatched this spring from 1 inch to li inches long. I now have about 7,500 lively fry. All are doing well. Two of my neighbors have commenced rais- 470 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. mg fisli. I can get salmon eggs enough next season from the canneries at the mouth of the Columbia to feed my fish very cheaply. So far I have been feeding my trout on eggs from that place, and on liver from Portland. I am satisfied I can raise trout to perfection. I am now en- gaged in making the third pond. Klamath Lake, Goose Lake, Back Lake, Crater Lake, Toule Lake, in this vicinity, and many smaller lakes in the Cascade range of mountains, are well calculated to raise large quantities of black bass and whitefish. The black bass particularly would be suitable to stock Toule Lake, Link Eiver, and Lower Klamath Lake, where great quantities of suckers now abound. They would teed on the suckers and cause them to decrease. The black bass would increase very rapidly. The German carp is a big, thrifty, bony fish, just like the big Indian suckers which now fill Toule Lake, and which run up Lost Kiver in the spring into Oregon to its head. Jt is a good fish to supply food for the millions on a large and cheap scale; but the salmon, the black bass, grayling, trout, and whitefish, will always command a better price. The Oregon legislative assembly has made two or three small appro- priations for a fish ladder at Oregon City. It will take $12,000or $15,000 to make a good permanent one, blasted out of the solid rock, and after the McDonald patent. The increase in the Upper Willamette would be worth four times the money in three years. There is no place on the Pacific coast better for salmon than the Willamette above the falls, but not a salmon can now ascend above Oregon City to spawn. The com- pletion of this ladder and the introduction of black bass and whitefish into Oregon would be a lasting benefit to the citizens of Oregon. In time these three things would feed millions of people with the best of food. But few carp will be eaten when there is plenty of salmon, black bass, whitefish, and trout. Decrease of Grayling in Au Sable Eiver. — Mr. D. H. Fitz- hugh of Bay City, Mich., writing September 22, 1884, says the graylings put into An Sable river some years ago are about exhausted. It is a very fine trout stream. To Destroy Muskrats. — Dr. Hessel has been greatly annoyed by these pests. He has destroyed many. His mode is to suffocate them, as follows: Four pounds of sulphur mixed with half a pound of salt- petre finely pulverized, set on flat stones or a piece of sheet iron, say half a pound, or a pound to a hole (as it costs but a few cents), and placed in the holes; after burning a few minutes, close the holes with sods. The saltpetre insures the combustion of the sulphur, which is certain death to all within. Others have also tried it with success. A LARGE Bass from the Potomac. — September 20, 1884, Mr. J. C. Clagett, of Frederick, Md., caught in the Potomac, at Point of Eocks, a small-mouthed black bass, which was shown at the Health OflBce, and measured 23f inches in length, 14| inches around behind the gills, 16| inches at the dorsal fin, and weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces. INDEX. A. Page. Abadejo 80 Aberdeen 185 Abbott. Leon 189 Acanthocybium solandri. 