iiiv/ r I MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. Received ^ A--^n<^. L(^ ., - / t b ^ Accession No. i7 o ^ Given by CZ'<^t<-7 A. Place, *^*flo book OP pamphlet is to be pemoved fpom the Ixab- OPQtopy uiithout the pepmission of the Tpostees. ,'-t BULLETIISr OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. VOL. VI, FOR 18 8 6. I 1^1 I WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTlNa OFFICE. 1887. JOINT EESOLTJTION authorizing the Public Printer to print reports of the United States Fisb Commissioner upon new discoveries in regaxd to fish-culture. Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Public Printer he, and he hereby is, instructed to print and stereotype, from time to time, any matter furnished him by the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries relative to new observations, discoveries, and applications connected with fish-culture and the fisheries, to be capable of being dis- tributed in parts, and the whole to form an annual volume or bulletin not exceeding five hundred jiages. The extra edition of said work shall consist of five thousand copies, of which two thousand five hundred shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, one thousand for the use of the Senate, and one thousand five hun- dred for the use of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. u doi 0 ADVERTISEMENT. TTnited States Commission op Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C. For the purpose of utilizing and of promptly pnblisliiug the large amount of interesting correspondence of the Fish Commission in refer- ence to matters jDertaining to fish-culture and to the apparatus, methods, and results of the fisheries, Congress, on the 14th day of February, 1881, by joint resolution (H. Ees. 372), authorized the publication annually of a Bulletin, a portion of the edition to be distributed signature by signa- ture, and the remainder in bound volumes. The present volume is the sixth of this series, and contains many announcements ^vhich are be- lieved to be of great importance in relation to the subject in question. Mr. Chas. W. Smiley is the Editor of this volume. SPENCER F. BAIED, Commissioner. ui TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Aberuethy, A. S., lOl. Salmon in the Clackamas Kiver 332 Sarin, li. T., 39. Salmon in the Clackamas Eiver Ill Beau, Tarletou H., 139. Report on Examination of Clnpeoids from Carp Ponds 441 Beckley, Eiuma ITIctcalf, 78. Hawaiian.Fishing Implements andMethods of Fishing.. 245 Behr, E. ron, S4. Five Receipts for Cooking Carp 276 Bellesuie, Jousset de, 79. American Catfish in the Trocad6ro Aquarium of Paris 257 Benecke, Berthold, 43. Observations on Salmon in German Elvers 119 . 104. The Enemies of Pond Culture in Central Europe 337 Blackford, E.O., 89. Catch of Shad in the Hudson River for 1885 294 Borne, ITIax von dem, 41. A Large Catch of Carp 116 Bouchou-Brandely, C, 76. Report on the Artificial Fecundation and Generation of Oysters 225 Brooks, W. K., 130. On the Artificial Propagation and Cultivation of Oysters in Floats. 443 Burns, Frank, 45. Rockfish in South Carolina 124 Chadtyick, B. P., 59. Young Mackerel Destroyed by Small-meshed Nets 193 €balker, Robert B., 91. Catch of Shad in, Connecticut for 1686 297 , 12S. Catch of Shad in Connecticut for 1885 439 Chouej-, A. IV., 108. Salmon in the Hudson River 351 dark, A. Howard, 135. Notes on the History of Preparing Fish for Market by Freez- ing 467 Clark, Frank IV., 116. Report on Distribntion of Fish and Eggs from Northville and AJpena Stations for the Season of 1885-'86 395 , 1*21. Disadvantage of Planting Small Fish 421 Collins, J. W., 9^. Notes on the Red-snapper Fishery 299 , ll'i. Notes on an Investigation of the Great Fishing-banks of the Western Atlantic. 369 , 113. A Curious Knife Found in the Flesh of a Codfish 381 Cutter, .lohn C., 114. Some Statistics of the Fisheries of Northern Japan 383 BanncT-ig, fJ. IW., 6. Hatching Lobsters and Cod in Norway 13 Day, Francis, 16. Experiments with Salmon in Scotland 56 Benipsey, W., 33. Shad in the Saint John's River, Florida 96 Bimmock, Oeorgc, 109. Belostomidae and Some Other Fish-destroying Bugs 353 Dolge, Alfred, 66. The Preparation and Cooking of Carp 204 Donnelly, W. J. S., 7. Exports of Fish and Fishery Products from Newfoundland dur- ing 1884 14 Endicott, Charles, 34. A Good Fishing-ground in the South Indian Ocean SO E-wart, J. Cossar, 2©. The Preservation of Fresh Fish 65 Farlow, "W. C, 1. Vegetable Parasites of Codfish 1 Field and .Stone, 117. Salmon Statistics on the Pacific Coast for the Seasons of 1884, leSo, and 1886 399 Oleunan, A. II., 4. Fish Killed by Poisonous Water 10 - Ooll, IScrniann, 67. The American Brook Trout Recommended for Swiss Waters 206 Orabill, 1^. B., 111. Report of Operations at the Shad-hatching Station on Battery Island, near Havre de Grace, Md., during the Season of 1880 361 Green, Lioreu W., 87. Report on the Packing of Salmon on the Pacific Coast from 1883 tol8tG 286 , 10.3. Salmonin the McCloud River during the Season of 188G 334 Oriffin, «. W., 126. The Pearl Fisheries of Australia 433 Oross, Julius, 85. Another Receipt for Cooking Carp 277 , 96. Description of CaiT) Ponds and Water Gate 303 Onudcrscn, H., 37. Drying Codfish at Dordeaux 84 Hammond, J. P., 61. Fish in Pnget Sound 195 V VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Harris, Gwyiin, 64. Eeport upon the Shad and Herringr Fisheries of the Potomac Eiver for 1886 202 ■leincke, Friedrich, S3. The Sea Fisheries of Xorway 265 Qiibncr, A., 57. Notes upon the Increase and Decrease of Fish 187 Ito, K., 105. Fishery Industries of the Island of Hokkaido, Japan 342 Jann, P. F., 9.3. Catch of Shad in the Delaware Eiver for 1885. 301 , 94. Catch of Shad in the Delaware Eiver for 1886 301 Keller, H., 40. Freedom of Migration for Fish in Germany 113 Knowles, Herbert ITI., CO. Dead Fish on the Coast of Ehode Island 104 ITIcDonaid, ITIarshall, 95. Distribution of Sbad Fry during 1886 302 , 115. Eeport on Distribution of Fish and Eggs by the U. S. Fish Commission forthe Season of 1885-'S6 385 , 135. Eeport on Shad Distribution for 1880 427 , I'it. Eeport of Shad Propagation on the Potomac Eiver during the Season of 1886.. 436 , i;i3. California Trout for the Ozark Mountain Eegion 447 Malinros, Oscar, 37. Preserving Fish in Scoilaud by the Eoostn Process 109 ITletcalt', ITIartiu, 133. Planting Whitefish and Other Salmonoids in Inland Lakes 422 Niani, Alexander P., 55. Fish and Oyster Culture in the Province of Venice 177 Wye, jr., ^'illard, 46. Fish and Fishing at Abaco Island 125 , 56. A Eeasoning Lobster 186 , 6S. Habits of Whiting or Frost-fish (lf€rf«<;u(« 6t7jncaris Mitch.) 206 Page, "W. F., no. Shrinkage of Whitefish Eggs during Transportation 3G0 Pancritius. P., 49. On the Food and Digestion of German Fish 145 Paresl, Pietro, 75. Observations on Male Eels 222 , SJ. Notes on Hatching and Planting Young Fish in Italian "Waters 263 PilteMdrigh, George, 3S. Statistics of the Fisheries of the Province of British Colum- bia for 1885 110 Bathbua, Richard, S. Notes on Lobster Culture 17 Ryder, John A., 3. Preliminary Notice of the Development of the Toadiish {Batrachus tau) - 4 , 3. On the Earlier Stages of Cleavage of the Blastodisk of i?ai'a cmiacea 8 , 31. On the Intraovarian Gestation of the T^ed&sh {Sebastes 7narimis) 92 Sawyer, J. IV., 73. The Breeding Habits of the Eel 218 Scudder, Charles W,, 136. A List of the Blank Forms, Circulars, and Minor Publica- tions of the United States Fish Commission from August 1, 1884, to March 1, 1887 469 Seed, '^Villiani, 71. Fish-culture in New Zealand 213 Sinionsea, Carl, 51. The Herring Fisheries near the Isle of Man 152 Smiley, Chas. W., 1 3. Inspection of Fish and other Marine Products in the District of Columbia 47 , 4S. Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 129 , OS. Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 305 , lis. Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 401 , 13.3. Notes upon Fish and the Fisheries 449 Smith, E. Li., 38. Hood Eiver, Oregon, as a Place for Salmon Breeding 87 Smith, James A., SS. Eeport on the Shad Work of the Steamer Fish Hawk during the Season of 1886 _ 289 , 90. Eeport on the Shad "Work of the Steamer Lookout during the Season of 1886 295 Stabrovrski, Xarcr von, 17. Carp Culture in Germany 57 Stan gc, J., 19. Fish Becoming Blue and Eigid during Transportation 64 Stearns, Silas, 33. Notes on the Fisheries of Pensacola, Fla 76 , 134. Some of the Fisheries of Western Florida 465 Swau, James G., 103. The Trepang Fishery ._ 333 Tanner, Z. Ij., S6. EecordofHydrographic Soundings and Dredging Stations occupied by the Steamer Albatross in 1886 277 Tibbctts, IV. v., 31. Scarcity of Cod and Haddock on the Coast of Maine 75 Tovrnsend, Charles II., 107. Present Condition of the California Gray Whale Fishery. 346 Tryboni, Filip, 35. Salmon Fishoricsof Halland, Sweden, especially in the Eiver Viskan.. 104 , 5.3. Carp Culture in Sweden 156 , 69. The Tench^Eecommended for Cultivation in Sweden 209 Tybring, Oscar, 50. Poisonous Fish 148 ^'aril, F.Itl., 106. Toung Salmon in Northern New Jersey 345 "Webb, John G., 5. The Mortality of Fish in the Gulf of Mexico 11 "Web^r, M., 99. Pearls and Pearl Fisheries .^21 TABLE OF CONTENTS. VII M'ilcox, W. A., 9. Xe\9 England Fisheries in September, 1885.. , lO. New England Fislieries in October, lt85 , It. Xew Eui;land Eisluiies in November, 1885 , t:£. Xew EujLiland Fisheries in December, 1885 , 14. New England Fisheries in January, 1886 , '23. Now England Fisheries in February, 1886 , 3:*. New England Fisheries in March, 18S6 , 36. New England Fisheries in April, 1886 , 5S. New England Fisheries in Maj', 1886 , 63. New England Fisheries in June, 1886 , to. New England Fisheries in July, 1886 1 yy- New England Fisheries in August, 1886 , S3. New England Fisheries in September, 1886 , 100. Notes on the New England Fisheries in October, 1886. , 119. A Man Killed by a Swordfish , 1 '20. Notes on the New England Fisheries in November, 1886 , 123. Notes on the New England Fisheries in December, 1886 "Willcox, Joseph, 44. Fish Killed by Cold along the Gulf of Mexico and Coast of Florida. Zachai-ias, Otto, 131. Some of the Life-needs of Fish Page. 33 39 43 45 49 79 94 106 191 200 210 241 273 328 417 418 423 123 445 PERIODICALS AND MISCELLANEOUS. Danish Fiskeritidende, .53. Crab Fisheries Proposed in Denmark , 54. The Iceland Fresh-water Fisheries Journal of Fisheries in the JVetherlands, 63. Two Species of American Fish in the Aquarium of the Koyal Zoological Society at Amsterdam ITIonitenr de la Pisciculture, 65. Carp in France Norsk Fiskeritidende, 18. Methods of Preparing Fish-bladders for Market 35. Foreign Fisheries in 1885 36. The Norwegian Fisheries in 1885 30. Eels in Tanks and Ponds 34. The Preservation of Nets 47. Some Recipes for Cooking Fish Report of the Belgian Cotuuiission on Fish-Culture, SO. of Belgium in 1886 Report of the Canadian Department of Fisheries, 15. The Fisheries of Canada Fry Planted in Elvers in 1884- Report of the Wellington and Vt'airarapa Acclimatization Society, 97. American Fish in New Zealand Report to the United States House of Representatires, 43. Fishing in the Navigable W aters of the United States San Francisco Chronicle, 39. Statistics of Whaling, Cod-fishing, and Salmon-packing on the Pacific Coast Statistique dcs Pcches ITIaritintes, 74. Statistics of the Sea Fisheries of France for the Tear 1S84 U. S. Fish Commission, 134. Questions Relative to Mackerel and the Mackerel Fish- eries — U. S. Senate and House of Representatives, 73. An Act Relating to the Import- ing and Landing of Mackerel Caught during the Spawning Season IXUEX. 155 161 197 203 59 81 82 91 97 127 258 51 304 117 89 219 425 216 475 TOPICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTICLES AND NOTES. [XOTE. — Tlie references are to the pages. J A.— UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION— GENERAL. Vessels of the Fish Commission, 201, 277, 289, 295, 385, 427. Stations of the Fish Commission, 289, 295, 314, .361, 335, 394, 395, 427, 436. Circulars, questions, inquiries, 425,409. B.— THE FISHERIES. Fisheries, general views, 80, 125, 152, 155, 161, 219, 245, 305. Open sea fisheries, 81,265. Atlantic coast fisheries, 81. Pacific coast fisheries, 89, 131 , 141, 195, 286, 309, 313, 399, 410, 462. Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico, 76, 141, 299, 315, 465. Fisheries of the Great Lakes, 461. New England fisheries, 33, 39, 43, 45, 49, 79, 94, 106, 191, 200, 210, 241, 273, 323, 418, 423. Canadian fisheries, 51,52,110. Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries, 14, 36, 81. Scotch fisheries, 81. Maltese fisheries, 138. Australian fisheries, 433. Norwegian fisheries, 82, 265, 306, 318. Japanese fisheries, 342, 383. River and inland fisheries, 96, 104, 142, 202, 294, 297, 301, 401, 405, 439, 46L Whale and fish oils, 89, 312, 346. Cod fisheries, 33, 89, 210, 219. 268, 306, 309, 310, 343. Mackerel fisheries, 36, 191, 216, 241, 271, 320, 418, 425. Menhaden fisheries, 136, 407. Halibut fisheries, 34, 41, 412. Haddock fisheries, 79, 274. Hake fisheries, 274. Pollock fisheries, 454. Herring fisheries, 152, 202, 220, 270, 343. Sardine fisheries, 220, 408. Swordfish fisheries, 33,211. Salmon fisheries, 90, 104, 139, 272, 286, 313, 343, 399, 410. Shad fisheries, 96, 202, 294, 297, 301, 404; 415, 439, 454, 461, 467. Red-snapper fisheries, 78, 299. Mullet fisheries, 405. Eel fisheries, 139. Squid fisheries, 344, 423. Seal fisheries, 81, 82, 272. Shark fisheries, 34, 82, 460. Lobster fisheries, 23, 83, 306. Crab fisheries, 155. Oyster fisheries, 221, 306, 344, 467 Pearl fisheries, 321, 433. Sponge fisheries, 140. Trepaug fisheries, 333, 344, 384. viu TOPICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTICLES AND NOTES. IX Fishiug vessels, 89, 201, 310. Apparatus and baits of fishing, 40, 245, 300, 317. Products of the fisheries, 306, 310. Fish-market reports, 47, 416. Legislation and petitions, 117, 132, 143, 216, 406,407,410.451,452,461. Exports and imports of fish, 14, 306. C— NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC LIFE. Natural history of fishes, &c., 4, 8, 92, 119, 134, 135, 142, 145, 148,203, 208,218, 222, 346, 369,405,441,455,457. Classiiication and nomenclature of fishes, 441. Rare occurrences, 64, 143, 186, 381, 405, 411, 417, 453, 454, 455, 459. Lists of specimens, 441. Enemies of fish and oysters, 75, 131, 133, 140, 193, 286, 337, 353, 403, 456. Water good or bad for fish, 10, 11, 144, 401, 445. Mortality of fish, 11, 123, 140, 194, 404, 413, 452. Food of fishes, 145, 445, 450. Deep-sea research and tools, 277, 369. Temperatures of water, &c., 277, 291, 297, 366. D.— CULTURE OF AQUATIC FORMS. Fish-culture, general, 308, 312, 385, 395, 408, 421, 445. Shad culture and distribution, 289, 295, 302, 315, 320, 361, .385, 389, 427, 436. Whitefish culture and distribution, 214, 314, 360, 385, 386, 395, 411, 422. Codfish culture, 411. Salmon culture, 56, 119, 258, 304, 309, 314, 351, 409. California salmon, 87, 409. Atlantic salmon, 133, 345, 385, 388, 464. Landlocked salmon, 138, 385, 388, 399, 464. Trout culture, 133, 134, 140, 206, 258, 304, 314, 385, 387, 397, 398, 409, 447, 453, 459. Carp culture and distribution, 57, 116, 134, 135, 144, 156, 203, 204, 303, 316,. *^17, 385, 391, 392, 401, 402, 403, 4.57, 458. Tench culture, 209. Catfish culture, 137,197,257,304,404. Bass culture, 197, 385. Eel culture, 91. Striped bass culture, 137, 363. Goldfish culture, 385, 392. Oyster, clam, and mussel culture, 131,177,213,225,393,443. Lobster culture, 13, 17. Hatching houses and apparatus, 54,215,436. Transportation of fish, 261, 319, 393, 408, 415, 431, 449. Exporting fish eggs and fry, 129, 131, 304, 386, 387, 388, 392, 395, 397, 398, 431. Fish-culture abroad, 56, 57, 129, 138, 156, 177, 187, 197, 206, 209, 213, 257, 258, 263, 304, 309, 311, 409, 453, 463. Fishways and obstructions to fish, 113, 308. E.— MISCELLANEOUS. Economic interests relating to fish, 1,59,65,84,97,109,127,130,134,148,204,276,277, 307, 317, 318, 401, 414, 450, 451, 452, 456, 467. Translations, 57, 59, 64, 81, 82, 84, 91, 97, 104, 113, 116, 119, 127, 131, 138, 139, 145, 148, 152, 155. 156, 161, 177, 187, 197, 20.5, 206, 209, 219, 222, 225, 257, 258, 263, 265, 305, 306, 308, 310, 317, 318, 319, 321, 337, 401, 408, 445, 458. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. VEGETABLE PARASITES OF CODFISH.— FARLOW. Page. Pig. 1.— Toung fructiferous hyphae 2 2. — Chain of mature spores, magnified 700 diameters 2 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOADFISH.— RYDER. Plate I. — Showing stages of early development 8 Fig. 1. — Advanced embryo of toadtish, still adherent 8 2. — Embryo, showing recently ruptured egg-membrane. 8 3. — The same, viewed from above 8 4. — Egg of toadflsh, with spreading blastoderm 8 5. — Group of four developing eggs of toadflsh 8 CLEAVAGE OF BLASTODISK OF SKATE.— RYDER. Fig. 1 . — Diagram of cleavage planes in blastodisk of Jiaia erinacea 10 DRYING CODFISH AT BORDEAUX.— GUNDERSEN. Fig. 1 . — Codfish drying frame, top view : 84 2. — Codfish drying frame, side view 85 3. — Codfish dryiag frame, end view 85 4. — Manner of securing fish for drying 86 OYSTER CULTURE.— BOUCHON-BRANDELY. Plate II.— Apparatus for aerating and purifying water containing oyster embryos 240 m. — Apparatus for incubating and hatching oysters and for the fixation of the embryos. 240 IV. — Sectional views of the basins and hatching boxes 240 V. —Experimental claire for obtaining oyster embryos in close water 240 BELGIAN FISH-CULTURE. Figure. — Apparatus for transporting fry 262 CARP PONDS.— GROSS. Figurks. — Views of ponds, water gate, and dike 303 GRAY WHALE OF CALIFORNIA.— TOWNSEND. Plate VI. — ¥etn» of gi-ay wh&\n [Rhachianectes glaucus) 350 VII. — Parts of fetus of gray whale 350 Fig. 1.— Head, from above 350 2. — Lower jaw, from below 350 3.— Flukes, from below 350 FISH-DESTROYING BUGS.— DIMMOCK. Figukk. — Belostoma grande 355 KNIFE FOUND IN CODFISH.— COLLINS. Figure.— Knife found in flesh of codfish, full size 382 X BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 1886. 1.— TEOETABLiE PARASITEIS OF CODFISU. By W. G. FARLOW. In the Eeport of the U. S. Fish Commissioner for 1878 (Washington, 1880), I gave an account of the alga, or, more properly, the schizomycete, which causes the reddening of codfish, that has proved a source of serious trouble to the fishermen of Gloucester. In the same article there was described a second parasite, Sarcina morrhuce Farlow, found growing with the Clathrocystis roseo-persicina Cohn, the species which causes the redness. Since the publication of the above-named article, the peculiar redness, which up to that time was known only on our coast, has been observed in other countries. As the accounts of its occurrence have been published in journals which are not often read in this country, the following statement of what is known about the trouble in foreign countries may be of interest. In the Journal de Medecine de VAlgerie^ 1884, p. 6, Dr. E. Bertherand gave an account of poisoning which occurred among the troops en- camped at Sidi-Bel-Abbes and in the neighborhood of Algiers. The trouble, which lasted but a short time, is said to have been caused by eating dried codfish which had become "^chauffee," to use the local expression. The fish eaten had a vermilion tint along the spine, and the discoloration was not merely superficial, but extended also to the flesh. The color was attributed by M. Megnin to the growth of a fun- gus, which he named Coniothecium bertherandi. A descrii)tion and figure of the fungus were given in the Bevue Mycologique, Yol. VI, p. 114, pi. 4G, f. 3. Thinking that there might be some connection between the fungus found in Algiers and the Sarcina of our coast, I communicated to the editor of the Bevue a notice* of the Clathrocystis and Sarcina known 'L. c, Vol. VI, p. 197. Maladies des morues sfeches, par W. G. Farlow, October, 1884. Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 1 February 8, 1 886. 2 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. on piir coast, together with a description and figure of a third species, Oidium pnlvimtum Farlow, found on codfish sent from Gloucester by Prof" A. Hyatt. In the Bevue for January, 1885, the editor, M. Casimir Eouineguere, under the title of "Observations surle Coniothecium hertlie- randi,'^ raised the question of the identity of the Co7iiothecium of Algiers with our Glathrocystis—a point which could not well be settled by the description and figure of M. Megnin. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. TonuLA ruLviNATA.— Fig. 1. Young fnictiferons hyphae. Fig. 2. A chain of matnre spores, mag- rificd 700 diameters. The subject was still further discussed in the Revue for April, ^here a number of interesting facts with regard to the prevalence of the red- ness in France were cited. Specimens of red fish were received from Bordeaux and Dieppe, and the redness was recognized by Eoumeguere and Patouillard as due to the presence of Glathrocystis. On the testi- mony of an eye-witness it is stated that in the market of Algiers fish have been seen in which the redness had reached a stage such that the liesh was so deliquescent that, on attempting to lift the codfish, the tail separated from the body. From all accounts there seems to be no doubt that sickness was produced as a result of eating the red fish in Algiers. On the other hand, according to M. Cou6dic, no harm has arisen in France from this cause, for, unless the redness has reached an advanced stage, it may be scraped from the surface, and what remains of the fish is uninjured. It may be remarked that the fish found at Dieppe had BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 3 come from tlic NewfonndlaiKl fisheries, and I jiresume that the same is true of those from Bordeaux, although I have no definite information on this point, nor is there any mention of the kind of salt generally used in the French iisheries. A word should be Siiid in relation to the distribution of the Sarcina morrhuw and Oidlum imlvinatmn. After my note in the Report of 1878 had gone to press, there appeared a imper* by Poulsen, in which he described a new species, ISarcma liioralis, found on mud near Copenha- gen. As the description of Poulsen's species corresponded very nearly to my 8. morrJiucc, I sent a specimen of the latter species to the Danish botanist, who expressed the oinnion that, in spite of a difference in the micrometric measurements, it was the same as his S. litoralis. As the latter name appeared in print before the Eeport of 1878, it has priority. The most recent reference to the Sarcina is in the Miscellanea Myco- logical of Saccardo and Berlese, who recognized the species on the sur- face of codfish sent from Algiers by Prof. L. Trabut. They consider the Goniotliecium hertlierandi of Megnin to be identical with 8. litoralis Poulsen, which they state is considered by Zopf a condition of Beggia- toa roseo-persicina., under which name Zopf includes Clathrocystis roseo- persicina as a zooglcea form. Both in this country and Algiers the Sar- cina is found iu company with the Clathrocystis, but it does not seem to me to be well proved that the two forms belong to the same species. As it occurs on our coast, the Sarcina is quite destitute of any purple or rose color, and the size of the cells as well as their conformation does not lend any support to the view that the Sarcina is a stage of the Beg- giatoa. In the present connection the point of interest is that the Sar- cina is found on codfish in countries as far apart as New England and Algiers, and on mud iu salt marshes in Denmark. A Sarciyia was found by Patouillard on salted pork, and he thinks it probable that the spe- cies is the same as that found on codfish. If this supposition is correct, we have in the Sarcina a form which may have been communicated to the codfish by the salt used in curing. In general, it may be said that, with T:he exception of the long-known Sarcina ventriculi, but little is known by botanists of the species of this genus. The third species, Oidium pulvinatum Farlow, is a distinctly higher form than the others. It forms small brown spots on the surface of the dried cod, and is said to injure the sale of the fish; but I do not possess any definite information about the extent of the injury. The fungus would be placed by botanists in the HyphomyceteSj and I was in doubt whether to consider it a Torula or an Oidium. The color and texture of the spores remind one rather of Torula, while, on the other hand, the ramification and pulvinate character of the mycelium resemble rather certain forms formerly referred to Oidium. The name Oidium pulvinatum * Oui nogle inikroskopiske Planteorgauismen, V. A. Poulsen. Vidensk. Meddel. naturh. Foren., Copenliagen. 1880. t Atti del R. Istituto Veueto, Ser. VI, Vol. 3. 4 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. must be abaiuloued, however, as there is already a species of that name, and in the Revue Mycologique of January, 1885, 1 proposed to substi- tute the name 0. morrlmcc. In the article of Saccardo and Berlese be- fore mentioned, this species is said to occur in Algiers in company with Glathrocystis and Sarcina, and they consider it a Torula rather than an Oidium, adopting the name T. pulvmata. Patouillard also found on salted pork a fungus which he thinks i^robably belongs to the same s])ecies. As the specific description was originally given in the Revue Mycologique the following translation may be of service to those who do not have access to that journal: "Spores spherical, 3.5-5 jx in diameter, fuscous, attached in chains (average 12-15), arising from secundly fasciculate hyphfe, which are pulvinately compacted in scat- tered spots." 2.— PRETilMIIVAKY IVOTICE OF THE DEVEL,OI»ME]VT OF TIIE TOAD- FISH, BATRACHUS TAU. By JOHN A. RYDER. The ova of this fish are large, and measure from 5 to 5J millime- ters in diameter. They are dirty yellow, almost amber colored, and adherent to the surfaces of submerged objects, especially the under sides of bowlders, under which the parent fish seem to clear away the mud and thus form a retreat in which they may spawn. The ova are attached to the roof of the little retreat prepared by the adults, where the eggs are found spread over an area about as large as one's hand in a single layer, hardly in contact with each other, and to the number of about 200. A discoidal area about 3 millimeters in diameter at the upper surface of each egg glues the latter firmly to the supporting surface (Fig. 4). Fertilization of the ova probably occurs at the time of their extrusion by the female, which, like the female catfish, manifests no further in- terest in her oftsxjring. The male at once assumes the care of the bjrood, and seems to remain in the vicinity until the young fish are hatched out and set free. The germinal disk is developed at the under or inferior pole of the vitellus and opposite the point where the ovum is attached to the roof of the retreat by its adhesive membrane (Fig. 4). There are no oil globules in the yelk, the latter seeming to be remarkably homogeneous. It is therefore not very clear what it is that determines the inferior and inverted position of the blastodisk. Equally remarkable is the fact that as development proceeds the young adherent embryos are found to have their heads directed towards the opening of their retreat and their tails towards its blind and dark extremity (Fig. 5). This appears to be invariably the case, and it would seem that the direction from which light comes in this instance, at least, has a great deal to do in determining the direction of the axis BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FLSII COMMISSION. 5 of the body of tbe future eiiibi yo. This position of the young fishes is nuiintaiiuHl as long as thej^ are attached. The development, as it advances, enables the young embryo within the egg-membrane to finally rupture the latter immediately over the back, which looks down and away from the surface to which the egg is attached. When the zona or egg-membrane is ruptured (Fig. 2) the young fish is, however, not set free at once, as in the case of other ad- hesive ova, but remains firmly glued to the inside of the zona over a part of the ventral surface of the yelk-bag. This adhesion of the yelk- bag to the zona takes place over about the same area on the inside of the latter as that which on the outside is adherent to the stone or other object, which affords support to the whole egg and embryo. It results in this way that the egg-membrane is not cast off from the embryo at once, but remnants of it continue to cover the sides and lower surface of the yelk some time after the embryo has ruptured the zona and com- menced to respire from the surrounding water by means of its gills, but while still affixed to the surface to which the eggs were originally caused to adhere by the parent fishes (Figs. 1 and 2). Whether the substance which causes the yelk-bag to adhere to the inside of the zona is- secreted at the time of oviposition, or whether it is secreted during a later stage of development has not been determined ; but it is inferred that this adhesion is a secondary i^henomenon, and takes place after the vitellus has been covered by the blastoderm, for the reason that the latter alone is adherent. In fact, if the vitellus were primarily adher- ent, the blastoderm could not grow around the vitellus and over the area where the former becomes adherent to the zona radiata. While the embryos are still adherent, the tail is not kept constantly vibrating, but the pectoral fins are kept in motion so as to keep up cur- rents of water and effect the constant change of the latter, needful for the respiration of the embryos. For a considerable time the yelk-bag is almost pyriform, with its ad- herent base flattened and its upper narrowed eud in relation with the embryo and its vessels and heart. Vessels are developed over the sur- face of the vitellus long before hatching. With the progress of devel- opment the vitellus suffers constriction (Fig. 1), so that it is divided into an upper portion, which is included by the down-growing myotomes of the body cavity, and a lower portion which is covered by the thinner epiblastic and mesoblastic covering of the inferior i^ole of the yelk. When the embryos are detached from the surface to which they adhere, the free, bulbous lower portion of the yelk-sack becomes wrinkled in consequence of the thin epiblastic and mesoblastic investment being thrown into narrow folds, which run horizontally around the yelk. With the extension of the abdominal walls over the yelk, more and more of the yelk is finally taken into the abdominal cavity proper, and a transverse constriction around its middle is finally developed, so that it becomes hour-glass shaped. The upper bulb of this yelk mass is in- 6 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, tra- abdominal, and the lower bulb is invested by a thinner portion of the abdominal wall and adherent to the surface ui)on which the eggs were originally laid. The embryos apparently remain affixed by their yelk-bags until they reach the length of somewhat more than half an inch, when they present nearly the form of their parents. The same broad, flat, depressed, head as seen in the adult is already well marked. They are also well iiigmented by this time, four broad lateral and trans- verse bands of color showing on the nape and tail. By this time also the inferior bulb of the yelk-sack is becoming smaller, and it is appar- ent that the whole of its contents will become intra-abdominal. Soon after this the young become detached from the surface to which the egg adhered originally. Judging from the slowness with which the early stages are passed over, I infer that the fixed condition of the egg and embryo lasts for at least three or four weeks. The egg-membrane is ruptured in apparently about half that time. The period of incuba- tion of this species is therefore somewhere about fifteen to twenty days, but the exact duration of its development was not determined, so that this period is only given as approximate. In this species I have witnessed the origin of the pelvic fins from a pair of minute horizontal folds (Figs. 2 and 3), which grow out just behind the pectoral folds. They develop somewhat later than the pec- toral folds and appear just about the time that the egg-membrane is ruptured over the back of the embryo or when the latter bursts the bonds imposed upon it by its covering. The original iiosition of the pelvic fins behind* the pectoral does not last long, however, for in three or four days one begins to notice that the pelvic fin folds are beginning to advance and are being apparently shoved forward below the pecto- rals into their iiermanent position. This is before the embryo is quite three-eighths of an inch long. Bj'^ the time the young fish is a little ov^er one-half of an inch in length the translocation of the pelvic fins is completed. They are then inserted in advance of the base of the pectorals (Fig. 1). I have not made any sections of these embryos, but a dissection of the adult fish shows that the spinal nerves which i^ass out to the pelvic fins, arise behind those which pass to the pectorals but cross the nerves going to the latter and are inserted in advance of them into the trans- located pelvic fin, which we saw arose originally in a position to the rear of the pectoral. The paired nerves going to the pectoral are given off from the spinal cord, and i)ass out just in advance of the first, second, and third vertebra); those passing to the pelvic or ventral fins pass out in advance of the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae, and a twig seems also to be sent off from the third pair. We have therefore been able to trace the stages of development of the nerves which pass to the paired fins up to their completed state in the adult, and thus put be- yond question the data upon which the doctrine of the translocation of the paired fins rests. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 7 The dcvclopnieut of the median lins of BatracJms is more direct than usual in young- fishes; that is to say, the atrophy of certain portions of the fold are not extensive, because the median fins of the adult are al- most continuous. The larval integument, when sections of it are prepared, is shown to be ver}- thickly covered with muciparous unicellular glands, similar to those observed in the salmon. The lateral line system is very well developed and begins to show itself very distinctly before the embryo is half an inch in length. The portions continued over the head and lower jaw remain open until the young fish is about a half-inch in length ; after that the edges of what were open grooves coalesce and in that way the closed canals over the head are formed. At short intervals, however, the edges of the grooves do not close, and these open spaces in the outer walls of the mucoder- mal or neuromastic canals form the pores which open into the lateral line system from the outside. This system is not, as is usually the case in other fishes, i)rolonged backwards on either side of the body and tail of the Toad-fish as a single canal, but divides behind the hyomandibular into a ventral and a dorsal canal, each of which passes along nearly parallel close to the base of the dorsal and anal fins respectively. The upper one of these canals passes along above the insertion of the pectoral, and the lower one passes below the base of that fin. In the adult the pores which open outwards from the system of lat- eral canals are not simple openings without defense of any sort; on the contrary, those on the head, body, and tail are always defended by a pair of strongly-developed papillaB, which almost comi)letely conceal the pore opening between their bases. On the body one of the papillae arises below the i^ore and another above it. These paired papillte are best developed on the head and jaws, and they gradually become more and more rudimentary towards the tail. No evidence of the develop- ment of these i)apill8e can be found on any of the later larval stages in my possession, so that it is obvious that they are of post-larval origin. The anterior uareal opening in the embryo of BatracJms is quite near the middle line, and is produced into a tubular prolongation before the young fish reaches the length of one-half inch. The posterior nareal opening, on the contrary, is a simple pore, and stands farther from the middle line than the anterior one. Judging from the highly specialized character of the lateral line sys- tem of canals in Batrachus, and the pores^onnecting canals, papillae, and nerves which pass to the apparatus, it is obvious that the latter is quite complex and must subserve some very important function. That its sole function is to secrete mucus is absurd on its own face, even if we had no direct experimental evidence to show that these organs are the instruments of a special sense. In mounted preparations of the skin of the larvae, prepared for me by Professor Libbey, it may readily \)e 8 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. sbowu that the pores are joined together by a canal, and that a nerve probablj' extends along its whole length. In the adult the integument of the first ray of the ventral pair of tins is thrown into numerous nar- row transverse folds. The distribution of the nerves to this structure or its histology 1 have not worked out, but I think it very probable that in it we have a specialized tract of the integument which may be highly sensitive as a tactile organ and be of service to the fish in finding its food on the bottom where it habitually lives. I must take occasion here to express my obligations to Mr. Vinal N. Edwards for assistance in obtaining the materials upon which this notice is based. All of the materials were obtained under submerged stones and stumps in the eel pond at Wood's Holl during the latter part of July, 1885. EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. Fig. 1. Advanced embryo of Batrachua or Toad-fish, stiU adherent ; the pelvic fin has been translocated forwards. Enlarged about 12 times. Fig. 2. An embryo Toad-fish, from the side which has recently ruptured the egg- membrane, a remnant of which still remains around the yelk-bag. The pelvic fin is shown as a small bud-like prominence just behind the pectoral fold. Fig. 3. The same seen from above, showing the paired fin folds resting with their bases apparently upon the yelk, outward a little way from the sides of the body of the embryo. Fig. 4. Egg of Toad-fish, with spreading blastoderm, in its natural position and ad- herent. Fig. 5. A group of four developing eggs of the Toad-fish, adherent to a fragment of bark, to show that the heads of the contained embryos are all directed one way. Natural size. 3.-OIV THE li:AKIiIJE;K STAGES OF CliEAVAGE OF THE BI.ASTODISK OF RAIA ERINACEA. By JOHW A. RYDER. In the oviparous Bays fertilization of the egg takes place while it is still within the oviduct, or possibly even before it enters the latter. In an egg taken from the cloaca of a female on the 11th of July, 1885, the blastodisk was already segmented into fifteen distinctly-marked cells. The mode in Avhich these were arranged with reference to each other ■showed very plainly that the mode of segmentation, during the early stages at least, is very similar to that which occurs during the develop- ment of osseous fishes, though the cleavage becomes irregular somewhat sooner than in the latter. The sequence in which the segmentations occurred may bo briefly described. From a careful study of this disk, which was hardened in chromic acid, the case having first been carefully opened to allow the reagent access to the egg and disk, it is inferred almost with absolute Qertainty Bull. U. S. F. C, 1886.— (To face page 8.) TLATE I. 3 ^ Development of the Toadfisb. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 9 that tlic disk cliaiigi^s form somewhat iu the same way as does the seg- iiientiiig blastodisk of a Teleosteaii ovum. This conclusion is supported by the following data : The disk of an apparently unfertilized egg re- moved from a recently-captured female, was perfectly discoidal, whereas the disk of the nearly completed 16-celled stage was elongated and had a decidedly squarish outline when viewed from above. The latter meas- ured 1.71 millimeters in width and 2.37 milliuieters in length. Its thick- ness in the center was about .C of a millimeter, and thinned out at the margin into a very thin layer of protoplasm which is obviously homol- ogous with the periblastic layer of the Teleostean egg. Judging from the arrangement and depth of the segmentation furrows, the first one, I, divided the disk into two halves, and in the process of segmentation the disk became narrowed at right angles to the plane of the first cleavage. This modification seems to have influenced the char- acter of the subsequent cleavages, as the next furrow, II, is about at right angles to the first, and traverses the middle of the disk through its longest diameter. The disk is now segmented into four large cells. The next cleavage furrows, III, III, cut through the disk transversely across its least diameter, and the two of them divide the four cells re- sulting from the first and second cleavages into eight. These are arranged in two parallel rows of four each and embrace the long diam- eter of the disk, just as in the blastodisk of the Teleostean egg at the end of the third cleavage. Some irregularity now becomes apparent upon the advent of the fourth cleavage upon one side, as a result of which it is clear that the disk will soon lose its oblong, subquadrate form and become discoidal in the same way in which this happens in the eggs of bony fishes. On the right side of the blastodisk of Eaia, the furrow, IV, of the fourth cleavage is quite regular, on the left very irregular, as shown in the figure. Sections through the disk display the relation of the segmentation spheres to the vitellus. The furrows do not appear to cut quite through the less granular protoplasm of the disk, so that probably a thin peri- blastic stratum is left underlying the latter and immediately overlying the yelk, the coarse granules and corpuscles of which are apparent just below. The marginal cells in section have a thin border, and the outer twelve cells are wider than the four central ones when viewed from above. The thin borders of the marginal cells are directly continuous with the thin periblastic envelope which invests the vitellus. The nuclei are relatively small, and contain rather dense single, but somewhat irregular, masses of chromatin. Somewhat more advanced stages show the disk divided irregularly into cellular areas ; the whole disk is also more nearly discoidal in form. No later stages were observed in which the number of cellular layers had multiplied, or where the disk showed two or more superimposed strata of cells ; and in none of those examined by me did I find any evidence of the presence of a developing cleavage cavity, nor was it 10 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. observed in the lO-celled stage, origiuating in the manner described for the Teleosteau egg by Whitman. The time of the api^earance of that cavity, however, seems to vary somewhat even in different species of the hitter. The striking simihirity of the early stages of segmentation in the bhistodisk of Raia to those observed in the blastodisks of Teleosts is significant, and shows that the pattern of the furrows up to the fourth cleavage, in such an extremely meroblastic (teleplasmic) type of egg, need uot necessarily resemble those developed on the blastodisk of the equally extreme typo Aves, if Ooste's figures are correct. The figures of the very early cleavage patterns of the blastodisk of the bird's egg given by Coste cannot, however, be reconciled with the more recent views as to the possibly intimate relation which may subsist between the future axis of the embryo and the first cleavage j)lane. The detec- tion of the essentially right-angled relation between the first four cleav- age planes which segment the blastodisk of Bala opens uj) the question whether such a method of cleavage does not also take place in the blas- todisk of the bird's egg. If that is the case, then the subject of the very early stages of cleavage of the Avian blastodisk needs reinvesti- gation. A continuous series of sections was cut of the Eay's blastodisk, abover described, with a Cambridge rocking microtome. In this series it was possible to follow out the cells and furrows shown in the accompanying diagram. This series of sections was prepared by cutting the disk transversely. The hardening of the disk here described was accomi)lished as it lay upon tlie subjacent yelk undisturbed. After remaining in that position for twenty-four hours in the acid, the acid was gently poured off, the egg carefully washed, and the disk loosened with the greatest •^ ^'^' care from the underlying yelk. The changes Fig. 1.— Diagram of tlin . . ricavatro planes in tiio wrought by the acid lu tlic reuitivc positions 01 blastodisk of Haia erina- ,, „ , ti,j, ^i cea. the cleavage lurrows were too slight to be noted, as was shown by a careful examination of the surface of the blastodisk both belbre and after hardening. 4.— FISH KIIil^KD UV POISO!VOU!>( WATER. By A. II. €JI.EI¥^AW. [Letter to J. B. Hamilton, M. L)., Surgeou-Goueral of the Marine Hospital Service.] Large shoals of dead fish have been met with between Eginont Key Light and Charlotte Harbor, off" the mainland, and vessels have been several hours in passing through them. A few weeks ago the fishing schooner City of llavaua, Capt. John Curry, lost two loads of live BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 11 fish. wliicU were killed in sailing through strips of this poisoned water. It is said to be of a reddish color, and distinguishable for some distance from the surrounding water. Capt. Samuel Morgan, a patient in the hospital, informs me that in some of the freshwater creeks lisli are caught by placing bags of the bruised bark of the swamp dogwood ( Conms scricea) in still water, and that the fish will revive if allowed to remain in it for a short time only. There would appear to be some connection in this, as the mortality seems to appear after considerable rainfall in the swamps and freshwater outlets, and is not due, as lias been stated, to submarine volcanic action. I have mentioned the fact to Dr. Joseph Y. Porter, U. S. A., and requested him to take advantage of his proposed visit to Tampa, Fla., this week, to collect samx)les of the water, should the vessel pass through any of these reddish-col- ored strips. Key West, Fla., October 28, 1885. 5.— THE OTORTAL,ITy OF FI>SH IN THE OVIiF OF MEXICO. By JOIIJV O. \fHBB. The answer to the question "What kills the fish?" is, in my opinion, that they are killed by noxious and poisonous gases which permeate portions of the Gulf and its bays, and which are derived from under- ground streams of water that flow into the sea. First, as to the existence of underground streams of water. Every- body at all familiar with Florida is aware of the existence of enormous springs. Crystal liiver, in Hernando County, is an illustration. Good- sized coasters, say of 8 or 10 tons, can, I am informed, sail clear up to tlie spring, which issues from the ground — a river at the start. So with Silver Spring. It is described, for I have not seen it, as an im- mense volume of water rising in a bowl, deep and clear, and forming the Oklawaha, a river at once. So with a lake near Gainesville. My friend, Mr. F. B. Hogan, of Pine Level, in this county, tells me that, when a bov, his father resided near what is now the lake. He raised corn on the very flats which are now the bottom of this lake. There was then a small stream winding along through this flat and finally emptying into a hole in the ground, where it disappeared. In process of time souiebody set up a saw-mill near this hole, propelling his ma- chinery, if I am not mistaken, by x)ower derived from the stream. He allowed the debris of his saw-mill to fall into the hole, which became stopped up. Now there is a lake there 18 miles long, and a large town gets its supply of fish from it. If the hole should again become open the lake would undoubtedly be drained. Some years ago one of the Myaka lakes became nearly dry. It was then discovered that near the center of the lake was a deep hole, and it was furthermore discovered that the tide rose and fell in this hole. 12 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. A year or two afterward a party, of which my son was one, sounded this hole and procured some water from its bottom. The hole is 137 feet deep and the water brackish and nauseous to the taste. I live 10 miles from that place and on the Gulf of Mexico, and that hole, 10 miles inland, is more than twice as deep as the Gulf is 10 miles from the shore. You would have to go 25 miles to sea to find a i^lace as far from the surface of the earth as the bottom of the hole in the middle of Myaka Lake. A gentleman (Mr.T. J.Edmondson,of Tarpon Springs) informs me that he once accidentally discovered a deep hole in Sarasoto Bay, in which the water was dark and cold and fresh. He did not ascertain its depth. Now, all these facts go to show that there are underground streams in this State, and that some of them are very large and very deep be- low the surface of the earth. How large we do not know, but the pre- sumption is that there are very large ones. For the water which is discharged from our surface rivers does not, in my judgment, account for the water that falls upon the land. There is very little fall to our rivers, and all of them are stopped at their mouths by tides. The Saint John's is a large river, but it is the only one on the east coast above the Everglades. On the west coast there are a great many small streams discharging themselves into the Gulf, but every one, except the Suwa- nee, I think, is a tide- water creek. Now, where these underground streams empty no one knows. The stream which the Myaka Lake is connected with may empty 25 miles at sea, for it is about on a level with the bottom of the Gulf at that distance. The surface of the lake is probably 10 feet above the surface of the Gulf, and as it certaiuly communicates with the tide- water, the only reason why the lake can exist with this hole in its bottom must be that the underground stream completely fills the orifice out of which it flows. Crystal River and Silver Spring are underground streams be- fore they appear, and the Gainesville Creek was an underground stream after it disappeared; and it is not at all probable that they are the only ones or the largest ones in Florida. Now, how should water carried into the Gulf hy an underground stream poison the fish? The answer is that the rock through which the water flows contains pyrites. Pyrites is a compound of iron and sulphur, often contaminated with arsenic. Exposed to water this substance is decom- posed, and the sulphur and arsenic, if that is i)resent, unite with one of the constituents of water, hydrogen, to form one of the most i)oisonous gases known. It is very soluble in water, and a little water charged with it would j^oison a great deal of the air which the fish absorb in their gills as the water is forced through them. As to the presence of iron pyrites in the substratum of Florida there is no doubt at all. Nothing in Manatee County is more common than iron in the well-water. Some wells furnish water so thoroughly impreg- nated with iron that it is unfit for the laundry. > And tl^e shores of all BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 13 tlie bays are more or less lined with bog iron ore wliicb has been depos- ited from springs. I have seen it at Cedar Key, at Tampa, and I think it is found all over the peninsula. Sulphur almost always is found combined with all iron ores, and arsenic and jjhosphorus often, which latter is as poisonous combined with hydrogen as either of the sub- stances named. Now, during the dry season, when there is not much or any surface water, the chemical reactions I have described would be going on, and lakes of underground water (or pools, if you please) existing along the w\atercourses, would become saturated with these poisonous gases. When the rains come and force out into the sea this accumulated poison the lish are killed. They are killed at every flood and they are not killed except at a flood. Smack fishermen say that they sometimes observe at sea a brownish spot or area of water, and sailing into it the fish in their wells begin to die at once. In these last two mentioned facts lies the objection to the volcanic theory, for it is difficult to see what connection a flood can have with a submarine volcano, which, being submarine, should be abundantly supplied with water. OsPREY, Manatee Co., Fla., December 3, 1885. 6.-nATCHlNG 1.0B8TE:RS AND COD IIV IVORTFAY. By G. ITI. DANNEVIG. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.*] I am now engaged in hatching lobster eggs, and seem to be succeed- ing. During the past two days about 200 young lobsters have been hatched, and they are very lively — rather too much so, as they eat the other young ones as soon as these last come from the shell. I intend to find out what else they will eat, as their present food is rather incon- venient to furnish. The so-called artificial hatching of lobsters has often been tried before this ; but in such cases simply lobsters with spawn were put into a live-box and kept there till the young hatched out ; while in my experiments I take the spawn from the parent lobsters and. hatch it out in a specially-constructed apparatus. If this latter method of hatching can be carried out on a large scale, of which I have no doubt, many millions of lobsters could be hatched every summer. If we could succeed in raising them for a while before planting them, so much the better. I would like to know if anything in this line has been at- tempted by the U. S. Fish Commission, and with what success. Some time ago I read an account of your trying to send lobsters by rail from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Instead of sending the lob- sters, why do you not try sending well-developed spawn ? This could * For previous letters in regard to hatching lobsters, see F. C. Bulletin, 1885, pp. §80,446. 14 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. be conveuiently batched during transportation, so tbat on arrival most of tbe young could be liberated. I do not know bow long the fry could be kept alive in tbe box in which they were carried, but think that an objection on this score could easily be obviated. I have not yet overcome the difficulties in regard to the hatching of codfish. The result this year (1885) was about 24 millions of fry, which were liberated when about a w^eek old. The longest I could keep them was for 15 days after hatching, after which period they would grad- ually die. Flodevig, near Aeendal, Norway, June 29, 1885. REPLY BY PROFESSOR BAIRD. Several experiments have been made at this station in hatching de- tached lobster eggs ; and most success has been gained by using the McDonald glass hatching-jar, such as we now use in our shad work. Lobster eggs placed in these jars 6 or 8 weeks ago have done well, and at least two-thirds of the number are now alive, despite the fact that for the first 2 or 3 weeks we were much troubled by iron-rust and other imi:)urities. The lots of eggs placed in the jars since then have fared much better, and we have kept them 4 or 5 weeks with scarcely any mortality. The rate of development at this time of year, however, is very slow, and we have not succeeded in hatching any young. The ex- periments will probably be continued during the fall and winter, and the development may be hastened by slightly increasing the tempera- ture of the water artificially. The best results are anticipated from next year's work, and every means will be used to make a success of it, as our supply of lobsters is rapidly decreasing on all parts of the coast. Wood's Holl, Mass., September 19, 1885. 7 — EXPORT!^ OF FI8II AlVO FISHERV PRODUCTS FROM IVEIV- FOUIVI>L.ANI> DIJRIIVO 18»)4. [From Customs' Returns. — W. J. S. Donnelly, receiver-general.] Article. Dry cod (in quintals) Total, Countries towluch exported. United Kingdom Dominion of Canada. United States British West Indies . Spanish West Indies Frcncli West Indies . Gibraltar , Spain I'ottugal Sicily , Italy Corfn Greece Brazil Quantities. .'50, 7.52 24, 012 27, 362 88, 758 10, 885 COS 101, 768 133, 872 318, 820 15, 100 45, 941 1,800 2,870 375, 089 1, 197, 6,37 Average price. $3 00 Value. $152, 25G 120, 0(iO 136,810 230, 771 28, 301 1,581 325, 657 508,713 1, 434, 6D0 48, .320 147,011 5, 760 9. 184 1, 57,5, 373 4, 724, 487 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 15 Exports offinh and fisUern products from Newfoundland, ^-e. — Continued. Articles. Countries to which exported. Quantities. Average price. Value. Pickled iisb (in qnintals) Dominion of Canada United States 1,040 615 $2 00 2 00 $2, 080 1 230 Total 1,655 3 310 United Kingdom 3 30 3 30 3 30 ITerrinE; (pickled), Liibrador 4,158 3,232 7,651 13, 721 10, 666 25 248 (iu bairela). Dominion of Canada United States Total 15,041 49 035 United Kingdom Dominion of Canada United States 1 80 1 80 1 80 1 80 1 80 1 80 Herring (pickled), shore (in barrels). 2,514 44, 461 6,994 3,335 312 903 4,525 80, 030 12 589 British West Indies Spanish West Indies Russia 6,003 562 1 625 Total 58, 519 105 334 Dominion of Canada United States 1 00 1 00 Herring, frozen (in barrels) . 2,585 16, 591 2,585 IC 591 Total 19, 176 19 176 United Kingdom 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 Salmon, pickled (in tierces) . 1, 677f 1,049 1, 8324 315 241f 198 30 21 809 Dominion of Canada United States 13, 637 23, 820 British West Indies Spanish West Indies Italy 4,095 3,142 2,574 390 Corfu Total 5,343§ 69, 467 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 Trout (in barrels) 26 996 28 5i 156 United States 5,976 British West Indies Italy 168 32 Total 1, 055i 6 332 United States 2 GO 2 GO Haddock (in quintals) 376 442 978 British West Indies 1,147 Total 818 2 125 Dominion of Canada United States G 00 6 00 Halibut (in quintals) 30 22 180 132 Total 52 312 Jersey ...... . 2 00 3 00 2 00 50 20 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 Core (in quintals) 74 H 40 45 109J 148 Mackerel (in barrels) Ling (in quintals) British West Indies do 14 80 Caplin (dried), (in ban-els) ... United Kingdom 22 Fish guano (in tons) do...." 2 185 United Kingdom Tongues and sounds (in bar- 11 46 2 18 33 re s). Dominion oi' Canada United States 138 6 Jersey S4 Total 77 231 United Kingdom 10 10 Lobsters, preserved in tins 389, 616 218, 208 38, 961 (in pounds). Dominion of Canada 21, 821 Total 607, 824 60, 782 United Kingdom 128 00 128 00 128 00 128 00 128 00 128 00 Cod oil (in tuns) 3, 0351 279J 309J 26i 6 30i 388, 576 35.744 39, 616 Dominion of Canada United States Jersey 3,392 Portugal 768 Spanish West Indies 3,904 Total 3, 687J 472, 000 ..- 16 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Exports of fish and fishery products from Newfoundland, ^c. — Continued. Articles. Refined cod oil (in tons) . Total , Seal oil (in tuns) , Total Whale oil (in tnns) Total , Blabber (in tuns) , Total Shark oil (in tons) . Total Herring oil (in tuns) Pitchings (in tuns) . Cod dregs (in tuns) . , Seal skins (each) Total Whalebone (in cwts.) . Total . Countries to which exported. United Kingdom Dominion of Canada. United States Spanish West Indies. United Kingdom Dominion of Canada. United States Jersey Hamburg Portugal United Kingdom. Jersey United Kingdom Dominion of Canada. United Kingdom . Portugal United Kingdom. United Kingdom. United Kingdom. United Kingdom Jersey Dominion of Canada. Portugal United Kingdom. Jersey Quantities. 78J 4U 113 2 235i 3,513 242J 6i 50J 132 25 3,969 167J 5 172i 24 214 45i 11 5i 259. 327 3,460 23 3,480 266, 290 140 5 145 Average price. $204 00 204 00 204 00 204 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 116 00 16 00 16 00 100 00 100 00 108 00 48 00 48 00 1 20 1 20 1 20 1 20 306 00 Value. $16, 014 8,415 23,154 408 47, 991 407, 508 28, 130 725 5,829 15, 312 2, 900 460, 404 19, 430 580 20, 010 384 340 724 25 75 100 1,188 36 276 311, 192 4,152 28 4,176 319, 548 42,840 28 42, 808 Summary of total fishery exports. Kind. Blubber tnns . Caplin, dried bbis . Cod, dry quintals. Cod dregs tuns. Cod oil do.. Cod oil, refined do.. Core quintals. Fish guano tons . Haddock quintals. Halibn t do . . Herring : Frozen bbls. Pickled, Labrador do.. Pickled, shore do. . Herring oil tnns . Quantity. Value. 45i $724 45 22 1, 197, 637 4, 724, 487 5| 276 3, C874 472, 000 23.''.i 47, 991 74 148 109i 2,185 818 2,125 52 312 19, 176 19, 176 15, 041 49,635 58, 519 105, 334 11 1,188 Kind. Ling quintals Lobsters, preserved lbs Mackerel bbls. Pickled fish quintals . Pitchings tuns. Salmon, pickled tierces. Seal oil tuns. Seal skins number. Shark oil tuns Tongues and sounds ...bbls. Trout do.. Whalebone cwts . Whale oil tuns. Total. Quantity. 40 607, 824 4J 1, 655 a 5, 3435 3,909 266, 290 1 77 1, 05oJ 145 172J Value. 60, 782 14 3,310 36 69, 467 460, 404 319, 548 100 231 6, 332 42, 868 20,010 0, 408, 785 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 17 Vol. \ I, No. 2. Washins^tou, I>. C. Feb. 8, 1 886. S.-IVOTE^ OIV liOBSTER CUlxTURE. By RICHARD RATIIBVIV. EXPERIMENTS BY THE U. S. FISH COMMISSION IN 1885. The partial completion, in August last, of the new laboratory build- ing at the marine station of the Fish Commission, at Wood's Holl, Mass., with its convenient system of salt-water piping, permitted the necessary experiments being begun at that time with respect to the ar- tificial hatching of lobsters — a branch of fish culture the great impor- tance of which has long been felt in view of the raind decrease in abundance of that valuable food product. Unfortunately the hatching season had then closed, but it was deemed advisable to ascertain the best methods of handling the eggs, in order that there might be as little delay as possible in starting operations next spring. Unlike most fishes, the lobster carries its eggs until they hatch. The eggs are fertilized while yet in the ovaries, and are soon afterward ex- truded, but the length of the period of development is not known. As they issue from the body of the female, they are coated with a viscid substance that soon hardens into short, tough, and very flexible threads, by means of which they are attached in bunches or clusters, of variable sizes, to the swimmerets and under surface of the abdomen or tail, the hinder feet, it is said, being used to aid in carrying them back and dis- tributing them as they come from the apertures of the oviducts. The eggs are comparatively large (about one-twelfth of an inch in diameter) and hardy, and each lobster carries from about 12,000 to 21,000, accord- ing to its size. The problem of lobster hatching on a practical scale is one that the Fish Commission has long had in view, but all of its marine laboratories up to the present time have been temporary structures, with insufficient accommodations and without the means of obtaining continuous sup- plies of water in suitable quantities. It was ho^Ded that the new build- ing would be finished early enough in the spring to permit of the begin- ning of hatching work in June; but the hinderances which are inevitable to all such projects interfered to delay actual operations for another year. The hatching of small quantities of lobster eggs, as well as the eggs of other species of crustaceans, had been successfully accom- plished, from time to time, by members of the Fish Commission party interested in embryological studies, and the possibility of conducting hatching operations on a small scale, and of carrying the young through at least the first few stages of growtli, needed no further j)roof ; but the Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 2 18 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. question of how to care for large masses of eggs, and especially for the young after hatching, was yet to be approached. In the fall of 1884, soon after the inner fish basin at Wood's Holl had been completed, Capt. H. C. Chester, in charge of the station, trans- ferred to it several hundred female lobsters with spawn, thinking tho,t some of the eggs might hatch during the winter, but, if not, feeling cer- tain that something might be done with them in the early spring. Un- fortunately for his experiment, the work on the outer basins necessitat- ing the employment of a large steam dredger, which kept the water constantly loaded with sediment, and the frequent blasting of rocks, caused the destruction of his entire stock before any results had been reached. The method of continuing the work in the summer had not yet been decided \\-pon, when an opportune letter, received from the Norwegian fish-culturist, G. M. Dannevig, announced the successful hatching of lobster eggs of the European species, detached from the body of the i)arent, and the rearing of the young through the three earliest stages. The manner of conducting his exi^eriments was not described, but the fact that he had accomplished good results with de- tached eggs gave us a basis to work uj)on. His letter was as follows : Flodevig, near Aeendal, Hs^Torway, July 14, 1885. Dear Sir : I hereby take great pleasure in informing you that the experiments with the hatching of detached lobster eggs is progressing very favorably, that the young are doing well, and that some of them have attained what Prof. G. O. Sars calls the third stage. The length of the young lobster soon after hatching is about 9™™. After 8 days, when the second changing of the shell or skin takes place, it has attained the length of 12™°^, and after 16 days, when the third change occurs, it is about IS™"*. The mortality was rather large for some days, but is now only 1 to 3 in 24 hours, so that 95 still remain out of 200 which were picked out for an experiment. They are very greedy, but not so bad in killing one another as they were in the beginning. I feed them principally with the soft parts of our crab. They like it well, but their slender legs sometimes get entangled in the soft mass, and then they die. Five hundred newly-hatched individuals are now in a separate apparatus for further experiments. I wish to find out at what stage the greatest loss takes place. I have great hopes now that I shall master this question during the season, so that I can proceed upon a large scale next summer. Very respectfully, G. M. DANNEVIG.* Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washington^ D. C. * For a later account of this experiment, see letter of G. M. Danuevig, iu Bull. U. S. Fish Commissiou, v, p. 44G, 1885. BULLETIN OF TIIK UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 19 If a few eggs are cut from the swimmerets of a lobster and dropped into ajar of water, they will rapidly sink to the bottom, showing that their specific gravity is considerably' greater than that of water. The knowl- edge of this fact led to the selection of the McDonald autonaatic hatch- ing-jar, which has lung been in use in shad propagation, for the first experiments, and a trial of about two months has demonstrated its superiority for this purpose over the other appliances that were tested. The i^rinciple on which the McDonald jar works has already been fully described,* and we need only mention here, for the purpose of showing its adaptability to the eggs in question, that the water entering through a long glass tube, reaching nearly to the bottom of the jar, causes an upward current of water through the jar, the force of which is regu- lated by the amount of inflow; the outlet is by means of a short tube passing only a little way into the upper part of the jar. The inlet tube is connected by rubber tubing with a supply pipe, and the outlet tube in the same manner with a waste pipe, and these connections being made, the movement of the eggs is entirely controlled by means of a stop-cock and the longer tube, the latter, by being raised or lowered, changing to a certain extent the force and character of the current. The flow is continuous and regular, and the jars need to be examined only occasionally, perhaps twice each day, for the purpose of forcing out the accumulation of sediment, as explained further on. The eggs are readily cut from the swimmerets and under surface of the lobster by means of small sharp scissors, the curved kind used in dissecting being especially well adapted to this purpose, although most any kind will answer. By taking ordinary precautions no harm is done to the parent, the small threads joining the eggs to the body having no organic connection with it. Most of the eggs come off in bunches of variable sizes, some containing two or three hundred, and others less, down to a very small number, but more or less of them become sep- arated in the cutting, and in every batch there are many free eggs. This lack of uniformity in the composition of each lot of eggs is a source of great annoyance in handling them, the free eggs floating up more readily than the bunches and tending to escape through the outlet pipe, but it is not detrimental to the success of the work. In preparing the eggs, they were transferred as rapidly as detached to the hatching-jars, previously filled with water, the eggs of each lobster being placed in a separate jar, as there is more or less variation in the specific gravity of the eggs of different individuals. As soon as each jar had received its allotment, the cap with its tubes was fastened on, and a connection made with the salt water supply pipe. The specific gravity of the eggs was not determined, but they require a relatively strong current of water to raise them above the bottom, the average amount allowed to pass through the jars having been nearly a gallon a minute for each. The flow was so regulated as to give the *Bull. U. S. Fish Commission, iii, pp. 183-192, 1883. 20 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. larger bunches of eggs a gentle rotary motion ; but this caused the smaller bunches and the free eggs to rise sometimes to more than half the height of the jar and kept them quite strongly agitated. Although the eggs are very hardy, and in nature, while attached to the swimmerets of the parent lobster, are given but little motion, this greater activity ai)pears to be essential to their well-being in the artificial hatching apparatus, for without it they soon die. Such a fate befell most of one lot contained in a McDonald jar, through which but a gentle current was allowed to i)ass, and in one of the hatching-boxes, where the sup- l)ly of water was very much greater, though distributed over a much larger surface, so that no motion was given to the eggs, they all died inside of a week. The accumulation about the eggs of impurities from the water may have been the principal cause of this mortality; but as the eggs are well able to endure active motion and thrive best in a strong current, there can be no objection to pursuing that method. An illustration of the hardy character of the eggs is furnished by the fact that a small quantity left over night in a watch glass of sea water were alive and apparently in good condition in the morning, although the density of the water had been greatly increased by evaporation. The chief annoyances to hatching work at the Wood's HoU station this summer were, first, iron rust, and, second, sediment from the har- bor. The supply mains in use when the laboratory was first opened consisted of iron pipes without a protective lining; they had been down a year, and gave off such a large quantity of rust, which often ap- peared as a dense reddish cloud of exceedingly fine suspended particles, that the hatching-jars would become strongly stained inside of a few hours and the eggs themselves become perceptibly coated. After the cement-lined pipes had been substituted, this trouble ceased for the most part, but a great deal of sediment was observed in the sea water the remainder of the season, and notwithstanding the strong current passing constantly through the jars, a very perceptible deposit was formed over the lower-lying eggs in the course of every twelve hours. The lighter particles of sediment also collected to a large extent on the sides of the jars and tubing, and often adhered to the more buoyant eggs. Cloth filters were used to strain out these impurities, but they proved unsatisfactory, and the course finally pursued was to force out the sedi- ment every morning and evening by momentarily increasing the flow of water to its utmost capacity, and then shutting it off', repeating this oi^eration at frequent intervals for several minutes. The effect was thoroughly to stir up the sediment, which, being lighter than the eggs, remained longer in suspension and was carried off" when the flow was again made normal. The eggs were transferred to clean jars every four or five days, and the old jars thoroughly washed. By constant attention to all these details, the eggs were kept in a healthy and tolerably clean condition as long as the experiments were kept up. A neglect of these precautions always resulted in the de- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 21 striictiou of maiiy eggs, although in the first lot of eggs prepared, which sufi'ered greatly from iron rust, and was frequently left without care, sometimes for days at a time, until they were well covered with sedi- ment, fully one-third were living at the end of eight weeks, when I left the Wood's Uoll station. It does not seem jiracticable to keep the eggs of more than one lob- ster in each jar, as the eggs of different individuals differ more or less in specific gravity, and it is impossible to regulate the flow of water so as to give them all the required motion ; but as the number is consider- able in each, there is not sufficient excuse for attempting economy in that direction. The number of fertilized eggs carried by lobsters during the spawning season has been ascertained by careful computations in several cases, and varies from about 12,000 to 24,000, the latter number probably being rare. The most common number noticed during late years has been from 15,000 to 18,000. The question of the amount of motion to which the eggs should be subjected is one deserving much consideration. The females with eggs contained in the aquaria at Wood's Holl remained very quiet most of the time, and the swimmerets and eggs were scarcely ever observed to be in motion. Confined within the narrow limits of an aquarium, with a strong light entering from all sides, it was not to be expected that their movements would be altogether natural. In nature, whether or not their swimmerets are kept moving regularly backwards and for- wards, which is probably the case to a greater or less extent, the act of moving about in search of food or for change of ground must bring a constant change of water. With the Clark hatching-boxes, which are very successful for certain kinds of fish eggs, no good results were ob- tained, although the flow of water was much greater than in the Mc- Donald jars. These boxes were tried in two ways, with a downward and an upward flow of water, but the eggs remained perfectly motion- less, and at the end of a week were in such bad condition that they had to be thrown away. The experiments above described merely indicate a method by which lobster eggs detached from the parent may be successfully kept alive for a considerable length of time with sufficient economy to commend the process to future j)ractice. Had the experiments been made during the hatching season, more satisfactory results would undoubtedly have been reached. It is not expected that in actual practice the eggs will have to be kept very long in the jars. The extensive storage basins in front of the laboratory will afford accommodations for large quantities of "berried" females, which can be so arranged as to permit of their being readily examined from time to time and the condition of the eggs ob- served. As the eggs approach the last stages of development before hatching — a condition that is easily determined almost by the unaided eye — they can be transferred to the hatching-jars, and the final changes allowed to take i)lace under constant observation. As the hatching is 22 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMJIISSION. limited to a period of about two montlis, it is probable that the eggs of many individuals reach maturity at about the same time, and a large number of jars can be manipulated together. The principal object in hatching the eggs in jars is to have the em- bryos under control immediately after hatching ; but the best methods of caring for the young have yet to be decided upon, and furnish an in- teresting problem for investigation next spring. It is probable that the embryos cannot be kept in the McDonald jar, as they swim at the sur- face and would soon all escape through the outlet tube. They can, however, be transferred to large aquaria, to the large wooden tanks now rigged on the lower floor for the keeping of fish, or to floating cars in one of the basins. The last plan will probably answer best when work- ing on a large scale, as the embryos will thereby obtain some food from the surrounding waters, while iu both of the former cases food would have to be supplied them. A floating car suitable for the purpose has already been constructed, and now contains a number of berried lobsters, which it is proposed to keep over winter, if possible, in order to observe whether any hatching takes place during that season. This car is constructed on the plan of the ordinary fish cars, the opeuiugs being covered with a fine-mesh brass-wire cloth to prevent the escape of the young, but with the meshes large enough to permit of the entrance of such small life as the embryos would be likely to feed upon at the surface. The dimensions of this car are 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, but larger cars will be used if necessary. It is now moored in the outer basin, oj^posite one of the openings in the wall, where it receives the full force of the current. A few McDonald jars will also be kept in operation, with lob- ster eggs, during the entire winter, for purposes of observation. It is not known how long the young can be kept in confinement, nor at what age it would be advisable to turn them over to the care of nature, but it will probably be possible to transport them alive to any other portion of the eastern coast, as the distances are nowhere great. Note. — Since the above was written, a letter has been received from Capt. H. C. Chester, superintendent of the Wood's IIoll station, giving an account of the hatching of a few lobster eggs in one of the McDonald jars early in November. The eggs were detached from the lobster and l^laced in the jar November 5 ; they began to hatch November 8, three days afterwards, and continued hatching for a few days longer, but only about 50 young ones were observed. The remainder of the eggs are still in the jar, iu good condition. A few of the embryos were transferred to an aquarium with running water, and others to a small vessel in which there was no change of water. The former lived about 20 hours, the latter about 36 hours. The temperature of the water in the hatching-jar November 5 was 54.3° Fahrenheit; on the Cth, 55°; and on the 7th and 8th, 50°. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 23 NECESSITY OF ATTEMPTING THE ARTIFICIAL TROPAGATION OF LOB- STERS. In a report to the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, on the lobster fishery of the United States, now in course of imblication, the writer has given an account of what is known regarding the habits and abundance of both the American and European species, which difier but slightly from each other structurally. The investigations on which that report is based confirmed the fact, i^reviously well known to those acquainted with the industry, that the abundance of lobsters, as well as their average size, has been rapidly decreasing from year to year on many portions of the coast, ever since the fishery has been vigorously pushed. A study of the habits of lobsters indicates that such a decrease is far more possible with that species than with the true fishes, which are, as a rule, more secure from the attacks of man. That a decrease has taken i^lace, and that in some regions it has amounted to a serious loss, is attested by the statements of numerous fishermen and dealers, which are quoted at some length in the report above mentioned. All the States interested in the lobster fishery, excepting New Jersey, whose fishery is small, have enacted protective lawsj but, either because these laws are inadequate or are not properly enforced, they have failed to stop the decrease, though they may have checked it more or less. As a result, the fishery is falling off in the United States, and we are even now dependent, to a greater or less extent, on the British Prov- inces for the supplies of our larger markets. The same trouble exists in Europe, where the lobster fishery is, of course, of much older date than in this country, and where it has been controlled by legislation for many years. Many elaborate reports have been published upon the European fishery by experts appointed to investigate its condition and needs, but they are apparently at as much loss there as we are here regarding the methods and benefits of protection. In l^orway, which country possesses the most important European fishery, they have, as a last resort, sought relief through the aid of artificial lobster culture, and experiments to that end have been carried on for several years. In the United States, where the methods of fish culture are best under- stood and have been most productive of beneficial results, it is natural to suppose that the same course would have been often suggested, and such has really been the case. None of the trials up to this year have, however, been made according to the most approved methods of fish propagation, and insufficient means for carrying on any such practical experiments with respect to salt-water species of fish have alone pre- vented the Fish Commission from engaging in this work before. It would be impossible, within the limits of this paper, to cite even a portion of the evidence bearing upon the decrease of lobsters which has 24 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. been collected, but following are a few of the remarks with which this subject is introduced in the report already referred to : "An illustration of the rapidity with which the lobsters of a small area may be caught up, is furnished by a salt-water inlet on the coast of Maine, in which lobsters were at one time very abundant. This basin opens directly into the sea, and is sufficiently large to have afforded a re- munerative fishery to several lobstermen. Two years' time was sufficient to reduce the supply of lobsters to such an extent that fishing became unprofitable. After an interval of about five years they again became abundant, and the supply was once more exhausted. Had this inlet not been so situated that it readily received supplies from without, it is f>robable that it would have required a much longer time to become replenished. " On a much larger scale has been the depletion of the once noted grounds about Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which at one time furnished nearly all the lobsters consumed in Kew York City. In the early part of the century, this fishery was entirely in the hands of fishermen from other States, principally Connecticut, who came to Cape Cod with their smacks, and, after catching a load, carried it to New York or Boston. As early as 1812 the citizens of Provincetown realized the danger of exhausting the grounds about their town, and succeeded in having a protective law passed by the State legislature. More or less stringent regulations respecting the lobster fishery of Cape Cod have been in force from that time down to date, and they have probably done good service in prolonging the fishery ; but the period of its prosperity has long since passed, as continued overfishing has so exhausted the grounds on almost every portion of Cape Cod that they are no longer profitable even to the few men who still set their traps there. From the sketch of this region, given further on, it will be seen that the decrease has not been a temporary one, although an entire rest for a long period of time might possibly allow it to recover more or less of its former abun- dant supplies. As it is, no large catches are now made, and but few lobsters are carried away from the Cai)e. " The immediate vicinity of Provincetown has suffered most in this respect, but scarcely more than any portion of the coast from that town to Boston on the one side and to New Bedford on the other. A delay in the publication of this report enables the writer to add a note for the southern portion of this region, covering the i^eriod down to July, 1885. Vineyard Sound proper and the vicinity of Wood's Holl, Mass., have afforded but poor ca^tches for a number of years, but the region about Gay Head has continued to attract the lobstermen down to the present tune. Each succeeding year, however, lobsters have appeared to be less plentiful, and during the spring months and June of 1885 scarcely anything has been done. The fishermen are discouraged, and are forced to attribute the scarcity to overfishing, the possibility of which many of them have all along denied. At Cuttyhuuk Island the catch for BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 25 1885 was less than one rourth that for 1880, and the same was reported of the remainder of the Elizabeth. Islands, No Man's Land, and Gay Head. " Ln the waters of Ehode Island and Connecticut a large decrease of lobsters is reported by many of the fishermen, and the increased catch for the few years preceding 1880 was obtained only by the use of a much larger number of trai>s than was employed formerly. Although the fishery in those States was begun very many years ago, it is only within comparatively recent times that it has been extensively carried on. "On the coast of Maine the evidences of decrease are very strong, especially as regards the shallower areas, but the rapid extension of the grounds into comparatively deep water has made the actual decrease less apparent. The rocky bottoms of the coast of Maine are also sup- I)osed to afford the lobsters greater j)rotection than the sandy ones to the south, and in many places the traps cannot be set as closely together, nor is it probable that the lobsters in such localities move about as mu(;h in search of food. "The greatest decrease has occurred within the past 15 to 20 years, or since the establishment of numerous canneries and of the perfected methods of transporting fresh lobsters to all parts of the country. The demand being so much greater than the supply, there are no restrictions on the amount of the catch beyond those imj^osed by the State laws or resulting from the scarcity of lobsters. Fish are among the greatest enemies of the lobster, and cod are known to consume enormous quan- tities; but nature has provided against their extinction by such means, and it is man alone who has disturbed the balance." The above remarks were based mainly upon the fishery investigations of 1880, since which evidences of continued decrease have been con- stantly received. About a year ago, a prominent Boston dealer wrote that he was receiving large quantities of lobsters from Nova Scotia, as the Maine fishery was totally inadequate to supply the demand, the amount obtained from that State having been less than in previous years. One of the strongest evidences of decrease in abundance is afibrded by the continuous decrease in the average size of the lobsters sent to the markets. The exact amount of this decrease is not determinable, as no records bearing upon this subject were made prior to 1880, but the fact was granted by the fishermen and canners, even in those re- gions where a perceptible decrease in numbers was not admitted. The average weight of the lobsters marketed in most places in 1880 was estimated to be about two pounds each. A New Haven correspondent stated that the average length of the lobster sold in the markets in that place in 1880 was about lOJ inches, and the average weight about two pounds, against an average length of about 13 inches and an average weight of about three and one-half pounds 20 years ago. In Boston the market lobsters ranged but little above the limit in size permitted 26 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. by the State laws, and that seems to be the case nearly everywhere. In Portland, Mo., the average length of the lobsters marketed in 1880 was about lOJ inches, and in Boston 11 to 11^ inches, while in New York City the range in size was from 10^ to 15 inches. The facts above stated apply only to the larger distributing centers, where custom had prescribed the minimum limit in size of the lobsters marketed, before protective laws were enacted. At that time there was an abundance of large lobsters, and the smaller individuals were re- garded as of little account for the fresh trade. They have, however, been used for a long time by the canneries on the coast of Maine, by the fishermen as bait, and to supply local demands. The quantity of lobsters consumed, measuring less than 10 inches in length, is, there- fore, very great, and on some portions of the Maine coast the canneries make use of only those that are too small for the fresh-market trade. In fact, the greater proportion of the lobsters now canned are less than 10 inches long. From these statements it will be seen that there is a steady demand for lobsters of all sizes, and that but a limited pro- tection is afforded either by laws or custom. RANGE AND MIGRATIONS OF LOBSTERS. The American lobster has been taken as far south as oft' Cape Hat- teras, X. C, where a single medium-sized individual (13 inches long) was dredged from a depth of 49 fathoms, by the Fish Commission steamer Albatross, in 1884. Two or three examples have also been re- corded from the northeastern part of the sea-coast of Virginia, but the Delaware Breakwater may be regarded as practically the southern limit of its range, although it is not at all common at that place, and is rarely fished for. Lobsters are somewhat more abundant off Atlantic City and Long Branch, New Jersey, where they afford a limited fishery, and in New York Bay and the adjacent regions they were at one time quite plentiful, but overfishing and the pollution of the waters have almost en- tirely exterminated them there. Passing eastward through Long Island Sound, they gradually increase in abundance as we approach the Block Island region, and from there to the extreme northern limit of the coast of Massachusetts, wherever the bottom was suited to them, they were formerly exceedingly abundant. The first important fishery originated along this section of the coast, Cape Cod at one time having furnished New York City with nearly all of its supplies. The sandy shores of New Hampshire are not so prolific in lobsters as are those of either of the adjoining States. Maine is now the i^rincipal source of supply for all the larger markets of this country, the yearly fishery of that State greatly exceeding in quantity and value those of all the other States combined. Most of the British maritime provinces abound in lobsters which are especially plentiful on both the ocean and gulf coasts of New Bruns- wick and Nova Scotia, these two countries now affording the most ex- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 27 tensive lobster lisbery iu the world. Tliey appear to be much less com- mon in Xewfoundlaud and Labrador, possibly because they bave been less fishetl lor there. Lobsters are not known to migrate, excepting over very short dis- tances, mainly in the spring and fall, when they change their grounds, moving into deeper water on the approach of cold weather, and return- ing nearer to the shore in the late spring. The fall migrations are solely for the purpose of escaping the cold of winter, the shallower sum- mer grounds probably furnishing a better supply of food. The extent of the movements depends more or less upon the character of the coast, for where the bottom slopes off very gradually they will need to go a much greater distance to reach a suitable depth of water than where deep holes occur near their summer grounds. The summer fishery is mainly in depths of a very few to 15 or 20 fathoms, the winter fishery in 25 to GO fathoms. On the coast of Maine the traps are sometimes set iu such shallow water that they lie partly exposed at low tide. For- merly some fishing was done along the shores by means of gaffs and dip-nets, but lobsters rarely occur in such favorable localities now. It is supposed that lobsters do not travel much along the coast, though they probably change their grounds from time to time in search of food. On some portions of the coast the fishermen claim to have good evi- dence of the schooling of lobsters, and state that the schools appear and disappear suddenly, indicating the possession of certain migratory habits, but there is no proof that their migrations extend far, and they are very different in character from those of the true fishes. We have no evidence to prove that any one region has been directly benefited by large accessions from an adjoining region, and the extent to which some districts have been depleted by overfishing without subsequent recovery indicates that the supplies of one region are but little dependent upon those of another, at least not for immediate relief. The Cape Cod lob- ster fishery has been at a low standing for many years, and although but few men have engaged in the fishery of that region for a long time, there are, as yet, no signs of improvement. SPAWNING SEASON AND HABITS, DEVELOPMENT AND RATE OF GROWTH. Lobsters are found with spawn attached to the abdomen during the entire year. This fact is recorded of both the American and the Euro- pean species, but the length of time they are carried before hatching and the limits of the hatching season are not precisely known. As re- gards the European crayfish, a freshwater crustacean closely related to the lobster Professor Huxley states: "The process of development is very slow, as it occupies the whole winter. In late springtime or early summer, the young burst the thin shell of the egg, and, when they are hatched, present a general resemblance to their parents. This is very unlike what takes place in crabs and lobsters, in which the young 28 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. leave the egg in a couditiou very difl'ereiit from the parent, and undergo a remarkable metamorphosis before they attain their proper form." The smackmen of the southern New England coast claim that the eggs hatch in the wells of their smacks in the greatest abundance, from some time in May until late in July, but that at other seasons they have never seen any embrj^o lobsters, although the smack trade in lobsters is kept up during nearly the entire year. During the season mentioned, the surface of the water in the wells of the smacks often becomes per- fectly alive with the young, and they may be scooped up by the hun dreds of thousands. This evidence is tolerably conclusive as to the duration of the principal hatching season, and determines the period when experimental work in artificial propagation can best be under- taken. The fact that a few of the eggs contained in the jars at the Wood's Holl station of the Fish Commission hatched during November of this year indicates, however, that some hatching may take place at other seasons, as the conditions under which the eggs were kept were l)erfectly normal, the water being of about the same temperature as that of the harbor outside. Hatching is supposed to begin somewhat later farther north. The writer was, at first, inclined to believe that the hatching con- tinued to a considerable extent through the entire year, basing his con- clusions upon the fact that, during the months of August and Septem- ber last, eggs were found in various stages of development, from the freshly laid and totally opaque ones to others in which the dark green- ish yelk sack occupied scarcely more than one-half of the area of the eg<^, the remainder being transparent and clearly showing the structure of the embryo. Some of these eggs, preserved in the hatching-jars, were carefully examined from day to day, and, although they exhib- ited a certain amount of progress, development was slow. It finally became evident that the development of the eggs was being retarded by some cause, presumably the lower temperature of the water, and this result, coupled with the statements of the fishermen, that embryos are seen only in May, June, and July, makes it probable that the hatch- ing of lobster eggs at other seasons is only an accidental or occasional occurrence. It is also not at all improbable that the young hatched during cold weather perish soon after they leave the egg, as they did at Wood's Holl in November last. The liardy character of the lobster eggs, before referred to, favors the idea of a long period of development, and they appear to be well adapted to endure the hardships of a long winter. The rough handling to which they were sometimes subjected, in connection with the experi- ments of last summer, did not seem to harm them in the least. It is also probable, from this quality of the eggs, that they are not destroyed to any extent, in nature, unless actually eaten from the swimmerets of the parent by predaceous fishes, and that the chief assistance which artificial culture can give, in an attempt to increase the supply, must be directed toward j^rotecting the embryos from the j^eriod of hatching. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 29 Embryo lobsters are seldom seen at the surface in the open waters about our coast and have rarely been taken in the towing net. Prof. S. I. Smith, who has studied the younger stages, obtained his speci- mens during July, mainly in Vineyard Sound, near Wood's Holl, Mass. jS^othing positive" is known respecting the habits of lobsters during the spawning season. It has been stated with reference to lobsters mar- keted in Boston, that berried lobsters are seldom seen measuring less tliau about lOi inches in length, and it is probable that they rarely be- gin to spawn before attaining that size. However, a few smaller ones were ol)8erved at Wood's Holl during the summer of 1885. In a lot of fifty-two berried lobsters, examined at that i)lace in September, three measured less than 10 inches, the smallest having been 9^ inches long; eight were between 10 and 10| inches; ten between 10 J and 11 inches; fifteen between 11 and 12 inches; eleven between 12 and 13 inches, and five between 13 and 14 inches. The measurements were made from the tip of the rostrum to the end of the telson, not including the hairs. The development of the younger stages of lobsters has been studied by Prof. S. I. Smith, for the American species, and by Prof. G. O. S{irs,for the European. The eggs, when first emitted, are entirely opaque and of a dark green color, sometimes almost black. Professor Smith exam- ined the well advanced eggs at Wood's Holl, in May. They were not per- fectly round, measuring a trifle more than two millimeters (about one- twelfth of an inch) in their longest diameter. One side was still dark, due to the unabsorbed yelk mass, and the other more or less transpar- ent, showing the eyes as two large black spots, and the outlines of the carapax and legs. All of these features are readily made out under a low-power objective. Soon after hatching they measure about one third of an inch in length, and resemble in appearance and structure a low group of shrimps, called the Schizopods, which are common on some portions of our coast. The eyes are bright blue, while j)ortions of the body and its appendages are marked with orange of different intensities, rendering them very conspicuous objects. The swimmerets are not yet develoj^ed. In the second stage, which resembles the first, they have in. creased somewhat in size, and have obtained the rudiments of a portion of the swimmerets. In the third stage they measure about half an inch long, and the shell has become firmer than before. In the next and last stage observed, the embryo is about three-fifths of an inch long ; it has lost all of the characters in which it resembles the Schizopods, and has assumed the more important features of the adult. It still retains the free-swimming habit and is very active in its movements, frequently jumping out of the water by means of its caudal appendages. This stage was frequently taken from the 8th to the 20th of July, and Pro- fessor Smith thinks that the larva passes through all of these stages in the course of a single season. The stages immediately following the above were not observed. 30 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The young, like the adult lobster aud the crabs, increase in size by molting, or casting off the shell covering the body, a new shell rapidly ibrming in place of the old one. During the first season, as above de- scribed, the molts are frequent, and the embryos remain at the sur- face of the water as free swimmers, but how long the'young, after reach- ing the lobster-like form, retain this free-swimming habit was not ascer- tained. As the lobsters increase in size, it is evident that molting oc- curs less frequently, and in the adults probably only once a year. The rate of growth of lobsters has not been determined, and at jires- . eut we have no means of telling the age of a lobster measuring 10 inches in length. A few measurements have been made showing the amount of increase at certain molts, but it is not always constant, ev^en for lob- sters of the same size, and not knowing the frequency of molting or shedding, we have no w^ay of computing the rate of increase. One lob- ster measuring 8 inches before shedding was said to measure 10 inches after shedding; another, 10 inches before and 12 inches after shed- ding; a third, 10 J inches before and 11| inches after shedding ; a fourth, lOi^ inches before and 12 inches after shedding. Ten-inch lobsters are probably at least five or six years old, but such estimates are only the result of guesswork, aud may be very far out of the way. EXPERIMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE IN LOBSTER CULTURE. In the United States the only practical attempts that have yet been made toward the artificial propagation of lobsters have been in connec- tion with the so-called "])arking" of- lobsters — that is to say, their pro- tection in large inclosed natural basins, primarily for the purpose of perfecting them for market, aud of retaining conveniently at hand at all seasons a large reserve stock. In these parks the young lobsters taken by the fishermen are allowed to attain the adult size, the soft- shelled individuals to become hardened, and injuries to be repaired. Under such natural conditions, it is reasonable to suppose that the breeding habits would continue normal, and that large quantities of spawn would be hatched ; but whether the young would survive and increase in sufficient numbers to render the scheme profitable, if car- ried on for this purpose alone, has not been determined, though none of the projects had been continued long enough to give satisfactory re- sults, at last accounts. Two such parks in the United States have been specially called to our attention. The first was established on the coast of Massachusetts in 1872, and was afterwards abandoned, though for what reasons we do not know. The second was started in 1879 or 1880, on the coast of Maine, and is, we believe, still in operation. The latter is a small inclosed bay, with a narrow entrance, through which the passage of all objects above a very small size is prevented by a screen of wire netting. Tliis bay had previously furnished good lobster fishing, and was much resorted to by fishermen. It contains an BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 31 abiiutlauce of food suitable for lobsters, aud toward the center lias a sffiucient depth of water, with soft bottom, to afford some protection to the lobsters during the colder part of the year. Into this park large quantities of soft-shelled lobsters, of lobsters minus one or both claws, as well as of young individuals under the legal size of 10 or 10^ inches, have been i)Iaced for growth and repair, and it is claimed that the results have been very satisfactory in that particular. At the begin- ning of cold weather the lobsters retire to the deeper parts of the bay, and at times, when the water has been calm and clear, they have been observed almost comi)letely buried in the mud, with only their feelers, eyes, and a small portion of the front of the carapax exposed. Many of the injured lobsters first placed in the park were females with spawn, and since then berried lobsters have been i)urposely added from time to time. Young individuals of different sizes were said to have been abundant at last accounts, but in an exijeriment of this character a con- siderable lapse of time is required to test its merits. As such parks do not depend for their practical success solely upon the rearing of the young, but rather upon the perfecting of market supplies, which come from the traps in poor condition, it is possible that they may be made to ])ay if carried on economically. Their effect upon a general increase of supplies would probably never be very great. So far as we are aware, experiments upon the propagation of lobsters in Euroiie have been confined mainly to Norway, and were commenced there in 1873. The first report upon this subject was published in 1875. The berried lobsters were kept in boxes, constructed so as to retain the embryos after hatching. The young remained alive for several weeks, and their habits and the causes of their destruction were carefully studied. The results of these experiments will be of great service in the treatment of the young at the Wood's Holl Station next summer. Mr. Danuevig's more recent investigations in the same line have been noticed above. TRANSPLANTING OP LOBSTERS. Of great interest in connection with the artificial propagation of lob- sters, and bearing upon the same subject, is the question as to whether lobsters can be successfully transplanted from one region to another. This experiment has already been tried two or three times, but so far without success. The transportation of live lobsters long distances, even by railroads, has been accomplished, and they have also been carried from this country to England. Mr. Livingston Stone made three attempts to introduce the East Coast lobster on the coast of California, and on the last trial succeeded in planting a number of liv- ing individuals near the mouth of San Francisco Bay. As full accounts of these experiments have already been published by the Fish Commis- sion,* we do not need to repeat them here. *Eeport U. S. Com. of Fisli aud Fisheries, Part III, pp. 259-265, 1873-75 (1876); Part VII, pp. 637-644, 1879 (1882). 32 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The successful transplanting of lobsters must depend upon the new region affording conditions sufficiently like those of the old to favor the growth and reproduction of the species ; but the relative conditions of different regions have never been carefully studied with this object in view, and we are to-day unable to state precisely in what manner the Pacific coast waters agree with, or differ from, those of the Atlantic coast. Neither the temperatures nor the specific gravity of the waters of the two coasts have been compared, and it is only through incidental experiments that the fact has been ascertained that a few species from each coast are able to live and thrive upon the other. The conditions that are essential to, or control the existence of a species in a new region undoubtedly varj- more or less according to its organization, and the effects of changes of location upon the higher Crustacea have been but little studied, if at all. Above all tlie new-comer must have the power to sustain itself in the struggle for existence with those forms which already occupy the ground, and have been accustomed to it from long habit. Careful studies and experiments in this line of research, with reference to marine forms, would be of great practical benefit to the aims of the Fish Commission, and would probably lead to the trans- planting of many kinds of marine products to regions which are now poorly supplied with edible forms. A sort of transplanting of young lobsters has been going on along the New England coast, and especially the southern i)ortion of it, ever since the well-smack lobster trade began. The fact was mentioned above that immense quantities of embryo lobsters appear at the surface of the wells in the carrier smacks during the hatching season, and as the smacks jour- ney along they work out through the holes in the bottom of the well, and are thus constantly adding to the supply of the regions through which the smacks pass. It is unquestionable that the abundance of lobsters on the southern New England coast has been partly kept up, and probably increased at times in the past, by this transplanting of the young, and this fact was noticed and referred to over thirty years ago. The fishermen have the greatest respect for the embryo lobsters that appear in the wells of their smacks, and take great i)ains that no harm shall come to them. Numerous accounts have appeared in the newspapers, from time to time, since tliis transplanting occurred, to the effect that many young lobsters, supposed to be the progeny of those brought over by Mr. Stone, had been taken by the fishermen in the vicinity of San Francisco. Careful investigation, however, has failed to substantiate these reports, and the few small lobsters, so-called, that have been referred to nat- uralists, have proved to belong to another related genus, quite common on the California coast, but the species of which never grow to a lengthy of more than 3 or 4 inches. WAsniNGTON, J). C, JJecemhcr 16, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 33 Vol. VI, I¥o. 3. Washington, ». C. Feb. 1 8, 1886. 9.— IVE^r EIVGI.AIVI> FISDERIEIS IIV SEPTEITIBEB, 1SS5. By W, A. TITILCOX. September is the beginning of the end of the season's work ; and the Grand Banks, Greenland, and Iceland fishing vessels have most of them returned, but the mackerel fleet will remain out a few weeks longer. By the close of the month most of the small boats engaged in shore fishing off the coast of Maine will have hauled up. During the past month the receipts of fish at Gloucester, as com- pared with those of the corresponding month last year, show a gain of 649,500 pounds of halibut ; a falling off of 353,000 pounds of codfish, 69,402 pounds of other ground-fish, and 51,157 barrels of mackerel. The catch of codfish, for the number of vessels engaged, has been an average one. The Grand Banks fleet returned with full fares. A less number of vessels having been engaged accounts for the decrease in the aggregate receipts. The mackerel fishery, which gave promise of a large catch, shows a heavy falling off from August, as well as from the corresponding month of last year. During the entire month the body of mackerel appeared to be near shore around the rocks, making it almost impossible to take them with seines, with which the catch is ex- clusively made. The shore fleets, numbering from 250 to 300 sail, have followed the fish from the Bay of Fuudy to Cape Ann, in nearly all cases finding the fish near the rocks and shore. Every day seines were badly torn and damaged, while the catch, if any, was light, disappointing, and in most cases unprofitable. During the month from 12 to 15 vessels have remained in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, occasionally finding fish abundant, and at other times not finding any. A fair catch, however, was made during the month. Swordfish have been more abundant than for years, the catch being mostly taken in the Bay of Fundy and marketed at Boston. Alewives (glut herring) have continued remarkably abundant all along the eastern coast, and mackerel seines have often been filled with them, and the fish released. The only attempts to save these fish have been by the small steamers and vessels engaged particularly in this catch, selling the fish to the oil factories at Boothbay. Steamer Mabel Bird, of Portland, reports having taken 3,000 barrels. Shore herring arrived earlier than usual, were of large size, fine qual- ity, and for a few days very plentiful. On September 22d and 23d, 1,800 barrels were taken in nets set in Gloucester harbor. A storm on the 24th badly damaged the nets and drove the fish out. Along the eastern Bull. U. S. F. G., 86 3 M BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. coast, off Wood Islaud, aud other localities in Maine, lierring were re- ported abundant, but owing to fewer vessels having been engaged, the catch was much under the average. GREENLAND AND ICELAND HALIBUT FLEET. During the past month most of the vessels from the United States engaged in this far-away fishery have returned. With one exception they belong to Gloucester. The following is the list of vessels (all schooners), with dates of sailing aud return: Greenland. Iceland. Kame. Sailed. Returned. Name. Sailed. Returned. Drnid - -- Apr. 18 June 16 Apr. 14 June 16 Apr. 22 Sept. 21 Sept. — Oct. 15 Sept. 23 Sept. 21 Alice M. Williams t Apr. 21 May 15 Apr. 20 Apr. 21 Apr. 2S Lvtlia T. Crowell * Carrier Dove . . Sept. 10 Sept. 6 Sept. 20 Sent. 2S Mist Lizzie IT. Ilaskell Seth StockbriJf'e Marguerite ♦ Of Bev eriy, Mas s. t Lost. None of the vessels made full fares. Off Greenland the weather was reported good and fish scarce, while off Iceland fish were more abund- ant, but stormy weather prevailed much of the time. Capt. John Cous- ins, of the Carrier Dove, reports as follows : Sailed from Gloucester on May 15 ; arrived oft' Iceland June 23 ; left August 9 ; arrived at Glou- cester, September 10, On arriving at the fishing grounds found the coast entirely surrounded by ice at the northern part of the island, "where all the fishing was done. No halibut being reported on the southern coast, we had to wait about a week for the drift ice to clear. After that, ice was reported outside of the fishing grounds, but occa- sioned no trouble. Fished entirely with trawls set from 20 to 40 miles from the shore. Fished only for halibut, which appeared to be in spots. The catch was variable, some days only a few being taken, and other days a fair catch was made. We were obliged to change our location every day, having apparently caught all that were on a particular spot. During most of the fishing the weather was very blustery, with strong easterly wind much of the time. About 150 sail, mostly topsail schooners, from France, Norway, and England, were hand-line fishing for cod oft' the coast. Most of the foreign vessels were from France. The catch was mostly cod, with a small amount of cusk, had- dock, and ling. The vessels from the United States fished for halibut only. These halibut average 100 pounds each ; near shore they run of small size, some not over a pound. Sharks were very plentiful, and catching them for their oil was made a business by the natives. No fishing, except by natives, is permitted within three miles of shore, a Government steamer keeping watch along the coast to see that the vessels comply with the law. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 35 From the log-book of the ^Marguerite aud the rejjort of Capt. Charles 3. Johnson the following account is taken: Sailed from Gloucester April 28 ; arrived May 22; sailed for Green- laud, to complete the voyage, July 17; arrived there Jul3'27; sailed August 27; and arrived at Gloucester September 23. On May 9, met drift ice and numerous bergs in latitude 48^ 7' north, longitude 48° 8' west. May 10, saw heavy field ice in latitude 49° 29', longitude 48° 29'. May 11, no drift ice but many bergs, most of them aground; latitude 46° 28', longitude 48° 8'. May 12, two bergs were seen in latitude 47° 20', longitude 45° 31'. May 13, clear water ; temperature of water, 52° ; of the air, 59°. May 20, an immense berg was seen aground ; ran alongside, and sounded, finding 250 fathoms. Measured the berg and found it GIO feet out of water, or total from top to bottom, 2,110 feet ; measured nothing but the height, but estimate*! it at three-fourths of a mile wide, and from li to 2 miles long; water alongside oi" the berg, 43°; air, 45°; lati- tude G3° 50', longitude 26° 40'. Captain Johnson reports much of the time during his stop that the weather was very unfavorable for fishing. No fish were to be caught within 3 miles of shore, a Danish cruiser keeping watch to see that the law was not violated. No fishing license is required or any charges, except the port charges, which vary according to the tonnage of the vessel. On the Marguerite, of 103 tons, the lighthouse charge of 30 crowns [about $S] was collected once. For the first three times a vessel enters a port, 5 crowns harbor tax is collected each time. After paying three times a vessel can enter as often as they please free of any charge. These are the only charges made by the Government. The storage aud temporary care of salt and other goods left on shore is collected by private parties, and it often amounts to a considerable sum, and has given rise to reports that excessive fees were collected for the privilege of fishing. Reports have also been made that much ob- jection was offered to landing and that in some cases a decided refusal was made, both at Greenland and Iceland. Captain Johnson reports no trouble whatever, and nothing but kind and pleasant treatment from the officers at both places. Salt can be bought cheaper at Iceland than here. The halibut and cod-fishing grounds are located at the northern and eastern part of the island ; halibut were taken on trawls set in from 30 to 90 fathoms ; average weight of halibut, 100 pounds. Between Iceland aud Greenland clear water was found all the way. On July 22 met field ice to the southward of Cape Farewell. When off that cai^e found a narrow channel ; passed into and through it for 180 miles, it being from 1 to 10 miles wide. This took them around Cape Farewell and off Cape Desolation. On July 24 passed in full sight of and within one mile of Cape Farewell. With the exception of a few bergs, the harbor was free of ice. 36 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. For a number of years large-sized iLiackerel, that would inspect as No. 1, have been scarce both in American and Provincial waters. The catch of this season will inspect mostly as No. 2, a very small proportion of large-sized or No. 1 fish being taken. Some years large-sized mackerel have been found in immense numbers early in the season before passing Long Island Sound, after which only a small proportion of large fish were seen during the entire season. Where the large mackerel wont to has been a mystery, and a subject of much conjecture. If this question is not partially solved, it is certainly of much interest, and may lead to valuable results in the near future to know that during this season large bodies of extra-large mackerel were seen off the Labrador coast. Captain Johnson, of the Marguerite, reports that on September 5 and 6, Temi:)l6 Bay, at the northern end of the Strait of Belle Isle, was full of large- sized mackerel. They were also found abundant as far north as St. Lewis Sound, longitude 55° 45', latitude 52° 30'. xVt these points the na- tive fishermen were seining codfish, and would take large quantities of mackerel in their nets, but would not save them. The natives reported that for several years, of late, duripg August and September, mackerel have been plentiful. No small mackerel, or any, except large fish, were seen in that section. This season, at the date mentioned, the fish were fat. Captain Johnson says that those which he saw would more than reach across a barrel, not over one hundred fish being required to fill a packed barrel. Vessels that were trading along the coast iDacked a few barrels. Capt. Valentine Doane, of Harwichport, Mass., being on a business trip along the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts, writes, under date of July 28, that mackerel of large size were abundant at Chateau Har- bor, Labrador. As the letter has much of interest in connection with the fisheries of that section, some extracts from it are here given : Labrador and Newfoundland Fisheries. — There are several other harbors near by — Henly, Antelope, Granville, Pitts Arm, &c. — all small, but each with its own peculiar features, and all with the one busi- ness and the sole and only thought — fishing. The men catch the fish, the women dress and cure them. The homes of these people are miserable huts and shanties, and yet all are happy and contented, and apparently without a thought of ever having anything better or that there is any- thing better in the world. I should judge by observation, after visiting all the inlets and coves hereabouts, that there might be 300 persons about here now. It is the most desolate and forlorn looking land I ever saw. The people are sober, honest, industrious, moral, tidy in their appearance, and keep the Sabbath in the strictest sense. We are waited upon regularly by btats that bring us fresh salmon, cod,, herring (equal to our No. 1 mackerel), trout, and I have had, to my sur- prise, twenty-five or thirty fresh mackerel. We also find good clams- here, and I am surjirised to see the natives stare at us as we dig clams- They never use them, even for bait, and mackerel they not only will BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 37 not eat, but will Dot save tbem. They find them in their nets among the herring, and until I came and promised to buy them, they would not save one. Xow they all understand that I will buy them, and I liope to pick up a few barrels of nice ones. One boat's crew came in yesterday and reported a large school of mackerel in one of the coves on the outside ; but there are no seines here that will answer for taking mackerel, and so nothing was done about it. I think there will be one mackerel seine and boat here another year, though they tell us that there have been no piackerel seen about here before for several years, and that they cannot be relied upon. But I am satisfied that there are good mackerel about here now. I found at St. John's, Kewfouudland, that the reports from all sources about the island regarding the fish crop for the present season were very discouraging. One of the largest dealers told me he could see nothing but starvation in prospect for many •of the outports. He said they exported from St. John's alone last year 1,000,000 quintals of dry cod, and that the crop last year was only two- thirds of a catch, and he feared this year's crop would fall far below that ,• and the dealers were all very gloomy. And in passing along the <;oast from St. John's to this place on the steamer we called at nineteen diifereut harbors, and on the Labrador coast at six harbors, and with only one exception they all reported no fish. " The poorest fishing ever known in this harbor," was the universal complaint, and certainly they looked as if they were telling the truth, for there was hardly anything about the stages or flakes to indicate what they were used for. We took •on at one harbor 125 tierces of salmon and at another 450 cases (four dozen each) of canned lobsters, and should judge that the catch of salmon and lobsters all along the coast had been fair, but I am told that it is never large. The herring have also been very scarce and smaller than usual in size, but at this point, and within G miles of this, there has been a good, fair catch of herring within a few days, size large and quality excellent, better to eat fresh than mackerel at this season of the year. I have spoken so far only of the boat-fishing. That is what they «all their shore-fishing. There are probably 1,000 sail of vessels owned in j^ewfoundland and Labrador, principally on the east and the west coast of Newfoundland, that are engaged exclusively in the cod fishery, and from June 15 to October 15 their fishing ground is along the coast of Labrador. From this fleet there have been as yet no reliable reports; only rumors. But in every harbor we stopped at there was a "rumor from the fleet up the coast that they were doing very poorly," and I have heard here within a day or two that up to July 15 the fleet had done but very little ; and as all agree that the best of the season is gone when August begins, it looks very gloomy for the cod fishing of iSTew- foundland. In addition to the boats used about the shore for cod fish- .ing, I find in general use the Yankee invention, traps and seines, and most of the fish taken this season have been taken in seines, regular purse-seines, though not near so large as our mackerel seines, and they 38 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. liandle them very skilfully. I also notice that as far as I have seen in Labrador the fishing boats are in most cases American build, "lap- streak," handsome, able boats, and the men are proud of them. During January, February, and March last, three cargoes of codfish •were exported from Provincetown, IMass., to Portngal, but owing to to the very high duty ($2.50 a quintal) the shipment did not realize much, if any, more than if sold in the home markets. Yet, from these shipments a number of interesting results have grown. The crews of the three vessels mentioned were Portuguese fishermen that had long fished on the Grand Banks in vessels from Provincetown. On arriving at Lisbon, and speaking of the work, catch, &c., of the American fish- ing vessels, some persons became interested, engaging as many of the crew as they could to go in vessels for them and show them the Yankee way of fishing. An agent was sent over and four vessels were pur- chased, one each from Plymouth and Wellfleetand two from Province- town, and fitted for the Grand Banks, the crew being Portuguese fisher- men of Provincetown. These four vessels secured full fares of codfish,, which were taken direct to Lisbon, the crew receiving $400 each and their passage back to the United States by steamer. Vessels that were fitted at Portugal, and manned by men from there, are reported as re- turning with no more than half fares. Lately an agent has been sent to Massachusetts to engage crews for next season ; boats (dories) have been ordered from Salisbury, Mass., and a number of vessels from Lis- bon will early in the spring come to Massachusetts for supplies and. men, going from here to the Grand Banks, thence to Portngal. It is ex- pected that a large ])ortion, if not all, of the Portuguese fishermen of Provincetown will engage in these vessels from their old country. This demonstrates the superiority of Xew England methods of fishing; over those of the Old World. Eectipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in September, 1885. rrom — Fares. Codfish. 1 Halibut. Hake. Pollock. George'.s Bank 148 1 34 7 I 11 129 3 4 8 1 3 3 Pounds. 3, 207, COO 70, 000 1,015,000 2, 020, 000 Pounds. 102, 200 300 1, 028, 500 24, 000 20, 000 Pounds. Pounds. Eiown's Bank . Grand Banks Grand Banks* Grand Baukst Xo va Scot la, Cape Shore 483, 000 20, 000 130, 000 Xew EuLcland shore 41, ODD 47 GOO Groculaud, Flemish Cap 340, 000 582, 000 21«, 000 Iceland La Have Bank Bav ol' Fund V 7,000 Kortli Bav, b'v railroad Korth Bay, by steamer to Boston Total 353 fi '»■>•■' nnn 2, 375, 000 41,000 47, OOC- W, VW-, v«« BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 39 Beceijits offish at Gloucester, Mass., Septeniber, 1885 — Contiuiied. From— Swordfish. Herring. Mackerel. Halibut fins. OiL George's Bank Pounds. Barrels. Barrels. Barrels. Barrels. Brown's Bank Grand Banks Grand Banks* Grand Bankst Xova Scotia, Capo shore New Eniiland shore 12, 600 600 24, 643 20 Greenland, Flemish Cap 122 107 Iceland La Have Bank Bay of Fundj- Harbor nets 2,535 North Bay, b v railroad 1,227 710 North Bay, by steamer to Boston.. Total 12,600 3,135 26, 580 229 20 Other receipts: dry fish from Maine, 1,650 quintals hake; 400 quintals cod; 450 quintals haddock. *Subiect to duty, from British vessels. tFresli fish, duty free, from British vessels. Location of the New England fishing fleet during the last iveek of September. — 325 sail, mackerel, between Cape Cod and Portland. Me. 25 sail, mackerel, off Nova Scotia and in Gulf of St. Lawrence. 35 sail, halibut, on the Grand Banks, in latitude 44° to 44° 12', longitude 49° 12' to 49° 25'. 50 sail, codfish, on the Grand Banks. 140 sail, codfish, on George's and Brown's banks, in latitude 41° to 43°, longitude 65° 30' to 69°. 5 sail, codfish, off Nova Scotia. 175 sail, ground-fishing, off New England coast. 50 saU, herring, oft' New England coast. lO.