200 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



jars each. Kockweed or moss, together with ice or snow, is used in 

 packing- them, the former being i)hiced around the jars and the latter 

 put in the bottom, sides, and top of the case to keep the eggs cool. 

 Successful shii^meuts are often made by express. 



Some difficulty has been experienced in keeping large lots of eggs 

 over night at Kittery Point, as the facilities are insufficient for chang- 

 ing water or for spreading the eggs out toovercimie the injurious effects 

 of i^rolonged crowding; but when it is necessary to so retain them, they 

 are put iu McDonald jars in which the water is changed as often as the 

 supply will permit. As the water in the harbor is partly fresh and 

 unfit for this purpose, it is necessary for spawn-takers to bring iu a 

 supply from the open bay in large transportation cans. 



CAPTURINO AND PENNING BROOD COD. 



Practically all of the cod fry hatched at Woods Hole prior to 1896 

 represented eggs taken from penned fish. Some of the cod collected 

 for breeders are caught by the crew of the Fish Commission schooner 

 Grampus and some are i)urchased from commercial fishermen. Two 

 or more smacks usually engage in fishing for the station during the 

 collecting season, which is from about October 1 to November 30. The 

 grounds resorted to are east of Nantucket and around Block Island. 

 The fish are takeu with hand lines fished from the deck while the vessel 

 is drifting, in water from 10 to 40 fathoms deep. Those taken iu the 

 shoaler water are preferable to those coming from deep water, as the 

 change to the shallow cars in which they are held at the station is less 

 pronounced. Great care is exercised in catching the fish, for when 

 hastily hauled up from deep water they are very liable to be " poke- 

 blown," that is, they have their stomachs turned inside out through the 

 mouth. When drawn in with moderate speed, they become adapted to 

 the gradually diminishing pressure and do not suffer injury. It is also 

 important in unhooking the fish not to injure its mouth any more than 

 is absolutely necessary, as the wound caused by the hook frequently 

 spreads and forms a large sore and eventually kills the fish. All the 

 vessels which collect cod for the station are provided with wells in which 

 the fish are placed and held while in transit. 



"When a vessel arrives at the station with cod, the fish are immedi- 

 ately transferred with dip nets from the well to live cars IG feet long, 

 6 feet wide, and 5 feet deep, which arc constructed of wood and divided 

 into two compartments by a crosswise partition. As the fish obtained 

 from smacks are paid for by the pound, it is customary to weigh about 

 10 per cent of each load and estimate the total weight b}^ the average 

 of those weighed. While being weighed, the cod are also counted, 

 about 500 being init in each car. The cars are moored in the middle 

 of a pool or basin protected on all sides by a wharf, which breaks the 

 force of the sea iu stormy weather and affords a sheltered place for 

 handling the fish and taking the eggs. 



Cod take little or no food when spawning. The impounded brood 

 fish are often tempted with fresh fish and with fresh and salted clams, 



