72 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



which was equipped for the purpose with jars, cans, and other appa- 

 ratus. The trip was completed Decem})cr 1 1 , on whicli date 7,381 ,000 

 Hve eggs, out oi an original consignment of 34,430,000, were delivered 

 at the station. Li connection with this shipment, and also those 

 made on previous occasions, every possible attention had been given 

 the eggs en route; the water was changed at frequent intervals, 

 and the eggs were packed and handled by different methods. In 

 view of the extremely poor results attained, it can only be concluded 

 that it is not practicable to transport long distances such delicate, 

 sensitive egg's as those of the pollock. From the eggs received only 

 3,346,000 fry were obtained for distribution. 



During the fall the superintendent purchased a carload consign- 

 ment of 6,420 lobsters, had them prepared under his direction for 

 transfer to the Pacific coast, and personally accompanied the ship- 

 ment. The trip across the continent consumed less time than in 

 former years, and the results were very encouraging, there being a loss 

 of less than 10 per cent and all of the survivors being liberated in most 

 excellent condition. 



At the beginning of the fiscal year, comparatively small numbers of 

 lobster and mackerel eggs were midergoing incubation at the Glou- 

 cester station, and additional collections of these species and of the 

 butterfish were obtained, hatched, and distributed during July. 



Pollock propagation was undertaken on November 1, 1916, under 

 concUtions wliich it was feared would greatly handicap the work. 

 The schooner Grampus, whose crew had for 20 years acted as spawn 

 takers for the station, was assigned to other duty, making it neces- 

 sary to train a new force of men to take spawn. The results of tliis 

 change were noticeable at first, but by the time eggs were available, 

 in large numbers, the character of the work of the new men had 

 materially improved. Between November 1 and January 27, 

 2,081,000,000 eggs were taken, and during the height of the season, in 

 December, when the daily collections frequently reached from 

 50,000,000 to 100,000,000, and on one occasion to 161,000,000 eggs, 

 the hatchery became so crowded that it was necessary at times to 

 plant the oldest eggs in the house to provide room for new acquisi- 

 tions. The total number disposed of in this manner aggregated 

 614,530,000, all of which were deposited in open watei-s off Cape Ann. 

 One sliipment of 34,430,000 was forwarded to Boothbay Harbor 

 station and the remainder produced 856,220,000 fry, which were 

 distributed along the Massachusetts shore from Rockport to Marble- 

 head. From the close of the pollock season, near the end of Febru- 

 ary, the weather was too cold for successful egg collections. During 

 that period Gloucester Harbor was completely frozen over for several 

 days as far as the breakwater at its entrance, and as the station was 

 short of fuel the entire force, including tlie spawn takei-s, was utilized 

 in carrying coal from Rocky Neck to the hatchery, using an old sleigh 

 and small hand sleds for transporting it over the ice. 



Between February 27 and April 13, 1917, 92,340,000 cod eggs 

 were taken at Gloucester, yielding 62,790,000 fry, which wore planted 

 in adjacent waters. In adcUtion 3,820,000 cod fry were developed 

 from a shipment of eggs foiwarded to Gloucester from the Woods 

 Hole station, during a period of congestion in that hatchery. Egg- 

 collecting operations wore seriously curtailed during Mai'ch and April 

 by the spring freshets. Cod eggs in abundance were available at 



