XXI -HATCHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIA SALMON. 



A— EEPORT ON CALIFORNIA SALMON SPAWN HATCHED 



AND DISTPvlBUTED. 



By J. H. Slack, M. D. 



Sir: The first consignment of spawn from California arrived on the 

 evening of September 30, 1873. The weather for the previous few days 

 had been warm, the thermometer ranging from 70° to 75° at noon. 

 The spawn was contained in two packing-boxes inclosed in an open 

 crate, the spaces between the boxes and crate being filled with hay. 

 This hay was rotten, and the boxes exhaled a peculiar and, alas, too 

 well-known odor, showing that a portion at least of the spawn was not 

 only dead, but decomposed. The boxes were at once removed to the 

 hatching-house and opened. Temperature of the air, 62°; interior of 

 upper box, 74°; lower box, 84°. The temperature of the water being 

 50°, it was feared that if at once unpacked, the sudden change would 

 be fatal. Water was therefore warmed to 70° and allowed slowly to 

 percolate through the boxes, the temperature being gently lowered. 

 About twelve hours elapsed before the temperature of 50° was obtained. 

 The work of unpacking then commenced. Many of the spawn were 

 completely rotten; others had burst, and long vermiform masses of 

 albumen had been ejected; these, I afterward ascertained, were re- 

 garded by some as maggots. From the entire mass of spawn, said to 

 number 150,000, only about 25,000 were saved, and about three days 

 labor of two persons was required for the unpacking. The living spawn 

 were all taken from the upper layers of the upper box; the entire con- 

 tents of the lower box appeared putrid. However, they were emptied 

 into a pond, and from careful examination of the water a few weeks 

 subsequently, a number of living fishes were found. The good eggs 

 were placed upon grilles, and in less than a week all were hatched. 

 The mortality among the young was very slight. 



The second lot of spawn arrived October 15, at 8 p. in., accompanied 

 by Mr. Myron Green. On inspection, they appeared much shrunken, 

 but otherwise in good order. Temperature of interior of boxes, 54°, 

 56°; air, 52°. A gentle current of water at 50° was allowed to pass 

 through the boxes for fourteen hours ; at the end of which period the 

 eggs were found to be pluini) and the embryos lively. Two days were 

 employed in unpacking them, and for a few days all seemed well, the 



