BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 225 



thus easy to transport. In case yon want carp again write me early. I 

 think the followin.u- way would be best and cheapest: I woukl go after 

 the carp to the ponds wliere they are caught, taking with lue an assist- 

 ant to carry the tish to Bremen, and I wouhl settle with the Lloyd Com- 

 pany and with the captain of the steamer — some of whom I know per- 

 sonally — oifer him a reward in order to have one of the crew look after 

 the lishes several times a day. As the weather is cold in November, 

 the lishes will require no other attention than fresh water occasionally, 

 and this can as well be given by a common sailor. When the steamer 

 arrives you could send an experienced man to convey them to their 

 place of destination. In this way the expense would be much dimin- 

 ished, and I shall be able to have the necessary' funds here. You will 

 trust me to do all I can, jnst as I did this time. But now circumstances 

 were against me, and I regret that I was not better able to fulfdl your 

 expectations. But Mr. Welsher Avill tell you that I neglected nothing. 

 As I have told you before, the carp we obtained are not true carp, but 

 a hybrid form ; it T\ill be of less importance if Mr. Welsher does lose them. 

 They were injured in catching, not being handled carefully, some of them 

 showing spots destitute of scales, and these specimens will surely 

 starve. Such fish, when they lose slime and scales, are sure candidates 

 for death. 



In regard to the shad, Mr. Welsher will tell you. After his statement, 

 lam sure the eggs were spoiled before they reached the steamer, so 

 that it would not be correct to say they died at sea. As the batching 

 apparatus of Mr. Green is no doubt perfect, I see no reason why the fishes 

 could not be hatched on the rente. It has never been tried before to 

 carry shad eggs by railway, and experience has shown that this spoils 

 the eggs, as they are too delicate to endure the shocks. But I believe 

 if they were taken down the Hudson in a small steamer they would 

 reach the Lloyd steamer in safety, and, with INTessrs. Welsher and Green, 

 I believe they would have been hatched successfully. So if there is 

 courage enough to try them the third time, it will be successful. I know 

 you have uinch perseverance, and I am in hopes that next year you will 

 make a new exxjeritnent. In this case it would be best not to take men 

 who have already crossed the ocean. But I will say no more on this 

 subject at present. 



I hope this letter will give you all the information you wish, and so I 

 will close. Accept my best compliments and the expression of my kind- 

 est regards. 



Ever yours, very truly, 



O. FINSCH. 



Bull. U. S. F. C, 81 15 



]VlarcU94, 1882. 