77 Acantbnrus cbirargus 78 coeruleus 78 tractus 78 Acerina 40 Aocliinatization of fish in Australia 31 A clanella mornani 237 Acroperus leucocephalus 443 Actiuophrys 434 Acushnet River 312 Addison Center, schooner 249 A. F. Gitfoid, schooner 175 Agassiz, Prof. A 311 Prof.L. 293.294 Agonostoma forsteri 55 Ahll)om, Forester 117 Ailien, Capt. John P 438 Alaska Commercial Company 134 Territory, salmon of 134 Albatross, electric lighting 153 engines 145 steamer 151 Albicore 77 Albiila vulpes 79 Alden, Mr 404 Alewives 7, 203 catching of 255 Alga3, habitat of 24 Algeria, fisheries of 418 Algiers, fish imported 393 quantity of fish imported 392 Alice M. Williams, schooner 446, 464 Allman, Professor 193 Alpena, Mich 113 Altenfjord 388 Amagansett, N. T 177,386 Amber jack 77 American Angler, cited 311 Field, cited 296 Fish-cnl tural Association 468 fish in English waters 60 fish exported 093 lotus 159, 160 Amiurus albidus 292 melas 292 nobulosus 292 Ammotretis gnntheri 55 Anchor, Emat 167 Paga Anchovy 55,419 fishing 388 Anderson, Capt. James L 404, 438 Andrews, E. A 87 Anemometer 149 Angelfischerei 284 Angel fish 178,386 Angermann Eiver 327 Angling, cited 272 Anguilla Ill ancklandii 55 australis 55 cubana Ill rostrata Ill Anguillidse 208 Annin, jr., James 85 Anolophus, V. grsecum 178 Anthias ricbardsoni 54 Appetite of the muskrat 297 Applegate Creek 217 Aquaria, artificial sea-water for 465 Aquia Creek 199 Artificial propagation of salmon 201 sea- water 465 Arcachon 106 Bay 98,100 Portuguese oyster in 100 Archibiild, Mr 413 Architeuthis harveyi 403 Arctocephalus cinoreus 53 Arens, C 120 Arius felis 79 Armstrong, George W 83 W. M 233 Arripis salar 54 Arrow-head 160 Arthur, Chester A 359 Asia 127 Astroscopus 386 anolophus 178 Atherina stipes 79 Atkins, Charles G 115,170,341,383 Atlantic Halibut Company 240 Atwater.W. O 203,238 Aude, River 138 Auray River 103 Ausable River, grayling in 470 Austin, Tex 230 Australasia 127 Australia 126, 190 Avoca, N. C . 162 Ayrshire 193 471 472 INDEX. B. Page. Babson, Capt. T.J 405, 406, 435, 437, 464 Bacalao 80 Bache, K. M 373, 374 Back Lake 470 Bacon, Sir Francis 14 Bade, Captain 118 Baird distilling apparatus 149 G. W 145,153 Prof. S. F. . . .132, 48, 177, 267, 291, 318, 350, 379 Balao 79 Bala6s 79 Baldwin, Charles H 352 Balibtes carolirensis 78 vetula, occurrence of 13 Ballahoo 79 Ballantrae 193,197 Baltimore, Md 316 Banmeyer, M 52 Banquereau 237 Barber, C.H 87 Barden, John H 338 Barmen, trout at 119 Barnegat City, N. J 177,386 Barnes.E 140,242 Bairacouta of New Zealand 54 Barracuda of Florida 77 Bartet, Mr 281 Bartie Pierce, schooner 438 Bartlett, J. R 315 Bass 338 big-mouthed 7 black 7 size of 365 Batrachus tau 79 Battery Station 320 Bean, Dr. Tarleton H. . . 13, 38, 217, 240, 292, 293, 341, 387, 391 Beard.slee, L. A 288 BearLake 51 Becharde Brothers 176 Behr.von 275,383,420 Belgium, fish imported 393 oyster yield 468 Belone acus 388 vulgaris 40 Benecke. Professor 122, 324, 384 Berlin International Fishery Exposition 349 Bernt'uchen, German3' 122, 219 Bibelhausen, brooks stocked 119 Birge, Professor 440 Birkbeck, Edward 291 Birkenfield, brooks stocked 119 Biscayno Bay 263 Bishop, C. K 142 Bitterns 86 Black Angel 78 bass 32, 60, 72, 203, 218, 262 ba.ss in England 166 sent from America to G-er- many 384 small-mouthed, caught 470 spawning in Germany 219 eel 55 Biackflsh, hatching of 415 Page. Blackfoi-d, E. G . . . .16, 112, 176, 219, 315, 328, 332, 361 Black grouper 77, 78, 240, 251 River 140,243 Black.L.H 184 Blackwills 7 Bladder- wort 160, 257, 261, 45fi Bland, John 359 Blank forms, list of 397 Blatchford, Capt. Benjamin F 175 Blaufelchen (Coregonus) 121 Blear-eyed herring 61 Block Island 240, 251 fishing grounds 49 Blue-back mullet. 