360 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



no.— siiunvjKAUn: oi' \viiiTi<:i'iwii i!:<i4>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: 



The increase in bulk due to returning the eggs to water amounts to 

 llif per cent. 

 Washington, D. C, January 27, 1887. 