-NEW £NOIiAIVD FISHERIES IN OCTOBER, 1SS5. By W. A. fFII^COX. October 3, the mouth opened with strong KE. '^inds; to-day, a dense fog, light rain, with thunder and lightning ; very few mackerel taken the past week ; 200 sail of the fleet are to-day detained in the harbor at Gloucester. On October 6 some good fares of fine mackerel were taken between Newburyport and Thatcher's Island. Among the vessels reported we notice the schooner Fannie Belle, 190 barrels; Lizzie Maud, 240; Onward, 80; Henry W. Longfellow, 80; Mystery, 2G0; Ellen M. Adams, 100; James and Ella, 300 barrels, the latter taken in Ipswich Bay. The fishing fleet are once more detained in this and other ports by high winds and rough weather. October 8 was a fine day, in which the fishing fleet were all busy. Between Eastern Point (just out from Gloucester Harbor) and Thatcher's Island 300 sail and three small steamers were busy in the catch of mackerel. The fish were of good size, mostly Ko. 2, and quite fat. From the bluffs at East Gloucester thirty seine boats were at one time counted, all busy taking fish. The catch for the day amounted to 0,500 barrels. Fifty vessels made hauls that averaged something over one hundred barrels each. This was the largest amount taken in any one day during the month. October 0, the fleet worked over to Cape Cod, remaining off Cape Cod and in Barnstable Bay during the mouth. At times quite a body 40 BULLETIN OF THE UXITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of mackerel was found, and many vessels made good hauls. Much time was lost from stormy weather; the aggregate catch of the mouth was not up to expectation, and vessels began to leave for home ports. At the close of the month 150 sail had given up the catch, and about the same number remained for a short time longer. Gulf of Samt Lawrence. — A few vessels from Massachusetts have re- mained about Prince Edward Island. Much of the time the weather was unfavorable for fishing, and but a very small amount was added to the catch. We quote from a letter received from Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, dated October 20 : " Mackerel kept on the north side of the island this year, and scarcely any were taken on this side by boats or vessels. We can report this season as one of the worst and most unprofitable in the history of the fish business for our fishermen. We do not hear of any mackerel having been taken during the past two weeks." Gill-net fishing. — As the schools of ground fish begin to draw in near the coast, the first of October finds the gill-net fishermen on the grounds with these nets that are now so generally used by the shore fishermen. Onl}- a few years ago they were unknown to the American fishermen. On being introduced by the TJ. S. Fish Commission, in 1878, the shore fishermen soon saw the many advantages and value of them, gradually giving up the hook and line for gill-nets. October 7, the first gill-nets were put down this season. Six nets were set on Brown's fishing-ground, 7 miles from Gloucester. These nets were hauled the next day, the catch being 1,000 pounds of codfish and 100 pollock that weighed 2,400 pounds ; the pollock by gill-net catch averaged 24 pounds each. A few sail hand-line fishing on the same ground took but few fish, none of their pollock of over 12 pounds weight. Soon the hand-line fishermen gave it, up. The catch by gill- nets increased daily, the fish coming in abundance, and more vessels and nets being engaged. The aggregate catch for the month amounted to 2,768,790 pounds of pollock and 112,770 pounds of codfish. The fisher- men engaged in this catch live mostly at Gloucester ; they leave home between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning ; having only 12 to 15 miles to go, they arrive on the fishing grounds at an early hour, run their nets, taking from G,000 to 8,000 pounds of pollock and 1,000 to 3,000 pounds of codfish ; are back in port, fish sold, and money received for same before dark, the flshermaji averaging from $3 to $5 each for his day's work, spending his night at home, and being off again the next morning. This of course api3lies only to the time when the weather is favorable and fish remain in this immediate neighborhood. Another month will find fish and fishermen moved from their present location of Half-way liock iiito Ipswich Bay, where the gill-net cod-fishing will be carrie FISEIERIES IIV NOVEmBER, 1SS5. By W. A. WII.COX. Xovember brings in most of the fishing fleets that have been at ■work during the season. The mackerel, Grand Banks cod-fishery, shore her- ring, and eastern or Maine shore fisheries are over. From this until spring few ports except Gloucester will have any vessels on the fishing grounds. Fish have been fairly abundant, and the catch, mackerel excepted, ■will show a gain of most varieties over that of 1884. During the entire season the demand has been very moderate; com- petition, sharp; foreign imi)ortations, notwithstanding the duty, quite^ large. Prices so low that the season has been one of disappointment,^ with small if any profit. The late or fall catch of mackerel was very light; at times quite a body offish was found in Barnstable Bay and off Cape Cod, but high winds held the fleet in port much of the brief time while the fish remained, and only a small amount was added to the catch. The middle of the month found the catch given up by all except four vessels that were off the Nova Scotia shore; the latter all arrived during the month without a 44 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. barrel of fish, having been in provincial waters six weeks. On November 21, the last one of the mackerel fleet, the schooner Spencer F. Baird, arrived from a six weeks' cruise in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and along the IsTova Scotia shore, her trip being an entire failure, not tak- ing a single mackerel ; they reported much rough weather and the only mackerel seen were a few taken in nets by the Nova Scotia shore fisher- men. The late fall catch off the Nova Scotia shore was almost an entire failure to the native fishermen as well as to American seiners. The full returns have not been received ; enough are at hand, as reported on iirrival, to show a decrease of about 85,000 barrels from that of the New England fleet in 1884. Shore herring remained from the last of September to November 8; the catch was the largest for years; with full preparations, more than -double the amount taken could have been secured. The catch about <3ape Ann was as follows : Location. Boats. Men. Nets. Herring. 17 75 46 45 34 125 75 45 104 1.50 175 150 BarreU. 3,876 1,500 1,600 2, 800 Total 183 279 579 9,776 Boats from Gloucester were larger and carried more nets than others mentioned. Pollock were nearly all taken by gill-nets; aggregate 1,923,500 pounds, against 965,000 pounds the corresponding month last year ; gain during November of nearly one million pounds. Much of the time the past month fresh bait has been scarce, resulting in a decrease in the George's Bank and shore catch ; squid have been abundant on La Have and Brown's banks ; fish plentiful ; good fares se- cured, the aggregate receipts of codfish at Gloucester being 2,978,424: pounds, against 2,223,000 in November, 1884. Halibut receipts show a large gain. November, 1885, 058,100 pounds, iigainst November, 1884, 108,400 pounds. Mackerel landed at Gloucester in November, 1885, 6,564 barrels; while in November, 1884, it was 13,306 barrels. Fortune Bay herring fleet will not be so large as last season, num- bering then 22 sail. Schooner Commonwealth, of Gloucester, the first and only one to sail this mouth, left on November 21. The first to sail in 1884 was on November 24. The most severe and longest storm for many years, extending the entire length of the coast, began in this section on Saturday p. m., November 21, and continued until Thursday night, November 26. Al- though much of the time the wind blew a gale, very little damage to the fishing vessels or other shipping has been reported. Vessels from BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 45 Grand, La Have, aud George's Banks arrive in good order, and report rough weather, but not severe or anything like what it was near land. The gill-net fishermen were severe sufferers by the storm, aud it is the first time since the introduction of the gill-nets that they have met ■with anyserious loss. Twelve sailreport a loss of 132 nets, with anchors, buoys, &c., of the aggregate value of $2,658. Most of the nets lost wfere off Half-way Eock, on rocky bottom, in 24 fathoms; in Ipswich Bay a few were lost, on smooth bottom, in 15 fathoms; others in 30 fathoms were not damaged. Receipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in November, 1885. From— Fares. Mack- erel. Codfish. Halibut. Pollock. Hake. Haddock. Cask. Massacbnsetts shore, gill-nets 43") Bbls. Pounds. 336, 624 1,015,000 200, 000 Pounds. '"']i,'66o 541,800 52, 000 47, 000 Pounds. 1, 923, 500 Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. 431 18 Grand Banks. British* 1 18 1 21 23 42 10 ........ ""4," 999 1,565 677, 000 30,000 674, 000 12, 000 10,000 6,300 113, 000 33,000, 18. .500 33, 800 18, 000 50, m 8,666 Total 609 6,564 2, 978, 424 658, 100 1,941,500! 163.000' 43.000 26.500 ' * Free of duty. other receipts: From Maine, 110 barrels of herring, 2,374 quintals of hake, 230 quintals of haddock; from Rhode Island, 900 barrels tish oil. Imports from the proviaces : 1,950 quintals hake, 24 quintals- pollock, 2,600 boxes smoked herring. 13.— IVEIF EIVOIiAIVD FISIIERIES IIV DECEmBER, 1SS5. By W. A. Tl^lI.COX. During most of the month the weather was unfavorable for fishing, there being high wind and sea and a succession of gales. The small amount of fishing that was attempted on George's Bank and off the New England coast was accomx)anied with severe and many losses to nearly all engaged. The gill-net fishermen have not been able to fish one-half of the time, and have suffered severely in the loss of nets. Eeceipts of the month have mostly been from La Have Bank, where codfish of fine size and quality have been abundant ; and vessels from there were mostly outside of the severe gales, suffered but little, and arrived with good fares. Squid were found in great abundance on La Have Bank, furnishing ijleuty of the best of bait. This was very for- tunate, as most of the weirs were damaged by storms or taken up, aud little bait could be procured along the coast. On December 7 a severe gale badly damaged weirs, nets, and all fish- ing property that was exposed. From December 25 to 27 the most severe gale for many years extended the entire length of our Atlantic 46 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. coast, as well as far inland. This is remembered as the "Christmas gale." The following fishing vessels and lives were lost: Schooners Cleopatra and four men, Eacer, Adelia Hartwell, and Ivauhoe. Three men were lost from the schooner Lizzie Griffin and one from the Lillian Baxter. Total, 4 vessels and 8 men, from Gloucester. The Portland schooner Breeze and the Nova Scotia schooner S. E. Killam, and master, were also lost in the same gale. All vessels that arrived for some time reported the roughest weather for many years, and most of them were more or less damaged. The Grand Banks halibut fleet were outside of the gale and arrived in good order. They experienced rough weather, arriving with small fares. During the month weir-fishing was finished until spring. On account of the many storms and much damage, it has not been very profitable. The ten weirs located near Provincetown report as follows : Put down April 20, taken up December 12, during which time they caught as follows : Kind of fisb. Mackerel, cured barrels.. Mackerel, sold fiesb do... Herring, cured do. .. Herring, sold fresb do Squid do . . . Quantity. 792 975 1 075 3 550 1 670 Kind of fish. Cod, pollock, and bake pounds. Bluefish do... Smelts do... Eels do... Flounders do Quantity. 62, 300 1,000 5,000 2. 500 10, 000 Prices at the weirs averaged : herring, $1.25 a barrel; squid, $1 a barrel ; smelt, 10 to 12 cents per pound ; eels, 9 cents per pound. During the month fleets have sailed on frozen-herring trips to For- tune Bay, Newfoundland, as follows : Schooner Commonwealth sailed November 20; schooner Cecil H. Low, November 27 ; schooner Henri N. Woods, December 2 ; schooner Mystery, December 3 ; schooner Mary Fernald, December 3; schooner Gov. Butler, December 4; schooner Nellie M. Davis, December 4; schooner Mary E. McDonald, December 5 ; schooner Samuel V. Colby, December 5 ; schooner Spencer F. Baird, December 8 ; schooner Jennie Seaverns, December 8; schooner Herman E. Babson, December 9; schooner Edith S. Walen, December 10 ; schooner Centennial, Decem- ber 11 ; schooner Laura Nelson, December 13 ; schooner Maggie and Lilly, December 14 ; schooner Electric Light, December 18 ; schooner William D. Daisley, December 19; schooner Warren J. Crosby, Decem- ber 19; schooner Arthur D. Story, January 1, 188G. Total, 20 sail, all belonging to the port of Gloucester. No other vessels from the United States will go to Fortune Bay for herring this season. The Eastport or Bay of Fundy herring fleet, from Gloucester, began to start on their trips on December 4, the following vessels having sailed during the month : Schooners Goldsmith Maid, Ada R. Terry, Volunteer, Argonaut, Annie E. Lane, Joseph Story, Margie Smith, William H. Foye, Porter S. Eoberts, Frederick P. Frye, Hattie Evelyn, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 47 Kattler, and E. W. Merchant ; total, 13 sail. A number of vessels from Eastern ports will also engage in this branch of the business. Yery few herring- have been taken during the mouth, the weather not having been cold enough for freezing; and vessels are delayed. The last reports from Fortune Bay were that the weather was very mild. The demand for all kinds of fish has been very light all through the month, notwithstanding prices have been lower on all varieties than one year ago — a fact that may be noted that ever since the restoration of the duty at no time have prices been as high as of late years, when free of duty. This is largely accounted for from the great reduction and present low price of other leading j)rovisions. Receipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in December, 1885. From— Fares. Codfish. Halibut. Haddock. Hake. Pollock. Cusk. Oil. 51 20 1 Pounds. 2. 253, 000 87, 000 Poundg. 32,800 492, 000 25, 000 200 Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Barrels. •Onnfl "Rinl^^i Thrown '^ Tiniik 2 ss nnn Kew England shore, 135 398, 800 35 1 90 500 22, 150 2,000 Xew England shore, trfl'wlers 91, 600 20, 500 2,000 *500 Total 244 2,867,300 1 530, 000 91, 600 20, 500 24, 150 2,000 500 * From Tirerton, E. I. 13.— INSPECTION OF FISH AND OTHER MARINE PROI>UCT8 IN THE DISTRICT OF COI.IJ1TIBIA. By CHAS. W. SITIItEY. 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 officer of the District. By the courtesy of that officer, Dr. Smith Townshend, the Fish Commission has been permitted to compile annual tables which show the trade in fresh fish in this city. Tables for 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883 will be found on pages 2-6 of the Bulletin for 1881; for 1884 on page 105 of the Bulletin for 1885; and for 1885 on the following page. Following is a summary table of the results : Kinds. Oysters* Terrapin t Turtle.st "... Clams t Crabs t Shadt Sturgeon t Herring f BluefishJ Perch X Catfish: Itockfisht Other fish* ; * Bushels 1879. 259, 356 1,452 454 1, 167, COO 528, 400 311,585 1,200 3, 605, 984 248, 295 297, 865 401,850 148, 215 294, 427 1880. 1881. 378, 295 3,154 501 1, 384, 950 682, 370 320, 799 1,176 6, 853, 721 371,988 1, 051, 392 469, 820 406, 138 619, 622 315, 296 2,574 117 1,131,000 314, 800 458, 368 1,289 9, 633, 568 196, 353 1, 044, 145 874,465 395, 370 218, 512 1882. 411, 255 831 116 1,219,850 527, 001 350, 292 1,904 6, 499, 865 224, 040 229, 558 271, 597 334, 865 283, 046 1883. 1884. 400, 564 1,646 95 1, 380, 000 690, 372 261,478 1,673 4, 983, 998 243, 025 284, 955 214,515 274, 860 383, 775 307, 832 264 126 1, 847, 900 839, 200 231,111 1,588 5, 640, 812 226, 420 320, 170 243, 605 340, 460 478, 085 1885. 330, 005 55 1, 758, 900 722, 400 125, 458 1,174 9, 813, 544 200, 330 273, 975 312, 985 300,915 336, 904 tNamber. 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"5 S. ; 0^ ="3 -— r — = 553 : £~ S ■ C: Bj ci iff* m 1 3 '1.^ = I-^ =«■•: ^'Ti— ■5'^'S 'r' ""^ - ^lll^yjl^^l r?? =- " - '^ • ;; ^ c j!^ ;wi: r K^ - 7; t ^A -.1 X.Z ^x3 '.-J fv :H 9b 3 j^ 5 ; Hfi r3 o s c3 o S c to bi o .£■2 !S a 0 o P. o ^ S o a a a 2° = 3 . S o •* F- ^ GO ~ a n — - cS X C— _; - c2-i X a 5r £'= ■^T a -^ o c^ i a c a C:.e-o iias « ' c 5 5 « e-cs « BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 49 VoS. n, rVo. 4. ^VasihiiisioM, ». C. Feb. 27, I 886. 14.-NEW EIVOIi/lND FISHERIES IIV JAIVUAKY, 1SS6. By W. A. WILCOX. With the New Englaud fishermen January may be called the vaca- tion month of the year. Of the fifteen hundred and odd vessels that durino- the past year were engaged on the fishing grounds, extending from the Gulf of Mexico along the American coast to distant Greenland and Iceland, only a comparatively small number are engaged during midwinter. The crews can then rest, travel, or engage in such work ashore as can be found. Many of them may be met at the country store or at the fishing station talking about and comparing notes of the previous year and of former years. Or he may be found with i^eu- cil and tools drafting and modeling what he expects will be an im- provement on that which is now generally known as the finest fishing vessel of the world. Others are away in the far West, sometimes on the Pacific coast, often settling down in new homes and helping to develop the resources of the nation, in some cases he may be fouud as the country school-teacher or as a village pastor. He easily adapts himself to time and circumstances. Gloucester alone, of all New England ports, actively follows the winter fisheries. During most of the month the weather has been rough and unfavorable for fishing, ar- rivals few and receipts light, yet in excess of the corresponding month in 1885. On January 8 and 0 another severe storm, although not so long, was nearly, if not quite, as severe as the one of two weeks previous. The following vessels were lost from the fishing fleets: From Glouces- ter, schooner I. H. Higgins, vessel lost, crew saved; schooner Hyperion, with a crew of 12 men, sailed December 7; schooner Mabel Dillaway, with a crew of 16 men, sailed on December 20, was not seen after De- cember 25. The last two mentioned vessels, with all hands, have been given up, and are supposed to have been lost in the gale of December 25 to 27. The schooner Gertie Freeman, of Newbury port, was wrecked off New Castle, N. H. ; crew saved. Schooner Nimble, of Boston, was lost on the Graves just outside of Boston Harbor. The schooner Alice M. Gould, of Portland, Me., was wrecked off Jor- dan's Point, jMe. In addition to the above-mentioned losses to the fishing fleet, many coasting vessels were lost, and nearly all vessels that were exposed re- ceived more or less damage. Probably no other industry carried on in this country shows yearly such a large loss in life and property as the New England fisheries. Bull. U. S. F. C, 8G 4 50 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Gloucester alone has the sad record, from 1830 to 1882, fifty-two years, of 419 vessels and 2,249 lives, an annual average of 8 vessels and 43 lives. Fortune Bay, Neicfoundland, lierring fishery. — The schooner Cecil H. Low, of Gloucester, was the first arrival with a cargo of frozen herring, having sailed from liTewfoundland January 15, arrived the 22d, with 400,000 herring. She reports the weather very mild, herring abundant; a large amount taken, but for want of freezing weather thrown away. Other arrivals from there during the mouth: Schooner Commonwealth, 380,000; Henri N.Wood, 300,000; Electric Light, 400,000 ; and one Brit- ish vessel, schooner Annie Eobinson, 350,000. The last two proceeded on to New York for a market. Bay of Fundy lierring. — The fleet for frozen herring remained idle during December, waiting for freezing weather and more fish. During the past month the catch has improved, and suitable weather for freez- ing has enabled the following vessels to load and arrive at Gloucester: Name of vessel. Joseph Story January 5 Argonaut J.anuary 13 William H. Foye January 14 Goldsmith Maid I January 14 Number of herring. 140, 000 218, 000 240, 000 180, 000 The arrivals from Fortune Bay and the Bay of Fundy find a ready market for cargoes, which are largely used for fresh bait as well as for food. The price is the same for fish from either place, ranging from 75 cents to $1.25 per 100 by actual count. The Ipswich Bay cod fleet have found fish quite plentiful, but have had only a few days of suitable weather for fishing. Vessels engaged during the month: 20 sail with gill-nets, and 25 with trawls. The former have suffered severe losses in the numerous gales, many nets being lost and others being badly damaged. The catch is nearly all sent to the Boston market fresh, being landed at the nearest ports accessible to the railroad. The amount of codfish landed by this fleet of netters during the month at Portsmouth, N. H., was 99,000 pounds, and at Rockport, Mass., was 45,000 pounds. The Grand Banks halibut vessels arrive with light fares, that find quick sale at good prices. They report much rough weather and high seas, but no gales or severe storms like those ofl" the New England coast and George's Bank. The new year opened with a dark cloud over the fishing industry. One storm was scarcely over before it was followed by another. The coast was strewed with wrecks, and many lives were lost. In addition to which the agitation of the fisheries question by Congress, and doubts and uncertainty for the future, all had a depressing effect, and little courage was felt to engage in the business for the new year. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 51 Witb the close of the month a much better feeling is shown; disasters and losses of the past are not thought so irreparable, as long as there is a prospect of some protection being giving the industry by the Gen- eral Government. Beceipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., January, 18S6. Prom— Fares. Codfish. 1 Halibut. Haddock. Frozen herring. Pickled herring. Oil. La Have Bjint . 5 14 3 Pounds. 210, OUO "i]i,"oo6' rounds. 2,000 463, 700 11,000 25, 000 6,000 10, 100 Pounds. Count. Barrels. Barrels Grand Eanks .. Brown's B:^nk n 11 30, 000 112, 000 5,000 Eastport, Me 2, 531, 000 1, 480, 000 350, 000 Fortane Bay, Newfoundland Fortune Bay Fn^lish New England share, netters 40, 000 7,000 New En^^'land shore trawlers - -. 10, 000 Maine 220 Tiveiton,K.I 225 — Total 64 510, 000 517, 800 15, 000 4, 361, 000 220 225 15.-TDE FISHERIES OF CANADA IIV 1SS4.* GENERAL REMARKS ON THE PROVINCES. Nova Scotia. — The returns show that the fisheries of this Province do not only maintain the improvement of the last few years, but they show a large increase over any former year. While this improvement em- braces nearly all kinds of fish, it is most marked in cod, mackerel, herring, salmon, and lobsters. The encouragement offered by the bounty has largely increased the number of vessels and boats engaged in the deei)-sea and shore fish- eries. Neic Brunsicick. — From this Province the returns show a large in- crease in the yield of its fisheries. A most gratifying feature is the general improvement in the salmon fishery, which extends to almost every district in which this fishery is pursued. Smelt, herring, and lobsters show increased catches. Shad and alewives also share in the general improvement, but the sturgeon fishery shows a large falling off from former years. In some districts the herring fishery was not so productive, while in others it shows a largely increased catch. This is no doubt due to the erratic movements of the schools of this fish, which, while nev^er leaving our coast, change their habitat according to tem- perature, weather, and the location of their favorite food. Quebec. — The late date at which the ice left in the spring, and the stormy weather which almost constantly prevailed in the Gulf during * Extracts from the Annual Report of the Department of Fisheries, Dominion of Canada, lor the year 1884. 52 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the fisliiiig- season, has caused a cousiderablc decrease in the catch of almost all kinds of fisb. The decrease in the catch of salmon on the south shore of Gaspe and Bonaventure is, however, counterbalanced by the increased catch on the north shore. More interest than usual ^Yas taken in the mackerel fishery, and con- siderable outlay was made by local fishermen; but unfavorable weather doubtless afiected the movements of the schools, Avhich did not go to the west of Cape Breton, and the catch made was inconsiderable. The inlaud fisheries show a large decrease as compared with the catch of 1883. This falling off, which was noticeable in almost every kind of fish, is due more to a prevalence of contrary winds and stormy iveather than to any scarcity of fish. Prince Edward Island. — Tiie stormy and unfavorable weather which prevailed in the Gulf extended also to the straits, and had the same effect on the island fisheries. The returns show a large falling off' in all kinds of fish, the decrease being most marked in mackerel. The single exception is the lobster fishery, w^hich, contrary to general expectation, has been good, and the returns show a considerable increase over the very large catch of last year. The enormous extent to which this fishery has been developed and the constantly increasing number of factories and fishermen have led to much confusion. It will soon be necessary, in the interest of the fish- ery, as well as of the fishermen and packers, to bring it under the more effective control of the Department. British CohimMa. — The returns from this Province show a large de- crease in the salmon catch of the Fraser lliver, where only six canneries out of thirteen were in operation. This result was not due to any scarcity of fish, but to the large quantity of preserved salmon on the market and the low prices obtained. A fish hatchery, measuring 100 by 40 feet, was built during last sea- son on the Fraser Eiver. It will easily accommodate 3,000,000 quinuat salmon eggs or 5,500,000 saw-quai [or " suk-kegh," a name for blue-back salmon?] salmon ova. By doubling the trays, double this number of eggs can be laid down. The catching of parent salmon began about the beginning of July, and by the close of the season 3,000,000 eggs were on the trays. The operations were highly successful, and reflect credit upon the ofiQcer in charge, Mr. Thomas Mowat. Ontario. — The total value of the fisheries in the Province of Ontario is reckoned at $1,133,724.26, On Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay the individual catches did not much exceed those of last year, but the number of fishermen was larger and the aggregate yield consequently increased. The severe stormy w^eather which prevailed during the first part of November greatly interfered with the fisher- men's operations by damaging or destroying a large amount of twine and driving the runs of fish off" the reefs; but, on the whole, the result was satisfactory. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 53 Pr.ODUCE OF THE FISHERIES. The total value of the fisheries of Canada for the year 1884 is reck- oned as follows : Nova Scotia. 8'^. 763, 779 36 New Brunswick 3,730,453 99 Quebec 1,694,. 560 85 British Columbia , 1,358,267 10 Outario 1,133,724 26 Prince Edward Island 1,085,618 68 Showing a total value of 17, 766,404 24 as agaiust $10,958,192.98 iu 1883, an increase of $808,211.20. This is exclusive of the quantity consumed by the Indian population of British Columbia, and also of the yield of Manitoba and the Korth- west Territories, from which, although steps have been taken to supply the information in future, no reliable data are available for the present report. The following table is valuable for its recapitulation of the yield of the different kinds of fish throughout Canada during 1883 and 1881, with a comparison of the products of these years: The yield and value of fisheries in the Dominion of Canada for the years 1883 a7id 1884. Kinds of flsli. 1883. Cod c-wts-. Herring : Pickled barrels.. Smoked boxes.. Frozen number.. Preserved or fresh pounds . . Lobsters : Preserved do... Preserved tons.. In shell or alive per M.. Salmon : Pickled barrels . . Fresh number.. Fresh in ice pounds . . Preserved in cans do. .. Smoked do.. Mackerel : Preserved in cans do. . . Pickled barrels.. Haddock cwts.. Hake do. . . Pollock do . . . Trout pounds.. Trout barrels.. Whiteflsh do... W^hitefish pounds.. Smelts do. .. SaT'dines barrels.. Sardines hogsheads . . Oysters barrels . . Ale wives do. .. Hake sounds pounds.. Cod tongues and sounds barrels.. Shad , number.. Shad, salted barrels.. Eels, salted do. . . Eels number.. Mu.skallonge pounds.. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 1, 074, 914 $4, 507, 110 25 1, 022, 234 $4, 302, 454 85 443, 611 1, 825, 355 50 493, 241 2, 029, 430 00 1,247,660 311, 915 00 1, 938, 194 484, 548 50 20, 875, OOO 125, 100 00 14, 851, 500 89, 109 00 7,968 956 16 »1, 049, 550 42, S59 50 13, 364, 020 1, 889, 265 71 15, 933, 283 2, 259, 892 80 964 1, 195, 120 29,310 00 30, 678 00 I 3, 005 91, 967 00 6, 030i 63, 901 50 10, 049 123, 418 50 117,664 44, 287 20 173, 050 51,916 80 1, 537, 052 262, 810 44 2, 008, 268 346, 000 29 9,460,911 1, 087, 218 35 6, 803, 845 781,366 05 419, 363 59, 909 02 385, 230 55, 026 09 702, 743 94, 853 46 190, 4.57 28, 194 03 124, 093 1, 234, 632 00 180, 170 1, 798, 487 00 173, 092 609, 966 50 216, 544 758, 245 70 146, 281 511,983 50 40, 073 140. 255 50 105, 573 360, 505 50 78, 635 275. 222 50 4, 744, 529 368, 323 12 5,517,487 429, 481 00 4,099 40, 072 00 3, 546J 35, 172 00 1,862 18, 620 00 2.078 20, 780 Oil 3, 120, 032 249, 602 50 3, 139, 891 251,191 28 4, 180, 943 254, 456 58 6,177,410 370, 644 60 15, 294 4.5, 896 00 8,895 20, 720 00 37, 717 301, 736 00 3.5, 788 G.57, 880 00 50, 540 151, 620 00 41, 9.56 120, 4.''8 00 37, 707 150, 49S 00 47. 674 189, 854 50 115,687 110, 222 80 83, 637 77, 726 20 1,943 14, 433 00 2, 006 14. 882 00 192, 800 17, 843 75 128. 533 12, 157 17 7, 076* 56, 612 00 7,737 61,901 24 , 3, 482^ 31, 246 50 4,776 42, 768 40 514,219 .51,421 90 419,464 41,946 40 771, 070 49, 257 20 027, 750 39, 573 30 1884. 54 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The yield and value of fisheries in the Domhiion of Canada, 4'C- — Continued. Kinds of fish. Bass pounds . . Pickerel do... Pike do... Sturgeon do... Sturgeon barrels . . Halibut pounds.. Barfish and whitefish dozen. . Winnonish number. . Tomcod barrels.. Perch pounds.. Ling cwts.. Squid barrels.. Whiting pounds.. Eulachon, pickled barrels.. Eulachon, fresh pounds. . Eulachon, smoked boxes.. Seal skins number. . Hair-seal skins do. .. Sea-otter skins do. .. Porpoise skins do. .. Fish oils, not assorted gallons.. AVhaleoil. do .. Seal oil .' do. .. Cod oil do... Dogfish, porpoise, &c., oil do . . . Dogfish oO, refined do . . . Clams, preserved pounds.. Fish joes ban els.. Coarse fish do... Mixed fish do... Fish scrap, dried tons.- Fish guano do . . . Fish used for bait and manure do. .. Fish sold in Halifa.x markets Fish sold in Victoria, B.C., markets Fish assorted in British Columbia For home consumption, not included in returns. . Total value of the fisheries in Canada. 1883. Quantity. 1, 181, 923 1, 671, 539 930, 020 1,041,278 1,866 1, 066, 050 14, 050 21, 500 4,000 10, 450 207 4,470 25, 000 187 30, 000 4,050 9,195 22, 036 96 87 632, 690 5,510 127, 749 121, 631 222, 018 40, 000 8,640 46 15, 230 24, 546 20 2,873 25, 250 Value. $74, 551 04 105,011 66 45, 361 00 54, 006 30 9, 330 00 62, 493 00 27, 562 50 5, 375 00 6, 000 00 627 00 828 00 17, 672 00 1, 530 00 1,517 00 1, 800 00 4,050 00 91, 950 00 20, 586 00 4, 800 00 298 00 401, 726 60 2, 505 00 76, 649 40 72, 978 60 89, 886 40 22, 000 00 1, 080 00 108 00 60, 920 00 101,068 68 300 00 43, 095 00 225,818 50 31, 500 00 105, 000 00 2,430 00 215, 558 30 1884. Quantity. $1, 186, 423 1,771,071 705, 948 1,601,306 1,638 1, 670, 215 15, 008 25, 600 2,080 12,000 155 3,176 330 37, 500 2,800 83 583, 883 4,640 50, 070 83,391 16, 781 45, 000 14, 400 18 45, 227 4,422 250, 572 58, 400 16, 958, 192 98 Value. $75, 571 26 111,452 06 36, 363 40 80, 709 60 8, 190 00 98, 532 90 18, 760 00 6, 400 00 3, 120 00 720 00 620 00 12, 704 00 2, 640 00 2, 250 00 2, 800 00 166, 788 00 332 00 376, 826 10 2, 320 00 25, 035 00 41, 695 50 0, 766 89 24, 800 00 1, 800 00 72 00 198, 726 26 66, 330 00 204, 875 25 52,400 00 110, 000 00 3, 504 00 260, 170 00 17, 766, 404 24 FISH BREEDING IN 1881. The general success of the several institutions during 1884, as given below, will be found satisfactory, as evidencing the onward progress of the work as a whole, although returns from some of the hatcheries do not show as large a crop of ova laid down as in the previous year of 1883. The falling off" in the quantity of eggs was occasioned by a less number of parent salmon having been captured at some of the stations than during the season of 1883. There are now twelve establishments for the propagation of fish by artificial methods, in actual operation in the several provinces of the Dominion. These hatcheries are all at the present time (December 31, 1884) largely filled with fish eggs which have been collected at various points throughout Canada during the spawning season of 1884. The latest hatchery erected on the Eraser Eiver in British Columbia was completed only in time to receive its first croj) of ova last autumn. Particulars relative to the rearing and distribution of fry from eleven of the above-mentioned nurseries during the spring of 1884 are liere- with submitted in detail ; likewise a descriptive account of the quauti- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 55 ties and species of eggs that were laid down in each of the twelve hatch- eries last autuum is given below. The total number of young fish of various kinds hatched and turned out of these eleven institutions into many of the rivers and other waters of Canada in 1^84 amounted to 53,143,000 ; and the total quantity of eggs laid down in all the hatcheries in the fall of 1884 was 60,033,000. The particular number and description of young fish bred in each of the nurseries in the several provinces during the hatching season or spring of 1884 was as follows : Sydney hatchery, Nova Scotia ...salmon.. 853,000 Bedford hatchery, Nova Scotia do.... 1,000,000 Dunk River hatchery, Prince Edward Island do 1,000,000 St. John liiver hatchery, New Brunswick do 811,000 Miramichi hatchery, New Brunswick do 795,000 Restigouche hatchery, Quebec ...do 940,000 Gasp^ hatchery, Quebec do 859,000 Tadoussac hatchery, Quebec do 985,000 Magog hatchery, Quebec salmon trout.. 100,000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario do 5, 150, 000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario speckled trout.. 50,000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario whiteiish . . 3, 500, 000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario black bass.. 100,000 Sandwich hatchery, Ontario whitefish.. 27,000,000 Sandwich hatchery, Ontario pickerel.. 10,000,000 Total of fry of all kinds 53,143,000 These were divided by species as follows : Salmon, Salmo saJar 7,243,000 Salmon trout, Salmo lacustris 5, 250, 000 Speckled trout, Salmo foniinalis 50, 000 Whitefish, Coregoiuis albiis 30,500,000 Pickerel,* Ludoperca 10,000,000 Black bass, Gi'ystes nigricans 100, 000 • Total 53,143,000 The particular number and description of fish eggs laid down in each of the nurseries of the several provinces during the spawning season or fall of 1884 was as follows : Fraser River hatchery, British Columbia salmon.. 3,000,000 Sydney hatchery. Nova Scotia do 931, 000 Bedford hatchery, Nova Scotia do 800,000 Dunk River hatchery, Prince Edward Island do 1,250,000 Miramichi hatchery, New Brunswick do 1,000,000 St. John River hatchery. New Brunswick do 186,000 Restigouche hatchery, Quebec do.... 700,000 Gasp6 hatchery, Quebec i do 341,000 Tadoussac hatchery, Quebec do 775,000 Magog hatchery, Quebec No return. *This is variously known as lake pickerel, pike perch, wall-eyed pike, dor6, dory, Stizostedium. 56 BULLETiy OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Newcastle hatchery, Ontario salmon trout.. 4, COO, 000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario speckled trout.. 50,000 Newcastle hatchery, Ontario whitetish.. 3, 000,000 Sandwich hatchery, Ontario do 50,000,000 Total of eggs of all kinds 1 66,033,000 These were divided by species as follows : Salmon, Salmo qninnat 3,000,000 Salmon, Salmo salar 5, 983, 000 Salmon trout, Salmo lacustris 4,000,000 Speckled trout, Salmo fontinolis 50, 000 Whitefish, Cortgonus albits 53,000,000 Total 66,033,000 16 EXPERIMENTS ^VITH SAf.MOiV IN SCOTl..4NI>. By FRANCIS DAY, F. I.. S. [Conclusions of paper read before the Linnean Society of London, March 5, 1885.] The unbiased investigator must admit that, so far as the}' have goue, the experiments made at Howietoun among the salmonidw are pretty conclusive on the following i^oints: (1) That male parrs and smolts may afford milt competent to fertilize ova, but when from iish of the second season, or up to 32 months old, it is (! always) of insufficient strength for strong and vigorous fry to be raised. (2) That female smolts or grilse may give eggs at 32 months of age, but those which are a season older are better capable of i^roducing vigorous fry; while for the purpose of developing ova, a visit to the sea is not a jjhysiological necessity. (3) That young m-dle salmonkhe are more matured for breeding pur- poses than are young females of the same age. (4) That although females under 24 months of age may give ova, such are of little use for breeding purposes, the embryos not becoming well developed or vigorous, while the young when hatched are frequently malformed. (5) That the size of the eggs of salmonidce varies with the age and condition of the i)arent; but, as a rule, older fish give larger ova than do younger and smaller ones. (()) Tlmt among the produce of every female fish there maybe found variations in the size of the eggs. (7) That from larger ova finer and more rapidly growing fry are pro- duced ; consequently that, by selection of breeders, races may be im- proved; while it is only where segregation is well carried out that such selection is possible. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMJIISSION. 57 17 CAK1» CULTURE IN GERMAiW.* By XAVEK VO:\ STABROWSKi. The carp is the easiest fish to cultivate, and it is the best adapted to most of the waters of our country. It flourishes in both stagnant and run- ning water, if it is warm and contains sutficieut food. Its power of re- production is very great, as many as 500,000 eggs having been counted in a carp weighing li kilograms [about CA pounds]; and it grows so rapidly that in its third year it is fit for the table. Its scales, with their golden glitter and black shading, give it a pretty appearance. For these reasons it is the favorite fish of our nation, and it is more sought after and fetches a higher price in the market than the pike. The carp is exceedingly voracious and not at all particular as to its food. In fact, it eats anything from meat to manure. It has therefore been said that, in some respects, it is among the fish what the hog is among tbe mammals. The carp is a gregarious fish, and is generally found in large schools. This shows that it is not a predaceous fish. It is sportive and sly. Xo other fish engages in such constant gambols as the carp. It is a pru- dent fish. When a drag-net is used the carp places itself perpendicu- larly in front of it, with its head in the mud, so that the lower rox)e of the net upsets it, giving it a horizontal position, the net meanwhile gliding over its body. On the other hand, if the carp cannot perform this maneuver, it boldly leaps over the upper rope of the net. If good and early results are to be obtained, one should proceed in the following manner : Instead of draining the spawning pond in Octo- ber, this should be done in July. The young fry, measuring 3 to 4 cen- timeters [about 1^ inches] in length, are placed in the raising pond, which should be prepared for the reception of the young carp in the following way: During the preceding autumn the pond should be drained and exposed to the air as well as to the frost, so as to banish the noxious gases, which prove fatal to the fish, as well as ail hurtful worms, insects, small fish, and frogs. During the following spring .the pond is plowed and oats and clover are sowed in it, which are harvested when still green, about the middle of June. After three weeks the clover has again grown high enough and is full of many different insects and worms, wliich are the most suitable food for the little fish. When (in July) the young carp are to be placed in this pond, only a small portion of it should be set under water;; each week the quantity of water should be increased, thus setting a constantly larger area of the pond under water, and constantly furnishing new food for the Msti. * '■^ Dtr Karpfvn {Ciiprlnus carpio)." From the Deitlache Fisehcrei-Zeittmg, Vol. VIII, No. 49, Stettin, December 8, 18S5. Tmnslate i from the German Ijv Herman Jacob- ftOX. 58 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. This is contiuuecl till October, at whicli time tbe carp do not take any more food. Xow, tbe pond is drained, and tlie fisli are taken out. A raising pond worked in this way will in autumn reward us for our care and trouble by carp weighing half a pound each. The carp are then taken to the so-called winter pond, and in spring distributed among the stock ponds, which have been prepared and treated in the same manner as the raising ponds. For providing further food for the car]>, a dead sheep, cow, &c., which has been skinned, may be thrown into the pond, leaving it whole, so that when the pond is drained, the entire skeleton can easily be removed. I urgently recommend the feeding of the carp, because this will amply pay. If we feed the fish, we can place double the number in the same water, and they will increase rapidly in weight. I am in the habit of putting the vegetable food destined for the carp on a very simple ap- paratus, forming a sort of table, which has a raised edge on three sides, and a ledge in the middle. The food placed on this apparatus "will ac- cumulate along the middle and lower ledge, which of course must be under water, and from which the fish take their food as from a crib. The food may consist of potatoes, peas, husks, carrots, pumpkius, and even refuse from the kitchen may be used. There is also another cheap food for carp. Oat straw is chopped very fine, then put into a hole in the ground, measuring 2 to 3 square meters, and 30 centimeters [about 1 foot] deep, whose walls are lined with brick ; blood is poured over the straw; and enormous numbers of maggots will form, which are taken ui) with a shovel aud thrown into the pond. This should not be done, however, until the maggots are of a dark color, aud are therefore fully grown. The hole should be covered with a board. Carp taken from this stock pond during October of tbe first year will weigh from 1^ to 2 kilograms [about 3 pounds]. Although tbe carp when brought to our markets are still too dear, it is not difficult to sell them favorably. The fish-dealers know how to take advantage of our situation at tbe time when the pond is drained. To prevent this a special pond is needed, to which tbe fish may be re- moved from the stock pond. This pond may be considered as a store- house for fish, from which the necessary quantity of fish is taken to suit the demands of the fish-dealers, lu this pond are also kept the fish-boxes, always containing a few hundredweights of fish for tbe retail trade and for home consumption. This "store pond" need not be very large, but it should be at least 2^ meters deep [about 8 feet], and be fed by a strong current of constantly running water. During winter the carp in this pond need not be fed, because all fish of the Cyprinus kind, like the carp, tench, crucians, «S:c., do not take any food in winter. The fish-box greatly facilities the retailing of fish, which I would highly recommend, as a much higher price can tlius be obtained than what the fish-dealers pay. In transporting fish they should be packeil in damp moss which has BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 59 not been taken from the woods, but from humid meadows, because the moss from the woods contains too many insects. I also lay under the gills of the fish a thin slice of apple or potato, so as to keep the gill- covers moist and prevent them from becoming pasted together, which would cause the fish to choke. When the weather is very hot 1 kill the fish and lay them in large ox-bladders between pieces of ice. These bladders 1 tie securely and pack them in a box filled with damp moss. These boxes I send by mail. The carp is subject to a species of eruption, caused by the sting of an insect. When suffering from this disease the carp does not look well and does not fetch a good price. For a long time I searched in vain for the cause of this diseavse, and only three years ago I succeeded in find- ing it. This disease is caused by the circumstance that after a sud- den thaw or violent rain storm the water feeding the pond becomes very muddy, and this muddy water is the real cause of the eruption. Our ancestors, who engaged in carp culture more than we do, knew this very well ; and in all the ancient carp ponds I found at the place of in- flux a side ditch for the purpose of drawing the turbid water from the pond and carrying it outside of the dikes into the outflow canal. We have the following kinds of carp : 1. The common carp with yellow scales, and the so-called silver car}) with whitish scales. Both these kinds should be cultivated in muddy, stagnant waters (or sky ponds). 2. The mirror carp, for ponds with a rich supply of water. 3. The <:^ilesia7i leather carp, for ponds which are fed not only by river or lake water, but also by sirring water. 4. The Chinese gold carp (goldfish), which should be placed in the smallest basins of the pits which have been formed near our brick-works. We should not despise any sheet of water, for it is the duty of every intelligent man to utilize every inch of ground. Even these small fish, which so far have only been considered as ornaments, will be of some use. In conclusion, I have to state that fish-culture is exceedingly remu- nerative ; and that even the most intelligent farmer cannot compete with us. We shall beat him by our results at every step, if we only take care to work unitedly. IS.— ^METHODS OF PREPARII>€i FISiH-BLADDERS FOR ITIARKFT.* In a former article t directions were given for preparing fish-bladders intended for isinglass or fish-glue. The bladders are also used as an article of food, especially in Spain, Italy, the West Indies, and China, either salted alone or salted and dried. The last-mentioned method of curing it is the same as that employed in preparing klip-fish, either * " Tilvirkning af Sundmaver." From the Xorsk FisJ{entidetide,Yo\. V, No. 1, Bergen, January, 1880. Translated from the Danish hy Herviax JacOBSON. t See F. C. Bnlletiu, 1885, p. 295. 60 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. dry^saltiii^j or brine-salting being used. The latter is to be preferred under all circumstances, as it produces a thicker and heavier article. As in all products of the fisheries, it is of the greatest importance that the raw material should be fresh, as stale fish will produce a dark article of second-rate quality. If the bladders of such fish are used they should be salted by themselves, but on the whole it is advisable not to use them, because the expense of preparing them is so great that it hardly pays. Nothing but fresh bladders should be used, and they should, therefore, be taken from the fish as soon as possible. In this method of preparing bladders cleanliness and great care are essential for obtaining a good article. The bladder should not be torn out, but should be cut from the backbone with a thin-bladed knife, let- ting the blade follow the hollow portion of the bone by pressing it with the thumb. In doing this one does not run the risk of having the bone come loose at the same time. A skilled man can cut from 4,200 to 4,400 bladders a day. As soon as the bladder has been separated from the bone, it must be well cleaned and all blood and imi^urities removed, which are found especially on the inside. If time allows it, both the black skin on the outside and the white skin on the inside should be removed. By doing this, a whiter article is obtained than if this process is deferred until the bladder has lain in brine. After it has been well cleaned it is laid over night in sea- water, which gives it a whiter color. The following day the bladders are salted, after they have been well rinsed and the water has been allowed to run off. The salting is done in tubs, which should not be tight, if dry-salting is used. In either case — whetherdry-saltiug or brine-salting is used — at least one-fourth barrel of salt is used, rather too much than too little, as there is no danger of the bladders becoming too strongly salted ("burnt"), even if they are buried deep in the salt. Generally white and clean common Liverpool salt is used. When salted, bladders will keep for a long time, often for sev- eral months. They should, however, be looked after from time to time. As soon as there is the slightest indication of their " souring," the old brine should be changed for new and strong brine ; or if dry-salting is used, the bladders should be salted over again. In the first case, the bladders should be relaid ; and in both cases they should be well rinsed in strong brine. If there has been no chance to remove the skins while the bladders are fresh, they can be scraped off as circumstances will allow. This is the most important part of the preparation, as the looks of the bladders when dried depend very much on the manner in which they have been scraped. The scraping, for which a common sharp knife is used, should be done very carefull}', so that not a particle of the skin remains^ while on the other hand great care should be taken not to scrape a hole in them. By soaking them in water the skins come off more easily; but this process should not be employed under any circumstances. If the bladdeT-s cannot be dried immediately after having been scraped^ BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Gl thvy should a^^aiii be laid iu strong fresh briue, iu which they cau re- luiiiii for several months without being injured. When the drying process is to begin, the bladders are first laid in Leaps on si)eciallyarranged frames, so that thebrine can run off. When the bladders are taken off the frames, they are well rinsed, best in new, ]mre, and strong brine. Each bladder is thereupon well spread out, iimuothed down with the hand, and laid on shelves, which are arranged one above the other, about 7 inches apart. Instead of the shelves, frames may be used, about 8 feet long and 3 feet broad, covered with net-work, the n)esht'S being the same size as those of mackerel nets. The frame itself is ibrmed by laths about 2 inches thick, slightly bent, so the air can circulate freely, when one frame is placed above the other. Frames are preferable to shelves, as the bladders are exposed to a cur- rent of air on both sides,* and as they dry better. When one has gone so far that the drying process is carried on out-of doors, the bladders may simply be placed on the drying pile; while if shelves are used they must be spread out. In case of rain they cau quickly be brought under shelter or be piled one above the other, and the whole covered with tarpaulins. The first drying ])rocess should be carried on under shelter in a shed having doors opening south and east. The bladders cannot yet stand the sunshine, because, when exposed to it in the beginning of the dry- ing process, they easily assume a yellowish color, which makes them a second-rate article. They are left on the irames or shelves until they begin to dry on the outside. After several days a crust forms on them, which can easily be ascertained by passing the hand over them. They are then laid in common Havana boxes, carefully spreading them out and smoothing them. They should rise about one-third of the height of the box over its upper edge. Four to five boxes are then placed one above the other, so that they may be suitably pressed. During the pressing, which lasts from five to seven days, the position of the boxes is changed every day, so the lower ones get at the top, and vice versa, so that each box receives the same amount of pressure. Ko rule cau be laid down to determine when they are sufficiently pressed, as nothing but experience can teach this. When the bladders appear to have been sufficiently pressed, the dry- ing in the open air begins, during which either the frames referred to above are used or the bladders are carefully spread out on the rocks. The drying goes on gradually, alternating with pressing and stretching, so that the bladders do not lose their smooth appearance. As soon as they begin to shrivel in the sun they should be taken in and placed in boxes, by layers if possible, some weight being put on the top. The j RIOID DIRINO TRAIVSPORTATIOIV.* By J. STANCE. An instance of fish becoming bluish and rigid daring transportation has recently happened, which seems to throw some light on the subject. After the fisheries in one of my carp ponds, located about 1.] hours' journey by wagon from my residence, had come to a close, the carp were put into a large and long barrel, which on the upper side had a square hole measuring 40 centimeters [15^ inches] in diameter, which is lined with boards 24 centimeters [9i inches] high ; this barrel was placed on the wagon and filled with water up to the edge of the liale. Besides this barrel there was put on the M-agon a low tub filled with water and containing two pike. As the weather was rather warm, I told my driver to go fast, which is generally considered advantageous under the circumstances. As the entire length of the road was paved, the water had been spilt out of the low tub, so that the pike touched the bottom. They were lying on their side and did not move, not even when I took them from the tub, with the exception of the eyes and gills, wliich they moved in a feeble manner. It struck me at once that these pike, instead of a yellowish, had a bluish color. I immediately placed them in a fish- tank, through which passed a current of spring water. The barrel con- taining the carp was still full of water; the fish were sound and lively. The next morning the two pike lay on the bottom of the fish-tauk. I took them out ; their color was still blue ; they were not dead, and moved their eyes and gills, but otherwise appeared as if they were i)ar- alyzed. The body was flexible, as in sound fish, but had lost the faculty of motion. I again placed the pike in the tank, and examined them every day, but for four days there was no change ; the pike remained alive, but the faculty of moving did not return. When I came to the tank on the fifth day, it had been broken open, and the pike unfortun- tunately had been stolen. The rigidity of these two fish had probably been caused by the cir- cumstance that, after most of the water from the tub had been sjiilt, the fish, by the bumping of the wagon against the stones of the rough ])avemeut, had repeatedly been thrown with their abdomen against the bottom of the tub; and that thereby the body hacj become rigid. I l)resume this all the more because the carp in the barrel, which, when it reached its destination, was still full of water, were, without exception, ill a normal condition. If fish, during transportation, are to remain sound, they should therefore have plenty of water. WiK, near Kir:L, Holstein. * '^Dat Jjlauverden und Erstarrcn der Fisclie heim Transport." From the Deutsche Fisch- erti-Zeiliing, Vol. VIII, No. 50, Stettin, December 15, 1885. Translated from the Ger- man bv Herman Jacobsox. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 65 Vol. VI, ]\o. 5. Washing^toia, B. €. Apr. S, 1886. 20 THE PREISEKVATION OF FKESES FISH. By Prof. J. C'OSSAR EWART. [Transmitted to the State Department by the United States consul at Leith.] The "chemical powder" used by tlie Xorwegiaus for preserving her- ring is a mixture of boracic acid and common salt. From our greatest authority in antiseptics I have learned that boracic acid has been used in Xorway for at least fourteen years for the preservation of articles of food, &c. Those acquainted with Norway can well understand how necessary it is for the farmers and others who live far removed from the towns — by the margins of the long winding fiords or on the slopes of the great mountains — to provide themselves with various kinds of pick- ling agents. It seems that boracic acid, after a long trial, has i^roved a most valuable preservative, chiefly because it keeps fish and other food stuffs in a perfectly fresh condition for several weeks, and, without being hurtful, it often tends to improve the flavor. Eecently a mixture of boracic acid and salt has been used with so great success for preserving herring in a fresh condition that it is now l)0ssible for ISTorwegian herring to compete successful!}' with absolutely fresh herring in the English market. Thousands of people in England have consumed Norwegian herring a week or more after their ca])tMre, believing they were fresh from Yarmouth or some of the great Scottish fishing stations. I need not say that herring rapidly become unfit for food when taken out of the water. In summer they are often useless twenty-four ht)urs after they are captured, and in winter the process of disintegratioji is not long delayed. What is true of herring is to a great extent true of other fish. Often in summer the fish landed at Xewha- veu from fishing boats becalmed at sea is almost putrid, and were it thoroughly inspected, as it should be, it would often be at once con- demned as unfit for food. It is, as already pointed out, this extreme perishableness that necessitates the rapid dispatch of fresh fish, and iifiords an excuse for the high rates charged for carriage. Hence the i)oracic acid will be welcomed as a great boon, if it preserves fish in a fresh condition for several weeks. On learning some time ago that the Norwegians were sending us herring preserved in a chemical powder, I succeeded in getting a sample and had it analyzed. After an elabo- rate examination, Dr. Atkinson, assistant to the Professor of Materia Medica in the University, reported that the substance submitted to him was a very pure preparation of boracic acid. Mr. David Murray, of Anstruther, who takes a keen and practical interest in all questions Bull. U. S. F. C, 86- 5 66 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. relating to the fish trade, was good enough to pickle several samples of herring according to the Norwegian plan. Some of these samples I have examined with the most satisfactory results. Herring pickled on the 19th of January- are as fresh and sweet to-day [January 28?] as they were when introduced 'into the mixture, and when cooked they can scarcely be distinguished from herring only a few hours out of the water. I understand that equally good results have been obtained by Mr. McCombie, of Peterhead, with haddock. Let us now indicate how the boracic aeid should be applied. For preserving herring, the best plan seems to be to make a mixture of powdered- boracic acid and fine salt, taking two pounds of salt to every pound of boracic acid. This mixture having been made, the fresh her- ring should be arranged in layers in a barrel, in exactly the same way as cured herring are packed, and each tier covered with a thin layer of the mixture. When the barrel is full it should be tightened down in the ordinary way, and then "pickled" with a weak solution of pure bo racic acid. For treating a barrel of herring in this manner, 2^ pounds of acid and 5 pounds of salt are required for spreading on the tiers of herring during packing, and about 10 ounces of pure acid for dissolving in the fresh water used for i^ickling. After further experiments it may be found advisable to alter somewhat the proportions here given. The barrels when packed should be kept in a cool place where there is a nearly constant temperature. The expense of pickling a barrel of her- ring (a barrel holds from 800 to 1,000 herring) in this way need not be great, for boracic acid can be purchased under Gd. per pound. A bar- rel of herring, which cost originally 8s., might be preserved in boracic acid and delivered in London for 14s.; this is supposing the pickling to cost 3s. and the carriage 3s. If sold for 20s. {i. e., three or four for Id.), a considerable margin would be left for profits to the curers and others. In addition to preserving fish, boracic acid might be of use for pre- serving fishermen's bait. Often the fishermen (or more often the fish- erwomen), at a considerable expenditure of time and money, bait their lines in vain. All arrangements are made for a night's fishing, when a change of weather prevents the boats reaching the fishing ground. Be- fore another night arrives the bait has usually lost its catching powers, and the tedious process of baiting the lines has to be repeated. Whether boracic acid will preserve bait the fishermen only can settle. If at An- struther, or some other fishing station, two or three fishermen use bait which has been preserved for some days in an equal mixture of salt and boracic acid, and compare its catching power with fresh bait, they will be able to ascertain whether this preservative will in any way lessen their labors. The United States fishermen often have wonderful success when they use frozen herring as bait; the herring are usually frozen and exported from Labrador. It may be hoped this system of treating fresh fish will be useful. It ought at least to enable our curers to compete with Norway, for in ad- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 67 (lition to other advantages they have better material to work with, our herring being undoubtedly superior to those taken around the Scandi- navian coast ; even the Norwegians xjreier Scotch-cured herring to their own. Further, if curers preserve herring with boracic acid they will to a great extent be independent of the railway companies ; it will no longer be necessary to dispatch fish by express trains, and pay for their carriage two or even three times their value. Whether the herring take a day or a week to reach London, Manchester, and other large towns will make no difference, and in many instances curers may with advantage forward parcels of fish by the ordinary coasting steamers. The saving made by sending fish by sea will be evident when it is stated that it would probably cost less to send a barrel of herring twice round the world by steamer than to send it once from St. Andrews to London by rail. We must, however, not expect too much from boracic acid. Something more will be required before the fishery industry re- covers from its present state of collapse and begins to assume the im- portance it deserves. When referring to the boracic acid method of preserving fish, I ought to have mentioned that it is enabling Norway to drive Scottish herring out of the English market. Over 20,000 barrels of herring reached England last winter, and nearly 30,000 barrels have arrived during the present winter. The consignments from Norway- have reduced the prices so far that a barrel of Scottish herring sometimes scarcely brings enough to pay its carriage to London. This will be better understood when I mention that from most of our fishing stations it costs 7os. to send a ton of fresh fish to London. There are five crans (ten barrels) in a ton, hence each cran costs for carriage alone 15s. When to this l^orterage and other charges are added, the large sum of 18s. or even 20s. may be reached for conveying a cran of herring to Billingsgate. A parcel of herring sent recently from Anstruther to Manchester were sold (as shown by bills of sale in my possession) at 10s. per barrel 20s. per cran). Each barrel cost for carriage, &c., 7s., which leaves 3s. to be divided between the curer and the fishermen ; parcels sent to Lon- don sometimes yielded little over Is. per barrel, owing to the market being " overdone" with herring from Norway. I am now able to state, from definite information received from Peterhead, that ]\Iessrs. McCom- bie have preserved during January several barrels of itaddock and about 1,000 barrels of herring in boracic acid. It must be borne in mind that Norway is not likely to rest satisfied with sending us fresh herring; she is doing her utmost to develop her fisheries, and especially to compete with Scotland in the English market. If this competition leads to the railway companies lowering their rates for fish, and causes our fishing industry to be carried on in a more intelligent and systematic fashion, it will undoubtedly do good. Hitherto the fisheries have been allowed to take care of themselves; we have neither attempted to establish 6S BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. large fishing- statious in the vicinity of the rich fishing banks around Shetland and the Hebrides, nor have we constructed suitable harbors ; and we are only beginning to recognize the necessity of providing the fishing stations with telegraphic communication. The fishing industry is to a great extent carried on by men who seldom do more than make a living — not by capitalists who can invest large sums in harbors, boats, «S:c., and the State, which is virtually the landlord of the fishermen, has not yet fully realized its responsibility in i)rovidiug such accommo- dations (harbors) as will admit of their harvest being satisfactorily reaped. It will be admitted that little progress has been made for years towards placing in the markets all over Britain a good supply of cheap fresh fish, and that the curing of herring for exportation (the only branch of the industry which has been energetically carried on) has re- sulted in all but complete failure, the curers having lost during the last two years nearly a million pounds sterling. This being the case, in- stead of continuing to cater chiefly for the continental market, we should rather aim at supplying the home market with fresh fish. I am convinced that unless this is done the fishing industry will remain in an unsatisfactory condition, and we shall fail to utilize the latent energy of the Western Highlands and Islands, and deprive ourselves of the riches of the waters which wash our western shores. In order to in- crease the supply of fresh fish little more than organization is required. It w^ill be necessary (1) for the fisherman to land the fish in good condi- tion, and (2) for the receivers to preserve them by ice or otherwise, and dispatch them rapidly and cheaply to the various centers of population throughout the country. What is absolutely necessary before a step can be taken in the right direction are fast steamers, adapted for carry- ing fresh fish from the chief fishing stations along the east and west coasts to the southern markets. When lecturing in Fraserburgh last February I ventured to say " that a few swift steam fish-carriers, pro- vided with refrigerators, or simply with pens and ice, would revolution- ize the distribution of fish." Before pointing out in detail what organization is required, I ought, l)erhaps, to refer to the alleged diminution of the fish shoals around our coast. Suppose we take for granted that the territorial waters (and some of the ott'-shore banks)- that lie between Peterhead and Berwick- on-Tweed no longer yield the takes they did a generation ago, it does not follow that the waters off the coast of Caithness and around the Orkney and Shetland Islands are to a great extent exhausted; far less does it prove the exhaustion of the waters that surround the Hebrides, and flow between them and the mainland. If the banks off the east coast are beginning to fail, it should be remembered the signs of failure are only appearing after many abundant harvests have been reaped, and that even now they yield weekly many tons of fish. If fish are still captured — sometimes in large quantities — in waters over which fishing vessels have sailed for centuries, how much more likely BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 69 are tliey to be taken in the waters around the Xortbern and Western Islands, which are relatively as rich as the nnplowed prairies of the Far West ! It may be said that large fishing- fleets visit Barra and Stornoway and other stations on the west coast every summer, and that fishermen are coustantlj' at work around the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It ought, however, to be remembered that the only fishing of any note around the Western Islands lasts but eight or ten weeks, and that nearly all the fisherman are in search of herring, to be cured for the foreign market. During the rest of the year comparatively little fishing is carried on, so that the shoals of cod, ling, and halibut are prac- tically undisturbed. At Shetland, however, in addition to the summer herring fishing, there are a number of boats engaged in capturing cod, halibut, turbot, &c., which are sent in ice to the English markets. But it IS well known that the fresh fish now sent (under 500 tons in 1884) from Shetland do not represent a tithe of that which the waters, if more thoroughly fished, would readily yield. It may be asked, how is it that the fisheries of Shetland and the West- ern Islands have not assumed greater magnitude! For two reasons, 1 think. In the first i)lace, because the curers, in whose hands the de- velopment of the fishery industry to a great extent lies, have practically devoted their whole attention to curing herring for the continental markets; and in the second place, because the native fishermen of the Western Highlands and Islands have had little encouragement to en- gage in fishing. In the absence of appliances for preserving fresh fish, and without fast steamers to carry them to Liverpool and other large towns, fishing could not possibly paj', even if suitable harbors and large boats were provided. As an illustration of this, it may be men- tioned that large turbot, which could not be purchased under 20s. or 30s. in London, are often cut into slices, and used as bait in the Heb- rides. The present condition of the fishing industry in the northwest of Scotland is due to the unfavorable surroundings of the inhabitants rather than to anything connected with national characteristics. It might be pointed out that on the west coast of Norway (where the in- habitants have in some respects fewer natural advantages than the west coast of Scotland can boast of) there is the large town of Hammerfest, within the arctic circle, further south is Trondhjem, and nearly opposite Lerwick, in Shetland, is the old busy town of Bergen, with a latitude of G0,23 degrees — nearly 120 miles north of the Butt of Lewis, and twice that distance north of Barra. Bergen, which has about 35,000 inhab- itants, is one of the chief towns in Norway, and is the great center of the fishing industry. How is it that there is not in Lewis Island and still more in the Shetlands a town of the same importance as Bergen, with a large fishing fleet and numerous trading vessels passing to and fro ? Some might point to the difierence of the two races, and endeavor to show that the absence of prosperity in the north and west of Scot- land was due to the i)redominance of the Celt, while the success on 70 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the west of Norway resulted from the indomitable perseverance of the hardy IlN^orseman. This may be partly true, but it should be remem- bered the inhabitants of Shetland and of the north and east portion of the Long Island are as nearly pure Scandinavians as are the inhabitants of Bergen and other towns on the west of Norway; and, further, that the fishermen in Lochfyne, who are pure Celts, are as energetic as they are hardy and prosperous. As far as I can judge, the conditions on the two seaboards have been entirely different. Putting aside the tradi- tions inherited from the time of the vikings, the Norwegians have long had a direct interest in the soil, and an excellent service of boats around the coasts. By being to a great extent their own landlords, and by reaping all the advantages of their labors, they have come to treat their barren mountain sides in much the same spirit as the Italian cultivates his vine-clad hills. But (what is of more importance from our point of view) owing to the all but impassable nature of the inland districts and the absence of railways, a wonderfully comi^lete system of communi- cation has been established around the coast, which has fostered the fisheries and led many of the natives to devote their undivided attention to reaping the harvest of the sea. But Bergen is not entirely the product of the Scandinavians. Its commercial importance resulted to a great extent from the influence of the Hanseatic League which, during the sixteenth century, monopolized the whole of the trade along the west coast of Norway. Nothing could be more encouraging than the manly way in which the fishermen in certain i)arts of the Lewis strug- gle against their hard lot. In the absence of harbors they must rest satisfied with boats that can readily be beached. In these small boats they often brave the full force of the Atlantic, and return from their fishing expeditions knowing that but small recompense can be obtained for their labor, and grateful if, in the absence of harbors, they escape having to drag their boat ashore through an angry surf. The want of success for generations has had a depressing effect, but this would, to the benefit of all concerned, undoubtedly disappear if a Hanseatic- like League was to carry capital and organization into the Hebrides. Let me now conclude by stating shortly what is required before an abundant supply of fresh fish can be placed in the market. Nothing need be said now about fishiug boats; they have been gradually iu- cre.isiug in size, and they will continue to increase until we are able to send, if desirable, a large fleet to take part in the Faroe, Iceland, and Lofodeu fisheries. This increase in size will go hand in hand with the increase in number of deep-water harbors. Unfortunately the harbor question is in an extremely unsatisfactory condition. Many of the ex- isting harbors want improving and extending, and there are many fish- ing villages around the coast that have been struggling for harbors for years in vain. Some villages on the east coast that once had flourishing curing establishments are (for want of harbors for the large boats now required) becoming poorer and poorer, and unless harbors are built the BULLETIN OF THE LTS'ITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 71 fisbermeu must either remove to ports with good harbors or starve. The harbor question must be cousiderrd as a national one. Even if the State is unable to grant large sums to build harbors, it ought, in' addition to lending at a small rate of interest, to ascertain which of the fishing harbors ought to be extended, and where new harbors should be erected, the position of the fishing banks, abundance of bait, &c., determining to a certain extent the sites. This information could, per- haps, best be obtained by means of a small committee of experts as suggested by the harbor committee which recently reported — the com- mittee to include some one able to advise as to the value of the fishing grounds in the vicinity of the proposed harbors. Given suitable har- bors and all the necessary appliances for capturing and landing fish at the fishing stations, the question then arises as to how the fish are to be conveyed to the consumers. If we take Shetland, for example, I would suggest that at the outset a large station be formed, provided with stores, in which fresh fish could be packed in ice or other preserv- atives, and, if necessary, frozen — where, in fact, by icing, freezing, or other means fish could be maintained in a perfectly fresh condition until placed on board the fish-carriers. In addition to the one large station in Shetland it would be necessary to have a number of small ones, from which the fish could be sent in ice or other preservative to the large station by small steamers or otherwise. From the central station the steam fish-carriers should run two or three times a week, taking in or leaving consignments on the way until London or some port on the east coast of England is reached. Each steamer would, in all prob- ability, require to be provided with a refrigerator in order to preserve the fish. The steam fish-carriers on the east coast might call on the way south at one or more points in Shetland and Orkney, at Wick, Buckie, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Aberdeen, Montrose, Anstruther, Eyemouth, and Berwick for parcels of fish, and leave them at various ports along the English coast as they proceeded on their way to London. The Orkney Islands would require at least one central station, and similar stations might be formed at all the fishing centers called at. On the west coast, stations might be formed at Stornoway (perhaps Irfter at Xess and Port-na-Gurin), Gairloch, Bracadale, Loch Boisdale, Castle Bay, and Tiree. Fish could, if necessary, be carried from the smaller stations in the vicinity of these ports by means of small steam- ers. From the stations named, and perhaps from others in addition, steamers would carry fresh fish to Liverpool and other ports on the west coast. The managers of the various stations on both coasts might be in direct communication with fish salesmen and, if possible, with fish retailers throughout the country, so that few middlemen would be required. As soon as the fishermen on the west coast were assured that their fish, by being carried regularly to market, would bring fair returns, they would devote themselves to their calling with renewed energy, and 72 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the whole fishing industry would take a new lease of life. As a natural result of the formation of large fishing stations, the refuse of the fish- eries would be utilized for the formation of fertilizing agents, oils, &c., and thus lead to a considerable increase in the annual value of the in- dustry. There probably never has been a time when there was greater necessity for energetic action being taken, and everything points to the present time as being especially favorable for a new departure being made in the development of our fisheries. My previous communications on this subject called forth a number of letters. Some of the writers, naturally enough, were anxious to be as- sured of the safety of the " chemical i)Owder " recommended, while others contributed exceedingly valuable information. One writer endeavored to point out not only that boracic acid was a poison, but also that it was a cumulative poison. The all but universal creed of our fishermen is, " What our fathers did, that shall we also do." This being so, the advice to stand still is little needed ; and in this case it might have done in- jmy had Professor Hay, of Aberdeen, not come to the rescue. On the subject of the physiological action of salts we have few authorities equal to Dr. Hay; hence, when he tells us that he is "satisfied that no one needs fear any bad effects from the eating of fish j;) reserved by the Norwegian method," we may consider the matter as settled. Dr. Hay pointed out that 90 grains of boracic acid have been taken daily for weeks without producing any bad effects, and, further, that in some cases when from 30 to 50 grains were taken daily with the food, the appetite and the weight increased, and the general nutrition was im- proved. As a matter of fact, boracic acid is practically as safe as com- mon salt, and the only evil likely to result from taking, say, half an ounce of boracic acid, is a slight disturbance of digestion. I have known men return from Norway in excellent health, who, in the absence of other food, subsisted for months almost entirely on fish preserved in boracic acid. If ninety grains of boracic acid can be taken daily with impunity for weeks, and if half an ounce causes only slight indigestion, there is little chance of any harm resulting from the small quantities stored up in the tissues of fish preserved in a mixture of boracic acid and salt. Professor Hay thought that in all probability only 2 or 3 grains would penetrate into the substance of a herring left from ten to fourteen days in the mixture. This conjecture was verified by Mr. Miller, of Wick, who found that herring preserved from the 2d to the 11th of February contained on an average 3 grains each of the acid. Similar results were obtained by Dr. Aitken, who examined, at my request, two herring which had lain in the acid and salt mixture for three weeks. The two herring (which together weighed 279 grams) were steeped in water and then boiled. The water in which thej were steei^ed contained 0.36S gram of boracic acid, the boiled water con- tained 0.591 gram of boracic acid, and the flesh when analyzed was found BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 73 to coutaiu 0.348 gram of boracic acid. The total amount of boracic acid iu the two herring was therefore 1.310 grams, equal to about 20 grains. Three-fourths of this acid was extracted by cooking (the acid being more soluble in hot than in cold water), so that only about 5 grains were left iu the tissues likely to be eaten, or about 2i grains in each herring. This being the case, judging from the experiments referred to above, three dozen herring preserved in boracic acid might be eaten daily for months without any injury resulting from the acid taken along with them. I ventured originally to call attention to the use of boracic acid as a preserving agent in order, if possible, to enable the herring taken off the Scottish coast to compete successfully in the English markets with those sent from Norway. Hitherto, owing to the ijerishable nature of herring, it has been necessary to send them by fast passenger trains, which necessitates a high rate for carriage. For the same reason it has been necessary, however large the take, to throw the whole at once into the market, even when the supply far ex- ceeded the demand. By a careful use of a mixture of boracic acid and salt it is possible, with a fairly low temperature, to keep herring and other small fish perfectly fresh for several days — long enough to allow their being sent by slow trains, and to admit of the supply being regu- lated by the demand, and prevent ijrices fluctuating from 2s. or 3s. one week to 20.s-. or SOs. the next. Boracic acid has, however, many other uses than this. If a curer has more fish on hand than he can sell profit- ably in a fresh state, by using boracic acid he can preserve them until he has an opportunity of smoking or drying them. Herring that have been preserved in boracic acid make excellent bloaters. Haddock, in the same way, when split can be preserved for a considerable time in boracic acid before they are converted into " findons." Cod and ling- may also be treated advantageously with boracic acid before they are dried. The millions of dried cod found in the Bergen stores are all (as the ancient and fish-like smell Indicates) undergoing, however slowly, putrefactive changes. This would, to a great extent, be prevented if boracic acid was used during the early stages of curing. Xone of the methods above referred to, however, absolutely arrest putrefaction. They fail in two important respects. In the first place, the organisms already in and on the fish are not completely destroyed ; and, in the second place, no effective steps are taken to prevent the en- trance of new organisms. At the best, it can only be said that most of the original organisms are killed, while the tissues of the fish are ren- dered more or less unsuitable for nourishing the surviving germs and the new organisms that may be introduced. In preserving fish, flesh, vegetables, «S:c., the battle is with invisible but ever-present organisms, which, as they live and multiply, break up the organic molecules of which the tissues are composed, and lead to the formation of noxious by-products. This breaking up of the tissues we call putrefaction. Ju.st as the yeast plant, by breaking up grape 74 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. sugar, sets up fermentatioD, and gives rise to by-products (alcohol and carbonic acid), so bacteria, by breaking up the muscles of the fish, &c., set up putrefaction, and lead to the formation of by-products — some- times harmless, sometimes extremely poisonous. With the organisms of putrefaction surgeons and food-preservers have long waged war. The surgeon at last has won the victory by means of Lister's anti- septic system ; the food-preserver, guided by the discoveries of Pasteur and Lister, has also been successful to a very large extent. In some cases, after arresting putrefaction by boiling, he prevents the germ- laden air entering by hermetically sealing ; in other cases he arrests putrefaction by the use of ice. How may we further extend antisep- tics to the preservation of fish ? A surgeon, in order to render a wound aseptic, first endeavors to destroy all the organisms that exist in the disintegrated tissues, and then does his best to prevent the entrance of new organisms or their germs from the atmosphere. The antiseptic fi*^h-preserver must, as far as possible, proceed on the same principle ; he must get rid of the organisms that exist in and on the fish when it reaches his hands, and either render the tissues unfit for the grov/th of II new crop of organisms, or prevent the organisms reaching the tissues. For hundreds of years tish-curers have endeavored to render the tis- sues of fish unsuitable for the growth of organisms by saturating them with salt. Those acquainted with the ])rocess adopted for the curing of herring know how primitive it is. Not only is the flesh rendered less nutritive, but the delicious flavor of the fresh fish is completely lost, and the delicate albumens are decomposed. So much is this the case that there is practically no sale for salted herring in this country ; they are in demand only on the Continent, where fresh fish are scarcely known. When lecturing at Fraserburgh last winter I directed the at- tention of the curers there to a process of curing herring invented some years ago by Mr. Sahlstrom. Mr. Sahlstrom's process, first tested in Norway, has been recently carried out in Aberdeen. It consists first in driving out the air from the newly -caught fish, and next in saturat- ing the tissues with a preservative solution. The fish are introduced into a closed cylinder, and there subjected to a pressure sufticieut to drive out the air. Into this cylinder the preservative solution is then introduced, and, by applying a pressure of from GO to 100 pounds to the square inch, it is forced into all the tissues. The fish can be either slightly or completely salted, and either pure salt or a mixture of salt and boracic acid can be used. This method requires fewer hours for curing herring than the ordinary method requires weeks, and, owing to the tissues being thoroughly i)enetrated by the preserving fluid, they are rendere HADDOCK OIV TOE COAST OF MAI>E. By N. V. TIBBETTS. [Letter to Prof. S. F. BaircL] 1 resided for fifteen years, from 1855 to 1870, near the coast of Maine. Most all farmers, like myself, were fishermen at times, and relied on catching our yearly supply of fish of various kinds, especially codfish and haddock ; but these fish have long since deserted Penobscot Bay and Eggemoggin Reach, and few are left but young herring, which are caught and converted into "sardines." If the fish do not come back themselves, and it is evident from their long absence that they will not, the fishermen and farmers along our coast must look to you to coax them back or give us a new supply. If you will do so we will try to have a law passed, if there is not one already, that may protect them from being driven away by the fisher- men, as the original supply was. In my opinion, the reason why the fish left our shores was because the fishermen took to using troll-lines. Some say the steamboat was the cause, but I don't think that is so. Codfish know no more what is going on at the surface than we know about the bottom. I have caught haddock and cod where the steam- boat had been over the water every day for years, and in not over ten fathoms of water at that. TTe used to row out on the Beach two or three hundred yards from shore, and in a few hours were as sure of catching a few hundred pounds 76 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of liacldock and some cod as we were sure to tind potatoes by iiullijig up tlie tops and digging wliere we liad planted the seed in the spring. But after two or three years of using the troll-lines, leaving the lish to die on the hook at the bottom, a man might as well stay at home and fish for haddock in the well — he would catch just as many; but the trollers at that time, I remember, claimed that the steamboats drove the fish out of our Reach. I have faith that you can help us out of our present trouble, and re- store, in a measure, the supply of cod and haddock along our coast. Please inform me what steps are necessary to procure a number of young fish for Eggemoggin Eeach, in Hancock County, Maine. Haddock were the fish that mostly frequented that i)lace. Can young haddock be pro- cured from 30ur hatchery at Wood's Holl, Mass. ! Brooklin, Me., February 27, 1886. REPLY OF PROFESSOR EAIRD. I have read with much interest your letter relating to the abundance and disapi:)earance of fish in Penobscot Bay. It is a very difiQcult matter to say positively what has been the most potent of the many causes for the disappearance of fish from their accustomed haunts. I think, how- ever, I can answer with some certainty that it is within our i^ower, by means of artificial propagation, to restock waters and re-establish such fish as cod and haddock in localities where they formerly abounded. From the experiments which have already been made, it can be asserted with considerable confidence that a school of cod may be established in any given locality by constant deposits of fish produced by artificial means. I trust that, in the course of time, we shall be enabled to extend the work now being carried on at Wood's Holl and Gloucester, all along the coast of the Northeastern States. Washington, D. C, Marcli 2, 1886. 3d.— NOTES ON Tllli: Fli^HERIEf^ OF PEN^iACOliA, FlyA. By SILAS STEARNS. The fishing business of Pensacola has been more extensive during the year 1885 than at any time before. The first of the year found an un- usually large fleet of well equipped vessels at work in the red-snapper fishery. One schooner of the fleet was a Portlaml, Me., mackerel catcher, with a crew of sixteen men, and several others were recent purchases from New England, with large Yankee crews. The outfit of all the ves- sels had been improved, and it can justly be said that no better equipped fishing fleet existed anywhere. The most competent skippers that could be found were employed, and under their direction some methods new to BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 77 this sectiou, snch as trawliug, were thoroughly tested and found to be of no advantage. The weather throughout the winter was unusually bad, as there was a succession of hard blows. The Northern fishermen complained that our weather was nearlv as severe as that of their own coast, and that the short, choppy seas of the Gulf were more troublesome than the long, regular roll of the Atlantic. The large schooner from Portland did not appear to have any advantage over the smaller home vessels, and she did not land as many fish as some of them did. Several of the latter made good fares all winter; but the majority of the fleet, especially tbe small well-smacks, did not make any monej'. The larger part of the fish caught came from comparatively a slightly fished ground, about 215 miles southeasterly frona Pensacola. The older grounds, from Pensacola to Cape San Bias, did not yield any good fish- ing. The necessity of going so far for fish increased their cost and made them of less value on account of their being so much longer kept in the vessels. Instead of taking one Aveek, the trips were lengthened to two weeks, which makes quite a diflereuce to the outfitters, who pay the wages of the crews. It is an open question whether the fish have been driven from the adjacent grounds by severe weather or have been in a degree exhausted. It could hardly have been because of not having suitable bait, for at that time there was a good supply of the several kinds that suapj>ers usually prefer. The explorations of the Albatross, made upon the most noted grounds during the milder weather of spring, would suggest that the fish had gone from the grounds. In spite of the boisterous season the larger number of vessels brought the catch to a much greater amount than that of any former season. In the latter part of the winter one new fishing firm was established. The prices paid the fishermen remained at the same figures as before j the selling prices were also kept up. The demand after the 1st of Jan- uary, when the Western lakes were frozen, was moderately good, but showed a falling off from the year before. At the end of the lenten season the red-snapper fleet was reduced from twenty to twelve vessels, the majority of the Northern men going home. The run of shore fish was delayed about a month by the unusually cold weather; and when it did take place almost every point had been fully supplied from either Cedar Key or Tampa. Spanish mackerel came on the coast in great numbers, exceeding anything known for many years ; but there was little demand for them, and no good profit was realized on those sold. Pompanos were not so plentiful as usual, and were not in much demand, as Cedar Key had a iarge run much earlier in the season. Bluefish came during the last of April, after the mackerel and pompanos, and in no great abundance. During the summer about a dozen snapper fishing vessels were run with small crews and with orders to bring in limited quantities. The 78 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. demaud was very light. Fish seemed to be abundant, although not so much so as in former seasons. During the early fall they were brought in in such quantities as to glut the market. It was expected that the demand in the interior would be very good, but such hopes were not realized. The comparative fail ure of the staple crops throughout the South, and the general stagna- tion of business everywhere, made the disposal of fish very difficult. There was a very large run of blueflsh on the coast for several weeks in the fall, and the larger ones of 2 and 2^ pounds weight found ready sale, while the smaller ones were salted for snapper bait. Other shore fish were not abundant. When the red-snapper fishing was at its best a fleet of 8 large schoon- ers appeared from the Xorth to take part in it. The outlook for them was so discouraging that they were at first inclined to return, and one of them did go to Savannah; but upon getting offers for their fish at a low figure they decided to remain. The result shows that they would have done better to go, or not to come in the first place, as they have (lone so little that they are still in debt for their outfits at home, and some still owe for their outfits of ice and bait here. Directly after their arrival the weather became so severe that they could not fish or remain at sea, and after it became milder they could not find fish. Nearly every vessel in the fleet failed to pay her bills, and the owners are glad m case no serious damage was done to the vessel. It is a curious fact that nearly every one of the large schooners sustained damage of some sort, while the home fleet of smaller craft endured much hard usage unscathed. The trouble at this date is not so much from bad weather as because there seems to be no body of fish on any of the grounds, even on the far-off ones, so successfully resorted to last winter. Occa- sionally a vessel finds a little spot where she secures a moderate fare, but such occurrences are uncommon. The buying price of snappers has remained stationary, while the sell- ing price, even in times of the greatest scarcity, has been extremely low (in fact, hardly above cost), on account of unreasonable competition among the dealers. The demand is good throughout the West and North, the South buying but a small proportion. The shore fisheries of Cedar Key during the past year have been fairly successful, although the dealers there, as everywhere else, found but a light demand. The spring season's business was unusually* good at Cedar Key and Tampa ; the fall business was rather poor. Salted mullets found slow sale everywhere, and almost everybody handling them has been obliged to hold over a considerable quantity. The Key West fisheries of all kinds have not been profitable, and out- side of the sponge fishery there has been but little activity. The shore fisheries on the Louisiana coast have about maintained their usual importance. Pensacola, Fla., February 20, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UJl FISH^RIE^ii IIV FEBRI7ARV, 1S86. By W. A. WILCOX. During the first week in February the weather was unfavorable for fishing, yet the few arrivals brought good fares. During the week the schooner Carrie D. Allen, of Provincetowu, the only three-masted ves sel in the mackerel fisheries, sailed for Lisbon, Portugal, having beeu sold to parties there to engage in the Grand Banks cod fisheries. She took out 2,950 quintals of codfish, 2,000 quintals of which came from the Provinces, and 950 quintals were bought at Provincetowu. The codfish fleet fishing in Ipswich Bay number 17 sail of gill-uet- ters and 30 sail of trawlers; and the catch has been of good size, aver- aging 23 pounds each; one-third being female fish mostly with spawn. The amount of codfish landed at Eockport and Portsmouth during the first week by 17 sail of netters was 204,000 pounds; by 30 sail of trawlers, 000,000 pounds. A much smaller number are at present using gill-nets, on account of the damage and losses by the severe storms of late, but those that are using them are doing well. Cod and haddock are abun- dant on George's Bank. All vessels from there bring in also a consider- able amount of halibut. A large body of fine codfish is also found in Ipswich Bay. A large fleet, mostly from Gloucester, has been engaged in these fisheries, and the vessels have secured good fares quickly and returned. On February 11, fifty-two sail, mostly from George's, arrived at Boston with over 2,000,000 pounds of fresh cod and haddock. Seldom, if ever, had as much fresh ground-fish arrived during 24 hours. With the large receipts, prices fell from $2.50 to GO cents per 100. Twenty- four sail also arrived at Gloucester from the same fishing-grounds, lauding 700,000 pounds of salt codfish. The heaviest rain-storm for years came about the middle of the month, over 6 inches falling during 48 hours. During the storm the schooner Lizzie H. Haskell, of Glouces- ter, returning from a haddock trip on George's, went ashore on Plum Island and soon went to pieces. The schooner Mary E. McDonald, of the same port, returning from Fortune Bay with a cargo of frozen herring, went ashore at Port Jolly, N. S., and soon filled and went to pieces. With the many fishing vessels lost, it is seldom that one is re- ported as lost by fire; but the record for this month shows one such, the schooner Anna D. She sailed from Gloucester on February 17, the next day arrived on George's, and while the crew were busy baiting their trawls a fire broke out from the forecastle. As the crew were unable to handle it, they soon took to their boats and were picked up by the schooner Clytie, which was fishing near them.. The month closed with little safsfaction to the producers or dealers.. 80 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Fish have beeu plentiful, too much so, the demand beiug only moderate and prices of all kinds of fish being too low for any i)rolit. The mackerel tleet are making ready for the season's work, while the almost universal desire is that no mackerel be caught before June, thereby protecting the spawning fish and giving time for the old stock to be worked off and the new to improve in quality; yet, if no pro- hibitory law is passed, probably nearlj^ as many vessels will engage in the early southern catch as of late years. The leading receipts at Gloucester during the month as compared with the corresponding mouth last year show a large increase, being as follows : Tears. Fares. Cod. ! i HaUbut. Haddock. 1885 77 146 Pounds. 1,093,900 2,143,000 Pounds. 310, 700 927, 800 Pounds. 216 OOO 1886 146,000 B^ceijits offsh at Gloucester, Mass., in February, 1886. From— Oeorge's Bank Brown's Bank... , La Have Bank I Grand Banks Ipswicli Bay, trawl 1 pswicli Bay, nets Fortune Bay, Newfoundland Bay of Fundy Total Fares. Codfish. Halibut. Haddock. Frozen herring. 52 6 5 21 23 16 11 12 Pounds. 1, 365, 0(10 270, (U)0 45, 000 Pounds. 134, 800 24, 000 58, 000 711, 000 Pounds. 146, 000 Number, 1 ! 264, 000 199,000 4 810 000 3 097 000 146 2, 143, OUO 927, 800 146, 000 7, 907, 000 ■^4.— A OOOD FI8HIIVO OROlJiXD IIV THE: SOUTH INDI.irV OCEAN. By CIIAKLE§ EI^DICOTT. Several years ago I was in a ship bound to China, and one morn- ing we made St. Paul Island, in the South Indian Ocean [latitude 3SO 43' S., longitude 77° 38' E.J. We sent a boat in and loaded it with fish of a superior quality in a very short time. Here the water is per- fectly alive with them. In hauling up oue a thousand would follow it to the surface ; and I think a vessel could be loaded with them in a \ery short time, and make the voyage in from six to seven months. In view of the manj" disasters to our fishermen and the terrible loss of life off the North American coast, I suggest this as a new fishing ground. The suffering and exi)osure would be much mitigated, and the general dangers would be nothing in comparison to those of the Grand Banks. The time to start would be in the autumn, as in our winter months they would find it summer there and pleasant weather. Salem, Mass., December 11, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 81 Vol. VI, ]¥o. 6. ILVaslimg^ton, ». C. Apr. 8,1886. iiS.— FOKEIOIV FLSHERIE^i IIV 1SS3.* The Gasp6 fisheries were not so productive as in 1884, as the summer fisheries yielded 6G,300, and the autumn fisheries 28,300, in all 94,600 quintals, or 4,805,000 kilograms [about 10,575,000 pounds]. The Newfoundland bank fisheries were very good, while the coast fisheries were below the average. In Labrador there were good average fisheries. Some of the fish caught were lost in the storm of October 11 to 13, during which about CO vessels were lost. The total loss of fish was estimated at 3,000,000 kilograms [about 6,600,000 pounds]. The Dundee seal and whale fisheries: Seven vessels were engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, the yield being 73,390 sealskins and 900 tons of oil; 4 vessels were engaged in the Jan-Mayen fisheries, the yield being 10,750 seals and 41 bottlenoses, producing in all 253 tons of oil; and 12 vessels were engaged in the Davis Strait whale fisheries, catch- ing 28 large whales, 220 narwhals, 200 whitefish, 14 bottlenoses, and 192 walruses, yielding in all 359 tons of oil and 10 tons of whalebone. The Scotch herring-fisheries yielded about 40,000 crans [about 8,000 tons] less than in 1884, or 100,000 more than in 1883. The statistics of the Scotch fisheries for the period from 1880 to 1883 are as follows : Tear. Quantity. Exported. 1880 Tons. 1,473,600 1,111,200 1, 283, 000 1, 269, 400 Tons. 1, 009, 800 745, 900 820, 000 890,800 1881 1882 1883 The Lowestoft herring-fisheries began later than usual, the yield be- ing 6,638 loads [about 13,275 tons], against 10,015 in 1884, and 7,765 in 1883. In September and October there were very rich mackerel-fish- eries, 120 mackerel selling for from 9 to 18 crowns [$2.41 to $4.82]. The French fisheries: In November and December there were un- usually rich herring-fisheries. The Newfoundland cod-fisheries were good, while the Iceland fisheries were below the average. The 90 vessels from Dunkirk brought home only 3,100,000 kilograms [about 6,820,000 pounds], while in 1884 they brought 4,800,000 kilograms [10,560,000]; in 1883, 6,700,000 [14,740,000]; and in 1882, 5,000,000 [11,000,000 pounds]. * •' Udenlandslce Fisherier, 1885." From the Xorsk Fiskeritidende, Vol. V, No. 1, Bnr- gen, January, 1886. Translated from the Danish by Herman Jacobson. Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 G 82 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The sardine- fisheries "were small, but better than in 1884. The stock of roe on hand in France is estimated at 13,000 tons. There were good cod fisheries in the North Sea. The Dutch herring-fisheries yielded about the same as last year. The following are the statistics for the period of 1881 to 1884: Year. Number of vessels. Total number of fish. Exported. Plain herring. Salt herring. Salt herring. Smoked herring. 1881 407 406 409 466 61, 100 63, 400 47, 600 63, 500 Tons. 198, 900 240, 500 235, 300 339, 300 Tons. 134, 600 139, 500 156, 300 191, 000 41,400 1882 1883 1881 34, 000 22, 700 29, 800 The Emdeu herring-fisheries were carried on by 14 vessels, and yielded 11,925 tons of herring. The Bohus (Swedish) fisheries yielded 288,000 hectoliters [about 81G,000 bushels] of herring, valued at 400,000 crowns [6107,200]. The Iceland cod-fisheries were not very productive, and large fish were particularly scarce. The fisheries on the Murman coast (Russia) : A total number of 2,3SG persons visited this coast in order to engage in the fisheries; among these there were 22 women and 416 boys. In all there were 604 per- sons less than during the previous year. The fisheries did not begin in good earnest till April 18, and were not very productive, the total quantity of salt and dried fish brought to Archangel amounting to 725,207 poods [26,107,452 pounds], against 920,613 poods [33,142,038 pounds] in 1884. 26.— TIIIi: IVORi;VEOIA!V FIHHEKIES IIV 1SS3.* The seal fisheries near Jau-Mayeu engaged 22 vessels. The yield was 47,000 young seals and 24,400 old seals, valued in all at 800,000 crowns [$214,400]. The bottlenose fisheries: Number of vessels engaged, 20, including 5 steamers, with an average tonnage of 110 tons. Total number offish caught, 800. The Finmark whale-fisheries : Number of vessels, 31; total number of whales caught, 1,287 ; yielding 4,300 tons oil, 120 tons whalebone, and 2,200. sacks of guano; valued in all at 1,500,000 crowns [$412,000]. The shark and other fisheries uearVardoe: Number of vessels, 35; yield, 6 walruses, 786 seals, 10 i)olar bears, 30 reindeer, 13,000 cod, 18 * " Xorske Fiskerier, 1S85." From the Noisk Fiskentidende, Vol. V, No. 1, Bergen January, 188G. Translated from the Dauisli by Hkrman Jacobson. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 83 bottleuoses, aud sharks yielding 2.029 hectoliters [about 7,450 bushels] of liver. The Polar Sea fisheries uear Hamtuerfest: Number of vessels, 30; yield, 30G walruses, 4,211 small seals, 1,509 large seals, 38 polar bears, 80 reindeer, sharks yieldiug 2,153 hectoliters [about 0,100 bushels] of liver; total value of the fisheries, 115,950 crowns [831,070.20]. The Polar Sea fisheries near Tromsoe: i»fumber of vessels, 30; yield, 333 walruses, 2,970 small seals, 1,925 large seals, 12 bottleuoses, 175 whitefish, 44 polar bears, 313 reindeer, and shark yielding 022 hecto- liters [about 1,702 bushels] of liver. The winter cod-fisheries: Total number of fish caught, 57,870,000; of these 30,887,000 were salted, and 20,989,000 were dried. These fish yielded 81,238 hectoliters [about 230,175 bushels] of liver, and 52,492 hectoliters [about 148,725 bushels] of roe. The Xordlaud and Tromsoe herring fisheries : Total yield about 050,000 hectoliters [about 1,841,050 bushels] of herring. The herring fisheries in the northern Trondhjem district: These fish- eries were not very productive, and the fish caught were small. The herring fisheries in the southern Trondhjem district : These fish- eries were not very productive, but the fish caught were larger than those caught in the northern district. The Eomsdal and Bergen fisheries were not very productive. The Hvaloe fisheries lasted from December 12, 1884, till January 20, 1885, and yielded 70,000 hectoliters [about 198,350 bushels] of herring. The herring fisheries on the southern coast of Norway began towards the end of November, 1884, and lasted till January 20, 1885, and the number of fish caught was the usual average. The spring-herring fisheries began during the latter half of Novem- ber and continued till the first week in March. About 8,500 persons were engaged in these fisheries, and the yield was about 100,000 hecto- liters [about 283,000 bushels] of herring. Seine fisheries near Shetland : One Norwegian vessel with a crew of 14 men and 70 nets engaged in these fisheries, making five trips during the year; the yield was the same as the average yield of the Dutch fisheries during a good year, namely, 870 tons of herring. The seine fisheries near the Norwegian coast : One vessel engaged in these fisheries from May 20 till June 20, casting the nets in all 24 times. Once no fish were caught, twice three-fourths ton was caught, and the rest of the times from 50 to 250 small, lean herring were taken. The lobster fisheries were good in the Lister and Mandal districts. The mackerel fisheries were good everywhere, except in the eastern portion of the Lister and Mandal districts. The salmon fisheries were unusually good all along the coast of Norway. Bergen, Norway. 84 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 3r.— DRYIKO CODFISH AT BORDEAUX.* By H. GUWDEBSEN. The method of drying codfish at Bordeaux is the one most suitaljle to the locality. The process is rapid, occupying only from 2 to 6 days, the outlay of money is slight, and the result is a very good article. The French fish will never keep so well as the Norwegian ; but considering the excellent means of communication, the price is much more impor- tant, and this is, on the whole, very reasonable. A great advantage of these drying frames is this, that tliey give fisli which have begun to turn a little a better appearance and prevent them from decaying alto- gether, as they can be cleaned, soaked, and dried again with very little expense. A sketch of these frames is given in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 ; where a a are laths of pine wood; h h are poles of different kinds of wood, rammed into ccr ^ ^-d ec w: ish m 30 gl 1. —f uddles, &c., may be used as eel ponds, on account of the many insects, larvoe, and difl"erent aquatic ani- mals found in them. The only condition is, that these ponds should not freeze to the bottom in winter, or dry out in summer. * ' Aal i Beholderc og i Damme." From the Xorsic Fiskeruidende, Vol. V, No. 1, Ber- gen, January, l^f6. Translated from the Danish by Herman Jacobsox. 92 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Along the banks there shoukl be pits for hiding-places, and for the same purpose there should be near the banks roots of trees, stones, «&c. The steeper the banks of the ponds the less chance will there be for the eels to escape. All channels, either of influx or outflow, should be stopped up, so that the eels cannot escape. Care should be taken that the ponds are never exposed to the danger of inundation. In this kind of pond eels measuring 2^ to 3 inches in length may be placed, or better yet, eels measuring 8 to 15 inches. These latter are better able to seek their own food, to resist the changes of the weather, and to escape from their enemies. When eels are placed in these ponds in April or May, from 200 to 300 of the smaller size should be counted to an acre of pond area. If the eels are G inches long, 50 to 100 should be put into the pond, and of the largest size 25 to 50 per acre. Many of the young eels placed in a pond are of course lost; some escape, others die, and some are devoured by other fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals; so that one may count on 25 to 30 per cent of the smallest eels (from 2J to 3 inches) reaching a marketable size; 40 to 50 per cent of the larger (6 inches); and 70 to 80 per cent of the largest. Two thousand young eels weigh about one pound. In these ponds there should be i^laced the year after the large eels have been ])ut in, or two years after small eels, a number of shell-fish, say 10 to 15 to every 100 eels. When these begin to propagate, the eggs and the young are an excellent food for the eels. lu spring the eels begin to get hungry, and it will be found an advan- tage to put into the i)onds artificial food, such as manure, or a carcass in a basket, so that larvae and worms may develop. There may also be a ditch or pit at the bottom of the i)ond, at one end of which there is placed a wooden box (6 to 10 feet long, 1^ to 2 feet broad and deep) in which the food may be placed. If there is enough food in the ponds, the eels will increase in weight 2 pounds apiece in one year. If eels are placed in good growing i)ouds for carp, the yield of these ponds may be increased very considerably. 31.— ON THE IIVTKAOVARIAIV GESTATEON OF THE BEDFISII (8E1SA8TES ITIARIIVUS). By JOHW A. KYDER. It has been known for a long time that certain species of Sehastes were viviparous. During July last female specimens of S. marinus taken by the steamer Albatross off the Banks were found with the ovaries in a gravid condition, but with the embryos in an advanced state of development. These were so far developed as to show all of the features of the end of the lophocercal stage when the median fin folds already contain actinotrichia. Estimating the number roughly, fully one thousand embryos were contained in each ovarian sack. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 93 The individual embryos were slender, about six millimeters long, with a pigmented stripe on the posterior dorsal part of the yelk-sack and along the upper margin of the hinder half of the tail. A large yellowish oil-drop occupies an anterior jiosition in the yelk substance. The caudal part of the tail fold is already widened, as in the embryos of clupeoids, and the end of the straight chorda, as in the latter, divides The tail into very nearly equal dorsal and ventral moieties. The eyes were fully pigmented and black, and what pigment cells were present on other parts of the body were stellate, with several rays running out from a nearly colorless center, in which the nucleus lies embedded. The only paired fins developed are the pectorals; no traces of the ventrals are yet visible. The proportions of the embryos are nearly those of the clupeoids, the head being but slightly more robust. The majority were found to be coiled up, or with the tail thrown around to one side over the yelk-bag and head, as they lie in the ovary. Each embryo as coiled up formed a flattened oval body nearly one and a half millimeters long and one millimeter wide. Some of these coiled ones seemed also to be covered by an exceedingly thin membrane, which is supposed to represent a zona radiata or egg-membrane. Fragments of this membrane enveloping the embryos when examined under a high power, however, failed to show the presence of fine perforations or pore- eanals. These membranes were, moreover, in many instances, adherent to the vascular processes depending from the roof of the ovary, and it is inferred, therefore, that the membranes mentioned are actually the vestiges of a very thin egg-capsule. The ovary itself was found to have very thin inferior and lateral walls, which were somewhat colored by dark pigment. These thin walls are not concerned in the development of the ova at all; the latter in fact are developed in the thickened dorsal or mesoilietric side of the ovary, which is highly vascular. When the ovary is opened and the embryos shaken out, it is found that there is an abundant covering of flat, fleshy processes which arise from the roof of the ovarian cavity. The basal part of these processes is thickened, traversed by vessels, and consists largelj" of ovarian stroma, in which immature eggs are found embedded in various stages of growth. The distal part of the processes which depend into the ovary are subdivided into slender digitations, which dip down amongst the great mass of embryos. These terminal digita- tions, upon cutting sections of them, are found to be highly vascular; small vessels in fact comprise the greater part of their substance. The vessels which traverse the digitations evidently form long recurrent loops and serve to bring the oxygenated blood of the parent female fish into close relation with the embryos or foetuses, since these digitations pass down between and amongst the embryos lying in the ovarian bag, in such a way that few of them can escape coming into direct contact with some of the vascular loops in the digitations. The latter also 94 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. afford more or less obvious attachment or support to the adjaceut em- bryos by means of the thin structureless membranes already spoken of. While I have had practically but a single stage of development to study, it is obvious that we have in this instance a very remarkable condition of affairs in the ovary. It is clear, I think, that the method of viviparous development as seen in Sebastes is quite diflerent from that observed in other types of viviparous fishes, so that this type adds another to the several forms of development noticed in a paper which I have recently published.* Washington, D. C, 3farc]i 27, 1SS6. 32.— IVEW EIVGIiAIVD FISHERIES IIV I7IARCH, ISSfl. By "W. A. ll^ii^COX. The mouth came in with the longest and most severe of the many gales during the past winter. The storm began February 25 and con- tinued until March 3. During much of this time the thermometer in- dicated zero or below, and the wind blew from 50 to 75 miles an hour. One hundred and forty-three sail from Gloucester were absent at this time on cod and halibut trips to George's Bank; and as several days passed with no arrivals or news from them, much anxiety was felt. All at "last arrived, mostly more or less damaged. Ten men were lost by being swept overboard, two vessels losing two men each and six vessels one man each. It is doubtful whether any previous record will show as many lost during a single storm by being washed overboard. Much suffering was experienced from the excessive cold weather. Among the arrivals, schooner Fitz J. Babson reports that on February 27, on George's Bank, the decks were swept and three dories stove by a heav3' sea, and that as soon as the deck was cleared a small-sized live mackerel was found to have been washed aboard. This may be recorded as the first mackerel caught this season. During the month the fish- ermen have several times reported finding mackerel in the stomachs of codfish caught on George's Bank. The frozen-herring fleet from the United States to Fortune Bay, New- foundland, numbered twenty sail, all belonging to Gloucester. One has previously been reported wrecked f while on the way home; the others all brought full fares, the last to arrive being the schooner Her- man Babson, arriving March 8. Codfish have been abundant, and when the weather permitted fishing a good catch has been made on George's Bank and in Ipswich Bay. The fleet in Ipswich Bay numbered forty -three sail that used trawls and seventeen sail that fished with gill-nets. Before the gale, which des- troyed many nets, those using them were doing well. The schooner Sarah * Ou the Developmeut of Viviparous Osseous Fishes. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885; pp. 128-155, pis. VI-XI. tSee F. C. Bulletiu, 1886, p. 79. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 95 C. Wharijf took 36,000 pounds of codfish with gill-nets, while fishing only three days in Ipswich Bay ; and sold the same at $4 per 100 pounds, netting over $1,400. The price just mentioned was exceptionally high; while during the month prices for all kinds of fish have ruled lower than for years, the exceptional cases being on fresh fish, with which the market would be jiooily supplied during stormy weather. The codfish found in Ipswich Bay seem to have followed in, or been followed by, a large body of shrimp, their stomachs being full of them. The shrimp are from two to four inches long, of a bright red color, and full of spawn. The codfish taken in Ipswich Bay average seventeen pounds each, about half of them being female fish. The mackerel vessels have been getting ready for their season's work, which is close at hand. The catch of mackerel before June is generally regarded as unprofitable and injurious to the business. It has been expected and largely desired by producers and dealers that Congress would pass a " close season "law, prohibiting the catch or importa- tion of mackerel until June. The mackerel vessels began to leave for the southern fishing grounds on March 11. Ko mackerel had been seen up to the close of the month. IsTot so many sail as usual will be engaged in this branch of the fisheries early in the season, yet by the middle of April one hundred sail will be on the fishing grounds. As long as any go early, many who are opposed to fishing for mackerel so soon in the season will go with them. Although much of the time during the month the weather was stormy and vessels were obliged to remain idle, fish have been abundant and good average fares brought in. TlwB receipts at Gloucester of cod and halibut, the two leading varieties, as compared with the corresponding month last year, show an increase, as follows: Month. March, 1885. March, 1886. Number of fares. 179 190 Increase, 1886 . 11 Cod. Pounds. 4, 266, 000 4, 568, 334 302, 334 Halibut. Pomids. 693, 500 1, 106, 100 412, 60C Beceipts of fish at Gloucester, Mass., in March, 1886. From — Fares. Codfish. Halibut. Haddock. ^^"^^^J^^^- George's Bank 122 7 2 1 1 12 14 1 3 3 24 Pounds. 4, 114, 334 180, 000 Pounds. 105, 600 37, 000 55, 000 10, 000 6,000 Pounds. 623, 000 Number. Ilrowii's Bank Banquereau La Have Bank 15, 000 10, 000 113,000 136, 000 Western Bank 40, 000 Ipswich Bay, trawls Ipswich Bay, nets Newfoundland 40, 000 Fortune Bav, Newfoundland 1 250 000 Bay of Fundv 610, 000 Grand Banlcs 792, 500 Total 190 4, 568, 334 1, 106, 100 663, 000 1 Rfio onn Additional, 10,000 boxes of smoked herring frora Grand Manan. 96 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 33.— SHAD IIV TOE SAINT JOHIV'S RIVER, FliORIDA. By "W, DEMPSEY. I began fishing in the Saint John's Eiver in 1865. Then there were from 7 to 10 nets fished along the river, with from 1,500 to 2,500 fathoms of twine. Now, from Jacksonville to Saint John's, there are 100 nets, with about 250,000 fathoms of twine. One hundred boats are also used, employing 200 men, while probably 20 more are engaged in handling the fish. The figures here given will serve to give some idea of the catch, which was a good one this winter, at the town of New Berlin ; but beside the shad I handled, there were small amounts caught by G other nets fished from this place,* and a few nets were fished by small boys. The follow- ing table shows the number of nets used (whose catch I handled) per day, the daily catch of shad, and the average number of shad taken per net during each of the four months of the season, which here begins on December 1 and ends on March 31 : Shad taken at New Berlin during the season of 1885-'86. Day of month. December. January. February. March. Nets. Shad. Nets. Shad. Nets. Shad. Nets. Shad. 1 6 7 11 12 15 36 191J 2G4J 202 560 12 7 220 22 14 23 21 23 18 19 182 1, 520 934 1,839 1,785 305 14 10 18 22 14 11 465 2 333 3 658 4 18 14 13 8 11 14 490 186 204 24 183 717 1 301 5 799 6 344 7 16 15 IG 13 13 16 354 207 906 345 748i 876 8 2 21 24 22 15 23 5 2,010 2, 592 1, 213 283 1,004 19 9 20 21 10 13 508 9 60 10 1 635 11.. 3 4 8 7 6 1 57 49 107 43 30 4 758 12 3''6 13 529 14 , li 11 12 8 17 9 215 257J 278 104 228 90 15 ~ IG 7 21 25 20 8 16 63 3,071 1,664 498 122 640 18 13 19 19 20 20 680 359 17 666 18 : 19 6 4 8 16 5 13 26 12 58 264 79 88 1,142 738 20 1, 132 21 16 13 15 8 9 19 201 177 232 116 256 455 22 3 1 14 22 21 21 13 n 130 2,945 1,222 1,934 19 14 8 11 16 12 667 23 407 24 166 25 19 21 19 10 21 12 1, 137 471 227 151 391 372 244 26 429 27 486 28 2 2 3 9 7 2 23 36 29 13 14 13 331 30 808 31 442 Total 304 7,3G6 24 280 5,612 20 404 25, 985 64 410 16, 413 40 New Berlin, Fla., April 13, 188G. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 97 Vol. VI, T¥o. 7. Washington, ». €. June 13, 1 8l§6. 34.— TOE PRESERVATIOIV OF NETS." If nets and other fishing apparatus go to ruin in a short time, when not exposed to powerful external influences, the reason for this must be sought partly in the quantity of animal matter which adheres to the apparatus and which decays under certain conditions of temperature, and partly in the myriads of infusoria which penetrate among the fibers and there deposit their eggs. From these eggs, during summer, a new generation of infusoria is developed, which again in their turn lay eggs, and so forth. Not only is the fiber weakened by its component parts entering new chemical combinations, but portions of it certainly also serve as food for the infusoria. The looser the thread, the easier will they find their way into it, and the sooner will it be destroyed. With the view to preserve their nets, the fishermen use every opportunity to dry them ; and for this purpose a place should be selected which is shady, and where there is a strong current of air. Everybody knows that fishing apparatus should never be stored away when wet. If necessity compels one to do this, salt is sprinkled between every layer, or sea-water is poured over them. I^ets (especially herring-nets and nets used during summer) should be cleaned often, or soaked in birch lye, or, as is done in IS'ova Scotia, in a decoction of pine or spruce bark. During the fishing season the nets in Nova Scotia are cleaned every week, being laid in the decoction Saturday night, and remaining in it till Monday morning. Apparatus can thus be preserved by killing the animalcules which attack the material of which the nets are made ; but they may also be prepared in such a manner as to resist these attacks to a certain degree. The simplest method of preserving nets consists in smoking them; thereby they become penetrated with creosote, whose antiseptic quali- ties are well known. If the smoking is repeated from time to time, this method of preserving nets, in spite of its simplicity, is not to be de- spised.t Hot coal-tar will certainly prevent the nets from decaying during use, but it makes them hard and stiff, and the twine becomes brittle at the knots and is apt to break. Hot wood-tar or coal-tar thinned with oil of turpentine also makes the nets stiff and brittle. The same is the case with boiled linseed-oil. | Charcoal-tar is apt to "burn" the nets. * "Bevarinrj af Gam." From the Norsk Fiskeritidende, Vol. V, No. 2, Bergen, April, 188G. Translated from the Danish by Heumax Jacobson. tMittlieilungen cles Deutsclien Fischerei-Vereins. Berlin, 1885. t Fishing Gazette, March, 1884. Bull. U. S. P. C, 86 7 98 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The Scotch formerly used tar and oil of turpeutiiie. The tar was first boiled for oue hour, whereby it lost some of its " burulug" quality, when an equal quantity of oil of turpentine was added, heated to a tem- perature of IO40-I220 Fahr. The nets were then drawn through the mixture. Instead of tar, thick turpentine was also used, and the su- perfluous moisture was pressed out by letting the nets jjass through a machine with two cylinders. When treated in this manner they kept their natural color. In Xewfouudland pine, spruce, or birch bark is boiled until the liquor has the required strength. It is then drawn oif and tar is added in the ])roportion of one part tar to twenty parts of the mixture. Ill France the fishermen use a solution (2 to 4 per cent strong) of alum and water, or sulpliureted copper or oxide of zinc. From England we have received the suggestion to use alum dissolved in Avater and buttermilk (2 ounces or G2 grains per gallon), in which the nets are laid lor six hours. In Europe nets at present are generallj^ tanned. Especially has catechu* {Terra japonica) found great favor during the last 30 years for tanning nets. There are 3 kinds of catechu : + (1) Gambier catechu. — This is obtained by boiling the branches and leaves of the gambier i)laut which grows in Farther India and on the islands of the Indian Ocean. When it has evaporated it forms a clay- colored mass, which is cut in inch cubes. W^hen these cubes are dry they ore dark brown on the outside and light brown inside. Occasion- ally nnich smaller cubes find their way into the market ; but these are frequently adulterated with dried blood, flour, &c. (2) PaJm catechu. — This is obtained by boiling the fresh nuts of the betel palm. There a,re two kinds, namely, the Kassu, which is formed into round bricks, dark brown, 2 inches broad and one-half inch thick, often covered on one side with rice-husks 5 and the Coiiry, which has a yellowish brown color, and which when broken shows an earthy surface, easily distinguishable from the Kassu, which shines on the broken sur- face. Both tliese kinds are of an inferior quality. (3) Cutsch. — This is obtained from a species of acacia growing in India, but now cultivated also in the West Indies. Pegu catechu comes in dark brown lumps packed in leaves. It is heavier than water, has a bitter taste, and is saieugal catechu has a grayish brown color, and when broken shows shining streaks or layers. It generally comes in lumps of 1 to 3 inches in diameter. It contains about 50 per cent of tannin. Purified catechu comes in cakes weighing about one i^ound each. It is generally adulterated. The characteristics of good catechu are that it has a brown color, and * It became known in Europe in the sixteenth century and was used in mi-dicinc. t Danish Fislvoritidondo, 1885. BULLETIN OF THK TTNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 99 ■wbeii broken sliows a fatty, sliininj;- surface. When in greater masses cate(;lin sliould be close and of tiniforui quality, and have as few boles as possible. Good catechu dissolves slowly in hot water. The Association for the Promotion of the Dauish Fisheries has chemi- cally examined 9 samples of catechu, which contained from 12.15 to 1S.25 per cent of water, from 77.05 to 83.94 per cent of organic matter, and from 1.10 to 7.40 per cent of inorganic matter. In five of the sam- ples the quantity of tannin varied from 48 to Gl per cent. The retail price varied from (!.V to 9.