RKPOKT OK TlIK COM M ISSlOX Kl{ Ol' l-'ISl I i:i{I KS. 51 



It has been noted that ihc l)uiralolisli is very iiTe<i;uhir in its niove- 

 mejits, apparent!}' spa\vnin<2; without reference to weather conditions 

 or k)ealitY, and thereby increasin<^ the dillicidties connected with its 

 artificial ])ropagation bi considerable numbers. Some difficulty was 

 ex])erienced in hatchmg the eggs obtained, owing either to improper 

 handling hi the jars or to tlieii- immaturity. The fry that hatched 

 broke the shell in from 15 to 17 days, in a water temperature varying 

 from 58° to 61° F. There was some variation hi the size of the eggs, 

 which ran from 13 to 15 to the linear mcli after water hardening and 

 about 21 to the inch when first taken. It was decided that 14 to the 

 hich was a fair average, and, takhig this as a basis, 180,000 eggs were 

 figured to the quart. 



The fry of the small-mouth buffalo are very active, m contrast to 

 the young of the black and common species, which remain dormant 

 in the jars after hatchmg. 



The nets of the commercial fishermen w^ere the mam dependence 

 for eggs, a source which" proved unreliable. It was intended to test 

 thoroughly the feasibility of penning fish m natural ponds, but con- 

 tuiued high water interfered with this plan and it was necessary to 

 hold them m ovei-flowed grounds along the river. In order to attain 

 success m the buffalo work it is believed the adult fish wUl have to be 

 under control during the whole of the spawning season, and as it is 

 impracticable to hold them in crates or live cars dependence must bo 

 placed on ponds of natural construction, thus restricting the work to 

 permanent stations within easy reach of the rivers from which the 

 fish are obtained. 



Sturgeon work in Minnesota. — The sturgeoii investigations in prog- 

 ress ui the Lake of the Woods at the close of the preceding year, under 

 the general direction of the superintendent of the Dulutli station, were 

 continued m 1912. Early in March, in advance of the supposed 

 spawning season, fyke nets were mstalled m the Rainj^ River hi an 

 attempt to intercept aU sturgeon ascendmg to the spawnhig gi-ounds 

 above. Ko ripe fish were taken in these nets, nor from those operated 

 later hi the season m the open lake by commercial fishermen. Two 

 adults from the Bureau's nets and several from the pound nets were 

 placed hi a pen in the river durmg May for observation. Wlien 

 exanmicd late in June the specimens were found to contam eggs or 

 milt in various stages of development, but none of them was ripe, 

 and at the end of the year the investigations had revealed no definite 

 knowledge as to the spawiimg habits of the fish. 



Ejf'fcis of volcanic erwption in Alaska. — By the eruption of Mount 

 Katmai on June 6 the islands of Kodiak and Afognak were covered 

 to a depth of 2 to 12 inches with sand and ashes, and large numbei-s of 

 salmon which were ascendhig streams in the vichiity were destroyed. 

 It was estimated that 8,000 dead fish were observed on the shore at 