79 Bluefish 7, 78, 123, 203, 263, 312, 444 Blue flag 160 perch I 37 Boar-fish 54 Bodianus rufus 78 Bonaci 77 Bone-fish 79 Bonito 7, 77 Booth&Sons,A 303 Booth Bay lobster fishery 424 Borthwick, Christopher 60 Borne, Max von dem 115, 122, 168, 219, 2S4, 299, 300, 376, 384 Boston Bay fisheries 131 Daily Advertiser cited 252 Bothnia, Gulf of 3'28 Bottemanne, C. J...- 169,170,456 Bottle-nose dolphin 431 whale 178, 386 Bouchon-Brandely 17, 101 Bower, Seymour 113 Bragenia 171 Brakcley, John H 159 Branchiobdella astaci 301 parasita 301 Brandely,M 27,28 Brandt, Martin 395,396 Brasena peltata 159 Brazil, fish for 309 Bream 78,80 Brenner, Capt. Ivar 324 Bretagne, France 185 Briand, Captain 219 Brigs, E. A. 441 Bi ill 55 British Columbia 126, 313 North America, fish exported 127, 392 Broad River, obstructions to fish 232 Broad shad 79 Brocchi, Dr. P 97 Brooks, W.K 17,27.354,355,356 Brook trout 7, 60, 72, 112, 203, 273, 276, 277, 279, 280, 293, 420 culture 119 from Cristine Lake 293 Monadnock Lake 293 weight of 311 Broquet, M IH Brownell, Charles H 83 Brown, J. E 179 Brumme. Dr 329 INDEX. 473 Pago. Bi-iissow, Oekonomierath 117, 1 18, 121, 211 Bucephalus 40 cuculus 40 Bncklaml. Frank 73,121 Bucksport Salmon Station 169, 170 Biiilheada Buinliam. Capt. Adoniram J Burns & Co., J. J Bur-n-ed Butcher, E. Z Butler.M. C Butter-fi.sh , Buzzard's Bay Byron Hines, schooner Cadet, schooner Cailletet, Mr Calamus arctifrons . . , bajonado calamus penna pennatula California salmon .138, 144, 262, 273, 275, 276, in James Elver reared in "Wisconsin . . . trout in South Carolina planting Callifaver muUet Callistoga, schooner Callitriche heteropbylla Canada, breeding of salmon oyster yield relations with Canadian cod fishery fisheries value of fresh- water fisheries Great Lake fisheries herring fishery lobsters mackerel fishery oysters salmon fisheries decline Cape Ann Bulletin cited Cape Cod lobster fishery May porpoise oil and fishing com- pany Caranx crinitus georgianus Carassius Carcharias brevirostris lamia pnnctatus Cardinal flower Carlisle, J. G Camax chrysos hipi)Os latns Carnivorous plant Carp 7, 31, 72, 74, 119, 123, caught with a iook 7 49 447 160 205 232 55 208 446 404 433 77 78 78 78 78 78 278, 419 290 436 311 164 286 79 134 160 362 468 427, 435 460 457 458 462 463 461 462 461 358 363 142 423 431 77 78 54 40 79 79 79 160 306 78 78 78 259 261, 309 380 Page. Carp confused with hybrids 305 cooking of 139 culture 122 distribution 307, 308, 309 edible qualities 124, 176,205 enemies of 85, 308 food for 152,310,449,455 value of 306 for sale 456 fried 139 growth 308 how to catch 124,268 cook 151 hybrids 267 in alkaline water, reared 426 England 14 James River 112 Lake Erie 306 Susquehanna River 306 introduced about 1830 266 ponds, construction of 33, 35 in Texas 230 plants for 1.59 sites for 33 price-list of 307 price of 366 protecting the eggs of 221 reared by U. S. Fish Commission.. . 