} cents per pound. Catechu is often adulterated by mixing it with potato starch, red clay, sand, alum, &c.* When mixed with inferior catechu or other substances, this may be recognized by the color, which is dark brown, almost black j and by the taste, as it does not have the pleasant sweet aftertaste which is peculiar to good catechu. The adulteration can also be ascer- tained chemically. A solution of good catechu in water assumes, when iron vitriol is added, a green color, while when mixed with other sub- stances it turns violet or black. When earth, sand,t cr similar sub- stances are added to give it a heavier weight, these substances will sink to the bottom when the catechu is dissolved in water, vinegar, wine, or spirits of wine. When the catechu is burned these substances remain. The presence of starch can be proved by a tincture of iodine, which gives the sediment a blue color. After the catechu has been dissolved, first in cold water and then in spirits of wine, the starch sinks to the bottom. For tanning with catechu Mr. A. E. Maas, the Norwegian consul at Scheveningen, has given the following directions : One kilogram [24 pounds] of the best catechu is dissolved in 40 liters [42i quarts] of water, aini this proportion is observed whatever the quantity of catechu which is boiled. I There must be enough of the solution to cover the nets entirely in the vessel in which they are tanned. Care should be taken that the nets lie as loose and easy one upon the other as possible. The solution is not poured upon the nets until the catechu is entirely dissolved ; and it should be poured over them as hot as possible (about 140° to 158° Fahr.), but not boiling. The nets should He in the solution for 24 hours, when they should be taken out and spread to dry. Great care should be observed not to take in the nets until they are entirely dr^'. The solution which remains in the tanning vat is carefully put back into the cooking vat and mixed with water, until there is enough liquor to dissolve the same quantity of catechu as during the first tan- ning, namely, 1 kilogram to 40 liters; and thereby a solution is obtained *Dr. Herin.au Kleuke: " Lexilon der Verfalschungen " [Dictionary of adulterations], Leipsic, 1879. t Sand is said to make the catechu keep better ; and it has sometimes been found to contain as much as 26 per cent of sand. { Mr. E. de ikauwer, the Belgian commissioner at the Amsterdam Exposition of 18G1 says in his report that the liquor must not be boiled but heated to 176° Fahr., be- cause boiling changes the nature of the liquor and makes it corrosive. Kcv. Mr. Loberg, in his book Norges Fifilericr [the Fisheries of Norway], says the same. 100 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ibr the second tauuitiy,'. In tbo same luaniier a solution may be pre- IKired for each subsequent tanning'. Cotton nets, wLicli are to be laid iu oil, slionld first have been tauued three times in the manner described above, whereupon they must be well dried before they are laid in unmixed linseed-oil which has not been boiled. The oil should not be heated at all, but should rather be as cold as possible. The oil is poured into a vat in the proportion of 1 pound of oil to 1 pound of nets, therefore as many pounds of oil should be used as are equal to the weight of all the nets which are to be laid in it. After the nets have been laid in the oil they are taken up again and passed between two rollers, so that as much oil as i>ossible may flow oif and remain in the vat. The nets are then laid in a vat with a double bottom, so as to catch the oil which may still run oft" them, and to prevent the lowest layer of nets from remaining in the oil. The nets are left in the vats until no oil drips off them, which generally requires 12 hours. The nets are then spread out to dry on fiat ground in the open air, and remain there until they are thoroughly dry. If oil is still dripjiing from them they may be turned from time to time, but they should never be hung up to dry, and should never be packed one upon the other; even if it rains and storms they should be left undis- turbed, for if they are packed together too soon they may take fire. Much rain will hurt nets soaked in oil, but there is no remedy for it. When the nets are thoroughly dry they are again soaked in catechu once or twice more and dried iu the manner described above. When this has been done they may be kept in a cool place. The rule therefore is : Tan the nets three times in catechu, then soak them in oil, and then tan them once or twice more. After every trip the nets are tanned again, but are not soaked in oil; but some linseed- oil is added to the catechu solution. Cotton nets which are to be tanned only in catechu, but are not to be soaked in oil, should be tanned five times in catechu. Hemp nets need be tanned only three times. Mr. William Hearder* recommends the following method : Take 1 jjound of catechu to 2| gallons of water, and dissolve the catechu in the water by boiling. The nets are to be laid in the solution over night, care being taken that the fire is out before the nets are put into the kettle. As a gen- eral rule, I ounce of sulphureted oxide of copper is added to 1 gallon of water, and occasionally some glue, which the author, however, does, not recommend, as it is soon washed out, and takes out some of the tanning. Wlien the nets have been taken out of the kettle they are washed in i)ure water and dried. Mr. Arthur Evans gives the following method in a j)amphlet wliich gained a prize in 1874, and was published by the Baroness Burdett- Coutts : The essential condition of success is that the nets should be well tanned from the beginning ; for, if this is not done, they are soon ruined, 'Fishing Gazette, Marcli, 1884. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 101 aiul the damage cannot be repaired later. It is tlierefore necessary first to remove all fatty aud oily substances which may have been used in the manufiicture of the nets, as they prevent the liquor from penetrat- ing the nets.* This is done by putting the nets, without pressing them too much, into a kettle with boiling water aud letting them cook for about an hour, stirring them from time to time to j^revent them from sticking to the bottom. When taken out they are laid on a slanting board and pressed, so as to get the water out of them as much as pos- sible. They are finally spread out to dry, and when thoroughly dry they are ready for tanning. The tanning is repeated four times before the net is considered ready for use. First tanning. — A kettle is filled with as much water as is necessary to keep the nets under water, when they are laid in it, without being pressed too hard. One need not fear that the first solution is too weak, for it is better that it should be too weak than too strong, as in the latter case it will not sufficiently penetrate the twine, but form a sort of crust over it, which will crumble off when the net is used. For the entire tanning process 1 i:»ound of the best kind of catechu is used to every pound of nets. For the first tanning one-half is taken and dis- solved in water in a kettle. When tbe catechu is completely dissolved no more fire is kept under the kettle than is necessary to keep the liquor simmering. The nets are then laid in the kettle and boiled for two hours, stirring them well. When they have boiled the required time they are taken out, laid in tight vats and pressed, and the solution is poured over them, and the vats are covered up. They remain in the vats for forty-eight hours, when they are taken out, wrung, and laid out to dry. When they are thoroughly dry they are ready for the second tanning. Care should, of course, be taken not to spill any of the solution, as this is to be used for future tannings. Second tanning. — The solution from the first tanning is put into the kettle, and water is added if there is not enough to cover the nets. Half of the remaining catechu is i)ut into the kettle, and wlien it is com- pletely dissolved, the solution, when boiling hot, is poured over the nets, which have meanwhile been piled up in a water-tight vat. The remain- ing process is the same as in the first tanning. Third tanning. — The same process is followed as in the second, the remainder of the catechu being used, and if necessary some water is added. When the nets are dry, after the third tanning, they are well washed in sea- water, to which is added about a gallon, of lime-water, prepared the day beforehand', so that the lime has time to sink to the bottom. The object of the washing is to remove all catechu particles which may have adhered to the twine, as they may cause the fourth tanning to be a failure, and the object of the lime-water is to fix the color. The nets are then again well dried and are hung up. * In Norway the lishermcu sometimes boil the twiue before it la used; but it is under all circumatauces bettor to boil the nets. 102 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Fourth fannhirj. — The remaiiiiug catecbu solution is poured into the kettle, Jin«l if tlie quantity is not sufficient, some water is added. As a general rule 9 (juarts are used for a net 100 yards long and 300 meshes deep. To the solution are added 2^ quarts of Stockholm tar, and as much coal-tar for every net of the above dimensions. When the solu- tion begins to boil, the fire is kept low, so as to keep it simmering dur- ing the operation. It should be constantly stirred, as otherwise the first nets will absorb all the tar. The tanning is done in this way, so that the net is drawn through the solution either by hand or by means of a winch, one man drawing the net, one stirring the solution, and the third helping the net along. To scrape oft' the superfluous solution, a piece of wood 4 or 5 inches broad, is laid across the kettle and fastened to it. In the middle of the piece of wood is a semicircular notch, about 1 inch deep and 1^ inch broad. Over this notch there are placed 2 iron cramps about 5 inches long ; the one having a width of 2 inches is placed inside (towards the middle of the kettle), the other, having a width of li inch, on the outside (to- wards the edge or towards the person who draws the net). The net thus passes over the piece of wood between the notch below and the cramps above. The size of the opening or the pressure can be regu- lated by driving the cramj)s in further. During the night the nets are laid to dry, and are then ready for use. As regards the treatment of the nets during the fisheries, the same author says that they should be covered up when not in use, and bo dried at least once a week. Before they are dried they should be washed so as to be free from all imiJurities; and while being dried they should be spread out well, so that the drying process may be accomplished rapidly. As soon as they are dry they must be taken in, as bleaching will hurt them. If a rich haul has been made, they should be washed, even if there is no occasion to dry them later. If one thinks that there will be no occasion to use them for twenty-four hours or more, they should be freely sprinkled with coarse salt. If they are left idle for some time, they should be aired both in the morning and evening, and be s])iinkled with salt. This is especially necessary in summer, wlu^ii the air is warm, the sea is full of organic substances, and the lish are fatter. When the nets are in daily use, they should bo tanned over again every month in summer, and every six weeks in winter. During the first year they are in use, 11 pounds of the best catechu is used for ;> nets 100 yards long and 400 meshes deep ; when the nets have been in use longer, the same quantity will suffice for 4 nets. The catechu is ])laced in a wicker basket, so that any leaves and impurities which may ndliere do not find their way into the solution ; and this basket is hung in llu; water in the kettle, a few inches i'roin the bottom. Only ])ure water .should be used, an FIHUGRAK.S I> A1»KBI., 1S!?.G. By \V. A. WILCOX. The customary activity and enthusiasm in the tishing iudustry at this season has not been observable during the past month. The fear of a treaty with 'England, or some arrangement by which foreign-caught fish would be admitted free of duty, has been a cloud over the business all the spring. This has in a measure disappeared, only to be followed b}' others — by disasters, an unusually small demand, and the lowest prices for years — all of which had a depressing effect, and vessels have been fitted out for the tishing grounds but slowly. Contrary to the expectations of many, since July, 1885, at which time the small duty was imposed upon j)ickled and dry fish of foreign im- I)ortation, prices have been much lower and the demand less than in past years, when imported fish was free of duty. This may largely be accounted for by the great decline in all other i)ro visions, fish appar- ently suffering the most. The aggregate receipts for the month vary but little from those of the corresponding month of last year; more vessels have been engaged in the halibut fishery and less in the cod fishery. The receipts of the former accordingly show an increase ; the latter, a decrease. George's Bank has been the fishing ground for a large fleet of nearly 200 sail, three-fourths of which were from Gloucester. Cod and had- dock were abundant, but vessels averaged small fares of codfish from having poor bait. The haddock catch being marketed at Boston fresh, the receipts at Gloucester show only the small amount of haddock that arrived from an occasional overstocked fresh market. Halibut have at times been plentiful, and again few were taken on these grounds. Ipswich Bay, from October until May, is a favorite resort for codfish, and is one of the most prolific fishing grounds on the coast. During the past six months the fish have been abundant most of the time, more so than for years. The fleet fishing in this bay during January, Feb- ruary, and March numbered 42 sail of uetters and 20 of trawlers; during Ai)ril 40 vessels used trawls and 20 used nets. As this change was caused chiefly by the nets having been worn out so near the end of the season, they were not replaced. In the absence of full returns we notice a few of the Ipswich Bay fleet: Scliooner ISTorthern Eagle, from October 17 to April 28, with 12 men and 30 nets, caught 327,000 pounds of cod and 80,000 pounds of pollock; schooner Sarah C. Wharfl', December 15 to April 25, with 8 to 10 men, 4 or 5 dories, and 40 to 48 nets, caught 307,000 pounds of cod; schooner nector, October 10 to April 30, with 10 men and 24 nets, caught 227,000 pounds of cod and 11 1,000 i)0un(ls of pollock : schooner Abby A. Snow, October 10 to Ai)i-il 30, with 12 men and 30 nets, caught 330,000 pounds of cod and 97,000 pounds of pollock; schooner Estellc S. Nuuam, with BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 107 10 meu, caught with trawls G0,00() pouiuls of cod in three days; scliooiier Clara K. Griiuos, with 12 men, caught with trawls 50,000 pounds of cod in 3 days. The pollock were caught in Massachusetts Bay; codfish were all caught from 1 to 5 miles from shore in Ipswich l»ay. Halibut receipts show an increase of 324,890 pounds over the corre- sponding mouth last year. All arrived fresh, and w^ere caught mostly on Grand and Western Banks ; one fare of 30,000 pounds caught off New- foundland arrived in a British vessel. Prices have widely iiuctuated, generally low, on Ajjril 22 selling for 2^ cents per pound, the lowest price for many months. Mackerel have been a few days late in showing up and working north. The fleet daily left for the fishing grounds, 125 sail being engaged about the last of the month. The first catch of mackerel for the past eight years has been as follows : Tear. Date. Tear. Date. 1879 . April 13 April 2 March 22 March 31 1 1883 March 31 1880 i 1884 March 31 1881 1885 1886 1 March 28 1882 April 10 Forty sail of the fleet were this year, on April 10, in latitude 37° 55', longitude 75° 10', when the first mackerel were seen. The schooners Alice C. Jordan and Ellen M. Adams, both of Gloucester, were the only vessels that secured fares. The first new salt mackerel arrived at New York on April 26, and sold for $5 a barrel. Quite a large body of mackerel was seen the first of the month, but foggy weather much of the time prevented fishing, and only a small amount has been landed. The catch has nearly all been marketed fresh, selling at low prices, ranging from $1 to $G per 100 fish, mostly at $1 to $2 per 100. Another year may new be added to many previous ones as financially disastrous to all engaged in the early southern mackerel fishery, and by many it is thought to be injurious in other ways. Iceland and Greenland will be visited on halibut trips by nine ves- sels, all from Gloucester, and tlie only vessels that will fish in these waters from the United States this year. The names and dates of sail- ing of this small fleet are as follows : Name of vessel. Date of departure. Schooner Mist Schooner Margaret Mather Schooner Landseer Schooner Mystery Scliooucr Clytie Schooner Arthur D. Stor^- Sclioouer Mary E Schooner Ucibert AI. lioirers, ready to sail April 30 for Greenland, Schooner Seth Stockbridse will sail June 2 lor Greenland. April 1 ... Aprils ... April 9 ... April 15 .. A])ril]5 .. April 19 .. April 9 ... Destination. Iceland. Iceland. Iceland. Iceland. Iceland. Iceland. Greenland. 108 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FLSII COMMISSION. Weir and trap fisbiug will be carried on luucli more extensively than of late years, a large and constant demand for fresh bait being made by the New England fishing fleet. Up to the last of the month but few fish had been caught, the weirs having been down but a short time, but herring seem to be late in arriving. On April 13 the first herring, only 27 fish, were caught in traps in Gloucester harbor. In addition to numerous minor disasters, the following fishing vessels have been lost during the past month : Schooner Electric Light, bound south on a mackerel trip, on the evening of March 27, when 25 miles south of Cape Henry, during a dense fog, was run into by the schooner Anne Lord, of Bangor, Me., and immediately sunk. The crew Avere saved, all else being a total loss. She was a fine vessel of 93 tons, built in 1883 ; the loss of vessel and outfit was about $11,000. On April 23, schooner Eureka, on a mackerel trip, sunk at Delaware Breakwater ; crew saved; loss $4,000. Schooner Nettie Adams, shore codfishing, during a dense fog went ashore at Eye Beach, N. H.; crew saved. The vessel was small, old, aud not of great value. Beceijits offish at Gloucester, Masfi., in April, 1886. From- George's Bank Giand Banks Brown's Bank Wf'stfrn Bank !N■e^v Eusland shore Ipswicli Bay, nets Ipswieli Bay, trawls ... OS Newfoundland* Banquereau Off Sable Island Total Total, April, 1885 Fares. 137 31 11 11 O 6 10 1 1 1 Codfish. Pounds. 2, 962, 000 256, 000 755, 000 30, 900 37, 000 174, 000 212 250 4, 214, 900 4, 592, 000 Halibut. Pounds. 145, 400 954, 000 62, 200 72, 000 30, 000 25, 000 15, 000 Haddock. Pounds. 155, 000 1, 303, 600 978, 710 155, 000 185, 000 Hake. Pounds. 5,000 5,000 * British vessel ; duty free. The following is the position of the New England fishing fleet during the last week of April : Position. Object. No. of sail. Grand Banks Halibut 40 Do Codfish 50 Western Biink Halibut Cod and halibut Mackerel 20 (lOorfije'fl ;m(>undfl AVt'igliing 25 pounds 44. 1 to 4.5. 7 AVeifjliinK 11 pounds Wci"'hiug 20 ]>ound.s 45. 3 to 47. 2 Weij;hiue of the green, loggerhead, and hawk's-bill varieties are caught, either by being speared at or near the surface, caught with jigs while on the bottom, or in tangle-nets around the reefs. Catching them with jigs was new to me, and is done in this way: The jig is made of three or four hooks, about the size of small shark-hooks, fastened to a line which reaches a few inches below and has a sinker made fast to the end. The fisherman goes out in a boat, and when a turtle is seen on the bottom (say in G or 7 fathems) the jig is let down and dragged along until it brings up against him, when a quick jerk will generally fasten it in some soft spot, and the turtle is pulled to the surface. Turtles are found at and around most of the keys and reefs of the Bahama Islands. They come ashore to deposit their eggs during May and June, and the fishermen assert that they generally lay three times a year. These eggs are much sought after by the islanders, and are con- sidered excellent food. If many more than can be eaten are found, they are sent to Nassau, where they bring about 12 cents a dozen. As the eggs begin to hatch, barracouta, sharks, &c., gather around the reefs in large numbers to feed on the young turtles as they venture out into deep water. To escape this danger, the young turtles take to the shoals, creeks, and shallow lagoons, where the fishermen catch them during the early fall, pursuing them in boats as they swim along near the bottom. At first it is all that the men can do to row fiist enough to keep one in sight, but after a few minutes the turtle becomes exhausted and is easily approached near enough to be speared. These young turtles are delicious eating. I saw none of the regular turtle pegs, the fishermen using mostly an iron or steel headed spear, the head (with line attachctl) coming off when the turtle was struck; but I noticed they tried not to strike him too hard or near the middle for fear of killing him, and thus preventing preservation for market. If they would use a regular turtle peg this trouble would be entirely done away with. The shell of the hawk's-bill is carried to Nassau, polished, and sold to winter visitors and others, $1.25 being the usual price asked for one 8 inches, and $2.50 for those 12 inches in length. New Bedfokd, Mass., 31ay 12, 1S8G. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 127 47 SOME KECIPES I Olt COOKING FISH.* Roe cheese. — The li^hermeu of the Dardauelles prepare a kind of cheese from the roe of several kinds of lish by drying it in the air and then pressing it. By dipping it in melted wax a crust is formed over it, which prevents its being affected by the air. Inside this crust the roe undergoes a sort of fermentation, giving it a very piquant flavor, so much so, in fact, that one can eat but little of it at a time. It is said to taste like a mixture of fine sardines, caviare, and old cheese. Be- fore it is eaten the crust of wax is taken off", and if it has become moldy — which frequently happens — it is soaked in strong vinegar. CooKTNa FISH. — The Paris Figaro recommends to cook fresh-water fish in a mixture of white wine and water ; and salt-water fish in a mix- ture of water and milk, equal parts, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cooking fish in fat. — While boiling water, which evaporates freely, keeps a steady temperature of about 212° F., fat can be brought up to a much higher temperature, as its boiling point is about 600° F. For every-day use it is sufficient to heat it to about 400° F. Wlien fish are thrown into such fat a dry, brown crust forms round them immediately', inside of which the meat is soon cooked. The difference between fish cooked in this way and fish fried in a frying-pan is, that the latter, by absorbing a great quantity of fat, lose by evaporation a good deal of the water contained in them, whereby they are fried unevenly and apt to get burned; while the former, owing to the quickly-forming crust, neither absorb the fat nor lose any of their strength. The best fot for this purpose is beef fat, but mutton fat can also be used, after first hav^- ing been cooked in milk. Olive oil may also be used. Butter, on the other hand, should not be used, partly on account of the water con- tained in it, and partly because the caseine, when exposed to heat for any length of time, is apt to burn and make it dark. Beef fat may be prepared by chopping it up in small ijieces and boil- ing it in .water until the water has evaporated, all the fat has been rendered, and the threads have become brown and hard. To prevent its burning, it should frequently be stirred after the water has evapo- rated. The fat is then strained through a cloth and is ready for use. The following, however, is a bettor method : After the fat has been chopped fine, it is boiled in water for a quarter of an hour, taken up, and the water squeezed out, whereupon it is again boiled in water for from one-half to one hour. While slill hot it is strained through a cloth. AVhen cold the fat will form a cake on the toj). The lower side is cleaned, and the fat is melted once more in order to remove any water which it may still contain. To use the fat a sufficient quantity is placed in a deep pan, not porce- lain lined, however, as the i)orcelain frequently cracks on account of * From the Norsk Fishcrilidende, Vol. V, No. 2, Bergen, April, 1886. Translated from the Daniali lt>y Herman Jacobso:!^. 128 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the heat. The fat does uot bubble. W'heu a thin bluish steam begins to show itself, or when a drop of water thrown on the fat immediately evaporates with a crackling sound, it has the required temperature. The degree of heat may also be ascertained by sticking the tail of the fish into the fat. If the fat is hot enough the tail becomes brown and brittle in a few seconds. The pieces of fish thrown into the fat first sink to the bottom, but soon rise again. When they are suflQcieutly brown they are taken out and laid on a i^erforated board, so that the fat can run off. They should be served immediately, and should not be covered, as the crust soon looses its brittleuess. When the fat is not burned it can be used a number of times. If the fish has been rolled in bread, cracker-crumbs, eggs, &g., the fat should be strained every time before it is returned to the vessel in which it is kept, or poured into water, where the impurities will either sink to the bottom or gather at the bottom of the cake of fat, when they can be scraj^ed off. Cooking pike : a receipt from the year 1G48. — Take a large pike, make a slit in its belly and take out the entrails with the excep- tion of the liver. Scale and salt the front and hind parts, but leave the scales on the middle part. Lay it in vinegar, so that it gets a nice blue color; then stick it on a spit. Take a clean cloth soaked in wine and tie it around the middle part tightly enough to prevent the fat, with which the two other parts are basted, from entering the middle part. When the fish is on the spit, a mixture, half wine and half water, should be poured on the cloth as soon as it begins to get dry. The front part of the pike should be sprinkled with flour ; then hot butter should be poured over it ; then again flour, &c., until it is deemed suffi- cient. The hind part should be sprinkled with ginger and salt, and hot butter should be poured on it from time to time until it is well baked. Care should be taken in putting the fish on the spit, so that it does not break. When ready, serve the "fish whole on a flat dish. Soaked fish with green peas. — After the fish has been well beaten with a wooden mallet, lay it for several days in strong 13^, and then in soft water, until it has become comi)letely soaked. Before it is used it should be soaked for a good while in warm salt water, but not boiled. The peas are cooked in a little water with salt and butter, a little flour is added, and they are boiled up once more with chopi^ed parsley. Fresh herring with brown sauce. — The herring are cleaned and sprinkled with salt half an hour before they are used. They are then dried in a cloth, rolled in flour or bread-crumbs, and fried in butter or lard. For the sauce take a medium-sized onion, about ] i)ound of lean bacon, some ])ep])er ground fine, a table-spoonful of flour, and two table s])oonfuls of good vinegar. The onion is chopped fine and steamed nntil it has become quite soft, and the bacon is added cut in small cubes; finally the flour is stirred in. Then ady the editor.] WHITEFISH and lake trout eggs SENT TO SWITZERLAND. — The minister of Switzerland, Col. Emile Frey, under date of Washington, February 15, 1S8G, writes that the 1,000,000 eggs of the Coregonus albus and the 50,000 eggs of the lake trout have reached Switzerland in the very best condition, and have been distributed for hatching as follows: Hatchery. Zurich Zus Oeuova Locarno luterlaken.. Lui'cine . . . . Brassns Saiur Moritz Stanz Chur Coregonus albus. 200, 000 L'OO, 000 L'OO, 000 125, O00 3, 945, 800 1882 3, 329, GOO 5 093, .500 1877 1883 1878 1?H4. 3, 930, 000 1879 1885 4, 637, 400 1880 Total 1881 38, 147, 000 Eels consumed in England.— Tn London and vicinity over 3,250,000 pounds of eels, valued at $050,000, were consumed last year. About 800,000 iwunds additional passed through the markets. Of the total 140 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. amount about 2,000,000 pouutls came from Holland, 1,000,000 pounds from Germany, 1,000,000 pounds from Ireland, 100,000 pounds from Scotland, and only a small quantity from the waters of England. Sponge fishing near Appalachicola, Fla. — Mr. Jolin E. Grady, collector, writing from the custom-house at Appalachicola, Fla., on July 21, 188G, states that the sponge fishing near there is all done consid- erably more than 3 miles from land. The value of $1.75 per pound is about the amount the sponge buyers intend that the sponges shall cost them, as purchased from the vessels immediately on arrival. ^o sponges are sold here or anywhere by the sponge catchers by the lot. The spongers string their sponges on yarns or tarred strings of C feet in length, and on arriving at port the lot is then carefully counted and thrown into a pile. The sponge buyers are notified, and they ex- amine the size and quality of the sponges, and also the length of the strings or yarns on which the sponges are placed. The sponge catcher guarantees only that a certain number of bunches is in the lot or pile. Each dealer then has three sealed bids, which are submitted to a dis- interested party, and the highest takes the sponges, as the owners bind themselves to accept the highest bid. Sea-lions on the coast of Oeegon. — Mr. Zachary T. Siglin, deputy collector, writing from the custom-house at Coos Bay, Oregon, on July 8, 1880, states that there are no vessels of that district (Southern Oregon) engaged in deep-sea or outside fishing, but that the fishing of the district is carried on only in the rivers and bays, and is confined entirely to sal- mon. The fishing season will begin about the middle ot August. How- ever, the schooner Euby has recently engaged in the business of killing sea-lions for their oil, and also for the purpose of destroying them, as thej- are a great enemy of the fish. This hunting of the sea-lion is done at the entrance of the rivers and bays, where they are found in great numbers, and if not destroyed it is generallj' believed that they prevent the fish from coming in. California trout in Holston Eiver and in tributaries of New Eiver. — Mr. W. C. Pendleton, of Marion, Va., who is clerk of the supreme court of appeals at Wytheville, Va., states that citizens are catching some very fine California trout out of the Holston Eiver. He has seen six of them whi<;h averageillian Frances. Four Si.Hteis Emma C. Berry. Virji'inia Cliarles Lewis iilar.uaret Ella . . . , Leading Breeze. . . Leona Zareta Dove Thomas E. Parks. Mary Ellen CarrieP.Gambrill Lizzie Kegau Total . Home port. Alexandria, Va . . . ...do Georgetown, D. C. Tappahauno'lv.Va. Alexandria, Va . . . do ...do ....do ....do ... do Crislield, lild. Crisfield, Md Alexandria, Va . . . .. do Crislield, Md Tappahaunocli.Va, Crislield, Md New London, Conn. Onancocli, Va Alexandria, Va . . . ...do Crislield, Md ...do ...do Tap pah anuock , Va. Town Creek, Md.. Alexandria, Va . . Name of master. J. T. Southard ... Eicbard llaymond Bell L. E. Headloy . . . Charles McKen- ney. James H. Beach, .if. Richard Johnson Charles Kelly Webb Maddux . . . , William Lacock .. McLaughlin . Charles M. Simp- sou. John M.Todd ... Peter Frances Augustus Dean. . . Pj'ico L.J.Beatly J. T. Bowe N.W.Todd AVilliam O. Chas- sey. Simpson J. H. Beach James Hall Sava ue John W. Todd . . . . William Dashield. L. J. Howe Joe Ainold Poe Benjamin Lewis. Nolile Smith Name of ])rincii)al fishing place. The Gums ... Mattawomau ....do ...-.do Quantico do ...do , AVade's Bay ...do , Kiel 1 laud ....do ...do a a . ^ o .= a. sa tio White Poiut... Acqiiia Creek ] ....do Great Wicomico . Deal's Island Wicomico St.George'sLslaud ..do Hollowing Point. ...do White House ...do Mattox Creek . . . (Mia{)uiau's Point. Washington Beach. St. Mary's, Md .. Chapman's Poiut. The Gums ro tn 3 3 2 \\ 3 3 2 a 9 o a 10.21 11.73 y. 10 IS. !)3 21. CO 19.18 10.77 10.05 21. 80 27.09 8.80 5.00 10.07 14.34 13.71 1.5. 22 47.74 5.00 12.47 15.70 .'i. 47 22.20 10.19 26. 29 8.83 9.09 17. 22 5.00 13.01 'i'7."74 78 457. 70 Number of shad sold in Alexandria, season of 1880 34, 847 Number of herring sold in Alexandria, season of 1880 3, 979, 324 Where kockfish breed. — Mr, William N. Habersbam, writing Iroui Savauuali, Ga., ou April 8, 1886, says: ^'Thc rockfisli breed liere during the spring at tlie heads of all our rivers. The ypuug, 2 or 3 inches long, are caught in nets while casting for shrimps and hard- backs. In the interior, at a i)lace where the road crosses the head- waters of a shallow stream emptying into the Ogeechee Iv-iver, after a rainfall I have seen rock of 20, 30, and even 10 pounds wriggling their way tlirongh to a lagoon beyond, ex})osing parts of their bodies at times, and being beaten with sticks and clubbed while they were push- ing their way over the road. During the summer I live near a small salt-water river — the Vernon — that empties into Ossabaw Sound, and the rock go up to its headwaters among the lagoons and swam])S iu the winter and spring, and their young are always found on the shores when casting for prawns." BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 143 lu ii later letter, dated May 22, 18SG, Mr. Uabersbain adds : " The roeklisli breed at least as far north as Canada, as in the Province oi' Sew Brnuswick they abonnd on the North Shore from Shediae to Dal- housie, and are found in the liestigouche, Saint John, and Mirainichi Kivers, where I knew them over thirty years ago. The :^oung rock, from 4 to G inches long, are there taken in the smelt bag-nets, which taking is hastening their extermination. They spawn there in the rivers about the last of May, and run to sea after spawning, returning about September 1, and remaining in fresh water until after spawning agaiu the following spring. They visit the harbor of Bathurst, ou an arm of the Bay of Chaleurs, apparently in pursuit of the sand lauuce, stopping only a few weeks, but not spawning there, as they prefer slug- gish water. In addition to my own knowledge of the subject, what I have said about rockfisli in Canada is confirmed by Mr. William H. Ven- ning, inspector of fisheries in New Brunswick." Bill to peotect the freedom of commercial intercourse.* — Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled., That whenever the President shall be satisfied that American vessels are denied the i)rivilege of l)urchasing sujiplies or bait, or any other commercial privilege, in any port or ports of anj' foreign country, he may, by proclamation, prohibit the vessels of such countrj' , or of any designated district, port, colony, or dependency thereof, or any class of such vessels, from entering American ports, or from exercising such commercial privileges therein as he may in such proclamation define, for such period as he may prescribe; and on and after the date named in such x>roclamation for it to take effect, if the master, officer, or agent of any such vessel of such foreign country excluded by said proclamation from the exercise of any com- mercial i^rivileges shall do any act i)rohibited by said proclamation, in the ports, harbors, or waters of the United States, for or ou account of such vessel, such vessel and its rigging, tackle, furniture, and boats, and all the goods on board, shall be liable to seizure and to forfeiture to the United States; and any person opposing any oflicer of the United States in the enforcement of this act, or aiding and abetting Siwy other person in such opposition, shall forfeit eight hundred dollars, and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, npon conviction, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. A vessel STRUCK FOUR TIMES BY A SWORDFISH. — Mr. W. A. Wil- cox, writing from Gloucester, Mass., on August 7, 1880, says: "The schooner Volunteer, of Gloucester, arrived on August 3 from a mackerel trip of several weeks in the neighborhood of Block Island. Capt. Eobert Smith reports that on June 15 he was 2 miles west of Block Island at 4 p. m., when the vessel received a severe shock, much * This bill (H. R. 9210) was iotioduced in the House of Represoutatives by Mr. R. T. Davis, of Massachusetts, ou Juue 7, I8b6, aud referred to the Committee ou Com- merce. It was reported back July 17, aud ordered to bo iiriuted. 144 BULLETIN OF Till-] UNIT]:!) .STATES ITttll COMMISSION. as if it Lad struck upon a lock. At tlic time tbey were almost becalmed. On lookiuy: over the vessers side a large swordfisli was seen, -whicli lepeatedly struck the vessel Avitli great force. A boat was quickly manned, and a harpoon soon finished the fisli. On taking- it on board it was found that the entire sword was gone, taking- away the ui)per jaw and both eyes. The fish weighed 300 pounds. "On arriving at Gloucester the Volunteer went on the marine rail- way, when the work of the swordfish was soon found. Six feet from the stem, near the top of the keel, within a space of 10 inches by G, the sword had i^enetrated and broken off four times, even with the face of the keel, four pieces of the sword being deeply imbedded in the wood. The carpenters dug out one small piece, but the others are still im- bedded in tlie keel. The distance between the centers of the two ex- treme holes is just 10 inches. That a swordfish should repeatedly run its broken sword into the keel of a vessel seems very strange, but such is the fact." Geowth of cakp. — Mr. J. Luther Bowers, writing from Berry ville, Va., August 13, 18SG, states that he received from the U. S. Fish Com- mission some carp weighing about 1 ounce apiece, on March 25, last, and that on August 12 he caught six of them, which together weighed 10 pounds, being an average of 26| ounces to each fish. The time from being placed in the pond to being caught was one hundred and thirty- nine days, and as they averaged an increase of 25§ ounces, each fisli must have gained on the average 1 ounce in about five and one-half days. These carp on being eaten Avere found to be of excellent flavor. Success with thout and salmon. — Dr. C. 11. Balrbour writes from liutland, Vt., on Sei)tember 15, 1SS6, saying: "The lake that I stocked with 800,000 trout and 20,000 landlocked salmon which I received from the U. S. Fish Commission, is a success. Salmon are taken there Aveigh- iug G'l i)oands." Gaff-topsail catfisu taken in jSTaiiiiag ansett Bay. — Mr. George A. Lewis, writiiig from Wickford, 11. L, August 31, 188G, says: "There havo, been thus far three gaff-topsail catfish caught near here this sea- son. They Avere about 15 inches long, and agreed Avith the description and plate given in the quarto History of Aquatic Animals, by lueans of Avhich they were identified." Poisonous effects of sewage on fish. — Messrs. C. Weigett, O. Sacre, and L, Schwab have investigated the effects on fisheries and fish- culture of sewage and industrial Avaste Avaters, and find them A'ery damaging. Chloride of lime, 0.04 to 0.005 per cent chlorine, exerted an immediately deadly action upon tench, Avhile trout and salmon i)erished in the presence of 0.0008 per cent of chlorine. One per cent of hydro- i-hloric acid kills tench and trout. Iron and alum act as specific poisons upon fishes. Solution of caustic lime has an exceedingly violent effect upon them. Sodium sulphide, 0.1 per cent Avas endured by tench foi' 30 minutes. [Popular Science IMonthly, Scpteiuber, 1S8G, p. 719]. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES i^^ISH COMMISSION. 145 Vol. VI, Wo. 10. tVashiisgtoii, ». C. Aiiff. 25, 1886. 49.— ON THE FOO» AND DIGESTION OF GEKWIAN EISH.* By Dr. P. FAl^CKITIUS. At the request of tbe Fishery Association of East and West Prussia I couimeueed a series of anatomical and j)hysiological observations of the alimentary canal and the digestion of our fish, which will not be liuished for some time, but concerning which I am able to make a i)re- liminary rei)ort. Any experiments in feeding made on the basis of my results, will of course- have to be made only in suitably arranged l)onds, as in the narrow tanks at my disposal the fish live under too un- natural conditions to draw deiiuite conclusions as to the influence of food on the increase of size and weight. The alimentary canal offish begins in the mouth, which is more or less furnished with teeth, to which is joined a wide throat with folds running lengthwise. The throat leads into a c^'lindrical tube, some- times straight, and sometimes more or less twisted, which opens at the anus. In the lampreys the entire alimentary canal is of an even, cylin- drical form, and entirely straight 5 in some fish it is somewhat twisted, but no distinction -can be recognized between the stomach and the in- testinal canal 5 while in other fish the stomach may easily be recognized as bag-like or at least as a considerably widened jiortion of that canal. A microscoj)ic examination of the raucous membrane, which lines the entire alimentarj' canal, shows that in a large group of fish, to which among the rest the carp belong, the stomach is wanting, so that the intestinal canal commences at the throat. It is a characteristic feature of the stomach of fish, as well as of warm-blooded animals, that its mu- cous membrane possesses pepsin glands. These glands secrete a fer- ment (pepsin) which, together with a free acid produced by the glands of the mucous membrane, digests albuminous matter, that is to say, dissolves it and makes it fit to be received in the organism of fish. The I)epsin of fish is distinguished from that of the mammals by the circum- stance that even at a temperature far below 15° C. [SGOFahr.] it pos- sesses an intensely digestive power, which is considerably increased by raising the temperature to 40° [104° F.], while it is entirely destroyed if the temperature is lowered to zero [32° F.]. In fish which i)ossess a stomach the mucous membrane of the entire intestinal canal connected with it shows no digestive faculties, but serves only to absorb the al- buminous matter dissolved by the gastric juice. The gall secreted from * " Uehcr Kahnihrj vnd J'erdauuiujunnercr Finche." From Jlerichte dcs Fischerci-Vereins der Proviuzen CM- und JVcfiijircnsscn ; 18S5-'8l), No. 2 ; Konigsberg, October, 1885. Trans- lated from the German by Herman Jacobson. Bull. U. S. F. C, 8G 10 146 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the liver, however, goes into the intestiual canal, as well as does a juice secreted by the x^ancreas and the appendages of the coecum. Both the pancreas and the appendages of the cajcum are wanting in many fish. The appendages referred to, which in varying number are attached to the front part of the intestinal canal (3 in the perch, ] 9 to 150 in the sal- monoids, and upwards of 200 in the mackerel), are often connected into a glandular mass by a loose tissue. The gall-bladder does not digest albuminous matter, but contains a so-called "diastatic" ferment which transforms soaked starch to sugar, and thus renders it fit to be received in the organism. The liquids secreted by the pancreas and the appendages of the caecum react in a neutral or alkalic manner, digest albumen, and to a limited extent possess the faculty of transforming soaked starch to sugar. Like the gall-blad- .der they also possess the faculty of changing fatty substances to an emulsion, and thus preparing them for absorption by the intestinal canal. Matters are very different in those fish which have no stomach, for instance, in the carp and bleak. Here the entire intestiual canal, from the throat to the anus (though to a much greater extent in the front than in the back part), secretes a liquid, which in its effect resembles that secreted by the i)ancreas, and which therefore digests both albu- minous matter and soaked starch, as well as fatty substances. These fish have no appendages to the caecum, but the liver pours a consider- able quantity of gall into the intestinal canal, immediately back of the throat. These fish, therefore, are capable of digesting albuminous mat- ter, carbohydrates, and fatty substances. It is wtU known that fish do not masticate their food, as the teeth of predatory fish serve only to take hold of and to retain food. Even in those fish which possess strong teeth, worms and the larvaj of insects are only squeezed somewhat. Kor do fish euveloi) their food in saliva while in the mouth, as is done by mammals, as fish have no salivary glands. Although the food, therefore, reaches the alimentary canal without any preparation favoring digestion, the alimentary canal in the majority of our fish is comparatively short. While in the cat, for instance, it is 3 times the length of the body, in man C times, in the horse 12 times, and in the goat even 26 times, we find that, according to numerous measure- ments, the proportion of the length of the body and the length of the alimentary canal is in the pike, hake, whiting, and tench, as 1:1; in the bass, perch, and eel it is as 3 : 2; in the crucian carp as 2:3; and in the u-els, as 11 : 8. Only in a few species of fish does the length of the alimentary canal exceed that of the body to any great extent. A notable example is the lump-fish {Cyc1oj)terus liimpus) of the Baltic, whose alimentary canal is from G to 10 times as long as tlie body. The rapidity of digestion depends very much on the quantity of Ibod taken at one tiiiu^ Sm:dl «iuantities are, of course, digested quicker jhan large ones. II' :i j)ike swallows a fish half ils own size, so that in I BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 147 the beginning tbc tail protrudes from the mouth, the head is, of course, digested very soon ; but gradually there is some delay, as the digestive liquids are only secreted in limited quantity, and the dissolved sub- stances can be absorbed only gradually. Pike are not suitable for making observations relative to the time occupied by digestion, as they are in the habit of throwing up very soon some of the prey which they have swallowed; but I have made experiments with perch and hake which were fed on worms. A number of perch, measuring each about 15 centimeters [about 6 inches] in length, which had been kept on very short rations for some time previous, were fed on worms, which they swallowed so greedily that their bag-like stomachs were filled to their utmost capacity. In a perch killed two hours later the food was found only in the stomach, the gastric juices reacting in a strongly acid manner. After eight or ten hours a portion of the worms had reached the front part of the intestinal canal 5 but even after twenty or twenty-four hours the stomach was still very full, while at the end of the intestinal canal balls of feces were already forming ; after sixty or seventy hours the stomach was empty ; and after one hundred and ten hours the front and middle i)arts of the intestinal canal had likewise become empty, and only at the end of the canal were there feces, and digestion might therefore be con- sidered as finished. In hake which had been well fed with worms, they evenly filled the entire intestinal canal from the throat to the anus after twelve or fifteen hours; but owing to the stronger secretion of gastric juice in the front I)art of the intestinal canal, they had been better digested there than in the lower part. This explains the observation that half-digested particles of food frequently protrude from the anus of fish, and from it the conclusion may be drawn that if fish are to be fed with the view to fatten them it is better to give them moderate quantities of food at * frequent intervals, than to give them large quantities at longer inter vals. The carp-like fish are frequently termed herbivorous fish, in contra distinction to i)redaceous fish. This term, as I have been taught bj numerous investigations, is entirely' erroneous. While young fish ol all kinds, examined by me, were found to have eaten small crustaceans and infusorians, the intestinal canal of all fish of the carp kind, meas- uring more than a finger's length, always contained at all seasons larva? of gnats, dragon-flies, day-flies, beetles, &c. Large quantities of iflants (green algaj) I found regularly only in the intestinal canal of Gliondrostoma nasus ; but it remains to be examined whether the algie or the large quantities of infusorians and other di- minutive animals adhering to them, form the iirincipal food of this fish. Uncooked starch flour was not digested by any of the fish which I examined. Even when, after being stirrlaces, especially in the tropics, there is a risk of eating tish which are injurious to health and which may even endanger life. Some fish seem to be poisonous at certain seasons of the year, while at others they are perfectly harmless. The spawning season / seems to be the one in which they are particularly dangerous. Some fish are poisonous wben caught in certain localities, while in others they may be eaten without any bad result. In most fish of this kind it is not the meat which is poisonous, but the entrails, especially the liver, / the roe, and the milt ; sometimes the skin also is poisonous ; and finally there are some fish whose meat is poisonous. Certain kinds furnish a perfectly harmless food if eaten as soon as they are taken out of the water, but if they are allowed to lie only an hour their flesh spoils. One cannot judge by the appearance of the fish, for those that look finest and most appetizing are frequently the ones that are poisonous; while there are fish which have a revolting appearance, but which are harmless and good to eat. In the East Indian and Australian waters the poisonous Mcletta is found in large numbers. It greatly resembles a herring, to which family it belongs; it is 5 or C inches long, with a sharp, serrated belly, silvery scales, and a bluish-green back. Eoussagrive states as its principal characteristic that it has no teeth, with the exception of a few very small ones on the tongue. Tliis fish is found especially near the Sey- chelles and near New Caledonia. It is always poisonous; and when eaten, causes vomiting, violent diarrhea, chills, a languid feeling, and invariably ])ain and cramps, particularly in the legs; the symjotoms, therefore, resemble those of cholera. It is often caught with another kind oi Mvletta which is not strictly poisonous, and'Avhich maybe distin- guished from the poisonous one by having larger scales. The poisonous Meletta has a black snout and a black spot on the dorsal fin. " Other- • " Gifiifie 7'7s/.-f." From tlic A'o)-s7,- FhlrrUiilrnde, Bergen, October, 1885. Translated from 1li(i Danisb Ity IIi.uma.n .Iacouson. BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 149 wise these two kinds of liisli cannot easily be distinguished one from the other. The second kind of Meletta, or the tropical herring {Meletia thrissa), is quite common on the coast of Brazil, in the West Indies, and on the east coast of Korth America as far north as New York. It is considered dangerous, especially during the spawning season, the roe ocing its most poisonous i)art. From San Domingo cases have been reported where people have died from eating this fish. Hornemann in his medical work says that it is advisable to forbid the crews to eat any fish of the sardine kind (to which family the Melettas belong) in the tropics, especially during the spawning season, an advice which should be heeded, as mistakes may easily have fatal consequences. From Japan we also have reports of poisoning by fish of a similar kind, the Engraulls japonica. It is found in large numbers, especially near Nagasaki, and is most dangerous during the time from July to September. In the same locality the Enoranfis japonica is also found, which Foussagrive supposes to be the same fish as Meletta thrissa. In the Brazilian and West Indian waters the Caranx fallax (belong- ing to the mackerel family) is found. In Havana it is called "jure!." It may be distinguished from the Ccfrowa? 6'arai?//w.s', which is common throughout the entire tropical portion of the Atlantic, by the following marks : The harmless Caranx has a black spot on the gill-covers, which is wanting in the poisonous one. The poisonous Caranx also grows larger, sometimes weighing as much as 25 pounds, while the other rarely weighs more than 2 pounds ; for which reason it is prohibited in Havana to sell Caranx weighing more than 2 pounds. The poisonous Caranx has scales on the neck, while the other has a bare neck. The poisonous one has invariably twenty-two rays in the second dorsal fin. It is also said that this fish is poisonous only when worms are found in its head ; this should, if true, also be considered as a distinguishing mark. Another kind of mackerel [Caranx p)iumi€ri) is also found in the West Indies, and is poisonous only in certain localities and at certain times; but Mien it is poisonous to a high degree. In the French West India Islands it is called ''coulirou, " and the Spaniards call it " chi^aro." Hornemann states that in Havana it is not considered iioisonous, but in Guadeloupe, where it is found in large quantities, and where it has a very fine flavor, it sometimes happens that specimens of this fish are caught which are so ])oisonous that they are used to poison rats. It is said that these i)oisonous specimens may be distinguished by the circumstance that their bones are red, which is not the case with the harmless ones. It very much resembles the common mackerel, but is shorter and thicker from belly to back. The bonito also [Scomber pelamys)^ which belongs to the same family and which is frequently very delicious as an article of food, under cer- tain circumstances may be, if not poisonous, at any rate unwholesome and hurtful. There have been insbinces where the eating of this fish has caused colic and diarrliea, and an itch breaking out on the skin. In / II 7 150 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISTT COMMISSION. tlie Antilles tlie Tynnns vuhjityis is ;iIso cousidered cliiiigcrous; and. \n^ tlie Mcditerrauean it is souietinics, but rarely, said to cause indigestion. The same is said also of Gyhlum eavalla. In the West Indies the Spliyrcvna hectoui is found. It has a long- stretched body (about 2 feet long), and a pointed head resembling that of the pike, and sharp, lancet-shaped teeth, some of the front ones, both in the upper and lower jaw, being larger than the others. It has two dorsal fins, with a large space between them. Its meat is usually wholesome; but sometimes, when it is presumed to have eaten poison- ous fish, it becomes very hurtful. It is said that the fact of its being poisonous is shown by the teeth being black at the roots. The Sphyrccna barracuda is much larger than the Spliyrwna hccuna, and sometimes becomes 15 feet long. It is found on the coast of Brazil, in the Antilles, and the Bahamas ; and is likewise poisonous at certain times. This is the case when the teeth are black, the liver tastes bit- ter, and a black juice oozes out of the flesh when it is cut. In the port of Rio Janeiro several men belonging to a French frigate were danger- ously poisoned in 18G2 by eating a fish which the natives called cayao and which Royde M^ricourt supposes to have been the Spliyrcvna har- racuda. This fish also becomes dangerous by attacking peoi)le while bathing in the sea, and inflicting ugly wounds with its sharp teeth. There is some uncertainty as regards the poisonous character of Dio- don attinga, D. Mstrix, J), tigrinus, and Tetrodon ocellatus, T: sceleratusf^ i and T. maculaius; but it may be laid down as a rule that they should not be eaten, as most of them are either poisonous or at any rate unwhole- ( some. They may be recognized by not having any scales, but either large thick spines or short thin pins all over the body. Some of these fish can puff themselves up, and thus float on the water, belly upward. Tliey have a tooth in each jaw, each tooth having a deep furrow run- ning lengthwise, so that it looks as if there were two teeth by the side of each other. Some of these kinds of fish are found near Eio Janeiro, and are considered very dangerous. Near the Cape of Good Hope (Simon's Bay), the Tetrodon sceleratus or Geneion maculatum is found, which is frequently very poisonous. It is also called "hoad-fish." Among the Scarus family there are several which are poisonous. They are distinguished by their beautiful colors, and are very common in the tropics. Xear Isle de France, in the Antilles, and also in China and Jaiian, several poisonous species of this fish are found. Hornemann states that in the Seychelles there are two kinds, one of which-iis poi- sonous, and may be recognized by having a deejAy indented caudal fin, while that of the harmless kind is hardly indented at all. Xear Isle de France the Scarus vetula is found; in the Antilles (Guadeloupe) the ( Belone caribwa; and in China and Japan a kind of LopMus, resembling^ the Lophius sctigera ; all of which. are iioisonous. As regards sharks, which are also occasionally used as food, it may BULLETIN OF TITE UNITED STATES FISTI COxMMLSSION. 151 1m'. s:ii«l lli;it (lu-ir mm :i( lias iiol a \vi-y liin', llavoi', aiul is soinctimey vc'iy indigestible; otlu'iwise it eaiiiiot be eousidered liiiiU'iil, and may therefore be eaten with moderation. The ]\rurcena is sometimes nnwholesomc when it is very lar<>-c (more tlian 5 or G pounds), but it cannot strictly be termed poisonous. In the Norwegian waters there are no poisonous fish, but it is well known that the sting-bull may be dangerous if one happens to run the pointed dorsal fin into the finger or any other part of the body. This fish is found also in the Mediterranean and in some places in the trop- ics ; and seems to intlict more dangerous wounds there than in more northern waters, sometimes even causing death in a very short time. It is said in Norway that wounds produced by the fin of this fish may be cured by its liver ; the same result, however, would undoubtedly bo obtained if the wound was treated like any other poisonous wound. There are several other kinds of fish which may cause dangerous or painful wounds by the spines of their fins or gill-covers, such as some of the varieties of the frog-fish, the sheat-fish, and the thorn-back. It seems as if in all of the above-mentioned fish which are poisonous in themselves that it is the same kind of poison that produces this re- sult in all of them ; at least if we consider the symptoms following the eating of these fish, which are the same in all cases. They consist in diarrhea, vomiting, violent pain in the stomach, colic, and an exceed- ingly languid feeling, which may become as extreme as in cholera, and is often accompanied by cramps, stiffness, chills, and extreme weakness, leading to death. The symptoms, therefore, resemble those of the cholera. But nothing definite is thus far known as to the kind of poi- son which has this effect, why it has this effect, and what causes the variations of this effect. This is certain, however, that there is every reason to exercise caution in places where poisonous fish are found. At the Cape of Good Hope every vessel which arrives is warned against poisonous fish. As regards the treatment of cases of poisoning by fish, it should be the main ob- ject to remove the poison from the stomach as quickly as possible by using emetics; and when weakness sets in, to use ether and alcoholics to keep up strength. Oi)iates may also be used in cases of pain in the stomach and cramps. It would be very desirable if persons whose calling frequently takes them to the tropics would aid in extending our knowledge of poi- sonous fish by bringing home specimens put up in alcohol, or at any rate by noting the distinguishing marks of such fish and the places whore they are found, and by obtaining information on these points from the natives. Information should also be sought regarding the symptoms of poisoning, and especially as to the mode of treatment; for it frequently happens that the natives of those countries where poi- sonous animals are found know the most effective remedies, which are entirely unknown in other places. 152 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 51 TDE: HERRIiVO rii^IICRVCS I¥EAR THE I.Sf.E OF MAN.' By CAKL SlilIOKSEN. Near tlie Isle of Man, which lies in the Irish Sea, about 30 miles from the coasts of England and Ireland, considerable herring fisheries are carried on in July, August, and September. These fisheries are spe- cially important on account of the quality of the herring which are caught in these waters, and the careful way in which they are cured. "Manx kippers" are, when smoked, an article much sought after in the English fish -markets. Herring of the same kind are caught on the coast of Ireland as early as June ; but later in the season they go into the Irish Sea and give rise to enormous fisheries, especially on the west coast of the Isle of Man. As regards quality, these herring exceed every kind of Scandi- navian herring. In proportion to the size of the body, these herring have a small head, and are exceedingly fat and of a delicious flavor. Their length is about 10 or 11 inches. Some of them weigh three quar- ters oj a pound each. The town of Peel, on the west coast of the island, may be said to have originated and been built up by the herring fisheries. \Yheu we take into consideration that the population of Peel is only 4,000, of which 2,000 serve on the fishing fleet, we see that the fisheries are very im- portant to its population. Peel possesses about 250 large fishing- smacks, with a total value of 2,000,000 crowns [1530,000]. As a gen- eral rule the captain has a share in the vessel, while the crew (usually seven or eight men) receive fixed wages and a certain percentage of the fish cauglit. The other shares are held by the fish-dealers in the Isle of Man or in England, and yield a good dividend. The town has two ship-yards, and two net-factories. The construction of the vessels dif- fers somewhat from that of the Danish, principally by their sharp per- pendicular bows, and by the circumstance that they draw 2 or 3 feet more water than tlie Danish vessels. Besides the fishing fleet belong- ing to Peel, there congregate here daring the season, fishing vessels from Ireland, Scotland, and Cornwall, so that a fleet of more t-han 300 vessels is employed in these fisheries. I have several times gone out on one of these vessels, which usually leave the harbor some time in the afternoon and sail in a northwesterly direction to the fishing i)laces. W'hich are about from 7 to 10 miles out at sea; some vessels, howevei go still farther out. The nets are cast immediately after sundown, and in no case sooner. The fishermen do not select any special point for casting their ucrs. * " Sildifislcet red Oen jMan." From the Danish Fisl-crHideinlc, Copenh.agen, Septem ber 1, 1885. Translated from the Danisli by IIeiimax JACOnsON. " BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 153 and no investigation is ever made to see whether there are herring in snch a phice or not. This will be seen in the morning. Each boat has from fifteen to twenty nets. Each net is 50 fathoms long, and the entire chain of nets extends for a considerable distance. The width of the meshes is 1 inch. The depth of the net is 45 feet; bat its npper edge is, by the line leading to the tloats, sunk 2-1 feet below the surface of the water. Ko sinkers arc em {jloyed. Each net has five floats. As such the Manx fishermen generally use dog-skins or sheep-skins ; and if these cannot be obtained in sufficient number, corks are used for alternate floats. A heavier line runs along the npper edge of the net, and the lines holding the floats are tied to it. After the net has been set, the vessel takes up a position near its end, having the top and the bottom line on board ; and then the herring are at liberty to rush into the net as fast as thev can. A watch is set on board, and the I'est of t' 7 the crew go to bed. Each vessel lias an engine for hauling in the net. At 2 a. m. the fire is started in this engine, and at the first break of dawn the fishermen begin to haul in the net with the fish. The heavy line running along the upper edge of the net, called "' false back," is drawn in by the engine, and at the same time raises the net and drives the vessel forward along its side. It is a pretty sight when the herring, glittering in the ra3^s of the morning sun, are drawn on board. If the catch is good, the net is hauled on board as fast as possible, and the herring are taken out later; but if only a few fish have been caught, the nets are imme- diately put in order for next morning's haul, the sails are set, and the homeward voyage is begun. The quantity of fish caught, of course, varies greatly. Some vessels catch as much as 100 cubic feet in one night, while others, during the same time, catch only a few hundred fish. Fifty cubic feet is considered a good catch. When the fishing fleet returns to the harbor, about 6 or 7 a. m., everything is ready for the sale of the fish. The English firms which during the season do business on the island are all represented by their agents. The sale is by auction, the larger share-holders in- sisting on this mode of selling, which is the most satisfactory to all parties concerned. A sample of the fish caught by one boat is shown, and the quantity is announced, whereupon the bidding commences. The fish are sold by the mease, a mease containing about five hundred fish. Each hundred has forty-two lots at three fish each, so that a hundred is in reality one hun- dred and twenty-six. The price of the mease varies considerably, and depends of course on the catch made during the daj', on the quality of the fish, and the con- dition of the market. The lowest price per mease during this season was 9 shillings, and the highest 30 shillings. TIic average price for a good article is about 20 shillings. Generally some salt is immediately sprinkled over the fish, especiallj^ during warm weather. In Peel itself 154 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISTI COMMISSION. Wnni' is ojily one .siuoke-liouse, owiicd by (lie linn ol' Ivelsall lUu(Iier.s. Tiie other sniokc-liouses are in Douglas, a town on Ibe east eoast of the island, whence there is daily communication with Liverpool by steamer. The herring are conveyed across the island by wagons. The Messrs. Kelsall employ in their smoke-house twenty-four girls and ten men. The girls all come from the eastern part of England, and generally find employment in the smoke-liouse all the year round. Their wages are 10 shillings per week. After the herring have been cleaned, and have lain in brine for an hour, they are exposed to a strong smoke for about four hours, there being a constant current of air through the oven. After having under- gone this treatment, they are prepared as " kippers," for those markets whicli the Isle of Man principally supplies, namely, Liverpool and Man- chester. The reason why the exjiortation of fish is limited to the north of England is this, that only firms from that part are represented on the island, and that these markets buy up all that the smoke-houses can produce. It may be stated here that ^' kippers " intended for markets in the south of England, especially London, must be smoked more strongly and have a higher color than is liked in the middle counties. The north of England, especially Liverpool and Manchester, prefer " kippers" of a light color, such as four hours' smoking will pro- duce. "Kippers" are of course cooked before they are eaten, and are then very delicious. After the fish have undergone the smoking process and have cooled off, they are packed in small boxes, 5 dozen in each, the belly downward. When the fish are of fine quality, such a box weighs about 17 i^ouuds. The lid of the box is stami)ed with the coat of arms of the Isle of Man, and this stamp is a sufficient recommendation. If the buyer desires a good quality of fish, he buys Manx '' kippers," although they arc always higherpriced than any other fish. He does not open the box, as is always done with Scotch '' kippers." The stamp on the lid of the box is a suflicient guarantee for the good quality of the article. The price of Manx "kippers" varies between 5 and 0 shillings a box, while Scotch " kippers," only when there is a lack of Manx "kij)- pers," will bring 4J or 5 shillings a box. The Kelsall Brothers during the last month cured on an average 80 mease per day, that is, about SOO boxes, or 42,000 herring per day. But this is by no means the larg- est number of fish which this firm can turn out, as thej' possess seven ovens; and to j^roduce the above-mentioned quantity they eni])loy only three. The cause of this small production is this, that they do not sell a single box on commission, but regulate their production entirely by what their wholesale houses can sell in the Liverpool and Manchester markets. "Kippers" all through the season (which begins in spring near the coast of Scotland, and ends in December near Yarmouth on the east coast of England) are the principal smoked fish in the English fish-markets. These fish, which form a favorite article of food I'.ULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISTI. COMMISSION. 155 ill iK'arly cvi'ty l%ii.'j;li.sii lioiisclioM, Iiiiac ;ui <'\<'<'(Mliiii;I\' rnic, il;i\<)r, and cause an a^rooablc break in llu^ iiionutony ul" Lhc Eugli.sli table with its many meats. In Denmark there are liardly any smoke-bouses which treat lierrinj;- as " kippers " on the English plan. But it is certain that this method will soon be introduced, and doubtless with good results. 53.— CRAIS FISniKRBES I»Z£OPO!iiI<:D IIV BEIVIVIARSi * Crabs ju'e very common in the Cattegat, and still more so in the North Sea. One cannot pass a place on the shore where lobster fisheries are carried on without seeing the broken shells and claws of large crabs. But it is a rare occurrence for a fisherman to take any of these crabs home and cook and eat them. One very rarely sees crabs offered for sale in Denmark ; and it is a very unusual occurrence to see any one eat such an "ugly" animal. This is to be regretted, because crabs have a fine llavor, and contain, comparatively speaking, a good deal of food, if one only understands how to get at it, which is not very difficnlt. All that is needed is to remove the shell and take out all the soft parts and all the meat, all of which can be eaten, and which, in order to form a savory dish, needs only the same condiments as are used for lobsters. The claws also contain good meat; and on the whole it must be said that the crab is a better and more easily digested article of food than the lobster. It contains much more food-matter than is generally thought; and a good-sized crab almost fills a plate. It can therefore be imagined what a crab contains which, as is freqneutly the case, weighs several pounds. As a general rule it may be said that a crab which measures 4 inches across the back contains one-fourth of a pound of meat. Itis to be regretted that crabs do not yield any income to our fishermen, for the simple reason that they find no sale for them. There are plenty of crabs, a great many more than the fishermen care for; and as a gen- eral rule the lobster fishers catch ten crabs to every lobster. When the lobster-ring or lobster-pot is taken out of the water, and the fisher- men find that crabs, which are worthless to him, take uf) the room and have eaten up the bait, he gets angry, and frequently gives vent to his feelings by crushing the cra,bs against the side of the boat. This would be difierent if crabs were of profit to the fishermen ; but it must be re- membered that it is not the fishermen alone who cling to old customs and prejudices. The crab is never mentioned on any Danish bill-of-fare, and there is, therefore, no demand for them, and crab fisheries are con- sequently not carried on. All this would be different, i f crabs could be exported. We think that * " Taslcekrdbhen." From the Danish Fiskeritidcndc, Copenhagen, September 22, 1885. Translated from the Danish hy Herman Jacobsox. 15G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. this is possible, if a proper method of transporting them conld be fonntl. It is maintained, bnt whether jnstly or not we do not know, that out of the water the crab cannot be kept alive as long as the lobster. If this should be the case, it is probable that some other method of transjiort- ing crabs could be found ; if not raw, they could possibly be transported cooked. Our hope in seeing our crabs made an article of commerce is based on the fact that crabs bring a high price in England. In London large quantities of crabs are offered for sale, and they may be seen in many stalls on the Strand, Fleet street, &c., where lobster salad and crab salad are favorite dishes. In the London markets last summer [IS85] the price of crabs varied from 8 cents to 90 cents apiece, while the average price was about 40 cents. Such hgures ought to furnitsh a satis- factory answer to the question, whether our crabs are too good an arti- cle to be left lying on the sea-shore, all the more as our fishermen inci- dentally catch ten times more crabs than lobsters, which represent a considerable income in our fisheries. There is therefore every reason to urge our fish-dealers to take up this matter. Attempts should be made to export crabs. Even if they were to bring a much lower j)rice than is i)aid for them in the London fish-market, these fisheries would yield some i^rofit; and we are con- vinced that our fishermen would be well satisfied, if they could sell crabs at a low price. But our fish-dealers should also endeavor to introduce crabs in our domestic fish-markets. The Danish public might possibly be induced to entertain a better idea of crabs, if it learns what prices are paid for them in London. s.s.-CARP €Iti,ti;re iiv s\vki>h:iv.* By FILIP TRVKOM. Carp culture has of late years made considerable progress in Sweden, after the old carp ponds had been allowed to lie idle for along time, as is nnfortunately still the case in many parts of Denmark. Carp culture was again taken u]) in 1879, when C. \Vendt, a landed proprietor, who was familiar with it from his German honu», commenced carp culture on a large scale and according to n rational method, on his i)roperty Gus- tafsberg, near Perstorp. His land comprises several small lakes, which are very well adapted to carp culture, as they can be laid entirely dry and again be filled with water. The gentle valleys on his projierty have mostly an otherwise worthless i)eat and swamp soil, where, by means of dikes, i)onds can easily be formed. These ponds are ami)ly su])i)lied with water from marshes lyijig on higher ground, at least under the usual conditions of rain. * " Om Karpearll Srcrifir." From (Lo Danisli F/s/.Tn^V7fnf7f, Copenhagon, Septem- ber 29, 1«8."). Translated (Voiii the Uaiiisli ))y IIkhman Ja(X>ijson. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 157 The lirst year he iisotl about 12 acres of land [4 tonder; and 1 tondo— about 3 acres] for carp ponds. From sixteen female and ten male carp, wbicli be obtained from Denmark, be raised one bundred thousand car[K sufficient to stock an area of about 1,200 acres. In tbe north of Ger- many, Denmark, and the south of Sweden, carp are ready to si)awn in the third or i'ourtb year, and weigh at that time from 2 to 4 pounds. Each female contains about one hundred thousand eggs, but of course not all of these become young fish. The ponds for the young fry are not made very large, about from 1 acre to a few acres in extent. They should have very flat banks, and have shallow water throughout, from 1 to a few feet deep; if the water is deeper it is heated too slowly, the carp spawn too late in the season, the eggs are liatched very slowly, and the development of the young fish does not progress fast enough. The fish do not only become thinner and more slender during the first summer, but even later their growth will be retarded, fu Germany the opinion is held that carp do not like to spawn until the water has a temperature of 17.5° C. [about 63^ F.], and some i)eople even maintain that the temperature of the water should be from 22.50 to 25° C. [about 75° F.]. iSTear Gustafsberg the spawning season has often set in during the last half of May, and the young carp have been hatched in as short a time as six days ; but when the weather was cold it has taken ten or more days. A warm spring and a mild autumn are of the greatest importance for carp culture. Mr. AVendt states that carp do not grow at all when the temperature of the water fixlls below 9° C. [about 48^ F.] , while their growth progresses in proportion as the warmth increases. The period of growth is, even in Germany, limited to five months, and it has been calculated that in May it is 13 per cent of the growth of the entire sum- mer, in June 31 per cent, in July 34, in August 18, and in September 4 per cent. If the spring is warm, the growth is not only comparatively greater in May, but also greater throughout the entire year, as the young fry can then during the summer far better derive all the possible benefit from their food. Attempts have therefore been made in Germany, and Avith considerable success, to cause carp to spawn earlier than usual by heating the water, so that they spawn as early as March. One spring Mr. Weudt placed glass frames over a portion of his pond which con- tained young fry, but this experiment was not successful. The ponds for the young fry (as it is advisable to have several of them), as well as the ponds for the growing fish, should be kei)t dry previous to the time when carp are to be placed in them. This method has sev- eral advantages. Thus, the water gets w\arm sooner in a pond which has lain dry. Von dem Borne observed that while the temperature in such ponds was, in the middle of May, 20° C. [08° F.], it was in others where the water had stood for some time, only 17.5° C. [03° F.]. The consequence was a full mouth's diflerence in the si^awning time, and moreover the young fry in the first-mentioned i)onds were much more 158 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. numerous. These ponds produce a much larger quantity of small crustaceans, which are the favorite food of young carp. If the ponds lie dry for some time, a largo numher of injurious insects and other ani- mals which eat roe and young fish are destroj^ed. In an area of about IS acres, one hundred thousand young fish are placed. After about four weeks they are again placed in suitable ponds, each 3 acres receiving about five hundred and twenty-five fish, and when late in autumn the young fish are caught for the third time, about 70 or 72 per cent of them are left, weighing one-quarter of a pound and more apiece. If at the first transfer only from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty carp per tiJnde are placed in the water (as is done in Austrian Silesia), the carp will weigh about a pound apiece at the end of the first summer. At Gustafsberg the young carp (one year old) have of late years been transferred once during the summer, namely, in July. All the ponds have ditches or furrows, which meet in a large hole inside the dike, near its lower part, so that the fish may congregate there and can easil}' be caught when the water is let off. From 75 to 95 per cent of the trans- ferred fish could be caught in autumn, if care was taken to protect tbe fish against their enemies. In 1882 Mr. Wendt set out two hundred and fifty one year's fish per 3 acres. In the autumn of the second year these fish had an average weight of nearly a i)ound, while some weighed li pounds apiece; of fish that were a year older he set out one hundred, and of those that were still a year older (which were in their fourth summer), he put out from forty-eight to seventy-five in an area of 3 acres. It takes, however, the experience of many years to decide how many fish of the diflerent ages must be placed in ponds of a certain character and size. Above everything else regard must be liad to tbe nature of the bottom and the water. A barren bottom, where plants and small animals cannot live, is just as little adapted to a carp pond as cold spring-water. As a general rule several small ponds can sui)- port more fish than one large pond of the same extent, for in the smaller l)onds the fisli get a larger amount of shallow and warmer water. For- merly several times more fish were placed in the ponds than is done now. The result as regards weight was the same ; but the economical advantage was less than now, because a small inimber of large fish will fetch a higher price than several small fish having the same com- bined weight. Under the conditions referred to fibove, the fish in ]Mr. AVendt's ponds reach a weight of 2A to 4 pounds during the fourth autumn, some fish occasionally reaching a weight of 5 or G pounds. In a less favorable year when many car[) of the above-mentioned age have not reached a weight of 2.} pounds, they are set out in the ponds anew, so as to have another summer lor growing. As a general rule, however, the fourth year is the one during which the Gustafsberg carp become salable. In Prussian Silesia carp reach a weight of 2 to 4 pounds when two and one- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 159 half years old. The pouds arc distributed in the following maimer : From 12 to 15 acres are assigned to the young fry ; 12 to 15 i^er cent of their entire water-area contains one-year-old carp; 18 to 25 percent two year-old carp ; and in the remaining portion the three-year-old lish are kept, and in some years a few four-year-old fish, that is, those which had not yet reached the necessary size when three and one-half years old. A certain water area is set aside for wintering fish ; and the ponds used for this purpose should be 7 feet deep, and if i)ossible should be traversed by some running water containing air. Spring-water is well adapted to these ponds, because it does not freeze in winter. The salable carp are, at Gustafsberg, x)laced in good-sized boxes with slat sides, which are set in a brook with a rapid current and clear water. Thus the fish can easily be got at when they arc to be sold. In the brook-water they also very soon lose the peat or mud taste which they have when taken out of the ponds. Late in autumn, in winter, and early in spring, carp do not, as a general rule, eat anything, nor do they grow. Mr. Wendt has, at j)reseut, sixty-four car}) i^onds, covering an area of about 2,700 acres. The largest are lakes which have been laid dry. The average expense per annum is about CO crowns [$10.08] per 3 acres, and sometimes it is even a little higher. During the last two years from 30,000 to 45,000 i^ouuds of carp have been sold from Gustafsberg. Some of them are sent to Stockholm and Copenhagen, where they bring 75 ore [20 cents] per pound. But the principal market for these carp is Lubeck, Germany, where GO to 07 ore [about IG cents] is paid per pound. The cost of transporting carj) from Gustafsberg to Stockholm is about 8 ore, and to Lubeck 5 ore per i^ound, if the carp are shipped alive in casks filled with water. Sup[)osing that the price of carp at Gustafsberg was 50 ore [13.8 cents] per pound, these carp ponds have nevertheless yielded an income of 15,000 to 22,500 crowns [|4,020 to 8G,030J in two years, or a gross revenue of from 20 to 30 crowns [$5.3C to $8.04] per 3 acres. Mr. Wend t calculates that there is on an average an increase of 100 pounds per year, for every 3 acres. If all the ponds were filled with water every year and if this calculation remains correct, the gross receipts would be mucli higher. In Holstein people count on a net income of 27 crowns [-$7.13] per 3 acres from carp ])onds. For most of the carp ponds near Eeiuleld, in Ilolstein, 85 crowns [$22.78] were paid per 3 acres during the years 1874 to 1884, when the price of carp was very high 5 but these pont at the height of the German prices, and the transportation would cost more than from Scania. Locations should be chosen where the cost of construction is small, and which otherwise are of little or no value. In many respects it would be desirable that north of Scania attempts should be made to cultivate car^) on a small scale, in i)ond.s the construction of which would involve but little expense, and where the carp could either be used for home consumj^tion or find a ready sale. In (Tcrmanj^ much has recently been said and written in favor of plant- ing large masses of young carj> in peat-bogs, marl-i)its, lakes,, and rivers with a slow current, in the brackish water near the mouths of rivers, and in sheltered inlets of the sea. Experiments made in Berlin by Dr. Petri, at public expense, have show^u that the saltness of the water in an aquarium, where carp, tench, goldfish, and eels were kept, could gradually be increased to 2^ per cent without injurious infiuence on these fish, which remained in this water for more than half a year. In Sweden the carp is said to have been introduced in 1500, and has since that time been cultivated on many farms in Scania. Linne states in his tilanslM Ecsa (Journey through Scania) that in 1749 there were near Marsvinsholm 40 carp i^onds, and that these were the largest and most important in the Kingdom. Formerly their number was much larger. It is hardly to be sui)i)osed that these ponds were as large as those at the present time in Germany or in Scania, nor is it inobable that carp culture in the Scanian ponds was carried on then as rationally as it is now. ]n some ponds crucians were kept, and in others carp; in tlic ])<)nds near Larkesholm — at least in one of them — the carp were allowed to stay from four to five years. Linne does not state tlnit these fish were kept in separate i)on(ls ; and it is therefore possible that this was not the custom when he visited Scania. liut in a pamphlet on carp culture, published at Lund in ITGO, O. Cederlof says that "care should be taken not to have the two kinds of fish intermingle." It was even then known that hybrids of cjiri)s are not of much value. Cederlof, who certainly got his information from Scanian car]) cultivators, says in another place that "a ])ond having an area of 14 square yards Avould annually feed at least 300 three-year- old car]), oUO two-year-old car]), and 400 one-year-old carp." Stockholm, Sweden, January 10, 1885. BULLETIX OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 161 Vol. VI, ^o. 1 1 . ^Va!»ihiaB§ton, I>. C. Awg^. 25, 18 86. 54.— THE ICELANK FKESifi-WATEK FIimiERIES.* lu order to get a clearer idea of the Lydrograpbic conditions of Iceland, it was my intention to make a trip to the Isboll Lake, whose natural conditions are said to be very peculiar. But when I learned that there was no boat on this lake, and that it is very limited in ex- tent, I gave up this plan. At present no fisheries are carried on in this lake, for the simple reason that the inhabitants of that neighbor- hood have no inclination to fish. People prefer to get fresh tish from the Ofiord, which, when received there, are not in a very good con- dition, antl which of course are not improved by being carried on horse- back for a considerable distance. There are in the Isholl Lake both trout, and mountain-trout, which are said to be very good. This lake is very deep, being said to reach a depth of 30 fathoms in some ])laces. Cn August 8 I made an excursion to Hjaltore, in order to witness the herring fisheries which were reported to have begun at that place. Upon arriving at Hjaltore I learned that no herring had as yet been caught. I therefore crossed the fiord to visit Einar Asmundson, a member of the Iceland Assembly, at ISTes. In his company I visited Sira Magnus at Laufos, and there examined some so-called sjoreidur which had been caught in the falls of the Fnjoska, near the place where it flows into the Ofiord. These fish were simply birting, that is to say, nothing but mountain-trout, which had entered the fresh water from the sea. Strange to say, no trout are caught in the falls. Tliis is prob- ably caused by the circumstance that the Fnjoska is not well adapted to these fish, as it is full of rocks ; and nowhere could I discover suita- ble localities for spawning. The Fnjoska has very little vegetation. I Lave seen mountain-trout leap the falls just as rapidly as trout. On August 11 I continued my journey, following the course of the Helga, in which salmon are sometimes said to ascend. Higher up this river I found trout in great abundance. Everywhere there is the great- est quantity of tish -food. I examined Lake Hraunsvatn as well as could be done during my short stay. It is said to be very deep ; but several soundings which I took did not show a greater depth than 32 fathoms. At a depth of 23 fathoms the water had a temperature of 5° Celsius, while at the surface the temperature was 9°. The bottom has everywhere a grayish ap- pearance, being a dark clay bottom, as in theLjosavatn Lake. In this * From the Danish Fiskeritidende for July 21 aud 28 and August 4 and 18, 18d5. Translated by Hermax Jacobsox. For an article on the same subject, see F. C. Re- port for 1884, p. 323. Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 11 162 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. lake the mountaiD-tront are said to reach a weight of 8 pounds. I caught oul}- oue youug tish, of a silver white color. But at the mouth of a little stream flowing into the lake I caught quite a number offish, all of a dark color and very different in sha^je from fish caught in the lake. In Lake Heradsvatn there are trout and mountain-trout ; the latter are caught in nets, while the trout are caught only occasionally. Un- fortunately the rain and fog prevented me from getting a good view of this lake. The Xordra Eiver is very rocky and has a clean bottom. At Silfrastadir the river flows through a narrow valley, one rock ris- ing above the other. Here and there there are small even places, and occasionally there is a small island in the river ; and in some places there were large and deep holes in the rock filled with water. In some of the largest of these holes I found young fry which had been hatched this year, and also some young tish, probably hatched in 1883. Some of the sandy places in the bed of the river, which during the spawning' season are under water, i^robably serve as spawning places. The water has a milky appearance, and the bottom, as everywhere in this neigh- borhood, seems to be stony. On account of the rain I could uoi examine the river Svarta, which, however, does not offer any peculiar features to the observer. At Bolstaderhlid I caught ten fish, all trout, weighing about 3 pounds each. These fish had a great many spots. They were lean, and seemed to be exceedingly voracious. Their stomachs were tilled to repletion with dark vegetable matter (seeds, stems, old leaves, «S:c.). which prob- ably had been swallowed, so that nothing which the current carried with it should escape a trial at digestion by these fish ; an evident in- dication that these fish have a hard struggle for existence. I also found in the stomach and the intestinal canal, beetles, spiders, larvae of a two-winged insect, and in one the remnants of a young trout. There are very few plants in the bed of this river, and none at all along its banks. After having passed the Svarta and the Blanda, which near the ferry is said to contain no fish, I reached the farm Solheimar on Lake Svinavatn where I remained from August IG to IS waiting for better weather. This lake contains trout reaching the Aveight of 10 pounds. In Lake Svinavatn the Gasterosteus imngitius is said to be the principal food of the trout; and in the stomach of the one which I examined I found also remnants of this fish. Fishing is carried on with nets, and ■with lines with English steel hooks, and pieces of fish for bait. The nets are 12 fathoms long and 1 fathom deep; they are lowered by means of a stone partly sewed up in a piece of cloth. One farmer may catch from two to three thousand during the summer season, which are eaten either fresh or salted. In Lake Svinavatn the trout is of a better quality than the mountain-trout. The river Laxii, which also receives water from Lake Svinavatn, flows BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 163 through the southern part of Lake Laxarvatn. The salmou ascend into the Laxarvatu only far enough to reach the portion of the stream be- tween Lake Sviuavatn and Lake Laxiirvatu. Xo salmon are ever said to have been caught and no one had ever noticed thatsahnon spawned ill the Laxarvatn, while they spawn in the stream between the tAvo lakes and in the part of the Laxa Kiver above the falls, below which the princi- I)al fisheries are at present carried on. The Laxarvatn has a rich vege- tation, and is said also to contain a great many fish. I could not obtain any further information, and there was no boat on this lake. In 1884 but few salmon had been caught ; the fish are rather small, and the river cannot be called a particularly good salmon river. There are but few spawning- places, and the quantity of the water is not very great; especially below the falls there are large places where the water is very shallow, and there are but few holes. It is exceedingly easy to control the course of the fish and to catch them. On the other hand this river is very rich in fresh-water algce, and therefore jirobably furnishes a good deal of food for young salmon. I could not, however, discover any young fish of the salmou kind. I caught several trout weighing about 3 i)ounds apiece, which were in excellent condition. On my way to Blonduos I again visited the river Bland^. At present the salmon fisheries in this river are not very extensive, and but few were caught in 1881. Salmon-trout and mountain-trout are caught with nets and lines ; near Blonduos fish-pots might be used to advantage. As the weather became a little more favorable, on August 20 1 visited the falls near the mouth of the river Bland^, where most fish are caught. I met the owner of these fisheries, Svenn Christoffersen. He and his father have carried on these fisheries since 1854. As in 1884, there have been periods (as from 18G7 to 1869) when hardly any fish were caught. Xine years ago, however, there were good fisheries, and about two hundred salmou were caught. During that same period a farmer living- higher up the river also made good hauls, but at present he catches scarcely any fish. Since 1875 the salmon fisheries have not amounted to anything. Mr. Christotfersen could not tell me in what part of the Blanda the salmon spawn, and no one seems to know anything about it. The largest salmon are generally caught late in summer when the roe-bag is far from being full. Owing to the decline of the fisheries, Mr. Ghristoffersen has greatly limited the number of his apparatus. He thinks that the decrease of the number of salmou is caused by the extensive digging for peat which has been carried on of late years ; and that the refuse from the trading station and the noise which frequently prevails there has scared the salmon away. The severe winters from 1857 to 1805 have probably more ^to do with it. In 1880 the river Laxa froze down to the bottom, and the farmer living at Sodarnes found many dead fish in the river. I have also made a note of the following statement : When Mr. Christoffersen was o 164 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. a young" mau tbere were only two seals in the river, while now their number is considerable. xsear Huuaos I noticed near the sea about forty seals, while many more could be seen in the lake. The seals are caught with stationary nets, about 10 fathoms long and having meshes 0 inches wide. The seal fisheries begin towards the end of June, and last till the youDg seals leave their mothers. Shooting is not allowed here. On an average sixty seals are caught per annum, and the net income from this source is about 100 crowns [820.80]. From Hnaussar, near the river Vatnsdalsa, I went to the river Kornsa. On my way I visited, by the advice of the Eev. Torvald Asgeirsson, who very kindly accompanied me, several places along this river. In many places there have been landslides along the banks. ISTear one of these an English amateur fisherman a short time ago caught with a fly a male salmon weighing .31 pounds, j^robably a fish left over from the preceding year. In 1871 salmon were caught to the value of 800 crowns [8214.40], ])ut as a general rule the annual income from the salmon fisheries is from 300 to 400 crowns [$80.40 to 8107.20]. At the present time these fisheries are not very remunerative. In 1883 twelve salmon were caught, and in 1884 only one. The lake in the valley is being drained, and meadows are being formed. The entire valley seems to have undergone a complete change at a comparatively recent time, and this change has possibly also caused the decrease in the number of salmon. Alter having witnessed the hauling in of the nets in the Vididals4 Eiver, where (esi)ecially near Borg) a good many salmon are caught, I staid for awhile at Vididalstunga. Some of the fish which I saw here were young fish in excellent condition. Two male salmon were also caught ; the milt was large, but not loose. Here twenty salmon weighing from 8 to 17 pounds were caught in 1884; and at Bordeyri 50 ore [13^ cents] a pound were paid for them. Most of these salmon are caught near the mouth of the Fitja Eiver, below the falls, which the salmon can lea[). Following the course of the river from Vididalstunga, the Kolugil Falls were reached. These are very high, and cannot be passed by the salmon. Occasionally a few salmon and trout are found below the Kolugil Falls ; and I succeeded in catching several of them, all of which seemed half starved, nothing being found in their stomachs but a few beetles. I could not discover any young fish. Both rivers form excel- lent spawning places near Vididalstunga; but no one seems ever to have observed si)awning salmon. Pall Pallson Diieli, however, states that the spawning season is late in September and October. Four years ago, from three hundred to four hundred salmon were caught per annum. It is supposed that the seals congregating near the place where the liver flows into the sea have caused this decrease. Every now and then the salmon ascend the river before the 20th of BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 165 May, but it often happens that the best hauls are made after the 15th of August. It is impossible to construct a salmon-way over the Kolugil Falls. A little below the falls a salmon-trap has been placed in one of the branches of the river, but no fish have been caught in it. The salmon follow the main stream, but according to the law no trap can be placed in this. There are, however, only two persons who own these fisheries up to the falls ; and as they agree perfectly, this limitation of the law seems very unnecessary. At Melstadir, which I reached on August 24, and where I met a number of people from the neighborhood, everybody seemed convinced that the seals are the principal obstacle in the way of the salmon fish- eries. In the river Vestra the salmon can go up as high as Ejukandi; in the Xui)sa River they can go only as far as Efriuupr, and in the river Austra they keep below the Kamb Falls. In 1S84 hardly any salmon were caught in this river. On the whole, the natural conditions were very much the same as in the Yididalsa. The Hrutafjardara three years ago yielded three hundred salmon a year. In 1884 not a single salmon was caught, and in the yearprevious only two. This river is not well adapted to the salmon, as they can as- cend it only about 1 mile from the fiord, when the Ejettar Falls stop their progress. The mouth of the river becomes more and more obstructed by sand from year to year. There are probably not many good spawn- ing places, and the river is easily exhausted. The ^ordra, which flows into the Hvita, has no salmon till a short distance below Hvammer, and even hereonlj- a few are caught. It is said that it is difficult for the salmon to pass the falls. I think, however, that the salmon might find very good spawning i^laces in the greater portion of the Xordra, at least up to the nearest falls, below Veidiltekia, where at times the salmon fisheries in the deep places are very pro- ductive. In the Hvita the salmon go onlj' as far as the Kldffos Falls. A large number go into the Tvera and its tributary, the Kjara. The Tvera is a much larger river than one is led to expect by looking at it on the map, Salmon also go into all the tributaries of the Hvita and into the Bor- garfiord. Among these tributaries containing salmon we may mention the EeikiadalStT, Flokadalsa, Grimsa, Andakilsa, Glufia, Gnfa, and Lauga; but the salmon in the last-mentioned stream are small. In the Alfta, north of the Borgarfioid, there are very few salmon. Gudmundur Palsson informed me that the Hita is very rich in salmon ; and that a good many are also caught in the Kalda, Hafljardara, and Laxa. Some of these streams are very small, and have hardly any water ; but it is probable that they would form an excellent field for observations of the salmon and the salmon fisheries. The salmon do not ascend the Hvit^ 166 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. till May, aiKi contijjue iu this river till the eud of August. Some peo- Y)\e, bowerer, informed me that they ascend still earlier in the season. I could not obtain any definite information as regards the spawning. It appears to me that the Icelanders have not paid much attention to the conditions of life of the salmon, which are of great importance as re- gards any measures for protecting the salmon and promoting the fish- eries. The seals ascend the Hvita as far as Klaflbs, and have young ones there, several of which I noticed. In my judgment these falls are not an insurmountable obstacle in the way of the ascent of the salmon, but none have ever been caught above the falls; in fact, I believe no one has ever attempted to fish here. Possibly the river above the falls is too cold to afford proper spawning places. Xear Stafholtseyri and still farther up the Hvita but few salmon were caught in 1884, nor have many been caught in the tributaries of that river. Thus, one farmer in the neighborhood caught only six in the Eeikiadalsa. One salmon was caught as late as the 29th of August. Xear Xordtunga very considerable salmon fisheries are carried on. It seems that the sx>awning i)laces begin here, and that the wealth of salmon in the Tvera originates here and in the Kjara. In the last- mentioned river large salmon fisheries are carried on, esjiecially from Gilsbakka, whose inhabitants travel several days' journeys to the fish- ing places on the Kjara. IS'ear jSTordtuuga salmon are caught early in May. In 1884 the first salmon was caught May 20. The owner of the Xordtuuga farm maintained that those fish which ascend the river in May had already gone down the stream at the time of my visit (August 30). He thinks that the salmon which are found in the river in August probably spawn in October, but he has never noticed any salmon spawning'. It is evident that there are spawning' places near Xord- tunga, and in the heaps of sand which are now lying dry we see prob- ably former hidingplaces for salmon eggs. rishing is carried on with nets about 8 fathoms long and 1 fathom deep, and, like all nets used in this neighborhood, they are of exceed- ingly simple construction. These nets cannot carry enough, and do not follow the bottom as they should do. According to the statement of the farmer, the following number of salmon were caught during the last ten years: 1875,300: 1870,400; 1877,500; 1878,100; 1870,30; 1880, 200; 1881, 2; 1882, 30; 1883, 14; 1884, 150. On August 31 I rode up the Kjani Eiver, accompanied by my guide, and took observations along the course of this stream. Kear Oruolf- stadir the bed of the river becomes rocky, and there are many small falls and deep holes. But it wasmy impression that asfar as I rode (some distance beyond the Ulve Falls) there are no better sjiawning ])laces than farther down near Xordtunga. I made vain attempts in diti'erent I)laces to catch fish with flies or artificial fish, and nowhere could I dis- cover the slightest trace of fish. My guide had no time to take me to BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 167 the upper fi.sbiiig' places, because every man was needed iu the bay bar- vest. is'ear Hvitavellir there are considerable salmon fisheries, which are carried on in a rational manner by the owner, Mr. Fjeldsted, who, more than most of the Icelanders who possess salmon fisheries, has given some attention to the matter. According to his idea, the salmon enter the mouth of the Hvita as early as April. In 1884 the small salmon <.'ame first, while generally the larger ones are the first; last year the large salmon did not enter the river till July, while generally they come in May. Mr. Fjeldsted catches the largest salmon in the Grimsa, weighing on an average 30 pounds apiece. Mr. Fjeldsted has seen sal- mon near his farm as early as August and September. On September 6, 1882, be found salmon eggs in the Hvita, and September 9 he found salmon eggs in the stomach of a silungur, which, therefore, must have €aten of eggs which bad been freshly laid. In 1878 he found eggs in the spawning places on the 20tb and 29tb of August. During severe win- ters Mr. Fjeldsted has seen masses of salmon egg^, frozen together, car- ried away by the current underneath the ice. According to his idea, the young salmon bad already left the river and gone to the sea, so that I would have no chance to see any; and true enough, in spite of all my efibrts, I could not discover any. Mr. Fjeldsted has given me some general idea of bis fisheries during the last seven years, and termed them, iu 1878, tolerably good; 1879, poor; 1880, poor ; 1881, very poor; 1882, very poor; 1883, good ; and 1884, very good (900 fish). Farther up the Hvita and in the Tvera they use besides seines also small nets, which are set from the shore or from a little stone dam, and which are kept extended by the current. The fish going along the banks stick fast in the meshes. Most of the fish, however, which are caught in these small nets are trout. These nets are probably the model for the so-called Irogncet, which near Hvitavellir is used for catching salmon. This net has two arms, the longer measuring 6 fathoms iu length, and the shorter 2J to 3 fathoms. The width of the nifsbes is 2^ inches, and the net is 58 meshes deep. Such a net complete costs from 35 to 40 crowns [about -SlOj. For a weight a stone is used. This net is not set directly from the shore, but from a stone dam extending from the shore some distance into the stream. It has two openings for the current to pass through, and across these openings nets are extended to catch any fish which might possibly escape by that way. The two arms of the net form a sharp angle. When the fish push against the net they press it into this angle and are retained there. The fish are taken out of the water from a boat, the net being lifted up after the arms have been drawn iu. I heard many complaints of the seals at Hvitavellir. The large gulls also injure the salmon fisheries, as they strike the salmon in the neck when they are in shallow water. Both gulls and eagles render the sal- 168 BULLETIN OF THE TINITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. niou unconscious by striking tbem with tlieir beak, and then drag them on shore, where they devour them. We crossed the river near Grimsa, where some small trout were caught, but where we did not find any salmon as we had expected; and by way of Andakill reached Grund, on the Skorradals Lake. In its western portion this lake is 12 fathoms deep, but at the other end it is said to reach a depth of 20 fathoms. It is said to be 2^ Danish [about 12 English] miles long and of considerable breadth. The mountain-trout found in this lake are called hJasilitng, and frequently some are caught weighing 9 pounds. In this lake the trout never be- come so large and fat as the mountain-trout. I did not succeed in catching any fish. The water of this lake is very clear, and here and there on the bottom may be seen patches of Myriophyllum. The hJasiJmuj is said to spawn on stony bottom during September and Oc- tober. In the river Laxa there were caught in 18SJ: about 2G0 salmon near Leir<4. The fish go up as high as the Eirafos Falls. Great complaint is made of the seals, of which I noticed several hundreds. The river Laxa has an excellent fall towards the sea and forms a series of nat- ural steps. The salmon can easdy leap all the falls formed by these steps. The river has a tributary called the Baugda, which comes from the small lake Medallfell, to Avhich the salmon ascend, and are caught in a salmon-trap at the place where the river leaves the lake. The bot- tom of the river is partly lava and somewhat loose masses of rock. The salmon do not ordinarily ascend this river till about the 10th of June, but occasionally they come as early as the 25th of May. The largest number come from June 24 till July 1, and about August 20 they stop coming. In 18S4 about 700 salmon were caught, but among these there were many small fish which should never have been caught. There are also many salmon-trout, but only few mountain-trout. Sira Thorkil Bjarnason, of this place, thinks that fishing is carried on to excess, and that this is probably owing to the circumstance that the fisheries have been let to Englishmen who did not know how to fish, while they paid from 800 to 900 crowns [about 8225] for the summer season. Seals are not numerous in this neighborhood, as they are hunted a good deal. Thing valla Lake is said to cover an area of from 4 to 5 Danish square miles. Its depth in the northwestern portion is said to be SO fathoms. In many places the bottom consists of sand and gravel, but generally it is a lava bottom with numerous fissures. Here and there it is covered by vegetation. Unfortunately the continued bad weather prevented me from making many observations. We could barelj* undertake a little trip in a row-boat. All the following information was furnished by Sira Jens Pallson, who takes a deep interest in the fisheries, and who may be considered entirely reliable. The natural conditions of the Thingvalla Lake (the most imiiortant lake in Iceland) are, moreover, so BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STxVTES FISH COMMISSION. 169 well kuowu in tbeir geueral oiitliue that it is uot uecestary to give a detailed description. The fish found in this lake are the follosving: The trout, when it comes up the Oxai a Eiver to spawn. It reaches a weight of 22 pounds. By fishing through holes in the ice a number are caught weighing 20 pounds each. The spawning season lasts during September and October. It begins about September 15, and gener- ally ends in Xovember when ice begins to form. The trout does not like ice. The trout are also said to spawn in shallow places near the shores of the lake. It could not be ascertained when the young fjy leave the river. The hlelcja reaches a weight of from 1 to 7 pounds. During summer some of them go up the river. They are generally caught near the coast in shallow water. Of late years attempts have been made 'to catch these fish farther out, at a depth of from 20 to 30 fathoms, with lines having from 500 to GOO hooks ; but these attempts have not been suc- cessful, only about ten fish having been caught. The hlelja spawn after July 15, and the spawning season is at its height from July 20 till August 1. The spawning place is about half a mile from Thiugvellir, and has a stony bottom. The spawning season is, at different places, continued far into September. The fish are fattest in spring when the ice begins to break. The depJa is a smaller fish, about 12 inches long, and weighing scarcely one pound. Mr. Pallson thinks that it is a small trout, while others are of the opinion that it is a separate species. These fish are caught at the southern end of the lake. The murta is about 6 or 8 inches long, and looks like a young Mel'ja. It is said to spawn from the middle of September till Xovember, at the same time as the trout. I had an opportunity at this lake to see some of these fish in single specimens. The summer murta is certainly only a young hlekja, and it is therefore also called the " barren wj«r/«." The Z>7eA;y« which spawns in July has a red belly and whitish fins ; but those which spawn in au- tumn have a lighter color and their fi'ns are not white. It is probable that the blelja which spawns in summer comes from the dee]) sea. In the stomach of the hlelTI;KE IIV THE rROVBIVOE OF VE1\I€E.* By ALEXANDER P. NINNI. FISn- CULTURE. The Lagoon of Caorle is situated betweeti the lower portions of the rivers Liveuza and Tagliamento, and is laved by the waters of the sea at the ports of Falconera and Baseleghe. Several streams empty into it, producing a hurtful mingling of the waters and hindering their course at the time of high water. By the law of June 25, 1882, a portion of this territory, containing a population of 30,350, was comprised in the first works of i)ublic improve- ments ; and the tirm of Grego, in 1883, presented a memorial to the ministry of public works, through Mr. Lionello Grego, making the proposition (which was accepted in a general way) to convert the lakes and swamps into fishponds, instead of either filling them or laying them dry by a mechanical process. In this way it was thought that the object which the law had in view would be reached, viz, to remove the miasmatic effluvia developed by the mingling of fresh water with the waters of the sea. In constructing the large fish-j)ond, all the fresh water Avould be Ke])arated from the salt water, thus preventing the generation of dan- gerous effluvia, it having been shown that low grounds inclosed by embankments and covered only by sea-water do not show these miasms, but are always found to be in a satisfactory hygienic condition. As this fact cannot be doubted, the question would have to be viewed not only from a hygienic but also from an economical point of view, wliile the problem could be solved, in part at least, with a very small expense, by utilizing these vast marshes for the raising of fish instead of reclaiming them. In consideration of these circumstances Messrs. Grego intended to devote to fish-culture and shell-fish culture a large part of their marsh property. I at once made a preliminary visit to the locality in question, having the good fortune to be accompanied by Messrs. Giuseppe and Lionello Grego, from who'm I was able to obtain all tlie needed information. I commenced my journey at Val Kova (belonging to Grego). This is a fishing and hunting ground which covers 5,007.87 square rods. * Progetii per estcndere la 2)escicoltura ed introdnrre la cocleocoltura vel fondo situaio nei comuni ceiisuari di Lvtjiigiiana e Caorle in Distreifo di Portogniaro, rrovincia di Vevezia, Rome, 18d5. Trauskitcd from tlio Italiau by Herman Jacocsox. Bull. U. S. F. C., 86 12 178 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The importance of tliese grouuds will be be seen from tlie following data : Approximate quantity of young Jisli plantad or which could he planted in Val Nova. Kind of fish. Chrysoplirys aurata Mugil auratus !MuKi) capito Mugil salieiis Actually plaated. 40, 000 120,000 170, 000 :joo, 000 Capacity. 150, 000 200, 000 400, 000 400, 000 Notwitlistanding the iusnfQcient quantity of fish planted, the products in the years 1882, 1883, and 1881, respectively, were 22,214, 20,254, and 23,757 kilograms of fish of the following kinds : Anguille, AuyuiUa vidyaris, Fl. Lal)raci, Lahrax lupus, Cuvier. Muggine cefalo, Mugil cephalus, Cuvier. Mnggine orifraugio, Mugil auratus, Cuvier. Muggine calamita, Mugil capito, Cuvier. Muggine musino, Mugil saliens, Cuvier. Latterini, Gen. Atherina. Orate, Chrysoplirys aurata, L. Muggine chelonc, Mugil cliclo, Cuvier. Gobio go, Gohius ophiocephahis, Pallas. GrancLio di mare, Carcinus moenas, Leach. One G*in see from these examples how the fishing industry flourishes in the estuary of Venice, and that it deserves to be aided by the Gov- ernment. The marine fish-culture of these grounds, or so-called " val- leys," is one of the most ancient and best-managed branches of industry, and is far ahead of anything of the kind found in other countries. The neighboring piece of ground of about 3,700 acres, which, if an embankment was constructed, would form a large new valley, has more extensive and deeper natural canals than the former, I traversed these grounds in every direction, and found them well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended, possessing, besides the canals, swamps, ponds, and lakes, and along its circumference some solid soil, which would render the construction of the embankment easier and much less expensive. Tliis part of tlie lagoon is, in my opinion, but pooi'lyadai)ted to form inclosed grounds, containing nothing but reeds, owing to the low tides prevailing, es])ecially in the extensive swamps found in these grounds; but, on the other hand, they are ex- tremely well adapted to be transformed into inclosed fishing and hunting gronmls.* I advised Messrs. Grego to use every possible means to reach llieir oliject, because 1 feel certain that the i)roposed inclosure of these grounds will i)rovc a very safe and remunerative speculation, as will be seen from the following data. * The cultivators of thcKC " valleys" also take into account the products of the chase, >vhich in houic valleys amount to 2,000 to 4,000 lire [$400 to fibOO] per auuuu;,. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 179 Guided by practice and a i)roper knowledge of the locality, it maybe safe to say that the following quantities of fish could be planted and reared in the new valley : Kind of fish. Clirj sophrys aurata. Mugil auratus Mugil capito Muffil saliens Mugil cephalus Labtax lupus Mugil clielo Eels Capacity. 600, 000 1, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 4, 000, 000 100, 000 150, 000 100, 000 Annual Product. Kilograms. 36, 000 50, 000 33, 000 50, 000 25, 000 8,500 6,250 30, 000 In this calculation the smaller fisheries have not been taken into ac- count— such as the fisheries for Gohins opMoccpJialus, Atherina, Carcinus mccnas, &c. — which ought not to be despised. That the conditions of this site are most favorable appears not only from practical observations, and from those which I made during my visit, but also from a comparison with the adjoining Val Nova and the grounds which it is proposed to inclose. In the first the Mugil cepJiaUis, when one year old, weighs 8 to 9 ounces, in the se'cond 12 ounces, and when two years old it reaches the weight of 35 ounces. A larger size and heavier weight are also noticed in La- hrax h(2)us, Mugil chelo, &c., of the same age. These facts may be caused by the absolute liberty which the fish en- joy, and if compelled to remain Avithin an inclosure the fish would not find themselves under the same favorable conditions. But I believe that it is sufficiently proved that this new locality ofl'ers all the condi- tions necessary for the growth of fish. The expense of inclosing this valley will be very considerable. The embankment surrounding it should be 2^ meters high, and on the side where it is most exposed to the prevailing winds it should bo covered with Istria stone, of which 1,000 cubic meters will be needed, costing Gi lire [about $1.30] per cubic meter delivered. From an approximate calculation made by Mr. Lionello Grego it appears that the entire ex- penses, including embankments, five sewers, ditches, fish-ponds, dwel- ling-houses, &c., would not be much more than 200,000 lire [about $40,000], a sum which must be considered small compared with the re- sults which may be obtained. OYSTERS. From ancient times there have been oyster-beds in the Venetian la- goons, on which oysters four to six months old were planted which in a very short time became fit for the market. These places not only serve as oyster reserves, but also as pares for reproduction, as the oysters flourish here to a remarkable degree, and sound sjiawn becomes fixed 180 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. to poles and Iragmeuts fouud at the bottom of the water, so that every available surface is soon covered with diminutive oysters, which in a few months have reached a considerable size, and have a very fine flavor. Shell-fish culture in the estuary, from reasons more or less well known, is at i)resent in a state of decline. There are iy our waters two kinds of oysters : the sea oyster and the la},^oon oyster, there being two varieties of the latter kind, namely, the marsh oyster and the canal oyster. The sea oysters equal the lagoon oysters in size, but do not have so fine a flavor, as owing to the difierent food they have a somewhat sharp taste, described in the vernacular of the district by the term '■'- marinazzo'''' (flavoring of the sea), which is not pleasant to epicures. This kind is at the i)resent time fouud in the sea in considerable quantities, and also forms more or less extensive beds, which, however, have been almost exhausted by the fishermen, owing to the great demand for oysters. Among the lagoon oysters the most highly esteemed are those taken in swamps which are not very deep. They have a jjleasant flavor, a dark- green color, and equal in price the best oysters known. These mollusks . ibund in the estuaries generally live isolated, and at any early age usu- ally become fixed to some little shell' of Cardium, Venus, Trochus, Murex. Cerithimn, &c., which, when the oyster is taken from the water, will always be attached to the lower shell near its ai)ex. For a time this oyster was very common throughout the entire lagoon, both in running and stagnant water, but now it has become less frequent, and, in fact, has almost disappeared from the greater jiortion of these marshes. The threatened destruction of our best mollusks is i)robal)ly caused by the influx of fresh water in the lagoon, and chiefly by the tracts of cultivated ground which bring about conditions which are hurtful to the life of the oyster and other shell-fish. It seems that similar causes have made the oysters become scarce in other i)arts of Italy. This hurtful influence has also extended very rapidly to the lagoon with running water, doing serious injury to the ojster grounds nearest to the mouth of the port, in which during the last few ye-vrs young sea oysters have been scattered, which after a certain time had reached the size and acquired the flavor wliich is demanded in the markets, without, however, equaling in flavor those raised in the marshes. This condition of aflairs caused several attempts to restock these marshes, among which there deserve to be speciallj* noticed those made by Chevalier D'Erco, who, not being acquainted with our peculiar hydro- graphic conditions, attempted to pursue in the estuary of Venice the metlujd of oyster culture employed in the Bay of Arcachon and along the coasts of France and Belgium. The reservoirs {claircs) of D'Erco constructed along the canal of Sant' Antonio, near Burano, which 1 visited several times, proved a failure, as practical men had predicted, as neither the oysters nor the mussels could bear the heat of the sun, which heightened the teiiiperature of the inclosed water and increased BULLETIN OF 'THE tlNITED STATES FlSn COMMISSION. 181 its saltiiess. While, as a general rule, the oysters iu the reservoirs in the mithlle of the swamp perished, excellent oysters, though not in great abundance, were taken from the Canal Sant' Antonio. The con- clusion which may be drawn from this circumstance is, as I have already stated, that fresh water is not injurious to the life of the oyster.* Another experiment was recentlj^ made by Count L. Torelli, formerly royal prefect of Venice. He appointed a commission, of which I was a member, for the purpose of studying the question of oyster culture and ijroposing more efficient means of promoting it. This commission went all over the lagoon, looked for places suitable for the reproduction and rearing of oysters, studied the causes which are injurious to the life of the mollusk, and reached the conclusion that the principal cause is the intlux into the basin of the lagoon of fresh water coming from the adjoining land, which, possibly in conjunction with other less known causes, produces a slow but continuous change of the water, making it in many places less and less adapted to the life of the oyster. As the lagoon regulations prohibited the inclosing of this lagoon, in which per- haps the most successful attemi^ts at oyster culture might be made, the commission had to exclude from its consideration this entire vast re- gion. The labors of the commission were restricted to the lagoon of Venice, and for this reason it did not visit any localities outside of these limits. As the ministry of agriculture had expressed its desire to promote the raising of mollusks on the shores of Italy, and to encourage the planting of new shell-fish, it was natural that among the persons who, provided with the necessary means, responded to this appeal were the enterprising Messrs. Grego, who asked the authorities for their sup- port, so as to enable them to carry out a plan which would prove a great advantage, not only to themselves, but to all the inhabitants of this neighborhood. A distinguished and highly-intelligent marsh cultivator, the Cheva- lier Antonio Bullo, wrote that our sea-coasts in the province of Venice are no longer adapted to the raising and cultivation of oysters. Both by the sand which is brought by the many rivers emptying into the sea along this coast and by streams of fresh water, which abound in this .coast region, these coasts have become such as not to justify any ex- l)ectations of favorable results in oyster culture.f Chevalier Bullo's oi^inion appears to me to be somewhat too absolute, as long as it has not been iiroved by practical experiments, but never- theless deserves to be taken into account, as coming from a person having great experience in all matters pertaining to the fisheries. I must say that 1 do not altogether share Chevalier Bullo's opinion, as attempts at oyster culture could be made in bottoms where there are 'Reference is hci'c made to the mass of IVesb water wlii(-li enters tlio caual as far as Burauo from Porte Grandi. » t The journal Tempo for Marcli 27, 1879, No. 73. 182 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. not sucb heavy deposits of sand, &C.5 and as oysters are found in the Adriatic at a deptb of 30 to 40 meters [abont 20 fiitboms].* On the other hand, we know that young oysters have become attached, in the sea near Tarauto, to fascines i)hiced on banks at the depth of 30 meters. As regards fresh water, facts have proved that it is not injurious to the life of the oyster. We perfectly agree with Chevalier Bullo in his advice that the la- goons are to be preferred to the coast. Professor Issel, speaking of oyster culture in the Mediterranean, says that the places destined ibr oyster culture should be well protected from the direct action of the waves. The most suitable places should be looked for in tlie estuaries, and especially in those parts of the lagoon which are nearest to the sea, and where it is safe to assume that the water is continually renewed. Another reason in favor of this selection must be found in the fact already referred to that the oysters from the quiet waters of the lagoon have a far better tiavor than those from the sea, and are therefore more sought after by dealers. The above-mentioned conditions are not easily found, and I can state that one of the very best locations is the one of which I shall now speak. It was the intention of Messrs. Grego to devote a portion of their ])roperty to the reproduction and raising of oysters, and eventually of other mollusks. The most favorable region, at least for the raising of oysters, is cer- tainly the swamp of Dossetto, and this entire region is called II MerJo. In visiting this pond we entered through the principal canal, about four meters deep, which emj^ties directly into the swamp. On its side towards the sea it has a breadth of about 100 meters, but including also the land alongside of the water its extent is about 1 kilometer. Owing to the proximity of the sea, the water is continually renewed; and, although the average depth of the lake is only 32 to 35 centimeters, the dangers arising from stagnant water do not exist, viz, the higher temperature and increased saltness, which in numy of these swamps do a great deal of harm to lish-culture. The bottom of the jDond presents all llie conditions which are neces- sary for the successful raising of mollusks, although a greater depth would be desirable. There are large portions entirely destitute of marine vegetation, while others are rich in plants, particularly Zcstera liana, which I i'ound fresh and healthy notwithstanding the heat of summer to which they had been exposed during several months, which is another fact tending to show that the temperature of the water is not very high. 1 observed here and there shells of different mollusks {Trochus^ Cardinm, &c.,); and alive 1 found Cerytlmim afrum D. S., JVffi«,srt prismaiica, TrochuH albi(h(s, Mytilus gallo])rovincialis (all young individ- uals), and some other species common in such places. *Sonie were also caught about the middle of the Qtiarnero. BULLETIN OF TIIIO UNITED STATKS FISH COMMISSION. 