464 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



being- very delicate aud sensitive to extremes of temperature. In the 

 present state of our knowledge, it would be impossible to carry the eggs 

 that distance; and until we can succeed in transporting the eggs or very 

 young fish to England, we may safely give up any more ambitious 

 attempt. There would be no great difficulty in transporting the eggs 

 of the trout from England to India. They could be packed in ice, which, 

 if renewed from time to time on the journey, would keep them in proper 

 condition. We have several times sent salmon eggs to Australia and 

 New Zealand with excellent results. Whitefish eggs, also, could be 

 sent; but this fish will survive only in deep lakes of cold water, where 

 the temperature does not rise above 50 or 60 degrees Fahr. 



We have no purely freshwater mullet in the eastern United States. 

 There are, however, several species in the West Indies, and one in the 

 Sandwich Islands, which are strictly freshwater in their character; 

 although I doubt whether they would be better than those you can 

 obtain nearer home. 



Wood's Holl, Mass., August 13, 1885. 



163 THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IIV FISHING. 



By LIEUI.-COMMANDER Z. JL. TANNER, U. S. N. 



[Reply to Oscar Hatfield. U. S. Consul at Batavia.] 



I have received the letter from the American consulate at Batavia, 

 dated July 10, 1885, with reference to the use of electric lights for fish- 

 ing.* In reply I beg to say that electric lights are in constant use on 

 board the Albatross in our work of investigations. We have used an 

 arc light hung near the water, but the form in use at present, whieh has 

 been most successful, is an Edison incandescent lamp attached to an 

 insulated cable. Although certain species of fish iu rivers, aud near the 

 coast, are attracted by a bright light, sea fish, as a rule, are rather 

 repelled by it than otherwise. We do not use the light for the capture 

 of edible fish, but only in collecting minute forms of crustaceans and sur- 

 face specimens which we could not procure by any other means. My 

 opinion is that the electric light would be of very little service in sea 

 fishing. 



Wood's Holl, Mass., August 25, 1885. 



- The letter was as follows : 



"Some tune ago a company was started here for the purpose of fishing by electric 

 light. A variety of apparatus, &c, was ordered and received from Europe, a steamer 

 was especially constructed, &c.,but the company cannot catch any fish. The result 

 is an apparent failure and the loss of the funds invested. 



" It appears, however, that at home your department maintains a steamer called the 

 Albatross, on which an electric tishiug apparatus is in good working order, and I have 

 been asked by the company here to ascertain if this is so, and if so, they would be 

 very much indebted for information regarding it. What system or patent is worked ? 

 Where can it be purchased ? Any hints upon the subject will be thankfully received." 



