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 



