BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 409 



There are certain birds which, by llyiug above the shoals of fish, iu- 

 dicate to the fishermen where these shoals are to be found. When a 

 shoal is discovered, the sails are lowered, the nets arranged and cast 

 into the sea, the bait is scattered, and the sardines are speedily captured. 



The fish are prepared for market as soon as possible. Women cut oft 

 the heads of the sardines, clean the fish, and place them one l\y one on 

 slabs of stone or marble, on which salt has been scattered. 



While this is being done, fires are lighted and large kettles are filled 

 with olive oil of superior quality. When it begins to boil, the sardines 

 are placed in laj'ers in iron-wire baskets provided with handles. These 

 baskets and their contents are then plunged into the boiling oil, after 

 which they are put on shelves to drain, from which they are taken to 

 the drying place, where they are sorted according to size. 



Sardines packed in tin boxes are the object of special care. After 

 the fish are put in, the boxes are filled with fresh oil and hermetically 

 sealed, which sealing is tested by plunging them for some seconds into 

 boiling water. Those not perfectly closed leak at this test, and the 

 work must be done over again. 



This maritime industry in France during a good season occupies from 

 25, 000 to 30,000 fishermen. During 1886, however, the season was very 

 unfavorable, and the fishermen are in distress. [From the Moniteur de 

 la Pisciculture, &c., 2d year. Series C, Xo. 24, Paris, France.] 



Trout and California salmon in Australia. — The Melbourne 

 Argus gives an interesting account of the successful conveyance and 

 distribution of over 13,000 young fry of salmon-trout and brown trout 

 reared from fish acclimatized at Sir Samuel Wilson's fish-hatching estab- 

 lishment at Ercildoune, Victoria. These fry were placed in 22 different 

 streams and rivers with scarcely any loss, although carried great dis- 

 tances. From the same paper it appears that the California salmon intro- 

 duced into Australian waters some years ago by Sir Samuel Wilson have 

 been caught in various places up to 7 pounds weight. 



Salmon fry planted in New York waters.— Gen. E. U. Sher- 

 man, one of the fish commissioners of New York, writing from New Hart- 

 ford, N. Y., on December IG, 18SG, says: 



" The fry of Salmo solar and Salmo salar sebago hatched last winter at 

 the Cold Spring Harbor station and planted in the Sarauac and St. Regis 

 Rivers seem to have been a success, as numbers of the young fish 4 

 or 5 inches in length were seen in these waters last fall. These streams 

 communicate with the St. Lawrence River, up which the Salmo salar 

 have been accustomed to ascend and distribute themselves in the tribu- 

 tary streams from the first discovery of these waters. 



Salmon from Washington Territory and shad fro3i Florida 

 AND North Carolina. — Mr. E. G. Blackford, writing from Fulton 

 Market, New York City, oii December 13, 1S8G, says: 



" We are receiving in this market at present a number of salmon from 

 Washington Territory, which are spawned mal3 salmon and are of brill- 

 iant hues with horribly distorted heads. 



