EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXI 



The first eggs are usually obtained by the middle of November, but in such small num- 

 bers that it would be impossible to make up a quarter million for one trausmissiou. 

 This is one of the most difficult points for large transports. The institution receives 

 from 20,000 to 30,000 eggs per day, and, taking into account the considerable loss 

 in the incipient hatching, \_A71hruten,'] it requires from twelve to fifteen days to col- 

 lect a quarter of a million. With so great a difference in time of collecting, the eggs 

 are, of course, not ready for transportation at the same time. It is true, at the very 

 height of the season we obtain occasionally 80,000 to 100,000 eggs a day, and we have 

 to arrange that such days be reserved for the intended large collection. These days 

 mostly occur about the middle of December, and the eggs to be sent to America could not 

 leave our place before the middle of January, since about five weeks are necessary for 

 the incipient hatching. Besides, the day of sailing of the steamers has to be taken into 

 consideration, and I believe there are only two trips per month during the winter- 

 season. These are difficulties, to meet and to overcome which we have only the power 

 in part ; still I hope for good success. I consider it an affair of honor, and mention the 

 manj' difficulties only to explain a possible mishap. 



The sending of one-quarter million of eggs will require twenty-five single parcels, 

 each consisting of two double boxes. Each parcel weighs about 10 pounds, and thus the 

 whole 250 pounds, or 2| hundred-weight. Believing it to be absolutely necessary that an 

 expert should accouipaniy the transport to Hamburg or Bremen, and direct the suitable 

 packing there, the expenses will be quite considerable, scarcely less than 100 thaler's 

 per hundred-weight. 



Since our institution furnishes the eggs gratis, and no funds are available to me for 

 defraying expenses, I respectfully ask to have by the end of the year a sum of money 

 of the above amt)uut placed at my disposal, so that no delay may be caused by its 

 want. 



Accurate accounts will be rendered in time. 



HAACK, Director. 



Prof S. P. Baird. 



As a still larger number of eggs was considered desirable, at the sug- 

 gestion of iMr. Hessel, I applied to Oberbiirgermeister Schuster, of Frei- 

 burg, and ordered from him half a million eggs, which he agreed to 

 furnish at the very reasonable price of two thalers per thousand, (their 

 actual cost amounted to $1.67 currency per 1,000,) guaranteeing them 

 to be taken from large healthy fish. These were also placed in charge 

 of Mr. Hessel for shipment, who finally agreed to accompany the two sets 

 of eggs to Xew York for the greater certainty of their reception in good 

 condition. 



As is well known, the best period for transporting salmon-eggs is when 

 they are about half hatched, or when the eyes are visible through the 

 envelope. They are then put up in damp moss in shallow boxes, and 

 inclosed in other dampened receptacles. In this condition they may be 

 kept out of water for a long time. Indeed, the eggs are not infrequently 

 hatched out in the moss itself, if kept long enough, without being placed 

 in water at all. Mr. Norris gives an instance of this kind in regard to 

 some eggs which had been shipped from the Wilmot establishment at 

 Ontario, a portion of them, that had been thrown aside with the damp 

 moss having subsequently hatched, and this has since been confirmed 

 by the experience of the commission. 



• Owing to the fact that the water at the Hliningen establishment was 

 warmer than that at Freiburg, the eggs presented by the German gov- 