307 regeneration of the scales 345 shipment 310 size of 14, 75 soup 139 spawning of 222 stew 139 trade 308 vitality , 16,179,183,305 Carpenter, Charles 295 Carr, T. E. Robertson 60, 64, 213, 431 Carrie E. Parsons, schooner 240, 251 Carrie S. Dayle, schooner 409 Carroll, Captain 89 Cartagena, State of 412 Cary, H. H 339 Casella, Loui-s P 415 Casella-Miller thermometer, treatment of. 415 Caspari, Mr 122 Castelin, M Ill Catawba River 163 Catesby, Mark 79 Catfish 7,32,79,309 propagation of 292 speckled 321 transferring of 212 Cat-taUflag 160 Cauchon.Hon. Mr 362 Cavia 78 Caviare 347 Cedar Keys 135 Central America 127 Pacific Railroad 126 Centropomus undecimalis 78 Centropristis atrarius 415 Ceratopbyllum demersnm 160 Cercaria 39, 40 Certes, A 433 474 INDEX. Page. Chambers' Journal, cited ^^^..^.i..., 139 Charab.rs, W. Oldhara 73 Chiimplain Lake, fish of 287 listof 287 Chapman, sr., Pearson 61 Char 119,121 Charles C. "Warren, schooner 91, 92 Charlotte Harbor 136 Chase, Oren M 83 Chatham fisheries 250,255 Chatoopa River 165 Chavot, M. 99 Cherna americana 78 Chesapeake Bay 199, 233 lobster deposit 16 Chevalier, Bnrdet 119 Chicamuxon Creek 200 Chilodactylus macropteras 54 China 126,127 Chincoteaane Bay 43,302 Chinese fish-culture 88 goods 126 Chittenden, Neveton H 314 Chlaraj'dococcus 434 pluvialis 434 Chocorna, schooner 254 Chopset 37 Cholniondely-Pennell 272 Chriodorus 79 atherinoides 77 Christburg 120 Cbristensen, B 282 Christiania herring 334 Chubs of North Carolina 7 Clagett, J. C 470 Clams 7,312,357 long 203 round 203 transportation of 219 Clark, A. Howard 292,401 Clarke,H. R 360 Clear Water mullet fisheries 137 Clermont, Mr 275 Clifton herring fisheries 199 Clinton, Gov. De Witt 298 Clupea pensacoIfB 79 sagas 55 sprattus 55 Coalfish 76 Cockchafers 451 Cod, evaporated 404 exports of 366 fisheries 37 gill-net fisheries 58, 129, 191 imjjorts of 366 preparing of 402 Codfish. . . .7, 04, 82, 89, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 123, 130, 131, 138, 184, 192, 203, 249, 250. 252, 255, 366, 403, 408, 409, 410, 411, 417, 444, 445, 459 reddening of 58 return to Gloucester Harbor 57 voracity 175 Codfishing 253 Cold Spiins Harbor, N. T 123, 198, 356 Cole, Capt. Stephen B 436 Page. Collectors for rearing oyster spat 29 Collins, D.E 427 J. "W . . .15, 49, 58, 60, 64, 81, 175, 180, 182, 213, 237, 248, 292, 427, 435 Colona, Mr 296 Colorado River 212 Columbia River salmon 304, 313 Columbia, schooner 82 Commodore Foote, schooner 437 Common rush 160 Composition of food-fishes 74 Concord, schooner 409,446 Coney 78 Congaree River 163, 165, 232 Conger eel 55 Conger vulgaris 55 Conger, Mr 302 Conjiromnrfena habenata 55 Connecticut shad work 319 River 339 Constance, Lake of 121 Coral fishing 419 Corals, occurrence of 237 Corbel, Malachi 178 Coregonus 32 albus 52,60,73,112,274,420 marfena 121 "Wartmanni 121 "Williamsonii 315 Coridodax pullus 55 Coryphaena hippurus 77 Coste, M 97,108 Cost of fish-food 452 Conchman, J. W 309 CounBelraan & Co., L. W 303 Courier, bark 134 Courland haff 167 Courseulles 109 Cow-fish 79 Cox, L. N 303 Coxe, Frank 232 Crabs 7,203,256,312 method of catching 48 Craig's Pond Brook 170 Crater Lake 470 Crawfish 7 disease 299 Crawford, S. M 294,365 Crayfish 203 Crest of the "Wave, schooner 405 Crevalle 137 Cristine Lake trout 294 Crittenden, A. R 255 Cioakers 7 Crocas 7 Crooker, L. B 365 Crosby "Valve Company 151 "Warren, 1 89 Cross, "W. B 246 Ctenol.ibrns adspersus 37 Cuba, fish for 308 Cuban eel-. Ill Cultivation offish in France 273 the sea 348 Gunner, parasite on 37 INDEX. 475 Page. Cmtia, J. E 335 Cusk 90,92,252,254,255 Catling I I.IHRARY WH lAiy ^