183 During- the second half of May Mr. Liouello Grego bad the happy idea of phmting 400 young oysters caught in the harbor of Baselegho, and distributed them in three boxes of pine wood, fdled with branches and stones. I believe that this combination injured the growtb and develoi)meut of the oysters. At any rate no useful data resulted from this experiment. The oysters selected for planting were of the follow- ing two sizes : 22, IG, and 34, 30,* the first five to six months old, and the second about one year old. Those which I saw on July 30, i. e., after two or two and a half months, had the following dimensions: Size N^o. 1 : 33, 21; 32, 25; 30, 23; 33, 17. Size No. II : 50, 47 ; 48, 44; 53, 50; and 43, 58. TLey all belonged to the kind Ostrea edulis L., var. 'veneiiana Issel. They wore, to ex])ress it in a technical term, " well made," normally devel- oped, and almost entirely free from the small animals and plants w^hich in many places are almost invariably found on oysters. All, or nearly all, had near the apex of the lower valve the body to which they had become fixed when young ( FewMS (jalUna, Mtirex brandaris, Ceritliium^ Troi-lms, and Cardium). The lower valve of the shell is quite convex, while the upper is flat. In some of them a cer- tain anomaly was noticed, namely, an excessive growth of the margin of the lower shell, which prevents the two halves of the shell from closing i)erfectly, a portion of the enamel which lines the inside of the shell being exposed. From this place I went to the port of Baseleghe, and visited the waters known in the neighborhood by the name of Carrozza. I found them to be about 2 to 3 meters deep, and maintaining this depth for several miles out at sea. Here, as in all the places of this neighbor- hood, oysters develop naturally, and give rise to some fisheries of no great importance, carried on by the inhabitants of Caorle. The Car- rozza is exposed to winds, and to accumulations of sand, &c., and as far as I can see, there seems to be no means to remedy this evil, and make this locality fit for raising oysters; I doubt, in fact, whether these oysters will ever fetch the same price as the lagoon oysters. The best oysters which I saw in any of the places which I visited are those from the Canal Canadare (in old times called Canal Dare), which receives its water from the port of Falconera, and runs between Val Nova (the property of Messrs. Grego) and Val Yecchia (the prop- erty of the township of Caorle). In this canal-the oysters not merely live isolated, -fixing themselves to some sliell, but Lave a tendency to form beds, one lying on the top of the other. Their shell is generally curved a little to the right; it is darker than that of the Carrozza oys- ter; the upper valve is not quite so ilat, and the lower one is sometimes concave; in various respects, among the rest the brittleness of the shell, it resembles the Taranto oyster. I gathered five having the following dimensions : 82, 78 ; 90, 77 ; SQ, 82; 90, 83; 54, 33. I found them all fat and of excellent flavor. •Millimeters. The first indicates the length and the second the breadth. 184 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES ElSH COMMISSION. From my preliiiiinary ob.servatious I have reached tLe couclusioii that there is some diiierence between the two localities Falconera and Baseleghe. Owing to various untoward circumstances,* however, 1 was not able to take all the observations necessary for forming a definite opinion, and I must, therefore, for the present at least, refrain from pro- nouncing an opinion on the subject. I hope during the coming year to make all the necessary observations on the saltness, the temperature of the water, «&c., without which it will be impossible to pronounce a satisfactory ox)inion on the suitable- ness of different places for constructing oyster-pares, and to express my views on the manner in which this useful industry should be intro- duced. In oyster culture a distinction should be made between places for re- producing and places for raising oysters ; it is very rare to find a place which is adapted to both these purposes. I think that the swamp of Dossetto is well adapted to the raising of oysters, but I doubt whether they can be reproduced here ; and to get the exact truth of the matter, exi)eriments should be made. With the view to make success more probable, I would not hesitate to place this swamj), which is only about 200 meters from the coast, in direct communication with the sea by an artificial canal. In this way the renewal of the water would be more complete and more constant. In front and by the sides of the mouth of this canal oyster-pares might be constructed, furnished with small canals, by means of which a suflScient level of water might be main- tained, so as better to protect the oysters from atmospheric and hydro- graphic changes. The most suitable depth of water both for reproducing and raising oysters cannot be ascertained without a series of experiments. In the Little Sea of Taranto, and in the lagoons of Venice, where oysters are found, there are seen in some places near the surface of the water the leaves of the Zostera, which grows on the bottom, but near Fusaro, in shallow water, these plants are not so plentiful (so says Issel). But in our case the proi^osed new current would no longer permit the temper- ature to rise too high, and by using little canals for the inclosed spaces intended for reproduction, the excessive current would be avoided, which would carry tlie embryos into the open sea, and prove a hiiulrance to their becoming fixed to shells and other bodies (anything having a rough surfiice), which should be scattered on the bottom.t The free current in the open part of the pond will increase the depth, thus making it still better adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. naving observed in the Carrozza numerous medusas, which, in some cases, might prove injurious, I would consider it useful to keep them * Among the rest the delay in sending my instruments. t If the current is too strong, it will be necessary to provide a larger uuniher of mother oysters, Avhicli it is not always easy^for an oyster cultivator to procure. Bulletin of the united states fish commission. 185 out of the new caiial by means of fascines, which might also serve as collectors, and of which I will speak below. The ordinary dimensions of the oyster pare slionld bo 30 by 20 meters, and the embankment should inclose a quadrilateral space, containinj:^ 8 to 10 mother oysters per square meter — that is to say, if reproduction is intended. If the object is merely the raising of oysters, 150 may be placed in the same space. On the coast between Baseleghe and Falcouera oysters propagate, and it appears that the number of their enemies is not very great. It is true that 1 noticed the usual Murex, wliich devours marine shells; but which, as it seems, gives the preference to the Venns. I did not, how- ever, see a single oyster shell pierced by a Vioa or Clione. I believe that tlie Garcimts, the Pagurus, and the Asterina, which abound here, do not do any harm to the oysters, and I cannot share the opinion of De la Blauchere as regards the first- mentioned sj)ecies. Oysters are likewise reproduced in the Canal Canadare, and it would be well to put collectors in both places for a trial. I would always give the preference to fascines, similar to those used at Taranto — i e., about 2 meters long and 1 meter in circumference — proper care being taken not to have too thick stems and too thin branches. Fascines tied with a cord or zinc wire are to be preferred. They should be raised somewhat above the ground, and attached to a large rock by a cord of broom-corn. Another practical method is to use pales covered with hydraulic cem- ent, mixed with sand ; but they have the disadvantage of jiresenting fewer points for fixation to the embryos while being carried along by the currents. A third kind of collector which I proposed, because I think it is well adapted to many points in the localities visited by me, might be formed by a pale, if desirable, covered with cement, to which at a certain height fascines are attached. All that is required would be to ram the lower end of the pale, which should be ])ointed, into the bottom in a neighbor- hood where there are mother oysters. When the young oysters are to be trai;^ported these pales are simply pulled out. I advised Messrs. Grego to place some of these collectors near the mouth of the canal, which leads to the principal canal of Val Nova. As regards the spawn, I would always prefer that from the lagoon. There is no difficulty in procuring mother oysters, because they are quite frequent in many places of the estuarj' ; and when it is remem- bered that one oyster can furnish from 000,000 to upwards of a million of embryos,* there is no fear that the principal elements of oyster culture will ever be wanting, and that the experiment will prove a failure, pro- vided the locality selected is favorable to the life and develoi)ment of the oyster. * Davaine : Jieclierches sur la generation ilea hiulres. Paris, 1853, p. 45. 18G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISIT COMMISSION. Conclusions. — From tbe foregoing facts I conclude as follows: (1) The fisli-culture practiced for many years at Val Xova j)roves be- yond a doubt the suitableness of the lagoon of Caorle for constructing inclosed fish ponds. (2) The tract selected for the inclosuie of new grounds offers every condition necessary for insuring happy and very remunerative results. ^3) The swamp of Dossetto is the best of all the localities visited by )n<' for constructing pares for raising oysters. (4) Oysters are reproduced along the coast of Caorle, and in the Caiuil Canadare, for whicli reason it would be well if Messrs. Grego could obtain exclusive control of the fisheries, at least in one of the localities, which, owing to the proximity of the Dossetto swamp, are well adapted to the reproduction of oysters. (5) In the waters of Caorle there is also found the MytiJus (jallopro- vincialis, and it is possible that the cultivation of this mollusk could also be carried on successfully. (G) It is necessary that the Government should issue strict orders for the better observance of thefisherj- laws, so as to avert the dangers re- sulting from the destruction of the young oysters, and this not only in the interest of cultivators, but for the preservation of the species. 56.— A KEASOlVBIVtfJ a.OBf^TEK. By ^¥II.I.AKI> r^'¥.lS, Jr. While at Bird Island, Buzzard's Baj-, Massachusetrs, I noticed what seemed to i^oint at reason rather than instinct in the lobster. One had his home for the time in a hole under a rock, where the water was about 5 feet deep. Thinking to catch him, 1 made a noose at the end of a fish- liiie, and by means of a stick spread it carefully around the liole ; then let down a piece of menhaden, holding it 6 or 8 inches away in front. The lobster soon reached out to take such a nice morsel, when, by .jerk- ing the string, I had him noosed around one of his big claws near the end ; but after I had him half out of his hole the string slipped otf and he got back. However, I had no doubt of catching him the next time, so, s] treading the noose as carefully as before, and again letting down the ])iece of meidiaden, 1 awaited results, when, instead of boldly putting out his claws as before, he first put his feelers through the noose, and, with a waving motion, felt the string all the way around, then ])nshed one claw under the string and grabbed the bait. Three or four tijues 1 tried him with the same result, lie fiist carefully felt the noose all around, then rooted one claw under tlie string and secured the bait. I filially had to give up all thoughts of getting him, and came away firmly believing that until this fellow dies of old age the lobster will not be exterminated in our waters. New Bedfoud, Mass., illay 10, 188G. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION. 187 57 NOTES UPON TBBE BNCKEASE AI>» DECREAi^E OE FISH.* By A. IfitJBi\ER. The Werbellin Lake, which is about 28 fathoms deep and has very clear water, contained among other fisli up to ISoO many marenas {maranCj a kind of Coregonns) and sticklebacks. During tlie next ten years the marenas gradually decreased and nearly disappeared, so that during the twenty years from 1860 to 1880 only a few, at most fifteen, were caught per year. From the year 1880 they again increased, with- out an J' known human agency, so that in the autumn of 1882 several luindredueights were taken, and in 1885 about 10,000 pounds. The fisheries are carried on in nearly the same way as forty years ago, only tranrsportation to Berlin has become easier and more rapid. As this lake has a season of prohibition in spring, the fisheries were con- tinued (also since 1880) during the autumn, when the marena spawns. It is suificiently proved that these fisheries have not done any injury, and that the marenas having begun to disai)i)ear gradually thirty years ago, without any indication of disease, may possibly have been the work of the sticklebacks. These fish, which in former years were caught in enormous masses, to be used and dried as fish-food, i^robably aie the spawn of the marenas, so that there was not enough left for re- production. In favor of this supposition we ma^' cite the fact that when (during the ten years from 1860 to 1870) the sticklebacks also began to decrease the marenas again made their appearance. Kevertheless they again appeared in enormous numbers, when five years previously there was hardly any trace left of them. On the other hand, it is very strange that of the artificially raised marenas which were planted in this lake about eight years ago not one has been seen again. While there were no marenas in Lake Werbellin the public forgot this fish, so that at pres- ent no one wants to buy them. Hence they do not bring a high price. The same is true at the large fish-market in Berlin. When alive these fish will not sell at all, and when dead they at most fetch 20 pfennige [5 cents] per pound in the Berlin market. If the sticklebacks have caused the disappearance of the marenas, what has caused the disappearance of the sticklebacks? Is it because they no longer found as food any spawn of the marenas? But, then, the marenas had long since disappeared, when the sticklebacks were still flourishing. Owing to their sharp fins, sticklebacks are not attacked by other fish,, and the meshes of the nets used in this lake are too wide to permit of the supposition that most of the sticklebacks had been caught. The fishermen do not know what cause to assign, and ajre only glad that they have got rid of them. * ^'' lUUselhaftcs Vermchren oder Feischivinden einzelncr Fischfjaitnnf/en." From thci Deulsrhe Fisr.hcrci-Zcitnnr/j'Vo]. IX, Nos. 1 and 2. Stctlin, Jiuiiiary 5 and 12, 188G. Translated from tlie German by Herman Jacobson. 188 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FLSH COMMISSION. Besides inareiias hake were also found in this lake, and their number was likewise subject to great changes. AVhenever in a certain year the ■siiawniug process is successfully accomplished and the young fry man- ages to get through the first summer, the lish from this year can gen- erally be traced all through the fisheries until they have grown to ma- turity. This process, however, is not so rapid as with the carp, and it takes about ten years or longer before the hake in this lake reach the weight of 1^ to 2 pounds. As frequently many years pass before there is a good spawning year, the set of hake which just happens to be about the right size has to make up for all deficiencies. And if there are sev- eral good years in succession, the fishermen arehap])y. But it also hap- pens frequently that a very numerous set of fish from a certain year does not seem to make any progress, and disappears all of a sudden. Thus one year the quantity of bream spawn, measuring 15 centimeters [nearly 6 inches], in the Lehnitz Lake was so great as to impede the fish- eries and keep the fishermen busy removing the little fish from tbeir nets. At one haul during winter I caught 2,500 pounds of this kind of fish, but not a single one was of a salable size. I knew that the quan- tity of spawn was too great for a lake having an area of about 250 acres. I therefore asked permission of the authorities at Potsdam to catch some of these small fish and transfer them to Lake Werbellin. This j>ermis- sion was granted ; but much time had been consumed in getting it, and as I had to let the winter pass, I found but little spawn of the bream in the following spring, and the intended transfer could not be effected. Al- though the Lehnitz Lake contained some i)ike and bass, it could hardly- be sup])osed that they had exterminated the young bream. Probably the food of the bream became scarce, so that most of the bream perished, giving the survivors a better chance to grow and develop. A similar case occurred as regards perch in the Gross Schauener Lake. One summer I caught regularly many small perch which had barely the regulation size. They were too good to be thrown away, and too small for the market. I therefore put them back into the lake, hoping to catch better fish during the following year. When summer came I did not catch any perch, either small or great. The numerous set from the pre- ceding year had dwindled down, and but few remained. I do not mean to say that this will prove an injury to the lake ; on the contrary, I hope that thereby the more valuable young bass will flourish all the more. In all these cases I have not succeeded in ascertaining or even in esti- mating the age and annual increase of the fish, because 1 did not notice the different sets, until they had become young fish having almost the regulation size. I think, however, that I am prepared to give some ac- count of the growth of the bass in open waters. Even here 1 can only state the annual increase with absolute certainty from the time when the young bass had almost reached the regulation size; but 1 possess enough data to enable me to fix the year 1877 as the spawning year. In the autumn of 1881, large masses of these young bass were caught in BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 189 the Gross Scbauener Lake, which had barely the regulation size — 35 ceutinieters [13f inches] — and weighed ^ pound apiece. As my prede- cessor had to give up the lake in the following year, he took out as many of the then 4-year-old bass as he could possibly get. But their nninber seemed to have been but little decreased thereby; and as but few bass, either larger or smaller than these, could be noticed, tlie growth of the fish which had been hatched in 1877 could be traced dis- tinctly. By next year, in the autumn of 1882, these bass had reached a weight of f to 1 pound; in the following autumn, IJ to li pounds ; in ]884, 2 pounds; and this autumn (1885) these eight and a half years old bass weigh fully 3 pounds, so that evidently the largest increase of weight has been this year. If I had caught many of the young bream referred to above a year sooner, or taken out the young i^erch sooner, both these kinds would possiblj^ not have disappeared. It probablj^ has not been a mistake to take the young bass so soon, as otherwise they would have died out of themselves. As it is, they have so far been caught in large numbers every year ; and in spite of this there are many left, while but few older or younger bass are caught. But the most convincing proof of the fact that extensive fishing is not injurious as long as there is a good stock offish, is furnished by the quantity of marenas in the Wer- bellin Lake. These and similar cases have not been thus far generally made known, although the fishermen could give many such instances. A gen- eral and sudden dying out of fish becomes known much quicker, because it is more striking, and because the proofs of the occurrence are evident. The causes of such occurrences are frequently ascertained to be impure or poisoned water. The lack of fresh air also is dangerous, especially in winter when the ice is thick. But it also happens that only one kind of fish dies out, while others continue to live and flourish. Thus eight or ten years ago all the bass in the Strauss Lake died at the same time ; and it was impossible to surmise the cause, for it can hardly be sup- posed that it should have been caused by a thunder-storm ; and as the lake is very large and deep, it is not easy for its water to become im- pure or too warm in summer. In consequence those fish of which there is an abundance have to be caught more freely ; but, on the other hand, it will be advisable to aid those fish which are not found in such large num- bers by prohibitory measures, or by planting young fry. In this respect I can record rapid success as regards tench and eels. But as this can be done only in inclosed waters, or wherever the fisheries are managed by joint stock companies — of either of which we have none too many — we shall h^"dly be able to look for any rational fisheries. If we ask how it comes that in one year there is so much young fry, and again in several successive years hardly any, many different answers may be given. In one case there may be a lack of good si)awniug places; then again the v.'eather may have been unfavorable; and in other cases 190 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. some iioisonous matter or mold may Lave attacked the eggs. Much harm to the eggs and fry is done by the different enemies of fish and hy the lish themselves. One spring I impregnated bass eggs and fixed them on jnniper branches in wicker-work baskets, which were placed in the water. For three days everything progressed favorably, but on the fourth day I found in the baskets several thousand maggots, which had completely devoured all the eggs. Later I took, for hatching- young bass, boxes of fine wire-work, and arranged them in such a man- ner that they did not touch the bottom but tioated in the water, but even then the maggots collected in the boxes and ate the eggs off the juniper branches. It seems, therefore, that these maggots scent the fish eggs. Later they began to attack the young fry. After I had ob- tained from these wire boxes quite a large qnantity of young fry — more, in fact, than I was able to ship at the time — 1 placed some of them in a l)uddle in one of my meadows, in order to observe their growth. But I was not to enjoy this pleasure very long. The puddle was full of all Koits of worms, one devouring the other, and all of them attacking the ;\ oung I'ry of the fish as soon as they had become stronger than the fry. It should be remembered that young bass fry are so small and transparent that during the first days they can hardly be seen with the naked eye. In order to learn to know as many as possible of the enemies offish, I put some specimens of every kind of aquatic animals found in the jmddle in a glass and added some hake fry, which can be seen better. At once a fierce war began, one endeavoring to devour the other 5 but the fry seemed to be sought after by all of them. Thus a salamander, three incheslong,had devoured in one hour about forty lit- tle fiyli, both when taking in water and by pouncing upon them. Even a heavy tadpole caught several little fish. Quickly moving and glittering water-beetles and other insects devoured large numbers of fish, while the maggots referred to above seemed to go more for the dead fish, and only occasionally got a few live ones. Of the entire number of small animals and fish, only the salamander and a few beetles remained as conquerors, all tlie rest having been killed and devoured. l>ut, on the other hand, the fish themselves are not a whit better than their enemies. Large fish will devour small ones, and their eggs are most eagerly sought after by small and young iish. As young fish, after they have lost their umbilical sac, principally eat small, almost in- visible animalcules, as they grow they will take larger food, among the rest the delicate fry of bass. If we consider these known and unknown enemies, and other injurious circumstances, we can easily understand why iji nmny years there is no increase in the number of fish, so that the good years have to make up for the poor ones. KoLLNiTZ, December, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 191 5S.— IVEAV ENOT.AIVD FISMERSE!^ BIV ITIAY, 18S<5. By W. A. IVILCOX. The mouth of May has been one of excitement and disconragement to the New Eughmd fishermen and all interested in the fishing industry. To those that for any reason desired or were obliged to visit British provincial ports threats of seizure and trouble, doubts, and anxiety, with a lack of knowledge as to just what rights they had, caused much bother and vexation, resulting in the seizure of two vessels. Codfish had been very plentiful on the Western Bank, and vessels returned from short trips with full fares. On George's Bank a fair catch was made. A short distance off Cape Cod fish of good size and quality have been abundant. In Ij)swich Bay the catch of codfish has been more than an average one; the gill-nets were taken up and the season ended on May 3, while last year it ended INIay 12. The total re- ceipts of codfish at Gloucester from all the fishing grounds were slightly less than for the corresponding mouth of last year. Halibut have been scarce. From the Grand and Western Banks vessels arrived with less than half fares. The catch on George's Bank was good, the fish being taken in deep water between George's and Brown's Banks. More vessels have been engaged in the catch of hali- but than last season, and the receipts show a small increase over those of May, 1885. The mackerel catch south of Sandy Hook has proved a failure. The demand for all kinds of fish has been very light, and prices lower than for years. Mackerel have not been seen in any abundance. The spring catch has been a failure and financial loss to nearly all engaged. Dur- ing the month vessels have daily fitted away for the mackerel fishery, 230 sail being engaged at the close of the mouth. Most of the time the market has been bare of fresh mackerel, and very few have been cured. On May 1 and 2 a severe storm caused the loss of 17 seine-boats. At the close of the month vessels are widel}^ scattered, a large number of them being off Block Island. Many are returning to home ports to re- tit, not having taken a single mackerel. The first few scattering mack- erel caught in the weirs at Cape Cod were taken on May 6; last year it was on May 4. The first catch made in Gloucester Harbor this year was on May 18. On May 14 tlie first catch was made in the weirs on the Nova Scotia shore; last year it was on May IS. The first arrival at Gloucester with mackerel direct from the fishing grounds was on May 7, being a small lot of 40 barrels that sold for $4.50 a barrel. The weir catch of mackerel at Monomoy and along Cape Cod has been a failure. Pollock, averaging 10 to 12 pounds each, have been taken in purse- seines off Chatham, Mass.; but the receipts show a decrease from last year. The Taunton Eiver catch of alewives and shad lias been of extra large size and cjuality, with a large decrease in the amount taken as 192 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. compared with that of last year. Bait Las not beeu in great abun- dance, yet the weirs along the Maine and Massachusetts coasts have been better able to supply the wants of the fishermen at al! times than last spring, very little delay being experienced and there being no necessity for any American vessel going into any foreign port for bait. During the month one vessel was lost, the schooner Monitor, of Gloucester, 95.32 tonnage, built in 1884, and, with fixtures, valued at $10,000. While on a halibut trip she went ashore in the fog at Port May, Kewfoundlaud, on May 65 the crew were saved, all else being a total loss. , The fishing treaty of 1818 with Great Britain and the seizure at ob- scure ports by the British Provinces of two vessels owned in the United States, the charges being violation of the customs laws, have occasioned much interest. Quite a contrast may be noticed between the action of the Canadian Government and that of the United States in a parallel case. The schooner Sisters of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, was seized at Portland, Me., on Maj' 24 for violation of the customs laws; but as no intention of fraud or wrong-doing was shown, the Canadian vessel was soon released. The two vessels belonging to the United States still remain in the hands of the Provincial officials. The following was the i)Osition of the Kew England fishing fleet during the last week of May : Position. Grand Banks, lat. 44° to 46°, long. 52° to .54° Giiind B;inks. lat. 43° to 44°, long. 49° to 51° Western Bank, lat. 44° to 45°, long. 60° to 61° Groigea and Biown's Banks, lat. 41° to 43°, long. 66° to 68°. OtV the coast from jSTew Jersey to Cape Cod Off the eastern eoast of New England On the w.iy to Iceland or Greenland Total . Object. Codfish Halibut ...do Cod and halibut. Mackerel Ground fishing.. Halibut No. of 8aU.. 160 40 28 225 230 250 8 941 Receipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in May, 188G- From— Pares. Codfish. Halibut. Haddock. Hako. Pollock. Mackerel. fTeoT'fjc's l^aiik i:i3 13 4 16 34 1 23 5 1 1 4 235 Porinds. 2, 700, 000 285, 000 150, 000 1,128,000 Pnunds. 325,410 19, 680 1,800 100, 100 623, 000 PouTids. 6,000 Pounds. Pounds. Parrels. Woster!! lJ::nk Grand Hanks Nova Scolia, Capo .shore.. 30, 000 241, (100 11,500 11,000 25, 000 5,400 414,000 Ipswich Bav, nets Off Xewfoimdland 8,000 I»;i V *>t I'^undv 20, 000 480 Total, May, 18SC 4. 56.5, 500 1, 088, 990 31, 000 5,400 414,000 480 Total, M.ay, 1885 283 4, 623, 900 908, 050 1,000 4,000 693, 000 5,579 Other receipta in May, 1886: 400 quintals of dried hake. Gloucester, Mass., Jtme 21, 1880, J BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 193 Vol. Vff, Ifo. I». Wai^hiiijj^oia, 1>. C. Sept. 1 1, 1886. 59.-VOIL':\« MAC'KEKKB- Ket^TROVED BY SITIAIir..:TI£.«iHE» SEIIVES. By U. I». CIIADWICK. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.J Tlic destruction of 3"ouii^ mackerel alonjj^ our coa^t by the use of fine- uie-sh seines is enormous. I liad lon]^ knoAvn tliat great quantities of youn-;- mackerel were destroyed by the lishermen, but I did not think that the amount was so great until I had given the subject an investi- gation. The number of mackerel vessels has very much diminished in the last twenty years. The present method of our fishermen in seining mackerel is such that while taking over 500,000 barrels of good sizable fish, it causes a total de- struction of over 1,000,000 barrels of young fish that have grown to one- third the usual size of fully matured fish. Could this number of fish be protected and cauglit when full grown, the amount would be 3,000,000 barrels; and at the })resent price of jSTo. 1 mack^^rel ($15 per barrel) the amount of $45,000,000 worth of food-fish is no small item to our people. The hay crop of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts is 3,150,000 tons. This crop Las a market value of $37,800,000. Kow, if the farmers should destroy the hay crop annually, the effect upon agriculture in these States would be disastrous; and yet the present method of seining mackerel destroys $45,000,000 worth of food fish, and scarcely a voice is raiseears to have become as oil, and the wind seems to make no impression on it. [From the Narragansett Herald, Narragansett Pier, E. I., July 3, 18SG.] ei FSSH IIV PIUGET SOUND. By J. P. IIAMMONI>. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] I have been engaged in the fishing business (making oil from herring and dogfish, and salting and smoking salmon and herring) on Puget Sound for the last seventeen years, and am well acquainted with the different species of fish caught on the sound, and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. From 1SG9 to 1877 it was not an uncommon occurrence for us to catch from 200 to 300 barrels of herring in a night, but since 1877 they have been growing less in number, until now the largest night's work is about 20 barrels. This is a great falling off, and it is much the same way with all other fish on the sound. Previous to 1869 there had been a great business done in catching codfish and winter salmon on the same fishing ground where we catch herring. The cod were dried and the salmon pickled and shipped to San Francisco, but at the time of my coming (in 1869) these two varieties were almost extinct. For then, in an entire season of three and one-half months at the most, we caught 4 or 5 cod with our herring, and it is the same now. This is winter fishing, from the middle of November to the 1st of March. If we then caught 3 or 4 barrels of salmon, that was considered a good catch, and now 30 or 40 salmon is the best we can do. We have a species of salmon averaging about 7 pounds, which come every year in September and run until October, a space of about six weeks; but they are also becoming scarce, although there is still quite a business done with them. Then there is another species called by white people the humpback salmon, on account of their getting a large hump on the male salmon's back about the time they are ready to spawn. The In- dians call them haddo salmon. There is also the dogfish, which we catch for the oil contained in its 196 BULLETIN OF TPIE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. liver. This has become entirely extinct on some of the old fishinfj gronnds, and on many others where a man with 500 hooks would take from 300 to 500 dogfish in a night, he would not take that many in an entire season now. Then there is the halibut, of which a few years ago a great many were caught in the sound, but now it is a very rare occurrence to catch one. Fishermen have to go into the Fuca Strait for them, and that is also where they get the most dogfish now. These fish that 1 have mentioned are the principal ones we ever had in these waters. We have quite a number of smelt and several varieties of flounders, but they are very scarce now, and one cause of this is on account of the Chinese fishermen we had here a few years past, who salted and dried them for the Chinamen in this country. We have also a "perch," a ver3' inferior fish, which brings forth its young alive the same as our dogfish. These '"perch" also are rare. There are some sculpins, and a small fish called a minnow. Then there is tie rock-cod, an excellent fish which is very scarce on the sound now, but ten years ago they were very abundant. We have also a good many shrimps, but they are very small ; also four distinct varieties of clams. Oysters are met with in a few parts of the sound, but in limited quantities and of very small size, the largest being about the size of a silver dollar. Cockles and mussels are found. The nuissels are small and inferior, but at Cape Flattery, in Fuca Strait, there is a mussel about 6 inches long, very finely flavored, and of a dif- ferent species from those on the sound. We have four kinds of crabs, and with one exception they are all small and inferior, but the large ones are of the same species as the crabs in California. There have never been any laws here to protect the fish, with one ex- ception. Thiswas a law to protect the spawning ground of the herring, which spawn near our fishing ground. It takes in a shore line of about 15 miles, but all the other spawning grounds are unprotected. Everything — gurry, sawdust, and every description of filth and rub- bish— is thrown into the water. The mill-owners have let the sawdust run into the sound ever since they built their mills; some only a part, but others all of it. 1 am living in a saw-mill town, and the mill-own- ers have thrown most of the sawdust into the water, and the conse- quence is that the bay has filled in about 10 feet since I came here. There are many lakes adjacent to the sound with outlets into it. Three miles back from Seattle ]>ay there are three lakes : Washington, about 20 miles long and 3 to 4 miles wjde; Union, 2 miles long and one mile wide ; Green, li miles each way. Ten miles back from Seattle is Samamish Lake, about 10 miles hmg and about two to tbi"ee miles wide. All these lakes have deep water, and are good lakes to stock with all kinds of fresh-water fish. The only fish in them is a species of trout, very few in number, the largest of which are about a foot in length. Port Madison, Wash., June 11, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 197 «S. TM « MPEt'lKS OF A.TflERK'AIV FI8H IN TBIE A<8UAKIl!TI OF TBIE KOVAI. ZOOI.Of.aCAIi SOCIETY AT A1WSTEKI>AI?I.* Ill the ]SJetherlaiK]s slow but sure progress is being made both in arti- ficial fish-cdlture and the matter of transporting living fisb from one country to another. Exi)eriments have recently been made in trans- porting such fish for a considerable distance ; and these experiments have ]>roved entirely successful. The aquarium of the Koyal Zoologi cal Society at Amsterdam can in this respect chronicle results which /bust be called entirely satisfactory. jSTot oidy have different kinds of fresh water fish been brought to the aquarium from Germany in per- fectly sound condition, but also several kinds of foreign fish have been raised in our aquarium and brought to a condition of complete sexual maturity. Thus the Idus melanotus var. miniatns, a beautifully colored variety of the Idus melanotus found in our rivers, which is found in large numbers in the ponds of Diukelsbiihl in Bavaria, has spawned in a basin of our aquarium, a circumstance which has thus far not occurred in any other aquarium. At I'jreseut ten of these fish, hatched and raised in our aquarium, are in the pouds of Mr. J. Noordhook Hegt's fish- cultural establishment at Apeldoorn, and have there likewise propa- gated their species. We desire, however, to call special attention to the fact that two species of American fish have been successfully trans- ported across the ocean and i)laced in the Amsterdam aquarium. These two species of fish — namely, the American catfish and the American black bass — will doubtless stock many of our waters which at present contain scarcely any fish. The American catfish {Amiurus nehulosus or catus) belongs to the 81- Inrus family, and is therefore related to our Slliiriis f/lanis, the only variety of this fish found in Europe. This American cattish is originally found in the Schuylkill, the Delaware, tlie Hudson, and the large lakes of North America, but has also been transplanted to the Sacramento River, in California. The catfish is a good article of food. Owing to the transplanting of these fish to the Sacramento River large quantities are now brought into the San Francisco market, where they have be- come souj^ht after. The question has been asked whether it would be desirable to acclimatize the catfish in Europe, esi^ecially as it has been sufliciently proved in America that the catfish cannot be called a preda- ceous fish in the full sense of the term, but lives both on animal and vegetable food. *" Twee Amerikaansche viachsoorten in het Aquarium van het Koninklijk ZoiJlogisch Ge- vootschap ^ Xafnra Artis Magintra^ teAmHlerdam." From the Orgaan d(rr Vereeniginq to* Hevordcriug der Zoeticatervissclierij In Xedcrland [Jourual of lln^ Society lor tlio Pro- motion oltlie Fresh-water Fisheries iu the Xetherlunds], Vol. I. Nos. 1 unci 2, Amster- dam, December 4, 1885. Translated from the ]3utch by Hkrman Jacob.son. 198 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED S'I'ATES FISH COMMISSION. The first practical attempt in this direction was made in Belgium. ]\rr. Thomas Wilson, United States cousul at Ghent, first suggested placing catfish in the Scheldt, a river which, owing to the large number of factories on its banks, does not contain many fish. It was presumed that the catfish would be particularly adapted to the River Scheldt, be- cause it had been sufficiently i)roved in America that this fish is not much atiected by the refuse from factories. After consulting with Prof. Spencer F. Baird, one hundred young catfish arrived at Antwerp in November, 1884. By the advice of Professor Baird, these young catfish were not immediately placed in the river, but first in the large basins of the aquarium. It is only after these fish have reached maturity in the aquarium and have spawned there that the young generation should be transferred to the river. This was done ; and the young cattish received fron-i America have provisional]}- been placed partly in a small pond in the Botanical Garden at Ghent, and partly in the Victoria-Iiegia basin in the same garden. The selection of the last-mentioned place we do not consider fortunate, as the temperature of the water in this basin is certainly much too high for these fish. At present there are in the Amsterdam aquarium 45 catfish brought direct from 'New York, and l)Iaced in a special basin with the hope that they will reach maturity and propagate their species. At present these fish measure from 4 to G inches in length. As regards the mode of life, habits, and propagation of these fish, the following is known from the observations of Mr. John A. Ryder.* Dur- ing winter the catfish lives at the bottom of the water, and prefers a clayey soil, in which it almost buries itself. During the first fine days in February some of these fish make their appearance, and in May they may be observed in rivers and lakes in large numbers. They jjrefer water which is muddy and does not have much of a current. Ko dis- eases or i)arasites have been noticed in the catfish. Their only enemies are bass, muskrats, and turtles. Mr. Ryder placed a male and a female separately in a basin of the Washington aquarium. The female laid about 2,(K)() eggs in a shapeless heap, and left them immediately after they had been laid. The male, however, acted verj' differently, and after the eggs had been impregnated, did not leave them for a moment, and by a regular movement of the pectoral fins caused a continual current of fresh water to pass through the mass of eggs. After a week the young tjsh slipped out of the eggs. On the thirteenth day after they had been liatched, the umbilical sac had disappeared, so that two days later the young fish eagerly took the food offered them, consisting of small pieces of liver. It is very remarkable tliat the eight feelers round the mouth begin to develop on the thirteenth day after the iish are hatched, at which time also the last traces of the umbilical sac have disa[)peared. " Soo F. C. IJulletiu for ld83, p. 225. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 199 The black bass {Microptcrus nalmoides) belongs to the bass family, aud is conimou in Nortb America, especially in tbc Saint Lawrence River and the Mississippi. American ichthyologists distinguish two varieties, namely, the large mouthed bass {Micropterus salmoldes) and the small- mouthed bass (.1/. dolomicl). Both kinds are valued very highly for food, aud fetch a good price in the market. They flourish best in broad flowing waters having considerable depth aud not too low a tempera- ture. In the northern part of North America, in the large lakes, they reach a weight of 4 to 8 pounds, aud in the South a weight of 12 to 14 pounds. They prefer a rocky or pebbly bottom of rivers which have a strong current, but are also found in shallow lakes or ponds where there is but little current. They i)refer to spawn on a gravelly or sandy bot- tom, where, by a strong movement of the lins, they make a sort of nest. Both the male and the female keep watch over the eggs aud the 3'ouug fish. The spawuiug season lasts from March till the middle of July, and varies a little according to the higher or lower temperature of the water. The eggs are hatched in 7 to 14 days, and the young bass re- main in the nest from 2 to 7 days. Several attempts have ahead}' been made to acclimatize these fish in Europe; and both in England and in Germany these attempts have been successful. JM^ax von dem Borne deserves great credit for having first introduced this fish in Europe; and next to him should be mentioned Mr. G. Eckardt, jr., of Liibbiuchen, in Prussia, who took care of the fish during their transportation from New York to Bremen. But more than this, Max von dem Borne has succeeded in having three black bass spawn in his ponds. Several thousand young bass have by this famous fish-culturist been placed in a special i)ond, where they are fed with small crustaceans (Daphnia, Cydops^ &c.). Thus not only the transportation of these fish from America to Germany but also their propagation in German waters has been entirely successful. The Amsterdam aquarium at present possesses four fine specimens of black bass, which grow Avell, aud will, in all probability, reach sexual maturity. \Ye owe a debt of gratitude to Prof. Spencer F. Baird, of Washington, and Mr. E. G. Blackford, of New York, and also to the cap- tain of the steamship Edam, Mr. J. H. Taat, for the great care he took of the fish during the voyage from New York to Amsterdam; as to these gentlemen it is nuiinly owing that the experiment has proved success- ful. It will be of great importance to fish- culture in the Netherlands if the experiments made in the Amsterdam aquarium to propagate the American bass are crowned with success. Many of our rivers and lakes which at present contain hardly any fish could be advantageously stocked with American black bass. 200 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSIOif. «3 NEW EIVOIiAIVD FISHERIE.^ liV JtJlVE, 18S6. By W. A. WIJLCOX. During tbis nioiitli about the same number of vessels have been en- gaged in the fisheries as in June, 1885. Owing to^he scarcity of mack- erel, more vessels have followed cod and other ground fishing, and not so many have engaged in catching mackerel. The receipts at Gloucester, which may be taken as a basis for the catch by the entire New England fleet, show a large falling off from the corresponding month of last year. Codfish show a decrease of 3,161,200 pounds. Eeceipts from all the fishing banks show a loss, but mostly from George's and Brown's. Halibut have been very scarce on the Grand Banks, also on Western Bank, vessels having returned with less than half fares. In the deep water between George's and Brown's filsh have been abundant, and good fares were secured, at times arriving in such abundance as to over- stock the market, prices dropping as low as 3 cents a pound. The ag- gregate receipts o^' halibut vary but little from those of June, 1885. The vessels that went to Iceland for halibut have all been reported as arriving on the fishing grounds, and the prospect was favorable for their securii]g full fares. Schooner Mist was nineteen days on the way from Gloucester to Iceland, and the schooner Mystery was only fifteen days. The past winter was spoken of by the natives as very severe. Weirs along the Kew England coast have had a light and unprofit- able catch of numerous varieties, consisting of herring, squid, mackerel, and ground fish ; enough to' supply all demands for bait, with only a small amount for the market. At Monomoy Point, south of Cape Cod, the weirs were taken up the first of the month, the catch having been the smallest for years, which is thought to have been caused by the ])olluti<)n of the water by a guano factory near by. JVIackerel have not been seen in any abundance since early in the spring. The fleet have (constantly sailed all over the usual fishing grounds from Long Island Sound to the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia shore, and Gulf of Saint Lawrence, without finding any body of mack- erel. The first mackerel reported caught at Chaleurs Bay were taken in traps on June 9, and a few barrels were taken off Prince Edward Island on June 14. The total amount of salt mackerel landiMl during llie niontli by the entire New England fleet was 2,445 barrels, against (i,(»2() l)arr('ls in June, 1885, and Avas caught mostly in the vicinity of lioseway Bank. On June 20 bonitos were seen iu largo quantities 50 miles south of Block Island. On the same date white water was, for the first time in several years, seen on Middle Bank. Squid have been very ])lentiful on the fishing banks as well as close in shore. IniLLETiN OF THE UNITED STATES FlSIt COMMISSION. 201 Meiiliiulen have been scarce. The fleet engaged in their catch often cruised for a week or more without seeing any fish. A few scattering fish taken from the weirs are all the menhaden seen north of Cape Cod. Whales have been numerous off tlie New England coast. Three steamers are engaged in taking them, being quite successful, although many that are shot and sink in deep water are not recovered. Shad were schooling the last of the month in unusual abundance off Seguin and Small Point, Maine. Five hundred barrels were taken in purse-seines by the mackerel vessels and 200 barrels by smaller vessels that fished near shore. The shad were of good size and quality, one- third iSTo. 1 balance mess, and sold afc Portland for $4| and $8 a barrel. On June 9 the new schooner Grampus, of the U. S. Fish Commission fleet, arrived at Gloucester. This vessel, designed by and built under the personal supervision of her commander, Capt. J. W. Collins, is of interest as a departure from the prevailing and almost universal style of a New England fishing vessel. She is 83y\,% tonnage, and by experts is pronounced not only a fine-looking vessel but one that froni her in- creased depth and model gives promise of much greater safety in rough weather, while at the same time she is expected to be a fast sailer. The Grampus is admirably fitted up for the practical and scientific work for which she is intended. The Gloucester fishing-fleet enrolled and under license on the last day of June was : Under 20 tons each, 54 sail, with a tonnage of 609.25; over 20 tons each, 384 sail, with a tonnage of 20,448.71; making the total tonnage of the fleet 27,057.96. The demand for all kinds offish, both domestic and foreign, has con- tinued depressed and far below the average. Although the receipts show a large decrease from those of one year ago, the market has at all times been well and amply supplied at prices lower than for many years. The extreme low prices do not seem to stimulate an increased consump- tion. The following is the position of the New England fishing fleet during the last week of June : Position. Object. No. of sail. Grand Banks, lat. 44° to 4C°, long. 52° to 54° Codfish 17.5 Grand Banks, lat. 44° to 4.5°, long. 49° to 51° : Halibut 40 ■Western Bank, lat. 44 -' to 45°, long. 60° to 61° do 30 George's and I'.rown's Banks, lat. 41° to 43°, loug. 66° to 68° Cod and halibut. . . Mackerel 230 From Block Island to Gulf of Saint Lawi'ence 2."i0 Off eastern coast of New £u gland Ground tish Halibut 300 On trips to Iceland or Greenland 8 Total 1,033 In addition to the above, three steamers were engaged in taking whales off the New England shore ; and one steamer was fishing for mackerel off this shore. 202 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. , The British sieameiH Carinona and Concordia arrived at Montreal on Jnne 21, being- the first vessels through the Strait of Belle Isle this season. They rejiort many fields of small broken ice and a great num- ber of large icebergs, extending as far castas 110 miles from the strait. Receipts offish al Gluncesier, Mass., in June, 1866. From- Tares. Georjje's Bank Brown's Bank Grand Banks Casbe's Bank Cape Noitli La Have Bauk , Nova Sfotia, Cape shore . Western Bank Bay of Fnudy Buuqnereau New l<]u<;ian(l shore* Ma(!kore)ing+ Total, June, 188G. Total, June, 1885. 142 8 29 5 1 1 3 14 • 5 1 28 23 Saltcodflsh, Pounds. 2, 880, 000 253, OUO 165, 000 8,000 125, 000 1,112,000 149, 000 10, 000 380, 000 2C0 5, 082, 000 399 I 8, 243, 200 Fresh hal- ibut. Pounds. 342, 650 22, 800 657, 000 400 35, 000 36, 000 3,300 18,000 72, 000 1, 187, 150 1, 204, 000 Salt hake. Pounds. 1,000 42, 000 10, 000 45, 000 98, 000 I 113, 800 Salt pollock and salt cusk. Pounds. 1414, 000 1414, 000 §212, 500 * In addition to the fares above stated, 2,000 pounds of salt haddock were brought in. tOf this amount, 34,000 pounds were s;ilt cusk. I Yielding 2,4-)5 barrels of salt mackerel, the amount in June, 1885, having been 6,626 barrels. §0f this amount, 103,500 pounds were salt cusk. Gloucester, Mass., July 15, 1886. C4.-BIEPOKT rPOrV THE SHAD AND HERRINCi FISHERIE.'ii OF TIIE rOTOMAC KIVER FOR ISSC. By GWl NW IIARRISS. Number of shad landed at WaHliiiiglon from March 19, ISriG, to June 10, 188G, inchisivo 180,175 Number of shad landed at Alexandria, Va 34,847 Number of shad shipped by steamer Sue to Baltimore 48,000 Number of shad shipped by steamer \V. W. Corcoran to Baltimore 5, GOO Number of shad sold on the different shores 6,800 Total 275,422 Number of herring lauded at Washington Ixom March 13, 188G, to June 10, IBHG, inclusive 7,315,473 Numbin- of herring landed at Alexandria, Va 3, 979, 324 Nnmlxr of herring shipped by steamer Sue to Baltimore 850,000 Number of herring sold on the shores and from trap-nets 1,400,000 Total 13,544,797 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 203 65.-CARP IIV FKAIVCE.* The carp is generally well known. It has a strongly-curving back of an olive or blnisli color, yellowish below, and with a whitish belly. The spines forniing the first ray of the dorsal and the anal fins are strong and toothed. It has pharyngeal teeth, flat and grooved at the crown. There is a lateral line of 48 black points; the dorsal fin has 21, 22, or 24 rays; anal, 8 or 9; each ventral, 9; and there are 3 toothed rays to the dorsal and the anal fins. The caudal and the ventral fins are of a violet color; the anal fin is of a reddish-brown; and the gill-covers are glossy and without notches. There are 4 barbels, 2 of which are at the angle's of the jaw. Its scales are large and hard. The bony parts of the anatomy of this fish are very numerous, and 4,386 pieces have been counted. The head is strong, large, and blunt, and the eyes are small. The carp comes from the central and southern parts of Europe, and has been acclimatized almost everywhere. [It seems to have come originally from Central Asia, whence it was introduced into Europe as a food-fish.] It thrives in the quiet waters of France, where it sometimes attains the length of nearly 4 feet. It grows readily in ponds, and is of a good flavor. Clear and gently-flowing waters are suitable for it ; and at the same time it finds in these waters some qualities which escape our notice, since it remains in certain portions of a stream or river and is found only in these portions. The sensibility of the carp on this l)oint is so great that those which have been raised and set free in other parts of these streams go to rejoin the other carp in these places and do not restock the whole length of the watercourse. Carp multiply rapidly in ponds ; the muddy water, however, of these bodies of water is apt to give a muddy taste to their flesh. It is easy to rid the fish of this muddy flavor elsewhere by jiutting them for at least eight days into clear run- ning water. When the carp is about to spawn, it leaves the large watercourses to seek more quiet places, and is not stopped on its way by waterfalls of C feet in height, which it ascends with as much dexterity and persever- ance as trout. In spawning it rubs against weeds in order to aid in the ejection of its eggs ; and often it is almost entirely out of the water, es- pecially during a pleasant spring and under the rays of a warming sun. At spawning time the flesh is soft and flabby. The young carp are much exposed to the teeth of their enemies, and an immense number become the food of fish, birds, and animals ; but after they are three years old they have little to fear from pikes and others. Carp have a very long life. Those that we call salmon carp have *Fiom the MonUear de la FiscicuUure, »Ssc., Paris, November '28, 1885. Tianslati'd liy II. P. Jkrukll. 204 -BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FiSfl COMMISSION. red llesli aud are delicious eating. The growth of this fish iu a place where it gets good food is rapid, for in the period of seven years it i)asses from a weight of 8 grams to 8 kilograms [f ounce to 17| pounds, about], increasing a thousand-fold, but after reaching this size it increases much more slowly. We often see very large specimens, with the head much rounded in front and with blunt noses. A race with large scales has been produced, some individuals of which have the skin bare iu placesj and some are entirely scaleless. These varieties are called Queen Carp, Mirror Carp, Leather Carp, &c. The carp is not very voracious, but it lives upon spawn, insects, and many vegetable and auimal substances that it finds in the mud. When the carp is lean its head seems to be very large in comparison with its body. The small carp are not good eating, but the large ones are plump and their llesh is firm aud delicate when they are caught in living water. The Ehine carp and those of Montreuil-sur-Mer are highly esteemed, while those of the Lot Eiver pass as excellent. In the Saone River these fish are of very good quality, while the rapid and clear waters of the Moselle and the Loire furnish carp that are little sought. M. Bieuue, of the fish-cultural establishment at Huniugeu, found on December 15, in the Lake of Constance, carp whose eggs aud milt were fully matured. Can this indicate that this fish spawns twice a year "? Taris, November 28, 1885. 66.— TOE PKEPAKATHOIV AIVB> C©OItlIV« OF TARP. By ALFRED DOI.GE. [From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] Iu very many cases the carp is taken from muddy, half stagnant water of a high temperature, and is immediately killed, aiul then cooked after a fashion. Such a fish is utterly unfit to eat, and is apt to make the partakers of the meal sick, Now imagine a carp taken out of such water and transported to market, or even not eaten until the next day. Yet this is what is very often done, and the outcome of it is the general verdict that carp is worthless as a table fish. In Germany the profes- sional lisherman does not bring pond carp for sale to market until they have been in big boxes for from two to three weeks in running river water, so as to be rid of the muddy taste which they acquire in ponds. Any clear running water will do it. Then they are put into big tubs, brought to market in good shape, swimming around, and the purchasei picUs out his fisli and brings it home alive, where it is killed when wanted for the tul)le. Such a lish wlien properly cooked is really a delicacy. 1 usually have a great many visitors at the time when I BULLETIN OF THE L^NITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 205 begin to fish my pouds, and they are all aBtonished at the fine qual- ities of tbe carp. Even those who had eaten, or tried to eat, them be- fore, and were disgusted, become enthusiastic. The difference is owing to the treatment the fish receive, and to some extent, of course, to the cooking. Thinking they may be of interest, I add here some of th« methods according to which my carp are cooked : Carp in beer, or Polish carp. — Bleed a large live carp at the throat, catch the blood in vinegar ; scale, wash and clean inside. Cut into halves, and these into large pieces. Take a deep pot, cover the bottom with sliced onions, some mixed ground spice, and a few cloves. Put the split head and pieces with back fins in first, the fins to point toward tbe bottom. ISTow take a piece of rye bread or Boston brown bread or roasted white bread without rind, some salt, one small piece of sugar, some slices of lemon, and some bay leaves. Put all on top of the fish. Pour in a little vinegar and white beer and lager beer (or new ale and porter), each in half parts, until the liquor covers the fish fully. Have a good strong fire and begin to boil, taking care, by shak- ing the pot once in a while, that the fish does not burn on the bottom. When nearly done take for four pounds of fish about ^ pound of but- ter, roast it brown with a spoonful of flour, mix up with the blood and vinegar, and put on the fish. Taste the sauce to see if it is sufiiciently sweet, sour, and salty, three qualities which it must have, and cook tbe fish until done. Serve with potatoes in their skins. Blue-boiled carp. — Be careful not to remove any scales or coat- ing. Split the carp along the back, clean inside, and pour cold or boil- ing vinegar over it until covered. When the outside has turned nicely blue, put it on the stove with cold water, into which put salt, onions, one or two bay leaves, and some cloves. Take the carp from the fire as soon as it boils up well, and set it aside in a warm jflace. Serve with either melted butter mixed with parsley chopped, or ground horse- radish mixed with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Baked carp. — Cut the carp into pieces or halves. Clean well, but leave the scales on. Cover with salt, lemon juice, sliced onions, pep- per, and parsley. After it has lain thus one hour, dry the carp, roll it in eggs and cracker dust, and bake slowly in butter. Serve with lemon and potatoes boiled or baked. Pickled carp. — Clean the carp outside and in ; split it the whole length ; cut it in pieces; wash, and cook it in water with salt, spice, onions, and a few bay leaves. After it is cooked let it get cold in the pot. When cold remove and i)ut it into a drainer or sieve to dry oft". Now pick to pieces, taking out all bones ; mix with sauce r(jmolade or a sauce consisting of Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, ground black ' pepper, olive oil, and yellow mustard, according to taste; all well beaten and mixed, olive oil and vinegar being in preponderance. Serve with capers, olives, and mixed pickles. DOLGEVILLE, N. T., September 17, 1886. 206 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. C7 — THE AMEKI€AIV BROOK TKOUT KECOill^IE.^DEI) FOK SWISS WATTE KS.* By HERMANN GOI.L. Tbaiilis to the eifortsoftlie German Fishery Association, it has become possible to acclimatize in European waters several kinds of American fish, such as the California salmon, the valuable American salmon trout {Seclachu, lake salmon), the whitelish, and the American brook trout {Balmo fontinalis Mitch.), t Von Clapardde in the spring of 1883 sent a considerable number of the eggs of this fish to Switzerland ; 4,000 were sent to the canton of Vaud, and were hatched in the small fish-cultural establishment of Eoveray, near Allaman. Unfortunately the hatching troughs were one day Hooded by violent showers, and in consequence a large number of the young fish which had been hatched were carried away. Of the small remnant, about 300 were placed in a pond near St. Prex, and 100 in a small pond in my garden. This pond has a long oval shape, and measures 4 meters in length, 2 in breadth, and almost i meter in depth ; its walls are of cement. It is fed from my house reservoir, containing good drinking water with but little lime in it, which comes from the Pierre-Ozaire. The temperature of this water is 6.5 to 7° C. [about 44° Fahr.] : in summer it exceptionally rises to 12^ [53.0° F.]. As hidingplaces for the little fish, my pond has some small caverns of tufa, forming a sort of subterranean i^assage. The bottom is covered with mud from the lake, in which there is a dense growth of Elodea canadensis and Fotamogeton densus. The young brook trout, which had been i>laced in the pond, in the be- ginning persistently hid themselves, so that I began to doubt whether they were really there. Some articles of food which were thrown into the pond were not touched, aud I therefore stopped throwing in any food. After about tliree njonths some of the little fish occasionally made their a])pearance, having grown considerably. When i^laced in the pond, they measured 18 to 20 millimeters [^ inch| in length, while now they meas- ured 5 to C centimeters [2^ inches]. I now had frequent opportunities to see of what their food principally consisted. My aquatic plants were covered with great masses of Gammarus roeselii; and my little fish eagerly chased small si)ecimens of this crustacean. In September, 1883, my fish measured '9 centimeters [3^ inches] in length. To accelerate their growth, I placed in the pond a number of small Fhoximis Iwvis, and several small specimens of Cdbitis barhaUda. These fish all disappeared, and I presumed that the trout had devoured * " Der amerikanische Bach-Jiothel." Translated from the German by Herman Ja- COP.SOX. t In Jannary, 1883, 25,000 brook-trout eggs were scut by the United States Fisli Com- mission to tlae Deutsche Fischerei-Vereiu. See F. C. Reiiort for 1883, p. xli. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 207 tliGui. As I had no more of tliese fish to ^ive tliem, I commenced to throw earthworms iuto the i)ond. Two to three times a week I had a grand feeding-time, and convinced myself that the new food was eagerly taken by the trout. With the same relish tliej' devoured small grass- hoppers, gnats, caterpillars, &c. I am now able to explain how it came that 1 occasionally found early in the morning one of my little fish out- side the pond; it had too eagerly chased insects fijing over the water and leaped out of the water upon the bank. When the cold season set in, I made an attempt to feed my fish with meat chopped fine, but it invariably remained on the bottom untouched. Possibly this was caused by the diminished voracity of the fish, result- ing from the winter season. In January, 188-1, I again noticed the Phoximis Iccvis. Nearly all of them returned; and I must presume that the brook trout does not chase fish, as both kinds offish live, up to date, together in perfect i)eaceand harmony. The Phoxinus Ucvis had grown considerably, and I began to throw little pieces of soaked bread to them. After a few hours these had disappeared; and I think I have occasionally seen the trout snap after this food. In the summer of 1885 most of my trout had reached a length of 20 to 25 centimeters [about 9 inches]. About one-third of them had not grown so long ; these were the ones which always came too late, when I threw food in the pond, and had to satisfy their hunger with some of the bread. Similar observations were made relative to the little fish which had been placed in the pond near St. Prex; only they remained smaller, because no food was thrown to them. On the whole, I am very well satisfied with the growth of these fish. As, moreover, they are easily satisfied (my pond was often supplied with very little water, and was frequently polluted by rain-water) and manage to live on all sorts of animalcules, I think I can reconnneud them for many of our waters. In clear brooks, which contain a good many Gammarus rocseUi and larvae of insects, the American fish is found to be less predaceous than our brook trout ; and as to its growth and the delicacy of its flavor, it is fully the equal of our trout. In my opinion, and after repeated trials, the American brook trout is in every way the equal of the char from the Lake of Zng, which enjoys a high rejnitation as a table fish. The American brook trout is a genuine "Saibling," and can therefore justly be classed with the genus Salmo. We find in it the os vomerin the upper jaw, only with teeth in front, just as in the Zug char. Its body is thick-set, the snout short, and the color something like that of our char. The back and sides have a dark-green ground color; the belly has a beautiful rosy color, with a slight admixture of orange. On the sides there are numerous very bright red, white, and yellowish-wliite spots. The brownish-yellow dorsal fin has some intensely black streaks. The ventral, pectoral, and anal fins have a deep red color, and have a 208 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. shiiiiug wbito front edge. The cautlal fin, which is cut oft' straight, is of a brown-red color. During the spawning season these colors become brighter, and at that season the bi"oolv trout conjpares favorably with some of the niost beautiful of the finny tribe. In Zurich very successful experiments have been made with the Salmo Jmitinalis. Four of these fish, which were raised in the fish-cultural establishment of Dachsen, produced last autumn about 200 eggs, and from these there have now been hatched about GO or 70 lively and healthy young fish. We take occasion to exi)ress once more our hearty thanks to the German Fishery Association for its valuable present. Let us hope that there is a great future in store for this new citizen of Switzerland, which has come to us from far-ofl' America. Zurich, Switzerland, 1886. 68.- BI A BITS OF WlllTfllVC} OR FKOST.FBSmi (MEKLl €BUS BBI.BIVE. AKIS, Mit-.'h.). By WILI^AKD J\YE, Jr. These fish api)ear in our shallow waters duringOctober or November,* according as the season is early or late. They come in to feed from sun- set to sunrise, and are then seen, often where the water is not over two inches deej). During the daytime they are never seen alive near the shore, nor have I ever seen any at or near the surface in deej) water. They feed on the silver-sides or friar, which abounds here at this season, and which, being chilled, is easily caught. The frost fish do not come in schools proper, but scattered along shore — from a few to many feet apart, and headed in all directions, moving slowly along— gener- ally near the bottom, and now and tlien rising to seize a friar, which they do by shooting ahead two or three feet quite rai)idl3'; if successful, they then sink to the bottom and slowly swallow the small fish. Many frost-fish are speared by men and boys wading along shore with lanterns. Quantities are caught in the fish-traps, and if the night haj)- l>ens to be very frosty hundreds are left by the falling tide, this last more freciuently hai)[)ening on the outer beaches, where there is a little swash along shore. In size they vary generally from two or three ounces to one pound ; those on the outside beaches are the largest, while insid(! the moiitlis of rivers they are small. When seen in the water at night they appear of a dull reddish color. Early in October, while fishing for codfish in five or six fathoms, I have caught frost-fish that would weigh two or three pounds; and in the trawl on the Alba- tross I have seen s])ecimens that would weigh as much as eight pounds. New Bedford, Mass., Atigiist 20, 1886. *For a brief note on their appearance, see F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. i:57. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 209 Vol. II, No, 14. ^V:Q^*hBIlgtoHB, I>. C. Oct. 1, 1 886. 69.-THE TENCH KlJ!:t'01TflMEIV»E» EOK CLI.TI VATIOIV l?f SWE»EIV. By FJIII^SP TKYBOITB. In Sweden we have a fish closely related to the carp, which at least so far north as Dalarne and Helsingland could be planted to great advan- tage in many lakes, streams, ponds, and other small waters with a loose bottom, and with banks at least partially covered with vegetation. Professor Wittmack says, "Besides the eel there is hardly another fish so suitable for stocking marshy waters as the tench; " and in mak- ing tbis statement he has reference to Germany, where it is thought that the carp is the best fish for this purpose. In the carp ponds tench are often kept with carp, as the tench is satisfied with food which the carp does not care for, or could not easily get at. In Germany it is said that the tench does not grow as rapidly as the carp. In Sweden this will probably be different. There is every reason to supi)ose that the tench, being indigenous in more northerly latitudes, will llourish and grow in colder water than the carj) can stand, and will therefore have a longer annual period of grow^th. Cold winters and thick ice do not disturb the tench, which has a great capacity for burrowing in the mud and lying in a state of torpor. In Germany it reaches a weight of 1^ kilograms [a little over 3 pounds] in the third year, and when six or seven years old is said to reach a weight of 3 to 4 kilograms [6^ to 8j| pounds]. In Sweden, when in suitable waters, like those in the northern i)art of the province of Sm^land, it reaches a weight of 6 or more pounds. I do not know how fast it grows in Sweden in a free state, for, to, my knowledge, only very imperfect observations have been taken regarding this matter. Very few of our fish can so well stand a long transportation as the tench. It can therefore easily be transferred to waters at a great distance from its home. Although it is much sought after by the pike, it can nevertheless be planted in waters where pike and j^erch are found, as it knows well how to hide in the mud and in dense growths of aquatic plants. As an instance of the successful planting of tench, it may bo mentioned that in a small lake in the northern i)art of the Kalmar district, in 1871, 40 tench, weighing from ^ to J pound, were planted. Three years later the largest of these had reacihed a weight of 4 pounds. After 1 5 years, and probably sooner, many tench w^ere caught i^n this lake, nnd they had spread to another lake in the neighborhood. In another small lake, not far from ths above-mentioned, '20 tench were i)lanted, measuring 5 to 0 inches in length. After 32 or 15 years had passed, there were excellent tench fisheries in this lake, many of the fish weighing from 4 to 5 pounds. In Bull. U. S. F. 0., 80 14 210 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. these small lakes there are also the bream, crucian, roach, bleak, pike, perch, eel, and some other kinds of fish. In many parts of Sweden the tench is considered as a fish of little value, and as not being- a wholesome article of food, and consequently it does not sell at a good price. In Germany, where this fish is better known, it is appreciated more. It is stated that it often sells at as high a price as the carp, but generally tench costs about two-thirds of the price of carp. The tench has frequently a more pronounced muddy or i)eaty flavor than the carp, but if kept in clear, running water for five or six days it will almost entirely lose this flavor. »0.— IVJEW ENCJXAIVU FISBICRIES IIV JUtY, 18S6. By W. A. ^VILCOX. With the exception of mackerel the receipts show few changes in quantity from those of the corresponding month of last year. At Gloucester the same number of fares of cod and other ground fish have been landed — 277 cargoes each year. Of mackerel 30 fares arri\'ed from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and 7 small broken fares from ofl' the New England coast, against IIC fares during July, 1885, making the aggre- gate fares 307 in July, 188G, and 393 in July, 1885. Codfish of good size and quality were abundant. A number of ves- sels have returned to home ports from their second trips with full fares, caught on Banquereau, Western Bank, and Grand Banks. Nearer home the catches on George's and Brown's Banks have been good, at the close of the month falling off on the former and increasing on the latter. The July catch by the Gloucester fleet of the jiast two seasons, on these two banks, is of interest as showing the fluctuation in the catch from one bank to the other : Codfish landed at Gloucester during July. 1885. 1886. From Georfjo's Bank Pounds. 1,071,000 3, 067, 000 Pounds. 4, 585, 000 214 000 From Brown's Bank Total 4, 738, 000 4 700 nnn The fish from George's usually are given the preference, as being of superior quality to those from any other locality. Halibut have continued scarce, vessels arriving mostly Avith small fares. A few vessels fishing between George's and Brown's have brought in larger fares than those from the Grand and other banks. The total receipts for the month show a falling ofi" of 170,350 pounds from those of July, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 211 Hake, haddock, and other ground fish have been fairly abundant on the eastern fishing grounds, and an average catch is reported. Bluefish have been less plentiful than for a number of years. Only occasionally has any amount been taken, and much of the time vessels have returned empty. Swordfish have been numerous, the catch being mostly made in the vicinity of Block Island. The price has been as low as 3 cents a pound. Mackerel, in large bodies, seem to have abandoned their usual resorts this year. All the season, since their disappearance south of Long- Island, the fishermen have sought them all along the usual fishing grounds off the New England coast as far as the Bay of Fundy, on George's and Brown's Banks, and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. After weeks of constant search vessels have been obliged to return to home ports with very few fish, if any. They would at once refit and start again. During the first of the month 125 sail were cruising off the New England coast — 50 sail in the vicinity of Block Island and 75 sail in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Small mackerel were found quite abun- dant, and occasionally small schools of large fish were taken off the eastern coast and about Block Island. In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence the search was equally unsuccessful up to the middle of the month, when the fish appeared in considerable abundance on Bradelle and Orphan Banks, to the north of Prince Edward Island. The fish were mostly taken from 10 to 20 miles from shore, and were of good size and fair quality. No improvement taking place off the United States shores, the fleet slowly and reluctantly went from the eastern shore to North Baj^, at the close of the mouth 150 sail of the New England fleet of seiners being in those waters. A few sail were hauled up temporarily, and 100 vessels remained scattered all over the fishing grounds off the New England coast. The oldest fishermen report that never have they seen a season that would compare with this for the scarcity of mackerel. The native fishermen of the Provinces have been equally unfortunate. The few vessels they had engaged in seining could not find mackerel schooling, while the boat fishermen using hand-lines complained that mackerel when found would not take the hook, and consequently their catch was also insignificant. Bait has been plentiful all the month, the weirs of Cape Cod at nearly all times having an abundance of squid and small mackerel. Along the coast of Maine herring have been in great abundance; at several points for days the weirs and traps would be full and closed, waiting for buyers. Squid have been very abundant along the New England coast; also at times on the leading fishing banks. Prices of all kinds of salt-water fish have ruled very low, in many cases being below the cost of production, and lower than for years, if ever before. The season thus far has certainly been a most discour- aging one for all engaged, yet fishing is persistently and hopefully fol- lowed, in hopes of a better future. 212 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Beceipts of fish at Gloucester, Mass., in July, 1886. From— m £ ^ Salt codfish. Fresh halibut. Salt hake. Salt had. dock. Salt pollock. Salt disk. Fresh sword. fish. Salt mack- erel. 184 6 35 7 4 1 a 3 35 30 Pounds. I, 585, 000 214, 000 1, 925, 500 287, 000 140, 000 2,000 430, 000 335, 000 385, 000 Pounds. 193, 600 1,600 714, 300 123,000 Pounds. 4,000 Pounds. 4,000 Pounds. Pounds. 10, 000 Pounds. Barrels. Nova Scotia, Cape shore. .. Off T.iibradnr 27, 000 35, 000 1,400 li^lftmisli (yfiiT* W^f^st.ftrn TjUiiIc New En gland shore North Bav 64, 000 22, 000 35, 000 9,000 6,630 1G4 12, 190 Fjora small boats, sbore- 26, 000 20, 000 19, 000 6,030 Totalin July, 1886... 307 393 8, 329, 500 1, 095, 900 88, 000 26, 000 35, 000 12, 354 Total in July, 1885. . . 8,220,500 1, 266, 250 77, 500 3,000 17, 500 783 '39, 637 Additional during July, 1886, 22,000 hoses of smoked herring, from Maine. *Also, in July, 1885, there were 563 barrels of fresh mackerel. The importations of fish for the year ending July 1. 1880, being the first full year since the termination of the Washington treaty and the return to a duty on fish from the British Provinces, are as follows : Kind of fish. Free of duty. Fresh fish, salmon excepted pounds . Fresh salmon do . . . < "od and other dry fish do . . . Herring, smoked do — Herring, pickled harrols. Mackerel, pickled, do... Salmon, pickled do. .. Subject to duty. Cod and other dry fish pounds . Herring, smoked do. .. Hotiiug, pickled barrels. Mackerel, pickled do . . . Salmon, pickled do . . . 1885. 17, 913, 742 1, 336, 541 32, 399, 578 10,558,315 104, 742 91,680 5, 872 49, 643 1880. 19, 732, 787 1,422,720 14, 324, 080 5,712,725 07, 922 50, 847 4,562 Value of all fish imported, including ancJiovies, sardines, and other canned fish. Free of duty Dutiable Total . 1885. $3, 452, 497 1,353,138 4, 805, C35 1880. $1, 076. 644 2, 535, 046 3, 612, 290 Gloucesteh, Mass., August 18, 188G. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 213 71.— FISH-CU1.TURE IIV IVEW ZIiIAIiAND. By 1¥ILLIA]^I SEED, Secretary of the Marine Department. [From the Annual Eeport of the Marino Department.] Oysters. — Owiug: to the reckless way in wbicli the rock-oyster fisheries have been worked it has been found necessary, in order to prevent their absohite destructionj to close the beds at Whaugarei, the Hauraki Gulf, and the coast and harbors between Bream Head and a I»oint just north of the Bay of Islands, for a period of three years. It is hoped that by the end of that time the beds will have recovered. It was reported that one of the main causes of the beds having been so r.early destroyed was that the ojsters were frequently stripped from the rocks with spades, which reckless operation cleared away the small with the marketable oysters. In order to i)revent this an order in council has been made providing that no spade or apparatus for taking rock-oysters shall be used of which the edge or blade shall exceed 2 inches in width. An order in council was also made under the pro- visions of "The fisheries encouragement act, 1885," prohibiting the exportation of rock-oysters from the colony. The great importance of conserving our oyster-beds, both rock and mud, cannot be more forcibly illustrated than by quoting from the report of the royal commission on the fisheries of Tasmania in 1883, which shows that whereas, in one of the best years, the number of oysters dredged from the i)rincipal native beds amounted to 22,350,000 (the value of which, at the present current prices, would be £93,125 [about $452,588], a sum which, it is stated, is more than the equivalent of the value of the exports of grain, hay, flour, and bran from Tasmania in the three years previous to the date of the report), the yield of the beds has been reduced by over fishing to not more than 100,000 i)er annum. The knowledge of this should be sufficient to in- duce the Government here so to regulate the taking of oysters as to prevent the productiveness of our beds from being arrested or destroyed from the same cause. The quantity of oysters exported from New Zealand, chiefly to Sydney and Melbourne, during the year ended the 31st of December last, amounted to 1,057,700 dozen rock-oysters, valued at £3,333 [$1G,198], and 170,455 dozen mud-oysters, valued at £2,190 [$10,073]. Salt-water fish. — The Department is at present collecting infor- mation on the habits, spawning season, &c., of the edible fish inhabiting New Zealand waters, with a view of adopting and enforcing a close season for some of the flsh. I trust to be able by next year to report more fully hereon. A trawl has been ordered from England for use on f)oard one of the Government steamers, for the purpose of ascertaining 214 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. what kinds of fisli cau be procured on the various parts of the coast, and the best seasons for taking them. Fresh-watee. fish. — A shipment of whitefish ova was received from America in February last, unfortunately in a putrid condition. These were forwarded through the courtesy of Prof. Spencer F. Baird, the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. A shipment of salmon ova was received by the steamer Ionic in March last, and was distrib- uted among certain acclimatization societies. I am glad to say that this shij)ment turned out a success, in fact, the most successful, I be- lieve, hitherto received in the Australian colonies. Some 200,000 eggs were shipped, but only eight of the nine boxes arrived in good condition, one having to be left out of the icehouse i)repared for the ova, there being no room for it. Notwithstanding this, some healthy fry were hatched out. I note that in Tasmania their most successful shipment of salmon ova, received by the Yeoman in 1885, yielded 30,000 fry out of 150,000<)va shipped, or 24 per cent, while those by the Ionic yielded some 50 per cent of. healthy fry. The importation of these eggs and the various steps that had to be taken in anticipation oi'. and alter, tbeh- arrival in the colony were carried out under the immediate directions of the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, the commissioner of trade and customs. The correspondence relating to the introduction of fish ova has been printed, and will be presented to Parliament as a separate pa])er. I would submit, for consideration, whether the present ])ract,ice of placing the young salmon fry in many different rivers is a judicious one. It would appear to be more desirable to put all the salmon fry hatched into one i^articular river, that river being selected, regardless of posi- tion and district, as being the best salmon river, on account of the tem- perature of water and other necessary conditions. When once salmon are established in one river it would be only a work of time to get them placed, at any rate, in most of the rivers in Middle Island [or South Island]. In support of this plan, I quote the following paragrajjh from the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries Report for 1882, p. Iviii, on the subject of the artificial propagation of fish : " Failures have resulted, in a large degree, from the limited scale on which the work has been carried out. If the expectancy of destruction in a given locality be esti- mated as representing one million young fish, and any number less than one million be introduced tlierein, it is easy to understand that there will be no result." This opinion appears to apply with singular force to New Zealand, where several of the acclimatization societies are eager to secure a share of the young salmon in order that they may be turned out in rivers in various parts of the colony, some of which are entirely unfit- ted for tlie salmon to thrive, or, perhaps, even to live in. Now that the Government has taken in hand the importation of fish ova, I submit for (consideration whether it would not be desirable, in the iiublic interest, to make some inquiry as to the operations of accli- matization societies, especiallj^ in relation to pisciculture. So far as I cau BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISn COMMISSION. 215 make out, tliero are no less than twenty-one such societies in the colony. All that a]ipears to be requisite for the establishment of a society is that a copy of its rules, signed by the chairman and countersigned by three members thereof, shaU be deposited in the office of the colonial secretary. There is thus nothing to prevent atiy half-dozen persons from forming themselves into an acclimatization society in any district where no organization of that kind has already been constituted. It has, therefore, been the practice, at the instance of any one of these so- cieties, to make and gazette regulations under " the Salmon and Trout act, 1867," for fishing in specified waters within the district in which such society operates. These regulations prescribe a fee, usually £1, for every fishing license. There is no specific authority in the act for imposing the fee; this seems to have been done under the provisions in the act quoted, which authorize the governor to make such regulations for certain specified purposes as seem expedient, and also " as to any other matter or thing which in any manner relates to the management and protection of salmon or trout in this colony, or to the fishing for or taking salmon or trout." In some districts considerable amounts must be collected from the public for such licenses, and, as the license fees are of the nature of a tax, I think it would be only reasonable in future to require that the accounts of societies which receive these fees should be published. I think it would also»be reasonable for the Government in future to require any society which submits regulations for approval and publication to furnish, along with such regulations, a copy of its rules and a list of its members. Hatcheries. — I understand that seven fish hatcheries belonging to acclimatization societies are now in existence, namely, one each at Auck- land, Wairarapa, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wallacetown (Inver- cargill), and Queenstown, and one, belonging to a private individual, at Opawa, near Christchurch. Now tliat communication between different parts of the country has-been so greatly facilitated by the extension of the railways, it is worthy of consideration whether better results with less expenditure of money could not be obtained by having two well- equipped establishments, one in North and one in Middle Island, whence the young fry could be easily' distributed. In making the above remarks I have no desire whatever to detract in tlie slightest degree from the credit that is due to many of the ac- climatization societies, for undoubtedly they have rendered lasting and most valuable service to the colony in introducing and stocking our rivers with trout. This good work has been accomjilished by the zeal, energy, and public spirit of the members of those societies, who have not only contributed largely from their private purses, but have, year after year, sedulously watched over the hatching of the ova, and after- wards undertaken long aud toilsome journeys to distant lakes and rivers to liberate the young fish. ]\[y object has been to exhibit the question 216 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. in a purely economic light, and to suggest a course of action in regard to these societies which I am inclined to think would tend to establish them on a satisfactoi^y footing and promote their well-being, as it would operate iri the direction of preventing the undue increase of small, weak societies, and thus strengthen and widen the sphere of usefulness of the larger and older ones. WELLTNGrTON, jSTeW ZEALAND, JwiC 1, ISSG. 7'J.— AlV ACT KEf^ATIlVCl TO TBEE IMPORTIIVO AIVO I^AIVDINO OF ITIACKERET. CAITCJMT ]3)tTKIIV« THE SPA^VIVIIVG SEASOIV. Be it enacted hy the Senate and Houne of Ecprescntatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the period of five years from and after the first day of March, eighteen hundreroceed northward, and spawn on the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine. On their first appearance the mackerel fleet meets them, and they are harried and harassed from that time until winter. Although it is contended by some scientists that all that man can do will have no appreciable effect in depleting the ocean of fish, it is be- lieved by many that the unrelenting pursuit mentioned above has a tendency to deflect them from their course or to prevent many from returning in subsequent years. This latter fact may account for the diminished percentage of No. 1 mackerel. The whole mackerel fleet is owned in Massachusetts and Maine, con- sists of nearly 400 sail, employs about 5,000 men, and is now engaged in seining mackerel from March to November. During Aj)ril and May of 1885 the catch was so great that it glutted the avenues of distribu- tion, and many thousand barrels were thrown away. There is some conflict of testimony as to the amount of this waste, but it was prob- ably between 00,000 and 75,000 barrels. Your committee have amended the bill to allow fuller latitude to the taking of mackerel by hook and line, and recommend that the amend- ment be concurred in, and that the bill when so amended do pass. 218 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 73 —Till!: DREKDIIVC: HABIT!!* OF THE EEIi. ' By J. IV. SAWYER. There are, no doubt, luaiiy different opinions regarding the breeding habits of the eel. Having lived along the Delaware during the most of my life, and having been engaged in fishing for this slippery cus- tomer a great deal, I have made considerable investigations concerning its habits, propagation, &c. A great many tell me that " they believe the lamper eel to be the mother of all eels, as they tind eggs only in them." But this cannot be true, for the different sexes are easily distinguishable in the lamper eel. Their habits are not like those of the common eel. The female nests in shoal water, spawning during the latter part of May; and in June, when we find other eels done spawning, the little ones, two or three inches long, are ascending the river bv millions. I have caught eels in large immbers from early spring until late in the fall, and have always observed two kinds, which I believed to be male and female, thus proving {to mi/ mind) the story, " that the female rei)roduces her species without the aid of the male," to be false. The male eel can be distinguished from the female by his large head on a comparatively small trunk, quite poor, and upon examination inter- nally we can find two longitudinal rows of a bright, glossy appearance, and of a very compact tissue and rounded form. These are the sper- matic organs. While in the water he is constantly moving from i^lace to place. What I take to bo the female is the one with the smaller head, generally quite fleshy, and, upon examination in the late fall, a whitish substance can be found internally on each side, just in front of the vent, and in which, upon breaking open, can be discovered small eggs, easily seen with the naked eye. I accordingly believe that both the male and the female possess their own natural sexual organs of fecundation and re])rod notion. Eels descend tlie streams in the fall to places where there is deep water, and where mud Mill serve them as a refuge during the winter. Here I believe they spawn very early in spring, or in late winter, for as early as May largo numbers of the little eels can be seen ascending the streams. Some claim "eels all go to salt water to spawn." While some of them do, I do not think they all do, for in the winter of 1830 or 1837 we had what is known as the January flood in the Delaware, and wagon- loads of eels of all sizes were found on low places after the water had subsided. One of my neighbors built a very tigiit dam, so constructed as not to i)ermit any fish or eels to ascend. By this he overflowed quite a tract of land, and jdacing some eels in tlie pond left them to breed. After a period of fifteen or twenty years he placed an eel-weir in the BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES P^TSII COMMISSION. 219 dam and drew off the water to drain the pond Jbr a meadow, catching barrels of eels of all sizes. These instances cited prove to me that eels do not all return to salt water to spawn, but sj)awn wherever they find suitable places in ponds or streams. MiLLRiFT, Pike County, Pa., August 23, 188G. 74.— STATIfiiTICS OF THE SEA FISIIEKIES OF FRANCE FOR THE YEAR 1SS4.* [Abstract.] Vessels and men. — During the year 1884 there were engaged in the fisheries 23,029 vessels or boats, with a tonnage of 162,407 tons and manned by 87,179 men. To these should be added 34G Italian fishing vessels, manned by 1,098 men, who engaged iii fishing on the coasts of the fifth district. In addition to these, 53,713 persons (men, women, and children) engaged in fishing on the shores. These figures, as com- pared with those of 1883, show an increase of 4,855 men, 1,GG7 vessels, and 11,142 tons. The value of the products of the fisheries amounted to 87,9G1,124 francs [$lG,97G,496.93],t that is to say, a decrease of 19,2G5,797 francs [$3,718,298.82] from 1883. The decrease was especially noticed in the cod, herring, and sardine fisheries, and was caused by the course of the sales, which were difficult and not very profitable, owing to the epi- demic which visited the south of France in 1884. The products of the cod fisheries (Newfoundland and Iceland), and of the herring, mackerel, and anchovy fisheries, as well as of all those kinds designated by "other fish," amounted in 1884 to 149,GG1,099 kilo- grams [329,942,859 pounds], and in 1883 to 133,131 ,04G kilograms [293,- 500,705 pounds], showing an increase in 1884 of 10,530,053 kilograms [30,442,154 pounds]. There was also an increase in 1884 of 75,844 hectoliters [214,039 bushels] of other shell-fish, 214,344 crustaceans (lobsters, &c.), 250,009 kilograms [504,529 pounds] of shrimps, and 41,110 cubic meters [1,451,- 800 cubic feet] of marine fertilizers; while there was a decrease of 730,- 550,973 sardines, 38,388,451 oysters, 97,371 hectoliters [275,500 bushels] of mussels, and 043,551 kilograms [1,418,773 pounds] offish designated "other fish." Cod FISHERIES. — Retarded by the ice, all our vessels had not yet arrived on the fishing grounds by the middle of June. The general mildness of the winter of 1883-84 caused in the arctic regions an un- * " Slatistique des peches maritimes." Paris, 1885. Translated from the French hy Hkrman Jacobsox. t Throughout this article reductions have heen made according to the following equivalents: 1 franc=19.3 cents; 1 kilogram=2.204G pounds; 1 hectoliter=2.83 United States bushels; and 1 cubic meter=35.31 cubic feet. 220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. usual l)rcalviui? uj) of the ice, the result of which was a very noticeable fall of the tcm])cratare on the coasts of Newfoundland. About the middle of iSeptember the northeast coast was covered with snow, and Conception Bay, near St. John's, was so blocked up with ice as seri- ously to interfere with navig^ation. In the beginning of October there were still icebergs on the Grand Banks. To this circumstance must doubtless be attributed the scarcity of codfish on the coast, while they were found in great abundance on the banks, especially south of New- foundland. The bank fishers made good hauls, as did also the vessels eqnip])ed at St. Pierre. During this year the coast which extends from Cape St, John to White Bay was much more frequented by the cod than the remaining portion of the French shore. In spite of the increase in the number of vessels, and the large quan- Tity of codfish rei)orted, the Newfoundland fisheries did not yield the desired results. This cgndition of affairs is due to the circumstance that the prices which the cod fetched in the markets were not very re- munerative, both on account of the large quantity of fish and tlie check wliich the trade of the Mediterranean ports of France and Spain ex- l)erienced b}- reason of the cholera. \Ve have unfortunately to deplore the loss of two vessels from the port of St. Malo. One (packet No. 2) foundered during the fishing season, and 11 men were lost out of the 20 composing the crew. The other (the Senorine), fitted out for long voyages, which carried passen- gers for the St. Pierre and Miquelon fisheries, was a total loss, with the entire crew of 53 men. The herring fisheries. — From the beginning of the fishing season (about June 15) herring api^eared in large numbers on the coasts near Lerwick and Aberdeen, but they were of an oily quality. Further on m the season, from August 15 to September 15, the majority of the French fishing vessels were engaged on a stretch of GO miles, from St. Abb's to Sunderland and on the Dogger Bank, where they found a constantly increasing number of herring of an excellent quality. Finally, during the latter part of October the herring fishers approached Tar- mouth, where soon after they closed the fisheries by salting the fish on board. Towards the end of this mouth the first vessels began the fresh fisheries (catching herring without salting them) in the channel, and continued till some time in January, 18S5. Those vessels which salted the fish on board made on an average about four voyages with full cargoes of fish. But the simultaneous ar- rivals of a large numborof fish crowded the markets with fresh herring, while the stock from the preceding year was far from being exhausted. The resiUt was that the vast majority of the fish did not find any buy- ers, and had to serve as fertilizers. The sardine fisheries. — During 1884 sardines appeared on the coasts at long intervals, and then only for a short time. Those fisher- I BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 221 men who priucipally eugage iu these fisheries, aud particularly those who had special vessels constructed for this purpose, felt the failure of these fisheries very keenly. Moreover, the high price of bait tended to swallow up the small profits which were realized. In some parts of the country some of the fishermen abandoned these fisheries in order to devote themselves to catching those kinds designated by "other fish," aud given below under the heading "Fisheries for fresh fish." Iu spite of the fact that sardines were scarce the prices did not rise much. Several establishments for canning sardines did no work at all. The consequence was that the families of the fishermeu, who com- pose almost exclusively the population of some of our coast villages, were, duriug the winter, reduced to abject want. Fisheries fok fresh fish. — These fisheries (comprising turbot, halibut, sole, flounder, ray, gurnet, mullet, eel, salmon, lamprey, sturgeon, tunny, «&c.), which at the beginning of the season were not very pro- ductive, owing to long-continued calm during the summer, gave better results during the winter. The products of these fisheries were some- what less than* during the preceding season, but found a ready and profitable sale. The increase in the prices was caused in part by the large number of tunnies caught by the fishing vessels, aud delivered to the factories at higher prices than those which could be obtained in 1883. The fisheries carried on by vessels with seines also contributed their share towards this increase. Oyster fisheries. — In 1883 there were sold 157,GG6,216 oysters (French and Portuguese), the yield of the coast and boat fisheries, which realized 2,266,578 francs [$437,449.55 j, while in 1884 there were sold 119,277,795 oysters for 1,744,935 francs [$336,772.45] ; consequeutly there was a decrease from last year of 38,388,451 oysters and 52J,G43 francs [$100,677.10]. Duriug 1884 the total number of oysters (French and Portuguese) from pares, tanks, aud ponds, as well as from the coast and boat fisheries, sold during the season amounted to 529,768,767, yielding a sum of 13,577,926 francs [$2,620,539.72] . The season of 1884 commenced under favorable auspices; but the epidemic which visited Southern France and Spain caused a very no- ticeable decrease iu most kinds of business. The sale of oysters was consequently not so active as during the preceding years, aud the prices of course fell very considerably. In spite of these drawbacks oyster culture continued to make progress. The harvest of oyster spawn was unusually rich in the Eiv^er Auray, whose beds always con- tain an abundance of oysters. The same was the case at La Teste, Cancale, the Island of Oleron, at Marennes, aud in the principal cen- ters of oyster production, where the raising of oysters is carried on at il constantly increasing rate. Paris, France, November 4, 1885. 222 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. yS.-OBSERVATIOIVS OIV ITIAt.E EELS.* By Piol. p. PAVE SI. It would be useless to repeat tLe history of the investigations relative to the reproduction of the eel, because it is well known,! and because Dr. Jacoby,iu bis work '■'■Der Fischfang in der Laytinevon ComaccMo, d-c. (The Fisheries in the Lagoon of ComaccLio, &c.), has treated the subject in such an exhaustive manner. But I will state that on December 28, 1871, Professor Ercolani, before the Academy of Bologne, and on January 11, 1872, Professors Balsamo and Maggi, before the same Academy, de- clared that the eel was a perfect specimen of a hermaphrodite, there having been found in one and the same eel organs which certainly were male, together with ovaries. The question, therefore, seemed completely solved, and Professor Cornalia expressed his delight ''that the mystery which enveloped the question of its reproduction had bteu solved, and that these hsh could really be termed hermaphrodites," and added that he was "very glad this result had been obtained by Italians, while none of the illustrious foreigners who had been sent to Italy on special missions to study the lish-cultural establishments on the coasts of Italy had been able to make the discovery." A number of professors at various Italian universities published articles and pamphlets on this achievement, some of which were translated into French and (lermau. The only person who declared these statements premature, and opposed the views of Balsamo and Maggi, was Professor Canestrini. The matter now rested for a while, till 1874, when Professor Syrski, of the Aus- trian university at Lemberg, published a treatise in the reports of the Vienna Academy of Sciences, on studies made by him at Trieste. He selected for his observations small eels, about 40*'"' [15f| inches] in length, having regard to the general fact mentioned by Giinther and Darwin, that probably there is no kind of lish in which the males are not smaller than the females.| In some of these eels he found a small organ which he called the "lappenorgan" (the rag-organ), which, although there were no certain indications of the presence of spermatozoa, he did not hesitate to consider as a male organ. Clans, Siebold, and Virchow now began to occupy themselves with this question; and Freud declared that this organ showed great similarity to the histological structure of the testicles; while Jacoby wrote: "The supi)08ed testicles of the eel, described by Ercolani, Crivelli, and jMaggi, show, as is proved by a most careful investigation, not the slightest trace of a testicle-like "Extract from a paper read before the Eoyal Institute of Lombardy, Jnly 1, 1880. Translated from the Italian by Herman Jacobsox. t Fot a very full article ou this and connected subjects, sec F. C. Bulletin, Vol. 1, 1881, p.7L t See F. C. Bnlletin for 1881, p. 85. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED .STATES FISH COMMLSSION. 223 Structure." The controversy began to grow hot. Siebold did not ie«t until in 1875 he found many male eels in the Baltic near Wismar, Late in the autumn of 1877 Professor Jacoby came to Comacchio to resume his researches. The German Fishery Association stirred up all the fisher- men and lish-culturists of Germany, by promising a reward to any one who would send male eels to Professor Virchow at Berlin. Dr. Pauly, of Monaco, with the assistance of Mr. Keiffer, anatomized some eels, and sent one to Professor Benecke of the University of Konigsberg, who entirely confirmed the result of Dr. Pauly's patient researches; as also did Dr. Hermes. Meanwhile there came from America the an- nouncement through Prof. A. S. Packard, of Brown University, in the first number of the Zoologischer Anzeiger for 1879, that Mr. Edwards, of Boston, Mass., had, in December, 1875, found males of the AnguUla bostoniensis. It is true that soon after Professor Packard corrected his own statement, in an article inserted in the American Naturalist, to the effect that the supposed spermatozoa were cells with a molecular move- ment; while Jacoby wrote: "The alleged spermatozoa described in the work of Maggi and Crivelli, are nothing but microscopic fatty particles, or small crystalline bodies, such as are frequently found in fat cells." It could not be supposed, however, that the organs considered as testi- cles by Balsamo [Crivellij and Maggi, were a fatty degeneration of the Syrskian organ, both on account of their structure and their different location. From the preparations and diagrams which I saw at the Berlin Ex- position in 1880, it apjiears that the testicles are stretched along the body cavity in the shape of two lobular bands. They are covered by a large number of fatty cells. They commence at the liver and pass the anal aperture, the left one a little further than the right, and finally end in a point. When fresh they are said to be clear and transparent, but in alcohol they become opaque. Under the rectum, and over the urinary bladder there is a seminal bag, which terminates in a small tube at the anal aperture. The two live eels which were exhibited in the Berlin aquarium came from Dr. Hermes, in Trieste, and were, alter a careful external examination bj^ Dr. Jacoby and Dr. Grneffe, determined as male eels. When one of them died. Dr. Hermes very kindly presented the organs referred to to the Berlin aquarium. On examination it was found that these fish were thirty to forty centi- meters [12 to 16 inches] long, of an olive-green color on the upper, and a silverish -white color on the lower part. These two colors were very distinct; and there was a blackish spot of an oblong shape in the opercular region. They generally jireferred to hide at the bottom of the aquarium among the aquatic plants, but occasionally swam about in the open water. The above-mentioned characteristics are only individual, although they formed the distinguishing marks of those which possessed the 224 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Syrskian organs. Syrski states that their greatest length is 430 milli- meters [17 inches]. The eight specimens measured by Jacoby varied in length from 310 to 480 [12i to 19 inches], and those measured by Cattie from 270 to 380 millimeters [lOi to 15 inches]. In the males, moreover, the distance between the nasal tubes is greater; the dorsal fin is higher and broader ; the diameter of the eyea is noticeably larger, comparing individuals of medium size. But these characteristics, in my opinion, make it doubtful whether these fish were young specimens, because in other fish the young may be recognized by the great devel- opment of the fins and the comi^arative great size of the eyes. Jacoby maintains that another sexual difference consists in the color, while Cattie denies this and maintains, on the other hand, that the difl'erence in the shape of the head is of greater importance — the female is said to have a pointed and the male a round head. The umles are said to form about 20 per cent of all the eels. Ifot less important are the results of Jacoby's observations regarding the migration and the spawning season. The fact of the ascent of the eels, called at Comacchio ^'- capillar i'''' (hair-like), and at the mouth of the Arno ''■cieche^^ (blind eels), has long been known in Italy, and on it is based one of our principal fishing industries. Thus from time imme- morial the descent of the adult eels towards the sea has been explained as being caused by their desire to spawn. There is no longer any doubt that Jacoby found them on the coasts of the Adriatic by thousands ; but he also found that these eels migrate in autumn when their stom achs and intestines are entirely empty, and that those which remain are nothing but barren females. Probably all the eels of our rivers, ponds, and lakes are females, because the males stay in the sea near the mouths of rivers, where they wait for the females to come to theu). The perfect development and the functions of the sexual organs seem to be of very short duration ; in fact, the descent of the eels takes place from the beginning of October till the end of December ; and already in January, February, and March, as Mr. liichardi, of Tisa, iiiibniKs me, the so-called " blind eels" ascend. It is possible, also, as Jacoby thinks, that the reproducing individuals die after the actof generation, just as Panizza always found the dead lampreys {Petromyzon marinus) void of eggs and milt. There is lacking all decisive proof of the presence of spermatozoa in the Syrskian organs; they cannot, therefore, with absolute certainty be considered as testicles;* and the depth of the sea hides froui our eyes the method of fecundation and the first development; but the truth is nevertheless plain, and the idea of the hermaphrodism of the eel may be considered as entirely exploded. Pa VIA, Italy, Juhj 1, 1880. See article by J. A. Kyilcr iu F. C. Bulletin for 1885, p. 1. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 225 Vol. VI, IVo. 15. IVasliingtoii, B. C. &ci. 37, 1 886. re— BEPOBT OIV THE ARTIFICIAL. FECUNDATIOIV ANI> GEIVERA. TIOIV OF OYSTERS.* By G. BOi;€IIO]V-BRAIVDEL.ir, Sea'ctary of the College of I'Vance. Our experiment^ iu the artilieial fecuiulatiou of Portuguese oysters were made during tbe course of 1883 at different points on the coast. Before giving an account of the results obtained, and of some new ob- servations which we were fortunate enough to make daring the year, it is necessary to point out a fact which, iu our opinion, is of the great- est importance as regards the subject in question, and which shows that we were right in stating in our hist year's report to the minister of ma- rine that the artilieial fecundation of oysters opened out new prospects to the industry of oyster culture. The following is the fact referred to, which was first reported by an English journal. In the beginning of September, 1883, the Pall Mall Gazette contained the following: "Mr. J. A. Kyder, professor of embryology, attached to the U. S. Fish Commission, is said to have solved at last the problem of the reproduction of oysters from artiticially fecundated eggs. The correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette reports that on September 4 he saw, at the Govern- ment fish-cultural station, at Stockton, Md., several thousands of young oysters, a quarter of an inch in diameter, which had been i)roduced from artificially fecundated eggs, and had been hatched at the station forty- six days previous." To tbe honor of the administration of marine, under whose auspices we have made these experiments, let it be stated that the first applica- tion of the methods of artificial fecundation was nmde in France, and through our efforts, as appears from a notice presented by us last year to the Academy of Sciences, which was entered in the acts of the Academy under date of July 31, and from a report on our operations to the min- ister of marine publit;hed in the Journal Officiel and in the Revue Mari- time. After having made this statement we are happy to acknowledge the success of the Americans. Their success is full of encouragement, from which Ave hope our French oyster cultivators will profit. We also learn therefrom that, thanks to the new methods, it is possible to acclimatize in France some of the fine varieties of oysters found on the coasts of * '^^ Eapportsur la fecondation artificielle et la generation dcs huitrcs," Paris. 1884. Trans- lated from the French hy Herman Jacobson. Bull. U. S. F. C, 80 15 226 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the New World, wliicli, owing to their sexuality, are, like the Portuguese oyster, suitable for artificial reproductiou, aud are in many respects, especially as regards their flavor aud size, superior to the Portuguese oyster. The following has been the endeavor of our researches during this year : 1. To find out whether artiticial fecundatiou could yield i)ractical re- sults ill entirely closed waters; and 2. To ascertain whether the raising of the Portuguese oyster is possi- ble and i)rofltable in the ponds on the Mediterranean. To begin with, it should be stated that it appears from observations made both on the coasts of the Mediterranean and of the Atlantic Ocean that aeration, a constant renewal of the water, and also its agitation, are necessary for succeeding jn certain cases, especially when the tem- perature is high. Up to a certain point, heat favors the hatching of the eggs and the development of the embryos produced from them ; but if it passes this point, it causes the rajiid decomposition of the generative elements and the death of the young embryos. To oi)e!at(3 under such a condition will almost certainly result in failure. The majority of the experiments made during the last seasou have proved this beyond, dispute. At Verdoii these experiments were made in the salt marshes where wo liad previously been stationed. We had purposely isolated one of the experimenting reservoirs, so that the fresh water of the tide coukl not get into it. In this closed reservoir, there were jdaced, at different intervals, the fecundated products of at least a hundred male and female oysters; while in a larger reservoir, which received fresh v.ater at every tide, there was i)laced the fry of only a dozen breeders. The result was that the collectors placed in the closed marsh remained free from si)at, while each of the tiles placed in the reservoir, where the water entered and flowed off freely, contained from thirty to forty young oysters. This may to some extent be explained by the want of aeration and agitation, but it must be attributed prin- cipally to the high tem])erature of tlie water. In fact, when the em- bryos were ])laced in tiie reservoir, which was at the time when the most intense heat of summer sets in, it was found that there was a con- siderable ditference between the temperature of the water in the open reservoir and that of the closed one. Similar observations were made at Cctte and at Berre, in the reservoirs which the Southern Salt-Works Com])any had kindly i)laced at our disposal. We must here give an important observation, made on the shores of the Mediterranean, relative to the forwardness of the oysters raised in the waters of the south as regards reproduction. We found that the oysters transferred last year from Verdon to the pond of Thau and the pond of Lattes were capable of propagating at the end of May. Arti- Jicial fecundation attempted at this period produced ninety lively em- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 227 brycs iiom about one linndicd eggs treated. Less than a month hiter all these oysters had spawned. Another observation was made at Toulon. It was our good fortune to have as our (;o-worker M. Senes, the principal administrative agent of marine, whose ability in nuitters relating to oyster culture is univers- ally acknowledged. In the course of the m6uth of July, when the scorching heat on the shores of the Mediterranean was most intense, IM. Senes received from Verdon breeders which, when shipped, were ascertained to be fully capable of exercising the generative functions, and which, immediately upon their arrival, Avere placed at the most favorable points in the roadstead of Toulon. All the efforts made by M. Senes and myself to have the eggs hatched were in vain. Fission set in, and the eggs reached an advanced stage of development, but the process was not completed. This state of infecuudity lasted during the months of July and xYugust, and in some cases continued till the middle of September, and in a few even till the beginning of October. Not till then did M. Senes obtain lively embrj'os. Other oysters which had for some time been accustomed to the waters of the roadstead exhibited nearly the same phenomena. Although we ascertained as early as July that the generative elements were ou the l)(»int of arriving at maturity, the tendency toward reproduction did not manifest itself in these specimens in a manner which promised results till the month of October, that is to say, almost three months later.* We should add that most of the time fecundation did not succeed as well at Cette as at Verdon during the hot season, because in the latter place the precaution was taken to use only cooler water, and because the elements were brought together in receivers large enough to prevent the effect of the surrounding atmosi)here from being felt too quickly. It was also necessary to change the water several times during the course of incubation. Subsequent researches have shown that the incuba- tion of the eggs and the development of the embryos in water whose temperature exceeds 32° C. [89.0° Fahr.] can hardly be accomplished. Is this also the case with the American oysters and the unisexual oysters of the Indian Ocean? We hope soon to hear this question answered. After stating that the experiments made at the island of Aix, in the moats of the fortifications, whose water is not sufficiently renewed and not at all aerated, were seriously interfered with by the stormy weather and the excessive heat, and yielded fewer results than we had antici- pated, considering the successful manner in which fecundation had been accomplished, we give below a brief report on experiments made at the mouth of the Loire, at Pouliguen, in the oyster-cultural establishments * We must here state that the opinion expressed iu our last year's report as regards the infecundity of Portuijncse oysters penned in Mediterranean waters is contradicted by this observation. 228 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of M. Laureut, director of the Transatlantic Company. These re- searches were made under the direction of Pierre Laurent, the son of the learned director, a summary account of whose labors is here given. Report of Pierre Laurent. — Our parks at Pouliguen are located in the old abandoned salt marshes Avhich have been appropriated for the cultivation of oysters and tish. The water is brought into them by a canal 500 meters [1,G40 feet] long, v.iiich opens in the harbor of Pouli- guen. There are gates which allow the different reservoirs to be emjitied and filled. The experiments were made in two separate basins, whose supply of water is kept absolutely separate, and whose levels differ 1 meter [3J feet]. The first is a claire having an area of 50 square meters [about 538 square feet] and a depth of 90 centimeters [about 3 feet]. The sec- ond is an old salt-pit, having an area of 11,000 square meters [nearly 2;^ acres]. The water of the claire v: as partially renewed at every tide; while the water of the salt-pit was renewed only by strong tides, and on account of its large surface was continually agitated by a strong splash- ing. The same kinds of collectors were i^laced in these basins. They consisted of the shells of mussels and oysters, pieces of calcareous stones, and potsherds. While these experiments were going on the saltness of the water varied between 2.5° and 3.2°; it being naturally greater in the salt-pit, where the water was rarely renewed, than in the claire where it was re- newed nearly every day. Under conditions differing so much, both as regards the saltness of the water and its renewal and agitation, the results obtained were iden- tical. The spat attached itself in great quantities to the collectors, es- pecially to those which presented a rough surface, such as the oyster- shells, calcareous stones, and potsherds. Some fagots used as collectors remained bare, which may perhaps be ascribed to the slow decomposition of the wood in the closed water. Nevertheless the results were on the whole very remarkable. On certain shells as many as 300 young oys- ters could bo counted ; and if we take an average of GO to 80 per shell, we are certainly below the actual facts. The following was the method ])ursued for obtaining embryos: We took simultaneously or successively as reproducers: (1) Oysters from the Government bed at Verdon, which the commissioner of marine at Pauillac had sent us; (2) oysters originating at Arcachon, which had been penned in our establishments for a year, and which never before had shown any trace of rei)roduction. (These oysters are in a basin en- tirely separated from the former.) The experiments succeeded equally well in both cases, and the results were essentially the same, only the Vertlon oysters appeared, as regards the maturity of their seminal liquids, to be eight or ten days ahead of those from Arcachon. We threw the eggs and spermatozoa detatched from the seminal glands into a large glass vessel containing 30 liters [about 8 gallons] of HIILLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 229 water; wo put in the liquid at iutervals of from five to ten minutes. During tbat time tlie eggs readied tbe bottom of tlie vessel, carrying with them the spermatozoa which surrounded them. There remained floating only infecuud eggs, the overplus of spermatozoa, and organic matter. Then, by means of a siphon and auother reservoir we caused a current of water to pass into the glass vessel, regulating the flow in such a manner as to let in during one hour a quantity of water almost equal to that coutained in it. To j^revent the current from raising the eggs from the bottom of the vessel, the longer branch of the siphon opened out into a little glass saucer floating in the water. In this way the water was continually kept i^ure by the current during the entire process of incubation. Useless organic matter, which rapidly decom- poses in the water, was thus carried off, and the aeration of the water was constant and perfect. (See Plate II.) Several comparative experiments have demonstrated the superiority of this system. I think that the eggs should not be deposited on the bottom in too thick layers, and that a depth of water of 15 to 20 centi- meters [6 to 8 inches] is sufficient. We made twelve such experiments from July 19 to August 27. The proportion of embryos obtained to the number of eggs used increased from 5 or G per cent to 80 or 90 per cent. These latter results, how- ever, were not obtained till August. The duration of the incubation was from five to twelve hours, accord- ing to the temperature. A thermometer plunged into the water showed a variation of 12'^ to 29^. It was noticed that the higher the tempera- ture the more rapid was the incubation and the greater the result. I think it is preferable, however, that the temperature in the vessel should not greatly exceed that of the water in which the embryos are to be planted, so as not to expose them to too great and sudden a change. As soon as there were enough lively embryos in the glass ves- sel they were poured on the collectors as uniformly as possible. Only the fecundations which took j)lace in August produced spat ; and they were also the only ones which yielded any considerable result. Ten to fifteen days after the last sexual liquid had been poured into the glass vessel perfectly formed little oysters could be distinguished on the collectors with the naked eye. For some days a decided growth was observed in them. Unibrtunately the precautions taken against an accumulation of mud were not sufficient, and gradually the mud began to cover the collectors and caused the spat to disappear. To sum up: The experiments at fecundation made at Pouliguen were perfectly successful, in that (1) we obtained embryos which became fixed to collectors, and began to develop on them; and (2) we have shown the possibility of using as reproducers oysters raised in our country. These experiments will again be taken up next year, and promise a still more complete success, that is to say, the entire devel- opment of the young oysters. 230 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. This question is of the greatest iinportiiiice to oyster cultivators. Be- sides showing- the possibility ol" i)ro(Iucin.:jj oysters by a truly practical and industrial process, artiliciul iecundation, accordinj^' to the method of Bouchou-Braudely, makes it possible to improve the breeds by selec- tion and crossing. It will ijcrhaps also make it possible to acclimatize in France foreign unisexual oysters, such as the American oyster and the pearl oyster. It will, moreover, furnish the means to devote to a remunerative in- dustry immense tracts of land on the shores of the ocean which were formerly devoted to the i)roduction of salt, an industry which, at pres- ent, is on the decline. In tlie salt region of Croisic alone there are 2,700 hectares [nearly 7,000 acres], a great portion of which is at pres- ent not under cultivation, while the rest is almost barren. A larger and richer center of oyster culture than that of La Tremblade might here be established. Although recognizing the validity of the leason given by Mr. Lau rent for the mortality of the young si)awn, Ave think that there are still other reasons why the experiments made this year were not altogether successful, at least not so successful as the line results obtained hist year at Verdon led us to expect. Not only was the weather very disagreeable during the entiie spawn- ing season, but the winter which preceded it was one of tlie most severe known in many years. The losses experienced by the oyster cultivators of Marennes, La Tremblade, Areachon, &c., v.ere very con- siderable. There was incessant rain for several months, and the oysters became very soft ; and although the Portuguese oyster, which seems to have greater vitality, was not specially affected by the brackish water, its fecundity seems nevertheless to have considerably decreased from this cause. We observed that the oysters from the Gironde, when the spawn was emitted, were much smaller than those of last year, whose shells were tilled to repletion on account of the sexual gland being so full. The late season when the eggs were laid also indicates some trouble in the generative evolution. Last year, at Verdon, there were success- ful fecundations from the last half of June; this year there were none till the end of August. We have to give a brief account of our attemjjts to raise Portuguese oysters in the waters of the Mediterranean, especially in the jjonds of Languedoc and Boussillon. It is well known that for some years Mr. Malespine has obtained good results in this respect in the waters of the roadstead of Toulon. The exi)eriments which we made in the ponds of Thau, Mauguio, and otliers were just as satisfactory. Oysters which had come from V^erdon in spring, and were placed in the pond of Lattes grew 4 centimeters [about 1^ inches] in two and a half months. The growth was particularly noticeable during the mouths of Ai)ril, May, BULLETIN OP TTTi: UNITED STATES EISII COMMISSION. 