BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION. 287 



interior, on account of the difficulty in transporting them in good con- 

 dition to distant points, and because the Western markets are at the 

 time glutted with cheaper fish from the Great Lakes. It would seem 

 desirable to have some good tish, like the red snapper or striped bass, 

 in such abundance during the winter months that the people of, the 

 South and West could depend upon a reasonably constant supply. The 

 rapid exhaustion of the old red-snapper grounds leads me to believe 

 that these tish are not holding their own against the inroads of man, 

 and their habits and life history show that they cannot do so. 



Aside from the work of ascertaining the best way to propagate Gulf 

 tish*, and of introducing new species there, the information so gained 

 would be of value to the South Atlantic coast. The striped bass oc- 

 curs in the Northern Gulf waters, but not abundantly. It is always in 

 hue condition when captured, and is highly esteemed as food. Spawn- 

 ing adults and theyoungfish are occasionally taken. Besides trying to. 

 discover the best way to hatch the common native fishes and others, it 

 would be well also to try to determine the results of the stocking with 

 shad and salmon of the Southern rivers that empty into the Gulf. Prob- 

 ably an intelligent use of gill-nets at the mouths of these rivers at the 

 proper season would be of value in that direction. 



Any work of propagation done on the coast of Texas, or reliable in- 

 formation concerning the improvement of the tish supply of that State, 

 would be heartily appreciated by a people who at present are in great 

 need of good food-fish. While engaged in work of a practical nature, 

 there would be opportunity for making large collections of specimens, 

 and many things could be preserved that would be of scientific value 

 to the National Museum, while a thorough study of the marine inver- 

 tebrates would be of special value and interest, since so little has been 

 done in that direction in these waters. The force at work would be 

 qualified to make such collections. A small beam-trawl could be worked 

 with good results, in thesamemannerasfromrheEugiish sailing trawler; 

 and if it was found advisable to have some hatching apparatus on board, 

 there would be ample room for placing a small engine and hatching- 

 jars. 



Pensacola, Fla., April 20, 1885. 



S5.-rROPAGATIOIV OF SALMOIV IN SALMON RIVER, OSWEGO 



COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



By JOIL\ D. COLLINS. 



I have been greatly interested in the spawning efforts of the 8almo 

 solar in Salmon River for several years, and have wondered that the 

 subject has not long ago attracted more attention. The following de- 

 tails are not upon personal knowledge, but were related to me by Mr. 

 Gross, of Pulaski, X. Y., now deceased, who in his lifetime owned the 