231 ami .Iiuic. These oysters, inclosed in wooden boxes, llie ui)per and lower i)ortion of wliicli was composed of laths abont a centimeter apart, were placed in the deepest parts of the lagoon, on bottoms almost 1-J meters [o feet] dee}). It should be stated that there was considerable mortality among the oysters, but as we ascertained later this was caused by a little fisb very ♦•ommon in the lagoons of tho south, of a harmless appearance, but ex- ceedingly voracious, called the goby. Wherever there was any consid- erable loss, both in the oyster-boxes and in th.e lish-pots, we noticed these little lisli. What was particularly surprising was to see by tbe side of oysters whose death might be attributed to different causes others which were in good condition and evidently developing in a healthy manner. A sick oyster which will finally succumb does not grow. One day, when raising one of the boxes deposited in the pond of Lattes, we found in it such fine, fat, and large gobies that they could no longer escape from the box, owing to their size. Having evidently found in this box something that was very mnch to their taste, they had establislied themselves in it. But they had reached their fine con- dition at the expense of our oysters, most of which were dead and half of them had been devoured. Further observations have shown that the goby is really a dangerous enemy to the oyster. The oyste'rs may be protected against them by having the boxes covered with a close net- work of metal. We were fortunate enough to have another proof during last season of the remarkable vitality of the Portuguese oyster. In the pond of La Nouvelle oysters of this variety lived several months in water con- taining so little salt that the densimeter scarcely indicated the i^resence of salt at all. In short, large portions of the ponds of Berre, Mauguio, Thau, La Nouvelle, and Leucate appear i>erfLCtly adapted to the cultivatinm of the Portuguese oyster. EXPEUIMENTS WITH COMMON OYSTERS. At the same time when we commenced our experiments with the arti- ficial fecundation of Portuguese oysters we undertook a series of ex- periments relative to the incubation, hatching of the eggs, develop- ment, and fixation of the en^bryos of the common oyster. We shall pass as rapidly as possible the mere technical parts of cer- tain questions; but to make this report clear it is necessary to give a succinct account, from an embryological point of view, of the natural history of the mollusk in question. The ordinary oyster, known as the Ostrea cdulis, is a hermaphrodite. Among Prenchnien, Quatrefages, Lacaze-Duthiers, Milne-Edwards, Coste, Gerbe, Davaine, and others; and among foreigners, Eyton, Mo- 232 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. bins, Hart, Jiud others have written excellent works on the oyster, and all of them reach the same conclusion.* We have already stated in a former report that there was a time when this question of the hermaphrodism of the oyster possessed some real interest ; the time when jiublic opinion went into ecstasies over the dis- covery of the artificial fecundation of fish eggs by Messrs. Geliin and Kemy, two fishermen of the Vosges Mountains. People lived in hopes that the method of artificial fecundation which succeeded so well with salmonoids might also be applied to mollusks. One began to look even further — as we see from various communications made to the Academy of Sciences — and hoped that our race of oysters might be improved by cross-breeding. It was, therefore, important to Icnow whether the sexes of this mollusk were separate. It was found that hermaphrodism was the rule with the Ostrea cdulis, consequentlj" the projected plan of oper- ation became impossible. Hermaphrodism is not the only cause which j)revents the success of ar- tificial fecundation as regards the common oj'ster. Would it be possible to ])ractice this method with hope of success without being previously assured that the eggs are mature? and how can this be ascertained, and how can the eggs be brought into direct contact with the fecundating element, considering the fact that im])regnation takes place inside tin- ishells, and probably in the oviducts ? And even supposing that the eggs and the fecundating element could be brought together, artificial fecundation would not yet yield any practical result, in view of the fact that the eggs and the embryos of the Ostrea edulis, which should neces- sarily be treated separately, cannot develop or even live outside of the liquid secreted by the mother oyster and contained in the incubatory cavity of its shell. The inquiry whether the oyster is a complete hermaphrodite, that is to say, whether it is caj)able of generating without the aid of another oyster, has given rise to very interesting researches ; but as this special question of embryology can hardly be of interest in this report, we shall confine ourselves to giving a brief recapitulation of the difl'erent opinions * By tlio generic term Ostrea cdiilis wo nuderstand most of the varieties of ojsters eanglit on the coast of Enrop(\ namely, tlii^ violet-colored oyster -with white stripes, called the hi-eolored oystiu' of Brittany ; the oyster with violet streaks from the basin of Arcachon ; tlu^ reddish oyster from tho riv(;r Quimper; the oyster with mother-of- pearl shell from the bank of Dives; the wandering oyster from the island of Ee; the cinnamon-colored oyster from the river B61on and the Arcaclion b.asin ; the green oyster of Marennes and La Trcmblade : the brown oyster from the roadstead of Toulon ; the oyster with a thick white shell wJiich was formerly caught near Cetto, Port-de- Bonc, and other places (m the Mediterranean ; the rough-shell oyster of Corsica; tho Isle of Wight oyster ; the small English oyster, and two varieties, the Ostrea ihicta, and the Ostrea deformis; the rose-colored oyster Irom tho cold waters of Norway ; the large Baltic oyster; the thick-shell oyster from the Ionian Sea; the Adriatic oyster; the Balearic oyster ; tho Santander oyster; the liorse-foot oyster; the small Toulon oyster, which is also found in tho Bay of Genoa and in the B.ay of Naples, and whose scientific name is Ostrea pUcatula or Ostrea stentwa. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 233 which have been advanced. Some authors have asserted that fecunda- tiou takes place iu the ovary by a contact effected between the two gen- crating elements, when these elements, which are formed in one and the same gland, both arrive at the condition of maturity, so that all the eggs would be fecuiulated when they pass into the oviducts. It has also been stated that the embryo is comidetel^' formed (that is, provided with shells) when it passes from the ovary into the mantle of the mother oyster. This latter opinion is entirely erroneous, ibr by examining the white spawn of oysters it will be seen that the eggs which compose it are mostly in the very first stage of their development. One of our most distinguished naturalists, Lacaze-Duthiers, has found the truth by showing that the oyster is a hermaphrodite, perform- ing by turns, but never simultaneously, the functions of each sex ; and that the fecundation of the eggs which probably takes place in the gen- erative orifices, is accomplished by the participation of another oyster. The observations which we made in the laboratory of M. Balbiani, at the College of France, corroborate this opinion of the great French 'Zoologist, which is also shared by Mobius. We have never yet found, in one and the same gland, eggs and siiermatozoa, the two generative elements, in the same stage of development; and we have never seen these two elements reach maturity at the same time. From this we have drawn the logical conclusion that they do not come in contact with each other.* The spawning season of the Ostrea edtiUs occurs at different jieriods and varies very much in length. Sometimes it commences in April and does not end till some time in September. Even in December oysters containing embryos have been found. Sometimes the spawning season does not begin till May or June and ends in August. It is regulated by the temperature of the season and by the mildness or severity of the preceding winter. In Juno and July, however, the emission of spawn is generally most abundant. The activity of the reproductive organ is, so to speak, constant. After the embryos have been emitted the oyster, which has become very lean, begins to i)ick up again, and soon arrives at a state of reple- tion similar to tliat which it possessed before spawning, but which is due to the presence of fat around the gland. This is tlie time when it is most sought after for the market. But wliile the accumulation of fat is going on epithelial cells develop, wliich later are transformed and bring forth the generative elements. When the weather is mild, even in winter, the transformation takes place very rapidly. We have fre- * It will he seen further on that the eggs of the Ostrea cdulis perish iu pure eea-water. This is not the case with zoosperms. These, while they are inside the gland, are not vigorous, no matter what stage of devel(>i>iiient they have reached. But as soon as they are brouglit in contact with sea-water they become animated and begin to vi- brate. It would seem that they do not acquire their fecundating quality until they have been iu the water for a while. This would be another argument against auto- fecundation. 234 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED -STATES FISH COMMISSION. queiitly iu January fouud in tlie glands producing- oggs and sperm small but well-formed eggs and spermatic animalcula, which had only to be brougiit in contact with the sea-water to produce animation and vibration. From April and May the first milky oysters are found. The term "milky" is employed because the spawning products, when emitted, present the api^earauce of thick milk. But when this so-called "milk" IS examined under the microscope it will be found to consist partly of freshly fecundated eggs, partly of eggs which have already split, and of embryos recently hatched. As these develop, the whitish color of the spawn changes and it turns gray; and when they approach their complete transformation and full maturity, their color gradually turns from a dark gray to black. The number of embryos produced by a single oyster during the year is estimated at from 1,200,000 to 1,500,000.* The embryos are sheltered iu the folds of the mantle of the mother oyster for a period whose length has not yet been ascertained, and find in the mucilaginous liquid in which they live the nutritive elements which thev need in order to reach the period when their roving or pelagic life commences. Some naturalists have asserted that the oyster can spawn twice in one year. What has given rise to this supposition is the circumstance that frequently during the spawning season there are two well-defined emissions, the first about the beginning of June, the second towards the end of August. The following experiment shows that there is no good reason lor this opinion, and that it is not founded on fncts. Proposing to follow up the incubation of the eggs and the transformation of the embryos in the interior of the shell, we perforated the upper valve of several mother oysters. This opening, which was made directly opposite the incubatory cavity, was corked up, so that no water could enter the oyster, and we could at any time take the observations which the ex- periment required. As regards the principal object of the inquiry, tli*i data gathered by us were not very ])recisc, as most of the oysters wdiich had been perforated had emitted their spawn, either at the time when the operation of ])erforating the shell took place, or one, two, or four days afterwards; l)ut as regards the final development of the genital gland, we could see this gland re-form, grow, and become covered w^th fat; and although the speciuiens examined by us had produced embryos from the beginning of the spawning season, we never noticed that they were in condition to emit others at the end of the season. * M. Gerbe, tlic distinguished co- worker of M. Costo, who has taken so hxrgo and active a share iu the work of tlie last-named naturalist, has found that oysters may lie considered adult, when they have reached tiu^ age of one year. Oysters of this age, l>y reason of their size, are not as fecund as those of which W(> are about to speak. The.se measure H to 10 centimeters [aliout '.U inclu-s], a size which is usually not reached until they are three to four yeara old. >-l BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISIT COMMISSION. 235 Feariug- tliut tbc trepauuinj!: oporatiou niiglit have distiirbod the j^euerative functions of tlie oysters wo made another experiment which entirely confirmed the former, in tlie very beginning of tbc season, towards the end of April, we selected some oysters in which we had observed spawn, and placed them separately in a very fine bed where they would find all the conditions for reproduction in the greatest per- fection. AVlien oiKiiied in September, at the time when the last breeders emitted their embryos, cuts made in their full glands proved conclu- sively that they could not have spawned again before the following spring. There remains the supposition that there is an annual spawning sea- sou in several successive emissions. It is possible and probable that ovulation is not accomplished at one time and in a single day, but it cannot be supposed that there is an interval of several months between the emissions, like that between the period of June and the period of September. We have, moreover, noticed that when, in an oyster en- gaged in the process of gestation, the eggs remained in the oviducts tbey were invariably damaged or sickly. It appears to us, therefore, that one spawning per season is the rule in the common oyster, as well as in the Portuguese oyster, and that any variations from this rule are anomalies, like oysters spawning in December or January.* The idea of keeping and raising in close waters the embryos of the oyster, and to find them later on the collectors, has tempted many per- *As "wfi deemed tbo trepauning process referred to above eminently suitable for facilitating tbc study of certain questions of natural history, some of wbicb concern directly tbe science and industry of oyster culture, we consider it proper to add some details to tbe information already furnisbed. Tbe fact of making an opening, even comparatively large— tbe trepan wbicb we used measured not less tban 1^ centimeters [over one-balf incb] in diameter — in tbe valves of au oyster does in no wise endanger its life. It is advisable, however, to Avork tbe trepan with caution when tbe perforating process approaches its end, so as not to injure tbe animal. A slight wound, however, will heal very quickly. After tbo hole has been made, and tbe little pieces of shell which have fallen into it have been removed, it becomes necessary to stop up tbe opening as firmly as possible, eitber Avith a piece of cork, wax, or some other substance. 'I'he closing up of tlic hole is to prevent lice, small crustaceans, &c., from penetrating into tbe shell, or attacking the animal at a defenseless point, and also to prevent the water from entering the sbell. If the oyster which has been thus operated upon is placed in a good park, and if it is in a period of vigorous growth, the cicatrization, or the restoration of the shell, is accomplished within a Aveek. It is not absolutely com- plete, but tbe animal has covered the cork with a thin shell of mother-of-i^earl, wbicii protects it against outside enemies. In some oysters which we observed aa'c could only counteract the too rapid formation of this mother-of-pearl by turning the cork several times every two or three days. In this manner we have made as many as five holes in tbe shells of French and Portuguese oysters, and they bad been so little hurt by the operation that they were exhibited last year at tbe Bordeaux Exposition, and still bore on their shells tbe marks caused by our experiments. 236 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. sons, and we must confess that we have not escaped the seductions of this idea.* In June, 1880, we arranged in the laboratory of M. Balbiani, at the College of France, a contrivance destined for the artificial incubation of oyster eggs and the fixation of embryos, composed of a series of tubs through which a constant current of filtered and aerated sea- water circu- lated. (See Plates III and IV.) Eggs in every stage of development and embryos of every age were placed, eajch separately, in the difierent apparatuses. A layer of fine sand, placed towards the outflow of each tub, permitted the water to flow out easily, while the young oysters and eggs remained safely inside, it being impossible for them to escape. Tlie oysters from which the subjects for our experiments had been drawn came partly from Arcaclion and partly from Brittany, and arrived in a perfect state of preservation and freshness. The following took place : Some hours after they had been extracted from the mantle of the mother oyster, and had been jilaced in one of the incubating boxes, the eggs which were at the point of splitting ceased to develop and com- menced to decay. Embryos in the condition of white spawn, although very lively when placed in the water, became motionless, and died after three or four days, according to their degree of develoi^ment; while '' As regards collectors, wo have heard a man who is exceedingly competent and tlioronghly conversant with all matters pertaining to oyster cnlturo advance a theory, which we deem proper to report without, however, passing any opinion as to its value: Is it indispensahle for the young oyster to attach itself to some object in order to live and grow? When it is in its natural state there is not the slightest doubt in this respect. Tlie currents to which the embryo is exposed compel it to attach itself to some object, if it is not to be buried in the mud or tossed about, iujured, orsuflbcated by the waves. But under certain conditions, on a suitable bottom, on sand free from sediutcut, where very pure water circulates slowly, would it not bo possible for the young oyster to develop without an object to which it is iixed, which object under all circumstances is only of temporary use, because it may, with impunity, be removed from it a few days after it has become fixed ? At the time Ayhen the spawn is black the em- bryo is nearly perfect. Some may be seen whose ciliary apparatus is so much reduced that they can hardly move. Their two valves, however, work woll; in short, they difl'er from an adult oyster only by their small size and the convexity of their shells. At the agricultui'al exposition of Edinburgh an oyster cultivator exhibited small oysters which appeared independent ; but he did not tell how he obtained them, nor could he prove that they would bo able to raise themselves. Possibly they were only embryos in an advanced stage of development. In this connection we will relate a circumstance which occurred at a reservoir of M. Li O iD C O o % u -a 3 V ,d <^ o a +a S-l .O a c3 so !i > o a o -*^ ^ a feO a '■JS cS .Q o P o CD eS ft ft <1 Bull. V. S. F. C, 1886.-(To face page 240.) PLATE IV. CD O o 'CC +2 ^^^^^^ •Jo Bull. TJ. S. F. U., ISi^C— (To f.ieopngo -40 ) PLATE V. o a: O ■a 3 O to a c3 o S-l a •a a X BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 241 Vol. VI, ]Vo. 16. Tl'ashington, D. C. IVov. 3, 1886. 77.— NEW EIVOI.AIVD Fli^IlERIES ITS AUOUST, 1886. By J¥, A. l¥Il.COX. Of all tlie leading varieties of food-fisli caught by the New England fishing fleet, codfish appears to be the only kind that has been abun- dant during the present season. On all the leading fishing banks they have been found in great numbers, and receipts have been some- what larger than for the corresponding month of last year. Vessels from the Grand Banks have all brought in full cargoes. The schooner Henry S. Woodrufl", of Lamoine, Me., a three-master, brought home 5,000 quintals, the largest single fare on record. Prices have remained so low that even with full cargoes not much, if any, profit has remained for the fishermen or owners of the vessels. Mackerel continue to show a large falling off in receipts as compared with the corresponding month of former years. Off the New England coast no body of mackerel has been found. If they have been there they have remained below the surface, and only occasionally have small schools been seen and caught. Many vessels have left the New England coast for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, meeting with much rough weather, and a large part of the time finding mackerel scarce and the prospect discouraging. The following extracts from reports of masters of fish- ing vessels and persons on the fishing grounds in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the month are reliable and of interest: Georgetown, Pkince Edward Island, August 3. — "Boat fish- ermen have not done anything this season; mackerel are now plentiful, but will not take the hook." TiGNisu, Princi: Edward Island, August 5. — "The mackerel fleet remain to the northward ; a few local seiners close in shore doing something most every day, but no large hauls. Schools are small j size, fair ; not so plentiful off here as a week ago." MiRAMicHi, New Brunswick, August 8. — " One hundred sail of seiners in this vicinity ; schools small, and catch'ouly moderate." SouRis, Prince Edward Island, August 10. — "No mackerel schooling, and boats make onl^- small catches with hooks ; size good and large." Magdalen Islands, August 10. — "Few mackerel caught about here to date. A recent storm appears to have brought them up, and the prospect improves." New London, Prince Edward Island, August 11. — "The fleet are to the north ; no fivSh schooling off here; a light catch the past week." Bull. U. S. F. C., 8G 16 242 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Harbor au Bouche, Xova Scotia, August 16. — " One buudred sail of seiners are now near West Cai)e, taking some mackerel. The schools are small and often mixed with herring. The present prospect favors a light fall catch in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. During the past two weeks the weather has been line, and by hard work some ves- sels have done well. Many vessels here five or six weeks have not half a trip. Soon we may expect rough weather, and many vessels will no doubt return with slim fares." Bay of Chaleurs, August IG. — "No seiners from the United States in this bay, or allowed here. A large fleet last week, between Pigeon Hill and Miscou Point; they took some mackerel. Traps in Chaleurs Bay are doing little, taking I'rom 2 to 5 barrels a day each. Mackerel keep wide out from the shore; none hooked for two weeks." SouRis, Prince Edward Island, August 1G. — "Weather stormy; seiners from the United States have had no catch for two weeks; mack- erel are close in shore and very wild; boat fishermen not doing much ; l)rices are so low thej^ are leaving the shore." New London, Prince Edward Island, August 16. — "No catch of mackerel the past week; the weather has been very bad ; a gale every day." TiGNisH, Prince Edward Island, August IG. — " Weather has been stormy most of the past week; few mackerel seen schooling or caught; not one vessel out of twenty has taken any fish ; no catch bj' sliore hookers, as fish do not bite ; prospect is poor." Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, August 18. — "Forty three sail of seiners are now detained here by high winds ; they report mack- erel scarce and wild." Georgetown, Pkince Edward Island, August 18. — " The boat fisherjuen about here ha\e had no catch to date; of late, seiners have hail a light catch, and the present prospect is poor; most of the fleet of seiners are at West Cape and North Cai)e." New London, Prince Edwakd Island, August 20. — "Weather is unsettled much of the time ; too rough to fish ; sixty sail of seiners now in here for shelter." Port Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, August 2:3 — "Oiu' Iniiidred and seventy- three ma(;kerel seiners now in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence^ iVom the United States, and forty- five sail from provincial ports." Grand Aunce, New Brunswick, August 21.— "Mackerel of large size are now schooling heavy in Bay of Chaleurs. One trap salted 200 barrels the past week. Present prospect is favorable, as fish are plen- tiful and of good size." Malpeque, Pijince Edward Island, August 2G.— "For the past three days one hundred and twenty sail of seiners have been in this port, detained by a strong east wind. No catch of maolcevQl siuce the 19th. Remainder of the fleet are at West Cape." BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES EISH COMMISSION. 243 Cascumpeque, Prince EdwaPwD Island, August 20.—'- Mack- erel arc Avild and in small scbools ; they keep well off shore. A stroug east wind prevents lishin<;- a larjie part of the time. Some vessels now on the lishiug- gronuds for three weeks and have no fish." Magdalen Islands, August 27. — "No mackerel being caught about here." Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, August 29.—" A small catch of mackerel of late; over one hundred sail now in port, detained by high wind." New London, Prince Edward Island, August 30.—" Weather fine, but no catch of mackerel ; we judge the fish have left." A number of vessels have secured good fares of mackerel in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the month, but the fleet in general have taken comparatively few. With the exception of a short time during July that mackerel were freely taken to the north of Prince Edward Island, they have not been found in any abundance off the provincial or United States shores. The only encouraging feature has been the sharj) and steady advance in prices caused by the light catch and poor prospect. Not until the catch, as compared with the corresponding date of 1885, was over 100,000 barrels short, did the price take much of a rise. The first of the month cargo sales in fishermen's order were made at $4.62^ a barrel ; Au- gust 9, 85.87^; August 11, $0.12 J; August 23, $9.75; August 27, $10.75; August 30, 812^-on the latter date, fish that were packed and inspected sold for $9.50 for No. 3's, $12 for No. 2's, $16 to $18 for No. I's. Prices given being for fish that were caught in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Mackerel caught off" the New England shore at all times bringing higher prices than from anywhere else : $11 for No. 3's, $14 to $15 for No. 2's, $20 to $25 for No. I's. Extra large bloater mackerel caught off Block Island sold from $35 to $40 a barrel. Receipts of halibut have continued light from most of the fishing banks. On August 23 the schooner Arthur D. Story, of Gloucester, the first of the Iceland fleet to return, arrived home with 99,000 pounds of hali- but ; only a partial cargo. The master, Capt. Joseph Eyan, reports that for only a short time after arriving was the weather suitable for fishing. After taking part of a cargo he sailed for Greenland to complete the fare, in hopes of more favorable weather. Leaving Isefiord on July 20 he soon encountered heavy field-ice in Davis Strait, and for three days was surrounded with ice and snow-storms. Being obliged to abandon the attempt to reach the fishing grounds off Greenland by that route he came direct home by way of the Strait of Belle Isle. Calling at several harbors along the Labrador coast and making inquiries for mackerel, he was told that none had been seen this season. The master reports that the winter was fine, and codfish were taken by the natives all winter. May was favorable for halibut fishing, but from that time gales of wind, 244 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ■with snow-storms, prevailed. Tlie FreucL fleet were having a light catch of codfish. Reports from Norway are favorable, the catch of cod being- one of the largest on record. All halibut brought from Iceland are salted as soon as caught, and on arrival at the home port are smoked before going into the market. Vessels lishing for halibut on the banks nearer home put their catch on ice as soon as caught, and land it fresh. It is then packed with ice in boxes and quickly distributed through the leading fish-markets of the country. Bait has been abundant all the month, weirs at Cape Cod nearly all the time having abundance of squid or small mackerel, often both. Weirs oft' the Maine coast have had a good catch of herring, more than was wanted by the fishermen. Xtimber and location of the New Emjland fiiiMiuj fleet during the last iveek of August. Location. Grand Banks, lat. 44° to 46°, loujr. 52= to 54° Gr.aud Banks, lat. 44° to 45°, long. 49° to 51° Banquoreau, lat. 44° to 45°, loni!;. 58° to 59° lietween Goonre's and Brown's Banks ( George's and Brown's Banks, lat. 41° to 43°, long. 66° to 68° In G lilt" of Saint Lawrence Off the New England coast Off the New England coast ... On the way home from Iceland Off the New England coast steamers . . In Gulf of Saint Lawrence steamer.. Total Object. Codfish .... Halibut ...do ...do Codfish Mackerel . . . ...do Ground fish . Halibut Whales Mackerel . . . No. of vessels. 80 25 15 15 225 175 75 290 G a 1 910 Receipts of fish, at Gloucester, Mass., in August, 1886. From— to 3 Codfish. Halibut. Hake. Had- dock. Cusk. Bol- lock. Sword- fish. Mack- erel. Men- haden George's Bank 142 19 7 9 34 9 2 9 4 1 1 6 7 27 4 1 Lb.1. 2, 906, 000 702, 000 80, 000 103, 000 3, 010, 000 83, 000 570, 000 289, 000 1G5, 000 Lbs. 273,713 1,450 112,000 150 432, 200 Lbs. 5,000 Lbs. Lbs. 5,000 Lbs. 2,' 000 Lbs. 2,530 Bblg. Bblt. Brown's Bank Banquereau 1 Bay of Fundy Grand Bank.s 35, 000 12, 573 New England shore 32, 000 7,000 2,000 265 Flenjiwh (^ap 15,000 57, 000 La Have Bank 7,000 Nova Scotia, Cape shore . Iceland . 15, 000 99, 000 12,000 46, 800 2,500 Off Newfoundland AVestern Bank 339, 000 223, 000 15, 000 Off Seal Island 4,000 Gulf of Saint Lawrence.. 11,525 122 Off New England shore.. Tiverton, 11. I 800 From small boats 12, 000 39, 000 i Totalin August, 1886. 282 8, 482, 000 1,051,813 141,000 7,000 12, 000 8,000 15, 308 11,647 800 Total in August, 1885. 414 7, 122, 000 1, 112, 950 69, 000 42, 000 39, 000 70, 345 48,237 700 Additional receipts from Maine in August, 1880: 15,000 boxes of smoked herring, 600 quintals of dry bake, 88 barrels of cod oil. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 245 Mackerel lauded by the New England fleet, in sea-packed barrels, at all ports, was as follows: Time. XJ J) to August 1 Week cndini; AuKiist 7 AVcoU ending August 14 AVoi'k ending Auijust 21 AV'eck endiug August 28 'rhii.'o drtys ending August 3 Total to September 1. . 1885. 116,836 40, 150 IH, ,363 18,584 19, 006 10,153 223, 152 1886. 19,112 1,849 10,381 1,118 2, 031 2, 812 37, 303 Whaling fleet of Provmcetown, Mass., August 13, 1886. Xame. Schooner William A. Grozier* Brig David A. Smallt Schooner Quickstep t Schooner Ellen Kizpah t Schooner Alary G. Curreu t ... Schooner IJising Sun t Schooner Agate t Schooner Antarctic t .Schooner Baltic t Schooner Bloomer t Schooner Alcyone I Schooner Gage H. Phillips t. . Ste.amer Angelia B. Nicker.son Total Net No. of No. of tonnage. bo.ats. men. 111.09 2 16 113.83 2 16 89. 25 2 16 63. 43 '» 16 97. 03 2 16 05. 99 2 16 76. 95 2 16 95. 57 O 16 76. 81 2 16 70. 13 2 16 87.61 2 16 101.. 'W 2 10 26. 97 6 1,076.03 24 198 Location of 'whaling grounds. Atlantic Oce.an. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Off Now England coast. * Arrived on August 9. t Now on voyage. J Arrived June 14 ; now on second voyage, Gloucester, Mass., August 31, 188G. »8.-IlA^VAIIAIV FISIIirVCi IMPB..EMEIVTS AND METHODS OF FISHIIVG. By Mrs. EITIITIA ITfETCAI^F BECKI.EY, Curator of the Hawaiian National Museum. [Abstract.] The Ilawaiiaiis have five methods of fishing: by spearing, hand-catch- ing, baskets, hook-aiid-line, and with nets. The spearing of fish is of two kinds, below and above water. That below water is the most important, and is generally employed for the different kind of rock fish. The si)ear used by the diver is a slen- der stick of from G to 7 feet in length, made of very hard wood, and sharply pointed at one end, bnt more tapering at the other. Since the possession of iron, spears are always tipped with it, but perfectly smooth, without hook or barb. Diving to a well-known station by a large coral rock or against the steei) face of the reefs, the diver places himself in a half crondiing position on his left foot, with his right foot free and ex- tended behind, his left hand holding on to the rock to steady himself, 246 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. and there be watches and waits for tlio fisli. Fish in only two positions are noticed by him, those passing- before and parallel to him, and those coming- straight towards his face. When the hsh is hit, the force of the blow generally carries the spear right through to the hand, thus bringing the fish up to the lower i)art or handle of the spear, where it remains while the fisherman strikes rapidly at other fish in succession should they come in a train, as they usually do. Except in the case of "oopuhue"' spearing, above- water spearing is very rarely used, and then generally in connection with deep-sea line- and-hook fishing. ''Oopuhue" is the well-known jmison fish of the Pacific, but is of a delicious flavor. It is generally speared in inclosed salt water ponds from the stone embankments. The poison of this fish is contained in three little sacs, which must be extracted whole and un- injured. The fish is first skinned, as the rough skin is also poisonous in a slight degree. Should the teeth of the fish be yellow, then it is so highly charged with poison that no part of its flesh is safe even with the most careful preparation. "Oopuhue" caught in the open sea are always more poisonous than those from fish ponds. Some fishermen dive to well-known habitats of certain fish and lob- sters and, thrusting- their arms under rocks or in holes, bring out the fish one by one and put them into a bag attached for the purpose to the loin cloth. Women frequently- do the same in shallow waters, and catch fish by hand from under coral projections. It is also a favorite method employed by women in the capture of the larger varieties of shrimps and "oopus" in the fresh-water streams and "kalo" ponds.- Goldfish are also caught in that way, and at the present time form no inconsiderable portion of the daily food of the poorer classes living near "kalo " patches or fresh-water ponds. Their power of reproduction is very great. The different kinds of edible sea-slugs are caught in the same way, although the larger kinds are sometimes dived for and speared under water. There are two ways of octopus fishing. In shallow water the spear is used. Women generally attend to this. Their practiced eye can tell if an octopus is in a hole whose entrance is no larger than a silver dollar, and plunging their spears in they invariably draw one out. These mollusks have the peculiar property of drawing themselves out and compressing their bodies so as to ])ass through very narrow apertures many times smaller than the natural size or thickness of their bodies. Those caught in shallow waters vary from I'^to 4 feet in length, but the larger ki)uls live in deep water always and are known as blue-water octopus. They are caught witti cowries of the Mauritiana and sometimes of the tiger species. One or more of these shells i« attached to a string with an oblong pebble on the face of the shell; a hole is pierced in one end of the back of one of the shells through which the line is passed, which, having been fastened, is allowed to i)roject a few inches BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 24? below, and a hook whose poiut stands almost perpendicnlar to the shaft or shank is then fastened to the end of the line. Onlj^ the finest kind of Main-itiana or tiger cowries are employed for this pnrpose, as the octopns will not rise to a large-spotted or ugly one. The spots on the back mnst be very small and red, breaking through a reddish-brown ground ; such a shell would have the strongest attractions for an octo- pus. Cowries with suitable spots, but objectionable otherwise, are slightly steamed over a fire of sugar-cane husks. This has the effect of giving them the desired hue. The fisherman having arrived at his fishing-grounds first chews and spits on the water a mouthful of caudle-nut meat which renders the water glassy and clear j he then drops the shell with hook and line into the water aad swings it over a place likely to be inhabited by an octopus. This being a voracious animal, when in its hole is always, according to Hawaiian fishermen, keeping a lookout for anything eat- able that nuiy come within reach of its eight arms. The moment a cowry is perceived, an arm is shot out and the shell clasped; if of the attractive kind, one arm after the other comes out, and finally the whole body is withdrawn from the hole and attaches itself to the cowry, which it closely hugs, curling itself all around it. It remains very quiet while being rapidly drawn up through the water, till, just as its head is ex- posed above water it raises it, when the fisherman pulls the string so as to bring its head against the edge of the canoe and it is killed by a blow from a club which is struck between the eyes. This must be done rapidly, before the animal has time to become alarmed and let go the cowry, when, should the arms be a fathom in length, it becomes a dangerous antagonist, as there would be risk of the fisherman being squeezed to death. Having eight arms, an octopus of such a size could very well manage two or three persons, as the cutting off of one or more of its arms does not affect the rest in the least. Torch-light fishing is practiced on calm dark nights. The fish are either caught with small scoop-nets or are speared. Torch-light fishing- is always done in shallow water where one can \vade. The fisherman must be spry and light of step, passing through the water without a splash to disturb the fish, which remain quiet, as if dazzled by the light unless alarmed by the splashing or concussions in the water. The torches arc made of split bamboos secured at regular intervals with leaves, or of twigs of the spurious sandal-wood bound together in the same manner. The Ilawaiians have four kinds of basket fishing. The first is with a basket looking something like the coal scuttle bonnets of a hundred years ago, and is woven ^^ith the air roots of the Freycinetia arhorca. This is used for mountain shrimping, and women always attend to it. They move in a crouching position through the water, moving small stones and thrusting sticks under the large ones to drive the shrimiis to a suitable place which is always some place where the grass, ferns, or 248 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. brnuches of trees droop over on ibe water; the sbrimps take refuge iu or under these and the fisherwoman places her basket under the leaves and lifts them out of the water, when the shrimps drop into the basket; she then unties the small end and drops them into a small-mouthed gourd attached to a string, which she keeps floating after her for that puri)ose, and i)uts some fern leaves inside the gourd to keep the shrimps from creeping out, as they are lively little fellows living a long time out of water and scampering about on land like cockroaches. The second is with a small basket made from the vines of the convol- vulus, and it is renewed from day to day as wanted. A light frame- work of twigs is first tied together and then the vines, leaves and all, are wound in and out, round and round, till of the requisite size, 3 or 4 feet in circumference and about 1^ in depth. Slirimps pounded and in- closed in cocoa-nut fiber are occasionally placed at the bottom of the basket for bait, but usually the scent of the bruised and withering leaves seems to be sufljcient. Women always attend to this kind of fishing. They wade out to suitable places, generally small sandy openings in coral ground or reef, and let the baskets down suitably weighted to keep them in position, the weights being attached iu such away as to be easily detached. Each woman then moves away from her basket to some distance from which she can watch the fish enter the basket. When all the fish that Jire in sight have entered, she takes the baslcet uj) and transfers the fish to a large small-mouthed gourd, and moves the basket to a fresh place Fishing in this way can be carried on only during a calm sunny day and at low tide. Since the introduction of the weeping-willow, baskets for this fishing are sometimes made of willow twigs. Such can be used over and over tigain. Men sometimes take such baskets and using sea- eggs for bait, with the top of the shell broken to expose the meat, jdace them in comparatively deep water, piling stones around them to keep them in place. They leave tliem thus for a day or two, and if the place is a good fishing-ground the basket will be full by the time they come for it. The third kind of basket is shallow, of about the same size as the above but wider mouthed, used in deep water for catching a small, flat fish called "uiui" that makes its appearance at intervals of from ten, fifteen, or twenty year . At the last a])pearance of the "uiui," the im- l)orted marketing baskets were generally used by those who could not obtain the old-fashioned kind, as any old cast-away basket would do, with a little patching occu])ying i)erhaps five minutes, and two sticks bent over the mouth or opening from side to side and at right angles to each other for a handle to which to tie the draw-string. It should be twisted round and round above the jointure with a little of the sea convolvulus with the leaves on, so as to throw a little shade into the basket to keei> the fish from being frightened while they are being drawn u]) to the surface of the water. In these baskets cooked pumi)kins, hall-roasted BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 249 sweet potatoes, or raw ripe pa])ayas were placed for bait. The canoes thus provided would sail right into the midst of a school of these fish; the basket being lowered a few feet into the sea, and the fish being at- tracted by the scent of the bait, would rush into the baskets and feed greedily. As soon as the baskets were full of fish they would be drawn up and emptied into the canoe and then lowered again, with more bait if necessary, and this would go on till the canoe was loaded or the fisher- men were tired. These fish are very good eating when they first arrive, as they are fat, with the liver very much enlarged; but after a mouth they become thinner, not perhaps procuring their proper food here, and then taste strong and rank. The fourth kind of basket is the largest kind used in fishing by the Hawaiians. These are round, rather flat baskets, 4 to 5 feet in diam- eter by 2i to 3 in depth, and about li across the mouth. A small cylinder or cone of wicker is attached by the large end to the mouth and turned inward towards the bottom of the basket. This cone or cylinder is quite small at the free end, just large enough for the fish ("kala") to get in. Immediately below the end of this cone, on the bottom of this basket, is placed the bait, properly secured, which is a coarse, brownish-yellow alga, on which this fish feeds and from which it takes its name, ripe bread-fruit, cooked pumpkins, half-roasted sw^eet potatoes, and papayas. The fishermen generally feed the fish at a given place for a week or more before taking any, using for this purpose a large basket of the same kind, without the inverted cylinder and wider in the mouth, to allow the fish free ingress and egress. After a week or two of feeding they become very fat and fine flavored, as also very tame, and baskets full of fish can be drawn up in the taking basket without in the least disturbing those that are still greedily feeding in the feeding baskets. These baskets are occasionally used for other kinds of fish, substituting the bait known to attract that particular kind. The Gilbert Islanders have of late years introduced fishing with a basket in a manner difterent from any formerly practiced by Hawaiians. This is an oblong basket, called by these people a " punger," larger at one end than another, -with a flat and oval top, convex like a carriage top, and gradually sloping to the small end. A cone -with the end cut off is inserted at the large end, the bodj^ of the cone being inside of and opening into tlie basket. A trap-door is fixed on the end of the cone in such a manner that it will open by a touch from the outside, but cannot be pushed open from the inside. The basket is taken to a good, sandy place, in 2 to 4 fathoms of water, where there is i)lenty of coral or stones handy. The fisherman then dives and places the basket in the exact position he wishes; he then takes pieces of coral rock and begins to build up and around the basket, inclosing it completely with stones so as to form an artificial dark retreat for the fish. The entrance to the cylinder or cone is left exposed, and the fish, seeing an inviting entrance to a dark place, go on an exploring expedition till they find 250 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. themselves iuside. Once iuside they cauuot retniu. This basket is left from two days to a week in a position at the bottom of the sea, when the stones are displaced, the basliet and its contents are hauled up to the canoe or boat, a door left at the smaller end of the basket is opened, the fish shaken out, and the basket is ready to be replaced in the sea. There are only seven kinds of fish sought for in fishing with rod, hook, and line. The bait most liked is shrijup; earthworms are sometimes used and any obtainable fry offish. The fisherman takes a handful of shrimjis, baits his hooks, and then, bruising the remainder and wraj)- ping it up in cocoa-nut fiber, ties it with a pebble on the line and close to the hooks ; the bruised matter spreads through the water when the line is dropped and serves to attract fishes to the vicinity of the hooks. For hook-and-line fishing practiced in deep water, bonitos and lob- sters are the usual bait ; for lack of these any kind of fish is used with varying results. For deep-sea fishing the hook and line are used with- out rods, and our fishermen sometimes use lines over 100 fathoms in length. Every rocky protuberance from the bottom of the sea for miles out, in the waters surrounding the islands, was well known to the an- cient fishermen, and so were the different kinds of rock fish likely to be met with on each separate rock. The ordinary habitat of every known species of Hawaiian fishes was also well known to them. Th(^ often went fishing so far out from land as to be entirely out of sight of the low lands and mountain sloi)es, and took their bearing from the po- sitions of the different mountain pteaks, for the purpose of ascertaining the rock which was the habitat of the iiarticular fish they were after. The natives distinguish the sharks seen in Hawaiian waters into five species: The " mano-kihikihi" (hammer-headed shark) and the"]ala- kea" (white fin) are considered edible, as the natives insist that these never eat human beings; then comes the "mano-kanaka" (man shark),- which only rarely bites people; then the " mano," a large white shark, ;^ the largest of all known to Hawaiiaus, but not a ))articularly ravenous one, which is seldom seen ; the "uiuhi " com[)letes the list, a very large/ shark, and the fiercest of all, which, fortunately, very rarely makes its ap[)earance in Hawaiian waters. There are two general divisions of the kinds of nets in use here, the long nets and tlie bag or purse nets, with endless variations of those two main features. The finest of the long nets has a mesh one-half inch wide. Ifc is generally 1^ fathoms in dei)th and from 40 to 60 fathoms in h'ngtli. It is used to surround and catch the small mullets and "awas" in shallow waters for the purpose of stocking fish ponds. Small pebbles, frequently ringed or pierced, are used for sinkers and pieces of the Ilibiscus tilkiceiis and candle-nut tree for the floaters. Nets of 1 to 2 inch mesh are used for the larger mullets. A 2 to 2^ inch gill- net is sometimes stretched from a given point to another at high tide, and always across what they call fish-runs in shallow waters, which are BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 251 loug;, sandy opeuiiigs in coral places. Two persons, or sometimes one, work this net, passing backward and forward to seaward of the net, taking out fish as fast as canglit in tbe mesbes. This way of fishing is only practiced at night. Sometimes a place where fish are seen or are likely to be is surrounded and the water inside the circle beaten, when the irightened fishes dart in every direction with great violence and are meshed. A long net of 3 to 4 inch mesh is used for catching large fish, such as the "oio." It is of SO, 100, 140, or even 350 fatlioms in length by 2 to 3 fathoms in depth. It is used in the deeper waters just inside, or in shallow waters just outside, the reef or breakers. For this fishing the fishermen go in canoes; one man is always standing u]>right on the cross- bars of the canoe, keeping a sharj) lookout for a school of ''oio." When he sees one, the canoes follow it at a distance from place to place, or wait patiently, if the fish remain- in an unfavorable place, till they move into the accustomed fishing-grounds. Two or three canoes are almost always engaged together in this kind of fishing. When the fish are in a suitable place one canoe approaches very cautiously and stations itself where the net is to be dropped, while another one, carrying a net of the same kind, makes a wide cnrcuit till immediately opposite, with the fish between, when the ends of the nets are dropped simultaneously from the two caiioes, and both i^addle in a semicircle while paying out the net and striving to meet the dropped ends of the opposite net as soon as possible, so as completely to inclose the school before the fish become alarmed. The first canoe having met the end of the 0]>posite net, if on sandy bottom, keeps on one side of the net already down, drawing its own net after it, thus gradually reducing the circle, as well as making two or three rings of netting around the fish, so that if they make a rush to any given i)oint and by their weight bear down the lloaters, those escaping from the first circle will still be inclosed by the outer ones, and eventually be caught by becoming entangled and meshed. When the nets have been drawn to suit the head fisherman they all jump overboard with their canoe poles and by beating the water frighten the fish, which dash here and there with great violence, entangling them- selves in the nets, and are easily captured. In catching other kinds of fish these or smaller nets are used either in daylight or at night, though the best results are almost always ob- tained at night. The nets are dropped in a semicircle and some of the fishermen, making a wide sweei) to the opposite side, spread out fan- shape and move rapidly towards the net, beating the water as thej^ go with their arms, and thus driving the fish from quite a distance into the comparatively small area partly inclosed by the nets, while the two men holding the stick supporting the end of the net and standing per- pendicularly in the water run towards each other on the apinoach of the beaters. Should the water be dirty and the net rather long, the ends are then gathered together until the circle is all reduced and the fish 252 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. all taken. It at night, numbers of rock fish are also taken with those that spread in schools. The finest of all kinds of nets (" nae ") has only one-fourth inch mesh. The " pua " net is for young mullet fry for stocking ponds or for eating. This net is generally a piece, a fathom square, attached on two sides to sticks about 3 feet in length and fulled in, the bottom rope being shorter than the upper one and forming an irregular square opening to a shallow bag, which is supplemented by a long narrow bag about 3 or 4 inches wide and 2 feet deep. The sea convolvulus, generally found growing on the beach, is twisted, leaves, branchlets, and all, into two thick, bushy roi)es some 15 or 20 feet in length, and these are attached on each side of' the net to the side sticks ; these lines are then drawn forward in a semicircle sweeping the shoals of fry before them till enough are partly inclosed, when the two free ends are brought rapidly together in a circle, which is gradually reduced, the same as in long- net fishing, till the fry are all driven into the bag. The same size of mesh (| inch); but made into a much larger bag, is used in fishing for " ohua," a small kind of fish very highly i)rized by the natives, which lives in and feeds upon the coarse alga that grows on coral in shallow water. Long ropes, 100, 200, or even 300 fathoms in length, having dry "ki" leaves braided on them by the stems, the blade ends of the leaves hanging loose, are started from a given ]>lace in opposite directions to sweep around and finally inclose a circle, which is afterwards reduced in the same manner as in long fishing. Great numbers of men, women, and children assist at this kind of fishing to hold the ropes down to the bottom, and by the splashing and disturb- ance of the alga drive the fish away from the ropes and into the net. Persons are generally stationed every yard or so on the ropes for this purjjose and also to disentangle the ropes if caught on a rock or other ()bstru(;ti()n. When the circle is narrowed to from 10 to 15 feet in diameter one end of the ropes is untied and the ends attached to the ends of the side sticks of the bag-net, forming a guard on each side, and the circle further reduced till the fish are all driven into the net. Tlie diver's net is a small bag of 2-inch mesh, about 2i feet across the opening or mouth of the bag and the same in depth. Two sticks are attached on each sid« of the opening, leaving a space of half a foot in width between them. This net is managed by one person, who dives to the small caves and holes at the bottom of the sea, which are always well known to the local fishermen, aiul placing his net across the open- ing or hole, mouth inwards, he then inserts a slender rod, with a tuft of grass at tlie end, into the hole, and gently drives the fish which may be in there into the open mouth of his net, which hecloses by joining the two sticks together. Then ])lacing his driving stick over the closed mouth as afiirllui- preventive, he rises to the surface, and emptying his biig into the canoe, goes to another cave or fish-hole, where he re- peats the operation till tired or satisfied with the quantity cauglit. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 253 Aiiotber net is for catcliiug " ubu," a very liighly prized kind of rock fisb of two species, the red and the green. The red varieties are the more choice ones for eating raw. The green are not so fine flavored, but attain a hirger size. The net for these fishes is a square of 2 or 3 inch mesh, which has been slightly gathered on the ropes and attached at the four corners to slender strong sticks tied together at the middle in such a way that they will cross each other at the middle and can be closed together when wanted. When crossed they spread the net open in the form of a shallow bag, a string is tied to the crossing of the two sticks, and the net is then ready for operations. A decoy fish, ' which may have been previously caught with the hook and line, is theu drojjped, with a string attached, in a place where fish of that kind are noticed or known to frequent, and gently moved back and forth ; this is called " teasing the fish." Every fish of that kind which can see the decoy fish is immediately attracted to see the strange actions of this one, and when all have been attracted that are likely to be in the vicinity the net is gently dropped at a little distance from the deco^^, which is then gently drawn into the net. All the fish rush after it into the net, which is then quickly pulled up, the sticks bending over, which elongates the bag, also reducing the ojiening or mouth. By a peculiar twitch and pull on the string the sticks can be made to swing around and lie parallel, thus effectually closing the bag. No diving is required for this net beyond that which is sometimes necessary to get the decoy. It is also used for several other kinds of rock fish of like habits, always first getting a decoy of the kind wanted. Fishermen almost always carry for this kind of fishing candle-nut or cocoa-nut meat, which they chew and sj)it over from time to time to smooth the sea so that they can observe the bottom. The "opule" is taken in a similar manner in a bag-net, a fathom in length, having a small oval mouth 2 or 3 feet wide. A large 1-inch mesh net, 8 fathoms in depth, is used in deep waters for catching the Hawaiian mackerel, a small narrow fish caught only at certain seasons. Cooked pumpkins are placed at the bottom of the net for bait, and lowered some fathoms beneath the surface, and the scent of the pumpkin diffusing through the water attracts the fish and they enter the bag to feed on it. When a sufficient quantity of them have entered it is rapidl}^ drawn up and emptied of fish. More jjump- kin is put in, and the fishermen sail to a fresh place to drop the bag. Two other nets are used for two kinds of very small fish that come at certain seasons in immense schools and are much used for bait. Pickled and dried they are very good eating. The net is a fine-mesh bag exactly like a " pua" net, but much larger. It is to be used with roi)es with " ki" leaves attached, only this sort of fishing net requires no diving, as it is used in deep waters. In another kind of decoy fishing the decoy used is a billet of hard wood something like a club, rounded at the ends and one end smaller 254 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. than the other, with a little ringed knob on the smaller end to tie a string to. This club, when prepared with the proper attention to the usual lucky or unlucky superstitious common to Hawaiian fishermen, is then slightly charred over a regulation fire. "Kukui"-nut meat and cocoa-nut in equal quantities are first baked, i^ounded, and tied up iu a wrapping of cocoa-nut fiber (the sheath around the stem of a cocoa-nut leaf), and the fishermen then start on a canoe for the fishing-grounds. This should be iu water not deeper than 4 or 5 fathoms. Arrived there the dccoj^ is then greased with the oily juice of the pounded nuts and dropped overboard and allowed to hang suspended a few feet from the bottom. The scent of the baked nut meat diffusing through the water seems to have a powerful attraction for some kinds of fish, which sur- round the stick, seeming to smell or nibble at it. After awhile the bag-net is dropi)ed over with its mouth open towards the stick, when the latter is moved gently into it, the fish still surrounding and follow- ing it into the net. Two persons then dive and, approaching the net gently, quickly close its mouth and give the signal to those in the canoe to haul it up. The "hano" is a large bag net of very fine mesh, with a flaring mouth, used to capture flying fish. There are two varieties of flying-fish here, entirely distinct from each other. The same net and method of capture is also employed for the "iheihe," a long thin fish, usually 1^- feet iu length, with a very sharp-pointed snout, that generally arrives here at about the same time as the large flying-fish. The "hano" is also occa- sionally employed for the "akule," another fish that arrives in schools. For catching the large flying-fish the "hano"' is piled on a double canoe or large single one, and a start is made early in the morning with an attending fleet of from twenty to forty canoes. Women very often go in this kind of fishing to help paddle the canoes, as no particular skill is called for on the part of the general hands, the success of the fishing dc])ending altogether on the good ju.lgment and sight of the lookout. This person is generally on a light canoe manned by only two or three hands, and he is standing up always on the cross-ties of the canoe looking for the fish. Whenev^er he discerns a strong ripple he points it out to the rest of the canoes, who then surround the spot indi- cated while he confers with the head fishermen about the best place to drop the net, which depends upon which way the current sets. When the net is all ready the canoes paddle very quickly in towards it, splashing the water and driving the fish before them into the open net. It seems that these fish will not dive to any depth, and are always found swimming very near the surface, so that, when completely sur- rouiub'd by canoes, they can be driven wherever wanted. The fleet very often goes several miles out to sea ; and this fishing is called "blue- sea fishing." The "kolo" is the largest of all the nets, and can be used only iu a very few places, like the harbor of ITonolulu, I'uuloa, &c. It is an im- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 255 meiisc bag- from 3G to 24 fatlionis in tleptli, sinall-ineslied and narrow at the extreme end, but widening out into an immense Oaring mouth, with long nets IG to 20 fathoms deep attached on each side and called its ears. This is swept from one side to the other of the harbor, scoop- ing up every kind of fish. A great many sharks 6 feet in length are sometimes caught in it, but the net is generally used when the mullet is in roe and is designed for the capture of large quantities of that fish. It requires a great many hands to manage it. A large bag-net, somewhat smaller than the "kolo," but of the same general shape, is sometimes used. Two ropes of 300 or 400 fathoms in length, with " ki" leaves attached, and generally the rope of two or more "ohua" nets joined, are piled on to a large double canoe, which is taken out 2 or 3 miles from shore, attended by a fleet of from sixty to one hundred canoes. The head fisherman always goes on the canoe con- taining the net and ropes. Arrived at the proper distance, w^hich must be just opposite the final drawing place, the end of one rope is joined to that of the other, and two canoes, manned by eight or ten strong men, take the other end of the rope, one each, and start in opposite directions and exactly parallel with the shore, while the double canoe remains stationary till all the rope is paid out. In the mean time the rest of the canoes have divided into two companies and follow the two leading canoes, stationing themselves at certain distances on the rope and helping to pull it. When the rope is all paid out, the two leading canoes then curve in to form a semicircle, at the same time always mov- ing towards the shore. When a perfect semicircle has been made by the rope the double canoes and all the others move gradually forwards with it, while the leading canoes are pulling with all their might straight in to the shore. When either end is landed the men immediately leap out and taking hold of the line pull on it, at the same time going to- wards each other, which has the eHect of narrowing the semicircle, while most of the canoes keep backing on to the double canoe, which always keeps the center. Arrived at a suitable place, which is always a clean sandy one a few rods from shore, the ropes are untied and attached to each eiid of the net; men, women, and children now gather on the rope, especially where it joins the net, and make a great disturbance with their feet, which drives all the fish into the net. Eope and net are finally drawn ashore. We have two kinds of fish ponds or inclosures: Fresh-water ones, from half an acre to 2 or 3 acres in extent; and salt-water ponds, generally very large and inclosing an area of many acres. The salt-water ponds are of two kinds — those entirely closed, and in which fish are fed and fattened ; and those surrounded by a low wall that is submerged at high tide and has openings, which are walled on each side like lanes leading in or out of the pond. The lanes, or fish-runs, are from 15 to 20 feet in length and radiate from the wall inside and rnt. Ti.cy are of about 2 feet in width at the 256 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. opeuing in the wall and widen out gradually till they are from S to 10 feet wide at the ends. At night when the tide is coming in, a man, or more frequently a woman, takes a small scoop-net just wide enough to fill the entrance of the opening and of 3 or 4 feet in depth, wades out to the entrance of one of these runs, and sitting on a raised stone platform on its side, made for that purpose, holds the net in the water at the en- trance of an opening towards the sea and sits very quiet until a jerk in the net is felt, when it is immediately pulled up before the fish have time to return, and the fish are dropped into a gourd or basket, when the net is imioediately returned to the water and waiting and watching are resumed. Two persons generally go to this kind of fishing and sit on opposite sides of the entrance, so that as one net is raised another one is still there, as under certain conditions of the water and weather two persons will be kept busy scooping up fish as fast as the nets can be lowered. No fish must be allowed to get free as that would put a stop to the fishing at that entrance during that turn of the tide. These entrances are favorite stations for the ground-sharks of the neighborhood to prey on the fish as they go in or out, and so when the tide is about medium height the fishing people return to shore, as their jdatforms would be entirely submerged at high tide. At the turn of the tide, and when the i^latforms are exposed, other parties take their turn at the lanes, using those with entrances opening inwards. These fish ponds are sometimes owned by the projjrietors of two adjoining lands, the people of one owning the right to fish during the rise of the tide and the other during the ebb. Long nets are also used in these ponds, but only during the condition of the tide belonging to each. The large salt or brackish water ponds, entirely inclosed, have one, two, or four gates. These are of straight sticks tied on to two or three cross- beams, the sticks in the upright standing as closely as possible, so that no fish half an inch in thickness can pass them, while the water and young fry can pass freely in and out. Scoop-nets the width of the gates are used at these places at the flow of the tide to scoop up such fish as may be desired by the owner or pond-keeper for family use. When any large quantity is wanted the long net is used, the same as in shallow-sea fishing. Fresh-water ponds are very seldom over half an acre in extent, and are for "oopu" and "opae" preserves, and sometimes for "awa," a kind of tropical salmon that breeds in brackish water and will live and grow fat in perfectly fresh water. The young fry of this fish are procured in shallow waters on the beach where a stream or spring of fresh water mingles with the sea, and are carried sometimes many miles inland in large gourds with water. The catfish has been introduced within four years, and is doing well. Carp have also been introduced very recently, but it is yet too early to pronounce on the success of the exi)erimeut. Honolulu, June 25, 1883. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 257 Vol. VI, l¥o. ir. IVashingrton, B. C. ]¥ov. 8, 1886. 79.-AMKKBCAIV CATFISH IN THE TK0CAI>I<:R0 AQUARIUM OF PARIS.* By Dr. JOUSSET DE BEELESl^IE. These fish,t wliicli measured 12 centimeters [about 4^ inches] in length, were in the beginning-, owing to their small size, placed in one of the tanks for young fish in the aquarium, and remained there till Novem- ber, 1885, when they were put in the large basin No. G. They were at first fed with raw meat; but as they did not seem to take very well to this kind of food, they were fed on raw fish chopjied flue, whicb they appeared to like. As soon as they were transferred to the large basin they were fed on live fish. The only water at the disposal of the aquarium is that which comes from the Vaune, whose temperature is 15° C. [59° Fahr.] in August and 9° C. [48.2° Fahr.] in December. It is hardly probable that this temperature is sufficiently high for the reproduction of the catfish. At au3' rate, those which we have in our aquarium, no matter to what variety they belong, have never spawned. When the American catfish were transferred to basin No. C they were all alive and well, although they had not grown perceptibly. Since that time none of them have died, as far as we have been able to observe, for these fish have a habit of keeping in their holes and never coming out during the day, so that they are hardly ever seen. In basin No. 1 we had some of considerable size, and in order to assure ourselves of their existence it became necessary to empty the basin and carefully search for them at the bottom in the cracks between the rocks. Even then we did not always succeed in finding them. I have therefore rea- son to believe that the seven catfish which the Acclimatization Society has given us are still in existence, and the first time the basin is emptied I will search for them again in order to make sure of it. I should state that the Trocadero aquarium is by no means adapted to researches of this kind. The impossibility of varying the tempera- ture of the large mass of water which feeds it prevents us from success- fully reproducing any other fish but salmonoids. Moreover, our basins are too large for small fish, which easily escape observation. Paris, France, May 28, 1886. * " Caiifish dans V aquarium du Trocadero, Paris." From the Bulletin menstiel de la So- ci6l6 Nationah d'accUmaiation de France, Paris, August, 1886. Translated from the French by Hekmax JacOBSON. t For note on their receipt see Fish Comraissiou Bulletin for 1886, p. 138; also Fish Commission Bulletin for 1885, p. 433, Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 17 258 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FI9II COMMISSION. SO.-FRV PliAIVTED I.-V ROVEICii OF BKI^UIUlTl IN 1S§6.* [Extracted from tlie report of the Comruissiou ou Fish-Culture to the Minister of Ag- riculture, Industry, and Public Works.] The pluutiugs of fry made iu 18SG in the tributaries of the Meuse Eiver have been entirely successful. The following has been the ex- tent of these operations : Fry were planted as follows : Kind. .Salmon (Salmo solar Lin.) Trout (Trvttafario Lin.) Lnki' tiout (TnittalacustrisLiD.) Thi/maUus rexilUfcr Ag Sabno salvelinus Lin Total Number. 63, 00') 217, l)<)0 30, 000 :)0, ooo 12, OOi) 3 J2, 000 They were distributed as follows Where distributed. Kiver Semois and tributaries , Do i;ivcr Lesso and tributaries . . Do Do , Do , Kiver Molignee Kiver Bocri Ki^er Ourthe and tributaries Do Do River Gulpe liivor Dee k ( Voeren) lliver Sn!i(ire The Villancour brook Lake Gilei)pe Do Kind. Trout Thymallus vexillifer. Saiiiion Trout. Lake trout Thymallus vexiUifcr. Thymallus vexillifer. Trout Salmon Trout Thymallus vexillifer. Trout ■.... do do do Lake trout Salmo salvehnus Kumber. 51,000 9, 000 0, 000 r.7, 000 12, (100 0, 000 0, 000 (i, 000 57, (100 03, 000 6, 000 ]!), 000 3, 000 6, 000 1 2, 000 18, 000 12, 000 Since 1885, when the Government undertook to stock the Belgium rivers, there have been planted, in all, in the tributaries of the Meuse, and in Lake Gileppe 737,000 young of salmonoids. The plantings of young fish have been arranged in such a manner that in 181)0, when the contract between the Government and the par- ties furnishing the young fish expires, all the tributaries of the Meuse which are to be stocked, will have received the kind and number of fish adapted to the nature of their water. But the quantity of young fish to be furnislied v/ithin this period (about 1,000,000) is not sufficient to stock the rivers as thoroughly as it should be done. The question therefore arises, whether it is not jjossible to produce a certain quan- tity of young fish on the spot. For this purpose the keepers of waters * " Rapport siir les devcrsemenis (falcvivscn 188C." Brussels, 1886. the Frcuch by llKitMAN Jacojjson. Translated from BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 259 and forests in certain localities should be fiiruislied with Jacobi boxes, which cost only 5 to G francs [96 cents to $1.10]. These arrangements are simple. They are long wooden boxes, with gratings at the ends, and at the bottom of which there is a bed of gravel on which the fecundated eggs rest. These boxes are placed in running water, which passes through them by the gratings fixed at each end. The eggs are therefore placed, so to speak, under natural conditions. Although certain observations might be made relative to this method, and although in more than one respect it leaves much to be desired, it nevertheless offers great advantages. The keepers should be charged to capture in the waters of their districts the necessary spawning fish, and the eggs obtained from them should be hatched in the waters about to be stocked. This method is not expensive and is exceedingly practical, and would serve admirably to maintain a constant state of production in our waters. Next year experiments at acclimatization may be commenced with certain valuable kinds of fish, which are not yet found in Belgium, and which it may be desirable to introduce. Among these we mention the SalmofontinaUs and the Salmo irideus. As experience has shown, these two kinds of fish seem to adapt themselves perfectly to the nature of certain Belgian waters. The necessary fry will be produced, with very little expense, in the hatching houses in the Government botanical garden. It appears that a man maj^ safely transport a certain quantit}' of fry at a temperature of 1° 0. [33.8° F.] in the apparatus, and of 10° C. [50° F.] in the atmosphere, for a distance of more than 20 kilometers [12^ miles]. Transportation in wagons for long distances has likewise been perfectly successful. From the following observation it will be seen how important it is that the air should have free access to the apparatus. An experiment was made relative to the power of resistance of young fish to the diffi- culties connected with transportation. Two sets of apparatus, each containing 3,000 young trout, packed as described below, had been sent to Jemelle, whence on the following day they were to be sent to Brus- sels. On the evening before, the young fish were placed in the recep- tacles, the water in which was, up to the moment of starting, being con- stantly renewed. They arrived at Jemelle on March 12, at 9.49 a. m., and were placed in a cellar of the station. In spite of the instruction, the receptacle for the ice was left on one of them. As the temperature in the cellar was only 7° C [44.6° F.] ice was not used. The tempera- ture of the water was 8° C. [40.4° F.]. On the following morning, in the apparatus which had been left covered only 300 young fish were found alive, while in the one which had been left open there were only 20 dead. The heavy mortality in the first apparatus must be ascribed to the circumstance that there was not sufficient air, for the young trout 2 GO BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ill both these apparatuses came from the same htitchiiig, and the con- ditions of their existence were exactly the same. When the cover was removed from the first apparatus, the surviving fish were found to be near the surface trying to got a breath of air. The water had a soapy appearance and the characteristic odor of fish in a state of decomposition. On the bodies of the dead fish, which had all undergone the fatty metamorphosis, there was found a very luxuriant cryptogamic vegetation of a whitish color. The surviving fish were placed in another apparatus containing fresh water, and arrived in Brus- sels in good condition on March 13, the water during the transportation having a temperature of 5'^ C. [41^ F.]. As has been stated, the dead fish rapidly underwent the fatty metamorphosis, and a species of whitish mold developed on them, which gave to the water the appearance of a solution of brown soaj), and a nauseating odor. The dead fish are very obnoxious in the apparatus, as they produce germs which soon taint all organisms. It is also important frequently to inspect the apparatus, especially if the young fish have to stay in it any length of time. In this case the water should be aerated, and renewed if possible, and all dead fish should be carefully removed at once. It is also extremely dangerous to transport in one and the same ap- paratus young fish of different age. Young salmonoids are extremely voracious; when shut up in a narrow space, they will bite and endeavor to devour each other, thus frequently inflicting wounds which are fatal. As has been shown in the transportation of young fish from Bavaria, it is also important to use only very pure water, filtered if possible ; the impurities of the water get into the gills of the young fish and choke them. In the same transportation it was proved that the apparatus should not be too high, for too great a column of water exercises an abnormal pressure on the fish, which they are not able to bear. The management of very large transporting cans is exceedingly difficult. We have noticed that the young of the Thymallus vexilUfer are the most difficult to transport. When in a healthy condition they make efforts to swim towards the surface of the water; if they remain at the bottom it is a sure sign that they are sick. Salmon and trout, on the contrary, keep quietly together at the bottom of the apparatus ; if they become restless and rise to the surface to get a breath of air, it is a sign that the oxygen in the water is diminished, or that the temperature is too high. As the case may be, the water should be aerated or renewed without delay, if it is possible to do this under good conditions. Care should be taken, however, not to renew the water as long as the young fish are in good health, for, as has been stated, any change of the ele- ment in which they live will invariably cause them suffering. How- ever, if the water has become vitiated by the presence of dead bodies, one should not hesitate to renew it as soon as possible. We also made an experiment in transporting grown fish of the Cyprin- idm family. We selected five Cyprinus awr«tMS,which were fully de- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 261 veloped, and among wliicli there were three females with eggs. They were placed ill an apparatus exactly like the one described below. The water had a temi)erature of 18° C. [04.4° F.J, which is suitable for the trans- portation of cyprinoids, as we had ascertained in 1885, by experiments with 5'oung fish of the same kind. The transportation from Brussels to Jemelle proved a perfect success, and on their arrival at the latter place the fish were in good condition, and were placed in a small reser- voir at the station. We believe that the x)lanting of young fish shortly before or after the absorption of the umbilical sac offers great advantages, as the younger the organism the better it will adapt itself to the element in which it is to live. When young fish are fed artificially, the instinct of preservation becomes weakened, the young fish become indolent, and are less able to escape their enemies and to seek their natural food, and consequently easily succumb in the struggle for existence. However this may be, the attempt to stock our watercourses with young fish only a few weeks old has been perfectly successful. From in- formation furnished by the keepers of waters and forests, and by fish- ermen, it appears that in those waters where young fish have been planted, numerous young salmonoids have been observed. Those which were planted in 1885 have already attained considerable dimensions, and next year they will have reached a marketable size. It may be assumed that in three years the young fish will have reached the weight of one-half kilogram [1^^ pounds]. This is a very small average weight, for the lake trout weigh much more at the age of three years. Assuming, on the other hand, that two-thirds of the 771,000 young fish planted up to date reach this age, we would have a total weight of 257,000 kilograms [566,582 pounds], which, at the price of 1^ francs [about 29 cents] per kilogram, would represent a value of 385,500 francs [$74,401.50]. By stocking the watercourses with fish, therefore, the Government places at the disposal of the country a wholesome and cheap article of food. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLANTINa FRY. Apparatus for transporting fry. — The transportation of young fish is a very delicate operation, and requires the greatest care. The cans in which young fish are transported are made of zinc, and covered with a special varnish. They have the following form and dimensions: Each apparatus has a capacity of 11 liters [about 11^ quarts], and will contain 3,000 young fish. When filled with ice, water, and young fish, the apparatus weighs about 14 kilograms [about 31 pounds]. The cans are transported from the stations where they are landed to the places where the fish are to be planted by means of a pack-saddle (brace), similar to the one used by water-carriers. Maintaining the temperature. — The employees in charge must see to it that the water in the apparatus is kept at an even temperature. The 262 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. most suitable temperature is 5° C. [4° Eeaumur or41o F.], ami it should not exceed 10"^ C. [50° F.]. The two extremes of temperature are marked in red on the thermometers furnished to the employees. If the water in the apparatus exceeds the maximum tem^ierature, care should be taken to reduce it to a suitable degree by increasing the quantity of ice in the ice-box. Hcigbl, in c iitiiiieters [7.48 inchesl ; breadth at reck, 21 centirnfters [8.27 inches] ; breadth of body of appunifiis. ;;S ccutimotoi-.'? [14.90 inches]. A, hiiudlf for carrying tlio apparatus ; B, reservoir for the ice ; b, cover of tliis reservoir ; C, spoiit- for attaching rubber tube (by Towering this tube ruore or loss, the water flows more or leas rapidly from the apparatus) ; d, hook for holding up the tube. It might happen that during transportation a solution of continuity might occur in the column of mercury in the thermometer. In this case the mercury should be reduced to its normal condition, by takiug the instrument in one hand and pressing it, or by attaching it to a string and making it describe a rapid circular movement. Aerating the icatcr. — The respiration of the young fish vitiates the water in the vessels containing them. The renewal of oxygen is indis- ])ensablc for keeping the fish in good health ; and to neglect this would be to expose these young organisms to certain death. The air should be renewed at short intervals. Although this operation is necessaiy in all kinds of weather, it should be more frequent on very hot days; dur- ing the moments of rest the aerating pumps should be worked inces- santly. Nearly all authors are of opinion that during transportation the jolt- ing of the vehicle is sufficient to aerate the water, but this is a mistake. As was shown at the transportation of young fish in 1884, it is very dangerous to count on the agitation of the water for obtaining aeration. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 263 To do this will probably cause the rapid death of organisms of so deli- cate a nature as j'oung fish. There is an aerating apparatus consisting of a simple syringe fur- nished with a perforated mouth-piece. To renew the air, one breathes by means of the syringe into the water of the apparatus, and then places the mouth-piece at a short distance from the surface of the water, and makes the piston go down, not losing sight of the circumstance that lit- tle fish of a very delicate nature are concerned. The air should, there- fore, not be blown into the water too violently. Benewiiuj the icater. — When the distance to be traveled is very great, it will be well, whenever a favorable opportunity otters, to renew the water in the apparatus. To do this, one should have clear and drinka- ble water. In no case should muddy water, containing impurities, be employed. To renew the water in the apparatus, one inclines the tube C, so as to make the water flow off slowly; then he adds slowly, through the ice-box, new water, so as gradually to change the temi)erature of the element in which the young fish are kept. Too sudden a change of temperature would endanger the life of the young fish. SI.— NOTES OIV HATCHINC; AIVO PJLANTIIVG YOUIVG FISH IIV ITAt-IAlV i;VATEKS.* By Prof. PIETRO PAVESI. In an address on fish-culture, delivered February 27, 1885, I stated that lavarets {Coregonus wartmanni) from the Lake of Constance had been placed iu Italian waters at Lario at two different times (on Febru - ary 27 and IMarch 5), when the young fish had almost lost their umbili- cal sacs, and measured about 11 millimeters [nearly one-half inch] in length. Doubts were expressed as to the success of this experiment, but the eggs hatched. After the yoitng fish appeared, however, the usual mold was observed. There are two suppositions to account for this mold : one, that it is caused by the quality of the water used in the hatching apparatus, in which case filters of the Waplitz model will have to be employed ; the other, that some of the shells of the eggs broke in transportation and thus favored the development of mold. I have now to report that my experiments resulted successfully. During October, November, and December, 1885, a number of little fish were caught near Bellano, which were about 4^ inches long, and in shape and color bore a strong resemblance to the fry I had planted. The fishermen cooked and ate some and found their flavor excellent, while some specimens that were sent to me here leave no doubt as to their being the same fish {Coregoni) planted by me. By planting more •These notes are taken from an open letter to Prof. B. Benecke, of Konigsberg^ Germany, which is extracted from the report of the Italian Society of Natural Science, Milan, 1866. Translated from the Italian by Hkrman Jacobson. 264 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of these fish we shall eventually make Lake Como the Lake of Con- stance of Italy. As regards the cultivation of Rhine salmon {Salmo salar), 100,000 eggs received from Mr. Carl Schuster, of Freiburg, Germany, were placed in hatching boxes of the Green system on January 14, and after they had been hatched the young fish were set at liberty on February 9 in the river Ticino. The day we placed the eggs in the boxes the water of the river was somewhat turbid, but soon became fresh and limpid again, having a temperature of 6° C. [about 43° F.], thus pre- senting the necessary conditions for the young fish, although the yelk sacs were not yet entirely absorbed. There was an alarming mortality, due to the sediment which formed at the bottom of the boxes, although this bottom was composed of a metallic net-work, and was separated from the bottom of the river by a considerable amount of flowing water, the Ticino having a rapid current. It must be said, however, that the boxes of the Green system, which hitherto had been used only for the cultivation of the shad {Alosa prwstahilis) in America, and which I desire to see employed on a large scale in our lakes, have proved themselves well adapted even to eggs which, like those of the salmon, take a longer time to hatch. Another hatching experiment was made with eggs of the grayling ( Thymallus vulgaris), which were placed in the upper Oglio. Eighty thousand eggs were received from Mr. Schuster (50,000 of them being in very poor condition), from which number we succeeded in hatching about 15,000 beautiful and healthy young fish, which, on May 27, 1885, were placed in the river not far from Darfo. It was not thought advisable to hatch the 100,000 embryonated aggfi of the Salmofario and of the Sahno salvelinus, but those eggs which were very near being hatched were placed directly in lakes and rivers. Many fish-culturists, like Haack, Schuster, and Benecke, are opposed to this metiiod ; but when there are difficulties in the way of hatching, as was the case here, it seemed the best way of restocking the waters. The chief objection seems to be that natural causes will destroy the o'^gs, more especially that they will become a prey to their voracious enemies, such as the Lota vulgaris, the Leuciscus ccphalus, and the Chondrostoma soetta. But these fish do not approach the shores of the lakes in win- ter, when the eggs of trout and similar fish are placed in the water. In jdacing embryonated eggs in the water, everything will depend on the selection of a suitable i)lace, and on having careful regard to the physi- cal and iMological conditions of the water. Care should also be taken not to crowd the eggs into too limited a space, but to scatter tliem somewhat. Even if only ten out of every thousand reach tlie state of maturity, there will be that many reproducers of fish in the public waters. Hardly had the 100,000 trout eggs been received from the establish- ment of Torbole, on January 8, 1885, when one-half was planted at the mouths of the rivers Plesna and Rivalaccio, near Pella j while the other BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 265 half was planted near tbe falls of the Qnalba, a very suitable locality, owin^- to the sandy bottom and the nearness of a rich aquatic vegeta- tion. All the eggs planted in the two locations referred to were excep- tionally fine and healthy. Quite a number of young fish have been observed here, wliich goes to show, first, that the eggs from the Torbole establishment had been hatched, although some people maintained that this would not be the case, as they had not been fecundated according to the Russian system ; and in the second place, that large fish had not come near the shores and devoured them. Another 100,000 embryonated trout eggs, received from Torbole in an excellent state of preservation, and destined for the Venetian waters, were sent to Count Ninni, who selected the locations where they were to be ijlanted, namely, one-half in Lake Lapisino and the other half in the waters near Trevigiano. These were planted on January 6 and 8 at different spots, where there was a suitable bottom and pure water Some specimens of the eggs were taken to Venice and there hatched in a small api^aratus on January IG, with such success that 130 healthy young fish were placed in open waters, thus proving the excellent quality of the eggs. Fifty thousand eggs of the Salmo salvelinus were received from Frei- burg, Germany, and on January 18 were planted in Lake Idro, at a depth of about 10 feet, on a sandy and rocky bottom. Some specimens of these eggs were sent to Pavia, and were very successfully hatched between January 30 and February 1. Finally, 800,000 young eels, taken near the mouth of the river Arno, were planted in Lake Trasimeuo, where they could find ample food in the innumerable Leuciscus aula. In former years this lake was very rich in eels, and it is to be hoped that it will regain its ancient fame in this respect, as some of the young eels which were planted have already been caught in an advanced state of development. Pavia, Italy, December 15, 1885. 83.— THE SEA FI!<«I1ERIES OF JVORWAV.* By Dr. FRIEDRICM IIEIXCKE. In no country do the sea fisheries play such an important part in jjublic affairs as in Norway, nowhere is such a general interest taken in them, and in no country are better and more exhaustive fishery statistics taken. For centuries the Government has taken account of the results of the fisheries, and for more than twenty years regular and extensive statistics have been obtained, A uniform plan, however, has been followed only since 1876; and the annual reports published since *" Die Secfischereien JSorioegens." From Mittheiluvrjen der Section fiir Kiisten- und Hochsee-Fischcrei, Berlin, July and August, 1886. Trauslatcd from the German by Herman Jacobson. 26 G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. tliat year by the statistical bureau at Christiauia give an excelleut idea of the condition of the Norwegian sea fisheries. Norwegian statisticians refer to the extraordinary difiQculties in the way of obtaining reliable statistics, and to the consequent necessity of confining them within certain limits. The daily small fisheries, which l)lay an important part in the households of the fishing population, have been entirely left out from the reports, because it was absolutely im- possible to obtain any reliable data; the statistics consequently relate only to the fisheries which have been regularly carried on on a large scale. Even in these statistics no account could frequently be taken of the fish which were immediately consumed by the fishermen, so that in many cases the reports covered only the fish which were brought into the market. It will therefore be seen that in most cases the figures given in the statistics are below the actual figures. Least reliable are the statistics relative to the herring fisheries, over which it is exceed- ingly difficult to exercise any control ; while the statistics of the Lofodeu cod fisheries and the so-called "lodde" fisheries in Finmark are the most reliable, and in fact often absolutely correct, because these fisheries have for years been under a police supervision organized on a model system. There are separate s^tistics for every fishery, covering many differ- ent points, especially the number of fishermen, boats, and apparatus; the total yield of the fisheries and the separate yields according to i)rov- inces, counties, districts, and sub-districts ; the value of the fisb ; the quantities of fish curcl in various ways ; the prices of fish : the shares and wages of the fishermen ; the quantity offish exported from Norway, giving the entire quantity and the quantities exported from each port, i&C. According to the census of December 31, 1875, there were engaged in the fisheries 33,255 male persons upwards of fifteen years of age, that is, 6 per cent of the adult male population. To these should be added 23,381 male persons upwards of fifteen years of age who occasionally engaged ic fisliing; therefore a total of 5G,G3G, or 10 per cent of the adult male population. In no other civilized country is the percentage of fishermen so large as this. The total value of the Norwegian fisheries (exclusive of oysters) was^ for the period from 18GG to 1874, on an average per annum 22,470,000 crowns* [$G,021,9G0], the minimum (18G9) was 18,044,000 crowns [$4,99G,502], and the maximum (1877) 29,434,000 crowns [87,888,312]. Tliese calcuhitions, like all the following, have been made on the basis of the average prices paid at the fishing stations ; they cannot, therefore, lay claim to absolute correctness, but give a fair approximation of the actual value. As regards the different kinds of fisheries carried on in Norway, this country shows a remarkable difference from all other nations inhabit- * The reductions are made on the basis of one crown equaling 26 ^^^ cents. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. '2G7 iiij;- the shores of the North Sea mid carryiug ou sea fisheries. This dil- i'ereiice is caused by the uature of the bottom of the sea oft' the coast of Norway. From the Skager Rack to the Pohir Sea the bottom in im- mediate proximity to the coast sinks to a considerable depth, only a few * of the numerous fiords having a depth of less than 100 fathoms. The North Sea proper, on the other hand, and the sea surrounding the British Isles, has a depth of more than 100 fathoms in only a few places, but is full of flat banks, approaching the surface of the sea within 10 fath- oms or less. Tliis explains the wealth of the North Sea in flat-fish and the great importance of the English trawl-net fisheries in the Ni rth Sea. The case is very different in Norway. Here the deep bottom of the sea has very few flat-fish, or at least trawl-nets cannot be employed on account of the great depth. Plaice, halibut, and even haddock are therefore not caught very frequently, and their place is taken by the fish inhabiting the open ocean, such as the cod, herring, and mackerel, which approach the coasts at certain seasons of the year for the purpose of spawning. The main places of sojourn of all these fish are far out in the open sea, or farther north in the Polar Sea, that is, in regions which so far have been almost entirely inaccessible. Thus the enormous shoals of fish which at regular seasons approach the coasts of Norway appear to the Norwegians more than to other nations as the gift of providence, which man may accept, but which he can in no wise either increase or decrease. In fact, the history of the Norwegian fisheries and the statistics of the last twenty years show that the fluctuations in the yield have noth- ing whatever to do with excessive fishing or other hurtful measures taken by the fishermen, as is to some extent the case on the British coasts, but that they must be explained from entirely different (and so far unknown) causes, to be found in the nature of these northern seas. As regards the kinds and yields of the sea fisheries, the entire coast of Norway may be divided into four districts : The first is the coast of the Skager Rack from the boundary of Sweden to Cape Liudesnaes. It produces about 3^ per cent of the entire yield of the fisheries. The second district is that of the North Sea from Cape Lind^snaes to Cape Stat, yielding about 9 per cent. The most important fisheries of this district are the spring-herring, lobster, and salmon fisheries. The tliird district is the Norwegian North Sea coast from Cape Stat as far as the island of Soroe, in Finmark. Here the most productive of all the Nor- wegian fisheries are carried on (about 71 per cent). This is the region of the fat-herring, great-herring, and cod fisheries. The fourth district embraces the coast of the Polar Sea, from the island of Sortie, yieldiag about 17 per cent. The principal fish caught in this district is the spring cod. The above will show that it is not the North Sea proper, but the open ocean, which is the main source of the Norwegian wealth offish. 268 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The most important of all the Norwegian fisheries are the cod fish- eries, their production being about 60 per cent of the entire yield. These fisheries are carried on within a distance of 10 miles * from the coast, almost exclusively with open boats, which carry nets, long-lines, and hand-lines. Every boat with nets has a crew of three or four men : every boat with long-lines, generally three; and every boat with hand- lines, four. The net fisheries are the most expensive, but also the most l)roductive, while the hand-line fisheries are the cheapest, but the least productive. Prior to 1881 nets were mostly used, but of late years the line fisheries have become more important, the hand-line fisheries yield- ing on an average 8 to 10 per cent of the entire production. During the period from 1879 to 1884 there were on an average en- gaged in the cod fisheries 77,289 fishermen, with 18,135 boats, the aver- age annual yield being 53,516,000 codfish, valued at 12,544,000 crowns [$3,361,792]. In 1880 the number of cod caught was 68,000,000; in 1883, only 33,000,000 ; and in 1884, 50,000,000. It will thus be seen that there are great and sudden fluctuatious in the yield, but as far as our statistics go they have quickl}^ reached the usual average, while the causes of these fluctuations are entirely unknown. The entire cod fisheries may be subdivided into the winter cod fish- cries and the spring cod (" lodde") fisheries. In the winter cod fisheries fish are caught which, when approaching the coast, contain a great deal of roe and milt. These fisheries last from January till April, when the fish, having spawned, again leave the coast. The main winter cod fish- eries are carried on near the Lofoden Islands. The spring cod make their appearance on the coasts of the Polar Sea from February till May, and are not mature fish (not ready to spawn). They only come near the coast in pursuit of the "lodde," a kind of smelt, which at this season frequents the bays of the Polar Sea in enormous quantities, and is caught for the purpose of serving as bait. Consequently but few nets are em- ployed in the cod fisheries, but principally long-lines and hand-lines. The winter cod fisheries near the Lofoden Islands and Vesteraalen, carried on principally on the side of these islands towards the mainland, have from time immemorial been the most important fisheries of ]S'or- way, Jind are unique. From January innumerable fishing boats come to tliese islands from all parts of Xorway, accompanied by trading ves- sels, which carry the necessary supply of salt for salting the fish, which buy a great many fish, and supply many of the wants of the fishermen. The entire fisheries, from January 16 till April 14, are under the careful and strict supervision of a naval officer, and tliey are thoroughly regu- lated by numerous laws and regulations. The supervising officer is also commissioned to take the statistics of these fisheries. These sta- tistics are exceedingly comprehensive and exact. During the last ten years there were engaged on an average, per annum in this district, about 25,000 fishermen, with about 6,000 boats, and the annual aver- * This is probably the Norwegian niilc, which equals about 4.7 English miles. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 269 age yield was 24,000,000 codfisl), eacli weigliiug on an average 4 kilo- grams [8.8 poiuids]. The number of trading vessels was on an average from aOO to COO. of which more than 100 were exclusively engaged in supplying the fishermen with articles of food, clothing, and other neces- sities of life. Liquor can be sold to the fishermen only by specially licensed persons, one to every 400 or 500 fishermen. Owing to the weather, fishing cannot be carried on every day, but generally on from three to five days a week. The temperature of the atmosphere is, of course, low; during the years 1879 to 1884 it varied during the season only from — 2.2° to + 2.4° C. [about 28° to 3G^o Fahr.]. There are on the coast regularly about 100 persons engaged in serving and amus- ing the fishermen, such as phofographers, restaurant keepers, musicians, and owners of panoramas and other shows. The majority of the fish caught near the Lofoden Islands (about two-thirds to three-fourths) is worked into "klip-fish," that is, the head is cut off, the backbone and entrails are taken out, and the fish are then salted and dried. The re. maining portion of the fish are dried without being salted, and are called " stock-fish." Of these latter there are three kinds, namely, the common "stock-fish," called "round-fish," of which only the head and the entrails have been removed ; when the fish has been split length- wise along tJie back, the backbone has been taken out, and the two halves have been pressed asunder, it is called "rotscher" or "flack- fish;" and the third and least valuable kind is the "sei" or dried Gadns carhonarius. " Klip-fish," of course, fetches a higher price than " stock- fish." Next to the fish the most important product of the Lofoden fisheries is cod -liver oil. During the years 1875 to 1884 there were, on an aver- age, produced j)er annum 26,500 barrels of common cod-liver oil and 2,440 barrels of fine (so-called medicinal) cod-liver oil. The roe of the cod is salted and sold as bait to the French sardine fishers. Formerly the heads were generally thrown into the sea or dried and used for feeding the cattle. Of late years, however, buyers regularly visit the fishing stations and buy the heads for guano factories. As early as 1878, 53 per cent of all the heads were used in guano factories. Ac- cording to a calculation for the period 1876 to 1878, the total value of the Norwegian cod fisheries was distributed as follows: The fish themselves, 73.3 per cent; liver and cod-liver oil, 18.3 per cent; roe, 7.7 per cent; and heads, 0.7 per cent. The total annual value of the Lofoden fisheries from 1876 to 1884 has averaged 6,200,000 crowns [.$1,661,600]. The spring cod fisheries (the "lodde" fisheries) in the Polar Sea are likewise very important. From 1869 to 1884 there were on an average engaged per annum 3,714 boats with 12,825 fishermen. Many of these come there after the Lofoden fisheries have come to end. During the last six years the average annual yield was 13,000,000, valued at about 2,500,000 crowns [$670,000]. Of late years the yield has fluctuated 270 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COJIMISSION. very inucb, as in 1880 it was upwards of 23,000,000 fish, while in 1883 it was only 3,500,000 (the smallest yield during the last 25 years); in 1884, however, it had again reached 16,000,000. The fish were in equal parts worked into " klip-fish" and "stock-fish," the latter being almost exclusively "round-fish." Besides these cod fisheries within the 10-mile limit, cod fisheries are also carried on farther out, ofi' the coast of Eomsdal, in covered boats. Swedes, occasionally Frenchmen, rnd fishermen from the Fiiroe Islands also engage in these fisheries. On an average 100 boats are every year engaged in these fisheries, and the yield has averaged 1,000,000 fish. Cod fisheries are also carried on during the summer near Spitzbergen by boats from Transoe and Finmark. The yield varies very much, aver- aging from 250,000 to 500,000 per year. The Norwegian herring fisheries, comprising about 25 per cent of the total annual yield of the fisheries, and during the period from 18GG to 1884 yielding annually fish to the average value of 6,400,000 crowns [$1,715,200], are of four kinds, namely, the spring-herring fisheries, the fat or summer herring fisheries, the great or north herring fisheries, and the small. herring or sprat fisheries. These fisheries are carried on with open boats, partly with floating nets and partly with stationary nets. The boats with floating nets are generally about 30 feet long and 10 feet broad, and have as a rule gafls, jibs, and foresails, a crew of 4 or 5 men, and from 20 to 60 nets, each 10 to 15 fathoms long and 100 to 120 meshes deep, with cork or glass floats at the top and with stone weights at the bottom. According to the depth at which the shoals of herring are found, the nets can be set nearer to or farther from the surface. The fisheries with stationary nets are carried on by associations, each consisting of 13 or 14 men, and owning several boats and nets. When the herring which have entered a fiord want to get out again, the en- trance of the fiord is closed with one or several large stationary nets, and the fish are then caught with seines. It has happened that in small fiords which had been closed in this manner, such enormous masses of herring had been shut up that they could be dipped out with pails or caught with the hand. The spring herring is a large full herring which comes from the North Sea in January and February for the purpose of spawning, and in dense shoals, the approach of which may be recognized by a pecul- iar movement of the surface, and by the whales following in their wake and the sea-gulls hovering over them. These herring enter the fiords, especially north and south of Stavanger. In former years this fish formed the principal object of the Norwegian herring fisheries. But from 1786 till 1807 they failed to approach the coasts of Norway in any con- siderable quantity ; from 1807 on, however, these fisheries again became productive. During the last twenty years the largest quantity (947,000 hectoliters*=2,680,010 bushels) was caught in 1869; from that year on * The licctoliter equals about 2.83 Uuited States bushels. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 271 the yield very rapidly decreased to 1,200 hectoliters [3,390 bushels] in 1874, kept ou fluctuating", with a slight tendency toward an increase, and linally rose from 32,000 liectoliters [1)0,500 bushels] in 18S3 to 201,000 hectoliters [738,030 bushels], valued at 1,500,000 crowns [$402,000], in 1884. At present the fat or summer herring fisheries are much more impor- tant than the spring-herring fisheries. The summer herring- fisheries furnish 20 per cent of the yield of the entire Norwegian fisheries. The summer herring is not a spawning fish, but probably a herring which has fattened again after spawning. It appears in the sea from Cape Stat to the island of Soroe, principally in the district of Northland^ south of the Lofodens, and near these islands. In this region it fills the fiords and bays during the summer and autumn months. By fiir the greater j)orticn are caught in stationary nets. From 1879 to 1884 there were annually engaged in these fisheries an average of 29,187 fishermen, with 5,377 drift-net boats, and 1,077 stationary net associa- tions. The annual average yield was 568,000 hectoliters [1,607,440 bushels], valued at 4,233,000 crowns [$1,134,444]. The fluctuations of the yields are not near so great as in the spring herring fisheries. Still more mysterious than the spring herring is the so-called great or north herring. Prior to 1863 it was entirely unknown ; but in that year it appeared, a very large mature herring, in considerable numbers on the coasts of Northland and South Finmark, from November till the beginning- of January, and disappeared in 1874 without leaving a trace. These fisheries were mostly carried on with stationary nets, and their annual yield from 1863 to 1874 varied between 69,000 and 1,050,000 hectoliters [195,270 to 2,988,480 bushels]. The small herring or sprat fisheries furnish the well-known Christiania anchovies and other small herring, and are princii)ally carried on in the North Sea, from Cape Lindesnaes to Cape Stat; they furnished from 1879 to 1884 an annual average of 150,000 hectoliters [441,480 bushels], valued at 338,000 crowns [$90,584]. The Norwegian mackerel fisheries are confined to the coast from the boundary of Sweden to Cape Stat, therefore to the Skager Hack and the North Sea. Since 1858 fresh mackerel on ice have been exported, especially to England, and since that time these valuable fisheries have increased considerably. The mackerel come to the coast in May and stay till autumn. The fisheries are carried on i^artly with floating lines, partly with drift-nets and stationary nets, but jirincipally (and increas- ingly so) with large covered boats and drift-nets. Each net is 20 to 30 fathoms broad and 80 to 120 meshes deep (breadth of meshes from 38 to 40 millimeters [about 1} inches] ), and 40 nets form a set. They are cast in the evening and taken up in the morning. During the period from 1879 to 1884 there were on an average engaged in these fisheries per annum 3,707 fishermen, with 974 boats with drift-nets. The aver- age annual yield was 5,580,000 mackerel, valued at 720,000 crowns [8192,960]. 272 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Where the mackerel fislieries cease, as they do uear Cape Stat, other very important fisheries commence in summer and autumn, and extend as far as the Pohir Sea, giving the largest yields on tlie coast of Fhi- mark. These are the so-called summer fisheries for ling {Lota moloa)^ Brosmius hrosme, Gadus carhonariuSj halibut, flounder, and other deep- water fish, which are carried on partly in open and partly in covered boats with lines and hand-lines, and extend beyond the 10-mile limit. The imi>ortance of these fisheries will appear from the fact that their yield comprises about 10 per cent of the entire yield of the Norwegian fisheries, and from 1809 to 1884 was valued at an average annual sum of 2,458,000 crov\'ns [$658,744]. Of late years these fisheries have in- creased considerably. The fish are prepared in various ways, salted or dried. The salmon and salmon-trout fisheries carried on near the coast and at the mouths of rivers have also increased very much since fresh sal- mon on ice have been exported. Difierent kinds of apparatus are em- ployed in the fisheries; stationary and drift nets, traps, lines, and fish- hooks or spears. From 18G9 to 1884 the average annual yield was 360,000 kilograms* [806,884 pounds], valued at 387,000crowns[$103,710J. The more important fishing stations are in the Skager Rack and in the North Sea. Of special interest are the Norwegian fisheries in the Polar Sea, which, exclusive of the spring cod and ling fisheries described above, are principally carried on beyond the 10-mile limit, by open and covered boats from Transoe, Hammerfest, and Yardoe. The most important fish caught are Deljphinapterus leucas, Scymmis horealis, codfish ; beside seals, walruses, and whales. The most important of these fisheries are the whale fisheries, which are i^rincipally carried on in the Varanger Fiord with steamers and harpoons fired from guns. After the fat has been removed from the whale the rest of the body is worked into guano. These fisheries have increased considerably during the last few years. In 1878 only 135 whales were caught, valued at 266,000 crowns [$71,288] ; while in 1883, 561 were caught, valued at 1,011,000 crowns [$270,948]. Walrus fisheries and seal fisheries are during the summer carried on near Spitzbergen, and from 1878 to 1884 yielded, on an average, annu- ally 433 walruses and 8,120 seals, besides whitefish, polar bears, rein- deer, and eider-down. The Scymnus borealis is caught with harpoons, partly with open boats near the coast, and partly with covered boats far out at sea. Its liver is used for preparing oil. From 1881 to 1884 there were annually engaged in these fisheries 22 open boats, each with 4 men, and 26 covered boats, each with 5 men. These fisheries yielded on an average 4,713 hectoliters t [124,894 gallons] of oil, valued at 94,000 crowns [$25,192]. Oldenburg, Germany, Ju7ie, 1886. *A kilogram equals 2.2046 pounds. t A hectoliter equals about 26J United States standard or wino gallons. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 273 Vol. VI, jVo. 18. Washing^ton, D. €. Not. 13, 1886. S3 :VK\V E.XD FlimiEKIES I\ SEPTE.IIBER, 1SS6. By ^V. A. \VIL,COX. Mackerel have continued scarce both oli" the United States and pro- vincial shores. The first of the month found a largfe portion of the mack- erel vessels from the United States in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Much of the time high winds and rough weather detained them in har- bors. Two vessels belonging at Portland, Me., in making Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, in stormy weather, collided and became a total loss; the crews were saved. The fleet received much damage and lost many seine boats. A number of vessels that had secured good fares ar- rived home and immediately returned, meeting with others coming away with few if any fish. Among the arrivals during the month are the following from voj'ages of from one to two months or more spent in the Gulf of Saint Law- rence : Name. Home port. Barrels of mackerel. Schooner Fannie L. Xye Boston 80 Philadelphia, Pa Srh(»nnf r T,nP v W T)\ pr - ......... Portland, Me Gloucester, Mass 40 Schoouer Canopus (eight weeks) Schooner Henry Friend Sfhnfuif r K R Nickerson -..-- do 30 Swan's Island, Me 40 Boothbay, Mo 50 Srhoonfr N^nthan Cleaves. ..................... Wellfleet, Mass 77 do 10 Sphonripr AmiP" Pervere . .......... do do 10 Srhnonf*r T*Ieia,flp^ _... ........... do 40 Schooner Millie Washburn Provincetown, Mass 55 This list could be largely extended, but will suffice as showing the scarcity of mackerel during the month. The total amount landed iu sea-packed barrels at Xew England ports from all the fishing grounds was only 21,736 barrels, against 58,196 barrels in September, 1885. Owing to the scarcity and poor prospects of a catch, the market has held firm, and prices have slowly advanced from $12 a barrel on the first of the mouth to $14 at the close, for fish sea-packed. Inspected fish were selling for 818 to 822 for Xo. I's, 812 to $13 for No. 2's, and $10.50 for No. 3's. Fish caught off the Xew England shore brought an advance over prices named, which are for mackerel caught in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Shore herring appeared off Wood Island, Maine, on September 15, about the usual time that they are found there. The fishermen have Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 18 274 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. had a fair catch, and remained there during the month. The herring fleet numbered one hundred and fifty sail, mostlj^ small vessels, aver- aging three men and six nets each, vessels having from three to twelve nets according to size and number of crew. The average catch has been 100 barrels to a vessel, or total to September 30, 15,000 barrels. The fish have remained off Wood Island much longer than usual. At the close of the month fishermen were watching for them off Cape Ann, but with the exception of a few scattering fish none had been caught. On Sep- tember 22 and 23, 1885, 1,800 barrels of shore herring were taken iu Gloucester Harbor. A few days more will probably find the fish and fleet around the shores of Cape Ann. The herring are of good size and quality and full of roe. Codfish, halibut, and mackerel, the leading salt-water food-fish, all show a large decrease in receipts as compared with September, 1885. Receipts of codfish at Gloucester from George's and Brown's Banks show a falling off of 1,095,000 pounds; this is accounted for from ves- sels having fished more on Western Bank, where fish and squid were plentiful, vessels securing good fares landing 1,511,000 pounds, against none from there during September, 1885. The fish from the latter bank ■were of larger size and better quality than for a number of years. The total receipts of cod at Gloucester during the month were 2,800,000 pounds less than for the corresponding month last year. The extreme low prices have prevented any cargoes coming in foreign bottoms, against seven cargoes of over 2,000,000 pounds in September, 1885. Off the jSTew England coast codfish have been more abundant than of late vears. The shore catch are considered better fish and bring higher prices than those from any other fishing grounds except George's Bank. Some ex- tra large fish were found quite near the coast; one weighing 65 pounds was taken only 3 miles from Eastern Point light, Gloucester Harbor, by Capt. Jewett Wilcox, of Chicago, a summer visitor. The Grand Banks codfish fleet have nearly all returned to homo ports, having secured full fares and met with no serious losses. Bait has been plentiful on the fishing banks. On Western Bank squid have been very abundant, vessels taking all they wanted, often leaving port without any bait, depending entirely on catching plenty on the fishing grounds, in which they were not disappointed. Weirs and traps at nearly all points located between New Castle, N. H., and Maine ports as far as Southwest Harbor, have at all times had an abundance of herring bait. At Cape Cod the weirs have had a light catch of any kind of fish during most of the month. The traps in Glou- cester Harbor have taken but few herring or mackerel. Halibut have continued scarce. The receipts show a large decrease from those of the corresponding month last year. Vessels that went to Iceland for halibut are returning with only partial fares, caused more from having liad unfavorable weather for fishing than from a scarcity of fish. Hake, haddock, and cusk have been found fairly abundant, the catch off the eastern coast having been an average one. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 275 Trade lias improved during the month, large quantities of fish being daily distributed and going into immediate consumption. With the ex- ception of mackerel, prices have ruled very low on all the leading varieties. Mackerel landed iy the New England fleet, in sea-packed barrels, at all ports. Time. Up to September September 1 to 8 September 9 to 15 September IG to 22.... September 23 to 30 Total to October 1883. 91, 299 10, 904 13,193 13, 566 18, 074 147, 036 18S4. 221,440 42, 319 27, 331 28, 608 34, 327 354, 025 1885. 223, 152 29, 454 6,435 9,235 13, 072 281, 348 1886. 37, 303 5,502 5,507 8,267 2,460 59, 039 Numier and location of fishing vessels from New England ports on September 30, 1886, Location. •Grand "Banks Grand Banks Banquereau East of Sable Island , Between George's and Brown's Banks . George's and Brown's Banks Sable Island Bank Otf the New England coast On the way home from trips to Iceland . Gulf of Saint Lawrence OS the New England coast Total Object. Codfish Halibut ...do ...do ....do Codfish ....do Ground fish. Halibut Mackerel . . . ....do No. of sail. 25 20 10 10 15 195 40 250 2 90 125 782 Beceipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in September, 1886. From— Salt cod- fish. Fresh halibut. Salt hake. Salt had- dock. Salt pol- lock. Salt cask. Mack- erel. Her- ^^^^^ George's Bank 58 34 8 3 16 2 4 1 30 4 1 19 3 9 1 36 Lbs. 1, 023, 000 1, 159, 000 162, 000 Lbs. 148, 560 3,150 241,000 390, 000 361, 800 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 12, 000 Bbls. BUS. Lbs. Brown's Bank Grand Banks Iceland Banquereau...- 100, 000 JelFrev's Bank. ...... 20, 000 Bav of Fundy 74, 000 45, 000 1, 511, 000 ""i.5,"66b 33, 000 Nova Scotia, Cape shore . Western Bank 2,900 75, 000 15, 000 La Have Bank Cashe's Bank 4,000 60, COO New England shore Do 56, 000 6,064 518 Do 482 Greenland and Flemish Cap 30, 000 40, 000 Gulf of Saint Lawrence .. 8,983 Total, September, 1886 . 229 4, 152, 000 1, 277, 410 04,000 j 56, 000 20, 000 12, 000 9,465 518 1 6,064 Total, September, 1885 . 353 6, 952, 000 2, 375, COO 41,000 47, 000 26, 580 3,135 12, 600 September, 1886, additional from small shore boats : 38,000 pounds of hake; 12,000 pounds of cod. Gloucester, Mass., October 14, 1886. 276 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 84 FIVE RECEIPTS FOK COOKtIVO CARP. The followinir receipts were transmitted by Herr von Behr, in a letter to Professor Baird, from Sclimoldow, Germany, dated December 21, 1885. He spoke of these recipes as being methods for cooking the carp in German fashion, and hoped that they would be extensively tried in America. (1) Blue carp. — Do not scale the carp, but cook it until done, in strong salt water, with vinegar, spices, pepper, and parsley roots, and serve with the following sauce : To 1 pint of white sauce, cooked until it thickens, add several table-spoonfuls of herb vinegar, one-fourth of a pint of sour cream, and some horseradish (one-fourth of a common- sized root) grated fine. (2) Another style of blue carp. — Do not scale the carp, and cook until done in strong salt water, with vinegar, spices, pepper, and onions. Serve with melted butter and a hard-boiled egg chopped fine or sliced, or with fresh butter beaten until it resembles whipped cream. (3) Bohemian carp. — In killing the carp save the blood and stir it with some vinegar; cut the carp in pieces and cook in the following sauce : Take one bottle of claret (Bordeaux) to 4 J pounds of carp, about 4 ounces of butter, 4 ounces of gingerbread, spices and pepper to flavor. Cook until it thickens somewhat, and, when boiling hard, put in the pieces of fish, well salted, and cook them until done. Or, instead of taking only claret, take one-half beer and one-half claret, and cook with it soaked raisins and prunes, which are left in the sauce and served with it. (4) Fried carp. — Scale and clean the fish, and make some slight incisions on both sides; if too large, cut in jneces. Just before putting the fish in the boiling lard, wii)e it dry, sprinkle slightly with flour, dip in beaten eggs, and roll in fine bread-crumbs. Put one piece after the other into the boiling lard, so that the pieces do not touch each other. As soon as a piece ceases to hiss it will quickly assume an even brown color and rise to the surface. When sufiiciently brown take it out with a large spoon and lay on a hot sieve to let the superfluous lat run ofl"j sprinkle with tine salt, and lay in a hot dish without cover, so as to pre- vent the crisp crust from becoming soft. Serve very hot. (5) Baked carp. — Scale and clean the carp, salt and pepper strongly, wrap in paper thickly buttered on the inside, again wrap in several sheets of paper which have been moistened, so as to prevent the ashes from penetrating. Bake half an hour in very hot wood ashes, covering the fish thickly with ashes. Berlin, Germany, December 21, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 277 85 ANOTHER RECEIPT FOR COOKBXO CARP. By JULIUS OROSS. In my family, carp have beer eaten at all seasons of the year, but they are preferred during spring and fall. The spawning fish, either immediately before, during, or just after spawning time, are not fit to €at. We have cooked carp with and without the scales; but like them better with the scales, as a kind of jely is then formed on the fish. They have been cooked in several different ways, but the following is the one that we prefer: Baked carp. — Bake in an oven with butter sauce ; use spice, such as lemon and laurel leaf, according to taste. After the carp are fin- ished and on the dish, a sauce of cream and eggs should be poured over them. Columbia, III., October 18, 1886. «6.-RECORD OF HA DROORAPUIC SOUiVDIIVCiS APVD DREDOIIVO STATIO."VS OCCUPIEO BV TBE STEADIER ALBATROSS ITS 18S6. By L r* c^ jQ t> X X 00 M n tA *— c-i t-totoxt'iiN'Hr-it>r5X(Ni.'tmcJt-i.ot-»^ a •90T!JJrag ■jiy 05rH«offli-ir^oxo5S500M-^o-^»M-*!0'^i>t-cix»xwu';-*?5co(Moq«e-ioc a o o 'o o C3 (-< ci o a a. Mcc^ £12. 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C ^. ^. . -• >". — — tl S -^ t^ t^ sJ U ;^ tJ t-' >-.>■. t^. 0 t^. >. >i >. >: >i-li1 d C>.-i^ 3 i^ ^ tt tx u tc tuc^ w^ ^ ^ uO ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ tx cjc t£ 01 1£ tJD tt tt y; ti-^ y tf^ u 02 13 u'^ 1-- .— I -^ r— o X; C:«DC :^ 00 ■»i' ':ooio»ftiooooo-£;ccc'i!Mco«)i>i:'i-icso030 t^ Li CD o: o ^- i?^ »^ 000000000000000000000000000000000000 — ooooorcoooooooofOfooooccooooooooooooooo c; T'J 1;^ c^ 71 -- r: -^ s; o o o p C'l ac rt ^ -*■ X — -^ ri rt ri o -*■ f- * 1^ o ci c^ c. 1-1 cJ in "f ^ 7J ^ L* ^ "_ *i ^ '-"^^ -^ ^ rr ^ o r: ^ L- r: ^ u- w re -^ ^j »•* __; o ^ — ^j ^^ o ^ lO o tt u ijt u ti i'c ti ii. u it u*i •-^♦i-^.J*;*^*^*^*;-^;*: 3-- — — — --«• — — -- — ^^^^^ ^^ ^ ^ :Z. S- ^*- -*343+J+34i*J*i43*3+34D*3 >S3 TO 1S86. By LOREIV W. GREEIV. I liave lately visited all the salmou cauueries on the Sacramento River and seen their agents, for the purpose of obtaining the statistics of the catch of salmon for this and past seasons. Among the results of my visit is a table giving the pack of salmon (in cases, each containing 48 one-pound tin cans) for each river on the Pacific coast for the years 1883, 1884, 1885, and 1886, which is appended to this report. Also I append a table showing the names of the canneries on the Sacramento Eiver, with their locations, brands, and agents at San Francisco. In the year 1883 but little effort was made to secure all the salmon required, and large numbers were allowed to pass on their way to the headwaters for the purpose of depositing their spawn. In 1884 a scarcity was noticeable, and immediately seines were en- larged, more boats and men employed, and fishing was carried on gen- erally with greater diligence. But, notwithstanding all the extra exer- tion employed, the decrease from the pack of 1883 on the Sacramento Eiver alone was 65,000 cases, and the decrease of those reaching the headwaters was, at a moderate estimate, 60 per cent. In 1885 fishing was again diligently carried on from the beginning to the end of the season, and the decrease from 1884, as seen by the figures given, was 46,500 cases. The number of salmon reaching the headwaters was only about one-half as many as those of the preceding year. During the present year (1886) the agents have used all available means for securing a large number of fish. As the demand for canned salmon is steadily increasing, upwards of 1,000 boats and 2,000 men were employed in fishing for salmon on the Sacramento Eiver. But it must be stated that matters have been somewhat unfavorable for them in this year's fishing, for in the early spring the water was unusually high, which confined these fishermen more to the bars and allowed a considerable percentage of the first run to pass their seines ; also, the California fish commissioners caused a law to be passed prohibiting the fishing with seines after September 1, which was one month sooner than in past seasons. The total number of cases canned for this season was 30,000. In talking with the agents of the canneries, as well as with those en- gaged in the fishing, I found them to differ somewhat in opinion as re- gards the cause of this decrease in salmon. Some believed that the sea- lions are doing great damage in the way of destroying the large salmon as they come in from the ocean on the way to their spawning grounds. Others, that the catfish are very destructive, following the salmon to BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 287 their spawning grounds and feeding upon tlieir eggs and young fry. Some bold that the natural spawning grounds are being destroyed by mud and rubbish from mining operations. Another thing proposed as the cause is the excessive and destructive mode of fishing practiced by the Chinese in the Sacramento River. It shoukl be stated also that many i)eople in the upper counties along the Sacramento attribute this decrease of salmon principally to the excessive fishing at the canneries. I have taken much pains to ascertain the cause of this decrease, and have followed the Sacramento River from the ocean to its headwaters. Beginning with the sea-lions in the Bay of San Francisco, it is safe to say that they destroy a great many large salmon that otherwise would ascend our rivers, but I see no reason for supposing that the number destroyed of late years is in excess of their consumption of previous years. Taking the catfish into consideration, it is probable that a small per- centage of the young fry, as they first rise from tbeir gravelly beds, find their way into the stomachs of these ugly little catfish, yet I think to no alarming extent. In our rivers also, where salmon deposit their eggs on the swift riffles over clean, gravelly beds, I think that very few of these eggs are disturbed by the catfish, which are more inclined to follow the slow, muddy places in the river. As regards the Chinese, it must be borne in mind that they are not communicative in respect to any matter of business in which they are interested, and they will not knowingly impart any information that may in the slightest degree be utilized by those of other races. Yet by closely inspecting the streams near the locality in which they reside, it is found that they are using a beardless hook, something of their own manufacture and peculiar in shape. Strong lines are placed across the stream or a portion of it, as the case may be. These hooks are fastened to short leaders, which vary in length, and which are suspended from the main line to a depth of 1 foot from the surface to the bottom of the river. Hundreds of hooks are used on a line, and quantities of the larger fish are caught as they endeavor to pass ; many more are fatally wounded, but make their escape, only to die in the streams above. They also take many young fish, which are dried and exported to China, I also found a point of the river, near Sacramento, where many of the vounff salmon are lost in their downward course to the ocean. It is a well-known fact that for the past few years the bed of the Sacramento River has gradually been rising, caused by hydraulic mining on the streams above, and the filling up of the river has caused an overflowing of its banks during high water. Levees have been constructed to pre- vent damage of property in the city, and to confine the water to its own channel, but at present many places in the levees are broken, and there are also points some distance above where in high water the river over- flows and sinks into a large tract of marsh land. In seasons when the first rise of water, which carries the young salmon down to the ocean, 288 BUILETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. overflows the banks, a great many of the young fish are carried through the breaks and low places and are left to die by thousands. At other seasons, when the first rise is moderate, they go safely to the ocean through the main channel. Whatever may be the cause, or the combination of causes, all parties agree in the opinion that artificial hatching and the restocking of our streams is the onlj' means by which the required supply of salmon can be maintained ; and that unless iueasures are taken other than those now in operation the salmon supply in our rivers must soon become exhausted. No artificial hatching has been done, and consequently no young salmon have been planted in our rivers, since the suspension of the United States salmon breeding station on the McCloud River. The California State hatchery, which was established on Hat Creek in 1885^ has thus far been of no use, owing to the fact that salmon do not run there in sufficient numbers to justify the taking of eggs. United States Trout Ponds, McCloud River Station, Baird, CaL, October 4, 1886. Table I. — Siatisiics of the packing of salmon on the Pacific coast from Idb3 to I8S6, showing the total production for each river. Locality/ Sacramento Eiver, California; Eel River, California Kogue River, Oregon Coquille River, Oregon Unipqua River, Oregon Smith's River, Oregon Tillamook River, Oregon Olnmbia River, Oregon and Washington Ter. Puget Sound, Washington Fraser River, British Columbia Rivers in Biitish Columbia Alaska 1883. Cases. 100, 000 15, 000 16, 000 7, OCO 629, 400 175,000 §68, 000 36, 000 Total 1,106,400 1864. Cases. 95, 000 8,000 12, 000 7,300 3, 700 5. 000 4.500 C29, 000 175, 800 45, QUO 985, 300 1885. Cases. 48, 500 5. 700 9,100 3. 8(i0 10, 500 1, ."too 9,800 553, 800 48, 500 106, 900 74, 800 872, 900 1886.t 30, 00 0 2,000 521, 000 lOO.OOO 653, 00i> * The reports from other rivers in California have not yet been obtained. tThe 1886 statistics are incomplete. ; The estimated pack on the Sacramento previous to 1883 was : 1878, 36,500 ; 1879, 31,000 ; 1881, 181,200; 1882, 200,300. § Exclusive of the Eraser River pack. 1880,51.000 Table II. — Salmon canneries on the Sacramento Eiver, Name of cannery. Location. Benicia Packing Company . . . Beuicia Caiquinez Packing Company. do Booth & Co., S '. Black Diamond Joseph Hume do Bra O ^ ob:^*j*^:o:5 0o:oo:^ocoooooo-oocoo:o»OiS50:o! ci w M CO iH .— ^ ci c^] w c^ c^i c^i '^J c^i !^^ cj >i CS ■a Cm a 1 s a s • • • >= >> >■. • ■ -w W ^ . 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By E. G. BLACKFORD. The statistics of tbe catch of shad in the Upper Hudson, which ex- tends from Albany to Highland Falls (some 2 miles below West Point), were compiled by Mr. Matthew Kennedy, of Hudson, X. Y., and those for the Lower Hudson, which extends from Peekskill to Xew York Bay, were collected by Mr. Joseph H. Godwin, jr., of Kiugsbridge, N. Y. The above gentlemen took account of all shad caught in the Hudson and sent to other than New York markets. In New York City Mr. W. H. Faulhaber obtained statistics of all shad on the west side of the city, while the iigures for the east side, comprising Fulton Market and vi- cinity, were gathered by Mr. L. T. Herrmann. A summary of these statistics is as follows : Sold in the New York markets 796,312 Additional catch in the Upper Hudson 276, 273 Additional catch in the Lower Hudson 102, 250 Total -..- 1,174,835 The average price of the catch for the season was S15 j)er hundred, making the total value of the catch at wholesale prices $176,225.25. From information received from fishermen and shippers it seems that the catch in the upper portion of the river shows a decrease of about 40 per cent as compared with the previous five years , and between Albany and Barrytown the catch this year as compared with that of five years ago is one-half less, and with ten years shows a decrease of about two-thirds. Less fishing is done on this account, some grounds being entirely abandoned, and others but i^artially fished. South of Barrytown, however, there is an increase in the number of nets and fisliermeu, which makes it all the more difiicult for the shad to reach their natural spawning grounds. The fishermen report the season also a poor one in the lower part of the river, the principal reason given being the cold weather during the early part of the season, when the best catches are usually made. Dur- ing the early run of the fish, moreover, the nets were more or less choked up with a weed or grass (called "oakum") from the bottom, which occasioned great inconvenience and prevented the taking of many fish. More shad were taken by drift-nets and fykes in shallow water and on the flats than for several years before. This is perhaps due to the fish leaving the cold deep water and seeking for warmth in the shallow waters. Brooklyn, N. Y., Avgvst 13, 1885. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 295 90 REPORT OIV THE SHAD WORK OF THE STEAMER rrOOKOUT DIRINO THE SEASOi^r OF 1»$»G. By l^Iate JAilIES A. SMITH, U. S. ]V., Commanding:. [Abstract.] The work iu gatheriug, transferring, and batching the spawn and depositing the fry of shad, performed by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Lookout during the season of 18S6, covered the time from April 27 to May 23, inclusive. The greater part of the eggs obtained came from the Delaware Eiver, but about one-third were gathered at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay aud its inflowing streams. Most of the eggs were transferred to Battery Station or to the Fish Hawk, while some were hatched on board and deposited from the Lookout. During the season 3,000,000 fry were received from Battery Station aud deposited in the tributaries of the Upper Chesapeake. The season's work began on April 27 in the mouth of the Susquehanna Eiver, where the floats and gill-boats were visited, but no ripe spawn was obtained. On the 29th received 500,000 shad fry from Battery Station and deposited them in the mouth of !N'orth East River. From the gill-boats iu this vicinity obtained 520,000 eggs, which were trans- ferred the next day to Battery Station. On the 30th left this station, passed through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to the Delaware River, communicated with some of the fishing-shores, and late at night anchored off Gloucester City, K. J., a few miles below Philadeli^hia, which was a convenient point from which to visit many of the most im- portant shad fisheries in the river. On May 3 went to Wilmington, Del., for the purpose of having some repairs made, but returned to the spawn-taking work on the river dur- ing the afternoon. On the 5th the Fish Hawk arrived, and the Look- oat received orders to co-operate with her in gathering spawn, in obedience to which, the work was carried on conjointly for several days. On the 8th passed through the canal to Chesapeake Bay, and proceeded to Battery Station. On May 10 Commissioner S. F. Baird and Assistant Commissioner T. B. Ferguson came on board at Havre de Grace, apd were taken to Battery Station. All the eggs obtained during the last few days were transferred to the station, and several deposits were made on that and subsequent days in the Susquehanna, l!forth East, and Sassafras Rivers, of fry received from the station. Many of the fishing-shores and gill- ers in this region were visited almost daily, but comparatively small numbers of eggs were taken, as the shad were becoming scarce, and these were duly transferred to the station. On the 15th proceeded to Baltimore. 296 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. On May 18 left Baltimore and returned to Battery Station, where the gathering and transferring of spawn were resumed. On the 22d some of the fisheries had ceased operations and most of the gillers on the east side of the bay had stopped fishing for the season, so the spawn- takers from the Lookout were sent out to gather spawn in the immedi- ate vicinity of the station and to attend the gillers above the station, which resulted in getting 218,000 eggs on the 22d and 23d. On May 23, as the fishing season was about ended, orders were re- ceived to discontinue the operations by the Lookout. Appended will be found tables giving records of the shad operations during the season and of meteorological observations made in the vi- cinity of Havre de Grace and on the Delaware Eiver during a portion of the month of May. The total number of eggs procured by the crew of the vessel was 4,561,000. Table I. — Record of shad ojyeraiions conducted near Havre de Grace, Md., and on the Delaivare River, on the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Lookout. Kipe fish. Eggs ob- taiued. Whence obtained. Transferred to — Pish deposited. Battery Station. Fish Hawk. Number. Date. 05 o a Place. 1886. Apr. 29 30 8 3 11 5 520, 000 185, 000 North East Kiver. Delaware Eiver. . . 520, 000 *500, 000 Mouth of North East Kiver. May 1 2 1 3 4 11 9 7 12 6 14 11 11 12 222, 000 904, 000 637, 000 500, 000 672, 000 Delaware Kiver 4 do 5 do Q do 1, 156, 000 500, 000 7 g do 150, 000 Opposite Billings- port, Delaware Kiver. 9 50, 000 110, 000 *1, 500, 000 In channel, oppo- site Battery Sat- tion. In channel, oppo- site Battery Sta- tion. 10 11 12 13 Gillers 992, 000 84, 000 25, 000 222, 000 110, 000 2 1 4 2 2 1 6 3 84, 000 25, 000 222, 000 110, too Xorth East Kiver. . ...do tween Carpenter's Point and lied Bank. do *1, 000, 000 Opposite Ordinary Point, Sassafras Kiver. 14 do 15 ....... 16 17 18 1 1 49, 000 North East Kiver. 40, 000 19 20 3 2 3 4 76 4 3 4 5 99 130, 000 83, 000 103, 000 115, 000 North East Kiver. do 130, 000 83, 000 103, 000 115,000 21 22 do do 23 Total . 4, 561, 000 2, 433, 000 1, 656, 000 3, 310, 000 *Keceivcd from Battery Station. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 297 Table II. — Eecord of temperature observations made at Havre de Grace, Md., and on the Delaware Hirer, on the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Lookout, from May 1 to May 10, 1886. Date. 1886. May !• 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Temperature of air. 8a.. m. Date. 1886. May 1' 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 50 55 70 66 66 70 67 64 60 65 4p.m, o 56 72 80 75 78 80 60 59 75 78 12 mid- night. 52 53 54 64 62 58 64 58 70 Temperature of surface water. 8 a.m. 4p.m. 58 57 62 60 61 61 62 61 58 60 60 61 62 62 62 64 63 63 63 62 12 mid- night. 56 59 59 61 62 61 61 59 61 Temperature of bottom. 8 a.m. 4p.m o 58 53 60 60 61 61 61 58 60 58 60 60 60 62 63 63 63 63 62 12 mid- night. 58 59 59 61 62 61 61 59 60 Condition of sky. 8 a. m. Overcast Clear... ...do... ...do.... ...do.... Cloudy . Clear ... Cloudy . Clear... Cloudy . 4 p. m. Overcast Clear . . Par 1 1 y Cloudy Cloudv. ...do.:.. ...do.-.. Rain Cloudy . Clear ... ...do 12 mid- night. Overc'st. Clear. Do. Cloudy. Overc'st. Clear. Rain. Cloudy. Do. "Wind, direction. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. NE. 2^E. NE. KE. Calm. SW. SW. SSW. SW. SW. XE. NW. E. NE. NE. NE. XW. Calm. SE. Calm. 12 mid- night. KE. 2fE. SW. s. SE. s. NE. NW. Calm. "Wind, intensity. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. 8 5 1 3 7 1 3 10 0 0 12 mid- night. 9 4 2 2 3 1 10 3 0 State of tide. 8 a.m. Flood Ebb ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do .. .do ...do 4 p.m. Ebb ...do ...do ...do ...do ...do Flood Ebb ...do ...do 3 2 mid- night. Flood. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. * The bottom thermometer in use was No. 5264. 91.— CATCH OF SnAD Ii\ CONIVECTICTJT FOR 1886. By ROBERT B. CHALKER. The statistics of the catch of shad for the year 1886 in the State of Connecticut are as follows : POUND FISHERIES. From the mouth of the Connecticut Kiver to New Haven Harbor : 15 traps in Saybrook 23,200 22 traps in Westbrook 34,300 11 traps in Clinton 12,400 10 traps in Madison 5, 100 7 traps in Guilford 1,100 7 traps in Branford 3,300 3 traps iu East Haven. >.. 800 Total shore fisheries 80,200 298 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, RIVER FISHERIES. Thames River 45 Connecticut River and tributaries : Hauling- seines 12, 000 Gill-nets : 33 from Saybrook Bar to Essex Reach 21, 500 5 at Esses Reach 2, 500 5 at Brocliway's Reach 2. 700 12 at Chester Reach 7, 800 46,500 Quinepiac River, 7 hauliug-seines 3, 000 Housatonic River : 12 hauliug-seines 16,800 52 gill-nets 8,000 24,800 Total river fisheries 74,345 Total catch of shad in the State 154,545 The fishermen have no theory regarding the remarkable decrease in the catch of shad this year,* as the weather and the condition of the water were what have always been considered favorable. The shad did not appear npon the coast in schools as usual, but the daily catch was very uniform, and the fish were large and good ; those weighiug 7 pounds were frequently taken. It is a remarkable fact that no ale- wives were seen in the Thames either before or during the season. The first shad was caught in the Counecticut River, at Essex Eeach, on April 2; the next was caught in a gill-net, weight 5 pounds; and the first caught by the shore fishermen was in a pound 8 miles west of the mouth of the river, on April IG. There were none caught in the pounds di- rectly at the mouth of the Connecticut till April 24. The contract l^rice for the season was 15 cents per shad, delivered at the i^acking places. The average price of those sold by commission dealers was 25 cents. As heretofore, the river fishermen speak of the dead shad and other fish seen floating on the water. It is their opiuiou that it is caused by the pollution of the streams. Saybrook, Conn., August 20, 188G. * An editorial in the Hartford Times of June 22, 1886, says : The reasons given for the decrease are many and varied ; but u])on one fact all fishcnneu agree, that since the building of the new jetties at Saybrook Point, very few shad have entered the Connecticut River. The Connecticut fish commissioners in their annual report for 1886 say : "It is dif- ficult to account for these facts on any other theory than that the number of shad is gradually decreasing in consequence of the increased deniaud for them aud the con- stantly improving methods of capturing them. In other words, it is simply a ques- tion whether the natural propagation of the shad, combined with the operations of the commissioners along the coast in artificial hatching, shall prove sufficient to supply the demand of a constantly increasing population." BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 299 93 iVOTE-S OIV THE REO-SXAPPER FISHER&% By J. W. COLLIIVS. The following- notes relative to the past and present of the red-snap- per fishery on the coast of Florida are based on information gathered from Capt. Silas B. Latham, of Noank, Conn., who was one of the pioneers in this indnstry, and who still engages in it during the winter season. Fishing for red snappers on the west coast of Florida probably began some fifteen to twenty years previous to the civil war. Capt. James Keeny, a Connecticut fishermen, who used to go to the Gulf each winter in the smack Mississippi, beginning these trips nearly thirtj^ years before the war, often told the following story of the beginning of the red- snapper fishery: "On one occasion when I was on my way to Xew Orleans with a cargo of beach fish (pompano, sheepshead, red-fish, &c.), I got becalmed when several miles off shore. We had just finished eating, and the cook came on deck and threw over some refuse from the table. The vessel lay motionless, and very soon many strange looking red fish were seen in the water alongside, eagerly feeding on the material the cook had thrown overboard. We quickly baited some lines and threw them out, and the fish bit as fast as we could haul them in. Xearly two huudreil snap- pers were caught, which we took to JSTew Orleans, where they sold like hot cakes." The fishermen knew nothing of the offshore grounds of the Gulf at that time, according to Captain Latham, who says that Captain Keeny and his crew did not even know that they were on soundings — that is. in less than 100 fathoms, where they caught the first red snappers. This lack of knowledge of the soundings in the Gulf delayed the dis- covery of the red-snapper banks, even after this accidental capture by Captain Keeny. But when they were ultimately found, the snapper met with a fair demand in the Southern markets. At the start all fish of this species were taken only on welled ves- sels. If the smacks ran to New Orleans, the snappers were kept alive until the vessels entered the Mississippi. A few hours later, with the assistance of a tug, they would arrive at the city. Captain Latham says that he was the first to use ice in the Gulf fish- ery for the purpose of preserving fresh fish on board a vessel. In the spring of 1SG8 he purchased 8 tons of ice to use on beach fish caught at Tampa Bay. He paid $25 per ton for the ice. He iced his cargo of fish, including a considerable number of red snappers which he caught on his way from Tampa to Mobile. For this innovation, he was called the " crazy Yankee." For several years past, Captain Latham has fished on the east side of Florida, landing his catch chiefly at Savannah for shipment to New 300-- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. York. He generally fishes for red snappers from off Cape Canaveral southwardly to Indian Eiver, in 12 to 15 fathoms of water. Compara- tively few snappers are caught north of Cape Canaveral, the grounds north of the cape being of little value in winter except for the capture of blackfish and various other species, most of which are not commer- cially valuable. The fishing-grounds on the Atlantic side differ materially from those on the west side of Florida. While the favorite localities for red-snap- per fishing in the Gulf are generally depressions of the sea bottom, com- monly called "gullies" by the fishermen, on the east coast the snapper is found most abundant on narrow coral ridges, which usually run paral- lel with the coast line, and are elevated 2 or 3 feet above the bottom immediately surrounding them. Some of these ridges are not more than 100 feet wide, while others may be 300 feet wide or more. The methods of fishing differ somewhat from those commonly em- ployed in the Gulf. On the Atlantic side it is seldom that a vessel anch- ors, the common practice being to fish "at a drift." Occasionally a " bunch of fish " is struck late in the day, and then it is usually the best plan to anchor and hold on until next morning, when fishing can be re- sumed, for it seldom happens that red snappers bite so well at night as they do by daylight. Eed snappers are not nearly so abundant on the east coast as they are on the west coast of Florida, but they average larger in size. A vessel carrying a crew of seven men will make a trip in about two weeks, and an average fare will be about 6,000 pounds. The Connecticut vessels fishing on the east coast generally carry from home several barrels of salt menhaden for a reserve supply of bait. The greater part of the bait, however, is obtained on the fishing-grounds, refuse fish being used for this purpose, among which sharks are highly esteemed. Sometimes bait is obtained from the fish-traps along the coast. The food of the snapper is various. Captain Latham says he has often caught snappers off the Saint John's Eiver, Florida, which, after being taken on deck, disgorged small mackerel of "spike" size, which he thought were of the common species [Scomber scomhrus). The oSTew York and Connecticut vessels generally ship their fish through to New York, where their agents dispose of the catch. The price received for the fish is governed by the supply and demand, and is influenced to a lesser extent by the size of the fish, a small red snap- per being relatively much more valuable than a large one. Gloucester, Mass., November ]0, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 301 93 CATCH OF SHAD IN THE ]>EL.AWARS: RIVER FOR 1S85. By P. F. JANIV. The statistics of the catch of shad in the Delaware Eiver during the season of 1885 are as follows : Shad catch of 1885. Canp;lit in gill-nets and sent to Philadelphia 502, 786 Caught in seines and sent to Philadelphia 242,710 745,496 Sold at Chester, Marcus Hook, and Wilmington 200,000 Sold at Penn's Grove, N.J 55,000 Sold at Pennsville, N.J 15,000 Sold at Trenton, Beverly, Billingsport, Burlington, &c 75, 000 345,000 Shipped from Stow Creek to New York City 50,000 Total 1,140,496 Shad were received at Philadelphia from April 9 to June 10. The largest number on any one day was on April 29, when 71,008 shad were brought to the Philadelphia markets. The average price during the season was about $22.50 per hundred. The total catch of 1,140,496 is the largest that has been known on the Delaware for several years. Philadelphia, Pa., June 24, 1885. 94 — CATCH OF 8HAD IIV THE DEIiA^VARE RHVER FOR 1SS6. By p. F. JAWN. The statistics of the catch of shad in the Delaware Eiver during the season of 1886 are as follows : Shad catch of 1886. C aught in gill-nets and sent to Philadelphia 347, 494 Caught in seines and sent to Philadelphia 191,523 539,017 Sold at Chester, Pa 120,000 Sold at Marcus Hook, Pa 50,000 Sold at Wilmington, Del 70,000 Sold at Penn's Grove, N. J 30,000 Sold at Pennsville, N. J 10,000 Sold at Trenton, Beverly, Billingsport, Burlington, &c 25,000 305,000 Shipped from Stow Creek to New York 30,000 Total » 874,017 302 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FJSH COMMISSION. The catch for the Delaware in 18SG shows a considerable falling off, while the southern catch and that in the Hudson Eiver show an in- crease. The gains in the different sections depend much upon the weather. Elizabeth City, N. C, and vicinity, had an exceedingly good catch, while considerable amounts were taken in South Carolina and Florida. Philadelphia, Pa., July 29, 1886. 95.— OISTRIBUTIOiV OF iiillAO FRV DURIIVC 1SS6. By m. MCDONAI.D. The total distribution of shad fry for the season of 1886 amounts to over 90,000,000. As the entire number of shad taken for market is something less than 6,000,000, it will be seen that for every shad taken from the waters this season for market, there have been aTtificially hatched and returned to the waters fifteen young shad. Assuming that the entire cost of i^roduction and distribution has been $20,000 (and it will not exceed this), the young fish have been produced and dis- tributed over the entire United States at a rate of about 8215 for a mil- lion, or about forty-six fry for a cent. Another interesting fact to note is that for the entire time up to and including 1882 there were produced 200,000,000 young shad ; while for 1886 alone the total was over 90,000,000. This indicates that we are certainly getting to a point where the work may be regarded as profit- able from a commercial standpoint. The following is a summary of the shad distributed during the season of 1886, arranged by river basins : Tributaries of Narragausett Bay 2, 534, 000 Tributaries of Long Island Sound 749, 000 Hudson Eiver 2,312,000 Delaware Eiver 21,618,000 Tributaries of Chesapeake Bay 52,560, 000 Tributaries of Albemarle Sound ^ 1,990.000 Streams draining into the Atlantic south of Albemarle Sound 4, 183, 000 Mississippi Eiver and minor tributaries of Gulf of Mexico 4, 758, 000 Colorado Eiver, Gulf of California 850, 000 Columbia Eiver Basin 850, 000 \ Total 92,404,000 Washington, D. C, July 21, 1886. BULLETIN or THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 3 03 96.-DESCRIPTION OF CAKP rOIVDS AND ^VATEB OATE. By JULIUS OROSS. Carp Ponds. — Pond No. 1 is u spawuiug poud, 150 by 17q feet. This slopes from 1 inch to 8 feet in depth, and is supplied with spring water, which is brought about 1,200 feet in tile pipes. Pond Ko. 2 is a little hatching pond, 40 by 50 feet, which slopes from 1 inch to 3 feet in depth, and receives its water from Ko. 1, while its outflow empties into No. 3. Pond No. 3 is a raising or stock pond, 200 by 300 feet, sloping from 6 inches to 8 feet, and supplied with water from a creek. N'7. Spaxftdng Tcnd^ \A ?50 '.775 '.Xlqiih rio3'. I have found that the best way of transferring the eggs from No. 1 to No. 2 is by putting live cedar brush into the spawning pond, and after tlJfe eggs are deposited they can easily be removed to the hatching pond. When the ponds are to be drained, all three empty into a creek which flows near by, and is several feet lower than the ponds. When No. 1 is drained to take out the young fish, the old ones are put into No. 2, where thej^ remain until all necessary repairs have been made. No. 1 is then filled to half its depth with back-water from No. 3, a fine strainer being kept in the inflow to prevent intruders from coming in with the back- water, while the spring fills the remainder of the pond. The spawning- fish are then replaced in No. 1. Water Gate. — At the outflow of a carp pond there is apt to be some trouble, caused by leakage or by muskrats or crawfish making holes in the 304 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. dike. This may usually be avoided by constructing the outflow in the following way : In the middle of the dike, where the outflow goes through, a partition wall should be built of good oak jjlank, as shown in the sketch. A is a box of 2-inch oak plank, about 8 or 10 inches square, and long enough to j)ass underneath the dike. B is the overflow. G is the opening for draining the pond, while T> is a board acting as a lever to open and close C. This lever must work very easily. B is a screw-bolt fastened below. r is a little board f -inch thick, suflficient to cover the opening C. G is another screw-bolt similar to E. When the lever is in perpen- dicular position, the bolt is put through and the nut screwed on, making the opening 0 water-tight. CoLUiviBiA, III., October 18, 1886. 97.-AIUERICAIV FISH IIV TSEW ZEAL,AIVI>.* The authorities of New Zealand have sent to America for the ova of the landlocked salmon, the rainbow or California trout, the whitefish, and a fresh stock of the brook trout. The rainbow trout {Salmo irideus) will probably be an exceedingly valuable addition to the salmonoids in the waters of New Zealand, as it endures a high temperature, is not de- structive to its own kind, is a splendid food-fish, and afl"ords good sport. During 1880 and 1881 about 770 of the American brook trout {Sal- velinus fontinalis) were distributed among three of the rivers of New Zealand. No result has yet been reported from these ; but the adult fish in the care of the Acclimatization Society have done remarkably well and i^roduced a large quantity of ova, which, in spite of several mishaps, has resulted in about 2,500 fry being jilaced in a race. It is intended to keep the most of these fry until they are yearlings, and thus replenish the stock of parent fish. A number of the American catfish {Amiurus catus) were originally imported into Auckland from America in 1879; and they are now abun- dant in St. John's Lake and other waters. During last year Captain Fairchild brought a few to Dr. Hector, who liberated 30 in Mr. Percy's pond at Petone. They are said to be a harmless fish, of fair ediUle qualities, growing to a large size in waters unsuitable for Salmonidce, and easy of capture. Since 1875 nearly 10,000 fry of the California salmon [Salmo quinnat) have been distributed to such localities about the islands as seemed most suitable for the acclimatization and growth of this siiecies. Large shipments of the Atlantic salmon {Salmo salar) have been ob- tained from England, especially from the Tweed ; and since the last annual meeting 19,400 fry have been hatched and liberated. * Extracted from the aunual report of the Wellington and Wairarapa Acclimatiza- tion Society, September, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 305 Vol. VI, Ho. 20. Washington, D. C. No\. 94, 1 88G. 98 NOTES UPON Fliilll AND THE FISHERIES. [Extracted from the ofiBcial correspondence and compiled by the editor.] Statistics of the sea fisheries of France.* — The following tables give a recapitulatiou for two years of the sea fisheries of France l^roper and of the French colony of Algeria : Table I. — Quantity and value of the sea fisheries of France in 1883 and 1884. Kind. Cod pounds. Herring do... jy^ackerel do. . . Sardines number. Anchovies pounds. Otlier fish do. .. Oysters number. Mussels bushels. Other shell-fl-sh do... Lobsters, &c number. Shrimps pounds. Marine fertilizers cil feet. Total 1883. Quantity. 75, 834, 358 81, 248, 705 14, 624, 102 1, 148, 375, 978 4, 918, 075 116,875,405 157, 666, 246 1, 637, 526 825, 890 1, 712, 885 2, 902, 094 86, 722, 455 Talue. $3, 485, 176 2, 547, 034 706, 325 3, 894, 137 177, 553 6, 914, 475 437,450 513, 058 219, 622 434, 009 284, 995 1, 080, 962 20, 694, 796 1884. Quantity. 80, 510, 764 101, 352, 473 21,162,427 411,819,005 11,460,503 115,456,692 119, 277, 795 1, 361, 960 1, 040, 529 1, 927, 229 3, 466, 623 88, 174, 261 Value. $2, 643, 332 1, 720, 844 712,487 1, 702, 949 201, 354 7, 043, 843 336, 772 356, 549 246, 184 528, 184 365, 080 1,118,919 16, 976, 497 Value in 1884 com- pared with 1883. Increase. 6,162 23, 801 129, 368 26, 562 94, 175 80, 085 37, 957 Decrease. $841, 844 826, 190 2, 191, 188 100, 678 156, 509 3, 718, 299 Table II. — Quantity and value of the sea fisheries of Algeria in 1883 and 1884. • Kind. 1883. 1884. Value in 1884 com- pared with 1883. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Increase. Decrease. Mackerel pounds.. 790, 411 131,623,227 820, 451 6, 105, 807 27 542 29, Olll 126 161 46, 429 38, 902 7,716 29, 087 243 190, 450 $42, 009 141, 030 42, 491 329, 317 10, 739 62, 440 199 4,053 2,864 540 102, 1)49 753 560 847, 148 110,138,331 688, 031 7, 027, 057 34,510 30, 639, 640 207 95, 968 232, 136 112, 179 11,823 125 238, 020 $67, 753 134, 508 34, 455 356, 442 12, 890 43, 874 383 8,276 14, 924 7,724 42, 437 505 739 $25, 744 Sardines number.. $6, 522 8,036 Anchovies pounds. . other fish do 27, 125 2,151 Lobsters, &c number . . AUaches do 18, 566 Other shell-fish bushels.. 184 4,223 12, 060 7,184 Shrimps pounds . . Bonitoa do Tunnies do Coral do 59, 612 248 Mussels bushels.. Oysters number. . 179 Total 739, 044 724, 910 14, 134 * For an article on this subject, see F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. 219. Bull. U. S. F. C, 86 20 '6i)6 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COilMISSION. Exports of fishery probucts from Norway. — The tot.al value of the exportation of fishery products from Norway, calcuhited at the wholesale prices paid at the ports of exportation, and hence in- clusive of the Norwegian profit, was, from 18G6 to 1884, annually about 42,000,000 crowns [§11,256,000]. Norway therefore receives every year about the same sum for fish which Germany pays annually for fish imported from abroad. The lowest sum, 29,000,000 crowns [87,772,000], realized from the exportation of fish was in 1868, and the largest, 50,000,000 crowns [$13,400,000], was in 1881. From the year 1870 exportation has gradually increased. Of the total value of fish exported, 27,500,000 crowns [$7,370,000], or G5 per cent, were received for the products of the cod fisheries, namely, "klip-fish," "stock-fish," cod-liver oil, roe, fish-flour, guano, &c. ; while the products of the herring fisheries (salt and smoked herring and anchovies) represented 32 per cent, or 13,250,000 crowns [$3,551,000] ; and other fish 3 per cent, or 1,340,000 crowns [$359,120], as follows : 434,000 crowns [$116,312] for fresh salmon, 501,000 crowns [$134,268] for fresh mackerel, and 405,000 crowns [$108,540] for lobsters. The increase in the exportation of sal- mon and mackerel has been very considerable since 1876, principally owing to better methods of preserving these fish. The principal ports of exportation are Bergen ("stock-fish," cod-liver oil, roe, and salt herring), Christiansund ("klip-fish" and fish-guano), Christiansand and Farsund (salmon, mackerel, and lobsters), Bod in Northland and Vadsoe in Finmark (fish-guano). The following are the principal countries to which N(trway exports fish : " Klip-fish " to Spain ; " stock-fish" to Italy, Austria, Sweden, and Holland ; salt herring to Germany and Sweden ; mackerel, salmon, and lobsters to Great Britain ; cod-liver oil to Germany and Holland j roe to France; and fish-guano to Great Britain and Germany. Lobsters and oysters in Norway.— The lobster fisheries are also principally carried on in the Skager Rack and the North 6ea. North of Cape Stat very few are caught, aiid none at all in the Polar Sea. They are caught in fish-pots. From 1879 to 1884 the average annual yield was 1,175,000 lobsters, valued at 401,000 crowns [$107,468]. The greater portion is shipped to Eugland. The Norwegian oyster fisueries, carried on i)rincipapy in the Skager Rack, are inconsiderable, and yield annually about 240 hectoliters [679 bushels], valued at 6,900 crowns [$1,849.20]. Cod fisheries at Saint Pierre. — Reports from the French colony of Saint Pierre and Miquelon show that the cod fishermen there have been very successful in the amount of their catch. Five hundred boats have been engaged by them in transporting their fish ; and 13,000 quintals of cod had been taken to Halifax up to Sei)tember 15. The price was less tliau $2 ])er (|uintal, a figure tliat is unprecedentedly low. [From the French Moniteur de la PUcicaUurc. &c., 2d year. No. 20. Paris, Sep- tember 18, 1886.] BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 307 The Koosen peocess of treserving fish.* — lu dispatch oSTo. 79 to the State Department, from the United States consuhite at Leith (Ediuburgb), Scothiud, August 10, 1886, Consul Oscar Malmros spoke of obtaining an equipment for preserving fish by the "Eoosen" process, ■which was to be shipped to the Smithsonian Institution, and inclosed an article from the Fish Trades Gazette, of London, July 31, 188G, from which the following extract is made : The Eoosen process is now pretty well known in England, and it is generally accepted as being by far the most successful attempt to keep fish not only fresh, but also sweet, wholesome, and attractive for long periods. The process, it may be added, is not confined to fish, but has been applied with equal success to meat, game, fruit, &c. Experi- ments have been carried out in Scotland, and public demonstrations of the value of the process made in Edinburgh and Glasgow, where its merits have been recognized bj' the very highest authorities on the subjects of fishing and the fish trade. Messrs. Dufresne & Liiders, the agents of Mr. August R. Eoosen, of Hamburg, the inventor of the process, lately decided that it would be well to make the process better known in London, and accordingly invited a number of representative guests to witness the opening of several casks of fish preserved by the Eoosen process, and to taste the same when cooked. There was an excellent response to the invitation, the guests including many famous authorities in science and in medicine, as well as others holding impor- tant governmental i^ositious or being connected with commerce, not only in England, but also in the colonies and Indian Empire. Two casks, which had been closed for seventeen days, were opened before this company, and the fish when taken out were found to be perfectly sweet and fiesh, bright looking, and as attractive as the day they were caught. On being eaten they were iironounced excellent, and tlie ad- vantages of the ]>rocess were highly commended. It may be as well to give a brief description of the principles of the now famous Eoosen process. For many years the value of boracic acid has been recognized as a jjreservative agent, but it has been left for a German scientist to discover how properly to apply it and rid it of all obnoxious properties or efiects. This end is accomplished in the following manner : A strong cask of iron with an adjustable lid is provided, something like the well-known cans used for conveying milk, but considerably larger. In this galvanized-iron barrel are placed a certain i)roportion of water and a quantity of boracic and tartaric acid. The latter chemical has the effect of removing the slightest taste of the boracic acid, which, by the way, is perfectly harmless and even health- giving. The fresh fish are then placed in the liquid, as many as the cask will conveniently hold. The lid, whic^ is fitted with a large india- rubber ring, so as to make it perfectly air and water tight, is now ad- * For previous articles ou this subject, see Fish Commission Bulletin for 1836, pp. 65 and 109. 308 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. justed and secured. A small portable force-pump is uext fixed to a bole iu tbc lid, aud tbe water is pumped iuto tbe cask, expeUing all air, wbicb escapes at anotber little hole iu tbe lid. As soon as tbe cask is completely full aud tbe air expelled tbe water begins to flow tbrougb tbe latter aperture. An air tigbt cap is tben screwed tigbtly on this bole to prevent any furtber escape. Tben tbe pump is once more set to work forcing in water, until a gauge afi&xed to tbe pump shows a pressure of 90 pounds to tbe square inch. By an ingenious contrivance tbe second bole in the lid is now hermetically closed, and tbe force- pump removed. The effect of tbe enormous pressure on the water is to drive tbe chemical right into tbe veins and tissues of tbe fish, and so prevent organic change in any part. So well is this done that the fish will keep for any leugth of time, and may be sent with perfect safety to any part of the world. A WAY OF EXTEEMINATING FISH IN FINLAND.* — Xearthe place where the Lappo Eiver flows out of Lake Kuortane its water is compressed be- tween two rocky mountain sides, aud forms a little fall. In midsum- mer when tbe fish, especially the salmon which were strong enough, have reached a dike which blocks up nearly tbe entire river, and have gathered near the fall, a dam is constructed in the pass, with a small opening which can be closed with a gate. A little lower and in calmer water an obstruction is placed across the river, also with an oi)euiug closed by a large net. Tbe gate in tbe dike is now closed, tbe water falls, and with it some of the fish go iuto tbe net. The remaining fish are driven into it by pushing and chasing them, or are caught with band-nets, or killed with all sorts of weapons. When all the water has run out, the net is taken up aud the upper gate is opened, whereby a number offish are enticed to the returning water within tbe obstruc- tion. Tbe same process is repeated several times within a few days. In consequence the water iu tbe river several miles below begins to fall, and tbe few salmon which still ascend the river gather iu tbe boles, whence they either are taken alive or are clubbed to death. Men, women, and children engage in this work of destruction. The same scenes are repeated every year during midsummer, just about tbe time when tbe bream has deposited its spawn. No one thinks of what is to become of this spawn, which thus for two days lies dry, exposed to the sun and air, nor of all the young fish which are thus destroyed. The fishermen meanwhile very naively express their surprise at the fact that tbe fisheries have decreased from year to year, so that this year not a single salmon was caught. [From Sporten, Ilelsiugfors, Eussia, Sep- tember 15, 188C.] Spawning of fish in confinement. — Sea-trout have been artifi- ciallj' spawned with great success at tbe South Kensington aquarium, even from fish tliat had been kept in captivity for three years aud had never visited tbe sea. Tbe difterent species of tbe Salmonidcv living iu ""■Oeksd ettfiske!" Translated from the Swedish by Herman Jacobson. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 309 the tank are foiiud to pair quite readily with one another. Fish in cap- tivity yiekl their ova much later than they do when in a wild state, but of every thirty subjected to artihcial existence, only one is, on the average, found to be barren. [From the Popular Science Monthly, New York, November, 1886, p. 143.] Salmon in Scotland and shipments to New Zealand. — Mr. John Anderson, writing to Prof. S. F. Baird from Deuham Green, Edin- burgh, Scotland, on July 30 and September 6, 1886, speaks of the tak- ing of salmon eggs in Scotland and of shipments to New Zealand, sub- stantially as follows : For many years we in Scotland have been taking our salmon ova, as I thiuk, too late. There are five runs of salmon to each river during the year — coming in March, May, July, October, and December — and for forty years all the eggs have been taken in December. Now, it is im- possible that ova taken from a salmon in December should ever turn out early fry or salmon. It is not reasonable to look for early fry, if we hatch eggs only from late fish. I have also advised a change of breed from one river to another ; and have suggested means for pre- serving a greater percentage of the spawn and fry than is done under the present natural or even artificial conditions. I have just heard from New Zealand, that the 29,000 salmon smolts, 9 to 11 inches long, raised from what Mr. Farr took out last year from the river Tweed, were planted in the Southland Eiver in June, 1886, and are doing well. The salmon eggs sent out by Sir James Gr. Mait- land, which were taken from large salmon in December, 1885, were so paralyzed with cold (I suppose) that when the shells broke the fry could not stretch themselves out, but continued in a circular state for some time and then died. It is thought that the cold on the voyage was too severe; while perhaps the eggs were not far enough advanced on being shipped, or were taken from too late fish. Codfish on the North Pacific Coast in 1886.* — The last of this season's codfish fleet arrived on October 11. This was the schooner Czar, which has made three trips this season, as she also did last year. Though not the first vessel off this year, she was the first to return from the fishing-grounds, because her owners have established a fishing-sta- tion at Pirate Cove, at one of the Shumagin Islands. There are small vessels engaged in fishing off the islands all through the season, and the Czar is used simply for transporting the fish from the islands to San Francisco. Lynde & Hough, who have long been in this trade, have also this year established a fishing-station at the islands, the ma- terials for which were sent up by the Arago last January. As a result, one of their vessels, the Dashing Wave, made two trips this season. There were eleven vessels employed in the trade this year, against twelve last year ; but there were fourteen cargoes received in each year. The Shumagin Islands are 2,500 miles northwest of San Francisco; the * For statistics for I8S5, see Fish Commission Bulletin for 1866, p. 89. 310 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Behriiig Sea is about 3,500 miles, and tbe Okhotsk Sea is about 4,000 miles distant. Some details of the business this year will be found in the annexed table": Trips of the Noi-th Pacific codfish fleet of 1886. Name of vessel. Constitution i . rremont Jane A. Falkenburjgj San Luis Helen "VV. Aluiy Arago Czar (three trips) Dashing: Wave (two trips) Prancis Alice Isabel John Hancock Total.. Class. Barkentine . do do do Bark Schooner . .. do do do do do No. of crew. 35 ,S5 35 35 35 15 15 16 18 18 16 273 Destination. Okhotsk Sea do do do Behring Sea Shumagin Islands do do BehringSea Shumagin Islands do Days on passage. 150 164 137 151 155 256 155 162 103 130 115 Ko. of fish. 85, 000 140, COO 100, 000 102, 000 170, 000 60, 000 265, 000 108,000 CD, 000 92, 000 41,000 1,678 1,232,000 The catch the past season was taken from the following localities: Shumagin Islands 5GG, 000 BehringSea 239,000 Okhotsk Sea 427,000 Total 1,232,000 The fourteen cargoes were consigned to the following parties in San Francisco: Lynde & Hough McCollam Fishing and Trading Company N. Bichard , A. Anderson &.Co Total , Number of fish. 440, 000 4'!5, 000 256, 000 92, 000 1, 232, 000 It is diflicult to get at the exact facts and figures in this fishery, but the foregoing may be regarded as an accurate approximation. The aver- age weight of the fish this year was 3 pounds, which makes an aggre- gate of 1,848 tons for 1886. The number reported is the smallest in five years, there having been a steady falling off in the catch reported for the past four years. [From the San Francisco Bulletin, October 13, 1886.] Codfish in the great markets of the world*. — According tc calculations given in the Norwegian statistics of fisheries for 1880, there were annually brought into the markets of the world, during the period from 1872 to 1878, not less than 153,600,000 salt and dried cod- * " Klippfisch und Stockfisch auf dem Weltmarlte." From reports of the section of the German Fishery Association for the coast and high-sea fisheries, No. 9, Berlin, Septem- ber, 1886. Translated from the German by Herman Jacobsox. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 311 fisli, 50 to 75 g'oiiig- to a huudred weight ; of this number 124,500,000 were "klip tish,'' that is, codfish first salted and then dried; and 28,500,000 were " stock-fish," that is, codfish not salted but simply dried. The lat- ter come exclusively from ISTorway. The most important countries from which codfish are exported annually are Norway, 63,600,000 (35,1C0,000 "klip-fish," and 28,500,000 "stock-fish"}; Canada, 36,300,000, and New- foundland, 33,500,000. The remainder is exported from the United States, Iceland, France, Scotland, and Holland. Among the countries which import and consume "klip-fish" and " stock-fish" the Catholic countries of course rank first, Spain taking the lead with 37,900,000 per annum, and the West Indies with 37,700,000; next come Italy and Austria with a total of 18,400,000 ; Brazil, 12,500,000 ; Portugal, 8,800,000 ; and Great Britain and Ireland, 7,100,000. The remaining 31,000,000 are distributed among Sweden, Holland, the United States, South America, Germany, Denmark, Russia, Finland, Belgium, &c. Europe consumes about 60 per cent of the entire quantity, and America 40 per cent. The total annual value of the "klip-fish" and " stock-fish" exported from Norway was, during the period from 1806 to 1884, on an average 19,000,000 crowns [$5,092,000]. Taking the same average price for the "klip-fish " exported from other countries, the average annual value of the " klip-fish " and " stock-fish" brought into the markets of the world, would be upwards of $16,060,000. Although this sum is of course only an approximation, it nevertheless gives a fair idea of the great value to the human race of a single kind of fish, the cod. Amebican catfish in Germany.— Max von dem Borne writes from Berneuchen, Germany, on September 23, 1886, stating that on that daj' he had caught 310 little catfi.^h, which were the 3'oung of those sent over by the U. S. Fish Commission in July, 1885. FiSH-cuLTURE ON THE Feische-Haff. — Superintendent of Fisheries Hoflmann, of Pillau, East Prussia, in a communication on the applica- tion offish-culture to the Frische-Hafl', i3rinled in the communications of the section for the coast and high-sea fisheries, Berlin, June, 1886, stated that the ponds at Stobbendorf, in which the first experiments with fish along the Frische-Hafl" were carried on, were stocked in spring with mature bream {Abramis hrama) of both sexes. These became ac- customed to the water by the time they were ready to spawn ; and ou several warm days deposited their spawn, so that a large quantity of fry could be raised. The young fry were fed with flour, and when suffi- ciently developed were gradually allowed to i)ass through the sluice- gates into the Frische-Hafl'. The seeming success of this experiment led to other attempts being made, and three ponds were constructed near the little town of Tolke- mit and stocked with mature specimens of Lucioperca nandra and fry of the Coregonus Jararefiis. In spite of the greatest care, however, these experiments proved a failure, as nothing more was seen of the young 312 BULLETIN OF THE* UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Coregonvs lavaretus, wliicb wbeu placed iu the ponds, were in excellent- condition, nor were any fry of the Lucioperca sandra observed. It is intended to make further experiments with mature bream, aud to re- peat the attempt witb the lavaret {Goregonus lavaretus). TuRBOT AND SOLE. — In April, 1880, five soles which had been sent from England reached JSTew York, and were taken charge of by Mr. E. G. Blackford, who deposited them outside of Sandy Hook. In October, 1881, out of a consignment of turbot and soles sent from England three soles and six turbot survived. These were transferred to the ocean in Sheep's Head Bay, opposite the Oriental Hotel, in the presence of Mr. Blackford and others who had been conveyed to the sjiot by the U. S. revenue steamer U. S. Grant. In order to ascertain whether any trace of the planting of these fish could be found, the Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk visited the vicinity of Sandy Hook, October 26, 1886, and Capt. James A. Smith reports under date of November 4 that he made several hauls of the beam-trawl about Coney Island, Eockaway, and Sandy Hook, but did uot succeed in capturing any soles. From the refuse and rubbish which came up in the trawl (evidently offal from dumping scows) he was of the opinion that if any soles existed in the region they would naturally seek a cleaner bottom. He therefore made several hauls iu the vicinity of Sandy Hook light-ship, but with no better success. Pressing kyacks and shore-whaling for finbacks in Maine. — At Boothbay, Me., I found two parties engaged in pressing fish locally known as " kyacks," which I think will prove to be alewives, but which I could not identify owing to the lack of fresh specimens when I was there. Last year there were two factories engaged in iiressing " kyacks," and about 10,000 barrels were landed, in addition to large quantities caught by the mackerel fishermen and thrown away. This year the " kyacks" appeared on the coast in great numbers about July 20; but a few days later they disappeared, and have not been seen in large quantities since, though for the past few weeks they are being taken iu increasing numbers, the schools being more or less mixed with large mackerel. Some idea of the size of the schools may be obtained from the fact that single hauls of 200 barrels have been made. The fish are much fatter than is generally supposed, yielding between 2 and 3 gallons of oil to the barrel ; and the scrap is equal if not superior to that from menha- den, analyzing about 11 units of ammonia. The oil is of good color, but it chills iu cold weather. Thus far the " kyacks" have not been sufficiently abundant to war- rant the factory men in devoting their attention exclusively to this species; but' the business is carried on profitably in connection with the shore- whaling for finbacks, which has become important. Last year five small steamers were engaged iu this shore- whaling, the fleet land- ing part of the whales at Proviucetown, Mass., and the remainder at the factories in Maine. About seventy-five whales were captured by BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 313 this fleet last year, and the carcasses of some of them were boiled and made into scrap, which sells when dried at 822 a ton, the only objection to it being the large percentage of oil which it contains. That made to date averages about 25 per cent of oil. [Extract from a letter of Mr. K. Edward Earll to Prof. S. F. Baird, dated Gloucester, Mass., Septem- ber 17, 1886.] Salmon packing on the Columbia Eiver in 1886.* — The salmon industry is on the decline on the Columbia Eiver, the total pack for this season being about 436,000 cases,t against 565,000 in 1885, and 626,000 in 1884. The main cause of this falling off is owing to the greed of the fishermen. In former times the fish were caught the entire length of the river as far as the cascades, but by the wheel system in the rapids, and by the entrance at Astoria being almost completely blocked with nets, traps, and seines, not enough get through to the spawning-grounds to keep up the supply. So persistent are the gill-net fishermen that boats go far out from the mouth of the river, and as a consequence many are lost in the breakers on the treacherous sand-bar, which is a terror to all navigators, even in the calmest weather. Fifty men have been lost this season in this perilous business. There are four methods of fishing: By the wheels; the traps (called pounds on the New England shores) ; the seines, which are hauled by horse-power in the middle of the stream at low tide; and the gill-nets, the latter being the most important, both in the number of men employed and in the catch. At Astoria, Oreg., where the Columbia is 12 miles wide, I boarded a tugboat and explored the harbor and observed the fishing, following the unfortunate fish from the nef until safely packed in pound cans and cased ready for the Portland steamer. The number of men engaged in this comparatively new industry is estimated at twelve thousand, about one-third being employed on the river and the balance in the canneries. Of the latter, fully three thousand are Chinamen. The labor societies, it is said, will demand the expulsion of these Chinese next year, which if successful, my informant said, would compel the majority of the pack- ers to close their canneries. The perfection to which the art of preparing this wholesome food for market has attained is the admiration of all who inspect its workings in detail. lu all of the packing houses cleanliness is enforced from the dressing to the last act of filling the cans. Hence no one need fear to eat canned salmon, if packed by a reliable house under the factory label. Not a few packers, however, put uj) what are called " seconds," which may be a poorer grade of fish called " steel-heads," or fish too long out * This is taken from the letter of a correspondent to the Journal, dated Trinidad, Colo., August 24, 18dtj. t The pack for 1866, as here given, is too small. The figures mentioned for 1S84 and lbd5 may be regarded as approximately correct, though not strictly so. See Fish Commission Bulletin for lSd6, pp. 90, 139, and 286. I 314 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of the water. These *' seconds" are sold to middlemen at a low price and pat upon the market as genuine Columbia Kiver stock, but under the label of some one not a packer. There are thirty-nine canneries on the river, but the number of brands on the market is legion. The packers near the mouth of the river are in the best position to furnish good stock, as owing to their nearness to the fishermen they can receive the tish within a few hours after being caught ; yet not a few have been twenty-fours dead before " John Chinaman " ranges them on the dis- secting table. There are but two canneries out of the thirty-nine that do in fact pack the fish fresh from the water. [From the Journal and Courier, New Haven, Conn., September 1, 1886.] Growth of salmon and whitefish. — The English National Fish Culture Association reports that its last year's growth of newly-hatched salmon was Oi inches, and of whitefish 5 inches. [From the Popular Science Monthly, October, 1886, p. 864.] Salmon and trout at the McCloud Eiver Station. — Mr. Loren W. Green, writing to Professor Baird from the United States trout ponds at Baird, Cal., on September 13, 1886, says substantially as follows: Salmon in the McCloud Eiver are now very numerous, being more abundant here probably than at other points in the river, on account of the two runs meeting. There is now a very nice run here, fresh from the ocean. The salmon of the large run which went uj) the river some time ago are now falling back in an- exhausted condition, having depos- ited their spawn near the headwaters. Many of them are floating back dead and a great many more are in a dying condition. In nearly every case their tails are worn threadbare, their eyes sunk deep in their heads, and their bodies covered with a thick coat of fungus. The fish of the up-going run, which is now here, are fresh, bright, round, and fatj their eyes are bright and rounded out; and they are much above the average in size. The Indians are catching a good many and preparing them for their winter use. One i^assed here yesterday with four which would weigh 30 pounds each. I have weighed several between 5 and 40 pounds. Trout in the river seem rather scarce. The majority of those we are catching now are small, while those of much size seem poor. Very few young trout can be seen, except those we i)lanted last spring. Near the places where we planted them they seem abundant, but at most other points only straggling trout are seen. A great many trout are being caught out of the river, and but comparatively few are being planted in their stead. Hatching and feeding of Rocky Mountain trout. — The fol- lowing is extracted from aletter of Gordon Land, dated Nathrop, Colo., September 7, 1886 : ''I believe that the Eocky Mountain trout {Sahno virginalis) of this BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 315 State are very desirable fish for the trout breeder, inasmuch as they are suniiner spawners and grow rapidly, are easily tauiiht to feed, and will readily- take food from the bottom as well as in transit. They do not bite each other as much as do the common brook trout [Salvelinus fontinalls), and live quite harmoniously together. My experience this year in hatching their eggs was somewhat unusual. I took the spawn ou June 21, and in seventeen days the eye-specks were plainly visible; in twenty-five days, or on July 16, they hatched. The tem^ierature of the water varied from 52° Fahr. at night to 62° during- the middle of the day. Part of the time the eggs were buried in mud from a freshet that had flooded my hatchery, but I did not lose any on that account. They feed like little pigs. 1 never used water of so high a temperature before. At my other hatcheries the temperature was 45° and 52° ; in either case" the eggs did well, but were of course longer in hatching* The best results I ever had in feeding were at Buffalo Springs, in South Park [Park County', Colorado], where I fed them on finely chopped suck- ers— bones, fins, heads, entrails, and everything. The water was cold, 41° Fahr,, but when fed on suckers the trout grew at an astonishing rate; manj' of them, which I sold in the market at nine months old, averaged 4 and 5 ounces each, dressed. Had I possessed warmer water and such an abundance of fish-food, I believe I could have done still better." Catfish and shad in California. — Mr. William Utter, writing from Campo Seco, Calaveras County, California, ou August 12, 1880, states that there are millions of cattish in the Mokelumne Eiver, and that during the summer he had caught a number of fine shad, some of them weighing as much as 3 pounds apiece. Spanish mackerel abundant in summer at Galveston. — Mr. Henry L. Labatt, writing from Galveston, Tex., on September 29, 188G, says : " Vv'e have rare sport here in July and August catching Spanish mackerel with hooks and lines. This fishing from the wharves in our harbor is carried on during midsummer with abundant results." Young shad in the Housatonic River, Connecticut. — The fish commissioners of Connecticut, in a letter from l^ew Haven, dated October 11, 1886, spoke of having forwarded to the U. S. Fish Commis- sion 40 young fish taken on October 10, with a hook, from the canal at the dam at Birmingham, ou the Housatonic River, and asked whether the young fish were not probably some of the shad planted by the U. S. Fish Commission messenger above the dam on May 21, 1886. Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, replying on October 22, stated that these young fish were all shad. Shad in the Mississippi at Me3ipiiis. — Mr. W. W. McDowell, fish commissioner for Tennessee, writing from Memphis, Tenn., Septem- ber 15, 1886, says : " Last April we caught a good many shad in the Mississippi River, near the mouth of Wolf River, about a mile above 316 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Memphis, the daily catch continuing' for a little over a week. This is encouraging, as shad were never caught here before." In a letter dated November IG, 188G, Mr, McDowell adds: "A fish- dealer informs me that his book shows that he bought shad caught here from the loth to the 28th of March last, his purchases amounting to about 75. From what I can learn, the catch did not at any time exceed 100 per day. The persons that caught them were not fishing for shad, nor were they in the best places for such a catch, but they were after larger fish and the catch of shad was merely incidental. There is no doubt but that the fish in question were actually shad, as the men who bought them have dealt in the Atlantic coast shad for many years. Hence, it is evident that these fish are the results of plants made by the U. S. Fish Commission in the tributaries of the Mississippi." Edible qualities of carp. — The annual dinner of the American Carp Culture Association, whose headquarters is at 44 North Fourth street, Philadelphia, was held October 14. Concerning it the secretary states: "The caterer carried out our instructions to the letter, and the result was that a select party of acknowledged epicures not only tasted but ate sev^eral pounds of carp without condiments or seasoning of any description whatever. The verdict seemed to be unanimous that carp raised and treated according to the system prevailing in this region is a first-class food-fish, excelled only by the Salmonidce and superior to the domestic trout. "After some years of experience we now know that the flavor of the carp depends upon the quality of the water they are in and the quality of food they consume for two or three weeks prior to being served at the table, and also upon the method of their death. If they are taken directly from a muddy pond and allowed to smother and die a linger- ing death, the flavor will certainly be a 'trifle strong.' If, on the other hand, they are taken from their ponds two or three weeks before coming to the table, and placed in clean water which undergoes constant change, and are fed on clean, cooked vegetable food, almost any grain, or on bread, their flavor will be second only to the salmon family, certainly fully equal to the for-famed shad ; but they should be killed by thorough bleeding imuiediately upon being taken from the water." Carp in James Eiver. — Mr. W. F. Page, writing from Lynchburgh, Va., on August 20, 1886, says : " I have seen several very fine German carp taken from the James River at this place, one of which was a fe- male scale carp 25 inches long and weighing 8 pounds." Carp planted in Passaic Elver. — Mr. George Shepard Page met the Fish Commission car at Newark, N. J., November 10, 1886, and re- ceived 500 carp, which he took to Stanley, N. J., and deposited in the Passaic about midnight. The fish were all in good condition. Growth of carp. — The leather carp referred to me, and said to be six mouths old, was raised in the Government carp ponds at Washing- ton, D. C. It is 9 inches long, 2.} inches deep, 6J inches in circamfer- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 317 euce, and weighs 5| ounces. It has been delivered to a curator of the ISTatioual ■Museum for preservation in alcohol. [A. Howard Chirk, Wash- ington, U. C, October 2S, 1885.] Game qualities of carp. — Mr. A. Shiukle, president of tJie First National Bank of Covington, Ky., writes concerning the game quali- ties of carp, that as to the sport of catching them he has never seen their_ equal, as they exceed the black bass in strength, and that after hook- ing one he has been as much as fifteen minutes in getting it safely landed. How TO CATCH CARP. — Make a thick mush of corn-meal, in which plenty of salt should be placed : cook it well : tie it up in pieces of cheese-cloth from li to 2 inches square, and pass a hook through the cloth, being careful that it does not appear on the opposite side of the ball of mush. A small wire should be stretched along the dam or along the deepest and straightest edge of the pond, and hooks suspended on cords 2J feet long, about 4 feet apart. The hooks should just touch the side of the dam or bank which is most frequented by carp in search of food. The bait being on the ground, carp can find and take hold of it better. I use the bass-hook for this purpose, and have canghc several that weighed from 2i to 3 pounds. Care should be taken in handling the fish, for, being very tender, their mouths may be torn. [E. B. Brouster, Clayton, Missouri.] The USE of fish refuse as manure.* — If for some reason one cannot find any other use for dead fish, or for the refuse of fish, this material may profitably be gathered for manure. It should be remem- bered that as we get only about 3 i)ounds of dried fish from 13 pounds of fat cod, so the heap of refuse \^ ill shrink very much when transformed into manure. This is caused by the quantity of water (about 80 per cent) contained in the flesh and body of the fish. Everybody knows how a fish looks which is exposed to wind and sun and dries in the open air. Fishermen who have a small piece of ground to cultivate, even if it is only a garden patch, are recommended to gather the refuse from the fisheries and place it in a hole in the ground. They thereby secure a valuable fertilizer, which, used judiciously, will amply repay them for their trouble. The hole should be dry at the bottom, and about 6 feet deep, long, and broad. If the soil is sandy, it will be best to spread some clay at the bottom. On this there should be placed a layer of ashes about 10 inches thick ; on the ashes s|)read a layer of fish for another 10 inches or so, the fish being sprinkled with fine lime. Then follows another layer of ashes, another of fish and lime, and so on until the hole is full. It should be covered with sod, the grassy side downward, and finally the whole spread over with boards, on which some heavy stones may be jdaced. After six months the hole will contain excellent manure, which may be used or even sold. * Translated from the Norsk Fiskeritidende. October, 1886, by Herman Jacobsox. 318 BULLETIN OF THE UXITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Vegetable parasites on codfish and salt pokk.— Prof. AYill- iani G. Fallow, writiuA" from Cambridge, Mass., Xovember 28, 1886, says : ''There has appeared ou salt pork iu this region a bright red growth aud a mold. The latter is the same as the Torula morrhuce, described by me ou codhsh from Gloucester.* The red form, as far as I cau yet tell, does uot appear to be the Glathrocystis found ou cod, but is perhaps a form of Bacterium or Bacillus previously seen ou salt pork iu France aud referred doubtfully to the Glathrocystis. It is interesting to know that we have both the forms on codfish and ou salt ])ork." Salting and drying the tongues of codfish in Norway.! — The tongues to be used must be quite fresh, as tongues of fish which have been lying even for a day have dark red spots, aud make an inferior article which is not worth the trouble aud expense of preparing. It is therefore best to use tongues of fish caught with lines, which should be cut out as soon as the fish are brought into the boat, or at any rate as soon as they are landed. Tongues of fish caught in nets are not so good for this purpose, aud those of fish which have lain for some time cannot be used a^ all. As soou as the tongue is cut out, with the round piece of gristle at- tached to the root of the tongue, but without any of the portions on the other sides, it is well washed in sea-water, which seems to give to it a more transparent appearance than if it is washed in brine. When the water has run off, the tongues are strongly salted iu tight kegs with fine salt (Cadiz or Liverpool salt). Wheu salted they can stand for sev- eral months without spoiling. The brine should, however, be examined from time to time. As soon as there is the slightest indication of its being sour, it must be drawn off, aud the tongues, after having been well washed in strong brine, must be salted over. When the drying is to begin, the tongues are well washed in sea- water aud immediately piled up in little heai)s, so that the water can run off. They should not be allowed to lie in water for any length of time, as is done with klip-fish, but they are taken direct from the keg, waslied off, and i)iled up. Wheu the water has run off, they are laid out to dry, either loose ou rocks or, better still, in boxes. After they have dried for a daj' they will generally be dry on the outside, on which a salt crust forms. When they are taken in at evening, each tongue is well stretched, smoothed down with the hand, and carefully laid iu boxes, where they are exposed to a strong pressure. Thus they may stand for two days, or, if the weather is unfavorable, forseveral days. On thefirstwind}^ aud sunny day Xh^y are laid out, turned once during the day, and when they are taken iu at night they are again pressed as before. Thus the drying process is continued, laying them out during the day and press- *See F. C. Bulletiu for 1886, p. I. t " Saltmng og Torring of Toraketunger." From the Xorslc FiskcrUidende, Vol. V, Nos. 3 and 4, BcTgeu, October, I8S6. Translated from the Danish hj- Herman Jacobsox. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMxMISSION. 319 ius: them at iiigbt, until after three or four days they are ready for ex- portation to European markets. If intended for transportation to trans- atlantic countries, they must be dried better, about two weeks being sufficient. When half the drying process has been accomplished, the tongues should be pressed without interruption for three or four days. In case of unfavorable weather the tongues are simply left in press, as they do not easily sour. They should, of course, not be exposed to rain, and when the weather looks threatening they should be taken in in time. They should also be taken in before the sun goes down, eren if the air seem s dry. The greatest trouble during drying is caused by the fog, which gives to the tongues a gray appearance, which should be avoided. They should, therefore, never be laid out in foggy weather, or whenever it looks as if there might befog. Those tongues which are dried under shelter should under such circumstances be covered with tarpaulin. The principal European market for salted and dried tongues is Spain. The Spaniards would rather have them a little soft thau too hard. They are packed in wooden boxes of 3 kilograms (Of pounds) or more. For the transatlantic market they are ])acked in tin boxes. TiiANSPORTiNG LOBSTERS IN NORWAY.*— The fast sailing vessels, with tanks, which formerly were used for transporting lobsters, have gradually been superseded by steamers, and lobsters are now almost exclusively trans])orted in boxes placed on board the steamers. The boxes generally used for the puri)ose in Norway have the following out- side dimensions : Length, 39 inches; breadth, 19 inches; and height, 15 inches. If ice is used they are made 4 inches lower. Each box contains from 100 to 120 lobsters. Sometimes smaller boxes are used, with the following dimensions: Length, 24 inches; breadth, 19; height, 13. Be- tween the boards there should be suitable openings to admit fresh air. In summer there is placed at the bottom of the box a layer of ice two or three inches thick, and on this a frame, so that the lobsters are not dis- turbed in their position even if the ice melts. On this frame there is first spread a thin layer of fresh heather (long, thin grass) or straw, on which the lobsters are laid carefully, back downward, the tail being bent forward and across the box, so the claws turn inside towards the center. When the box is full some heather or straw is s])read over the lob- sters and the box is closed. Heather is preferable to straw, as thj^ easily spoils on account of the moisture caused by the ice, and the lob- sters cannot well endure any bad odor.t For this reason it is not advis- able to use dry sea-weeds, which formerly were often employed. Old sail-cloth dipped in sea- water forms an excellent cover, as it keeps moist * "Forsendelse af Hummer." From the jS'or8kFibk€riUdend4i, Bergeu, Norway, October, 1886. Transluted from the Dauish by Herman Jacobsox. tAs the boxes are generally, on board the steamers, piled one on the top of another, the layer of straw or heather should not be too thin, for the object of the covering is partly to absorb the ice-water from the upper boxes, so that it does not reach the lobsters. 320 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. and cool for a long time. If one has no ice, lieatlier soaked in sea- water may be used, dry fresh straw, or sail-cloth. During the cooler season only heather or straw should be placed at the top and bottom of the box. In winter the sides of the box may be lined on the inside with paper, so as to protect the lobsters against the cold, but there should not be any paper either at the top or bottom, as the lobsters would be stifled, owing to the lack of air. When the lobsters have not been kept pris- oners for more than eight days, they will, when packed in boxes in the manner described above, keep for four days. The fresher the lobsters the better will they be able to stand the fatigue of the voyage. The boxes are placed on the deck in such a position that the water from the melting ice does not reach the lobsters, which cannot well en- dure fresh water, and so that the lobsters are protected against rain, as rain-water is very apt to injure them. Lobsters which during trans- portation have been exposed to the rain, when placed in tanks will generally lose their claws. The persons who ship lobsters should there- fore see to it that the boxes are placed in proper position on board the steamer. It is best to place the boxes containing lobsters on the fore part of the steamer, so that the lobsters may get the benefit of the spray from the waves. Shad in North Caeolina. — The following extracts are made from the Weekly News, of Fayetteville, N. C, Mr. S. G. Worth, late fish com- missioner of the State, being its editor: From persons who handle about 95 per cent of the fish in the lower part of the Cape Fear Eiver, it is learned that the catch of shad up to the first part of April is double that of last year, when more shad were caught than in any previous season. The season here begins with Feb- ruary and lasts three months. Thus far, from careful estimates, 00,000 shad have been caught at the fisheries below Wilmington. With one month's more time in which to run the seines, the season's catch may safely be estimated at 100,000 fish. The greater part of the catch Is made by seines in the river, there being 140 men engaged in the shad fisheries below Wilmington, using 70 nets. It is stated on good authority that Cape Fear River shad are the best caught on the Atlantic coast, being larger and of more delicate flavor tiian those from the Connecticut, the Delaware, or Savannah. Large numbers of Connecticut shad, however, are being taken in the Cape Fear this season, the river having been partly stocked with young shad from the Connecticut in 187G and subsequent years. Many more shad than usual have been caught up the Northeast Cape Fear this season, residents saying that they have never before seen fish so abundant. The yield of the shad fishery for the State may be placed at $1,000,000 a year. Fayetteville, N. C, Ajyril 7, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 321 Vol. VI, ]\o. 21. ^Vashington, D. C. Dec. 30, 1886, 99.— PEAKI.S AND PEABIL FISSEBIES.* By Sng^lneer M. WEBER. Many mussels cover the inside of their shell with a layer consisting of animal membranes and carbonated lime. Thereby a pecaliar luster is produced on the inside of the shell, which is called mother-of-pearl. A smaller portion of this secretion often forms excrescences shaped like drops or kidneys, which either are imbedded more or less firmly in the inside of the shell, or lie loose in the soft parts of the animal, especially in its so-called beard. These are what are generally known as pearls. The formation of mother-of-pearl is doubtless a natural process tak- ing place in certain mussels. The formation of pearls, on the other hand, is ascribed to accidents, and probably is caused by a sickness of the mussel, or by some wound inflicted on it. This view has been reached by noticing the circumstance that, when the shells are large, and the inside smooth, clean, and without any holes, so that the mol- lusks can fully develop, pearls are but rarely found; while the forma- tion of pearls is very frequent when the shells are irregular. Some- times hundreds of pearls are found in the last-mentioned shells; but frequently scarcely one of them possesses any commercial value. Eeal pearls are found only in bivalves ; but a useful product is found in some univalves. The products of the following varieties are known in commerce: (1) Avicula margaritifera. — Which produces the most valuable pearls, but whose shell is worthless. (2) Meleagrina margaritifera. — Principally valued on account of the mother-of-pearl. The shells are often 6 to 18 inches long. Its pearls are also of great value. (3) Strombus gigas. — The conch-shell of the West Indies. (4) Tridacna gigas. — The giant clam, with opal white pearls of a sub dued luster. (5) Pimia squamosa. — With black and red pearls. (6) Flacima placenta. — Translucent, with lead-colored pearls. (7) Ostrea edulis. — The common oyster. (8) Modiola vulgaris. — The horse -mussel. (9) Ttirbinella scolymus. — The chank-shell; pale-red pearls. (10) Turbo olearius marmoratus. '"Om Perlerog Perlefiskerierne." From the Norsk Fiskeritidende, Bergen, Norway, October, 1886. Translated from the Danish by Herman Jacobson. An excellent reference in this connection is to the chapter on Pearls and the Pearl Fisheries, in P. L. Simraoads's Commercial Products of the Sea. Bull. U". S. F. 0.86 21 322 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. (11) Turbo sarmaticus. (12) Haliotis (different varieties). — Found in the North Sea, New Zea- land, the Cape of Good Hope, and Japan. (13) Anodonta herculea. (14) Alamodon, Unio, (&c. — Found in Scotland, Ireland, Lapland, Bo- hemia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Canada. The sea pearl fisheries are principally confined to the Persian Gulf the coasts of Ceylon, the Eastern Archipelago, Australia, the lagoons of many islands in the Pacific, and to Central America. Fresh-water pearls have, as a rule, but little luster, and are conse- quently of no great value; although one occasionally finds pearls hav- ing a value of from 50 to 70 crowns [$13.40 to $18.7G], and sometimes even of 1,800 crowns [$482.40]. For a while the Scotch pearls enjoyed a great reputation. From 1761 to 1764 more thau 180,000 crowns' [$48,240] worth of pearls are said to have been brought to London from the rivers Tay and Isla. During the dry summer of 1862 a surprising quantity of pearls was found in Scotland. The average value of these pearls varied between 40 and 45 crowns [$10.72 to $12.06], but those valued at 100 crowns [$26.80] were also quite frequent. Statisticians estimate that the total value of pearls found in Scotland in 1865 was 216,000 crowns [57,888]. Since that time pearls have advanced con- siderably in value. During the summer months the Arabs carry on a sort of pearl fish- ery on the coast of the Red Sea. They catch the mollusks and lay them in the sun, so that they may ojien quickly. Jedda is the princi- pal place where these fisheries are carried on. The exportatiou of mother-of-pearl from Jedda vm Alexandria annually amounts to 1,200,000 pounds avoirdupois, half of which quantity goes to Birmingham. The pearl fisheries in the Persian Gulf, especially on the coasts of the Island of Bahrein, are also in the hands of the Arabs. The best beds are said to be on fine white sand and in clear water. Nearly 5,000 boats are employed in these fisheries, and their annual value is esti- mated at 1,080,000 crowns [$289,440]. Beds of pearls are found at va- rious depths as far down as 18 fathoms. The general depth at which they are found is, however, from 4 to 8 fathoms. The season lasts from April to September. Most of the shells are brought to the little harbor of Lingah; thence a considerable quantity of mother-of-pearl is shipped direct to London, only a small quantity going to the continent of Europe. Many pearls, especially those of a yellow color and those having a complete cone-shape, are sent to Bombay. Bagdad is a con- siderable market for white pearls. The shells which come to England from Persia are mostly small and have a subdued luster; but as a rule they bring higher prices than the Panama and Tahiti shells. The an- nual quantity imported is rarely less 300,000 pounds. The total value of the pearls exported from the Persian Gulf during 1879 was 7,500,000 crowns [$2,010,000]. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 323 The Ceylou pearl fislieries are carried on on the west coast of Ceylon, in the Gulf of JNIauaar, south of the island of the same name, and also on the west coast of India, near Tuticorin, The beds lie in groups. One of these is opposite the town of Arippu, and comprises the so-called Paria-par, Paria-par Karai, Cheval-par, Kallutidel-par, and Modara- gam-par. The famous Karaitivu bed is opposite the town of that name. Other well-known beds are the Karakupanai-par, and the Jekenpedai-par. All these beds lie at a distance of at least 6 to 8 miles from the coast, and at a depth of 5i to 8i fathoms from the sur- face. They have a rocky bottom protruding from the sand, and are exposed to the currents of the sea. The beds are under the supervision of an inspector appointed by the local government, which has the ex- clusive working of them. The laborers and divers are natives, who as payment receive 25 per cent of all the pearls they find. Experience has shown that few pearls, and these of little value, come from mussels which are not older than five years. During the fifth and sixth year the value doubles, and in the seventh year it becomes fourfold. The pearls are not fully matured if they are taken out too soon; and on the other hand, the animal dies, if the pearls remain too long in the shells. For these reasons pearl fishing is prohibited at certain periods. Up to the year 1863 there was no system in these fisheries. The re- sults were as follows : Tears. Equivalent in Crowns. jUnited States i currency. 1796-1809 9, 314, 658 1, 618, 362 4, 088, 376 2, 114, 172 $2, 496, 328 433 7''1 1814-1820 1828-1837 1 (IQt fifi'*! 1855-1860 'Sufi "iQR In 18G3 there were caught on twenty-two fishing days 11,695,000 pearl-oysters, yielding pearls to the value of 918,324 crowns [$246,110.83]. The next fisheries were in 1874, when 1,700,000 pearl-oysters yielded 182,160 crowns' [$48,818,88] worth of pearls. In 1877 there were caught on thirty fishing days 6,850,000 pearl-oysters, yielding pearls to the value of 341,136 crowns [$91,424.45]. The yield in 1879 was unusually good, as twelve fishing days yielded 7,650,000 pearl-oysters. In 1880 the fisheries lasted from March 19 till April 2, and during these eleven days 11,000,000 pearl-oysters were caught. In 1881 as many as 60,000,000 were caught, yielding pearls to the value of 1,080,000 crowns [$289,440J. These fisheries are now carried on according to a well-regulated system. The divers receive their wages as soon as they reach the coast. When the pearls have been gathered, they are classified in the fol- lowing manner : (1) "Anie," pearl-eyes; that is, pearls of perfectly round shape and pure luster. 324 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COJEMISSION. (2) " Aiiatliorie," that is, pearls which have a slight defect iu either of these respects. (3) " Masengoe," pearls which have defects in both these respects. (4) '^Kalippo," pearls which are flat, and have other great defects. (5) " Korowel," faulty pearls, especially double pearls. (6) "Peesal," misshaped pearls. (7) ''Codwee," misshaped pearls of tolerably fine form. (8) " Mandongoe," split pearls. (9) " Kural," very small misshai)ed pearls. (10) "Thool," seed-pearls. In sorting the pearls they are first passed through a row of baskets, 10 or 12 in number. The eighth basket in the row has 20 holes, and the pearls which do not pass through these are said to have the "twen- tieth measure." The following baskets have 30, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400, 600, 1,000 holes, &c., and each basket has its special name. After the pearls have been sorted in this manner, they are weighed, and their value is noted. China has pearl fisheries near Pakhoi. The beds are divided into four districts which lie between the south coast of the peninsula of Pakhoi, the island of Weichow, and the peninsula of Leichow. In 1875 these fisheries yielded pearls to the value of about 162,000 crowns [843,416]. Cochin China carries on an extensive trade in mother-of- pearl, most of which comes from the Bay of Tirwar. On the north coast of Japan considerable quantities of Haliotis gigantea are caught, which is highly prized by both the Japanese and Chinese. The Philippine Islands produce large quantities of mother-of-pearl. In 1877, 155 tons were exported ; iu 1878, 152 tons, valued at 307,314 crowns [$82,360.15]; in 1879 the yield amounted to 288,810 crowns [$77,401.08]. The entire region from the island of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu to Baselan is one continuous bed of pearl-oysters. Here the Malays and (Jhinese fish in common. The Sulu fisheries, near Tawi-Tawi, are, ac- cording to the statement of an Englishman, Mr. Moore, the largest and most ijroductive of all the pearl fisheries in the East Asiatic seas. The l>earls which are caught here have always been famous, and the mother- of-pearl is distinguished by its 3'ellow luster, which makes it suitable for many purposes. Labuau is the principal market for the products of Sulu- In 1868 the value of these pearl fisheries was 207,972 crowns [$55, 736.50] : in 1870 it fell to 102,348 crowns [$27,429.26]; and up to 1878 it fell still more. Macassar is the principal market for the natives from Bayos. In the Kau Bay there are found pearl beds belonging to the Sultan of Ternate. Pearls and mother-of-i)earl are found near the island of Aru, and are brought to market at Debbo. The principal place where these fisheries are carried on, however, is Blakong Tanah, opposite the island of New Guinea; and these are really the most important fisheries in the entire archipelago. The yield in 1860 amounted to 133,000 crowns [$35,644 j. The island of Timor has pearl beds, but the yield is small. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 325 The most important pearl fisheries iu Queensland are in the hands of Sydney cai)italists. The fisheries are carried on by Malays, who dive to a depth of G fathoms. The pearl-oyster from Torres Strait generally weighs from 3 to 6 pounds, and sometimes as much as 10 pounds. The value and weight of the mother-of-pearl exported from Queens- land was as follows : « Tears. "Weight. Value. Equivalent in United Statea currency. 1874 Pou7ids. 2 11,200 288, 600 776, 800 953, 000 Crovms. 216 14, 382 281, 970 877, 014 974, 682 DoUarg. 57 89 1875 3 854 38 1876 75 567 96 1877 1878 235, 039 75 261, 214 78 The pearl fisheries on the northwest coast of Australia employ, a large number of Malays and natives as divers. The fisheries last from the end of September till the end of March. It has not yet been pos- sible to ascertain the extent of the beds ; it is supposed, however, that they extend as far as the Gulf of Carpentaria. The fisheries are carried on for the shells, but frequently yield pearls of considerable value. These shells are the best which are known. They weigh from 1 J to G pounds a pair. The export duty is 72 crowns [$19.30] per ton. The oldest fisheries iu West Australia are carried on in Sharks Bay. The shells which are caught here are those of the uiricula margaritifera. They are very thin, but their inside surface is transparent and has a beautiful pearl-like luster. At present they fetch a good price at Havre. Formerly they were but little esteemed on account of their thinness, and for this reason they were taken principally on account of their pearls. These have a brilliant luster, although they are not larger than a pea. The oysters are caught with a wire drag-net, which is drawn across the beds, and which piles them iu a heap ; thereby the moUusk is killed, and the shells are easy to open. The West Australian pearl fisheries in- crease from year to year. In 1874 mother-of-pearl was exported to the value of 1,000,707 crowns [8284,269.48], and pearls worth 108,000 crowns [•$28,944]. In 1876 there were exported to London 140 tons, and to Singapore 67 tons, the price varying from 4,500 to 4,810 crowns [81,206 to 81,297.12] per ton. Recently the English papers have reported the discovery of pearls and mother-of-pearl near Kew Zealand. Diving for pearls is one of the principal employments for the natives of the Pacific Ocean. Here, likewise, mother-of-pearl is the principal object of the fisheries. The oysters live in large colonies, close together, and are firmly attached to each other ; they are attached to the bottom by a ligament or band, starting from their body and running through the shell. In the live animal this band is of a dark green, and some- times gold-bronze color, and the fishermen can tell from its color whether 326 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. the shells contain pearls or not. The shells reach their full size when they are seven years old. The average weight of the empty shell at that time is about 1 pound, and the length varies from 10 to 18 inches. When the animal has reached maturity, it tears itself loose from the stones, opens its shell, and dies. The shells are then covered with corals and parasites. They become worthless and the pearls are lost. These mollusks also have a number of enemies, the most dangerous of which is a kind of Scolopendt'a, which opens the shells and eats the mollusks. All grown mussels are, moreover, infested by crustacean-like parasites, which penetrate into the shells and there lay their eggs. After the oysters have been caught and brought ashore by the divers, they are sorted. The shells are opened with a steel knife. A skilled hand can open a ton per day, and not miss a single pearl. The mother- of-pearl is laid in a shady place, that the colors may not fade. When there is a famine, the mollusks are eaten by the natives. The pearls are generally found in the place where the band before mentioned starts. In shells where many i^earls are found, they are generally small and misshaped. Occasionally pearls are found loose in the shells. These are always of a very fine quality, perfectly round, and often very large. But there is hardly one in a thousand oysters which contains such pearls. The natives often lose them, owing to the careless way in which they open the shells. Fine and calm weather is most favorable for i^earl fishing. The divers wear no special suit, but simply rub their body with oil, so the sun may not blister their skin. They remain under the water one to two minutes, and bring up oysters from a depth of 20 fathoms. They rarely go to such a depth, but the finest oysters are found there. Thus iu many fishing-grounds, which were supposed to be exhausted, a great many pearl-oysters are found iu deep water. In the Southern Pacific, pearl fisheries are principally carried on near the Kavigator's Islands in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Many of these fishing-grounds are partly and some are eutirel}" neglected. Thus the Island of Manihiki twenty years ago yielded 100 tons of shells in eight- een months ; but since that time no pearl fisheries have been carried on there. The Hogoleu Lagoon is also known as a vast unexplored pearl- oyster bed. So far the Tuamotu Archipelogo is said to have produced 25,000 tons of mother-of-pearl, valued at 18,000,000 crowns [$4,821,000]. o^early the entire quantity goes to Tahiti, to be exported thence. In 1873 2,000 tons of shells were exported ; the pearls having a value of about 140,000 crowns [$37,520]. In 1878 Tahiti exported 591 tons of shells, valued at 038,280 crowns [$171,059.04], and pearls valued at 108,000 crowns [$28,944]. In 1879 there were exported 470 tons of shells, valued at 507,000 crowns [$136,030.80], and pearls valued at 72,000 crowns [$19,29G]. In 1875 an export duty of 30 crowns [$8.04] per ton was levied 5 this duty, however, was abolished iu 1878, and eiuce that time the exportation has again increased. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 327 On the islands of the Pacific the pearls are classified as follows :* (1) Pearls of a regular form and without faults; in value, those weigh- ing a decigram, are worth about 2.7 crowns [$0.72] ; those weighing from U to 2i grams, from 1,800 to 2,600 crowns [$482.40 to $690.80]. (2) Bound white pearls of great luster ; 30 grams, containing 800 pearls, would be worth only 72 crowns [$19.30] ; while the same weight in 50 pearls would be worth 1,080 crowns [$289.44]. (3) Irregularly formed pearls, not without faults ; 30 grams of this kind would be worth oo to 75 crowns [14.74 to $20.10], according to their condition, (4) Pearl-bulbs, which are found attached to the shells ; 30 grams are worth from 25 to 36 crowns [$6.70 to $9.65], according to their regu- larity of form and brilliancy. (5) Seed-pearls, which are worth from 36 to 55 crowns [$9.65 to $14.74] per pound. Mother-of-pearl fetches from 25 to 50 ore [6i to 13J cents] per pound. The principal markets for pearls from the Pacific are Hamburg, Am- sterdam, London, and St. Petersburg. Besides the pearl-oyster, there is often found in the lagoous of the Pacific Ocean a kind of Venus shell, which often contains pearls of great value. The fishermen do not look for these pearls at all, but it is pre- sumed that it would i^ay to examine these shells more systematically. In the Pacific there is found another pearl-producing mollusk, whose shells greatly resemble those of the common oyster. Thej' are always found attached to rocks, invariably one by itself; and they are quite rare. Their pearls are always perfectly roun^i, with a fine luster and a gold color, of about the size of a pea. The Central American pearl fisheries are carried on on both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. In the Bay of Panama are located the Pearl Islands, of which San Jose is the most important, yielding every year from 800 to 1,000 tons of mother-of-pearl. In 1809 the English im- ported pearls valued at about 800,000 crowns [$214,400] from Xew Granada and St. Thomas ; while the average annual yield of the Pan- ama fisheries is about 500,000 crowns [$134,000]. In the lower part of the Bay of Mulege, in the Gulf of California, and near Los Coyntes, pearls of great value have been found. It is generiilly supi^osed that a row of pearl beds extends from the Gulf of Darien to California. In the last-mentioned bays, and on the coasts of Costa Eica and Central Mexico, pearl fishing has long been a remunerative employment. The principal fisheries on the Mexican coasts are carried on between Mulege and Cape San Lucas. Near the Islas Tres Marias and in the neighbor- hood of Acai)ulco the fisheries are not near so important. The mol- lusks found are Meleagrina margaritifera and Haliotis rufescens. The fisheries are carried on from July till October ; during the rest of the year storms and cold weather prevent fishing. Diving suits are * See Simmonds's Commercial Products of the Sea, p. 425 (Part III, Chap. III). 328 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. generally used. The mother-of-pearl from the Gulf of California is white, with bluish-black or yellow bands. The fisheries were carried on to such an excess that the size of the shells decreased from year to year ; fishing is therefore now permitted only every fourth year. The Cali- fornia shells are sent almost exclusively to Hamburg, whence they go to England, Austria, and France. The largest quantity goes to Paris, but a great deal also to Frankfort on the Main. The entire California fisheries are said to produce from 600,000 to 700,000 pounds of mother- of-pearl per annum. In 1879 Costa Eica exported 3,540 pounds. In the same year Panama sent pearls to the value of 126,000 crowns [833,768] to the Xew York market. Guayaquil, in 1871, exported 13 to 14 tons of mother-of-pearl. In the Bahamas the snail fisheries form an important industry. The pearls found in them are rose-colored, yellow, or black; the first mentioned alone possess any value. The market for these pearls is Nassau, in the Bahamas ; and it frequently happens that a pearl fetches as much as 400 crowns [$107.20J. The average annual yield is 180,000 crowns [$48,240]. In the State of Ohio pearl fisheries are car- ried on in Little Miami Eiver. The season lasts from June till October. Men and boys wade in the river and bring up the pearl-oysters with their feet. The shells are opened with a knife ; and seldom are more than 2 pearls found in 300 oysters. Pearl fisheries are also carried on in the rivers of Norway, Bavaria, and Bohemia. 100.-IVOTES OIV THE IVEIV EIVGLAIVD FISIIEKIES 1!V OCTOBER, 1SS6. By ^V. A. WILCOX. During most of the month the weather was favorable for fishing, the exceptions being high winds that held mackerel seiners in the harbors of Cape Breton a large part of the mouth, and a long storm oif the New England coast the last week in the month. Codfish show an increase of 474,758 pounds in the amount lauded at Gloucester over the corresponding month of last year, the receipts being mostly from Western Bank. One year ago cod were very abun- dant on George's Bank, but few if any were caught on Western Bank ; this season affairs are reversed. For several mouths fish have been reported scarce on George's and very plentiful on Western Bank. Off the New England coast cod have been more abundant than of late years. Many vessels engaged in cod-fishing could show a large amount of fish caught during the year. Among others we notice that the schooner Finance, of Gloucester, from October 2, 1885, to October 15, 1886, with a crew of 11 men, including the master, has landed 600,000 pounds of codfish and 20,000 pounds of halibut, most of the catch being taken on George's and Brown's Banks. Vessels engaged iu the halibut fishery have found fish fairly plenti- ful on Grand and Quereau Banks, Gloucester vessels having arrived BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 329 with good fares, lauding 020,930 pounds more than during the corre- sponding month of last year. Mackerel have continued scarce both off the United States and prov- incial shores. The first of the month 75 sail of seiners from New England ports were off Prince Edward Island, and 100 sail were scattered along the New England coast. The fleet left Prince Edward Island the first week in the mouth, most of them returning to home ports, some with good fares, but most of them with only a small amount ; total receipts of mackerel at all home ports from off provincial shores, 69 fares, with 12,421 barrels, an average of 180 barrels, which is not half a full fare. After leaving the island a small fleet remained off Cape Breton all the month. On October 11 and 23 they took a few hundred barrels of mackerel, but most of the month vessels were detained in harbors by strong winds and unfavorable weather for fishing ; seiners after return- from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, hauled up, or joined the fleet off the Xew England coast. Mackerel were found off the Massachusetts coast, mostly in Barnstable Bay, and off Block Island, all the month, seldom in any great quantities. The fish were of mixed sizes, a good propor- tion large, and quality fine. On October 20 mackerel were very plentiful off Sandwich, Mass., 26 sail arriving in Boston the next day, with small fares, aggregating 826 barrels of fresh mackerel and 113 barrels of sea-packed, the fish being of mixed sizes. These fish were mostly taken in the night, the seine being thrown around the vessel ; after being pursed up, the vessel is sailed out of the seine, passing over the cork-line, and the fish removed. Some- times bait is thrown to call the fish alongside of the vessel, and then vessel and fish are quickly surrounded by the seine. An immense body of small herring during a large part of the month was in the neighborhood of Gay Head, Vineyard Sound. Mackerel were mixed with them, and a few vessels had a fair catch hooking the mackerel, the size being mostly large and quality fine. Owing to the scarcity of the fish, prices of mackerel have steadily ad- vanced from $13.50 a barrel, sea-packed, for oSTorth Bay catch, at the first of the mouth, to $10 at the close ; extra large and fine mackerel caught off the Xew England coast found quick sale at from $25 to $40 a barrel. The fishermen have been encouraged by the high prices to use every exertion to take fish, more bait and hooks having been used than for several years. Three vessels on long mackerel trips did not take seines, depending on the hook andline, the first time for years; they report as follows : Schoon- ers M. L. Wetherell and William Y. Hutchins sailed from Gloucester to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, going as far as the Magdalen Islands, spending the entire season, and catching only 42 and 33 barrels of mackerel, respectively; schooner Maria Webster, of Wellfleet, used hooks exclusively, for two months' fishing only, off the Massachusetts and Bhode Island shores, taking 101 barrels of fine mackerel. The great falling off in the mackerel catch is of interest. Total amount 330 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. landed, in sea-packed barrels, at all New England home ports up to October 28 : 1886 74,387 1885 324,704 1884 411,08 1883 189,271 In common with most of the leading food-fishes, cod excepted, pollock have been scarce, hand-lines and gill-nets both taking only a small amount. The total quantity landed at Gloucester during the month was 398,250 pounds, against 3,142,790 pounds for the corresponding month last year. The first set of gill-nets this season was made 7 miles out from Gloucester, on October 7. Being hauled the next day the catch found was twenty-five pollock, averaging 21 pounds each, two-thirds female fish, mostly full of spawn. They sold for $1.25 per 100 pounds. As the catch increased the price fell to 50 cents per 100 pounds. Bait has continued abundant and more than enough for all demands. Weirs along the eastern coast, from New Castle, N. H., to Southwest Harbor, Maine, have had plenty of herring, while weirs at Cape Cod had a smaller amount of herring and mackerel. On the Western Bank, where most of the codfish were caught, squid were very plentiful, fur- nishing the best of bait free of expense. Shore herring remained along the Massachusetts coast, in the vicinity of Cape Ann, most of the month, but in no large body, excepting on October 3 and 4, when they were off'Iiockport, Mass., in immense num- bers, and the fishermen had more than they could handle, and many nets were sunk by the weight of the fish. Anticipating a large catch, prices fell to 75 cents to $1 a barrel. The herring soon struck off, a smaller body of fish appearing off the Eastern Point and along the Mas- sachusetts shore. Prices soon advanced to $1.50 and $1.75 a barrel. The total catch of large shore herring taken off the Massachusetts coast has not been one-half that of 1885. The halibut fleet from Iceland have all arrived, bringing fair but not full cargoes. Two sailed, early in the season, for Greenland on halibut trips, one returned with partial cargo, and one (mentioned below) is probably lost. A sad record of loss of life and property closes the report for the month. Four vessels have sailed from Gloucester never to return, when and how three of them were lost will probably never be known. During the past month the following have been given up : On Octobers the sclioouer Garibaldi, 49.89 tons, on a codfish trip, was burned while at anchor in Schooner Passage near Yarmouth, Xova Sco- tia, the crew being all saved. Schooner John F. Wouson, 55.13 tons, sailed on August 4 for codfish on George's Bank ; siuc OF OOKKAIDO, JAPAN. By K. ITO. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The island of Hokkaido, in Japan, formerly known as Yesso, is situ- ated immediately north of Niphon or Hondo, and separated from it by the Strait of Tsugaru. It lies between latitude 41° 21' and 45^ 30' north, and has an area of 5,109 square ris (1 ri=2.5 miles). This island has remained, for a long time, as a wild territory, roamed over by Aiuos, an aboriginal race; and it is not more than twenty years since the Japanese Government took up the effort for its colonization. The only industry carried on by Japanese in this 'island previous to that time was fishing; and even in present days this constitutes one of the most important industries of the island. It is, however, to be remarked that the fisheries are confined to in-shoro work, and tlKi method pursued in curing fish caught is yet very primitive. Hitherto BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 343 no efforts which amount to anything have been made in the direction of propagation. Notwithstanding these circumstances the annual yield of the fisheries is $5,000,000 to $7,000,000 ; and, with the recent steps taken by the Government to introduce more enlightened aud economical methods of carrying on the industries, and the enthusiastic eftbrts which the recently organized society of fishermen is making, it is to be hoped that the fisheries of the island will yield a much larger return in future. STATUS OP SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERIES OF HOKKAIDO. Herring fisheries. — Herring (Glupea harengus Linn.) are caught mostly along the western or Japan Sea coast of Hokkaido during their spawn- ing season, which commences generally in the first part of April and continues until the latter part of June. Two kinds of net are used for their capture, namely, the moored trap-net and the gill-net. The larger part of the herring caught is worked up into scraps and oil, while the remainder is split and dried upon scaffoldings. Bones, gills, and milt left after the split herring is made, are separately dried and sold for manure; while roes are dried or pickled and used as an article of food. All products of the herring fisheries are used in the home market, ex- cept the oil, which is exported, when low prices i^re vail in the island, to a certain extent to the United States. Fall-salmon or ^^ saJce^^ fisheries. — Fall salmon {Oncorhynchus haberi Hilgd.) or " sake," as it is called by the Japanese, ascend several streams in Hokkaido, after the middle of September, for the puri^ose of spawn- ing. It is caught both in seas and rivers; in the former case traps and gill-nets being used, while in the latter drag-seines are employed. The salmon are mostly cured and sent to southern markets, although they are canned to some extent in the province of Nemuro. Sirring -salmon fisheries. — Spring salmon {Oncorhynchus perryi Hilgd.), known in the island as " masu," ascend the rivers in Miij. They are not so abundant as the fall salmon, but somewhat superior in flavor. The methods of capture and curing are materially the same as those for the fall s])ecies. Cod fisheries. — Cod [Gadns hrandtii Hilgd.) are caught mostly during winter and early spring with trawls. The fish of early in the season are slightly salted and sent to the southern market for immediate con- sumption ; while those of the later season are split and " thorough cured," boned, and "hard dried." The liver is utilized for the manufacture of codliver oil, and the heads and bones are made into fertilizers. '■'■ IicashV fisheries. — "Iwashi" {Glupea mclanosticta Schleg.) is a small species of herring that ap[)ruaches the eastern coast in rather small schools during summer for the purpose of seeking food. The school is mote or less mixed with "seven-spots" {Etrumeus micropus Bleek.) and the young of spring herring {C. harengus). It is caught with drag- seines, and worked into oil and scraps. 344 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FLSH COMMISSION Trepang fisheries. — Trepaugs or sea-ciiciimbers {Holothuria) are col. lected with dredges upou the saady bottom of the sea arouud the ishind. They are boiled iu the decoctioii of the leaves of "yomogi" (a i)laut of the geuus Artemisia) after the abdominal contents have been cleaned out, and are dried in a kind of kiln for exportation principally to the Chinese market. Ear-shell fisheries. — The ear-shell or sea-ear {Haliotis) is a large gas- tero])od occurring only on the western coast. It is speared with a sort of trident from a dory in water from 2 to 4J fathoms deep, the fishermen being enabled to discern the mollusk in these depths by the aid of an open box with a glass bottom, used on the same princiide as a sponge- fisherman's water-glass. Suits of diving apparatus were formerly much used for this fishing ; but this use was recently prohibited by legislation, on account of their devastating influence upon the fisheries. After the fresh product is separated from the shell, it is cooked, dried, and slightly smoked, for sending over to China. Squid fisheries. — Squid is caught with hook and line, during tlie fall. It is split and dried, both for home consumption and for exx)ortatiou to China. '■^ Eombu^^ fisheries. — " Kombu " is a species of algse belonging to the genus Laminariu, growing upon submerged rocks in salt water. The best kind is collected mostly on the northeastern coast during the fall months. It is dried by spreading it upon a sandy beach, and afterward cut up into lengths of 4 feet, and bound into bundles weighing about 06 pounds each. It is inspected and branded before exporting to the markets of China. Sea-otter fisheries. — The sea-otter is found about the Kurile Islands, where it is captured by means of guns and small bomb-lances, for its exceedingly rich furs. It is to be much regretted that this valuable fur- bearing mammal is rapidly diminishing in number, on account of the indiscriminate destruction of both young and old by those who come from diflerent countries to hunt it. Oyster fisheries. — The oyster occurs in the shape of small islands in some lagoons on the northeastern coast. It is cooked and dried with steam, and sent to China. STATISTICS. Number ofpersonSf boats, selves, and nets engaged in the fisheries of Hokkaido in 1884. Fisheries proprietors Employed bands Boaia Seines Trap-nets Gill-nota Miscellaneons nets. .. Hakodate Sapporo Nemnro district. district. district. 3,218 3,324 1,338 17,440 33, 630 14, 703 15, 100 16, 800 3,473 496 267 326 935 1, 828 335 150, 820 33, 365 65 6,406 40 65 Total. 7,880 65, 773 35, 373 1,089 3,098 184, 250 6,511 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 345 Value of the i)rincipal fishery products of Hokkaido in 18^4. Fishery. Hakodate district. Sapi>oro district. Neninro district. Total Yens.* 1,412,762 31, 989 1,528 16, 396 116,577 5, 661 26,818 35, 250 49, 993 Yens. 2, 023, 883 221,993 5,617 85, 048 15,434 23, 210 95, 123 2, 817 189, 811 Yens. 108,003 281,874 118,675 712 1,640 14, 623 Yens. 3, 544, 648 535, 850 125, 820 Cni\ -»-- -.-. 102, 156 133, 651 '^rr(^T>;iii*' .......... ...... .•••■•-.....- ..-.-..--.---- 4;:, 494 121, 941 38, 067 164,440 3,150 13, 413 404, 244 3,150 O v«f **r 13,413 Total 1, 696, 974 2, 662, 936 706, 530 5,066,440 * One yen equals about 80 cents. Tlic total value of tbe yield for tbe year 1884 was unusually small, on account of a poor catch and low prices. Washington, D. C, Decemher 20, 1886. loe.-YOVNc; sai.itioiv inr northeriv nkw jcibsev. By F. ]TI. IVARD. [From a letter to Mr. Fred Mather.] About May 20, 1885, nearly 100,000 fry of tbe Penobscot salmon {Salmo mlar) were planted under tbe direction of tbo U. S. Fisb Com- mission in tbo Paulinskill, Pequest, and Musconetcong Elvers, tbey being tributaries of tbe Delaware in Northern "N^ew Jersey. Tbese fry were placed in tbe streams about 20 miles from where they emptied into tbe Delaware ; and in September, 1885, some of the young fish were found in the Paulinskill, and in the small tributaries or spring runs near where tbey empty into tbe main stream. In May, 1886, 1 learned that some salmon had been taken by a party while fishing for trout at a point about 5 miles below where they were placed tbe year before. The party that caught them thought at first that tbey were rainbow trout, but on examination I learned that they were young salmon from 4^ to 0 inches long. They were taken with common angle-worm bait, and seemed to be quite numerous at this point. I saw them during the early part of last September in the same stream, and have no doubt that they have done equally well in the other two streams. There were about 40 taken at this point, and nearly all were returned to tbe water. I am satisfied from this experiment that plant- ins the frv in the headwaters of the tributaries in natural trout water is the best way to stock the Delaware.* i^EWTON, K. J., November 13, 1886. 346 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 107.— PKESEIVT CONDlTIOrV OF TBBE CAI^IFOKIVIA ORAV WHALE FJISISERV. By CHAKLES H. TOWIVSEND. The California Gray Whale {Rhachianectes glaucus Cope) is the first species treated of in Capt. Charles M. Scammou's work on the Marine Mammals of the iforthwestern Coast of North America, and his account testifies to its importance as an oil-producing cetacean in the estimation of the whalers of twenty years ago. Although migrating to the arctic regions in summer, it was not usually molested in northern waters by civilized whalemen, to whom the baleen-yielding bowheads and right- whales were of more value ; but when it had repaired to its winter breeding resorts in the lagoons and bays of Lower California, the whalemen, shut out from their arctic hunting-grounds, pursued it with great profit. From the fact of its being a species of rather limited range, unknown as far south as Pan- ama, and unlike other whales, closely followiug the coast lines in its migrations, which subjected it to attacks from Eskimo and ludiau whalers aloug shore as well as from the ships of white men, its numbers became much reduced, so that Captain Scammou, writing of it in 1874, predicted its speedy extinction. The pursuit of the species in the lagoons of Lower California, where probably more than a score of vessels sought it aunually, had already been abandoned as no longer i)rofitable for ships, and numerous ''shore stations" aloug the southern coast of Upper California had been estab- lished, from which small boats could be sent out to cai)ture the gray whales during their annual migrations, which permitted of the business being continued so cheaply that it was still profitable, notwithstanding the reduced numbers of the whales. For many years the gray whale has been undisturbed in its breeding haunts and ap})ears to be in no danger of extinction as a species, not- withstanding the continuance of coast whaling. Its numbers certainly have not greatly increased, but recent experience with this whale leads me to the conclusion that the fear which has been cxi)ressed for the safety of the species is unfounded, and that it is in no immediate danger of extermination. During several trips along the California coasts at various times from September, 1881, to January, 188G, I visited the shore whaling stations of Ui»per California as well as many of the lagoons of the Pen insula, and learned something of the business of coast whaling as it is carried oji at the present time. Shore stations. — Of the eleven whaling stations mentioned by Scammon as established along the coast ten or twelve years ago, only live remain — those at Monterey, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo, Point Conception J and San Diego. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 347 Monterey. — The Monterey statiou is the oklest of these; and the charter of the Monterey Whaling Company, which I saw framed in the ancient stone building used as headquarters at that place, bore tbe date 1854. Gray whales then resorted to the shoal water along the north beach of Monterey Bay to roll in the sand as a relief from the barnacles and other parasites which infested them, and were easily secured, especially when half stranded at low tide ; but the persistent i)ersecution to which they were subjected drove them away, so that at the present time they must be sought far outside the bay. The seasons of 1885 and 1886 were es- pecially dull at this station, owing in part to rough weather which pre- vented the boats from going out regularly, but chiefly to the wilduess of the whales which were learning to shun the locality. The " up season" at Monterey is now unj)roductive, as the whales keep well off shore when returning with their young. I was told at several stations that shore whaling began its decline with the general use of the bomb-gun and lance by inexperienced persons, so many animals having been wounded as to make them wary and in general more quiet in their movements, leading some of the whalers to a suspicion even of their " blowing " more cautiously. The greater part of the oil yield at Monterey is derived from the humpback whales taken in summer, and it is probable that whaling would be abandoned at that station if the business depended upon the supply of gray whales. Monterey is in fact the only coast statiou where summer whaling can be carried on to any advantage. During the year 1802 the two companies then located there secured nearly 2,500 barrels of oil, the bulk of which was derived from the humpbacks, taken during the summer season, which lasts from September until December, the mi- gration of the gray whales lasting from the latter date until February 15. So far as I observed, all the whalers there are Portuguese, whose man- ner of life is simple, and who appeared to make but little more than a plain living out of the business. There were eleven gray whales taken at Monterey in 1883, and twelve in 1884. Occasional finback and sul- phur-bottom whales are secured there, so that with all the species obtain- able there is still a fair yield of oil at that station. San Simeon. — Tlie San Simeon station was founded in 18G4 by Joseph Clark, a Portuguese native of the Azores Islands, and has been kept in operation under his management ever since. Unlike Monterey, this sta- tion depends almost entirely for its business upon the gray whales, which pass southward with great regularity from December until Feb- ruary. The " up season," lasting until April, is also i)rofitable at San Simeon, but the catch there consists chiefly of males, the females keep- ing farther ofl" shore when passing northward with their young. Dur- ing the last ten years Captain Clark has seen but one female accompa- nied by young in the vicinity of his statiou. At San Simeon, and all the whaling establishments situated south of it, females exceed the other sex in numbers during the "down run," and most of th*^m contain well- 348 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. developed youug. At this place and at San Luis Obispo, the nearest neighboring station, I saw four .young whales lying on the beach, which had been taken from females killed in the vicinity during that season (December, 1885). Their average length was about 12 feet; the largest, which I sketched, being 17 feet long, and from an adult nearly 40 feet in length. They were probably within two weeks of the time of birth when the parent animals were killed. No use was made of these young whales, although they were coated with blubber 2 inches thick. Hump- back whales are scarce at San Simeon, where they were once common. ^an Luis Obispo. — The San Luis Obispo station has been in constant operation for many years. The season of 1885 was rather unprofitable there, several large whales which were killed having sunk too far off shore to be brought in, or the buoys, marking their position until they should tloat by decomposition, having been lost sight of. Three were secured late in the season. Point Conception and San Diego. — The Point Conception and the San Diego stations, like the preceding, have been kept iii profitable operation ever since their establishment, the former securing eleven and the- lat- ter eight gray whales during the past season. The San Pedro station is now abandoned, the force gathered there in 1884 now being employed at Point Conception. Present numbers.— The following table, showing the numbers of gray whales taken on the southern coast of California during the past three seasons (167), is made from information furnished me by Mr. Clark and other whalers now in the business: stations. 1883-'84. 1884-'85. 1885-'86. MontrPrey , . . 11 11 C •J5 ir. 4 LS 13 G 5 Scin Simeon ......... .. 14 San T.uis OI)is])i) 3 Point Conception . 11 Kan Pedro (abandoned in 1884) San Diego 5 8 Total =. es 41 Stormy weather on the coast had the eflect of lowering the annual catch in 1885-'8G. At the San Simeon station in December, 1885, I could see whales blowing almost every hour during the day. From the elevated " look- out," or observation station, on shore an extensive stretch of ocean could be examined with the telescope. During my stay, and for a short time afterward, covering a period of fully a month, Mr. Clark counted forty whales passing southward. Many of these were too far offshore to be pursued by the three boats that were daily cruising outside during the season, and a few may have been other species than gray whales, but counting the forty whales actually seen in December and doubling that number to include those that passed at night during the same period, we have eighty whales i)er month easily accounted for, ^ l>oubling BULLETIN OF THP] UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 349 tliis uuinber agaiu to include those which pass within sight of the look- out station in January (for the "down season "lasts two mouths), we have one hundred and sixty whales as the number that may readily be seen at the present time from one point alone during the " down season." What proportion this number bears to the number passing offshore would be hard to say, but it is certainly less than half, since the whales near the coast are mostly females seeking bays and lagoons in which to bring forth their young, which would leave the males and young whales unaccounted for. These safe and obviously low estimates, and the above table showing the actual catch during the past three seasons, afl'ord a very fair show- ing for a species so scarce in 1880 that only one individual could be captured, and indicate a tendency towards its re establishment while unmolested in its breeding resorts. Food, young, parasites, and habits.— The opinion of the men with whom I talked is that it does not feed to any great extent outside of its arctic habitat. It is certainly much thinner on the northward than on the southward run, a male that would yield CO or more barrels of oil in the down season yielding less than 25 two months later. Whalers admit their ignorance of what constitutes the food of this animal, and can find nothing in its stomach during the breeding season. The young Rhachianectes just before birth has a narrow, irregular, longitudinal ridge along the posterior part of the back, which I did not observe in the adult. It extends from about opposite the vent to the flukes and is interrupted in many places. This ridge probably corre- sponds to the series of transverse ridges along the back of the adult as described by Scammon. Although the young whales which T saw on the beach at San Simeon had been dead but a short time and were but slightly decomposed, the baleen was so loosely attached that it had slipped from it» ])lace in the jaws. It was not frayed and ragged on the inner surface as in that of the adult. The adults usually have many barnacles deeply imbedded in the skin. The specimens I ])reserved have been identified by Mr. W. H. Dall as Cryptolepas rhachianecti. Numerous specimens of the whale-louse {(Jyamns) were also seen. While cruising among the lagoons of Lower California in 1884, search- ing for sea-elephants, 1 heard many stories told by the natives of the ferocity of the female gray whales when attacked in their breeding places— stories amply attested by the number of graves of ill-fated whalers one meets with all along these desolate shores. When her young had been killed, the female, actuated apparently by motives of revenge, at- tacked boat after boat, demolishing it and scattering and drowning its occupants. This dangerous character gained for the animal its common name of "devil fish," and that fatalities were of frequent occurrence may be emphasized by the statement that in the vicinity of the now deserted lagoons a leading feature in the landscape is the solitary grave with its conspicuous fence of weather-worn whale-ribs. 350 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The chase. — There are usually high observation stands at the shore stations of Upper California, from which a sharp lookout is kept. When the spouting of a whale is distinguished, the observer signals its posi- tion to the boats cruising off-shore, by means of a large flag, to which they reply by dij^i^ing the peak of the mainsail. When near enough to the whale, a lance, with line attached, is fired into it from a heavy harpoon-gun mounted on the bow of the boat. It is finally killed by an explosive bomb-lance fired from a bomb-lance gun held to the shoulder, and is towed ashore after much hard rowing. Mr. Clark, of San Simeon, recently took from a gray whale one of his own harpoons which he had fired into the animal two years before, the exi)osed portion of the instrument being rusted to the slimness of a pipe- stem, contrasting strongly with the bright and sound part protected by the flesh and blubber. Other species. — The catch of other whales in 1884 and 1885 was as follows : stations. Monterey San Simeon Point Conception. San Diego Eight- whale. Hump- hack. 17 Sulphur- bottom. Occasional finback whales are taken at the coast stations, but their appearance is very irregular. Sperm-whales are of still rarer occur- rence, but one was captured at Carmel Bay in 1875, which yielded 53 barrels of oil. Whale-oil prepared at the coast stations is worth about 25 cents per gallon.* At this low price, whaling for the gray whale must be carried on inexpensively from coast stations to support those engaged in it, and it is unlikely that a return to ship whaling in Lower California would be found profitable at the present time. Washington, D. C, Novemher 10, 188G. explanation of the plates. Plate VI. — llhacldanectes (jlancns Cope. California Gray Wbale. Ftetus, 17 feefc long, taken from an adult about 40 feet long, San Simeon Bay, Cali- fornia, December 25, 1885. Specimen inclined a little to tbe rigbt side and sligbtly imbedded in the sand. (From a sketch by Charles H. Townsend.) Plate VII. — IlhaeManecty these experiments Professor Bairng to a family called by naturalists Belostomiclw. It is especi- ally of these Bdostomidw that this paper treats. In the northeastern United States the common forms of these bugs belong to tbcgencraZai^/ia, Belostoma, and Bcnacus. The accompanying figure of one of the species of Belostoina, which genus in the tropics contains some veritable giants in the insect line, will give a good gen- eral idea of the form and appearance of these insects. The species fig u red , B. grande, is found intemperate and tropical parts of North Amer- ica. Tbe form of insects belonging to the genus Belosfoma is elongated oval, and their consider- ably flattened form and large size serves to dis- tinguish them from all the other before- men- tioned water bugs except those belonging to the genus Nepa, and from them they are easily distinguished by the fact that the body of Nepa terminates in a long tube formed by the apposition of two grooved ap- pendages; through this tube the insect obtains air for breathing, while the species of Belostoma have no such tube. The form in Zaitha is like that of Belosfoma, but the species are smaller. In Benaciis, another closely allied genus, of which the sole species, B. haldemannm, is found in the United States, the femur of each fore-leg lacks the groove on its forward side, a groove whicli is present in the species of Belostoma, and which serves for the partial reception of the tibia when the fore-leg is folded up. Tbe genera Zaitha and Benacus formerly were considered to be a part of the genus Belostoma. Insects of tlie family Belostomidw are abundant in nearly all parts of tbe tropical and temperate zones of both hemispheres, except in Euro])e, where they are extremely rare ; but, as a general rule, these insects are larger tbe warmer tbe climate in which they live. Individual s]>ecimens of Belostoma grande are sometimes found in tropical America which measure 4 inches in length, and B. griseum, which is found in the north- ern United States, attains a length of 3^ inches. Tbe young of this species when only two days from the Q^g measured, according to Pack- ard, a third of an inch in length. The color of the species of Belostomid/c is brown, of a greater or less depth, or of a yellowish or a greenish shade. Partially covered with mud, they are quite difficult to discover. Tbe sexes are not easy to dis- tinguish from one another, except that females can at times be distin- guished by tbe eggs which thej' carry. 356 r'.ULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. These lar^e insects are not only provided wiLli powerful fore-legs whicb the}' use to seize tlieir prey, and strong, somewhat oar-shaped liind-legs for swiuiiuing ; but, when full-grown, they have strong wings and are cajtable of long-sustained flight. By their flights, which, as in most aquatic hemiptera, take place at night, these insects pass from one pond to another. This insures them a wide distribution, and makes their extermination a difticult matter. Living, as they often do, in pools which dry out at certain seasons of the year, this i)rovision for flight is a necessity of their existence. That these flights are often long and high is proved by the fact that the bugs have been fouiul in the midst of large cities, far from any pond or pool, upon the roofs of three and four story blocks. It is probable that tliey are found in these situations from having been attracted to the reflecting surfaces of sky- lights, for it is well known that water-beetles, with their imperfect sight, mistake large expanses of glass, such as are presented by green-houses, for sheets of water. Especially attractive, however, to these large water, bugs are electric lights, and notices have api^eared in the daily press of the swarming of these, as well as of other insects, about the electric lights of cities. In flight, as Mr. Brackett states in the letter from which I have already quoted, the species of Bclostomidw which he ob- served can arise directly from the surface of the water. These insects differ, according to the species, as to their mode of egg- laying. Some, like the common Zaitha fiuminca of our northern waters, lay tlieir eggs on their own backs. In my collection I have a specimen of this species which has her back almost entirely covered by a nicely- arranged layer of elongated-oval, dark-brown eggs, which number over a hundred and seventy-five. These eggs are set nicely upon one end, and |)la(;ed in trausv^erse rows, by means of a long protrusile tube, or ovipositor, which the insect can extend far over her own back. This mode of oviposition insures the safety of the eggs until the young are hat<;hed. The eggs are fastened to the back of the mother by a very thin layer of a waterproof gum secreted by tlu; insect. The entire layer of eggs is ai)t to split from the insects when they are dried, and con- seqju^ntly is rarely seen in colleiitions of insects. The young bug hat<'.hes from its eg^ by means of cutting out a round lid from tlie toi» of the egg, annly one tarsal claw in tlic same j)lacc. It is uot <'A'rtaiiily known, but it is likely tliat these insects reach their lull growth in a year. lu seizing upon lishes or other small animals these insects grasp their prey with their fore feet, holding it firmly in their claws, then piercing it with their beak or proboscis ; for they only suck blood, not being able, as is the case with water-beetles, to eat the whole animal. The proboscis consists of stout horny setic or bristles which tit closely to- gether to form a fine sucking-tube, while the exhaustion is perlormcd by means of a muscular, extensible pharynx, or throat. As is probably the case with all carnivorous hemiptera, only living i)rey is acceptable to these insects. The predaceous m ater-bugs are said to destroy the eggs of fishes, although further confirmation of this statement is desir- able. When the water bugs attack other aninjals it is noticeable that the ])rey dies much quicker than it would normally do from simi)ly the loss of blood consequent upon the sucking of the bug, so it is generally sup- posed that these insects inject a poisonous secretion through tlieir pro- boscis into the wound they make. Most of these insects intlict i!4 umii^c; 'rKAiVMi*oB'rA- TIOIV OtV TKAV8. By W. F. PAOK. On December 8, 1S8G, a case of whitefish aggs was received at Cen- tral Station, U. S. Fish Commission, Washington, D. C, from F. N. Clark, ISTortliville, Micb. The package was said to contain 100,000 eggs. Wlicu tbe package was opened and tbe eggs were transferred to a McDonald batcbing-jar (new style) at 4 p. m.on tbe same day, tbe eggs were found to measure but 64,000. Tbey were again carefully remeas- ured at 9 a. m. on December 10, and found to be 72,000, an increase of 12A per cent. Wben tbe eggs were received tbey did not present anj-^ appearance of shriveling or other distortion from normal sbai)e and size; yet it is evident that a shrinkage of bulk must have occurred between tbe time tbey left Northville and arrived in Wasbingtou, and further, that tbey regained a part at least of their former bulk. On January 8, 1887, thirty days after tbe second measurement, tbey were again measured and, although a small number of dead eggs bad been removed from the jar tbe number was still found to be 73,000. If, as it ai)pears, a shriidvage of 12J per cent occurs in the comi)ara- tively short shipment from Northville to Washington, it is fair to sup- pose that in the longer transoceanic shipments tbe shrinkage would amount to much more. On January 22 a consignment of eggs which bad been out of water about 28 hours arrived at Central Station, and were at once idaced in circulation in 12 jars of water at 37° F. Measurements of tbe quantity were made on tbe basis of 30,000 eggs to the quart after introduction into the jars and 42 hours later, with the following result: Number of jar. Number of eggs as indicated by first measurement. Number of eggs as indicated by second measurement. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 Total in 12 jars. 153, 000 153,000 133,000 153, 000 145, 000 153,000 125, 000 135,000 135, 000 135, 000 140,000 140, 000 165, 000 1.58, 000 150, 000 158,000 102,000 180, 000 144, 000 153, 000 158, 000 155, 000 100, 000 157, 000 . 1,700,000 1, 000, 000 The increase in bulk due to returning the eggs to water amounts to llif per cent. Washington, D. C, January 27, 1887. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 361 lH.-Ki;i'OKT Ol" OI'KKATIOW.** Al' Tllli: MHAU-IIATCII lf\4; STATIOIV ON BATTHKV IMIiANU, I\ICAR UAVKK Uii UKAVH, MD., UUlCIIVli TIIK Sl^A»OIV OF ISSO. By L.. K. OISABILL,, Superintendent of Battery Station. [Abstnict. ] The first run of shad was perceived on April 18, aud 35 ripe shad were taken ou April 19. This run continued for a week, and was larjj^er in number than had been ktiown for 20 years. Both shad and herring came in enormous quantities. It was impossible to obtain the catch of shad at the seines during this run. The catch of Mr. Osmond's seine in shad for one day alone was more than 5,000. The collection of spawn for the station was done by men and boys hired temporarily for the purpose. As many as 40 men aud boys in addition to the station's ordinary force were employed. These were paid monthly wages, each being allowed $10 a month for subsistence. It was endeavored to station men pernnmently at all the seines, and to attend to as many gill- nets as possible. The men were graded as first aud second class spawn-takers, and apprentices. Besides these, boy# were used merely as oarsmen. Experience shows, however, that it will be better in the future to employ 3 men to every boat, ti of whom are apprentices; these 2 to take nightly turns at receiving instruction. Boys, unless quite large and strong, cannot care for boats in a squall. Large as was the collect- ing force it could not attend to more than one-half of the gilling boats on nights when all of the fishermen were out. As a rule it was found more profitable to attend gill-nets than seines. Collection was continued from April 19 to June 10, the total number of eggs collected being 00,700,000. Of this number there were received from the steamer Fish Hawk 2,099,000, and from the steamer Lookout 2,433,000, the total received from other sources thus being 4,532,000. The Commission's gill-nets were put in use during the latter part of the season, there being jio scarcity of male fish during the first part. Notwithstanding the smaller mesh of the net, it was not noticed that there was a large difierence from other nets in the proportion of male fish caught. The largest roe fish seen during the season was caught in one of the Commission's small-mesh gill-nets. On a few occasions these nets served a good purpose in supplying male fish for impregnating eggs, but they did not supply these male fish nearly so often as they were supplied from ordinary nets near at hand. The Commission's gill- nets, being fished by expert fishermen, caught about as »any fish, both male and female, as most of the gill-nets fishing in the same locality. At the beginning of the season the hatching department was not pre- pared to do the work that was forced upon it by the early and immense 362 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. run of shad. The counectious for the Liitcliiiig apparatus Jiiul for the water supply were inadequate to the demand, and tlie supply of hatching apparatus on hand was iusuflicient. To increase the hatching room an addition, covered with canvas, was made, accommodating 2 tables additional with 50 McDonald jars. The store-room used for the seine was furnished with sky-lights, and 158 hatching cones were placed in it, and about 30 cones in all conditions of repair were hastily fitted up outside of all shelter. Notwithstanding the increase thus made, the cones and jars constantly carried twice as many eggs as they should have done, and much loss was the result. But by far the greater loss was caused by being obliged to allow eggs brought in to stand in buckets, &c., until room could be made for them. In many cases eggs nearly hatched were compelled to be placed in the river to make room for new ones. About 170 McDonald jars and 58 cones were in constant use, supplemented by wire-gauze cylinders, buckets, pans, and all kinds of arrangements for hatching. Three experts were employed during most of the season in the hatch- ing-house. Three apprentices were also employed most of the time as assistants. These men received and cared for all eggs, cared for the fish when hatched, filled the cans for shipment, and loaded them in ^he launch or scow. Notwithstanding the losses, the number of shad fry hatched was 45,231,000. These numbers are based on the measurement of the i»er- fectly cleaned eggs in the jars just before hatching in every case, and are as nearly accurate as these figures can be made. It is believed that this is rather under than over the actual result. The percentage of hatching during the season was 74.4. The total number of fry aijipped and receipted for by messengers was 43,770,000. The total loss of fish was 1,455,000. Three tables are appended to this report, which give details concerning the collection of the eggs, the shipments of the fry, and meteorological observations during most of the season. The collecting force was entirely disbanded after June 10, when gili- ing is no longer iVermitted by Maryland laws. On June 13 all the eggs on hand had hatched, and the hatching department was then closed. But few eggs, however, were taken after June 1, the date on which the greater part of the force was discharged. After the close of the hatch- ing season the time of the small number remaining was given to storing the equipment, and in work upon a drive- well, which was begun with the hope of finding an artesian water supply. This well was carried to a depth of about 150 feet by July 1. There is little doubt but that the area of 4 or 5 scpiare miles immedi- ately surrounding Battery Station is as large as anj', if not the largest, spawning ground for shad on the coast. The station is well located for reaching every ])art of this ground. The possibilities of the station are almost unlimited. Fishermen and fishing boats cover the bay dur- ing the season, and every ripe egg taken in fish in the nets would be BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 363 lost if it w;is iH)t twketi by tlic fi)lIt;(;tors of tlie station, iiupreguatetl, and batched. One need only to see the bay studded with the lights of the lishing boats ou a night in IMay to convince him that but for tlie Com- uiission's work very few lish could come from eggs naturally deixisited. But, large as was the Commission's force last year, 1 am satislied that not over oue-halfof the ripe lish taken in the bay by tishermcu were stripi)ed by its collectors, as they could not possibly attend to all. It is fairly demonstrated by this season's work that collecting from gillers produces a better result than, hauling the Commission's seine. Two or 3 men can secure as many ripe hsh from gillers in a day as 30 men would secure if employed in hauling the seine. Moreover, hauling the seine by the emi)loyees of the station necessarily involves the Fish Commission in the care and disposal of the fish taken, while it seems to antagonize the fishermen, aud is an unnecessary cost. With a good run of lish in the coming year, if the collecting force is doubled and their work thoroughly vsystematized, perhaps double the number of eggs secured last season can be obtained during 1887. The collection of eggs in 18SG was stimulated also by giving small rewards to those gathering the greatest amount of good spawn. Penning suad. — Out of a large number of shad full of roe, but not ripe at the time of introduction, which were placed in the pool aud kept for a space of time ranging from a few days to 2 weeks, not one ever ]noduccd eggs that would hatch, though apparently ripe when stripped. It would seem that ])Ossibly the fright at being taken in the net, or of continement in the i)Ool, luevents the eggs from further development. All of the lish [)laced in the pool become more or less diseased after a short time, which may be due partly to the muddy bottom. This in- teresting exi)eriment has hitherto met with such small success as to warrant its being droi)ped hereafter. Hekeing. — Ilerriug were taken continually aud sometimes in such (juantities as to retard the hauling of the seines. No account was ke[)t of them, as they were considered valueless in most cases, and they were shoveled back dead into the river or allowed to escape through the large meshes before comjdetely hauling in the seine. KoCKiasH OR STRIPED BASS. — Experiments were made in hatching the eggs of the rockfish, the greatest snccess being obtained by swing- ing a cylinder with gauze ends in a sluice-way through which a current, caused by the tide, coustantly flowed. It appears, however, that even with very line gauze the eggs in a certain state are forced through. Owing to want of time, caused by i)ressure of other matters, sutlicient attention could not be devoted to these experiments, aud most of the eggs taken were lost. In all, 000,000 rockfish eggs were taken, and 75,000 fry were shipped to Lake Ontario, nepr Oswego, N. Y.* Washington, D. C, Decemher 20, 1880. • For notice of their successful plantiug, see F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. 137. 364 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 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"^!-'5t-'3 ' ' ■^''^ ' I-' "~, ' t^ ■'3 ■ ' ^ ' ' ' "2 '.'"11^ Sf»-!oS«S«S0COrtSOcS5S0c803OOnOOO5- ,«000 O'^ OJr— o V O « C»^r— r^ 5 ."3 !'3'3'3 ^, a 4fi-« ^ ^ -■£ooooo?;o-S,ooo o-ri o o if-r' o o ce, 3^ S -f5 Om.«7V o O O O O ?^ O-rJ© o o .-r. •/.. ^-^t: ••^t^=-3ti ^H - -*^ Ti . —'- M i"^ -*-'3 rn r^ ^3 . Ti ^"-Ti T^ Ti T3 Ti r^ r3 '^ . ^"-T^ ^^ r^ —'■^I -*■ r^ r^ (/:faH) ; i [JR h-1 (C fcq h-? :pH ;»-) :tai-j .u .hJoi-iw •Ill -d j7 •nie i •ni-dxr •lu -d ^ •ra-B i •ni d xt •ra-B I ■luclxi •ax -(l t •lU'V^ p -Jr»0-#'^■^WMOOOSC5COaOCOQO^*t^0500Cl^f^QQOO•COOC»5*♦CDIf^*CO:^0 - a5_<«)ioi--'*occc.icooor~(X)Oi-r-ooooo-^o-o I'. a « 3 3 ^ BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. SGI o'^OOOO'O ": ": 11 'K 1 1 Oj5 O O O O O O :w : : : ; . : oooooooo OOOOSocSO »T3'— r-2'— OrJ ajrs OOOOBrtOO ; : . :53 : : >, ■ rS %. • oooooSao t: -s -s -s -13 ^ ® '3 : ; : ; :oo : ■£0000000 : ;3 ;p^3 : . r^o-f. 0 = 000 t- :^ : : : : ; ^1 »i^^^'l ««5^^^il^ »^^t^''-^i^t «0 0 !>■ t^ l" t' t- t^ «o » '^ t- C- t^ I> t* 00a3OMC0»0i0i0 «o «Q t- t- l^ t- t- t- cc: « CO |>- !>. I- 1-- t- to lo 0 -ri c^i t' oc ^ » « t- I:- I- t- t- l> t- 1- 1.-- 1- t- 1- 1- 1- Ift OC ll"N DO C5 •-' b- .-H CO CO 0 t— CD t- t^ t- B o a 5 q 3 10 Sort S d aa"- Sort a o c« •""S *=« « >3 « S us S r-il o n p ,0 V, ci © a a a p- ^ -^iT'^^aa ■^ S iM o o st Virginia. . Maryland Do.. Georgia. Total . Place of deposit. Near Battery Station' . do' Bi'low Port Deposit' . . Near Battery Station' Virginia New Vork Maryland i)o Delaware West Virginia... Maryland Dtlaware Maryland bo West Virginia. . . Pennsylvania Maiyland Pcnnsvlvania Do Delaware MarylaiKl Nf>> ill Carolina . . West Virginia .. Pennsylviiiiia Do Maryland bo Do Do Do Do Do Aliove Havre de Gr.ace' Near Battery Station' . . . UaiTisbiirg* Near Battery Station' . Providence* Near I5at tery Station' . Below Port Deposit' . . Columbia'' Grafton' Off Ordinary Points. Clifton Forge" Near Os wego^ Below Port Deposit'. Rowlesliurgli" Millington-' . .. Sea ford" Salisbury'^ Near Columbia'' Above Port Deposit" Pencil Bottom'' Marietla^ Scaford' ('ono\vintlo'' Payelteville* Fairmont" Safe Harbor" Tides Kddy" Above Havre do Graee^ . Below Havre de Grace'. . do' Noai- Battery Station' ... do' ...'. do' do' Stream. Susquehanna River. do do Susquehanna Ki ver Northeast, Gunpowder, Bush Rivers.^ and Gunpowder, Northeast, Patapsco Rivers.* Bush and Elk River.s* . . . Susquehanna River and Narragansett Bay Chester Rivei* Patusent River* Columbia River.' , do» Northeast River" Broad and Saluda Rivera Gunpowder River*' Bush Rivei* Northeast Ri ver^ Northeast and Elk Rivers" . . Northeast River and flats off Locust Point.'" Monongahela River Brandywine ami Nanticoke Rivers." Sassafras River Withlacoochee and Ocklock- onnee Rivers.* .James River Lake Ontario Chester River^ , Susquehanna River Brandywine River' Cheat River flhester River Nanticoke River Wicomico River Patusent River^ Monongahela River" Susquelianna River do do do Najiticoke River. Cape Fear River Monongahela River. Susquehanna River. do do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Date. Apr. 25 Apr. 2« Apr. 27 Apr. 27 Apr. 28 Apr. 28 Apr. 29 Apr. 30 Apr. 30 May 1 May 3 May 3 May 5 May 5 May 6 May 7 l^Iay 8 May 9 ilay 9 May 9 May 10 May 10 May 11 May 11 May 11 May l:i May 12 May 12 May 13 May 13 May 14 May 14 MaV U May 14 May 15 May IG May 17 May 18 May 18 May 19 May 19 May 21 May 24 May 2.'') Mav 26 May 2fi MaV 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May .'{1 ilune 1 Juno 2 Juno 5 Juno 7 June 9 June 10 Juno 12 June 13 Number sent. 25, 000 1,421,000 2, 431, 000 n 800, 000 1,500,000 1,0.55,000 50, 000 1, 430, 000 1,200,000 1, 02], 000 '1,952,000 1,500.000 804, 000 1, 245, 000 500, 000 G50, 000 1,000,000 500, 000 1,. 500, 000 (100, 000 300, 0011 1,. 500, 000 GOO, 000 1,500,000 250, Of 0 900, 000 1.(100,000 1 , 500, 000 250, 000 ('■') GOO, 000 370, 000 450. 0( 0 300, 000 GOO, 000 450, 000 4.50, 000 540, 000 .•!00, 000 895, 000 750, 000 830. 000 , 500, 000 977, 000 .500, 000 , 100,000 200, 000 550, 000 500, 000 100,00(1 228, 000 429, 000 472, 000 298, 000 481,000 250, 000 43, 770, 000 ' By employees of station. 'Fifty tliousand eggs on trays shipped to H. C. Mercer, by steamship Eider, foi Danube River. 3 By R. H. i)ana. * By N. Simmons. c:ir No. 1. *Eggs aliiiiist liatclicd when put into river. «ByF. L. Uonuelly. ' By J. F. Ellis, car No. 3. * Delivered 585,000 eggs in good order. ' By steamer Lookout. '0 By launches Nos. 08 and 82. " By H. E. Quinn. " Seventy-five tbonsand rockfish. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 369 Vol. VI, i%o. 24. W.-ft»MBagtoii, D. C. Dec. 31, 1886. lia.— XOTES ON AN INVESTIGATION OF THE OREAT FI.SHINQ BANKS OF TME WESTERN ATLi ANTIC* , By J. T^\ COLLITJS. [Abstract.] This report covers a trip of twenty-niue days, made in pursuance of instructions from the Commissioner to accompany the Albatross, as fish- ery expert, to the great fishing banks off the coast of Xorth America. On June 19, soundings were taken over the region of the two posi- tions assigned to Hope Bank on the charts (about latitude 41° 25' north, longitude 03^ 15' west), proving that there is no such bank, or even an upheaval of the ocean bed in this vicinity, as a depth of about 2,000 fathoms was uniformly found, under favorable conditions for sounding and determining the ship's exact position. This disproves the exist- ence of what for several years has been a source of speculation to many Xew England fishermen, and has occasionally caused a loss of time to those that searched for it.t The next objective point was the position of certain reported " dan- gers to navigation," laid down on the charts as " rocks awash," at vary- ing distances to the southward of the southern extremity of the Grand Bank of Xewfouudland. The whole of the 21st, and the following night and morning, were spent in searching for these " rocks," and the re- searches proved that no such '' dangers" existed, as depths of about 3,000 fathoms were found where these '•'rocks" were marked on the charts.t The results of such searches are of considerable practical value to fishermen. Early on the morning of June 23, we began dredging with the beam- trawl in 523 fathoms, about 15 miles to the southward of the southern extremity of the Grand Bank, and dredgings were made at regular in- tervals between that position and the bank, while later in the day many dredgings were made on the bank itself. Perhaps the most important catch of the day, from the standpoint cf a fisherman j was the haul made on the bank in 51 fathoms (latitude 43^ 08' north, longitude 50° 40' * These notes relate to researches made clnrinj; a cruise of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross, from Jane 17 to July 16, 1885, with the object of investigating the fauna and fishing grounds of the chain of great ocean banks between Cape Cod and Newfoundland. An account of this cruise, with tables of dredgings and trawl- iugs, and of fishing stations, is given in Capt. Z. L. Tanner's Report on Work of the Albatross, in the Fish Commission Report for 1885, p. 27 et seq. t See Fish Commission Bulletin for 1885, p. 466. tThis is what is referred to in Captain Tanner's Report (p. 28) as Watson's Rock. Bull. U. S. F. C. 188G 24 370 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION. "west). Here thirty-six specimens of the craig or pole flounder [Olyp- tocephalus cynoglossus) were taken in the beam-trawl, which was on the bottom only a few minutes. These fish were of large size and weighed 106 pounds in the aggregate. The trawl also brought up a very large quantity of ophiurans. Off the southern edge of the Grand Bank, in depths varying from 100 to 300 fathoms, the trawl brought up large •quantities of grenadiers {Macrurus), blue hake {Haloporphyrus viola), .soft corals, and a smaller amount of other material. Several dredgings were made during the early part of the 24:th in the shallow water on the eastern edge of the Grand Bank. At dredging station 2437* the trawl brought up considerable quantities of bryozoa, -which fishermen call "sea-moss"; where this occurs the ground is known as " mossy bottom." Many flat sea-urchins, commonly called '' sand- dollars," were also taken, but there were no fish, excepting one small flounder. At station 2138, near by, most of the material taken con- sisted of sand-dollars. A rather small amount was brought up in the trawl, among which were broken shells, one skate {Raia radiata), one small fish, and a few shells. At station 2139 the trawl brought up a large mass of holothurians, commonly called "sea-pumpkins," a few ascidians {Boltenia), known to the fishermen as "sea-lemons," and many small sponges and shells. Among the latter there were many live mus- sels, some of which were covered with sponges and barnacles. A small amount of bryozoa, sand-dollars, and a few spider-crabs were taken, also one small codfish. The bulk of the material obtained at station 2110 consisted of dead shells, and, so far as could be judged, the bot- tom where the dredging was made would be what is termed " barren ground." A few small flounders and three haddock were also taken at this station. The material brought up in the trawl during the forenoon of the 25th did not indicate for the most part a very good feeding ground for cod. At station 2141 very little material was obtained, consisting of a very few shells and some spiny sea-urchins {Strongylocentrotus drobacMensis), sesh- lemons {Boltenia), a few shrimp, two small skates {Raia radiata), and one young sculpin ( Cottus). At station 2442 the trawl brought up only about one-half bushel of material in all. This was mostly flat sea-urchins. There were also one sea-lemon {Boltenia holtcni) , one sea-peach {Halocyn- thia pyrifonnis), several sea-pumpkins (Pene. At station 2511 the dredge was nearly filled with mud and stones, among which was very little animal life. A few shells, ho- lothurians, and starfish were taken. At station 2512 the dredge was tilled with soft sticky mud, in which were 2 sea-pens {Pennatula acu- leata), 1 holothurian, and a few ascidians. The most interesting haul, so far as fish are concerned, was made with the large beam-trawl at station 2513 (latitude 43° 34', longitude 63° 56' 30"), in 134 fathoms, on a bottom of gray ooze. Among other things the trawl contained 10 Norway haddock, 4 common hake {Phycis cimss), many large shrimp, and 2 young pole flounders. Since the latter species will i)robably some time become of value commercially, their occurrence here is of interest, for it shows a wide distribution of this fish in depth as well as in area. The haul comprised also several specimens of Baird's grenadiers {Macrurus hairdii), many brittle-stars, 3 or 4 species of sea-anemones, starfish (Archaster), sea-pens {Pennatula)^ some large specimens of BentaUum, and quantities of large Terchratulma. At station 2514 the following material was taken : One Baird's grena- dier, 3 species of sea-anemones, large numbers of fragile sea-urchins {Schizaster fragilis), large shrimp, and various species of starfish and sponges ; also some stones. At 11 p. m. the ship stopped on La Have Bank. Mr. Nye put an electric light over the side and soon there were numbers of bill-fish dart- ing about it, and squid were seen also. Several of the bill-fish were BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 379 caught, bnt it was found impracticable to capture any of the squid, as they would not bite a jig and could not be taken by other means. Work was begun early in the morning of July 12, and a line of dredg- ings and trials for cod, with hand-lines, was run across La Have Bank, beginning on its eastern side and extending to the southeast part of Brown's Bank. These operations were carried on in depths rangingfrom 47 to 104 fathoms. In all the dredgings except the last, which was made in 104 fathoms, the ship's dredge was used, it not being possible to use the beam-trawl, owing to the rocky character of the bottom. The difS- culties of dredging on such bottom are very great, as was evident by the loss of a dredge on the second attempt for the day (at station 2516),. while in most instances the dredge came up more or less nearly filled with stones, pebbles, and coarse gravel, and the amount of animal life was generally very small. At station 2517 (latitude 43° 10', longitude 64^ 18'), in 55 fathoms, bottom of yellow sand and black specks, 4 hand-lines were put out, baited with capelin, and 12 cod were caught, these averaging about two-thirds large fish (i. e., over 30 inches in length). The bait we used was very soft and would scarcely stay on the hooks until they reached the bottom. Fish were fairly abundant, and with fresh squid bait could probably have been caught in large numbers. Nearly all the cod taken at this station had squid ( Ommastrephes illecehrosus) in their stomachs, in a more or less digested condition, and they had also been feeding on bank-clams [Olycimeris). The animal life brought up by the dredge at this station comprised 2 species of sea-urchins (the sand-dol- lar and spiny sea-urchins), 2 species of starfish, 2 spider-crabs, 1 sea- anemone, several sea-spiders {Pycnogonum)^ and various kinds of dead shells. At station 2518 the dredge was filled with stones of various sizes up to 6 or 8 inches in diameter. To these were attached some small sponges. In the dredge were also a few ascidians, a starfish, and some shells. A little after meridian a 10-pound torpedo was exploded on the bot- tom at hydrographic station 821, in 47 fathoms, rocky bottom (latitude 43° 01' north, longitude 64^ 45' 30" west), but no results were ob- tained. After the explosion of the torpedo 3 hand-lines were put out for from 20 to 30 minutes, and 4 cod and 1 haddock were caught. At station 2520 the dredge was filled with coarse gravel and stones, among which the most noticeable forms of life were some shells {Denta- Hum and Leda), large numbers of worm-tubes of sand and gravel, con- taining • live worms (Nothria). There were 2 young sculpins and a few shrimps, sponges, ascidians, and barnacles. At station 2521 the dredge was partially filled with clean coarse gravel, with a few small stones. It contained almost no living animals, a single starfish and a few dead shells being the only objects of interest. The last dredging for the day was made with the small beam-trawl on the southeast slope of Brown's Bank, in 104 fiithoms, sandy and grav- 380 BULLETIX OF THE UXITED STATES FISH COMMISSION'. <3lly bottom, at station 2522 (latitude 42o 20', longitude 65^ -07' 30"). The trawl was dragged over the bottom only a few minutes, because of the supposed rough nature of the ground. But, nevertheless, the net was cut through and probably much of the material taken in the appa- ratus escaped before the trawl was hove up. Of the material saved, shrimp of two or more species were abundant. There were also young Norway haddock or rose-fish {Sebastes marinus), a few sculpius, and several other varieties of small fish, someof them apparently immature. Among the invertebrates the most noticeable were several species of starfish, some large deep-sea barnacles, sea-anemones, sea-spiders, and some young spiny sea-urchins. The fauna of this region is of special interest, since in this locality and its immediate vicinity, in somewhat deeper water, the halibut fishery has been pursued with considerable success, while a few miles northwest, in from 55 to Go fathoms, many i^ood fares of cod have been obtained. On the 13th, researches were carried on in deep water, in the so-called " gully " between Brown's Bank and the northeast extremity of George's Bank. This locality has become somewhat celebrated as a deep-water halibut ground upon which gorgonian corals of extraordinary size and in considerable abundance have been found by the fishermen, these corals being often hauled up on the lines with which they become eu- taogled. Attempts were made by means of the dories and with grap- nels to secure some of this coral, but without much success, two speci- mens of the great tree-coral {Primnoa reseda) being obtained. During the forenoon several hauls were made with the ship's dredge, in depths varying from 72 to 121 fathoms, but only a small amount of ma- rine life was obtained. The rough character of the ground precluded the possibdity of using the beam-trawl, otherwise it is probable that a larger quantity and a much greater variety might have been secured. At station 2523 the dredge was filled with stones, coarse gi-avel, and pebbles. Among these were a few holothurians of two species, Vdmj)- sheWs {Tcrch rat III hia), sea-anemones, worm-tubes, sponges, shrimp, small starfish, brittle-stars, sea-urchins, and 2 or 3 small sprays or branches of gorgonian coral. At station 2524 the dredge contained stones and pebbles, with a very small amount of life, as follows : A few sponges, shrimp, lamp-shells, small starfish, holothurians, and ascidians. At station 2525 the dredge was filled with coarse gravel and stones, wliile sponges and shells were more numerous than in the preceding haul. Ascidians were plentiful, but there was very little crustacean life. At station 252G the dredge was filled with coarse gravel and stones, while containing ver^^ few living animals, as follows : Small sea-anem- ones, small holothurians, various kinds of small shells, a few brittle- stars, and 2 or 3 shi'imp. At station 252S (latitude 41^ 47' north, longitude 65^ 37' 30" west) a haul was made with a large beam-trawl in G77 fathoms on a bottom of brown mud, where a large amount of material was taken, which so BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 381 closely resembled the fuuua so often brought up on the halibut lines from the deep-water fishing areas, that it seems desirable that mention should be made of it, although, strictly speaking, this haul was made beyond the limits frequented by fishing vessels. Among the material brought up were many blue hake {Haloporphyrus viola), grenadiers {Afacnirus), 3 pole flounders [Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), a number of other species of fish not identified, a large amount of the little bush- coral [Acanella normani ), specimens of gold-banded coral [Keratoisis or- nata), 2 or 3 species of sea-anemones, soft sea-urchins, and several spe- cies of shells. It is worthy of note that swordfish and finback whales were seen in unusual abundance on July 13. During the first part of the day as many as 20 swordfish were seen in from 6 to 8 hours; frequently 2 or 3 were in sight at the same time. As many as 20 whales were seen at one time during the morning, and a stdl greater number were seen In the afternoon. At station 252S they were very numerous, apparently feeding on small Crustacea, probably from 40 to 50 whales being in sight at one time. They were all finbacks, so far as I could tell. Their move- ments were sluggish, as they "played" back and forth in the tide rips, with their mouths open, the upper jaw just at the surface, scooping in "feed." They were joined by a school of porpoises (probably Delphimis delpMs), which drove in among the whales, their movements indicating that they were feeding, but of this we could not be sure. The electric light was put over the ship's side soon after dark and Mr. ZS^ye succeeded in catching seveal specimens of young squid and some small fish of the genus Scopelus. The researches on the fishing banks terminated on the 13th, and the ship arrived at Wood's HoU on July IG, thus ending the cruise. Gloucester, Mass., Xovemher 27, 1886. 113.-A CURIOUS KiVIFE FOUND IN THE Fr.KSII OF A CODFISBT. By J. W. COLLINS. While discharging a fare of codfish from the schooner Vinnie M. Getchell, at Gloucester, Mass., on September 15, 1886, Capt. John Q. Getchell,* master of the vessel, found imbedded in the thick flesh of a " It may be of interest in this connection to say that Captain Getchell is well known in Gloucester as a veteran fisherman, he having been in command of vessels engaged iu the George's fishery for the past twenty years ; during which time, he tells me, he has eaten only three Thanksgiving and four Christmas dinners on the land. He is a native of Maine, abo it fifty years old. When the news of Sumter's fall reached the North, he enlisted and served three years in the Third Maine under Colonel (after- wards General) O. O. Howard. He then exchanged his gun and a soldier's bivouac for nets, lines, and the dejk of a fishing-vessel. His integrity and truthfulness are un- questioned. < . 382 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. larjre cod a kuife of curioas workmanship, represented by the accom- panying illustration, which is of full or natural size. The fish in which the knife was found was one of a fare caught in 75 fathoms of water on the northeast part of George's Bank ; it was appar- ently healthy, being thick and " well-fed," and, ac- cording to Captain Getchell, would weigh about 40 pounds after being split, or say 60 pounds as it came from the water. The general excellent quality of the fare of fish attracted considerable attention from peo- ple who saw them, and led to the discovery of the knife. Some remarks having been made concerning the fish. Captain Getchell lifted several of them from a tub (where they had been thrown to wash after being weighed) and exhibited them to the by-standers, com- menting on the size and thickness of the specimens. Holding one across the edge of the tub in a semi-curved position, he ran his hand over the thicker i^ortion of the fish to call attention to its fatness. In doing so, he felt something hard beneath his fingers, and further examination produced the kuife. Of course much surprise was expressed by those present, who had never before seen such a strangely formed implement, and speculation was rife as to how it came there. When found, the knife-blade was closed, and the small or posterior end of the handle was the part first felt by Captain Getchell, and was nearest the tail of the fish. The flesh of the fish where the knife was imbedded is estimated to have been 2^ inches thick. Unfor- tunately, the excitement attending the finding of the knife prevented any notice being taken of the fish, w-hich was carried otf and salted among the others ; therefore nothing is known as to whether the imple- ment was encysted or not. The handle of the knife is of brass, curved and tapering posteriorly, with a longitudinal incision, on the concave side, to receive the edge of the blade. The handle is remarkable in form, and is suggestive of the handiwork of some savage tribe or the scrim- shaw work of a sailor. Its length, measured with the curve, is 3g inches, and its greatest diameter one-half inch. The blade is lanceolate in form, with the cutting edge curved outward, to fit into the handle, and the back nearly straight. It has been corroded a good deal and the ex- treme point is very thin. Its length, from handle to tip, is 2| inches j BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 383 greatest thickness (near the handle), one-eighteenth inch ; and its great- est breadth a little less than one-half inch. The total length, from point to point in a straight line, is 6J inches. How did the knife get there ? is the question that will be asked by those who are not too skeptical to credit the story of its being found as has just been stated. Personally, I neither doubt the finding of the knife, nor the probability of its being found as stated. It is a fairly common occurrence for fishermen to find the sand-launce, or lant, im- bedded in the flesh or the liver of the cod, and dried very hard. I have many times seen lant thus imbedded, and in no case that I remember was the cod any the worse for it.* It is therefore evident that it is possible for the stomach of a cod to be penetrated by a sharp-nosed fish or by an implement it has swallowed, and ultimately for either to work its way through and become imbedded in the flesh, while the wound heals and the stomach goes on to perform its ordinary functions. As to where the fish got the knife we can only conjecture, unless some ethnologist can point out its origin. In any case, the finding of such a remarkable implement in such a strange place must be a matter of interest to the ethnologist and naturalist alike. Gloucester, Mass., December 31, 1886. 114.— some: STATII§TIC» OF THE FISHERIES OF IVORTHERN JAPAIV. By JOHN C. CUTTER, M. D., Frojessor in the Imperial College of Agriculture at Sapporo. The Department of the Hokkaido was organized in March, 1886. Its jurisdiction extends over Yessot and the Kooril Islands. Sapporo Ken was one of the three prefectures into which Yesso was divided in 1882. It embraces 3,808 square ris of the 5,056 square ris of Yesso, a ri being equal to 2.44 English miles. Its population in 1883 was 91,971 Jap- anese, Ainos, and Americans. Its coast-line is about 550 miles in ex- tent. Commencing at Abushita on the west coast (Abushita is about 40 miles south of Cape Kamoi, the westernmost iwiut of the peninsula jutting into the Sea of Japan south of Strogonov Bay on the western coast of Yesso) it extends northerly to Cape Soya (Strait of La Perouse), thence southeasterly about 70 miles to Tonaiushi, the boundary of Nemuro Ken. The east coast-line commences near the westernmost shore of Volcano Bay (where the Pacific approaches nearest to the shores of the Sea of Japan) and extends east to Cape Yerimo, thence north- easterly about 70 miles to Chokubetsu just east of the mouth of the Tokachi River, the other sea limit of Nemuro Ken. * For curious articles found in codfish, see History of Aquatic Animals, text, p. 212. t For an article on the fisheries of Hokkaido, see F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. 342. 384 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The following tables give a summary of the latest statistics of the fisheries in Sapporo Ken. Table 1.— Product of the fisheries from 1678 to 1883.* Kind of fish. Herring {Clupea harengus) Spring salmon (Oncorhynchus perryi) .. Fall salmon (Oncorhynchus haberi) CoA. (Oadus brandtii) Pilchard (Clupea melanogastrula) Bechc-de-mer ("namako'") {Stichopus japnnicus) Ear-shell ("awabi") (Raliotis gigantea) . Onttle-fish Edible sea- weed ("kombn") {Lamina- ria japonica) Total 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. EokusA Kokus. Kokiis. Kokxis. Kokus. Eok%is. 295, 141 457, 777 501, 030 444, 830 538, 330 412, 672. 445 1,213 658 721 440 2,091 27, 895 52,244 51, 013 45,548 66, 695 59, 206 6,887 5,878 9, 274 3,048 6, 002 5,388 12, 399 6,680 12, 602 5,696 5,906 7, 942 573 269 394 264 708 1,363- 1,890 599 567 1,235 1,055 623 172 76 693 93 203 259 38, 220 49, 949 38, 428 63, 729 46, 510 46, 98B 383, 622 574, 691 614,719 565, 164 665, 849 536, SS? * A partial statement of the product for 1884 in kokus was as follows: Herring, 560,650; spring sa mon, 1.236; fall salmon, 36,541 ; and cod, 6.480. t A koku equals 7.55 cubic feet. Table 11.— Value of the fislieriea from 1878 to 1883. * Kind of fish. Herring (Clupea liarengus) Spring salmon (Oncorhynchus perryi) Fall salmon (Oncorhynchus haberi) Cod (Gadus brandtii) Pilchard (Clupea melanogastrula) . Beche-de-mer ("namako") (Sti- chopus juponicxis) Ear-shell ("awabi") (Maliotis gigantea) Cuttle-tish Edible sea-weed ("korabu") (La- minaria japonica) Total 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. Yens, t 1, 329, 350 Yens. 2, 948, 958 Yens. 4, 035, 780 Yens. 2, 766, 792 Yens. 2, 960, 822 Yens. 2, 063, 360 4,005 202, 265 6K, 204 76,454 7,281 312, 893 70, 538 62, 425 3,510 563, 443 57, 610 109, 642 5,948 388, 008 17, 180 32, 752 3,520 533, 560 78, 026 41,342 12, 546 355, 23fo 54, 656 51,623 42, 982 2,156 35, 514 39, 600 106, 200 204, 404 108, 708 3,113 43, 167 1,529 43, 511 25, 971 92, 625 2, 139 79, 125 4,609 46, 725 5,957 IGO, 524 254, 246 136, 419 267, 661 186, 040 160, 958 1, 995, 605 3, 703, 193 5, Oil, 400 3, C12, 765 3, 993, 304 2, 955, 465- * For the value of the Sapporo fisheries in 1884, see Fish Commission Bulletin for 1886, p. 345. t The values are expressed in yen paper. Taking the sUvir yen (416 grains, nine-tenths silver, now worth about 80 cents) at 100, the paper yen has about the following relative values : lu 1878, $1.05; in 1879, $1.16; in 1880. $1.79; in 1881, $1.70; in 1882, $1.00 ; in 1883, $1.26, and in 1884, $1.11. Additional facts for 1883. — Fishermen in the Ken (or district), 1G,064; t' Yatoi" or hired men, who come from Ilondo (the main island) annually, 28,065; fishing s mack. «i, 5,411 ; trap-nets, 1,790; seines, 350 ; gill-nets, 35,391. The taxation on the products of the sea and river ranges from 7 to 20 per cent of the product. The cost of collection ranges in diti'erent years from one-third to nearly one-half of the tax collected. For the most part it is collected in kind. The number of tax collectors and officials for attending to this, the only paying industry of Hokkaido, is very large. It is, however, the intention of the Hokkaido Cho to diminish the tax, to simplify the collection, and to reduce the number of officials. Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, May 11, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 385 Vol. VI, No. 25, IVnsliin^ton, D. C. Dec. 31,1 886. llj.-REPORT 0.\ DISTRIBUTION OF FISH A^SD EGaS BV THE IJ. S. FISH CO.^IITIISSIO.N FOB THE SEASOIV OF 1SS5-'S6. By MARSHALL McDONALO. The distributiou of youug carp, whitefisb, shad, and various species of SnlmonidcB is made chiefly by car or detached messenger service, the organization of which the present year was the same as that of 1884. The distribution of eggs and of carp and trout to applicants not located sufficiently near to the centers of distribution is made by express. During the season of 1885 the cars of the Commission were moved 74,805 miles, as follows : Car No. 1, N. Simmons in charge. 24, 939 Car No. 2, Geo. H. H. Moore in charge 34,061 Car No. 3, J. F. Ellis in charge 15, 805 Total 74,805 Of the above transportation, 2G,213 miles were furnished by the rail- roads gratuitously, and 48,593 miles were paid for at the rate of 20 cents per mile. The Commission is indebted to the personnel and manage- ment of the railroads for much courtesy, consideration, and dispatch. The following summaries of the number of fish and embryonized eggs distributed show (1) the distribution by species, (2) the station whence they were derived : Fish and eggs fumislied for distribution by the stations during the season of 1885-'86. Station. Grand Lake Stream, Backaport, Me North ville, Mich Me. Alpena, Mich.. Bair.l,Cal , Wytheville.Va Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y. Battery Station, Md Steamer Fish Hawk (Delaware Eiver) . . . steamer Lookout (Delaware and Susque- hanna Rivers;. Central Station Carp ponds, Washington, D. C Total . Species. Landlocked salmon . Atlantic salmon Whitefish , Brook trout Lake trout Rainbow trout Landlocked salmon . Whitefish , Rainbow trout do Lake trout , Black bass Red-eye perch Atlantic^salmon Landlocked salmon . Brown trout Shad do do .do Carp for public waters. Carp for private ponds. Goldfish Eggs. 222, 000 1, 251, 500 42, 800, 000 145, 000 1,031,000 5,000 246, 000 30, 000 325, 000 4f, 055, 500 Fry. 52, 000, 000 25, 000 75, 500 22, 000 40, 000, 000 250 500 250 419, 550 19, 500 28, 900 10, 725, 000 8, 063, 000 340, 000 15, 531, 000 161, 370 187,414 4,344 127, 603, 578 Large fish. 550 '3,"364 1,300 1,791 7,005 Bull. U. S. F. C, 1886- -25 38G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Suvijnarij of distribution for the season 0/ 1885-'36. Species. Kumber of egg8. K umber of flsb. Total. "Whitefisb ( Coregonus clupeiformis) Brook trout (Salrelinus fonthialis) Lake trout {.Salvelimis naniaycush) Eainbow trout (Salmo irideus) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Landlocked salmon (Sabno salar anh»p. sebajo). Brown trout {Salmo fario) Shad (Clupea sapidissima) Carp ( Cyprinus carpio) Goldfisb {Carassius auratus) Black bass {'ilicropterus dolomici) Hed-cye perch (Avibloplites rupestris) Total. 42, 800, 000 145, 000 1,031,000 281, 000 1,2.51,500 222, 000 325, 000 46, 055, 500 92, 000, 000 *25, 550 177, 291 :4,914 419, 550 41, 500 28,900 34, 659, 000 §348, 784 4,344 500 250 131, 800, 000 170, 550 1,108,291 285, 914 1,671,050 263, 500 28, 900 34,984,000 348, 784 4,344 500 230 127, 610, 583 173, 666, 083 • Of this number, 55C were one or more years old. t Of this number, 1,791 were one or more years old. 1 Of this number, 4. 604 were one or more years old. § Of this number, 187,414 were for private ponds and 161, 370 for public waters. The details of distributiou summarized above are as follows : . {a) Whitefish {Corcgonns clupeiformis). Of this species 42,800,000 eggs were distributed from Michigan sta- tions the present season and were allotted as follows : To the State commissioiiers, to be hatched auil i)]anteii iu public waters . 34,800, 000 To foreign countries (international exchange) 6,000,000 To other U. S. Fish Commission stations 2,000, 000 Total 4-2,800,000 The eggs which were retained and hatched at the stations yielded 92,000,000 fry, which were distributed as follows : To Lake Michigan ■- 29,000,000 To Lake Superior 6,000,000 To Lake Huron 30,000,000 To Lake Erie 15,000,000 To Lake Ontario 12,000,000 Total 92,000,000 The distribution was made by two cars iusteail of one, as heretofore, with the result of securing greater dispatch in the work and distribu- tion of fry under better couditious. [h] MoRANKE {Coregonus albula). We are indebted to the courtesy of the Deutsche Fischerei-Vereiu for two consiguments of eggs of this small species of whitefish. The total number received aggregated 150,000, which were allotted as fol- lows: To C. G. Atkins, Bncksport, Me., for hatching and planting iu Maine waters. 100, 000 To F. N. Clark. Northville, Mich., for stocking lakes in Northwestern States. 50, 000 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 387 ic) Brook teout {Salvclimis foniinaUs). Eggs of this species are collected at the IS^orthville Station from fish reared in ponds. The number furnished for distribution during the ■winter of 18Sj-'S6 was 145,000, which were assigned as follows : To State commissioners and iudividmils 50,000 To Wytbeville Station, United States Commission, for hatching and rearing. 50, 000 To foreign countries (international exchange) 45,000 Total 145,000 The eggs retained at the station to be hatched yielded 25,000 fry. Of these 4,000 were distributed to aijplicants in Michigan and Indiana, and the balance retained at the station for rearing. [d) Lake teout {SalveUniis namaycusli). The eggs of this species distributed by the U, S. Fish Commission are all collected at the Korthville Station. The total assignments of eggs the present season aggregated l,031,000j these were distributed as follows : To State commissioners and individual applicants 408, 000 To other United States stations, to be hatched and reared 450, 000 To foreign countries (international exchange) 175, 000 Total 1,031,000 The eggs retained at the station yielded 115,500 fry, which were dis- l)0sed of as follows : To applicants in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan 75,500 Eetaiucd at the station, to hatch and rear 40,000 (e) Eainbow teout {Salmo irideus). Eggs of this species are collected for propagation and distribution at Baird Station, California; North ville Station, Michigan; and Wythe- ville Station, Virginia. At Baird Station the eggs are obtained from wild native lish. At North ville and Wytheville Stations the breeders have been reared from eggs artificially impregnated at Baird Station ^and hatched and reared at the stations. The total production available for distribution was as follows : Prom Baird Station, California: Hatched and planted in McCloud River 23,700 Hatched for ponds at station 11,300 Forwarded to applicants and Eastern United States stations 246, 000 From Northville Station, Michigan : Forwarded to applicants 5, 000 Hatched for rearing at station 30, 000 Prom Wytheville Station, Virginia: Forwarded to applicants 30, 000 Retained at the station to be hatched and reared 166,000 Total 517,000 Our experience, extending over a number of years, has clearly shown that the results from planting the/r^ of any of the species of Salmonidce 388 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. are disai)pointing and wlioll}' incommensurate to the (jxpeuditnre in- curred. Instances are rare in which substantial or even appreciable results have been obtained by planting young fish just before, or at the time, the absorption of the sac is complete. This is to be attributed to the fact that usually the streams stocked abound in cottoids, darters, and other species of predaceous fish of small size, which pursue and prey upon the helpless young fish so assiduously that few if any escape capture. It has been determined, therefore, to retain the young fish at the sta- tions and rear them till they have attained a length of from 4 to C inches, and are, consequently, of such size and vigor as to dominate the waters in which they are placed. The percentage of loss in rearing is, it is true, very considerable, but probably not greater than would occur in open waters not infested by i^redaceous fish ; and, since fish of this size are comparatively exempt from natural casualty, it is probable that one pair of yearling trout will contribute as much towards the stocking of the waters as would a iilant of several thousand fry. A beginning in this new direction was made the present season. Rainbow trout, from 4 to 7 inches in length, to the number of 4,664, have been distributed from the ISTorthville and Wytheville Stations. The dis- tribution from Xorthville was made to lakes and other protected waters in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan ; that from Wy tbeville to the headwaters of the Shenandoah, in Augusta County, Virginia, to the tributaries of the Potomac River in Washington County, iMaryland, and to a number of spring-fed cold-water ponds in Maryland, Southwest Virginia, and Tennessee. (/) Atlantic salmon {Salmo salar). The eggs of this species distributed by the Commission are all fur- nished by the collecting station at Bucksport, Me. The production for the year aggregated 1,251,500, which were distributed as follows : To the commissioners of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont 751, 500 To Cold Spring Harbor, for Delaware and Hudson Rivers 500,000 Total 1, -251, 500 {g) ScnooDic or landlocked salmon. The station at Grand Lake Stream, Maine, reported 222,000 eggs of this species as available for assignment. These were distributed as fol- lows : To tho State commissioners 130,000 To foreign countries (In exchange) 40, 000 Transferred to other United States stations 5'2, 000 Total -222,000 {h) Brown trout {Salmo fario). Three consignments of eggs of the brown trout {Salmo fario) were received from Germany. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 389 The first cousignnicnt of C4,000 eggs from the Deutsche Fiscberei- Vereiu arrived iu very bad order aud proved a total loss. The second lot of 40,000 eggs from the Deutsche Fischerei- Vereiu reached JSTew York iu good condition. A third lot of 50,000 eggs of this species from Max von dem Borne arrived in excellent condition. The entire number, aggregating 90,000 good eggs, were allotted as follows: To Wythe ville Station, Virginia 3, 000 To Nortbville Station, Michigan 213, 000 To Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, New York C3, 000 To James Nevin, superintendent, Madison, Wis ], 000 The subsequent disposition of these eggs and details of waters stocked will be found in the reports of stations. (/) Shad [Clupea sapidissima). Shad for distribution were contributed as follows : Battery Station, Susquehanna Eiver 10, 725, 000 Fish Hawk Station, Delaware Kiver 8, 063, 000 Central Station, Potomac Eiver 15,531,000 Steamer Lookout 340, 000 Total 34,659,000 In this distribution liberal plants of shad fry have been made in. the Potomac, the Susquehanna, the Delaware, and the minor tributaries of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. A summary of the distribution by river basins is as follows : Rivers and minor tributaries of Chesapeake Basin 14, 137, 000 The Delaware and tributaries 8, 403, 000 Hudson Eiver 1,250,000 Tributaries of Narragansett Bay 850,000 Tributaries of the Albemarle 1, 500, 000 Streams draining into the South Atlantic 2,050,000 The Mississippi and minor tributaries of the Gulf of Mexico 4, 561, 000 Colorado River of the West 998, 000 Snake Eiver, Washington Territory 10,000 Willamette Eiver, Oregon 900, 000 Total' 34,659,000 * Of this number of fish which started from the stations, there perished before reaching destination, 1,861,000, as follows: On trip to Willamette Eiver, Oreg 850, 000 On trips to Congaree and Green Ei vers, S. C 575, 000 On trip to Colorado River, Ariz 150, 000 On trips to Fox and Illinois Eivers, 111 96, OoO On trips to Ocklockonnee and other Georgia Rivers 75, 000 On trips to Blue, Smoky, and Republican Rivers, Kans 65,000 On trips to Appomattox and other Virginia Rivers 25.000 On trip to Narragansett Bay 25. 000 Total 1,861,000 390 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The attempt to acclimate the shad in the Colorado River of the West, which was begun in 1884, has been continued the present season, dur- ing which 848,000 fry were sent out by car Xo. 2, in charge of George H. H. Moore, and planted in good condition. Should the experiment prove successful, we may expect to see the plant of 1884 reappearing as full-grown, mature fish in the spring of 1887 or 1888. The conditions that have determined the selection of the Colorado Kiver of the West for this important experiment in acclimatization and afford reasonable expectation of successful results, are as follows : The waters of the Colorado are exceptionally free from alkaline salts. The spring and summer temperature of the waters and other favorable characteristics make it i:)robable that the young shad will find in them a congenial habitat during their sojourn in fresh waters. Great profusion of minute forms of animal life abounds in the waters. Everj' condition would therefore seem to be favorable to the early stages of life of the shad. If, after migrating to salt water, they do not become wanderers, as the shad planted in the Sacramento River have done, there is every probability that the experiment will be successful. Since the Colorado River empties into the head of the Gulf of Cali- fornia, which stretches south for 700 miles towards the equator before joining the ocean, it is probable that the high temj^erature of the waters of its more southern j)ortions will serve as a bar, or temperature wall, to prevent the shad from passing southward into the open ocean. Should this anticipation be realized, the shad, when mature, must necessarily find their way back to spawning ground in the Colorado and Gila Rivers. An unsuccessful attempt was also made the present season to stock with shad the streams of the Seattle region of Washington Territory j 900,000 vigorous fry were selected and sent out by car No. 2, in charge of Mr. Moore, one of the most experienced and careful messengers of the Commission. The experiment was hazardous, because the number of days required for uuinterrupted transit from Washington to Seattle marks the limit of time within which transportation can be safely effected. A detention of three days eii route, caused by the washing awaj' of bridges, resulted in almost total loss of shipment. Only 50,000 were alive on arrival at Portland, Oreg. These weredeposited in the Willamette River, near that city. A table of distribution of young shad, showing 18,871,000 planted during the season of 1885, will be found on pages 384 and 385 of the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1885. That table should be amended as follows : Number of shad planted as given iu the table 18, 871, 000 Planted in Delaware River by steamer Fish Hawk 8,003,000 Planted in Susquehanna River from Battery Station 5,524,000 Planted in Delaware River by steamer Lookout 340, 000 Total 3-2,798,000 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 391 (j) Carp {Cyprinus carpio). The total distribution for the season aggregated 348,784, as follows: Table of German carj} planted in public icaters during the season of 1885-86. Date. Dec. 4, 1885 Dec. Dec. Dec. Jau. Dec. Dec. Oct. Dec. Jan. Dec. Dec. Dec. Jan. Nov. Nov. Jau. Jan. Dec. Jan. Nov. Jan. Dec. Jau. Jau. Dec. Nov. Dec. Jan. Dec. Nov. .Jau. Dec. Dec. Dec. Nov. ilar. 20, 1885 23. 1885 7, 18H5 5, 1886 3u, 18S5 10,1885 27, 18S5 1(1, 1885 5, 1880 31, 1885 23, 1885 10. 1885 2, 188G 28, 1885 30, 1885 2, 188G 5, 1886 21,1885 1, 1886 24, 1885 2, 1886 0, 1885 2, 1886 2, 1886 8. 1885 4, 1885 30. 1885 5. 1886 30, 1885 28, 1885 1,1886 30, 1885 30, 1885 K, 1885 27, 1885 26, 1880 Nov. 28,1885 Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Jan. .Jan. Jan. Dec. 30. 1885 30,1885 4. 1885 23, 1S85 5, 1886 5. 1886 16. 1886 4, 1=85 Waters stocked. Dec. 4, 1885 Dec. Dec. Dec. Nov. Nov. Jan. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Jan. Dec. 10, 1885 29, 1885 21, 1885 24, 1885 15, 1885 1, 1886 30, 1885 30, 1885 12. 1885 11,1885 10, 1885 28, 1885 23, 1885 17, 1885 5, 1886 1885 30, 1885 Total . . Acquia Creek Arkansas River Banister River Bayou La f'ourctio Bayou Macon Big Muddy River Brandy-wine Creek Bungjiy River Clii istiana Creek Bcouf River Clear Lake Dan River Delaware River Dcs Plaiues River Tributary of Forked Deer River . . Tributary of Forked Deer River . . Fox River Grassy Lake, Richlaud County Great Pedee River Illinois River Ivy Creek Kankakee River Lakes near Jacksonville Lakes iu Soutli Park Lakes iu Lincoln Park, Lake iu Alabama Lake Beauty, Murray County Laiic Cooper Lake One Luuesville Lake Little River Place of deposit. Bridge on Baltimore and Potomac Rail- road, Virginia. Granada, Colo Railroad crossing near Lynchburg, Va . La Fourche, La Between Delta and Shreveport, La Wood Lawn, 111 Wilmington, Del Attleborough, Mass Wilmington, Del Between Delta and Shreveport, La Riverton, III Danville, Va Wilmiugton, Del Near Naperville, 111 Near Dyersburgh, Tenu Near Fowlkes. Tenu Near Aurora, 111 Between Delta and Shreveport, La Near Society Hill, S. C La Salle, 111 Near Charlottesville, Va Kankakee, 111 Near Jacksonville, Fla Chicago, III Chicago, 111 On Atlanta and West Point Railroad Near Slayton, Minn Pekin, 111 Betweeu Delta and Shreveport, La Lanesville, 111 Intersection of Richmond, Fredericks- burg and Potomac Railroad, Virginia. Mend'ota, HI , Louisville, 111 Little Vermilion River Little Wabash River Little Wabash River • Mill Shoals, 111 Mahoning River Near Toungstown, Ohio Mattapony River Milford, Va Muskingum River North Anna River Staunton River Susquehanna River . . . Tensas River Tewksbury Reservoir. Railroad water-tank. . . Zanesville, Ohio Intersection of Richmond, Fredericks- 1 burg aud Potomac Railroad, Virginia. Kaskaskia River ] Vandalia, 111 Kaskaskla River ' Carlyle, IU Occoquan River I Wood Bridge, Va Otter Itiver j Railroad crussing near Lynchburg, Va Washita- River — i Between Delta and Shreveport, La Pearl River Jackson, Miss Ponds of railroad 1 Along line of Vandalia Railroad Potomac River On line of Baltimore and Potomac Rail- I road, Virginia. Quantico Creek Bridge on Baltimore and Potomac Rail- road, Virginia. Shreveport. La Fulton, Ark Albuquerque, N. Mex Near Charlottesville, Va Rockfish Depot, Va Dixon, 111 Equality, 111 Riverton, 111 San Marcos, Tes N ear Way Cross, Ga Wilmington, Del Intersection of Richmond, Fredericks- burg and Potomac Railroad, Virginia. Near Lynchburg, Va Battery Station, Md Between Delta and Shreveport, La Winchester, Mass Clinton, Dl Number offi.sh. Red River Red River , Rio Grande River Rivanua River Rockti.sh C reek Rock River Saline River Sangamon River . San Marcos River S.itilla River , Shell pot Creek ... South Anna River 6,250 5,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 400 500 200 5U0 1,000 1,000 6,000 500 '.200 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 600 3,000 40O 1,000 600 1, 050 1,600 500 500 100 1,000 800 5,000 1,000 200 400 3,000 8,000 3,75a 7,000 1,000 400 7,000 5,000 2, 000 5,000 2, 520 5,500 0, 250 2, 500 3, 200 6,000 1,600 2U» 1,000 400 1,000 5, 050 2,400 500 5, 000 6,000 20, 000 1,000 600 200 161, 370 392 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. ' Summary of carp distributed to private applicants from October 6, 1885, to March 20, 1886. Date. 1985. Dec. 1 Dec. 21 Dec. 17 Nov. 16 Oct. 27 Nov. 6 Nov. 2 (*) Dec. 5 Nov. 28 Nov. 11 Nov. 15 Nov. 14 Dec. 16 Nov. 2 Oct. 27 Nov. 28 Dec. 7 Oct. 27 (*) Oct. 27 Nov. 16 Nov. 4 Dec. 3 Dec. 19 Nov. 8 Nov, 3 Nov. 10 Oct. 27 Oct. 30 Dec. 21 Oct. 30 Dec. 7 Nov. 13 Nov. 12 (*) Oct. 27 Nov. 24 Dec. 1 Dec. 16 Nov. 11 Oct. 27 (*) Nov. 10 (') Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Dec. 23 State. Alabama Arizona Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Dakota Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Indian Territory Iowa ... , Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada Nevr Uainpshire New Jersey New ^Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania , Ehorte' Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Mexico Total Point of distribution. Montgomery, Ala Albuquerque, N. Mex. Saint Louis, Mo Denver, Colo Boston, Mass Bismarck, Dak Wilmington, Del Washington, D. C Jacksonville, Fla Atlanta, Ga 02:den,I7tah Quincy, 111 Indianapolis, Ind Dallas, Tex Cedar Rapids. Iowa Kansas City, Mo Lexington, Ky New Orleans, La Boston, Mass Washington, D. C Boston, Mas.9 Northville, Mich Saint Paul, Minn Jackson, Miss Saint Louis, Mo Helena, Mont Omaha, Nelir Ogden, Utah Boston, Mass Jersey City, N. J Albuquerque, N. Mex.. Jersey City, N.J K;acigh,N'. C Columbus, Ohio. Portland, Oreg AVashingtou, D. C Boston. Mass Columbia, S.C Memphis, Tenu Dallas, Tex Ogden, Utah Boston, Mass Washington, D. C Walla AValla, Wash.... Washington, D. C Saint Paul, Minn Laramie City, Wvo . . . El Paso, Tex....." Number of coun- ties. 42 6 32 15 7 18 3 1 13 89 10 84 70 2 79 76 35 19 6 12 13 51 8 33 19 8 21 10 3 21 12 47 54 73 19 CI 2 30 51 42 19 8 66 20 19 16 3 Number of appli- cants. 164 8 88 25 18 26 3] 14 38 460 31 384 240 2 383 290 108 31 7 42 49 177 11 117 37 19 30 15 3 78 44 298 341 276 185 609 2 249 366 86 283 19 351 1.17 54 23 3 1 Number of fish. 4,475 695 2,260 550 400 822 2,124 301 1,475 12, 605 686 1.5, 699 8,417 50 11,221 6,015 3,630 8-.'0 145 2, 075 1,990 3,801 1,425 3,030 885 520 8?0 529 75 3,947 1,245 9,011 8, 825 6,482 3, 921 20, 348 280 6, 624 8, 005 2,682 5,855 f), 380 7, 7.56 3,498 1, 600 495 3, 060 800 1,348 6,273 187, 414 * October 6, 1885, to March 20, 1886. To individual apx)licauts for pond culture 187, 414 To public waters 161,370 The number of individual applicants supplied was 6, '273 The distribution was general, including 309 Congressional districts and 1,348 counties. The distributions to public waters embrace tlie prin- cipal river basins of tbe Middle and South Atlantic and Gulf slopes. (A) CoxMON AND Japanese goldfish {Carassius auratus). The number of this fish produced at the U. S. Fish Commission ponds in Washington each season is entirely insufficient to meet the eager de- mand for fish for aquaria, fouutains, and ornamental lakes. The fish being purely an ornamental species, of no value for food, no special ef- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 393 fort lias been made to increase tbe supply. The number distributed in 18S5 was 4,344 to 572 applicants. Summary of goldfish distributed in the season o/1885-'86. State. Kumber ]of appli- cants. Alabama Arizcua Arkansas Color.Ttlo Dakota DfliiTTare District of Columbia rioiida Geoigia Illinois ludiana Iowa Kansfls Kc-niiickj- Louisiana Maryland !MaHs?.cbusetts llicbigan n 4 1 2 2 4 33S 7 10 8 C 8 1 2 4 4 7 14 Number of fish. 170 24 4 12 12 84 1, 809 41 119 154 50 199 10 18 21 84 92 90 State. Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Nebraska New Jersey New York North Carolina. (Jhio Pennsylvania .. South Carolina . Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia West Virginia . Wyoming Total . Kumber of appli- cants. 5 1 2 4 7 6 3 11 18 3 10 10 8 49 1 1 572 Number of fish. 138 6 14 20 42 48 14 98 374 58 60 83 44 251 7 4 4,344 (7) Little Eound clam {Tapes staminea). A successful effort was made to transfer several buudreds of this valu- able west-coast mollusk from Puget Sound, Washington Territory, to tbe waters of Vineyard Sound, off tbe coast of Massachusetts. The conduct of tbe experiment was intrusted to Mr. George n. H. Moore, in charge of car Xo. 2. As tbe necessary conditions for success in trans, portatioii bad not been ascertained, the entire arrangement was left to bi.s discretion. The methods employed, the difficulties encountered, and the final success attained are detailed in his report, dated Wash- ington, June 30, 1885, the important items of which are as follows: " Sunday, June 14. — After much trouble and the promise of 82 per sack (tbe usual price being about $1.50 per sack), I engaged 20 sacks of clams, to be delivered at car by Wednesday noon. I also engaged enough rock weed to i)ack over the clams. " Tuesday, June 10. — Finished getting sand in tanks this p. m. One of tbe clam gatherers, from whom I engaged 10 sacks of clams, returned with 1 sack. Had them tied up and put overboard, so as to keep in good condition. " Wednesday, June 17. — The other 10 sacks of clams arrived this a. m. After consultation with those that make a business of gathering clams, I concluded it would be best to pack them in sand, with mouth up, then cover with about 2 inches of sand, and put tbe rock weed on top of this, then, by means of a sprinkling-can, keep them moistened with the salt water. After selecting the smallest of tbe clams, had them packed as above described. Took on 30 cans of salt water. Estimated tbe num- ber of clams in tanks at 0,000. 394 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. " Thursday, June IS. — Left Tacoma at 5.25 a. m. Put one-balf ton of ice in tanks. ^^ Sunday, June 21. — Had clams in tanks taken out. Find tbey are not looking well. Concluded to have them taken oat of sand and placed on top of sand, with mouths up, then covered with the rock weed. ^^ Monday, June 22. — Had the other side unpacked and looked over. They seem to be doing tolerably well. In repacking I find the estimate as to the number in tanks was too high; from 4,000 to 4,500 is nearer the number. " Tuesday, June 23. — Clams packed in rock weed are in very bad con- dition ; those packed in sand also are in poor condition. Concluded to put them all in cans and cover with salt water. " Wednesday, June 24. — In changing water on clams today I find that they are in bad condition, and the prospect not encouraging. Had them looked over every few hours to prevent the dead ones from con- taminating the water. " Thursday, June 25. — Clams are looking better this evening. Arrived Boston 9.45 p. m. Had car transferred to depot Old Colony Railroad; sent car to dock; got some fresh water for the clams and had it put on them. '^Friday, June 26.— Had clams put iu baggage car; looking very well. Arrived at Wood's Holl 11.40 a. m.; had clams transferred to station U. S. Fish Commission. These were put out in sand on the beach and counted, and 768 looked as if they were alive and in good condition, a good many of them being lively enough to cover themselves before I left, at 4.10 p. m." NEW STATION NEEDED. The attention of the Commissioner has been drawn to the increasing demand for trout for stocking streams in the Trans-Mississippi and Rocky Mountain region. It is impracticable to provide satisfactorily for these requests to such extent as the importance of the work de- mands by sending the fish from existing Eastern stations. The necessity for the establishment of a breeding and rearing station for the Salmonidce at some central point iu the Rocky Mountain region grows each year more apparent. At such station we could provide for the hatching, rearing, and distribution of desirable species of the Sal- monidce, at a reasonable cost, and at the same time arrange for the collection of the eggs of the native Rocky Mountain trout {Salmo pur- puratus) for the stocking of Eastern waters. This species, though simi- lar to the rainbow trout in many respects, has a much wider geograph- ical and climatic range, and would therefore seem better adapted for general distribution. Washington, D. C, December 30, 1886. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 395 iJ6.-REPORT OiV DISTBIBLTTION OF FISH AIVO EGOS FROM rVOBTH- VILLE A.'VD AL.PEXA STATIONS FOR SEASOX OF lSS5-'86. By FRANK N. CLARK. The followiug tables aud statements contaiu some details regarding the distribution of eggs aud fry from these stations which are not in- cluded in the report of operations at Northville and Alpena in the Fish Commission Report for 1885, beginning at page 121. Whitefish [Coregonus clupeiformis). Shipments of whitefisli eggs from Xorthville Station, season of 1885-'86. Date. 1885-'S6. Xov. 20— Jan. 8. Dec. 21... Dec. 21... Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 5, 23. Jan. 5, 20. Jan. 5 Jan.ll Jan. 18— Feb. 4 Feb. 5. Mar. 6 Destination. Hatchery of Pennsylvania Fish Commission. E. B. Hodge, for New Hampshire Fish Commission. otto Gramm, for Wyoming Fish Commission. Central Station, United States Fish Commission. Druid HillHatchery, Maryland Fish Commission. "W. Oldham Chambers, for National Fislx Culture Association. Herr von Behr, for Deutsche Fisch- erei-Verein Swiss Government E.G. Sliortlidge, for private hatchery K. O. Sweeny, for Minnesota Fish Commission. Sir Julius Vogel, care of C. R. Buck- land, San Francisco. Herr von Behr, care of E. G. Black- ford, New York. Total . Address. Erie, Pa Plymouth, N.H Laramie City, "Wyo Washington, D. C . - Baltimore, Md South Kensington, London, England. Geestemiinde, Germany . . Berne, Switzerland Wilmington, Del... Saint Paul, Minn . . . Wellington, New Zealand. Geestemiinde, Germany . . Ship- ments. No. of eggs. 24 *16, 500, 000 tSOO, 000 :500, 000 f2, 000, 000 toOO 000 §2, 000, 000 §2, 000, 000 §1, 000, 000 11800,000 tl5, 000, 000 1, 000, 000 tl, 000, 000 42, 800, 000 * Reached destination in good condition ; hatched with moderate loss, so that 14,625,000 were planted in Lake Erie between March 12 and 31. t Reached destinatioa in good condition. JReachecl destination in good condition ; hatched with loss of 10 per cent ; planted 400,000 in Wyo- ming lakes, aud retained 50,000 at hatchery. ^Reached Cold Spring Harbor in good condition, and were reshipped by Fred Mather. II Reached destination in good condition ; hatched with loss of 3 per cent eggs and 500 fry; planted 775,300 in rivers aud bay of Delaware. Summary of fry from Northville and Alpena planted in the Great Lalces, spring o/ 1886. Lake Huron 30,000,000 Lake Michigan 29,000,000 Lake Erie. -^ 15,000,000 Lake Ontario 12,000,000 Lake Superior 6,000,000 Total *92,000,000 * About 5 per cent were lost in transit ; really about 87, 000, 000 live fry were planted. 396 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. o 00 00 o ^ ^ ^ o "A a < S OB fa S 1^ , O O "" o o o o O O I O 1 csoooooooo o =§i 00000=000 o o'o-o-o-o-o'o'o'o" c" . u TCO-9--5 oS cS C3 t- 0 H^ ^ « * , ocC!i>r~C5u'r--ior: « ."2 C4t-(r-(C q o CS .9 ■♦^ en Q 0 i.s 1 ""^ '■o.: 5^ P a ■ o* ; St 9 |2t|.2t^§i d « 3 o o cj o g .3 0 i _1S t- ® rt ca Oi-MinooM'*oca 3 I^ ^ " O a o" x K .- j= » s, ^ 5 Pti?Si5Po9'=i .© 55 ? o H CC 3 p4S c: p. <5 •!3 O C3 P o o cS U ,2 -a d P c 1:3 M tc P o M O P o n CO M _ «3 C S t. ^ as P ■_§ P o u o a o cfcl to p . c P r= ^ (M o o _'-. .° :z S o o o P ^ cs^ t-i a o^ — ■" c — _- =a ®.p^ ",a ci g g <»<^ f^-SP. ffi - » : a p BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 397 Additional shipmcnis of ichitefsh fry from Alpena Slaiion, spring of 1886.* Date. 188C. Apr. 13 18 20 29 30 May 1 2 4 G 6 8 12 Place. L'Anse, Mich Epoufette, Mich Thompson, Mich Thunder Bay, Mich Alcona, Mich Scarecrow Island, Mich. Thunder Bay, Mich Saint Ignaco, Alich Scarecrow Island, Mich Miller's Point, Mich Sturgeon Point, Mich . . , Hammond's Bay, Mich . Epoufette, Micli Total Lake. Superior.. Michigan , do Huron ....do ...do ....do ...do ...do ....do , . . do ... do .... Michigan . No. of fry. 3, 000, 000 1,000,000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, OUO 3, 000. 000 3, 000, OOO 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 37, 000, 000 * These shipments were all made by boat direct from Alpena. Total distributed from Northville *52,000,000 Total distributed from Alpena 40,000,000 Brook trout {Salvelinus fontinalis). Shipments ofhrooTc trout eggs from Northville Station during the season of 18S5-'86. Date. Consignee. Number of eggs. 1885-'86. Dec. 17 George A. Seagle, for hatchery at Wytheville, Va *50, 000 Jan. 22 A. W. Aldrich, for Iowa commission, Anamo.'ia, Iowa flO, 000 2'J B. r. Ferris for Uold Creek Tront Club Castalia Ohio 15, 000 OO (Tohn H. Rockland, for Rbodo laland com mi as ion. Rockland R. I IJ, 000 22 E B. Hodge Plymouth, N, H., for Hiram A, Cuttin"" Lnnenbur^^h, Vt 10,000 22 23 27 27 \V. I. Coon, Millville Depot, Pa., for Frishmuth Bro. & Co., Philadelphia, Pa "W. Oldham Chamber8,for the National Fish Culture Association, London, England Herr von Behr, for the Deutsche Fischerei-Verein, Berlin, Germany §15, 000 1 10, OOO 1 25. 000 1 10, 000 Total 11145,000 * Reached destination in very good condition. Loss of eggs and fry before planting was 7,518, leaving 42,482 planted in pcmds at station, t Reached destination in good condition. I Reached destination in excellent condition. Fry planted with loss of 5 per cent. I Reached destination in good condition. Loss of eggs and fry before planting was 4,803, leaving 10,137 planted in Blooming Grove and Shohola Creeks, Pike County, Pennsylvania. II Reshipped from Cold Spring Harbor by Fred Mather. fl'Also 25,000 eggs were exchanged for an equal number from the State fish commission at Paris. During April and May 4,000 brook trout fry were shipped away to the following persons: W. S. Woodward, Plymouth, Ind 1,000 Rev. Father Maher, Notre Dame, Ind 1,000 J. S. Little, Niles, Mich 1,000 C. H. Bates, Lake Station, Mich., for Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad 1,000 Total 4,000 * Of these, 3,000,000 left Northville as eggs, but were hatched at Chicago and then planted. 398 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Eainbow trout {Salmo irideiis). Of the 107,000 rainbow trout eggs taken, only 5,000 were sent away, as follows : B.F. Ferris, Castalia, Ohio 3,000 S. B, Smith, Zauesville, Ohio 2,000 During the season 3,304 yearling and two-year-old rainbow trout were distributed, partly by carKo. 2, and the remainder by special mes- sengers. They were delivered to 7 persons and 2 railroad companies, for stocking streams and lakes, as indicated in the following statement: Samuel E. Williams, La Porte, Ind 390 A. W. Heudry, Angola, Iml 525 Rev. Father Maher, Notre Dame, Ind 125 Philip Smethur.st, Warren, Ind 75 C. H. Dougherty, Fremont, Ind 774 M. P. Hammond, Howard, Ohio 75 J. L.Delano, Mount Vernon, Ohio 100 Flint and Pere Marquette Eailroad 500 Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad 800 Total 3,364 - Lake trout {SalveUnus namaycush.) Shijmients of lake trout eggs from Xorthrille Station during the season o/1885-'S6. Date. 1885-'86. Nov. - 19 19 20 Dec. 15 15 *>o 22 22 22 22 23 23- 24 1 5 5 5 9 18 Jan. Consignee. Central Station, Washington, D. C W. M. Carv,for Kevada commission, Carson City, Kev Charles G. Atkins, Bucksport, Me Thomas J. and Uardy Dean, Nesbitt, Miss. John Gav, for Pennsylvania commission, Erie, Pa Fred Mather, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y Charles G. Atkins, Bucksport, Me W. M. Carj% for Nevada commission, Carson City, Kev Dr. Charles F. Hoeing, Jersey City, N. J G. W. Delawder, for Druid Hill hatchery, Oakland, Md B. E. B. Kennedy, for Nebraska commission, Om.iha, Nebr John Pierce, for Colorado commission, Denver, Colo George A. Seagle. for hatchery at Wytheville, Va E. B. Hodge, for New Hampshire commission, Plymouth, N. H Hiram A. Cutting, South Lancaster, N. H Thomas J. and Hardy Dean, Nesbitt, Miss W.Oldham Chambers, for the National Fish Culture Association, London, England Herr von Behr, for the Deutsche Fischerei-Verein, Berlin, Germany Government of Switzerland Dr. E. G. Shortlidge, Wilmington, Del E. Chazari, Mexico, Mexico Total No. of eggs. *100, 000 t25, 000 J50, 000 8, 000 25, 000 *loO, 000 §100, 000 II 75, OOU 10, 000 *25, 000 *50, 000 *1 0,000 flOO, 000 *50, 000 *40, 000 *8, 000 **50, 000 **50, 000 **50, 000 mo, 000 ::25, 000 1, 031, 000 * Reached destination in good condition. t Reached destination in poor condition. I Total loss. Storm-bonnd 5 days on the way. 5' Reached destination in good conditinn. From this shipment 73,802 fry were planted at Orland, Me., 2,500 at Phippsburgh, Me., and 12,700 kept at the hatchei'y, the rest being lost. II Reached destination in good condition. From this shipment 59,000 fry were deposited in Carson, W'.alker, and Humbohlt Rivers, and in the tributaries of Lake Tahoe. TI Reached destination in very good condition. Only 74,000 were reported as received. Subsequent losses were heavy, only 1 1.450 living till released in ponds at station. ** Reshipiied from Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., by Fred Mather. tl Reached destination in good condition. Subsequent losses were heavy, leaving only 8,000 to be planted in tril)Utarie8 of the Delaware. ;; Reached destination in poor condition, owinji to the long distance and high temperature. Only about 2,200 remained for cultivation and propag.ation. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 399 Shipments of lake trout fry from XorthviUe Station during the spring o/1836. Date. 1886. Apr. 15 09 'zl 21 24 24 24 27 May 1 12 Consignee. John Stevenson. Cedarville, Ohio E. R. Aldrich, Saline, Mich A. AV. Hendry, Ansola, Ind Joseph Batler, Anjrola, Ind W. W. Snyder, Angola, Ind Lawrence Yates, Ausola, Ind Kov. Father ilaher, Kotie Dame, Ind Flint and Pero Marquette Railroad . . . J. J. Shas-er, Laingsburgh, Mich C. n. Andrews, Touugstown, Ohio ... C. H. Dougherty, Fremont, Ind Total Ko. of fry. 2,500 *i, 500 t5, 000 t2, 000 t2, 500 t4, 500 t2, 000 no, 000 §10, 000 115,000 1129, 500 75, 500 * Shipped by car Xo. 3. t Shipped by car No. 2. t Planted in Arnold's Lake, Clare County, Michigan. § Planted in Round Lake, Clinton County, Michigan. II Reached destination in good condition. Tl Planted in Green, WalJen, Fish, Clear, G-3orge, and Pleasant Lakes, Indiana. Landlocked salmon {Sahno salar var. sehago). Ou March 19, 1880, a case contaiuiug 29,000 eggs was received from the station at Grand Lake Stream, Maine. These were hatched with a loss of only 575 dead eggs. Of the resulting young fish, 22,000 fry were successfully shipped and i)lanted as follows : Date. Destination. Apr. 27 1 Lake in Clare (bounty, Michigan May 15 I Rapid River, Kalkaska and Antrim Counties, Michigan No. of fry. 10,000 12, 000 NoRTHViLLE, MiCH., August 14, 1880. lir.-SALilTIOX STATISTICS OIV THE PACIFIC COAST FOR THE SEA- SOIVS OF ISS4, 1SS.5, AND 1SS6. The following tables have been prepared from salmon statistics issued by the firm of Field & Stone, brokers, of San Francisco, Cal. Other figures and accounts, covering more or less closely the same ground, may be found on pages 90, 139, 288, and 313, of this volume. Table I. — Shipments of cases of packed salmon to Australia and Xeiv Zealand. Where from. 1884. 1885. 1886. San Francisco, by sail and steam 88, 406 CI, 135 70, 874 400 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Table II. — SMpmeiits of cases of packed salmon to Great Britain. Where from. 1884. 1885. 1886. 315, 916 36, 522 86, 075 216, 940 1J6, 364 58,503 157, 072 100, 322 88, 606 Total* 438, 513 401,807 340, OOO * Of these amounts there were lost at sea, in 1884, 64,694 cases ; in 1885, 37,392 cases. Table III. — Shipments of cases of packed salmon to the Eastern States and Canada. Where from. San Francisco, Portland, and Victoria, by rail San Francisco, by sea Portland, by sea Total 1884. 320, 524 5,000 29, 654 1885. 326, 798 4,500 39, 175 1886. 434, 809 28, 262 355, 178 370, 473 463, 071 Table IV. — Summary of shipments, local consumption, ij-c. How used. Shipments to Great Britain * Shipments to Eastern States and Canada Shipments to Australia and New Zealand Shipments to other Pacific ports (China, Japan, ,GOO,000 ; and so rapidly has BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 411 this industry grown in value to the State and nation that in capital emi)loyed in fisheries Oregon stands eighth in order among the States ; in persons employed, fifth ; and in vahie of fish products, the third in order; and "Whereas, it is reported that the propagation, increase, and growth of said fish are greatly retarded by injuries received from imperfect and ill-devised fish-ladders, fishways, nets, seines, fish-traps, fish-wheels, and other devices, and often from poisonous matter deposited in the navigable streams of said State, and that great quantities of said fish not matured are caught, killed, molested, and injured by said wasteful methods of capture and unhealthy deposits, thereby depleting the great supply and seriously interfering with the proper maturing of the young fish : therefore, '^Resolved, That the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries be, and he is hereby, directed to investigate the methods of fishing pur- sued in said State, and to ascertain those which are most injurious to the preservation of this industry, as well as to the regulations and stringent measures deemed necessary to prevent future waste and wanton destruction ; also to inquire as to the authority and constitu- tional power of the Government to regulate and protect the fish and fishery interests ou navigable waters of the nation, or on any waters forming tlic boundary between States or States and Territories, and to report to this House." liESULTS OF PLANlINa WHITEFISH FRY IN LAKE SUPERIOR. — Mr. W. David Tomlin, writing from Duluth, Minn., on December 31, 18SG, says: " The fishermen belonging to the Duluth Fishery Association have noticed large numbers of young whitefish in the Lake Superior entrance of Allouez Bay. Competent judges among the fisherm.eu, who have seen the fry for many years, say there is no question about their being white- fish. Some of them think they can recognize a difference in the fish, and say that they resemble the Lake Erie whitefish. This is a positive indication that planting fry is resulting successfully, and will in a short time restore the fishing grounds of this famous lake." Codfish planted in Cape Cod Bay. — Capt. J. W. Collins, c/^m- manding the Fish Commission schooner Grampus, in a letter from Gloucester,Mass., January 28, 1887, states that the Grampus left Wood's HoU at 11.10 a. m., January 27, Avith 2,000,000 young codfish on board. The fry kept in excellent condition, with a temperature of 34° Fahr., and there seems to have been no mortality whatever. At 7.30 a. m. of the 28th they were planted in Cape Cod Bay, in 29 fathoms, Eace Point bearing E., 3.J miles distant, temperature of air and water being 33io. The i>lant was made successfully, it being young flood when the fish were put overboard, and the tide probably carried them from 3 to 5 miles farther up the bay. A MAN KILLED BY A SWORDFISH. — Mr. W. A. Wilcox, writing from Gloucester, Mass., on August 12, 188G, tells of an unusual occurrence, 412 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. from wliicb letter and a newspaper clipping of a few days later tlie following' is taken: Capt. Franklin D. Langsford, of Lanesville, Mass., while out in a dory in Ipswich Bay, struck a swordfisli with a harpoon. The fish at once turned upon them, thrusting his sword through the dory and into jlr. Langsford several inches, striking him near the base of the spine. On August 12 the captain died from peritonitis. The fish that drove his sword through the boat weighed over 300 pounds, and the sword measured about 4 feet in length, half of it being broken off in the boat. This is the first accident of the kind which has resulted in the loss of life that is known to have been recorded here.* Mackerel, bluefish, codfish, etc., off Xoetheastern Mas- sachusetts.— Mr. James W. Elliott, keeper of the Plum Island Life- Saving station, near Newburyport, Mass., in a letter dated April 19, 18SG, gives the following note on the fisheries near that station : " The first mackerel caught near Xewburyport was taken June 10, 1885, and small catches were made for a few days 5 then no more were seen until June 25, when small schools were seen in the bay well off shore, a few being caught nearly every day up to August 23, when large schools made their appearance and many were caught by seines. They remained for a few days and then left for other grounds. At intervals of from a week to ten days they returned, and during all the time there were some caught within a radius of 15 miles of this place. The last school of any amount was here about September 30, when for a few days many were caught in sight of this station. "The first bluefish was seen on August 9, 1885; but only two were caught in this vicinity. A number were caught about 7 miles south of this station until August 11, when they disappeared entirely. It was quite a large school, but they would not take the hook. " Codfish have been caught between the Isle of Shoals and the station all the year, but none were taken within three miles of Plum Island until about March 10, 188G, when small quantities were caught at times. We set traps several times within 2 miles of the shore, and caught nothing, neither could we catch more than a very few on the ledges near the station. One whale was seen on April 17, 188G, blowing about a mile oft' shore, the only one seen from here since last October. Some few codfish and haddock were caught near the shore about April 15." Some localities where chicken halibut are found. — Capt. J. W, Collins, writing from Gloucester, Mass., January 7, 1887, refers to a letter from Professor Baird to ]\Ir. W. A. Wilcox, in which it was stated that during October, 188G, there were shipped to Xew York 1,000 pounds of halibut that averaged 3 pounds each, which hail been taken largely by vessels fishing on Cashe's, Jefirey's, and New Ledge, on clean sand or rocky bottom. Captain Collins then continues : * For a rcmaikfibly persistent attack of a swordfisli npou a vessel, see Fish Com- mission T5n]1otin for 18S0, paj^e 143. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 413 "The fishermen often find young halibut in considerable abundance on Cashe's, Xew Ledge, and Tippinies, the hist fishing ground being most noted for their occurrence. When haddock fishing, about 15 years ago, we often caught chicken halibut in about 40 to 43 I'atlioms of water, ESE. from Chatham. On one occasion we took about GO small halibut on a single set of our haddock trawls. Strangely how- ever, a full-grown halibut is seldom caught in any of these localities ; and it would be useless to look there for breeding fish. I have seen halibut, varying from 15 to 40 pounds in weight, very numerous onGraud Manan Bank, in shallow water where the tide runs hard." Dead Fisn along the coast of South Carolina*.— Mr. W. St. J. Mazyck, writing from Waverly Mills, S. C, January 15, 18S7, incloses a newspaper clipping, from which, together with his letter, the follow- ing is extracted : For 30 miles along the upper coast of South Carolina, from Pawley's Island to Little Eiver, the beach is so thickly covered with dead fish that the sand can scarcely be seen. These dead fish are of the kind known as menhaden, porgies, or fatbacks, most of them being about 5 inches long, and are valuable for fertilizing purjjoses. They were first observed, it is said, on December 29, 1S8G. The people along the coast, and for miles into the interior, are hauling the dead fish away and using them for manure. This same phenomenon is also reported at other neighboring ])oiiits along the coast, and opinions differ as to what is its cause. Menhaden were noticed in Long Bay, off Pawley's Island, in June last, but were not observed again during the season. In a letter of February S, 1SS7, inclosing a communication on rhis subject from ^h\ Taylor, Mr. Mazyck adds: "As far as I can learn, about 1,500 bushels of these fish have been hauled away for manure." Dead fish along the coast of South Carolina.— Mr. J. Mani- gault Taylor, in a communication to Mr. W. St. J. Mazyck, from Waverly Mills, S. C, February 5, 1887, giving an account of his observations regarding dead fish thrown upon the shores of some islands on the coast of South Carolina, says : " On December 24, 18SC, I noticed a number of small menhaden floating dead in the creek that separates Pawley's Island from the mainland. This was rather surprising, as they are fish that disappear at the coming of cool weather. On the next day the number was largely in- creased, and the whole marsh for miles was gray with them, as the re- ceding tide had left them in the forks of marsh stalks. That night the odor from dead fish on the beach became very unpleasant, and on the 2GLh, when I walked over to the beach, the sight was astonishing. The tide, which was nearly low water, left the beach 75 yards wide from high-water mark. This was completely covered, from 18 inches deep at the top down to an average of G inches deep ; and the water was so thick with dead fish for at least 75 yards out that the surf could not * For other notices in this Bulletin, of similar occurrences, see paj^es 1-10 and 1 )4. 414 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, break at all. These were all meuhadeu from about 2 to 4 incbes long, with now and theu a big shrimp among them. I found that the whole beach of this island* was as described, as were the shores of Magnolia Island on the north and of Debardue Island on the south. Here, then, are 20 miles with this deposit 150 yards wide from 6 to 18 inches deep, and I am informed that it extends as far north as Little Eiver, 3G miles from here. The most tenable theory to account for this, that I know, is that some eruption has taken place at the bottom of the ocean some- where south of us, throwing into the water sulphurous or other noxious gases, and the southerly winds that prevailed for three weeks previous brought the dead fish to this coast." ESTACLISnMENTS FOR UTILIZING- FISH PPtODUCTS. — One of the most remarkable of recent developments in the way of making the most and best of the fishing industry is the establishment of the Nor- mal Company, which is now setting up factories at various parts of the coast of Great Britain. In an article describing the enterprise, the Edinburgh Scotsman says: The production of cheap and nutritious food is the principal object of the company, whose factory at Aberdeen, Scotland, in interest and extent, surpasses the famous fish-refuse and oil-making factories of the United States. The work includes the man- ufacture of fish extracts, for which there is a large demand both at home and especially on the continent, of glue, gelatine, and manure, from fish refuse, and the preserving of fish in a body by new and im- proved methods. Fish of all kinds are used, and transformed into ex- tracts, soups, sausages of various kinds, glue, cement, gelatine, albu- men, oils for medicinal and other purposes, leather, guano, and bone- meal. The processes of manufacture are a triumph of scientific skill. The methods of preparation, which are secured by patent, were invented by Mr. C. A. Sahlstrom, as were also many of the machines employed in the manufacture. One extract of meat produced by the company is made exclusively from the flesh of whales and allied marine animals. It takes time to overcome prejudice, but in reality the flesh of the whale resembles that of reindeer, and it is entirely free from smell or any oily flavor. The meat of a large blue whale of 200 tons yields, in round numbers, 5,000 i)ounds of extract, and every pound of extract gives about 100 pints of soup. Other soups are made in variety to suit the palate of the most fastitNous. As an example of what is achieved in turning the so-called "offal •' to account, it need only be mentioned that the flesh of the cod, ling, and other kinds of fish can be used dried or for extract, glue, and guano; the bladder for isinglass; the backbone for glue and bone-meal ; the head for extract, glue, and guano ; the roe for albumen; the liver for oil, extract, and fibrine; and the entrails for glue and guano. The external coverings of the larger kinds can be profitably removed and tanned. They give a strong and good skin, * Pawley's Islaud : Mr Taylor was tlie nnlv person living on tlie island dnring the ■wiuter, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 415 very suitable for portfolios and book-bindiug. Raw materials now con- sidered as almost worthless are thus utilized to great advantage by the company. The Aberdeen factory covers an area of 39,200 square feet, and includes a dining-room and restaurant (opened a few days ago), as well as a drying chamber and drying machine, where the largest lisli may be drie<^l in from 12 to 20 hours, giving a far better result than if dried in the open air. Large factories are also in course of erection at Barra (an island of the Hebrides) and Thorshavn (capital of the Faroe Islands), each of which will employ 150 men all the year round. It is proposed to establish restaurants in various populous places, w^here dinners of rwo dishes, mostly produced from fish, can be had for two- pence. [From the Fish Trades Gazette, London, England, February .5, 1887.] Fish conveyed inland by railways in Great Britain. — The total quantity of fish conveyed inland by railways in the three coun- tries of Great Britain during the past six years are summarized in tons as follows: Country. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. En""lan(l . 194, 561 50, 944 7,447 203, 778 49, 259 7,279 205, 939 56, 874 6,372 21.5,489 66,117 8,565 254, 988 68, 738 7,688 242, 257 Scotland .. ..-..- 73, 858 Ireland . .,- - -- 8,309 Total . 252, 952 260, 316 269, 185 2^0, 171 331,414 324, 424 On the north and east coasts of England in 1885 more than 1,000 tonsof fish were sent from 12 places, Grimsby taking the lead with66, 790 tons. Nine i>orts on the south coast of England send over 1,000 tons by rail; while on the west coast five ports send a similar amount. Thirteen rail- way companies carry this total amount of fish inland, six of which are carrying less fish in 1885 then they did in 1880, which maybe the effect of the railway rates. The Scotch ports sending inland 1,000 tons or more of fish in 1885 are 22 in number, Aberdeen leading the list with G,708; while iu Ireland there is only one port that exceeds 1,000 tons, Kinsale in 1885 sending 1,603 tons. [From the Journal of the National Fish Culture Association, London, England, January 15, 1887.] Shad in California. — Mr. R. H. Buckingham, president of the Cali- fornia fish commission, writing from Sacramento in Januarj^, 1887, states that shad are taken in that State during every month of the year, while but a few years ago none were to be found ; and it is thought that the first was taken in April, 1879, in a gill-net, the weight of the fish being five pounds. Now the whole California coast is well stocked with shad. There is no State hatchery for this species here, but at the spawning season great numbers of the breeding fish get into the swampy lakes near Sacramento, where thousands of the young hatch and remain there landlocked until the rise of water in autumn, when they find their way to the river and thus go to the sea. 416 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 00 .2 © J' oe>oooo.-l00^5oOlnoo^5^~-^oNL'Ds ^^ om re o oo OO'J'OOS'l.'JOOTimOMO-rOOt^ I- M O — CI CI C-5 CI I- O O ^^ o osoo o — ro^t'^oo — oooo OOOOCCOOO-S- -^tO."-! rt 00 -r'xT-i'TT ci'rt't^" h-Tin^'o' — ' to"oo"— ■"--"L'f-r — ■"(-"•«•■" I oooc; c-3 O C-J S^ TO ■*T 'C r: ■* t^ L-, o CO C) n ■■£> O CM ^ ■^^ ^H -^ -^ cf t-" , • o O t ■ O L'^ o o . ^ lO • , 1 ■ . Ln o 1 3 . ■ r- 1^ :3 ^ o r) ■ o M C^l «» o Ln . tooo I to" -^" cTto L-r • Ci" cf o,a ■^ r3 0 : oinm L-^ O inooin Ln Ln unin a . 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CJ • ^^ I t! » n k 0 ■m tr • ' rfi — ■ '^ © „ ■ o s|§|-§i 1 2 =1 c^^J 2-2'='5 4JE^-^ = |-25=^ 1 o - o a — 5 ; — o o ^ o e -e f ■*- p P ■* H ■ = ; e ■ " c P i< « * •3 J « Q -^ o < s S c rt o s u- u M f- X ■tr r3 '** « 1 2 * "ac t:) 2i-u2Sg * ]5 « J * — * * -r. .2 ic r r •« '■ r t. c r u U :r ,£ 1 «= ?? 1 .:i X ccx X M '•^ 'x i; :1^ 'Z, ^ "3 O m a . o « . » 3 o :C r^ ^ o^ >» c 3 ci « — ^- o •- ,::;.a X t£ CCOO u f £ 1^ £ .s .- --a W t. O ti •r o o o ^ &t£^. u » ti iri COOO o p< o o « u J ^ p.; £._§I!>$TRIJS(JT10IV for 18S6. By MARSIIA1.L MCDONALD. The work of shad propagation and the production of the young for distribution was conducted on the Potomac Eiver at Fort Washington and Central Stations, on the Susquehanna at Battery Station and by the steamer Lookout, and on the Delaware Eiver by the steamer Fish Hawk. Shad for distribution were contributed as follows : Battery Station, Susquehanna Eiver 43, 776, 000 Central Station, Potomac Eiver 28, 151,000 Steamer Fish Hawk, Delaware Eiver ..., 21,018,000 Steamer Lookout < 310, 000 Total. -.r. 93,255,000 The aggregate number of fry actually planted was 92,679,000. In this distribution liberal plants of shad fry have been made in the Potomac, the Susquehanna, the Delaware, and other tributaries of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. The following is a summary by river basins of shad distributed during the season of 1886 : Eiver basin. Tributaries of Narragansett Bay Tributaries of Long Island Sound Hudson River Delaware Eiver Tributaries of Chesapeake Bay Tributaries of Albemarle Sound Streams draining into the Atlantic south of Albemarlo Sound. Mississippi Eiver and minor tributaries of the Gulf of Mexico Colorado Eiver, Gulf of California Columbia Eiver basin Total Eeceived from station. 2, 21, 1, 4, 4, ], 1, 534, 000 832, 9(10 312, 000 618, 000 92a, 000 990, 000 288, 000 758, 000 000, 000 000,000 93, 255, 000 Actually planted. 2, 534, 000 749, 000 2,312,000 21, 618, 000 52, 835, 000 1, 990, 000 4, 183, 000 4, 758, 000 850, 000 850, 000 92, G79, 000 Lost in transit. 83, 000 88, 000 105, 000 150, 000 150, 000 570, 000 The localities at which the plants were made, the streams in which they were made, and the number of fish included in each deposit are given in the following table : 428 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. t3 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo co" ■^ -fsT o" •—' cT o" 1-^ r-T i>" cT cT o" cT ot" o' o" <^' o" r-T o' u^' ^^ cT ciT o CO <^ ■^ i^ 0iC0iOC0C0l0t^00C';mC0C^t>C0C0O(MOCQO«CQC0C0Ci300CCc0C0*0.- o-= C.2 =« soire-^-i; 3 -.ate pt;'^^ '^ "T^ (-• — '-• . - u. 5 CI d^9'S?^^f M o o 3 o _S oJ> o K o „ £ PO C30 ^ -*- C ^ :r ~ ? si S^S'a p.^5c:c:^cSc: I 5 =j:-&c.2 2 3« Boo Hf^ o el £ « o a s o . - 5. • uj x a ph >" .=3 5-^ a CO o PU i"3 .a o ® « '/A pH.t- a g a S rt o " rt i.- s rt , . a O S.W O j; ^ O s o ca o o o ^a ci p* a IK J3 O « J O B.O OP^£hOP^i-s>^ .fe^r? gp^ =2 =3 c3 y; .-^ .- '3 5 cM'"^'- SPrt (j g o o o _> 3 ;2 «3 S " a s S'-o ■*-;^X • O O « c3 -is^^ 1-3.1 Q M K ri ti o o M Son o ■ ~ Ph cP^ 2 J > ^ P^ 2 ^ 5 3f c c a ^ U T. ^ -ti g"-; - rt 'J p = o >g-e-^g-t: .«. c3 r: u ^7l r: ., C rt n a--j (VJO ■-.;; H-?^ o ■:: ^ „ x:; S . ^- «^ — ■.« n a--^ si: 5i5 a a "3 5' rt > ■- o a h 2u o c2 3 J= if P:^JC? 1" > . 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" ^ ^ "^ - - — — ^_ rt « => rt f-^ -^ ^ C3 Q H; - W o P.O c o .a C ^J 5«' 41 • P-i n « « r;-3 C-; t: g ^T.^- o ci -= -c r: -r -S "^ H JT-c '= -5 •= '3 -a r: -^S ■ • - : 41 S £ s " : = - : : : : : 2 o ? : : : : : ; : : ■ O o o " o55 o tn es P s K k ca ,' p - age.' "■ c^ §1 a c: n o c t- W5 ^ g ^ ^ - 3 «; . I: ": C5 Is -:^ o J-^« 3 ■ o a -'3 g o^ a i> 3.:s c ;; o g^:e:Sc: ?t>.5 oSoKa'aoooooooo "=•2 !^ ^ § 3 -3 '=•='='=:'» -a T3 : a Jog !? o H :!«;73P^!« 0 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 431 Eggs for Europe. — In addition to tbe distribution covered by this table, 50,000 shad eggs were sent from Battery Station to Mr. H. C Mercer, of Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mercer had arranged to sail for Europe on the North German Lloyd steamer Eider April 28, and expected to reach HUningeu, Alsace, in ten days. He wished to take some shad eggs with him, and try to reach the Danube before they perished. He proposed to keep down the temperature of the eggs as much as possible while on board the steamer, by the use of ice. On April 27, 1886, Mr, Grabill forwarded the eggs to him. When he reached Southampton he found many of them dead, and the remain- der died before he reached Bremen, to his great disappointment. Stocking the Colorado. — An attempt to acclimate shad in the Colorado Eiverof the West, and to establish fisheries on the Colorado, Gila, and other tributaries of the Gulf of California, was commenced by the deposit of 983,000 fish in 1884 and 998,000 eggs in 1885, and was continued the present season by a deposit of 850,000 eggs, thus making a total of 2,831 ,000, all of which were deposited at The Needles. These i^lants are considered sufficient to determine whether the waters present such conditions as will assure the establishment of a run of shad in the streams tributary to this gulf. The evidence of success will be looked for in the capture of mature shad in the season of 1888, or possibly of male or buck shad in 1887! It is not proposed to prose- cute this experiment further. Stocking the Columbia Eiver. — An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1836 to transfer shad from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Detentions on the way consumed so much time that the fry were all lost. In order to guard against loss occasioned by delay en route, the present year arrangements were made to send eggs as well as fry. Car No. 3, with J. F. Ellis in charge, was detailed for the purpose. The car was equipped with tanks for storing and a steam-pump for circulating the water. Two stands of McDonald jars, with specially designed glass aquaria for collecting and holding the fry, completed the equipment of the car as a moving hatchery. The car left Havre de Grace May 9 with 1,000,000 young shad, 200,000 eggs on trays, and 385,000 eggs in the McDonald hatching-jars. Mr. E. M. Kobinson went on board to take charge of the hatching. The fry were transported with a loss of 50 per cent, while the eggs on trays were all lost. The 385,000 eggs in jars hatched and were planted in the Willamette River, with a loss of less than 10 per cent. The success of this experiment has so important a bearing upon the methods of our work, and points out such possibilities, that Mr. Ellis's report relative to the incubation and hatching of the eggs on the way is given.* Washington, D, C, March 1, 1887. * May 9, 1886. The 585,000 eggs arrived at the car at 2.20 p. m., 200,000 of which were put ou trays in an icc-bux. The other 385,000 came to the car in two Wroten buckets, and were put in four McDonald jars at 3.30 p. m. The pump was then started and a 452 UULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. slow motion given to the eggs. At 8.25 p. m. on May 6th. 210,000 of these eggs bad been taken, and 175,000 at 9.30 p. m. on May 7. The temperature of water at Battery Sta- tion when the eggs were taken was 56 degrees ; the temperature of water in car was GO degrees. Took on freshwater at York, Pa., at 10 o'clock p. m., from engine-tank, using our suction-hose and pumping about 30 minutes. Pumped the water through the ice-coil during the night, so the temperature was brought down to 58 degrees. Took on fresh water at Altoona, Pa., and after that pumped water from engine-tank three times each day. May 10. The temperature was from 58 degrees to 60 degrees. The eggs worked nicely, with only a small loss. About a dozen or so of those taken on the 6th instant hatched this afternoon. The eggs look rather light in color, and the fish can be seen moving lively in the eggs. One jar of eggs went over in the aquaria last night; re- placed them in jar at 6 o'clock a. m. May 11. The temperature was from 56 degrees to 58 degrees. Only a few more fish hatched out, as the fall in the temperature of the water seemed to retard them. They all look well, and are developing slowly. May 12. Got on a little alkali to-day; this did not seem to have any effect on the eggs. Those taken on the 6th instant are hatching to-day. Temperature of w^ater 58 degrees. The fish look well, and have a large sac. Those taken on the 7th instant ai-o almost ready to come out, and a few hatched before night. Worked all the dead eggs off and measured those left in jars; found the loss on the 210,000 eggs taken May 6 to be 10 jier cent, and the loss on the 175,000 eggs taken May 7 to be 8 per cent. This would make an average loss of 9 per cent. We lost very few, ii any, after this. The eggs were hatching slowly this evening. The water in tanks got a little low, so the pump was used to get some air into the water. The air-bub- bles attached themselves to the young fish and turned them head down; also col- lected around the jars and aquaria. This caused some trouble, which was overcome a little by keeping the lower tanks as full of water as possible. May 13. The eggs of the 6th instant are hatching rapidly ; temperature of water 58 degrees. The fish look healthy and strong, with largo sacs. Those of the 7th are hatching slowly. Put up at 11 a. m. 25,000 fish in five cans, and 25,000 more at 5.30 !>. m. The air-biibbles were still troubling the young fish a little, so took them from aquaria as fast as hatched. May 14. Almost all the eggs of the 6th instant hatched to-day. The temperature of water went down to 56 degrees this morning. This retards the eggs of the 7th a little. The air-bubbles in the water seem to collect on some of the eggs, making them come to top of jar; so can give them but very little motion or they will go over in the aquaria. This air-bubble has been the only difficulty we have had to contend Avith, which seems strange, as the air-pump has not been in use on the trip. The air also collects on the shells and causes them to come to the top, when they can be easily skimmed ofl". Removed the young fry from the collecting aquaria to transportation cans as fast as tliey were hatched. Planted '25,000 of these fish in the Columbia River, at Wallula Junction, at 11.30 to-night. They were in fine condition. May 15. The car arrived at Portland at 10.30 this morning. All the eggs of the 6th were hatched, and those of the 7th hatched rapidly all day, the temperature of water gradually going up to 62 degrees. The air-bubbles entirely disappeared this morning. The car was taken to the Willamette, at Albany, at 9.30 p. m., and the young fry iilauted at 11.30 p. m. The eggs did not quite all hatch to-day, so ran the pump up to 10 o'clock May 16, at which time all the eggs had hatched, with a total loss of 9 per cent. The experience of this trip makes it safe to recommend the ship- ping of eggs instead of the young fry on all long trips, as this is perhaps the most difficult trip in the country. The water is very cold, going as low as 44 degrees in a great many places. The alkali, too, .is very strong. I think without doubt this car can take 2,000,000 eggs to any stream in the United States, and hatch them in as good condition as they come fi'ora the hatcheriesj and with a,8 small a loss. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 433 Vol. \ I, l¥o. 28. IVashin^toii, ». C. ITIar. 24, 1 887. 136.— THE PEARL, FISHERIES OF AUSTRALIA. By Coustil G. TT. GKIFFIN. The pearl-shell fisheries of Torres Strait belong to the colony of Qneenslaud, and are situated 1,500 miles from Brisbane and more than 2,000 miles from Sydney. Torres Strait is about 80 miles in width, and separates Queensland from the island of New Guinea. The navi- gation of the strait, although said to be safe and i)racticable, is in fact very difldcult, on account of the innumerable islands, reefs, and shoals scattered about. The chief places at which the fisheries are conducted are Wai Weer, Al])any Island, Jervis Island, Endeavor Strait, Friday Island, Prince of Wales Islands, and Possession Island. Wages of the men. — A good diver can earn from $60 to $150 per month. He usually signs shipping articles for a period not exceeding three j'ears, at a fixed sum per month and an interest in the catch or lay. Mr. Bayne, of Sydney, the owner of an important station at Prince of Wales Islands, who for many years has been engaged in pearl-shell fishing, states that several divers in his employ have earned as much as $300 per month. The divers and crews are composed of South Sea Islanders, Malays, and a few Chinese and Lascars. The diver is the captain of the boat, and the other men obey his orders. The duties of the tender consist in waiting on the diver, help- ing him to dress, and looking after him while in the water. The pay of the tender is from $10 to $12 per month, with a small interest in the catch, generally from one-sixtieth to one-eightieth part of the value of the shells. Each of the vessels generally has one diver and four tend- ers, who compose the crew. The tenders are engaged on regular ship- ping articles, and are paid off like any other merchant seamen. Mr. Henry M. Chester, the resident magistrate at Thursday Island, says, in a recent report on the fisheries, that the natives are never over- worked, and that they are always well fed and kindly treated. He further says that payment is usually made them in blankets, clothing, knives, hatchets, and beads, and that whenever they are dissatisfied with w^hat they receive they seek other employment. Mr. Chester is of opinion that the competition for their services is of such a character as to secure for them fair treatment. All the available adult popula- tion of the island are employed as swimming divers, under "the mas- ters and servants' act," and while their pay is small, it is made in the presence of the local authorities, and all the old men, women, and children receive food in seasons of scarcity. Mr. Chester admits, how- ever, that the occupation of a diver is dangerous and not at all condu- cive to longevity, but adds that the loss of life amo2g the natives from Bull. F. C. m 28 434 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. such causes is more than counterbalanced by the abundant supply of , wholesome food given them, and by the decrease in infanticide and other savage practices to which they were formerly addicted. Methods of fishing. — The method pursued in pearl fishing is for a num- ber of vessels to start out together and fish on the same ground. Each vessel carries supplies to last a fortnight. When in about 8 fathoms of water, if the tide is slack, the diver will jump overboard. His boots are heavily weighted with lead, so as to hasten his descent. Upon reach- ing the bottom he walks leisurely along until he comes to a patch of shells ; then he signals to the boat to cast anchor. He carries with him a sack or bag to hold the shells, and as soon as it is filled it is lifted up, emptied out, and sent down to him again, he being able to remain under water several hours at a time. Som.e divers remain down from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The pearl-oysters lie on the ground, with the shells i^artly open, and great care is required in handling them, for if touched in the wrong way they will close upon the hand like a vise. Accidents of this kind not infrequently happen to inexperienced divers, who are- obliged to signal those above to lift them up and remove the pearl-oyster from their hands. The monsoons which blow in the strait from May until the end of September are often so severe that boats have to lay up for as much as ten days at a time. The average catch for each boat is from 1 to 1^ tons of shells per month. Unlike the fisheries in Ceylon and the Persian Gulf, there is little or no diflBculty in collecting the shells, for they either lie loose on the ground or are only partially buried in the mud or sand. The tislieries off the coast of West Australia, and especially at Shark Bay, produce the true pearl-oyster {Avicula margaritifera). For a long- time this shell was supposed to be valueless on account of its thin and fragile structure, but now there is a great demand for it both in America and in Europe. It is especially prized by the French and German artists for fine inlaid cabinet work. The young or chicken shell is the best, and commands the highest price. When the pearl-oyster is five or six years ol d the shells become blistered and wormy, and it is said that the oyster dies about the age of seven years. The divers in fishing make no effort to select any par- ticular shell, but take every one that they can get, even the dead shells which have the least A^alue of any, on account of various blemishes, rot. tenness, lack of luster, &c. Pure- white silver-edged shells are the best. The oysters in the West Australia fisheries are generally obtained by passing an iron dredge over the banks, but divers are also employed. Pearl-oysters are gregarious in their habits, and whenever one is met with it is almost certain that numbers of others will be found in the im. mediate neighborhood. Divers are expert swimmers, and they go down to a depth of 4 or 5 fathoms, where it is said some of them can remain two minutes. The BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 435 occupation is au unwholesome one, and soon produces deafness and dis- eases of the chest and hmgs. Blood not infrequently flows from the mouth, ears, and nostrils after the usual dip of forty or fifty seconds, which is repeated fifty or sixty times a day. The men also run the risk of being eaten by sharks, although death from this cause is not apt to occur except in untried fishing-grounds, as the noise of the divers is almost certain to drive the sharks away. The pearl stations. — All the pearl-fishing stations in Torres Strait bear a very close resemblance to one another, and consist of a small but nice-looking residence for the manager and one of less pretension for the men, a warehouse for storing i^rovisions, &g., and several sheds for drying the shells. Before the shells are brought to the station the boats usually run into land, and the men open the oysters, take out the pearls, if any, and throw the soft parts overboard. The shells are then roughly cleaned and stowed under the hatches. At the end of the voyage they are taken to the station, where they are counted and thoroughly cleaned. The shells are then assorted and dried, and after the outer edges are chipped off they are packed in cases, each case weighing from 270 to 300 pounds, and are ready for shipment. No systematic efibrt has yet been made to collect pearls at Torres Strait, and such as are found become the property of the men, who se- crete them in various ways, often by swallowing them. Some very fine specimens of pearls about the size of a hazel-nut, and of remarkable beauty and clearness, have recently found their way to the market from Torres Strait. Other specimens of a much larger size have been found there, but they were imperfect in shape and color. Formation of pearls. — In oysters aged four years — which are judged by the shells, weight, and appearance — the best pearls are found. The shell, like the pearl, is formed by the secretion of the animal, and is composed of animal matter and lime. The iridescent hues on the in- side of the shell are occasioned by the edges of the thin, wavy, con- centric layers overlapping one another and reflecting the light. The minute furrows, containing translucent carbonate of lime, produce a series of more or less brilliant colors, according to the angle at which the light falls upon them. Occasionally some of the finest pearls are found loose in the shell. As many as one hundred pearls have been found in one oyster, but of little or no value. The pearls of the young oyster are yellow, and in the older oyster are of a pinkish hue. The use of pearl-shells. — The pearl-shells shipped from Australia to the United States and Europe are used j)rincipally for the manufacture of knife-handles, shirt-buttons, &c. Considerable quantities are also used for papier-mache and other ornamental work. The pearl buttons, shirt-studs, &g., now made in the United States are said to be the best and cheapest in the world, a fact due in great measure to the care used in selecting the material and to the improved methods of cutting, U. S. Consulate, Sydney, New South Wales, April, 1885. 436 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMLSSION. lay.— KJKroKT oi-^ miiad s»koi»a«atioiX oiv the i»otomac; rivkr nURirVC} TJIE SUASO^S OF 18S6. By MAfSSIIALL Mc]»0]\AL». The orgiinizatiou and conduct of the work was the same, in general, as during the' season of 1885. The facilities for collecting eggs were greatly improved by substituting for the launch heretofore emj)loyed in the collection service the small steamer Lilla, chartered for the season, but at the close of the season purchased by the U. S. Fish Commission. The eggs collected from the fishing-shores and gillers were transferred to the field station at Fort Washington, where they were kept and de- veloped until hardened, so as to permit safe transportation to Central Station, Washington. Here the hatching was completed, and the dis- tribution of the fry conveniently made by car and messenger service. Several million eggs were retained and hatched at Fort Washington for stocking waters in the immediate vicinity of the station. COST AND RESULTS OF THE WORK. For the conduct of the work, in accordance with the program sub- mitted and approved, the Commissioner authorized an exi)enditure not to exceed $5,000. At Fort Washington Station the actual cost of col- lecting, developing, and transporting the eggs was $2,879.90; at Cen- tral Station, for hatching and distribution, $916.55 ; total, $3,796.45. The total number of eggs obtained was 36,362,000, and the losses during incubation were 6,625,000, leaving the aggregate number furnished for distribution from the Potomac Eiver stations 29,737,000. The percent- age of loss during incubation was 18 per cent, and shows marked im]>rovement over the results of previous seasons. The cost of produc- tion was $127.66 per million, or 78 shad for each cent of expenditure. FORT WASHINGTON STATION. On March 26 the station was occupied by a small force. The men were employed in tarring and rigging the seine, cleaning up the shore, and getting everything in readiness for active work when the run of shad should begin. The first haul of the Commission seine was made April 12, and the first ripe fish was taken on the 16th. The run offish steadily increased from that time to the 22d, as did also the proportion of ripe females. Or the afternoon and night of the 22d of April 3,503,000 shad eggs were taken and impregnated. This was the maximum number taken in one day during the season. The period of maximum production was from April 20 to 27, inclusiv^e; the total production for the period referred to being 1(),01 7,000, or nearly one-half of the entire number obtained dur- ing the season. iBTTLLETm OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 437 The eggs which were hatched and phiuted in local waters (3,154,000) and forwarded to Central Station (33,208,000) were derived as follows: From the Fish Commission seiue at Fort "Washington 11,848,000 From Chapman's Point hauling-seine 5, 506, 000 From Ferry Landing haiiling-seine ■- 4,349,000 From White Honse hauling-seine 1,487,000 From Stony Point hauling-seine 2, 191,000 From the gillers ' 10,981,000 Total 36,362,000 The records of the Commission seiue fished on the Fort Washington, reservation have been earefully kept, and are here published, so as to preserve important data in a shape accessible to fish-culturists gener- ally. These show the fluctuations from season to season, not only in. the aggregate catch of shad on the same shore, but also the variations in the i^roportion of males to females, in the time of maximum run, and in the date at which the proportion of ripe fish reaches its maximum, and the interval during which the largest numbers of eggs are taken. Record of seine-hauling at Fort Washington shore during the season of 1886. © • « o ^a © © -^ i^ 3 Date. o5 Date. o "a a .a a rn a TO "a a a a m to II © a 03 a a o a 3 a be o^ s C3 .r^' SB ^-S !Z5 ^ N f^ n H H ^ '^ ^ fM Ph W H - April 15* 2 1 1 o 57 May 10* in 12§ 0 63 10 17 85 lie 58 88 27 28 3 1 95, 000 40, 000 57 58 6;? 150 130 20 7 189, 000 05 18 150 111 39 1 7,000 61 1311 467 385 82 13 385, 000 04 19 264 201 63 9 205, 000 01 14TI 234 199 35 17 548, 000 03 20 210 129 87 5 184,000 65 15t 188 159 29 « 211, 000 01 21 22 238 164 194 74 g 911 ouo 03 16* 2 2 0 0 O.i 294 100 16 391, 000 03 17t 215 195 20 3 52, 000 66 23 103 62 41 11 380. 000 00 18 179 154 25 2 65, 000 63 24 200 112 88 27 767, 000 09 19 290 195 101 2.1 824, 000 63 2.'> 359 203 156 15 492, 000 09 20 170 124 40 11 522, 000 6i> 20 330 168 168 20 705, 01)0 70 21 145 107 38 9 274, 000 60 27 185 99 86 20 619, 0(K) 68 22 144 90 48 24 011,000 67 28 186 122 64 18 541, 000 07 23 164 102 62 22 050, 00 0 71 29 177 97 80 15 464, 000 00 24 130 80 44 10 294, 000 VI ;!0t 160 121 45 7 19.5, 000 05 25. 65 44 21 4 131,000 70 May It 38 24 14 3 80, 000 02 20 109 79 30 U 239, 000 71 2t 289 231 58 2 21, OUO 03 27 101) 88 21 5 101,000 69 3t 202 188 14 0 04 28 104 80 24 4 119,000 OS 4 207 178 20 5 138,000 04 29 80 60 20 12 389, 000 70 5 179 139 40 1 14, 000 05 30 75 55 20 3 60, 000 71 Ct 248 192 56 10 245, 000 06 31 31 19 12 6 175, 000 09 7t 9: 111 81 30 5 149, 000 CO 01 03 Jnne 1** 5 3 2 0 69 .... Total.. 7,419 5,331 2,088 395 11, 848, 000 * Seine hanletl bnt once. tOpe haul omitted. tXo hauls, on account of the hiiIIAI> fIV €OIVIVE€TIClJT FOR 1S85. By KOBEKT B. CHALKER. The statistics and otlier information about the catch of shad in the State of Connecticut for the year 1885* are as follows : POUND FISHERIES. From the luoutli of the Conuecticut Eiver to New Haven Harbor: 15 traps iu Say brook 44, 400 22 traps in Westbrook 52,700 12 traps iu Clinton 26,000 13 traps in Madison 8, 400 7 traps in Guilford 1,500 7 traps iu Branford 6, 500 3 traps in East Haven 1, 800 Total shore fisheries 141,300 RIVER FISHERIES. Thames River, hauling-seines 300 Connecticut River and tributaries : Hauling-seines 25,300 Gill-nets : 15atSaybrook 13,500 18 at Lyme 14,400 10 at Brockway's Ferry 7, 000 7 at Comstock's Ferry 0,300 9 at Essex 7,200 73,700 Quinepiac River, 6 hauling-seines 3, 500 Housatonic River : 16 hauling-seines 33,600 54 gill-nets •.. 17,000 50,600 Total river fisheries 128, 100 Total catch of shad in the State 269,400 This year's catch in the Thames is about double that of 1884, and has been gradually increasing for nine years, while in the Quinepiac the catch is only about one-half as great as in 1884. In the Farmington E,iver, a branch of the Conuecticut, there were taken in hauling-seines 3,400 shad, which are included in the report on the Connecticut. The fishermen on all the rivers of the State report that the pollution of streams by factories and sewerage is yearly destroying great quan- tities of young lish of all kinds, especially shad. One net owner on the Hoasatonic says that he has seen " a.ton of young shad at one time float- ing down the river." It is the opinion of shore fishermen that the con- For catch in 1886 see Fish Commission Bulletin for 1886, page 297. 440 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMlSSlOl^. structioii of jetties and breakwaters changes the movements of the ghad. The breakwater at the entrance of Xew Haven Harbor has so changed the course of the fresh water from the Quinepiac River that it now nearly all flows east, along the Brauford shore, the result of which is thought to be a greater catch of shad in that vicinity. For instance, the first x^ound eastward caught 3,500 shad the past season, the average yearly catch before the building of the breakwater never having ex- ceeded 500. The construction of jetties at the mouth of the Connecti- cut Eiver causes a distribution of fresh water farther to the westward, and therefore a marked increase in the catch of shad in Clinton and Madison. Shad fishing in the Connecticut Eiver commenced about Aj^ril 20, somewhat later than usual, and from that time until May 25 was re- markably good and the shad very large. After that date until the close of the season there was a marked falling off. It was thought that this was caused by the unusually small supply of fresh water in the rivers for that season of the year. The first shad was caught in a gill-net in the Connecticut Eiver, 4 miles from its mouth, on April 18, the temperature of the water that day being 48° Fahr. The same day two shad were caught in a pound 6 miles west of the mouth of the river. As is usually the case, no shad were caught directly at the mouth of the river till six days later. The heaviest run of the season was on May 11 and 12. The highest number caught in one pound was 1,500 at one hanJ. The contract price for the season was 20 cents ajnece, delivered at the shipping points. The following are the daily prices per shad at the mouth of the Connecticut Eiver for those not sold by contract: Date. ApriMS April 10-21 April 21 April 22 AprirJ3-27 April 27-;;9 April 29-Mayl. May 1 Price. $5 00 1 00 80 70 60 30 25 30 Date. May2-5 May 5-12 May 12-18 May 18-20 Ma\-20-26 Mav26-June 1. Jiuio 1-20 Price. $0 25 30 20 15 10 15 25 From May 18 to June 1 few *ould be sold on account of the dull market, and they had to be salted. There is only one section in the State from which a regular report of the shad catch has been made during the past six years, and it is within these limits that the greater proportion of the shad of the State is taken. The catch for this section is as follows: Tear. Catch. Tear. Catch. 1880 269, 900 ' 351, 670 272, 900 177, 308 1884 150, 100 1881 1885 Average 190, :!00 1882 1883 235, 363 BtJLLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 441 The section covered by the above table extends from Deep Eiver, situated on the Connecticut River, 10 miles from its mouth, to Madison, 18 miles westward on Long Island Sound. The following table shows the annual number of shad taken during a period of thirty years by a single pound-net located about 6 miles west of the mouth of the Connecticut Eiver, near Westbrook, at a station called Money Point, the location of the net being the same each year: Tear. 1856 1857 1858 1859 18U0 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 Shad. 3,643 5, 183 6,111 3,000 6,000 6,100 6, 853 10, 730 12, 265 9,410 10,594 Tear. i 1867 . i 1868 . 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875 . 1876. 1877, Shad. 12, 13, 11, 16, 13, 8, 7, 9, 20, 11, 10, 500 000 000 558 508 271 343 2'JO 037 041 465 Tear. 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 Total.... Average Shad. 4,550 19, 175 13, 275 10, 500 9, 637 6,200 7,200 7,858 291, 297 9,710 In 1872, 1873, and 1874 fishing was allowed by law for only three days a week. In 1878 the nets were much injured by jelly-fish. There was a good run of shad in that year, but it was impossible to continue pound- fishing after May 5. The above table is thought to indicate a fair aver- age of increase in the catch of pound-nets since their introduction in place of hauling-seines, though of recent years there has been somewhat of a falling off". The first pound-net set for shad in the town of West- brook was in 1849. Satbrook, Conn., October 28, 1885. 139.-KEPORT OIV EXAMIIVATIOIV OF CLUPEOIDS FROIVI €ARP PONDS. By TARLETON H. BEAN, Curator, Department of Fishes. 1 have to-day reexamined the Glupeoids which were sent over in large numbers from the carp ponds in November and December, 1885, and desire to present herewith a brief report upon them. Most of the fishes received on the 28th of November were glut ale- wives, Glupea cestivalis. I selected out of the lot 3 specimens, catalogue No. 37380, and 43 specimens, No. 37381. These examples range from 5 to G inches in length. There was one specimen of the branch alewife, Glupea vernaUs, 4f inches long, No. 37370. There were also 8 shad, Glupea sapicUssima, varying from 4 to 6 inches in length, No. 37378. Only two of these shad were of the shorter length. We did not preserve all of the fishes sent over, but the statement already made will show that the great mass of them were glutalewives and that the percentage of shad was small. 442 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. On the lOtli of December, 1885, Mr. Hessel sent over upwards of 7,000 Clupeoids, coasisting almost entirely of shad. In a half-gallon jar, selected at random from the mass of the fish and preserved in al- cohol, I have counted 48 shad, catalogue No. 37401 , ranging in length from 4 to 5 inches. Thirty-four shad, No. 37403, in another jar, varied in length from 3^ to 5 inches. Another jar contained 17 shad, No. 37404, measuring about the same as the preceding. The total number of shad selected is, therefore, 107. With them were received 13 specimens of the glut alewife, Clupea cestivalis, jSTos. 37402 and 37405, varyiug in length from 5 to 5J inches. On the 10th of November, 1885, Mr. Hessel sent over a shad, No. 37368, measuring 4J inches in length. On July 24, 1885, we received from the carp ponds a shad measuring 2f inches in length, No. 37406. Shad have been obtained in the United States carp jionds before last year; for example, on November 6, 1880, we received a lot, of which I preserved 23 individuals. No. 26419, ranging in length from 0 to 6| inches. There has not, however, been such a multitude of shad in the carp ponds until last year, as far as our observation goes, and we are justified in believing that this mass is the result of an experiment by Col. M. McDonald, in April, 1885, at which time about 10,000 young shad were introduced into one of the ponds. The shad taken in the carp ponds in November of last year represent about the maximum size of the species at the time of the fall migration, as will be seen from reference to the vspecimens mentioned below. On September 20, 1874, Dr. J. D. Hyer sent to the Museum a shad taken in the Potomac at Washington, No. 15238, measuring 6a inches in length. These November shad, taken in the carp ponds and in the Potomac, correspond in size with individuals sometimes taken in the river in the spring. On the 26th of April, 1884, the Fish Hawk ob- tained 2 shad, No. 37030, at York Spit, measuring 5J and 6| inches in length. Shad of smaller size are also found in the Potomac late in the fall. On the 26th of October, 1881, Col. M. McDonald obtained some speci- mens. No. 29092, of which 12 are preserved, the smallest measuring 3 inches and the largest 4 inches in length. These in all probability rep- resent a late spawning of the species, and the larger examples previ- ously referred to an earlier one. In connection with this examination of the shad from the carp-ponds I have again studied a bottle of "whitebait" received from New York Bay in May, 1878, and find that 8 of the fish. No. 21258, are Clupea cestivalis, ranging in length from 3f to 4| inches, and 2 are shad, Clupea sapidissima, No. 37400, measuring 4 inches and 4j|- inches, respectively. I mention this here in order to bring out the tact that the time at which shad may be found in salt water is subject to great variation. U. S. National Museum, Washington^ D. C, January 4, 1880. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 443 l30.-OiV THE AKTIFICIAT. PBOPACATIOIV A1V» CUI>TI VATIOIV OF OVWTEKS IIV FI.OATS. By Prof. W. K. BROOKS. [From Johns Hopkius University Circular, Vol. V, No. 43.] Without expressing any opinion as to the value of the process of "fattening" oysters by placing them for a few days in cars floating in fresh water, I wish to point out that there is no similarity between this process and the process of propagation which is here descnbed. My attention was first called to the value of floating cars in oyster culture by Mr. William Armstrong, of Hampton, Va., who informed me, in 1884, that "seed" oysters which he had placed in floating cars in the mouth of Hampton Creek grew more rapidly, and were of a bet- ter shape and more marketable, than those which grew from seed planted on the bottom in the usual way. One of the results of my study, in 1879, of the development of the oyster was the discovery that there is a period of several hours, imme- diately after the embryo acquires its locomotor cilia, when it swims at the surface, and this is the period when it is swept into contact with collectors. As soon as the shell appears the larva is dragged down by its weight, and either settles to the bottom and dies or swims for a time near the bottom. The tendency to swim at the surface is an adaptation for securing wide distribution by means of the winds and currents, which sweep the young oysters against solid bodies which may serve for attachment; and the greatest danger to which the oyster is exposed, at any part of its life, is that it may not, at the swimming stage, find a clean, hard surface for attachment. As it is microscopic and only about half as thick as a sheet of thin paper, it may be smothered by a deposit of sediment or mud so light as to be invisible, and most of the failures to get a good "set of spat" are due to the formation of a coat of sediment upon the collectors before the young oysters come into contact with them. It occurred to me this summer that this danger could be entirely avoided by the use of floating collectors, for little sediment can fall on a body which is close to the surface of the water, and most of this will be swept away by currents, which will, at the same time, sweep the swimming embryos down into the collector, and thus insure an early, abundant, and successful "set." I accordingly constructed a floating car, made so as to permit the free circulation of the water. This was tilled with clean oyster-shells and moored in the channel in front of the laboratory at Beaufort, N. C, on July 4. As all the oysters in the vicinity were in very shallow water, they were nearly through spawning, and the conditions were therefore very unfavorable; but, notwithstanding this, I immediately secured a 444 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FlSIt COMMISSION. good "set," and the young oysters grew with remarkable rapidity, on account of the abundant supply of food and fresh water which gained ready access to all of them, and the uniform temperature which was secured by the constant change of water. This method of oyster culture may be applied in manj" ways, of which the most obvious is the production of seed oysters for i)lanting. The seed which is used for planting in Maryland and Virginia, as well as in Delaware and further north, is now procured from the natural beds of our waters by tonging or dredging, and as the demand for oys- ters for this purpose is certainly one of the elements which have led to the depletion of our beds, there is a widespread feeling that the expor- tation of " seed" should be prohibited. By a small invest/ment of capital in floating collectors any one on tide- water could easily raise large quantities of much better, cleaner seed than that which is now procured from the natural beds, and if the laws permitted the sale and trans])ortation of this seed without restriction at the season when the demand exists, it could be sold at a profit for less than the cost of tonging. Northern planters could also raise seed for themselves by construct- ing floating collectors in the warm water of the sounds of Virginia and North Carolina, where the length of the summer would permit several collections to be made in one season. The oysters thus reared are large enough for planting in five or six weeks, and in the latitude of Beaufort there is an abundance of spat from the middle of April to the 1st of July, and it can be collected until September. The method may also be used by planters for collecting their own seed, especially in regions remote from a natural supply. If there are no oysters near to furnish the eggs, a few spawning oysters may be placed among the shells in the collector, after the French method, to supply the " set." It can also be used for the direct production of marketable oysters, especially over muddy bottoms and in regions where public sentiment does not permit any jirivate ownership of the bottom. As food for the oyster is most abundant at the mouths of muddy creeks, where the bottom is too soft for oyster culture by planting or by shell- ing, this method will have especial advantage in such places, for then; will be no danger of sanding or of smothering by mud at the surface, and there is no limit to the number of oysters which can thus be grown on a given area, for the free current of water will bring food to all of them. The very rapid growth will more than compensate for the cost of tlie floats, and Mr. Armstrong's experiment shows that, in addition to all these advantages, the oysters are of a better shape, with better shells and more marketable, than those grown at the same place on the bottom. Finally, this method will do away with the necessity for a title to the bottom, and will thus enable a few enterprising men to set the example BULLETIN OF THE UNTIED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 445 ol" oyster culture, and, by the educatiou of the community, to biisten the time when wiser laws will reuder our natural advantages available for the beuetit of our people. The most economical method of constructing floats must, of course, be determined by practical experiments, but a float constructed by con- necting two old ship- masts together by string-pieces, with a bottom of coarse galvanized iron netting, would have sufficient buoyancy and enough resistance to water to support a large quantity of submerged shells and oysters for two or more seasons, and a coating of copper paint each year would protect the timbers from worms. The floats sliould be open at the ends, to i)ermit free circulation, and they should be moored in such a way as to swing with the current. 131.— SOITIE OF TIIli: I.IFE-IVEEDS OF FISH.* By Dr. OTTO ZACHARIAS. Water is the main condition of the life and well-being of fish. The water should contain food in the shape of infusoria, snails, worms, and insect larvaj, but people trust to kind nature to furnish a constant sup- ply of these. In the vast majority of cases this confidence is somewhat well placed, but as a general rule nature will supply only the absolute needs. If a good harvest of fish is to be a certainty, the needs and habits of fish should be thoroughly studied, and care should be taken to remove everything which will interfere with these needs and habits. Fish breathe through their gills, which consist of four double rows of cartilaginous leaflets. The blood-vessels distributed through them give to the gills a bright red color. Four bony arches support the double lamellte, which exercise their important functions under a piece of horny skin called the " gill-cover." For the purpose of breathing the fish passes water into the branchial chamber ; here it comes in contact with fringe-like leaflets, which it supplies with oxygen. The water makes its escape by the gill-opening. If you take a fish out of the water its breathing process is interrupted, the gill-leaflets begin to shrink, and become dry, when they are unable to absorb the needed air from the atmosphere. Any one who has carefully examined the gill-fringes of a whiting or pike must be convinced that these tender organs will be injured by muddy or impure water, just as our lungs are injured by inhaling bad air or air filled with particles of dust. The first point to be observed, therefore, should be to prevent water, in which fish are to be kept, from becoming impure by the refuse from factories, mines, &c. Eefuse float- ing in the water will exercise some chemical, but principally a mechan- ical, influence by constantly irritating the respiratory organs. In this * " Uthe7- di" Lchensbedurfinsse der Fibche." From Mit1heiluni)en des Westjjreussischcn Fisclierei-Vereina, No. 5, Dautzic, MarcJi 4, 1886. Translated by H. jACoesoif, 446 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. respect tlie refuse from wood-turniug establishments must be cousidered as dangerous, for the fine particles of wood-fiber will easily adhere to the gills and form a basis for fungous growth. This may easily aftect the entire fish, and if a river contains a great quantity of small i)articles of wood-fiber, there is danger that all the fish in it will perish. Trout are particularly liable to be affected by this kind of refuse, and many cool and clear brooks would contain a much larger number of these fine salmonoids if there were fewer i)aper factories and wood-turning estab- lishments in their valleys. If the refuse contained in the water is not of a soft and flaky character, but is hard, the fish are exposed to hurtful influences of another kind. One of our most prominent zoologists, the late Professor Von Siebold,of Munich, has proved that fish kept during continued rainy weather in a fish-tank, through which passed the water of a brook rendered impure by mud containing small particles of quartz, became totally blind. In this case the constant mechanical irritation produced by small particles of quartz had caused inflammation in the eyes of the fish. They had also received actual injuries in their gills.* It will be evident that water, as well aerated as possible, and as clear as possible, is the first and self-evident condition required wherever ra- tional fish-culture is to be carried on. The water, however, is not merely the medium of breathing, but is the bearer of food to the fish. If they are to prosper and increase they need a superabundant quantity of food, consisting mainly of living organisms. These in turn need food them- selves. But this can be furnished only if the banks are fringed with aquatic plants and if the mud settling at the bottom contains a great deal of humus, so that it may form a food-supplying substratum for numerous microscopic algae (Besmidiacece, &g.). All the numberless in- fusoria and lower crustaceans (varieties of Cladocera and Cyclops) con- tained in our waters find their food in this microscopic vegetation, and are, therefore, directly dependent on it. As the young fish live princi- pally on the above-mentioned crustaceans and infusoria, it is evident tliat anything which causes a decrease in the vegetation of tlie waters (beyond a certain degree) must exercise an injurious influence on the life and increase of fish. The various organisms in nature are depend- ent upon each other to a wonderful and complicated degree, and the great in nature is by various ways and means connected with the smallest. When we see refuse and impure fluids from a factory pass into the beautiful clear water of a brook, we think in the first place only of the direct injuries to which fish will thereby be exposed. But the indirect injuries are much greater, because they extend not only to the present generation, but to the organic conditions of life, which, if endangered, will make it questionable whether any fish will in the future be able to live in such water. By the settling of insoluble mineral particles nt the bottom of a river its microscopic vegetation is gradually killed, and the * From a valuable pamphlet ou the pollution of water, by Dr. Leuckart, the famous Leipsic naturalist, published by Friedrich Schell, Kassel, Ibbti, BULLETIN or THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 447 immediate cousequcuce of this will be tliJit those aniniiils which live ou tVesli or decayed vegetable matter -will disappear. In consequence of this the young fry, if any is raised, is insuliiciently fed, and compara- tively few tish reach sexual maturity. In this wa^' the tish of our brooks and rivers are constantly decreasing, and, as we have seen, from nat- ural causes, which can be misjudged only by persons who have never studied the needs of fish. The degree to which the abundance of fish in large water areas is dependent on verj' small (partly uiicroscopical) animals, which entirely escape the attention of the casual observer, may be observed in the large diluvial lakes in the north of Germany. Last summer I investi- gated the waters of Holstein, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania, and am able to state, as the general result of my investigations, that those lakes which, among the rural population, had the reputation of being par- ticularly rich in fish were also particularly rich in crustaceans, worms, and infusoria. With a fine gauze net one can in a few minutes catch myriads of small crustaceans and rotifers, so as to cover tlie bottom of the net to the depth of over an inch with a thick mass consisting en- tirely of diminutive animals. A person who has not seen the great mass of these little animals brought up at a single haul has no idea of the enormous quantity of living beings contained in a lake with an area of several square miles. An inexhaustible wealth of life moves in the clear waters of such a basin ; and in exact proportion to the quantity of small crustaceans and infusoria will be the product of fish. 13^.— €A£.IFOKIVIA TKOVT FOR THJB OZAKK IflOUNTAIJV BE«IOI\. By MARSHALL McBONALB. This species {Salmo irideus), which inhabits a restricted geographical range on the west coast, has been largely introduced into the streams of the Eastern and Middle States through the agency of the U. S. Fish Commission. In the spring of 1880, 10,000 eggs of this species were allotted to the Missouri Fish Commission. These were hatched out at the State hatchery and the fry planted in the headwaters of the Gas- conade, Osage, and other streams of Southwest Missouri, having their sources in the clear, cold, large flowing springs that abound in the Ozark Hills. Three thousand were planted in the headwaters of Si)ring River, a tributary of the Arkansas. A careful inspection of the stream, made in the summer of 1885 by the commissioner of Missouri and others who were familiar with the appearance of the rainbow trout, showed the presence of at least three generations resulting from the original plant. The largest in size weighed between 4 and 5 i)ounds ; those of the second size measured from 15 to 17 inches in length; while the sources of the stream swarmed with thousands of the young from 4 to 5 inches in length. 448 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. Accepting the indications of success thus afforded, the United States Commissioner of Fisheries determined to introduce the rainbow trout into the headwaters of all the strums of Missouri, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, which have their sources in the Ozark Mountains. The area to be colonized is more extensive than the famed Adirondack region of Kew York. The streams are clear and cold, the temperature of the waters not rising above 58° in the heat of summer. They have every characteristic of good trout streams, and experiment has shown their eminent adaptation to this purpose. It is a wonder that nature has neglected so inviting a field, yet we are informed by the State com- missioners of Missouri that no native species of trout is found in any of the streams that rise in the Ozark range. The explanation will prob- ably be found when the history of the development of the surface feat- ures of the interior of the continent are known. Be this as it may, it has devolved upon the Commission to utilize nature's neglected oppor- tunities. In August, 1886, fish 4 to 6 inches long were planted: In tributary of— Place. No. Saint James, Phelps County, Missouri 925 950 Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri Verona, LaAvrenco County, Missouri g.-iO Neosho Kiver !)L'5 White River Mamiuoth Springy Arkansas l.liO Total 4,860 Eeferring to this subject, Dr. I. G. W. Steedmau wrote from Saint Louis, Mo., April 6, 1886, concerning specimens of Salino irideus from Verona, Lawrence County, Missouri : "The eggs from which these trout were hatched came from Baird, Cal., through the U. S. Fish Commission. These eggs were hatched by the Missouri Fish Commission at our Saint Joseph Hatchery, and dis- tributed by our agent to Mr. Montgomery, the owner of the spring at Verona, Mo. There are no trout of any species in the waters of Mis- souri, naturally, so there can be no question of the authenticity of these trout. This great spring at Verona is a tributary of the Neosho Kiver (a branch of the Arkansas), yet geographically it matters very little, as the White and Arkansas are parallel, and running through the same scope of country, except that the Arkansas has its sources in the Eocky Mountains, and this branch at Verona in the Ozarks of Mis- souri. I fished with fly in the McCloud River at Baird in 1875. I caught four different varieties of Salmo, namely, irideus, specfahllis (" Dolly Varden," so-called), quinnat (California salmon), and a small speckled trout which I cannot name. It was the most numerous and common trout of the McCloud and Sacramento Rivers, and rarely ex- ceeded one pound in weight. In collecting eggs at this station several varieties may have been inadvertently shipi)ed to the East, viz, irideus, spectabilis ('-Dolly Varden"), Salmo quinnat (California salmon), or the small speckled trout which I have referred to above." BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 449 Vol. VI, I¥o. 29. Washing^ton, D. €. iTlar. 24, 1887. 133 >OTES UPO.X FflSai A^lT© THE mSHERIES. [Extracted from the official coiTespondeuce and compiled by the editor.] Shipment of soles from England to New York, with gen- eral NOTES ON SOLES. — The following matter was communicated by Mr. E. G. Blackford, iu a letter dated New'York, Nos'ember 5, 1885, and comprises information obtained from Mr. William Little, of 32 Scratton road, Southend, England, regarding the English soles. Mr. Little is the fisherman who attended this shipment of soles, caught bj' himself, from England to New York, which is referred to in the report proper of the Fish Commission Report for 1885, page xxxvii. The state- ment and notes are as follows : The soles were caught in what is known as the Swin, on the borders of the North Sea, off Clackton. This locality is about 25 miles from the Thames lliver and from 1 to 5 miles from the shore, with sandy bottom and water from 3 to G fathoms deep. The fish, which were thought to be about six months old, were captured with a beam-trawl of about 1-inch mesh and about 27 score meshes to the beam. The vessel was a small try- sail boat of about 14 tons, with a well, iu which the fish were placed as soon as taken. Some of the fish had been in the well for several days be- fore being ])laced in the cans. The soles were shipped at Havarick for Liverpool, being distributed in thirteim cans and five tubs. The cans held about 1 cwt. of water and the tubs about 2 cwts. each. The tubs were built expressly for carrying fish, and had been used for that purpose in sending fish to the Loudon market. The water used was of a temper- ature of 43"^ F. The fish were ten hours on the road to Liverpool, where they arrived in excellent condition. Those in the cans were here trans- ferred to four large tubs, each holding about 4 cwts. of water, which had been taken out at sea. These new tubs were rough, and had been used for beer previously. The soles were put on board the Cunard steamer Gallia, which sailed from Liverpool on Saturday, October 24, 1885, at noon. At 4 p. m., as soon as good clear water could be ob- tained, the water was changed on the fish by allowing a stream from the hose to flow gently into the tubs and overflow for a little time, care being exercised not to disturb the fish much. The water was again changed twice on Sunday, when the fish were still in good condition. Late Sunday afternoon a storm came up, lasting all night and part of the following day. For most of the time the storm was severe, and on Monday morning many of the fish were found thrown out of the tubs upon the deck, some of them being still alive. The motion of the w^ater in the tubs must have been great, as most of the fish left in them were dead, owing to the pounding they had received against the sides, most Bull, F. C. 80 — -29 450 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of the fisli being bruised aud scraped severely! Out of the six huudred that were shipped only nineteen were left alive, and of these the last two died on Thursday, October 29, when in mid-ocean. Fishermen sometimes keep the soles, after taking them from the trawl, alive in the wells of their vessels for as much as eight or ten days before they are sent to market ; and it is not a rare thing to find soles alive after lying for a day or two fully exposed on the wet boards at the bottom of the hshing-smack. This shows that they are not a particularly delicate fish. The fishing time for them is from April 1 to the early or middle part of October. Small ones are geuerallj' taken early in the season, and large ones later on. The largest soles are taken in the North Sea, in water deeper than G fathoms.' They grow to about 18 inches in length. Very few other fishes are found on the same bottom where the soles are taken, but minnows and shrimps are often caught in the trawls with the soles. It is not certainly known upon what they feed. The spawning seasou is after June, or from the latter part of June on, as fish full of roe are taken in May, aud others that are spent are taken in July, August, &c. Young of about IJ inches in length have been taken in February. The soles come into the mouths of the rivers in spring and ascend as far as the water is sufiiciently salty, and i^robably spawn there or along the shores. The temperature of the sea during summer is about 43'^ F. The price of soles in London ranges from Qd. per pound [12 cents], which is very low, to 7s. Gd. per pound [$1.82], which is very high. The sole is considered the choicest fish in English waters. Among the fishermen it is gener- ally fried. Food for soles. — Mr. Fred Mather, under date of i^ovember 19, 1885, wrote : I offered them soft clams to eat, and they took the pieces, but invar- iably ejected them. Then I considered the structure of their horizon- tal mouth, with teeth on the lower side, and it suggested an implement for pulling up sand-worms {Arenicola piscatorhim). On following up this suggestion I found that the soles come out of the sand about dusk or a little before, and hunt for aud greedily devour the sand-worms that they can find. Preserving fish with boracic acid. — A Scotch firm of dealers in boracic acid as a fish preservative gives the following method for j)reserving various kinds of white fish, such as haddock, whiting, &c. : The fish should be steeped (according to their size) from one to six hours in a solution of pure boracic acid, containing 7 ounces of the acid to every gallon of water used. After this treatment, pack in ordinary fish-boxes, and sprinkle slightly with a finely-powdered mixture of one- third boracic acid and two-thirds common salt. The moderate use of boracic acid in food may be regarded as even beneficial, while it is cer- tainly not injurious.* * For a mode of treating herring with boracic acid, see Bulletin for 1866, page G6. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 451 TiSHERY REGULATION IN Manchooria. — Tlic followiug notification to fishermen was issued in ' 8S5 hy the Eussiau Government. Dr. D. J. Macgowan forwarded a copy, which he had ob'tained from the Eus- sian consul-general at Shanghai, China, as follows: ''Fisheries in Manchooria. — Every vessel going to fish in the waters of Eussian Manchooria must go into the nearest harbor from the place where she has decided to fish, and obtain a permit from the official in charge of the harbor or port, and after she has filled up with fish she must return to the same harbor and declare the quantity of fish she has taken on board, and pay duty thereon at the rate of about 10 raex cents per picul,* to wit, 5 kopecks per pood, paper money (2 kopects = l mex cent ; 30 pounds=l pood). The same regulation is for seaweed, ex- cept that the duty is 5 kopecks per pood in gold. The regulation is intended for this year only." Dr. Macgowau adds that the northwestern coasts of the Pacific abound with fishes, both inshore and deep-sea. beyond any other waters of the globe, and these fisheries are destined to enrich Eastern Siberia, to in- crease the food supply of nations, and to afford employment to the more enterprising of our Cape Cod countrymen, as their skill and daring are needed for developing the Manchoorian fisheries, and who, when unoc- cupied afloat, as they would be in winter, could act as hunters and lum- bermen. Preparation of shrimps in China — Dr. D. J. Macgowan wrote from the United States consulate at Wenchow, China, August 20, 1885, that common shrimps, when captured, are boiled with a little salt and then sun-dried. The larger species (with shells fragile and crispy) are boiled with a dash of salt, sun-dried, beaten in stone mortars with wooden jiestles, the mass being then i^laced in a winnowing machine (an ancient Chinese article, identical with patented ones in the West), when the chitinous integument is scattered out like chaff. It is a tooth- some article, and fetches 40 cents per catty retail [30 cents a pound]. The best preparation of shrimps is a paste prepared by grinding be- tween stones. Carp wanted in Tasmania.— Writing on August 19, 1885, Messrs. August Johnson and A. Marchant, of Circular Ponds, Mole Creek, Tas- mauia, said : We have on our farms lagoons of about 3 acres, creeks and nat- ural pouds, with a very mild climate, and if by your aid we could stock them with German carp you would have the hearty thanks of the whole colony, who would be benefited by it. WiU it be possible to forward to this country, from your breeding ponds, either the ova or live breeding fish of the German carp ? It takes the San Francisco steamers about twenty-six days to Sydney, and from there we are about three days distant. * One picul=lo3J pouuds, and 5 knpecks=al)Out 3 cents. 452 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. The way in wliicli your Governmeut has provided lor the p;jopIe, and the way your fish-breediug estabhshinents are managed, may well excite the admiration of other countries. We have in Tasraauia a salmon commission which has been establislied for twenty-one years, and yet nothing is more scarce than fish, although Tasmania abounds with lakes, lagoons, and rivers. Protection of salmon in Oregon. — Mr. B. F. Doweil, writing from Jacksonville, Oreg., on October 14, 1885, said : Although for many years Oregon has passed laws for the protection of salmon, «&;c., I have known of only two prosecutions under these laws. In 1872 the legislature prohibited the erection of dams across any stream in which salmon or the migrating tish run, without erecting a ladder or fishway, under penalty of from 8^0 to $500 ; and the act gave justices of the peace jurisdiction over the oftense. Under this act a man was indicted at The Dalles, found guilty, and fined $50 and costs. Eecently an action was begun in Jacksonville in a justice's court against E. S. and J. 0. Trumble for erecting a dam across Eoguo Kiver, which it was alleged obstructed the ascent of salmon. On trial by jury they were found guilty and fined $75 and costs. An appeal was taken and the case next tried in the circuit court. Here the contest was i)rinci- pally over the words " dam or way " in the statute, and whether the dam was high enough to obstruct the passage of the fish. The court charged the jury that if there was a sufficient open way for the fish to pass easily it would be sufficient, whether there was or was not a suffi- cient open way for the fish to pass up the river. The evidence was conflicting about an open way, and the jury found the defendants not guilty. A PREPARATION FR03I THE GIANT KELP OF THE rACIFIC. — lu a letter from Port Townsend, Wash., October 10, 1885, Mr. James G. Swan speaks of an extract or preparation called algin, which he thinks can be made profitably from the giant kelp of the Pacific. He then cites an article by Mr. Stanford which says : '' The evaporation is efiected in a similar manner to that of gelatine, in thin layers on trays or slate shelves. Thus prepared the sodium alginate presents the form of thin, almost colorless sheets, resembling gelatine, but very flexible. It has several remarkable properties which distinguish it from all other known substances. It bleaches easily, and under pressure becomes very hard. It also makes good paper, tough and transparent, but with no fiber." It is stated also that in some districts of Japan this kelp paper is used as a cheap substitute for window-glass to light the dwellings of the l)Oorer classes. Fish killed by suffocation. — Hon. John M. Pearson, writing Irom Godfrey, 111., on November 2, 1885, said that in his artificial pond, fed entirely by surface water, he was successful in raising sunfish, crap- pies, and black bass, the crapijie being regarded as the best pan -fish. BULLETIN OF itiE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 4-53 The winter of 1884-85 was very lou.-x and cold, and Wiough the ice was frequently cut, the holes quickly froze over. When the ice melted in spring- tlie water was almost covered with dead fish, thousands havin;j: died from suffocation. Amon.a^ the larj^est were a black bass, lOi inches long, and weighing, when found, 3 pounds; a crai)pie, 15i inclies long, same weight; and a jack-salmon {Stizostediuin), 14^ inches long. Atlantic salmon taken in Potomac Riveii. — About June 10, 1S8.J, a fish was taken at Mattawoman Point, on the Potomac Eiver, Avhich proved to be the regular Atlantic salmon. As it was probably the first ever seen from the Potomac, the specimen is of great scientific interest. [From letter of Professor Baird to ]Mr. William E. Stuart, June 14, 1885.] Connecticut Eiveh j^almon. — The first Connecticut Iviv^er salmon of 1886 was received at Fulton Market the first week in February. It weighed 19-J pounds and retailed at $1.75 per pound, making $34.12 for the whole fish. Landlocked salmon eggs fkom Lake Sunapee. — Mr. Elliott B. Hodge, superintendent of the State hatchery at Plymouth, N. H., writing on January 5, 1886, says : " 1 took a few thousand landlocked salmon eggs this fall from fish taken in Sunapee Lake. I think that these are the first eggs taken from these fish in waters that have been artificially stocked with them." On December 9, 1885, a landlocked salmon was speared in Squam Eiver, 34 inches in length, 9 inches in depth, and weighing 15 pounds. The fish was a male, and when taken was in poor condition, while in September the same fish would have weighed nearly 20 pounds. Much larger ones have been captured in Squam Lake. This illustrates the extraordinary growth of landlocked salmon in New Hampshire, where they have been a success in all waters adapted to their habits. American tkout in Norway. — In the years 1882-'83 the Norwe- gian inspector of fisheries imported, at the public expense, a parcel of ova of the American trout ( Salmo fontinalis), with a view to introduce this fish into Norwegian waters, and the result has been so satisfactory that last autumn one of the hatching establishments near Christiauia had some 30,000 young fish to offer for sale, which were then about two and a half years old. The result aiipears to have been welcomed with great satisfaction in Norway, as it proves that this fish is capable of in- creasing in almost stagnant waters, where the Norwegian trout cannot exist, though its size is smaller. As an example of the success of this experiment it may be mentioned that the Norwegian inspector of fish- eries. Prof. A. Landmark, of Christiania, offers these ova at 10 shillings per thousand. [From Nature, April 29, 1880.J Large catfish. — We catch an occasional cattish in the Missouri Eiver of great size. I saw one that weighed 110 pounds. [F. W. Avery, Eichland, Dak. J 454 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. Large catch of pollock. — Capt. S. J. Martin, iu a letter date'l Gloucester, Mass., November 11, 18S5, wrote : The vessels using cod gill-nets, 32 in number, are doing well catch- ing pollock. The most pollock ever received at Gloucester have been landed during the last four weeks. They have been of very large size, averaging 22 pounds. I think these pollock have been on the ground a hundred years, or perhaps ii great while longer, yet nobody knew it until the cod gill-nets were used. There will be 400 men getting a living by catching pollock and cod iu gill-nets. The pollock of large size will not bite a hook. That has been tried this fall to everybody's satisfaction. I have not seen one pollock of that size taken with a hook. The hand- liners gave it up in disgust. Shad, pollock, bill-fish, etc., at Cape Cod. — Under date of January 2, 18S6, Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, who had just returned from a trip on Cape Cod, reports, from Wood's Holl, Mass., as follows : Messrs. C. K. Sullivan and S. D. Rich, of the Xorth western Weir Company, at North Truro, caught in their traps this fall SQ white shad and about 200 hickory shad {Clupea mediocris). Capt. Thomas Smith, of the East Harbor Weir Comj)any, said they caught 60 white shad and about 100 hickory shad. The seven weirs at North Truro each took similar or relative numbers. What they called deep sea shad were the common white shad {Clupea sapid isslnia). Some of the men say they catch about the same number every fall in November, while others say they never caught them before at this season. All the traps are set in 40 feet of water at high tide, and are about a mile from shore. Some of these shad brought in the market as much as $1 apiece, as they were large and fat. Going over to Provincetown, the fish-trap men there said they caught about the same number of shad as at Truro. They say that eighteen or twenty years ago shad were very abundant in the fall, and large numbers were caught in the weirs and salted, selling for a good price during the winter, but not bringing much fresh, but that recently few have been taken, yet always more in f^ill than spring. There was a good run of small pollock about 12 to 14 inches long, some of the traps taking as high as 200 barrels at a haul. Mr. C. K. Sullivan sent 75 sugar-barrels of them to Boston at one time and got $o a barrel. They had had the weir full every day for about two weeks, and had turned them all out, until one man shipped 5 barrels to try the mai ket, and received -S7 per barrel. After that these fish were marketed, bat they were striking off the const then, so that comparatively few more were taken. There was also a good run of bill-lish, some of the weirs being so full that the nets were let down on the bottom to turn the lish out. This Mas during the last of November, the run lasting about two weeks. As many as 500 barrels were thought to be on hand at one time. They were larger than usual, and wouhl not go through the mesh of the net. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 455 lu the fisb-market at ProvincetowQ I noticed a small-nioutli flat-fish that looked like our common small-mouth flat-fish, but the back was dark brown, with orange-yellow spots all over, and it looked longer than the common flat-fish in proportion to its width, with a sharper nose.* About Truro they did not catch any menhaden, though usually their weirs were full in the fall. About November 15 the Northwestern Weir Company caught 30 large horse-mackerel. The traps were taken up about December 15, but very little had been taken for the past fortnight. Shad caught in November. — Mr. E. J. Cory, writing from Tiver- ton Four Corners, II. I., December 31, 1885, said: "In 1885 I caught a dozen or more of the common river shad ; in 1884 I took three or four of them ; and in 1883 I caught oue, which I then noticed as something un- usual. All were taken about November 15, in my traps located on the west side of Sakonnet River, about li miles from the mouth, near what is called Stony Brook. They were set in about 4 fathoms of water at ordinar}' tides, and about 250 yards from the shore. None of the other fishermen in this neighborhood, so far as I know, have caught any shad at this time of year." In 1S8G Mr. Corj' removed his traps about No- vember 15, prior to which date he had caught no shad. Mr. Vinal N. Edwards wrote from Wood's Holl, Mass., January 4, 1886: "I myself saw Lewis Edwards catch three such shad in a fish-trap at Hadley Harbor about November 1, 1885. They were very large." Do SHAD SPAWN IN SALT OB BRACKISH WATER "?— Experiments have been made, with apparently satisfactory results, which show that it is impossible to hatch and bring to maturity the eggs of shad in salt or brackish water. Nevertheless the impression has prevailed and still continues to prevail amoug the fishermen that shad will actually propa- gate in other than fresh water. Mr. Frederick Kirtland, writing on this subject from Saybrook, Conn., November 23, 188G, says : "Having been engaged in shad-fishing for many years at the mouth of the Connecticut River and along the adjacent shores of Long Island Sound, I have become satisfied, and others agree with me in this, that nearly, if not quite all, the shad we now catch along the shore of the sound are hatched and grown outside of the rivers, either in the sound at or near the mouths of the freshwater streams, or perhaps some of them may enter these streams'. Oue of my reasons ibr so believing is that the fishermen in West Brook, Clinton, and Madison, west of the mouth of the Connecticut River, during the spawning season in June, sometimes take 50 or 100 racer or spawned shad in a day, while the fishermen in and near the mouth of the river take almost none. It seems scarcely possible that these soawncd fish should have come all the way down the river, escaping the nets and pounds, and then have * Dr. T. H. Bean pronounced this llat-lisli 1o l)e Limaitda fcrniginea. 450 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. come iuto the sbore 10 or 12 miles from the river, but rather I think these fish deposited their spawu near where they were caught." Also, Mr. AV. B. Tally, writing from Saybrook, Conn., December 13, 1886, says : " About 3 miles west of the Connecticut lliver is a small stream called Oyster Eiver, which for the first mile is a salt water creek, and which has a dam less than 2 miles from its mouth, that prevents fish from ascending ; yet shad were formerly caught in the deep holes of this stream, sometimes as mauy as one hundred at a liaul. Several days before the nets near the Connecticut lliver take them, the fishermen 5 or G miles west of the river begin to catch shad that have deposited their spawn. Occasionally shad are taken near the mouth of the river in such condition that spawn runs freely from them, in which case it would be impossible for these fish to reach fresh water in which to de- posit their spawn. The fishermen here believe that shad are hatched in salt or brackish water," Variation in nutritive value of oysters. — In the Fish Com- mission Report of 1" 83, pages 48f?-488, are statistics of chemical analyses of different kinds of oysters. Those from ]!sorfolk,Va., were secured in April, and the Norfolk dealers have called attention to the fact that at that time of the year their oysters are not in the best condition. So the figures given by Professor Atwatcr should not be taken as representing the nutritive value of Norfolk oysters at all times of the year. As it is not stated whether these were Lynn Haven oysters,worth $2.50 per gal- lon, or Elizabeth Eiver oysters, worth oO cents per gallon, the dealers think less value should attach to the analyses. Probably the samples furnislied to Professor Atwater were much poorer than would have been obtained in theautumn or winter. Of course there was no intention to do injustice to Norfolk oysters by taking them in an unfavorable season. Concerning the question as to why oysters should differ in nutritive value. Prof. John A. Ryder has explained in some of his reports that it is due to the amount of nutritive matter stored up as connective tissue in th^ body, mass, and mantle of the oyster. This tissue varies greatly in amount in difiiorent individuals in different seasons. At the end of the spawning season the oyster is exceedingly emaciated in flesh. If such samples were selected for analysis the result would doubtless b'.'/ very difierent from the case of those selected when the oysters were in good condition as to flesh or fatness. Belostoma. — Dr. A. P. Gardner, of Dunning, Pa., has observed a large beetle [Belontoma amcricanum) seizing a fish 3 inches long and holding it fast. The beetle with its sharp claws goaded the fish until dead, then fed upon it, sucking blood or other matter from t^e fish. After drawing off his pond these beetles arose in the air in early even- ing and left the place, but when the pond w^qs filled again plenty of them reappeared. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 457 Growth of cakp. — Ou December 2, 1885, the size and weijiht of two young c;ii"i) which were just 5^- mouths old, aud which were reared at the carp ponds iu Washiugton, were as follows, as reported by Dr. Hessel : Measurements. No.l, mirror. No. 2, leather. Lenjrth from mouth to end of caudal fin Verncal height (from dorsal to vertral fin) Circumference inches.. do.... do... 12 4 Vf 17 12J 4 8 Weight nnnf.Aa 18 The e;j:gs were obtained by methods which fixed exactly the day of impregnation, which iu this case took place on June 15, 1885. Yakieties of German oarp. — The typical form of the species is what is known as full-scale carp. From this, fish-culturists, availing themselves of the tendency of all animals to break under domestica- tion, and by exercising care in selection, have produced two well-defined varieties, namely, the mirror and the leather carp. In the mirror carp the scales are much larger and more irregular than in the full-scale fish, and portions of the skin are without scale covering. In the ex- treme form of variation, the leather carp, the scales have entirely dis- appeared. Between the scale, the mirror, and the leather carp there are an infinite number of intermediate forms, approximating more nearly to one or the other of these distinct varieties. Neither the mirror nor the leather variety can be maintained pure except by careful selection in breeding. It will be found that the progeny of either the mirror or the Iciither carp will present all the intermediate forms from scale to leather. From each generation it will be necessary to select those Indi- viduals for breeders which represent more nearly the form or variety which it is desired to perpetuate. Distinguishing the sex of fish. — Mr. Martin Metcalf, of Battle Creek, Mich,, writing on February 13, 1886, says : The experienced fish mauii)ulator can detect the male fish of almost any family at sight, by reason of its smaller, cleaner, slenderer make, narrower and more pointed muzzle, distance between the eyes, and other inexpressible peculiarities, which when once recognized are almost un- mistakable. How TO CATCH Crawfish. — The following will be of use to carp culturists: (1) Take thirty to fifty osier twigs, or split white-ash sticks, according to the size used, and 3 feet in length, form a bundle of the whole and bind at each end with strong cord or wire, separate the twigs or splints iu the center of the bundle by means of sticks 10, 15, and 20 inches long and forked at each end, so that when in i)lace the trap will be spindle-like in shape, with the twigs evenly dis- tributed about its circumference and center, and far enough apart to allow eas3' entrance for the fish, but from which they will not readily escape. Bait the inside with fresh meat of anj^ kind, only see that it 458 BULLETIN OF THE EXITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. is fresb and bloody if possible; set the same with the curreut in run- ning water; if blood can be procured, pour a pint or so on the bait; it will taint the stream for a long distance. I have watched crawfish in great numbers follow up the track or scent thus made from 30 rods be- low the traj), and have known G and 8 quarts taken at a single lift. Should one desire a more substantial and comely rig, it can be made by driving a smooth, stout stick lengthwise through the center of the bundle, slide the tied ends down on the stick until the whole bulges to a diameter of 120 inches or more in the center, iasten the tied ends of the twigs to the center stick, put three hoops of proper size over the whole and fasten with fine copper wire. In order to make hiding places for the crawfish and so retain them in the trap, numbers of the twigs should also traverse it in various directions. [Dr. E. Sterling, Cleve- land, Ohio.] (2) Take an ordinary minnow-net, tie some fresh beef in the bottom, and drop it into the water where there are crawfish. You will soon have more than you have any use for. They will fasten greedily to the meat, and will not let go until taken off. [G. n. Morgan.] (3) Great quantities of these Crustacea are captured in lower Louisi- ana for the Kew Orleans market, where they are highly esteemed for making " gumbo," a dish prepared by the Creole cooks. The method of capture is simple. A piece of cord two feet long is tied at one end to the middle of a light stick about a foot long. To the other end of the cord is securely tied a small bit of meat, usually fat bacon. An iudefi- nite number of these machines, perhaps two dozen, may be used by one person. lie tosses them out into the muddy ponds or "borrow pits,'- near the levees. He then wades gently through the poud with a ])ail or basket in one hand, and, visiting each line in turn, slowly raises it out of the water and drops the catch into the receptacle provided. Price of cakp in German markets in 1884. — In no other place in Germany, and in the same time, is so much sea-fish eaten as in Hamburg. No place eats more carp than Hamburg, and carp bring there three-fourths more than the common sea-fishes. The price is al- ways a middling one between salmon and such common sea-fishes as plaice, cod, &c. ; while they sell a great deal higher than herring and shad. Bohemia and Galicia send great quantities of carp to the Ger- man markets. In Berlin good carp cost 1 shilling (English) a ])ound, salmon Ih shillings, mountain trout 2 and 2| shillings, perch 7 and 8 pence, pike {Eiiox lucius) 8 aud 9 pence, glass-eyed pike [Lucioperca mndra?) 1 shilling. This is nearly the compensation price at the great shops in Berlin, of course varying with offer and demand. For instance, very often at the open market one may buy now in Berlin capital sal- mon for 1 shilling or \\ shillings a pound. Do TADPOLES EAT CARP EGGS ? — Prof. J. W. A. Wright, iu a letter from Greeusborough, Ala., June IC, ISSO. stated that he had been ir.- BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 459 formed by au iutelligeut man much interested in carp-raisiuo- that many of the eggs of his carp had been eateu by tadpoles, after tlie hiud legs of these tadpoles had begun to be pretty well developed, but be- fore they lost their tails. Hatching brook trout eggs tn Rhode Island. — On June 1, 188G, Mr. Henry T. Eoot, one of the fish commissioners of iibode Isl- and, writing from Providence, reported that the 10,000 brook trout eggs forwarded from Northville, Mich., had been hatched in a pure spring stream at Carolina, E. I., giving a trifle over 80 per cent of very strong fish, w^hich were distributed in the waters of Rhode Island without any loss. Tbe hatching record was as follows : Date. 1886. January 28 January 30 February 1 February 3 February 5 February 7 February 9 February 11 February 13 February 15 February 17 February 19 February -1 February 23 February ^5 .... February 27 Tempera- Dead ture of eggs re- water. moved. ^ o 38 190 40 99 40 78 ; 38 105 37 110 38 110 40 109 42 144 40 96 40 139 40 103 40 53 34 34 41 33 38 20 36 23 March 1 . . March 3 . . Alarcb 5 . March 10. March 13 . March 15. March 18. March 22. March 26. March 29. April 3... April 9... April 15.. April 20.. 188G. Total.. Tempera- Dead ture of eggs re- water. moved. 0 41 23 40 10 42 15 44 26 46 11 48 7 44 10 48 19 46 12 47 17 48 32 52 15 52 18 52 267 1 928 A LARGE American brook trout in England.— A very large American brook trout [Sal'velinns fontinalis) was taken in England, on April 19, 1886, in the ponds of Mr. Basset, of Tehidy, near Camborue. It was 25 inches long and 7 inches deep, and weighed 9^ pounds, being one of a lot with which Mr. Basset stocked his ponds some nine years ago. This one was taken on a ground-line, but the fish is said to give excellent sport when taken on a trolling bait, and it is an exceedingly voracious feeder. The knowledge that the brook trout can attain so great a size in a mere pond in England will probably be a surprise to many, as the weight recorded has rarely been exceeded anywhere. [From Forest and Stream, :N'ew York, May 27, 1886.] A large California salmon.— On May 25, 1886, a large salmon arrived in New York from the Columbia River, and lay on the slabs of Mr. E. G. Blackford in Fulton Market, labeled " The largest salmon ever caught." It then weighed 64 pounds, but it is said to have weighed 72 pounds when taken. Cheap mackerel.— Mr. Eugene G. Blackford made the following statement before the United States Senate Committee on Fisheries, in March, 1886: "About the first of April (last year) the mackerel fleet struck an iiu- mense school of fresh mackerel, and they all loaded u)) and came into 460 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. New York, aud there was at oue time upward of 15,000,000 mackerel lying around tbe wharves in the vicinity of Fulton Market. Those mackerel were unloaded there just as fast as possible. Men, women, and children came from all parts of the city with baskets and the wagons of licensed venders, and there was no question about the price. They gave a basketful for 5 or 10 cents and would load a man's wagon for 25 cents. For the space of two or three weeks the poorer classts had the benefit of this immense catch of mackerel. They were distrib- uted all through the city. Of course it was the meaus of a large class of people making money — not myself, although I am in the fish business. This glut of fish interfered with my business, so to speak, but for the people generally it was a great blessing, especially for the poorer class. " The single fact, above stated, of itself, in regard to the mackerel fishery, is conclusive. That fishery has been i)rosecuted with all tbe perseverance and ingenuity aud enterprise that the fishermen of our coast are capable of for one hundred years, and yet there is this enor- mous take, which goes to prove that man, as a factor, is of no account in depleting the waters of the ocean. Nature has provided for such an immense reproduction that man cannot, with all the many contrivances for catching fish, have any appreciable effect upon the total amount of fish in the sea. This view I came to from examining into the facts, although I had started iu favor of protective legislation. Of the statis- tics that may be attainable with regard to, for instance, the mackerel fisqeries, of which we have figures going back a hundred years or more, and for codfish and other sea-fishes, you will find that, notwithstanding the immense catch and large consumption both for food aud for other purposes, these same fish in our markets to-day are just as plenty and just as cheap, and I think somewhat cheaper, because of the incieased facilities for catching them." The first mackerel catch of the season. — The schooner Ellen M. Adams reached Fulton Market, New York City, April 15, ISSG, with the first catch of native mackerel for the season, the take being 28,000 fish, caught off Cape Henry. In Fulton Market the fish sold for 15 cents each, the extra large ones bringing 30 cents. Bluefish on the coast of Nova Scotia. — Mr. Thomas A. Eich, member of a. wholesale fish-dealing firm iu Boston, Mass., writing on July 10, 1880, stated that they had just received some fresh bluefish taken in a fish-trap at Barrington, Nova Scotia, aud that the shipper reported large quantities on that coast, where they had not before been seen. Shark flsiiing at Nantucket. — Mr. Albert A. Garduer, of Nan- tucket, Mass., writing on July 13, 188G, stated that the primary object of shark fishing about Nantucket was sport, the boatmen taking out par- ties for this i)uri)ose. The profit arising from catching the sharks is of a secondary nature. The bait used in fishing is fresh fish, if possible ; otherwise, a piece of salt pork is used. The only portions of the shark BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 461 Laving a value are the liver, for the oil it coiitaius, and the jaw, which after being- cleaned is worth from $1 to $7, according to size and quality. Many of the sharks taken are worthless, except for the oil contained in the liver, and are simply destroyed. Shad fishing on the Saint John's Eiver, Florida. — Uv. Jo. seph Shepard, collector of customs at Saint Mary's, Ga., writing on April 19, 188G, inclosed a letter from Mr. C. L. Kobiuson, from which the following notes are taken: The shad season on the Saint John's is from December 1 to about April 8. When they come in they are fat and go into all parts of the river ; but on their return to the ocean in June and July, they are very poor and keep low in the deep water, following the channel. Only a small portion of them return, and it is thought that the most die of exhaustion and are devoured by alligators and larger fish. The young shad go down to salt water early in summer, when they are about I J inches long. The iirst fishing done here specially for shad, was by Captain Water- house, of Connecticut, two years before the war. Since the war a con- siderable business has grown up, till, in the season of 1873-74, it was estimated that 500,000 were shipped from the Saint John's, mostly to Savannah, from which place they were distributed to various points north. Our fishermen think that the shad have always been about as abun- dant as now in the Saint John's, but that the appliances for capturing them have been improved from year to year and more persons have engaged in the business. In this river a net of 4J-inch mesh is mostly used, while in the Connecticut one of o^-inch mesh is used, as the shad caught here are not so large as those of the Connecticut Eiver. KOTE ON THE FISHERIES OF SAINT MARY'S EiVER. — April 19, 1886, Mr. Joseph Shepard wrote that the passenger steamer Martha, running on the Saint Mary's River, carried, during the fishing season of 1886, 279 sturgeon, estimated to average 60 pounds each, dressed, con- signed to New York by the Mallory steamers, via Fernandiua, Fla. The steamer Martha also carried for this market and Fernaudiua about 1,200 shad. During the season there were also shipped from Fernaudiua, in 4- gallon cans, about 600 gallons of shrimps, being boiled first and the heads pulled off. A small sloop also fished for sturgeon on the Satilla Eiver, and shipped them north via Biunswick, Ga. Eegulating THE LAKE FISHERIES. — At the meeting of the Mich- igan fishermen, held in Detroit, resolutions embodying the following propositions were adopted : (1) That a law should be enacted creating a sufficient number of fish inspectors or wardens to properly inspect each portion of the fishing coast and enforce such regulations and laws as may now or hereafter be in force. 4G2 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. (2) Demaudiug- the passage of a law to punisli any fislierman or fisb- ilealer who catches or has in his possession fish so small as to bo un- marketable. (3) That pound-nets for the catching- of whiteflsh should not be less than 3^ inches in the pot; and that pound-nets for catching herring should have a 2^-iuch mesh on the sides and a 3-inch bottom ; such her- ring-nets to be used only between the first day of September and the close of the year. (4) That discretionary power should be vested in the proper State fishery ofiicers to authorize the use of smaller twine than that prescribed as the legal size, under what may seem to them proper conditions, times, and places. (5) That a law be passed to prohibit and punish fouling the waters of the State with mill refuse, fish offal, or other substances injurious to fish. A committee on permanent organization was appointed ; also one to draft laws embodying the above declarations for presentation to the next legislature ; one to call the attention of our Senators and Repre- sentatives to the importance of the fishing interests of the State ; and one to petition Congress to impose a duty on Canadian fresh fish and to remove the duty on gilling-twine. [From the Commercial, Port Hu- ron, Saint Clair County, Michigan, March 3, 1886.] Note on fisheries of Alaska. — Mr. Peter French, collector of customs at Sitka, Alaska, in a letter dated May 25, 1886, stated that salmon and halibut are brought to Sitka from the " Redoubt," 8 miles south, for shipment to San Francisco. Herring are taken in scows to the oil-works at Killisnoo. Fish and fish-oil are shipped by the regular monthly steamer from all points in Southeastern Alaska. Small boatjs and canoes are generally used for fishing purposes. The fishing to the westward is done principally by vessels that come up from San Fran- cisco under fishing licenses. The fishing establishments in Southeastern Alaska are Cape Fox, Naha Bay, Kassan, Howcan, Eed Bay, Wrangel, Killisnoo, Pyramid Harbor, and Willoughby's Cove. The FISHERIES OF Alaska. — Lieutenant Schwatka says: In its cod fisheries, Alaska is undoubtedly destined to lead the world, if supply and accessibility are worth anything in computation. The shallow shores of East Behring Sea and the submarine plateaus extend in al- most every direction from Alaskan shores and simply swarm with cod. fish. To compare them with the Atlantic banks would be like compar- ing the population of China with that of Hudson's Bay Territory. The waters adjacent to the Alaskan coast have some fine grounds for whale fishing, which are now being occupied for that purpose, and which are yielding about $1,000,000 per annum. But in addition to this vast ])lateau of whale and cod fishing ground lying off the Alaskan coast, the rivers which run far up into the interior of the country literally swarm with salmon during every season. The Yukon, the Kuskoquim, BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 463 aud the Kowiik are all large rivers emptying iuto Behring Sea; in fact, the Yiikou is one of the largest rivers in the world, and is now re- ported as having a navigable length of 2,000 miles, and through its whole course there is always an abundance of salmon in the proper season, aud well up the other two rivers named the same condition ex- ists. The general atmospheric conditions, however, are vastly different over the inland portion of Alaska from what they are over the coast country and the adjacent waters, but it is not likely that it will ever be necessary to establish fisheries on any of these streams at any con- siderable distance above their mouths. A limited number of fisheries are now in operation at the mouth of the Yukon River, and there are yet plenty of good sites for the establishment of more of them, and as the business is steadily growing and enlarging there seems to be no doubt but that a vast fishing trade will yet grow up and flourish at the mouth of the great rivers. With proper fixtures and improvements there is no doubt but that the catching and curing of salmon and codfish can be carried on cheaper here than can be done on any other fishing grounds in the world. In the Alaskan waters the general quality of the fish taken is rather infe- rior to the fish of the same kinds that are caught on the Atlantic fishing- grounds. They are also reported to be inferior in quality to the Colum- bia Eiver salmon. A main point involved in the development of this branch of industrial pursuit in Alaska will be the matter of finding con- sumptive demand for all the salmon and codfish that could be packed in the Alaskan waters more cheaply than such fish can be jiacked at any other fishing-grounds in the world. It has been the expectation, when all the transcontinental lines of railway get into full operation, that a largely increased movement of Pacific coast salmon and codfish towards the central portion of the country will be develoi)ed. With the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, it is fair to calculate that this road, with the Northern Pacific road, will be abundantly able to supply all the western half of the Mississippi Valley with fish of the kinds here spoken of at lower prices than they can be furnished from any other source. The expense of shipping canned fish from the m^uth of the Yukon River to either Coal Harbor, Port Moody, or Victoria will be light. From any of these points articles can be shipped by rail to any part of the United States. Fish-culture in Xew Zealand. — Alexander J. Rutherford, hon orary secretary of the Wellington and Wairarapa Acclimatization Soci- ety, writing from Parliament Buildings, Wellington, April 19, IS^G, says that the United States reports on fish-culture are a great boon to those in these islands, who are trying to stock the inland waters with fine varieties of fish. In South Island, the acclimatization societies have been very successful in introducing the brown trout {Salmo fario), but in Xorth Island there has been much apathy, and it is only of late years that they have been able to do good work. Some years ago a number 464 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. of Salmo quinnat were liberated iu a few of the rivers, and now doubtful fish are frequently taken, but no one seems to be able to identify them with certainty. S.fontinaUs do remarkably well in captivity, but are not being seen as yet in the streams in which they have been liberated. In many of the large rivers the ;S^, fario has changed its habits very much, growing very rapidly (2 pounds a year), and frequently in brack- ish and sea water, where it becomes in appearance very like a sea trout {Salmo trutta), and frequently weighs 20 pounds and upwards. The rivers are teeming with fish-food, larvae, flies, and millions of a small native smelt {Retropinria), as well as various forms of Galaxias which force the growth of imported SalmonidcB wonderfully. This ex- cess of food seems to alter their habits and appearance very much. The water that supplies the hatchery at Mastertou is an overflow from a river that filters underground tlirough a gravel formation for some miles, coming out of a terrace with a strong flow. Hatching opera- tions have been very successful iu this water, though during the summer the temperature has sometimes reached 59° F. As they can at pleas- ure turn on the stream water, full of insects, they have been able to rear fish in the ponds with but little loss. The Government is trying to import herring, crabs, lobsters, and other valuable marine life. Penobscot salmon planted. — In February, 1885, 100,000 Penob- scot salmon eggs were sent from Bucksi)ort, Me., to Mr. E. B. Ilodge, •Plymouth, N. H., where they arrived Februaiy 20. During hatching 765 eggs died. These, together with a loss of 634 young fish, left 98,601 young to be planted. Of these, 5,000 were planted in the Mo- hawk Eiver, at Golebrook, Coos County, IST. H.; 15,00f) in the Oliverian Eiver, at Haverhill, Grafton County, IST. H.; 10,000 in the Lower Am- monoosuc Eiver, at Littleton, Grafton County, N. H. (all tributaries of the Connecticut Kiver) ; and the remaining 08,001 were planted by the Vermont commissioners in eight tributaries of the Connecticut. Landlocked salmon planted. — On March 28, 1885, Mr. E. B. Hodge received at Plymouth, N. H., from Grand Lake Stream, Maine, 25,000 landlocked salmon eggs, of which but 13 were found to be dead. During the hatching 375 more were lost, which with 725 young fish that died made a total loss of 1,113. The remainder were ])lanted June 18, 1885, in Clyde Kiver, Derby, Vt., about five miles from Lake Mem- ph rem agog. Mackerel movements. — John F. Holmes, keeper of Gurnet's Life- Saving Station, wrote on September 18, 1885, that during the previous four weeks very few large bodies of mackerel had been seen, but there were more or less broken schools that had remained there during the summer. On Tuesday, September 15, large schools of mackerel made their appearance, followed by about twenty vessels of the mackerel fleet. He thought that these mackerel were part of the eastern school on their way south. On September 20 the body of mackerel appeared to have passed by. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 465 Vol. VI, No. 30. Washington, ©. C. ]flar. 34, 1887. 134.— SOME OF THE EISHEKIES OE WESTEKIV FriORIDA. By SILAS STEARICS. Witli its extensive sea iiud j;nlf coast and its great interior water isupi^ly, Florida has an abundance of food-fislies, easily accessible to nearly every portion of the State. For a long time the fishing in Florida waters was done by the iarmers and settlers for home consumj^tion, while with the growth of the larger towns local fishing industries arose simply to supply' the immediate neighborhoods, and a small traffic with Cuba grap]y exhausted 576 Great Lakes fisheriescircular.568, 570, 571 Ini-losure of check 5115 Invitation to Central Station 543 Label for Albatross 526 Label for publications 511, 563 La) lel i( >r trou t eggs • 604 Label for Wood's lloll 591 Laborattny letter-heading 514 Lake trout, olfcr of 5H() I.,andloeked salmon, oiler of 578 Letter-heading 514, 528 Liability book 506 Londdu Exhibilion diplomas 511,542 Mackerel statistics 544,545,605 Memorandum blank 510 Messenger service 538, 539, 540 M i h^ago cerl i (ieate 5(J5 Note])aper heading , 528 Numbers, list of 531 Orc:ui-tempera,tnre record 518 Onler lor carp . .• 534 Oyster investigation 537 I'aniphUit publications, order for.. 521 Ponjheriea 323 Cbadwick, P.. P 193 Cbalker, liobcrt B., on shad flahories 2!)7, 4:i;» Chambers, W. Oldham 129, 395, 397, 398 C hanni'l bass in Florida 4 G(> Chapman's Point, shad eggs from 437 Chariest own, dead fish near 194 Charlotte Harbor, dead fish near 10 Charlotte, vrhitefish planted near 39G Charlottesville, carp planted near 135,391 shad planted near t28 Chateau Uarbor, Ushermou of 30 Chatham, carp planted near 135 Chattahoochee Iliver, shad planted in 428 Cbaunjout Baj', whitefisb planted near... 390 Cba/-ari, K., lake trout to 398 Cl)e;it l;i ver, shad planted in 368, 428, 430 Cbehalis Iliver, salmon packed 400 C heney , A. N 351 Chesapeake Bay, shad'planted in tribu- taries 302, 389, 427 Chester, Ilenry M 433 Hubbard C 18,22,400 Chester Itiver, shad planted in 368,429,430 Chestertowu, shad plantctl near 429 Clietco Kivcr, salmon suited 410 Chicago, carp idautcd near 135,391 Cliicago lutcr-Ocean, cited 421 Chicago Tribune, cited. ...^ 401 Chickahoiiiiny Kivor, shad planted in. . . . 428 'China, jiearl li.sheries of 324 poisonous fish in - 130 I)reparation of shrimps in 451 shi|)ments from Sail Francisco 131 Chinese, destructive method of fishing by. 287 Chiucso Keeordcr, cited 130 Cliinook .lalnion in Clackamas Itivor 332 Choiulrostoma uasus 147 sootta 204 Cliiistcliuicli hatchery 215 Cluistiana Creek, caip planted in 135,391 Christiancy, H. C 408 Cliristollersen, Svenu 103 Chroococcaceaj 341 Chrysophrys aurata 178, 179 Cliubs, inspi^ctiou 48,410 Circulars, list of 400 City of Havana, schooner 10 Clackamas Iliver, salmon in 111,332 Cladocera 446 Clam risheries of Canada 54 liltlei-ouiul, Iraiisftricd to Atlantic 393 Clams in British Columbia. Ill Florida 405 Pago Clams, inspection 47, 48, 41(1 Claparede, von 206 Clark, A. Howard 3 17, 407 Frank X 300, 380, 406 articles by 395,421 Clarksburgh, shad planted near 430 Cliitlnocystis on codfish 318 Clathrocystis roseo-persicina 1,3 Claus,cited 222 Clear Lake, carj) planted in 391 lake trout planted in 399 Cleaves, schooner Nathan 273 Cleopatra, schooner 46 Clifton Forgo, shad planted near 308, 430 Clinton, carp planted near ... 135, 391 Cliono 185 Clupea iestivalis 441, 442 alosa 404 hareugus 343, 384 mediocris 4.')4 iMclauogastrula 384 melanosticta 343 sapidissima 386, 389, 400, 441, 442, 454 vernalis 441 Clupooids, report on esamiuation 441 Clyde River, salmon planted in 404 Clytio, schooner 79, 107 Cobitis barbatula 200 Cod fisheries of Alaska 462 Canada 53 Franco 81,219,305 Iceland 82 Japan 343,345,384 Norway 82,83,208 Saint Pierre 300 Codfish, abundance of 33,79.91,191,210,241, 328, 424 caught on hand lines 373 drying at Bordeaux 84 eggs, size and number 406 exported to Portugal 38 ficet of North Pacific 310 frames for drying 84 food of 95 in Norway, hatching of 13 Pugot Sound 195 knife Ibund in llcsli of 381 landed at Gloucester . .38, 40, 43, 45, 47, 51 , 80, 95, 108, 19!, 202, 210, 212,244,275,331,420,424 oir Massachusett~s coast 412 oil lauded at Ciloucester 244 on Paciliecoast 89, 131, 141,309 ]ihinted in Cape Cod Bay 411 salting tongues in Norway 318 scarcity of 75, 419 statistics in world markets 310 taken in weirs 40 vegetable parasites on 1,318 Cod-liver oil in Norway 269 Colby, schooner Samuel V 40 Cold Si)ring Harbor, distribution from . 385 shad planted near. .. 429 (;uU-lii(>i)'.<. s.il n pl.iutod near 464 Colrman & Co., William T 238 INDEX. 479 Paga Collins, Joaeiili AV 02,201,411,412 !U t icles by 299, 369, 381 Colorado, canxlistribukd to 135,392 Rolillisli (liMtiil)uloil to 393 hiko trout in l;}4 Colorado Kivir, sliad pluutud iu..30.', 389, 390, 427, 428, 431 Coliiiiiliia, I'.i., sliad pliinti-d iioiu- .. 308,430 Colmubia, S. C, shad plautud ni-ar 430 Columbia liiviM, salimin packud 288,313,400 shad plautud in 302, 308, 427, 429,431 Commercial interconrso, bill to piotect .. U3 Common wealth, schooni-r 44, 40, TjO Congai eo Hi ver, shad planted in .* 389 Coniothecium bertheraudi 1, 2, 3 Coiinecticut, carp distributed to 392 shad catch in 297, 439 distribution.. 405 Connect icnt River, salmon from 453 planted in trib- utaries ... - 401 shad catch 208,439 planted in 405 spawning 4-55 Conuellsville, shad planted near 429 Conowiugo, sliad planted near 308, 430 Constitution, barkentine . 89,310 Cook, J. W., letter to Ill Coon, W. I., brook tront to 397 Coos Bay, salmon salted , 410 Coquillo River, salmon packed 288, ■lOO salted 410 Coral 305 Corals taken... ;i80 Corcoran, steamer W. W 438 Coregonus 187 albula 380 albna 55, 50, 129 clnpeiformis 380, 395, 400 lavaretus 311,312 Avartmanui 203 Corualia, I'rofessor 222 Cornus sericea 11 Cory, E.J 455 Costo, cited 231, 234 Cottus 370, 372, 377 Couedic, M 2 Conrtland I'ackiug Company 288 Cousins, Capt. .Tolin 34 Cowfisli, killed by cold 123 Crab tiblierioH])roposcd in Ueumark 155 Crab-Tree Creek, shad planted in 429 Crabs iu British Columbia Ill inspection 47, 48, 410 liiiee in Eii;^and 150 taken 073 Craig, schooner William 11 420 Crawfish, catching 457 Crew Lake, carp planted in 135 Crinoids taken 074 Crivelli, cited 222, 223 Croakersj, inspection 48,410 Urosbj, schooner Carrie (> , 273 Warren J 46 Page Crowell, schooner Lydia T 34 Croton tigliuin 131 Crumpton, shad planted near 430 Cry ptolepas rhachianecti 349 Cumhoiland, shad planted uoar 428 Ciirren, schooner Mary G 245 Cusk, abundance of 274 landed at Gloucester 43, 45, 47, 202, 212, 244,275,331,420 Cutter, JohnC 383 Cutting and Packing Company 288 Cutting, Hiiam A., trout to 397,398 Cuttle-fish fisheries of Japan 384 Cyanius 349 Cybium cavalla 150 Cyclops 199,440 CyclopteruH lumpus 140 Cyiioscion maculatum 123 Cyprinida), take no Ibou in winter 58 Cyprinus auratus 200 cai pio 386, 391 Czar, schooner 89, 309, 310 D. Daili, PiillPallsnn 104 Daisley, schooner William D 40 Dakota, carp distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 Dale, J. C, cited 353,359 Dall, WillLamn 349 Dan River, carp planted in 135,391 shad planted in 428 Dana, R. H 308 Danish Fiskeiitidendo, extracts -98, 152, 155, 150, 101 Dannevig, G. M., work with lobsters 13,18 Danville, carp planted near 135,391 shad planted near 428 Daphuia as food for black bass 1 99 Darwin, C hai Ics 222 Dashing Wave, schooner 89, 309, 310 Davaine, cited 185,231 Davis, D. W 409 Hon. R. T 113 William 463 schooner Nellie M 46 Day, Francis 50 Dean, ilardy , lake trout to 398 Thomas J., lake trout to 398 Deep River, shad planted in 430 Deiuboll, Rev. Mr., cited 63 Delano, J. L., rainbow trout to 39.-) Delaware, carp distributed to 135, 392 goldfish distributed to 393 Delaware River, carp planted in 135, 391 lake trout planted in. .. 398 shad catch 301 planted in . » . . . 290, 302, 368, 389, 390, 427 Dclawder, G. W., lake trout to 398 Del jdiiuapteriis loucas 272 Delphinus delphis 381 Dempsey, W., article by 90 Denmark, codfish imported 311 crab fisheries proposed 155 Dennis, gpljopneF Henry , 137 480 INDEX. Page. Dcntalium 378,379 D'Erco, Chevalier 180 Des Plaines Eiver, carp planted in 135, 391 Desmidiaceffi - 446 Detroit, fish transported to 408 Deutsche Flscherei-Zeitong, extracts. ..57, C4, 187 Development of toad-fish 4 Digestion of German fish 145 Dif;hton, shad planted near 429 Dillaway, schooner Mabel 49 Ditumock, George, article by 353 Diodon attinga 150 histris 150 maculato-striatus 123 tigrinus 150 Distribution of fish and eggs 385 District of Columbia, carp distributed to. . 392 fish, &.C., inspected. 47, 416 goldfish distributed. 393 Dixon, carp planted near 135, 391 Doane, Capt. Valentine 36 Dogfish in Puget Sound 195 Dogwood for jioisoning fish 11 Dolge, Alfred 204 Dolph, Senator J.N. , letter to 332 Donnelly, Frank L 137,368 "W.J.S 14 Dougherty, C. H. , trout to 398, 399 Dowell, B. F 452 Dredging stations occupied by Albatross . 277 Druid Hill Hatchery, whitefish to 395 Druid, schooner 34 Drumfish, inspection 48, 416 Drying codfish in France 84 Duck Island, fish from 408 Ducks, enemies of pond culture 339 exterminate water-beetles 358 Dufresne & Liiders 307 Duke, R. T. W 134 Dundee, fisheries of 81 Dunedin hatchery 215 Dunk Eiver hatchery 5o Dutch herring fisheries 82 Dyer, schooner Lucy "W" 273 Dyersburgh, carp planted near 135, 391 Dytiscidie 353,357 Dytiscus marginalis 340 E. Eagle Point shad fishery 291 Earll, R. Edward 62, 313, 406 Ear-shell fisheries of Japan 344, 345, 384 Ebert, Amos 135 Eckardt, jr., G 199 Edible qualities of carp 316,401 Edmondson, T. J 12 Edwards, Mr. 223 Lewis 455 Vinal N 8, 454, 455 Eel fisheries of Canada 53 Eel River, salmon packed 288,400 Eels, breeding habits of 218 cou.sumed in England 139 food of 91,133,136 in tanks and ponds 91 Page. Eel.^, inspection 48, 416 observations on male 222 planted in Italy 265 taken in weirs 46 Eggemoggin Reach, fish deserting 75 Egmont Key, dead fish near 10 Eider, steamship ". 368 Electriclight for destroying water-bugs. 358 in fishing 374, 378, 381 Electric Light, schooner 46, 50, 108 Elk River, shad planted in 368,429,430 Elkton, shad planted near 429, 430 Elles, J., cited 353, 359 Elliott, James W 412 Ellis, John Frank 368,385.431 Elodea canadensis W6 Elops saurns 123 Emden herring fisheries 82 Emys europaja 339 Endicott, Charles, article by 80 Enemies of pond culture 337 England. American fish to.... 129, 131, 395, 397, 398 eels consumed in 139 fish conveyed inland by railways 415 large brook trout 459 jirotection to migratory fi.sh 114 soles shipped from 449 Engraulis japonica 149 Enorantis japonica 149 Epoufette, whitefish planted near 397 Equality, carp planted near 135, 391 Ercolani, Professor 222 Escanaba, whitefish planted nem 396 Esox Incius 458 Etrumeus micropus 343 Eulachon fisheries of British Columbia .. Ill Canada 54 Eureka, schooner, lost 108 Europe, acclimatization of American fish. 206 enemies of pond culture 337 shad eggs to 431 Evans, Arthur, method of tanning nets . . 100 Evelyn, schooner Hattie 46 Ewart, J. Cossar, on preservation of fish. 65, 109 Exeter, Marquis of 129, 131 Exports of fish from Newfoundland 14 Eyton, cited 231 F. Fabcr, referred to 170 Fairbauk, N. K 401 Fairmont, shad planted near 308, 428, 430 Falkenburg, barkentine Jane A 89, 310 Fannie Belle, schooner 39 Farlow, WUliam G., on parasites on fish. 1, 318 Farmington River, shad catch 439 planted in 405 Farr.S. C 309 FauUiabor, "W. H 294 Faunce's shad fishery 291, 292, 293 Fayetteville, shad ])lanted near 368 Feiix, Sarah 2.35 Fenton, Henry J 405 Ferguson, Thomas B 295 Fernald, schooner Mary 46 INDEX. 481 I'ase. Ferris, B. F., trout to 397,398 Forry Laiidiiiji, shad eggs from 437 Feri'j', scliooner Ada II 46 Field it Stouo, salniou statistics by 139, 399 Finbacks, abundaucoof 381 wlialiuj; for, in Maine 312 Finland, codfish imported 311 cxterminatiug lish in 308 Fish and fisheries, notes upon 129,305,4^1,440 at Abaco Island 125 breeding in Canada 54 station needed 394 distinguishing sex of 457 distribution of 385, 395 dying off Florida coast 10, 11, 123 North Carolina 140, 194 Rhode Island 194 South Carolina 413 eating one another 190 enemies of fry 190 exterminating in Finland 308 fungus on ] 09 liatcheries for, in New Zealand 215 in Puget Sound 195 increase and decrease of 187 inspection in District of Columbia - 47, 416 killedby cold 123 prisonous water 10,11 suffocation 452 water-bugs 353, 450 male smaller than female 222 migrations in Germany 113 mortality in Gulf of Mexico 10, II, 123 needs of 445 planted in Belgium 258 Italy 263 planting too young 421 prepared for market by freezing 467 poisonous 148 preservation of 65, 109, 307, 450 property in 119 recipes for cooking .127, 134, 204, 276, 277, 401 spawning in confinement 308 transportation of 64, 261, 415 utilizing products of 317, 414 Fish-bait landed at Gloucester 420 bladders, preijaring, for market 59 cars, rates of transportation 385 trips with whitefish 396 culture in Italy 177 New Zealand 213,463 Scotland 408 on the Frische-Haff 311 eggs, distribution of 385, 395 number in quart 405 shipptd to Detroit 408 size of 405 Fisheries of Alaska 462 Briti»h Columbia, statistics. 110 Canada 51 foreign countries 81 Iceland 82,101 Japan 342, 383 Labrador and Newfoundland 36 iMalta, decrease in 138 Page. Fisheries of New England 33, 39, 43, 45, 49, 79, 91,106,191,200,210, 241,273,328,418,423 Norway 82 Pensacola 70 AVashington Ter., memorial. 132 Western Floriila 405 Fishery exports from Newfoundland 14 Norway 300 Fish-glue 59 Fish Hawk, shad eggs furnished by.. 301, 365, 385, 389, 390, 427 shad work of 289 steamer 3)2,442 Fishing banks, investigation of 369 ground in South Indian Ocean .. 80 implements of Hawaii 245 in navigable waters of TJ. S 117 methods in Hawaii 245 petition to restrict, in Mass 406 Fishing Gazette, cited 97,100 Fish Lake, lake trout planted in 399 Fish-oil in British Columbia Ill Canada 54 landed at Gloucester 30, 45, 47, 51, 420 trade of Brashear 141 Fish Trades Gazette, extracts from 307, 415 Fjeldsted, Mr 107 Flabellum 374 Florida, carp distributed to 135, 392 fish killed by cold 123 fisheries of 465 goldhsh distributed to 393 shad in 90,409,401 underground streams of 11 Flounder fisheries of Norway 272 Flounders, inspection 416 taken 40,370 Flying Dart, schooner 420 Food of German fish 145 Forbes, Stewart & Co 139 Foreign fisheries in 1885 81 Forest and Stream, cited 459 Forked Deer Kiver, carp planted in 135, 391 Fort Gratiot, whitefish planted near 390 Fort Washington, record of seine-hanliug 437 shad planted near 429 propagation 430 Fountaine's Creek, shad planted in 428 Foussagrive, cited 148, 149 Fowlkes, carp planted near 135,391 Fox River, carp planted in 135, 391 shad planted in 389 Foye, schooner William H 40, 50 Fraley,W.R. 403 France, American fish in 138, 257, 408 carp in 203 codfish exported 311 fisheries of 81 mussel culture in 131 oyster culture in 225 sardine fisheries in 408 statistics of sea fisheries of 219, 305 Francis Alice, schooner 89, 310 Fraser River hatchery 52, 55 482 INDEX. Pago. Frasc^r Itivur, Haliiiou packed 288,400 l'"ioiloiick Jiiuctioii, sluul planloil uoar. . . 428 Fietli'iioksbuigli, sliad ](laiit»^(l near 42« Fueiuau, scLooucr Faunio W 41S Gertie 4"J Fiecziiis fisli for market 407 Frctiiont, barken lino liU) I''reneli liiilletin, cited KiS, 257 Freueli, IVter 402 schooner J. II 41H Fre.v, Col. Emil 121) Krey cinetia arborea 247 Frie, I'rolessor 118 Friend, schooner Henry 273 Frische-IIaff, fish-cuUino ou the :;li Fiisbninth Bro. & Co., brook trout to .iO? Froj^s, eiHunies of jjond culture iMO Frost lisli, apiiearance of 137 habits of 208 Frye, schooner Frederick P 46 Fulton, carp ])lanti;d near 135, 391 Furs in British ('oluuibiii Ill Fykes used in catcliiug shad I(i4 G. ( Jadida', food for 373 Callus brand tii 343, 384 carbouarius 260,272 morrhua 400 Gafl'-topsail catfish taken 144 Galasias 404 Gallia, steamer 449 (ialvanizinguels 104 Galveston, Si>anisli mackerel at 31,") Game qualities of carp 317 Gammanis roeselii 200,207 Gai dner, Alliert A 400 Dr.A.F 450 Garibaldi, schooner 330 (Jarland, Dr. Joseph 418 Gasconade River, trout jdantod iu 447, 448 Gaspe, fisheries of 81 hatchery .'roparatiou from.. 452 G ill-net fishing 40,45 Glennan, A. II., article by 10 Glens Falls liei)ublican, cited 133 Glens Falls, salmouoids at 133 Gloucester, fi.sli received at 38, 43, 47, 51, 89, 95, 108, 192, 202, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 fishing fieet of 201 Gloucester Point shad fishery 291,292,293 Glover, T., cited 353,354,359 Glycimeris 371, 374, 379 Glyptoceplialus cyuoglos.sub 370, 381 Gobius ojjhiocephalus 178, 179 Godwin, j r., Jo.seph H 294 t^ognac Lake, planting fish in 421 Goldfish, distribution of 38.5, 386, 392, 393 Goldsborough, shad planted near 428 (ioldsmith Maid, schooner 40,50 GoU, Hermann 200 Good Ten)plar, schooner 420 Goodies, inspection 416 Goosefish taken 378 (lOuld, schooner Alice M 49 ( lov. Butler, schooner 40 Grabill, L. K 301,431 report on Battery Statiou ... 301 Grady, John E 140 Gr:effe, l)r 223 (irafton, shad planted near 308,430 Granim. Otto, whitofish to 395 Gramiius, U. S. F. O. schooner 201,411 Granada, caii) planted near 135,391 Grand Bank, dicdgings on 309 G rand Haven, whitefish i)lantod near 390 Grand Lake Stioam, distribution from . . . 385 Grant, rovenui'-steamer U. S 312 Grassy Lake, carp planted in 135, 391 Gray trout, inspection 48, 410 Gray whale, ferocity of Cemale 349 fish(*ry of California 340 • food, habits, &c 349 present numbers 348 (irayling idanted in Italy 204 (iray's llarbiu-, salmon packed 400 Great Beds 1 ight house 407 Great Britain, codfish imported 311 I>acked salmon to 400 tireat Lakes, ivgulating fisheries 401 Great Pedee liiver, cari) plant(-d in 391 Green Bank, dredgings on 372 (ireon Lake, lake trout ]dautcd in 390 Green, LoronW 280,314,334 Green Itivei', shad planted in 389 Greenland halibut Ik'ct 34 Grego, Giuseppe 177 Lionelh) 177,183 G ronadiers taken 370 (Jrillin, Consul (J. W., article by 433 schooner Li/.zie 46 Grimes, schooner Clara 11 107 Gros.s, J ulius 277, 303 Groui)ers in Florida 405 Growth of caip 316 Grozier, seliooiwr William A 245 Grunts, iusjiei I ion 48, 416 INDEX. 483 rago. 0 rvHtca nigricans 55 G uir of Mexico, tish killoil by cold I'lJ shad planted in U02, 389, 427 Gundrrsi'n, IT., article by 84 Giini>i>\vdcr Ivivor, shad planled in 368,429 Giinthcr, All)crt 222 Gurnet lil'e-saving station 137,404 Guatafsbcrg, carp cnltnro at 100 II. Haack, 11., cited 264 Habersham, William N 142 Haddock, abundance of 79, 274 flsheries of Canada 53 landed at Gloucester 43, 45, 47, 51, 80, 95. 108, 192, 202, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 scarcity on Maine coast 75 taken 370,377 Hake, abundance of 274 fisheries of Canada 53 landed at Gloucester 38, 43, 45, 47, 108, 192, 202, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 taken 40,378 Halibut fins landed at Gloucester 39 fisheries of Canada 54 Norway 272 fishery by New England vessels 34, 41 in British Columbia Ill Puget Sound 196 landed at Gloucester. . .38, 43, 44, 4.5, 47, 51, 80, 95, 108, 192, 202, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 possible fishing ground 374 scarcity of . . .191, 200, 210, 243, 274, 328, 419 small, localities where found 412 Haliotis 322,344 gigantoa 324,384 rufescens 327 Halocynthia pyriformia 370 Haloporphyrus viola 370, 381 Hamilton, Dr. J. B 10 Hammond, J. P 195 M. P. , rainbow trout to 398 Hammond's Bay, whitefish planted near- 397 Hancock, schooner John 89, 310 Harper, John A 138 HaiTis, Gwynn 202,438 Harrisburg, shad planted near 368, 429 Hart, cited 232 Hartwell, schooner Adolia 46 Haskell, schooner Lizzie H 31, 79 Loring B 420 Haveifield, N. T 401 Haverhill, salmon planted near 404 Havre do Grace, shad hatching near 361 planted near 368,430 Hawaiian fishing implements and methods 245 Haj', Professor 72 Hearder, William, method of tanning nets 100 Hector, schooner 100 Hegt, J.Noordhoek 197 Heincke, Dr. Friedrich . 265 Helland, cited 1 72 Hendrj-, A. W., trout to 398,399 Page. Herman, Hon. B 410 IIorniai)lirodism of the oyster 232 Hermes, Dr 223 Hermit crabs taken 370, 371 Herons, enemies of pond culture 3:i9 Herring, abundance of 33, 329, 361 appearance of 273 dead. 194 fisheries of Canada 53 Franco 81,220,305 Isle of Man 152 Japan 343,345,384 Norway 83,270 Potomac Kiver 202 Scotland 81 in Briti.sh Columbia Ill Iceland 161 Puget Sound 195 inspection 47, 48,416 landed at Gloucester 39, 43, 50, 51, 80, 95, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 preserved in boracic acid 65 receipt for cooking 128 taken 44,46,363 Herrmann, L. T 294 Hessel, Rudolph 402, 442, 457 Hibiscus tiliaceus 250 Hickory shad, inspection 48, 416 Hig^ins, schooner I. H 49 Hippa.steria phrygiana 374 Hippocampus liudsonius 123 Hodge, Elliott B - 453,464 fish sent to 395, 397, 398 Hoeing, Dr. Charles F., lake trout to 398 Hoffmann, note on Prussian fish-culture . 311 Hogan, F. B 11 Hogflsh, inspection 48, 416 Hokkaido, fisheries of 342, 383 Holland, codfish exported and imijorted- - 31 1 Holmes, John F 137,464 Holothuria 344 edulis 333 Holothurians taken 370,374 Holston Eiver, California trout in 140 Iloutvct, schooner Mary S 420 Hood Hirer, place for salmon breeding. . - 87 Hooper, schooner Susie 424 Hope Bank, not found 369 Homemanu, cited 149, 150 Housatonic Iliver, shad catch 298,439 planted in.. -.315, 405,428 Howell's Cove shad fishery 291,292,293 Howietoun fishery 56, 408 Hul)ncr,A 187 Hudson, Henry 351 Hudson River, salmon in 351 shad catch in 294 planted in 302, 389, 427, 429 Humboldt River, lake trout planted in- . . 398 Hume, George W 288 Joseph 288 Humpback whales, catch 350 Huuslctt Station, shad planted near 428 Hutching, schooner William V 329 Huxley, Prof. T. H., cited 27 484 INDEX. Page. Hyatt, Prof. Alpheus 2 IIj (Irograpliic souinliugs by Albatross. . . 277 Eydroids taken [il'i Hyer, J. D 443 llyperion, scbooner 40 Hypbomycetes 3 I. luo first used in Gulf lisbei'ies 29i) Iceland, cbarjjos on flsbiug vessels 35 • cod fisborics 82 cod ball exported 311 fresb- water fisberies IGl balibut fleet 34,330 salting fisb-bladders 63 Idalio, carp distributed to 392 Id us lut'lanotns 1,07 var. ininiatuB 197 Illinois, cari> distributed to 135,392 in 401 gold lisb distributed to 393 Illinois liiver. carp in 401 planted in 135, 391 sbad planted in 389 Increase and decrease of Huh 187 Indinn Territory, carp distributed to.. .. 392 Indiana, carp distributed to 392 goldlisli distributed to 393 Insects injurious to lisb 353 Invercargill liatcbery 215 Investigation of Atlantic flsbing banks . . 309 Iowa, carp distributed to 392 goldiisb distributed to ' 393 Ipswich Bay, resort for codfish 100 Ireland, codfish imported 311 flsli conveyed inland by railways '415 Isabel, schooner 89, 310 Isinglass prc.i)ared from lisli-bladdors 5!) Isle of Man, herring fisheries near 152 Issel, cited 184 Italy, codfish imported 311 planting fish in 203 Ito, K., article by 342 Ivanhoe, schooner 40 Ivy Creek, carp planted in 135,391 Iwaslii lisheries of Japan 313,345 J. Jackson, carp planted near 135, 391 Jacksonville, carp planted near 135, 391 Jacobson, ITeiinan, translator.. 57, 59, 64, 81, 82, 84, 91, 97, 104, 113, 110, 119, 127, 145, 148, 152, 155, 156, 101, 177, 187, 197, 200, 209, 219, 222, 225, 257, 258, 203, 205, 300, 308, 310, 317, 318, 319, 321, 337, 445 Jacoby, Professor 222, 223, 224 James and Ella, schooner 39 James Kivor, carj) in 31G shad planted in 3C8, 428, 430 Jann,r. F 301 Japan, fisheries of 342, 383 Jerrell, II. P., translation by 203 Johnson, August 451 Capt. Charles I? 35,30 Johnston, Mr 237 Jones, C. E 402 Page. Jones, J. F 404 Jordan, schooner Alice C 107 William U 273 Journal and Courier, cited 314 Junction, caip planted near 135 K. Kankakee Kiver, carj) planted it 135, 391 Kansas, carp distributed to 392 goldfish disti ibuted to 393 Kaska.skia Kiver, car]) planted in 135, 391 Kecne, schooner William 420 Keeuy, James 299 Kecwatiu, schooner 371 Keifier, Mr 223 Keller, II., article by 113 Kenly, D. W 36G Kennedy, B. E. B., lake trout to 398 Matthew 294 Kentucky, carp distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 Koratoisis oruata 381 Killaui, schooners. E 4G King-crabs in Raritan Bay 407 Kingfishers, enemies of pond culture 338 Kirtland, Frederick 455 Kleuke, Dr. IJemian, cited 99 Kli])-fish 209, 311 Knife found in flesh of codfish 381 Knowles, Herbert M 1 94 Kombu fisheries of Japan 344, 345 Kyacks in Maine, pressing 312 LAn.se, whilefi.sh planteil near 397 La Fourche, carp planted near 135, 391 La Ila vo Bank, dredgings on 379 La Salle, carp planted near 135, 391 Labatt, Ilenry L 315 Labrador, fisheries of ;>0, 81 Labrax lupus 178,179 Lacay.e-Duthiers, cited 231, 233 Lake Beauty, carp planted in 1.15,391 Coopei', carp planted in 135, 391 Erie, white fish planti d in 386,395,390 Huron, whitefish i)lantcd in. 386, 395, 396, 397 Michigan, winti'lish plautod in 380,395, 390, 397 One, carj) planted in 1 3.5, 391 Ontario, rockUsli pkint('d in 363 shad jdanted in 368 whitelisli planted in 380,395,390 Sunapee, landlocked salmon in 453 Superior, planting whitefish, results 411 whitefish planted fu .380, 395, 396, 397 Talioe, lake troint planted in 398 Lake trout at Glens Falls 133 distribution of SS5, 386, 387, 398 eggs, size anil number 406 to Switzerland 129 in Colorado 134 phiuted in Belgium 258 Liitiibert, 11. H 142 Laminaria 344 INDEX. 485 Page. Lnminnria jaiiouica 384 Laiupsliells taken UTS Land, (i onion 314 LaiuUockp.d sahiion 144 (listiibiitiou of 385, 386, 388, 399 i n Lako Sunapoo 453 Scotland 408 Siiuani liivor 453 planted 138, 4 (U Lane Fear 405 MassMi'liusetts e.oast 412 prices of 243,329 protection during spawning . . . 216 486 INDEX. Page. Mackerel, scarcity of 191, 200, 241, 273, 329, 418 taken in weirs 4G McLain, Molvin 137 McMurrich, J.B 137 McQueen, Alexander 138 Macrnrus 370, 381 bairdii 374, 378 Mactra ovalis 377 Maggi, Professor, cited 222,223 Maggie and Lilly, schooner 40 Magnus, Sira 101 Magog hatchery 55 Maher, Kev. Father, trout sent to 307, 398, 399 Mahoning Eivor, carj) planted in 391 Maine, carp distributed to 392 pressing kyacks 312 scarcity of cod and haddock 75 whaling for finbacks 312 Maithmd, James Eamsay Gibson 309 Malmros, Consul Oscar 05,109,307 Malta, decrease in flslieries 1 38 Mammoth Spring, trout planted near 448 Manchooria, fishery regulation in 451 Manistee, whitefish planted near 390 Manitowoc, whitoflsh planted near 390 Manx kippers 152 Maramec Kiver, trout planted in 448 Marchant, A 451 Margarettsville, shad planted near 428 Marguerite, schooner 34,35 Marietta, shad planted near 308, 430 Marine products shijiped to China 131 Marks, W. I) 421 Marlborough, shad planted near 429 Marquette, whitefish planted near. 390 Martha, stoamci- ■lOl Martin, Stephen J 454 Mary E., schooner 31, 107 Maryland, rarp distributed to 135,392 goldlish distributed to 393 aliad deposited 308 Massacliu.setis, carp distributed to 392 fish ort" northeastern coast 412 gold lish distributed to 393 ])etitiou toristrietfiHJiing. 400 Mather, Kted, fish sent to. 133, 395, 397, 398 letter to 345 on food of soles 450 sctiooner Margaret 107 Mattapony liiver, carj) plan! ed in 135, 391 shad )ilantcd in 428 Mattaw(mian('r(i(!k, shad planted in 429 Mattawonian Station, shad planted near.. 429 Mattoax, shad plantednoar 428 Mauri tiana 240 May, Nauian K!7 Mazyck, W. St. J 413 Megalops thrissoides 123 Me-gnin, M 1,2,3 Meberriu Uivor, shad planted in "428 Mclliouiiie Argus, cited 409 Mc Icngririii. iiiaigaritifera 321,327 Meletia, jioisonous 148 Meletta thrissa 149 Memphis, sh.nd caught near 315 Page. Mendota, carp planted near 135, 391 Menhaden, appearance of 130 dying along coast of S C 413 in Ilaritan Bay 407 landed at Gloucester 331, 420 scarcity of 201 Menhaden oil, landed at f Jloucestcr 244, 331 Morcenaria violacea 131 Mercer, IT. C 305,308,431 Merchant, schooner E. W 47 M6ricourt, Roy de 1 50 Merlucius bilinearis 208 Motcalf, Martin 422,457 Mexico, carp distributed to .392 Michigan, carp distributed to .392 goldfish distributed lo 393 planting fry in 421 Michigan City, whitefish planted near. .- 390 Micropterus dolomici 199, 380 salmoidcs 199 Middle Ground, dredgiugs on 370 Milfoid, carp planted near 135, 391 shad planted near 428 Mill Shoals, carp planted ne.ar 135, 3!11 Miller, Mr 72 Miller's Point, wliitefish planted near .. . 397 Millingtou, sli.ad ]ihinted near 308, 430 Milne-Edwards, cited 231 Milner, James W., cited 353, .359 Milwaukee, whitefish planted near 390 Minnesota, carp distributed to 1.3.", 392 goldfish distributed to 393 M iramichi hatchery 55 Misaine B.ank, dredgings on 375 value as a (ishing ground. 370 Mississippi, carj) distriiiuted to 135, 392 goldlish distributed lo 393 Mississippi Kiver, carp in 4-01 sh.ad in 315 planted in . . .302, 389, 427 Mississippi, sm.ack 299 Mis.souri, carp distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 rainbow trout in 447 Missouri Kiver, large catfish in 453 Mist, schooner 34, 107, 200 Miibius, K.arl, cited 232,233 Modiola vulgaris 321 Mohawk Kiver, salmon planted in 404 Mokelumne Kiver, cat lisli in 315 Moiicur(\ shad plantcil near 430 M()nit(Mir de la Pisciculture, extracts. 131, 13'J, 130, 203, 300, 409 Monitor, schooner, lost 192 Mouocacy Kivor, shad planted in 428 Monimgahcla Kiver, shad pl.antcd in.. 308, 428, 430 ^lonroe, ciip planted near 135 whitefish planted near 390 Jlontana, carp distributed to 392 Montaugc, Me.ssrs.de 237 Moiilcicy whaling station 347,348,350 Monlgomcry, Mr 448 Moore, George II. II 385, 390, 393 Moranke, distribution 386 Morgan, G. LT 458 INDEX. 487 Page. Morgan, Saiuuol 11 ilorgauton, sliad planted near 429 ilotlierof-pearl, Ibiinatiou of 321 Mountain trout iu Oregon 87 Mowat, Tlionirts 52 Moxostouia cai pio 403 Mud sliad, insiiuctiou 48, 416 Muotzsi'liotahl, von, c.ilcd 353,359 Miigilauratua .• 178, 179 cupito 178,179 (^••plialus 178,179 chelo 178,179 saliens 178,179 Mulertt, Hugo 401 Miilli't liwlmry of Florida *. 405 ilullfts, iiispc(;tiou 48,410 Mura'na 151 Murex 180,185 braudaris 183 Murray, David 65 Muscoui'tcoug Ivivor, salmon idanted in . . 345 Mn.sliallonge fisheries of Canada 53 Muskingum River, carp planted in 391 Mussel cnilture in Franco 131 iislieries of France 305 My a arenaria 131 Mystery, schooner 39, 4G, 107, 200 My til us edul is 131 galloprovinei.ilis 182, 18C N. Naas Itivt r, salmon packed _ 400 Nansouty, Max do 132 Xantnctot, shark fishing 4C0 Nanticokc Eiver, shad planted in 368, 430 Napervillo, carp planted near 13."), 391 1\ arragausett Hay, gatl-topsail cattish in. . 144 shad planted in trib- utaries 302, 308, 389, 427 Narragausett Herald, citecl ] 95 Nassa prismatica 182 Natica heios 377 Nature, cited 453 Navigable waters of IJ. S., fishing in 117 Nebraska, carj} distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 Nelson hatchery 215 Nelson, schooner Laura 46 Neosl 10 Ki ver, trout planted in 448 Nepa 355 apiculata , 353 linearis 353 Neptunea 377 decemcostata 377 Netherlands, American fish in 197 inclosnres for salmon 129 Nets, preservation of 97 Neuse Kiver, shad planted in 428 N(^vada, carp distributed to 392 Nevin, James 389 Newburg, trout jilanted near 448 New Brunswick, fisheries of 51 Newcastle hatchery 55, 56 Page. Now England fisheries.. 33, 39, 43, 45, 49, 79, 94, 106, 191, 200, 210, 241. 273, 328, 418, 423 fishing licet, location .. .39, 108, 194, 201, 244, 275 Nowfonudland, exports ol fish products.. 14,311 fisheries of 36, 81 LochLeven trouteggsto. 408 salting bladders, &c 03 New Hampshire, cari) distributed to 393 Now Jersey, caip distiibnt ed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 salmon in 345 New Mexico, carp distributed to 135, 392 New York, cai^p distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 salmon planted in 409 shad deposited 368 New York Sun, cited 133 New Zealand, American fish in 304 canned salmon to 399 fish culture in 213, 403 salmon to 309,408 whitefish to 395 Nickerson, steamer A ngelia 15 245 schooner E. 11 273 Nimble, schooner 49 Ninni, Alexander P 177 Normal Company for using fish pro- ducts 75,414 Norsk Fiskeiitidende, extracts from 59,81,82 84, 91, 97, 127, 148, 317, 318, 319, 321, 401 North Anna River, carp i)Iauted in 135,391 shad planted in 428 North Bass Island, whitefish planted near 396 North Carolina, carp distributed to 392 mullets cultivated . 403 dead fish on coast 140, 194 goldfish distributed to. . . 393 shad deposited 308 from 409 in 320 speckled catfish in 404 North Carolina chubs, inspection 48,416 North Pacific codfish fleet 310 Nortiieast River, shad planted in . .296, 368, 429, 430 Northern Eagle, schooner 106 Northvillo, distribution from 385, 387, 395 Norway, American trout in 453 codfish exported 311 fish-bladders in 59 fisheries of o2, 265, 266 lobsters and oysters in 306 salting codfish tongues 318 Iransportiug lobsters in 319 Nostochaceai 341 Nothria 379 Notonecta glanca 340, 353 insularis 353 Nottoway River, shad ])lanted in 428 Nova Scotia, bluefish on coast..... 460 fisheries of... 51 November, shad caught during 4.55 Nunau, schooner Estelle S )0C 488 INDEX. Page. Nutritive value of oysters, vaiiatiou in.. . 456 Hyo, schooner r.iiinio L 273 ^.ye, jr., Willai (1 125, 137, 186, 208, 374, 378, 381 O. Occixiuaii Ris'er, carp planted in sliatl planted in Ocklockonneo Ilivei, .sbad planted in.. 308, Octop\islis!iiiif; at llawaii talien Odentim, sliad planted near Ohio, carp distributed to goldtish distributed to Ohio River, carp in shad in Oidiuui luorrhiue pulviuatuni Okhotsk Sea, codfish catch Oliil'sou, Eggert Oliverian Kiver, sahnon planted in Ommastrephes illocebrosua Oncorhyuchus chouicha liabeii perryi Ontario, fisheries of .. Onwaid, schooner... Opawa hatchery Ophiurans taken Ordinary Point, shad planted near.. ..290 Oregon, carp distributed to investigating salmon lishery protection of salmon in salmon fisheries sealioiison coast shad deposited Ormerod, Miss E. A., cited O.sage Kiver, trout planted in Oscillariac O.sniond, Mr Ostracion (luadricornis Ost rea defonuis edulis 231 hermaphrodisni the rult^. . . . spawning season of var. venetiaua jdicatuhi steutina . tincta Oswego, shad jdanted near whitoiish planted near Otter Hi ver, carp planted in • Otters, enemies of pond culture Oyster culture in Franco Italy New Zealand fisheries of British Columbia Canada Florida France Japan Norway t rade of IJrashear Oysters, destructiou by starfish, ice enemies of 135, 391 428 389, 430 246 374 I'JO 392 :!03 401 141 4 2,3 90, 310 170 404 379 111,406 343, 384 343, 384 52 39 215 370 308, 430 392 410 452 410 140 308 353, 359 447, 448 341 301 123 232 232, 321 232 233 183 2:s« 232 232 308 390 135, 391 3X7 225 1.7 2i;i 111 53 465, 407 221, 305 :M4, 345 300 UI ■107 231 Page. Oysters, experiments in perforating shells 234, 235 floats for cultivating 443, 445 inspection 47, 48,410 number of emljryos produced... 234 seed for planting 443 spawn lost 240 variation in nutritive value of. . . 456 Ozark Mountains, California trout for 147 P. Pacitic coast, codfish on 89,131,141,309 salmon packing 90, 286, 399, 400 whaling seatistics 89 Pacitic, preparatioo from giant kelp of. . . 452 Packard, Prof. A. S 223 Page, George Shepard 131,316 William F 316, 300, 405, 400 Pagnrns 1 85 Piillson, Sira Jens 108 Palmer Kiver, shad planted in 429 Palmer, Thomas W 216 Pamunkey Kiver, ahad planted in 428 Pancritius, Dr. P 145 Parasites of codfish 1, 318 Paris, catfish in aquariums 257 Paris, Mich., hatchery 421 Passaic River, carp planted in 310 Pasteur's discoveries 74 Patapsco River, shad planted is 308, 429 Patusent River, shad planted in . . 368, 428, 429, 430 Patuxcnt, shad planted near 430 Paulinskill, salmon planted in 345 Pa ul y , D r '. 223 Pavesi, Prof Pietro 222,263 Pawley's Island, dead fish on coast 413 Poach Bottom, shad planted near 368, 430 Pearl fisheries 321 methods 434 of Australia 433 stations 435 wages of men 433 oysters 4:i4 shells, use 435 shell fisheries of Australia ^ 433 Peail River, carj) planted in 135,391 I'eurls and i)e.arl fisheries 321 classified in Oceanica 327 formation of 321, 435 l)rincipal markets 327 where found . - 322 Pearson, Hon. Jill in "SI 452 Peck, cited 353, 350 Pecten islandicus .371, 377 Pekin, carp planted near 13,5,391 Pendleton, Capt. G. W 41 W.C 14(1 P. iinatula 378 aculeata 378 borealia 1 374 Pennsylvania, caip distributed to 392 goldfish distiibuted to 393 landlocked salmon planted 138 shad deposited 308 Penobscot Bay, fish deserting 75 INDEX. 489 Pago. Penobscot salmon planted in Connecticut River 464 New Jersej' 345 Pensacola fisheries 7G Pentacta froudosa 370 Pequest IMver, salmon planted iu 345 Percli fislieries of Canada 54 Perch, inspection of 47, 48, 41G Persian Gulf, pearl fisheries 322 Perthostoma 353 Pervere, schooner Asa II 273 Petroniy zon niarinns 224 Phillips, schooner Gage 11 245 Phoxinus l.TJvis 20C, 207 Ph ycis chuss 378 Pickerel, breeding in Canada 55 iisheries of Canada 54 shipped to Detroit 408 Piepmeyor, Louis W 289 Pierce, John 134 lake trout to 398 Pigfish, inspection 48,416 Pike, fisheries of Canada 54 inspection of 48,416 receiptfor cooking 128 Pilchard fisheries of Japan 384 Pinna squamosa 321 Piper, Enoch 467 Piscicola geometra 341 Pitt Elver, salmon in 330 Pittondrigh, George 110, 138 Placuna placenta 321 Planting salmonoids in inland waters 422 Pleasant Lake, lake trout planted in 399 Pleiades, schooner 273 Plum Island life-saving station 412 Plymouth hatchery 453 Podiceps cristatus 339 minor 339 Point Conception whaling station 348, 350 Point Judith, dead fish near 194 Poisonous fish 148 iu China 130 Polo fiouuder 370 Pollock, abundance of 454 at Cape Cod 454 fisheries of Canada 53 landed at Gloucester 38, 43, 44, 45, 47, 192, 202, 212, 244, 275, 331, 420, 424 scarcity of 191,330,419 taken in weirs 46 Polygonum 131 Pomotis 354 Pompano fisheries of Florida 77, 465, 466 Pond culture, enemies of 337 Ponds, eels in 91 Popular Science Monthly, extracts 144, 309, 314 Porgies inspection 48,416 Porpoise, fisheries of Canada • 54 poisonous qualities of 130 Port Clinton, whitofish planted near 390 Port Deposit, shad planted near 808,429,430 Port Huron Commercial, cited 402 Porter, Dr. Joseph T 11 Portugal, codfish imported c.11 Pago. Potamogoton densus 206 Potomac, carp planted near 135 Potomac lliver, Atlantic salmon in 453 carp planted in 1 35, 391 fisheries, vessels in 142 shad and herring fisheries 202 shad planted in 428, 429 Poulsen, Bjarno 1 70 Y. A., cited 3 Prawns in British Columbia Ill Preservation of fresh fisb 65, 109 nets 97 Primnoa reseda 374,380 Prince Edward Island, fisheries of 52 Providence Journal, cited 194 Providence, shad planted near 308, 429 Provincetown, whaling fleet of 245 Publications of Fish Commission 409 Puget Sound, fi.sh in 195 little round clam from 393 salmon packed 288,400 Put-in-Bay, whitefish planted near 390 Pycnogonum 379 Q. Quantico, carp planted near 135 shad planted near 428, 429 Quantico Creek, carp planted in 135, 391 shad planted in 429 Quarles,J.P 403 Quatrefages, cited 231 Quebec, Canada, fisheries of 51 La., carj) planted near 135 Queenstowu hatchery 215 Quickstep, schooner , 245 Qiiinepiac River, shad catch 298, 439 planted in 405 Quinn, H. E 308 R. Racer, schooner 40 Raia 377 erinacea, cleavage of bl astod i sk 8 radiata 370, 37J,.376 Rainbow trout 394 acclimatized in France . . . 408 distribution of 385, 386, 387, 398 eggs, size and number 400 hatching 133 in Missouri 447 New Zealand 304 Scotland 408 increase of 133 Raleigh, shad planted near 429 Rana esculenta ; 340 Ranatra linearis 353, 359 qnadridenticulata 3,53 Rapid River, landlocked salmon planted in 399 Rapidan River, shad planted in 428 Rapidan, shad planted near 428 R.appabannock River, shad i)lanted in .. . 428 Rap])ahannock Station, shad planted near. 428 Raritan Bay, fish and lobsters in 407 Rathbun, Richard, article hy 17 Rattler, schooner 47 490 INDEX. Page. Raveret-Wattel, C .^ 138 Hay's egg, some stages of development. . . 8 Kayvilki, carp planted near 135 Eed Bank shad fishery 291 Kcd River, carp planted in 135, 391 Reddening of codfish 1 Red-eye porch, distribution of 385, 3SG Red fish in Florida 4rn iiitraovaiian gestation of 92 killed by cold ll'H Redmond, Roland 134 Red-snapper fisherj-, beginning of 299 notes on 299 ofPensacola VG Red-snappers, fishing grounds 300 food of 300 in Florida 405 nic'thods of fishing 300 Relay Station, shad planted near 429 Reptiles, enemies of pond culture 339 Republican River, shad planted in 389 Restigonche hatchery 55 Retropinna 4C4 Rhachiancc*e8 glaucus 34C, 350 Rliode Island, caip distributed to 392 dead fish on coast 194 hatching brook trout -459 shad dejiosited 308 Rich, S.D 454 Thomas A 400 schooner Edward 273 Richardi, Mr 224 I^igllt wliales, catch of 350 RQey.CW., cited 353,355,359 Rio Grande River, carj) jdanled in 135,391 Rising Sun, schooner : 245 Rivanna River, carp in 134 planted in 135, 391 shall planted in 428 Rivers Inlet, salmon packed 400 Riverton, carp planted near 135, 391 Rizpah, stliooncr Ellen 245 Roberts, schooner Porter S 40 steamer E-K 408 R(d)iii8on,C. L 401 E. M 400,431 schooner Annie 50 Roccns liueatus 137,400 liock River, c:irp planted in 135,391 Rockfish Creek, carp plant.-d in 135,391 Rock fish Depot, carp planted near. 135, 391 Rocklish, hutcliiiig and planting 137 in Son 111 Caiolina 124 inspection 47, 48, 410 idauted in Lake'Ontario 303, 305, :iGH spawning of 124, 142 taken at Hattery Station 303 wcigli t of 124 Rockland, John II., brook trout to .397 Rocky Mount Station, shad planted near. 429 Rocky Alunntiiin trout 314,394 Roe chetsi. reiipi' loi' 127 Rogers, schooner IIiMbert M 107 Kogue River, salmon packed 288,400 salted.: 410 Page. Roosen, August R 109, 307 Roosen process for preserving fish 74, 109, 307 Root, Henry T 459 Rossia megaptera 374 Roulette, schooner 273 Roumegufere, Casiniir 2 Round-fish 209 Round Lake, lake trout planted in 399 Ro wlesburgh, shad planted near 308, 428, 430 Ruby, schooner 140 Russia, codfish imported 311 fisheries of 82 Rutherford, Alexander J 4C3 Ryan, C.apt. Joseph 243 Ryder, John A., articles by 4, 8, 92 cited 198, 224, 22.5, 450 Ryder's Rock, not found 371 S. Sackett's Harbor, whitefish planted near .390 Sacramento River Packing Company 288 S.acramento River, .salmon packed 280, 400 sh ad planted in 390 Sacre, O 144 Safe Harbor, shad planted near 368, 430 Sahlstriim, C. A 414 Sahlstriim's process of preserving fish. . . 74, 75 Sailjling 207 Saint Ignace, whitefish jilanted near .... 397 James, trout planted near 448 .Tohn River iiatchery 55 John's I!iver, shad in 405, 401 Joseph, whitefish planted near 390 Mary's River, fi.shories 401 Paul Island, fi.shing ground at 80 Petor 8 liaulc, drodgings on 373 Pierre, cod fisheries 300 Regis River, salmon j>lauted in 400 Salicylic arid for piiril'y in'^ water 401 Saline River, carp jdanteil in 135, 391 Salisbury, shad planted ne.ir 3C8, 430 Salnio fario .264, 31^0, 388, 400, 403, 461 I'onlinalis 55, .50, 200, 259, 4.51!, 404 iridcHS 1 38, 259, :i04, .386, 387, 398, 40t;,4O!^,447, 448 lacuatris 55, 5C liuri)uratns 394 (ininnat .50, 304, 351, 448, 404 salar 55, 50, 258, 204, 301, 345, 351, 3,80, 38.8, 400, 409 var. sebago 380, 388, 399, 400, 409 .s.alv.'linus 2.58, 204, 205 siieetabilis 87,448 tinlta virginalis Salinim, artificial hatching necessary. ascending high f.dls at (ileus l'"iilis McCloud lliver St ition breeding in Canada place for . cnnsii 1)1' deci'case di'ath after sjiawnini dccreeag.Tin.'.t compulsory eating, distribution of 404 314 288 3.51 133 314 55 87 2SC 336 J 1.1 INDEX, 491 Page. Salmon eggs, size ami number 406 taken too lato in Scotland... 309 to New Zealand 408 oxporiment.s in Scotland 50 lislicvie.s of Canada 53 Japan 343,384 Norway 83, 272 Southoru Oregon 410 Sweden 104 tlieRhine 113 (isbing, uictbods on Columbia Rlvor 313 from AVasbington Territory 409 !Vy iilantod in lludaon Itiver . .•. . 352 growth of 314 in Britisb Columbia Ill Clackamas River HI, 332 Connecticut llivor 453 German rivers 119 Ilndson Rive.r 351 Iceland IGl, 1G5 Little Sacramento River 33G McClond River 334,335 Now Jersey 345 NewZealand 304 Oregon 87,410 protection of 410, 452 Pitt River 330 Pugot Sound 195 Scotland 309 tbe Neilierlands, inclosures for 129 largo 139 measurements in Gennany 122 packing on Pacitic coast 89, 139, 280, 313, 399, 400 pliUited in Belgium 258 Italy 204 McCloud River 335 New York 409 sent to China 131 New Zealand 309 sold at Billingsgate 139 statistics on Paeilio coast. .89, 139, 288, 399 Salmon-trout breeding in Canada 55, 56 fisheries of Norway 272 in Oregon 87 inspection 48 Salmonido;, breeding station for 394 conclusions of experiments .. 50 distribution of .• 385 fry planted too young 387 Snlmonoids, conditions of breeding 422 Salt pork, vegetable i)arasites on 318 Saluda River, shad planted in 308, 430 Salvelinns fontiualis 304, 315, 386, 387, 397, 406, 408, 459, 464 namaycnsh 380, 387, 398, 400 San Diego whaling station 348, 350 San Francisco, shipments to China 131 San Francisco Bulletin, cited 139, 310 San Francisco Chronicle, cited 89 San I,nis, barkeutino 89, 310 San Luis Obispo whaling station 318 San Marcos River, carp planted in 135, 391 San Pedro whaling station 348 Page. San Simeon whaling station 347,348,350 Sand-dabs taken 376 Sand-dollars taken 370 Sandwich hatchery 55, .56 Sandwich Islands, fisheries 245 Sangamon River, carp planted in 13.5, 391 Saprolegnieaj 312 Saranac River, salmon planted in 409 Sarcina litoralis 3 morrhuiu 1,3 ventriculi 3 Sardine fisheries of Canada 5:! Franco 82, 220, 305, 408 Sars, Prof.GeorgoO 18,29 Sassafras River, shad planted in 290, 308, 430 Satilla River, caip planted in 135, 391 fishing for sturgeon 401 Saueiliofl; William P 290, 300, 406 S.avannah lii vcr, shad planted in 428 Sawyer, J.N 218 Saxicava 371 mactrasipho 370 Scallops taken 370,371 Scammon, Charles M., cited 346, 349 Scarecrow Island, whiteflsh planted near. 397 Scarus vetula 150 Scbizaster fragilis 374, 377, 378 Schizojiods, resembling young lobsters. - . 29 Schmidtb, Kjiirlio 238 Schoodic .salmon, di.stribution '. 388 Schuster, Carl 264 Schwab, L 144 Schwatka, Lieut. Frederick 402 Scolopendra.. 320 Scomber pelamys 149 scorabvus 300, 425 Scouibt>romorus maculatus 400 Scopclus 374, 381 Scotchler &, Gibbs 288 Scotland, codfish exported 311 fish conveyed inland by railways 4 15 lish-culture in... 408 fisheries of 81 salmon in 50,309 Scotsman, extracts from 75 Scudder, Charles W 409 Sculpins taken 379 Scup, inspection 48,416 Scymnus borealis 272 Sea-anemones taken 373 Sea-cucumber 333 Sea-flsherios of Franco, statistics of 219, 305 Norway ., 205 Sea-horse, killed by cold 123 Sea-lemons taken 370, 371 Sea-lions destroy salmon 280 on coast of Oregon 140 Sea-otter fisheries of Canada 54 J.apan 344,345 Sea-pens taken 374 Sea-.spidors taken 379 Searstrawborries taken 377 Sea-trout artificially spawned 308 in Florida 460 killed by cold 123 492 INDEX. Page. Sea-urcLlna taken 370, 371 Sea-weed fishciies of Japan 384 Seafonl, sli ad planted near 368,430 Seagle, George A 140, 400 trout to 397, 308 Seal fisheries 81 of Canada 54 Norway 82,83,272 Seals in Iceland 104 Seaveiois, schooner Jennie 40 Sc-bastes marinus 92, 378, 380 Seed, William 213 Scely, Uriah 407 Seines, fine-mesli, destroy uiaclierel 193 Senes, M 227 Sewage, poisonous effects on flsli 144 Seymour, Hon. E. W 407 Shad, abundance of 125, 201, 301 appearance 130 at Cape Cod 454 average price 294, 298, 301, 440 catch in Connecticut 297, 439 IJclawaro lliver 301 Hudson Kiver 294 caught during November 455 comparison of catch 438 deposited in Colorado lliver 431 Columbia Itiver 431 d istribntion of 385, 386, 389, 427 early 137 eggs collected at Battery Station . . 361 from Fish Hawk 305 Lookout 305 sent to Europe 431 size and number 400 fisheries of Canada 53 Florida 407 Potomac lliver 202 lishing in Saint John's River 401 from Florida 409 North Carolina 409 fry, distribution of 302, 362, 308 Jiatchiiig at P.al toy Station 301, 302, 364 ill (California 315, 415 (Connecticut, jdanting 405 Florida 96, 465 Mississippi lliver 315 North Caiollna 320 Ohio lliver 141 Saint Joliu's lliver 405 inspection 47, 48, 416 on Statcu Island 404 operations by Fish Hawk, record of 291 penning '. 303 projiagatiou, rcjiort 436 spawning in brackish water 455 work of Fish Hawk 289 Lookout 295 young, in lloiisalonio lliver 315 Shallotte lliver, dection 48, 416 killed by cold 123 Shellpot Creek, carp planted in 135,391 Shenandoah lliver, shad idauted in 428 Shepard, Joseph 461 Sherman, E. U 409 Shinklo, A 317 Shoals not found 309, 371 Shoal water Bay, salmon packed 400 Shohola Creek, trout planted in 397 Shore-whaling for finbacks in Maine 312 Shortlidge, E. C, fish sent to 289, 290, 291, 293, 395, 398 Shrcveport, carp planted near 135, 391 Shrimp fisheries of France 305 Shrimps in (Jhina, preparntion of 451 Florida 461,405 shipped to China 131 taken 370,371 Shrinkage of eggs in transportation 360 Shumagin Islands, codfish catch 90, 310 Siebold, Prof, von 446 referred to 222, 223 Siglin, Zachary T 140, 410 Silurus glanis 197 Silver salmon in Clackamas lliver 332 Silver trout in llood lliver 87 Simmonds, P. L., Commercial Products of of the Sea, cited 321, 327 Simmons, Newton 368, 385 Simouson, Carl, article bj- 152 Sistisrs, schooner, seized 192 Siuslaw Kiver, .salmon packed 400 salted.... 410 Skates taken 370 Skeena lliver, salmon packed 400 Skij) jacks, k illed by cold 1 23 Slayton, carp planted near 13.'), 391 Small, brig David A 245 Smelt fisheries of Canada 53 Smelts in British Columbia Ill taken in weirs 40 Smctlnnst, Philip, raiubow trout to 398 Smiley. Charles W., article by 47 Smith, E. L., article by 87 James A 289, 29."., .312 llobert 143 Sanderson 370 S. B., raiubow t rout to 398 Sidney 1 29 schooner George L 331 Margie 40 Smith's Inlet, salmon packed 400 Smith's lliver, salmon packed 400 Smoky lliver, shad planted in 389 Snake lliver, shad ]>laiited in 389 Snow, scrhoontT Abby A 106 Snyder, W. \V., lake trout to 399 Society Hill, carp planted near 391 Sodus Bay, whitefish planted near 396 Soles, food for -450 notes on 449 price of 450 received from England 312 INDEX. 493 Page. Soles, shipped froui Eughmd 440 8i)awiiinf; soason 450 iSopi^r. Adelburtr I'M Soiox fodiciis 337 South Ameiioa, codlish imported 311 South Aima lliver, cari» phmtfd iu 13r), 3!)1 South Caioliua, caip distriliutcd to 392 dciid tish ah)uj; coast 413 .UoMlLsh distributed to . . . 393 I'ocklish in 124 shad deposited 308 South ludiau Ucoan, good fishing ground. 80 South I'ark, i^arp phmted iu 135, 391 South Side Sportsmen's Chib 133,134 Spain, codlish iuii)ortt'd 311 market for sailed tongues 319 Spanish mackfrel 210 at Galveston 315 eggs, size and number. 400 iu Florida 77, 400 iu.spection 48,416 Speckled catlish, disease afl'ecting 404 iu North Carolina 404 SpLyrana barracuda 150 becuna 150 Spider-crabs taken 379 Spiny-crabs taken 370, 371 Spirling, abundance of 419 Sponge fishing near Appalachicola 140 S[ionges iu Florida 405 taken 373 Sporten, extract from 308 Spots, inspection 48, 410 S|)rat lislieries of Norway 271 Spring Kiver, trout planted in 447 Squam Kiver, landlocked salmon in 453 Squeteague, inspection 48,410 Sijuid, abundance of 419,423 Ijsheries of Canada 54 fishery of Japan 344, 345 taken 40,374 Stahrowski, Xaver von, article by 57 Stanford, Mr 452 Stange, J., article by C4 Stanley, carp jdanted near 310 Starfish destroy oysters 407 taken 373 Staten Island, shad in 1842 404 Statistics of Pacific coast 89 Staunton River, cai-p planted in 135, 391 Stearns, Silas, on Florida fisheries 76, 465 Stesdraau, I. G. W 448 Steel-head salmon in Clackamas Eiver . . . 332 Sterling,E 458 Stevenson, John, lake trout to 399 Sticbopus japonicus 384 Stizostedium 05^ 453 Stockbridge, schooner Seth 34, 107, 330 Stock-fish 209,311 Stomachs offish 145 Stone, Livingston, letter to 87 transplanting lobsters. 31,32 Stony Creek, shad planted in 428 near 428 Stony Point, shad eggs from 437 Page. Story, schooner Arthur D 40, 107, 243, 420, 423 DavidA 34 Joseph 40,50 Striped bass, eggs, size and number 406 in Hudson lUvor 137 Ilaritan r)ay 407 South Carolina 124 iuspoction 48, 410 taken at Battery Station. . . . 303 Stroml)us gigas 321 Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis 370 Stuart, William E 453 Sturgeon lislieries of Canada 54 in British Columbia Ill Florida 401,405 inspection 47, 48,410 shipped to Detroit 408 Sturgeon Point, whitefish planted near. .. 397 Sucklcy, George 87, 88 Sullivan, C.K 454 Sulphur-bottom whales, catch 350 Susiiuehanua liiver, carp planted in 135,391 shad planted in. 365, 308, 390, 429,430 Swan, James G 131, 141, 333, 452 Sweden, cai-p culture in 150 codfish imported 311 fisheries of 82 salmon fisheries iu 104 tench culture recommended 209 Sweeny, R. O., whitefish to 395 Switzerland, brook trout culture in 200 lish eggs to 129, 395, 397, 398 Swordfish, abundance of 33, 211, 381 landed at Gloucester. 39, 43, 212, 244, 275 mankUIed by 411,417 vessel struck four times by 143 Sydney hatchery 55 Syrski, Professor 222,224 Taal, Capt. J. n 199 Tadoussac hatchery 55 Tadpoles, eating carp eggs 458 Tailor shad, inspection 48, 410 Tailors, inspection 48, 416 Tallulah, carp planted near. 135 Tanks, eels iu 91 Tanner, Z. L 277, 309 Tanning nets iu Norway 104 Tapes stamiuea 393 Tar Kiver, shad plan ted in 429 Tari>um, killed by cold 123 Tarr, schooner Delia F 420 Tasmania, carp wanted in 451 Taunton River, shad idanted in 429 Taylor, J. Manigault ^ 413 TaylorsN ille, carp planted near 135 Temperature observations, record of 297 Tempo, journal, cited 181 Tench culture recommended in Sweden.. 209 Tennessee, carp distributed to 135,392 goldfish distributed to 393 Tensas River, carp planted in 135, 391 Terebratulina 378,380 494 INDEX. Page. Terra japonica 98 Turrapius in Florida 465 inspection 47 Totrodon niaculaLus 150 ocellatua 150 sceleratus 150 Tewk.sbury Ueservoir, carp planted in... 391 TexaH, c;irp distributed to 135, 392 goldlish distributed to 393 Thames River, sliad catch 298,439 jdantert in 405 Thr Needles, .shad planted near 428,431 Thompson, ^vliitelisli planted near 397 Thoroddsen, Thorvaldur 172 Thunder liay, whitetish planted near 397 Thunder tlioui^ht to kill fish 194 Thymallus vexillifer 258,200 vul;;aria 204 Tibbetts, N. V., article by 75 Tides Eddy, shad planted near 308, 430 Tillamook lliver, salmon packed 288,400 Toad tish, notice of development 4 'J'odd, J. E., cited 353, 359 Tomcod fisheries of Canada 54 in British Columbia Ill Toirilin, W. David. 411 Torpedoes, ex])losion on bottom 377,379 Torreli, Count Ij 181 Torres Strait, pearl tisheries 433 Torula morrhujc 318 liulviuata 2,4 Townsend, Charles H., on gray whales. . . 310 Townshend, Sniitli 47, 410 Trabut, Trof L 3 Trawiiny record of Albatross 277 Trcjjani; lisheries 333 of Jai)an 344,345 Treiuiu;;s, i>rei>ared for market 333 Tridacna gigas 321 Trocadero aquarium, cattish in 257 Trochus 180,182,183 al bidus 182 Tropliou elathratus 371 Tropic IJird, barkentine 89 Tropidoiiotns iiatrix 339 tessellatus 339 Trout at AhOhiud River Station 314 distributi(ui of 385 lishei ics of Canada .53 in Australia 109 Uritish Columbia Ill Iceland 101 ius]!C(tion 48, 4 10 planted in Helgiuiu 258 1 taly 204 shipped to Detroit 408 success with 144 Ttuiuble, E. S 452 J.C 452 Tni I ta f;i 1 io 2.58 lacustris 2.58 Tr\l)oni, Kili]), articles by 104, 150,209 Tucker, Hon. .1. II 117 Tnlly,W.r. 4.50 Pun n ies 305 Page. Turbinella scolyuius 321 Turbo olearius marmoratus 321 sarm.iticus 322 Tuibots received from England 312 Turner, H. W., cited 353. 359 .Turtles in Bahamas 120 Florida 405 inspection 47, 48, 410 Tuttle, J. S 133 Ty bring, Dr. Osciir 148 Ty nuns vulgaris 150 U. Ubler, P. R., cited 353, 358, 359 TTmpqua River, salmon packed 288, 400 salted 410 Unio 322 United States, cod exports and imports . . 311 Utah, carp distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to 393 Utilizing fish products 414 Utter, William 315 V. Vandalia, carp planted near 1 35, 391 "Venice, fish and oyster culture 177 Veiinau,. William 110 Venning, William n 143 Venus 180,185,327 gallina 183 Venus, schooner 417 Vermont, carp distributed to 392 Verona, trout planted near 448 Vessels employed in Potomae ri.slieiies.. 142 Vioa 185 Virchow, Professor 222, 223 Virginia, carj) distributed to 135, 392 goldlish distributed to 393 shad deposited 308 Vitality of carp 402 Vogel, Sir Julius 214, 395 Volunteer, sclioonor 10, 143 W. Wa irarapa hatchery 215 Waldeu Lake, lake trout jilauted in 399 Walen, schooner Edith S 40 Walker River, lake trout planted in 398 Wallacetowu hatchery 215 Wallula Junction, shad planted near 429 Walrus (islieiies of Norway 82, 83, 272 Ward, F. M 345 Washliurn, schooner Millie 273 Washington Territory, carp distributed to 392 fisheries of 132 memorial on tish . 132 salmon from 409 Washita River, carj) planted in 13.'-, 391 Water-bugs injuring fish 340, 353, 403, 4.")6 Water-gate, description of 303 Water-glass, use of 125, 344 Water sliniws, enemies of pond culture. . . 337 Waterliouse, Ca])tnin 401 Watson's Rock, not found :; 309 Waukegan, whitefisli planted near 396 INDEX. 495 Way Cioss, carp planted near 135, 391 "Wayin'sbofotigli, wliad pl.iiitod ucar 428 Woaklish in li;iritan J'.ay 107 iusporlion 41G Webb, Joliii G., article by 11 "Wobelliu Lake, lisli in 187 Weber, Eiit;iueor M 3"21 Webster, srlioonor Maria :329 AVeek ly News, cited 3'JO Weij;ctt,C Ui Wendt,C 156 Wer;:elaiid, G eneral 239 AVcst Fork Kiver, sliad planted iu 130 AVest Indies, cudtisb imported 311 West Point, shad planted near ; 428 West Virginia, carp distributed to 392 goldfish distributed to. . . . 393 shad deposited 308 • Western Bank, dredgin;;s on ;!7C Wetberell, schooner M. L 329 Whale lisheries 81 of Norway . 82, 272 Whale-oil, price of 350 Whales, abundance of 201 iu Karitan Bay 407 Whaling fleet of Provincetown 215 statistics on Pacific : .. 89 Wharff, scliooner Sarah C 95, lOG White, B. B 4(14 White House Landing, shad eggs from. . . 437 Station, shad planted near. 428 White perch, insjtection 48,41(1 White Kiver, trout pUmtcd iu 448 Whiteflsh, breeding in Canada 55, 50 distribution of 385, 380, 395 eggs, shrinkage iu transport.. 300 size and number. 400 to Switzerland 129 fisheries of Canada j3, 54 fry, results of planting 411 shipped from Alpena 397 Northville .. 396 growth of 314 large 138 planted in inland lakes 422 shipped to Detroit 108 Whitehead, A 122 Whiting, appearance of 137 fisheries of Canada 54 habits of 208 I'ago. Whiting iu British Columbia Ill Wicomi<^o Kiver, shad planted in 368, 430 Wilcox, W. A 143, 41 1 , 412, 4 17 ouNew England fisheries. .33, 39, 43, 45,49,79,94,100,191,200, 210,241,273,328,418,423 Willamette Kiver, shad planted in. 389, 390, 429, 431 Wilicox, Joseph 123 Williams, Samuel E., rainbow trout to... 398 schooner Alice M 34, 41 Will's Creek, shad planted in 428 Wilmington, carp planted near 135, 391 shad ))Ianted near 430 Wilson, Tliouias, United States Consul .. 198 Winchester, carp planted near 391 Winnonish fisheries of Canada 54 Winter shad, inspection 48, 410 Wisconsin, earj) distributed to 392 Withlaeoochee Kiver, sliad ]ilautcd in .. 308,430 Wittmack, Prof. Louis, cited 209 Wonson, schooner John F 330 Wood Bridge, carp jdanted near 135, 391 shad pLinted near 428 Wood Lawn, carp planted near 135, 391 Woodbury sliad fishery 291, 292, 293 Woodruff, schooner Henry S 211 Wood's Holl, little round clams to 394 Woods, schooner lli'uri N 40, 50 Woodward, W. S , brook trout to 397 Worth, S.G 320 Wright,Henry 131 Prof J. W. A 458 N.A 137 Wyoming, carp distributed to 392 goldfish di.'stributed to 393 Wy I beville, distribntiou from 385, 387 T. Yates, Lawrence, lake trout lo 399 Yellow perch, inspection 48,410 Yoldia thraciformis 374 Yonghioghony Kiver, shad ])lauted in . . . 429 Youngstown, carp planted near 391 Z. Zacharias, Otto, article by 445 Zaitha 353, 355, 356 lliiminoa 356,358 Zauesville, carp planted near 391 Zostera 184 MBL WHOI LIBRARY lA liJH Z A 301 c