PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923, 49 



planted by means of the station steamer and several motor boats on 

 the spawning grounds from which the eggs were derived. 



A peculiarity in connection with the work was the scarcity of 

 winter flounder in Linekins Bay, heretofore the most prolific field 

 covered by the station operations. This year practically no results 

 were obtained from the nets set in the bay, while those in eastern 

 waters yielded a large number of fish of greater than average size. 



During the year a large amount of minor repair and improvement 

 work was done on station buildings, boats, machinery, and other 

 equipment, practically all of it being accomplished by the statutory 

 employees attached to the station. 



A most interesting and educational exhibit of the marine life of 

 the region was maintained in the hatching room of the station dur- 

 ing the summer months and attracted a large number of visitors. 

 The exhibit was discontinued early in September to save fuel. 



GLOUCESTER (MASS.) STATION. 

 [C. G. Corliss. Superintendent.] 



A number of important items of repair work were made at this 

 station during the year. New joists and new double flooring were 

 laid in the hatchery and the roof of the building was reshingled. 

 The boiler and pump house was enlarged to permit of the installa- 

 tion of a new horizontal boiler and a better arrangement of some 

 of the machinery. To increase the amount of Avorking space two 

 small wooden extensions set on concrete foundations and conform- 

 ing in style to the old construction were annexed to the sides of this 

 building, and a concrete pit, 4 by 11 feet in area and 3 feet deep. 

 Avas built into the extension of the pump room for the condenser 

 and circulating pump. 



The outer end of the wharf was extended 9 feet along its entire 

 front, thus giving greater stability to the entire structure and per- 

 mitting of the projection of the suction line into deeper water. 

 Other needed repairs were made to the foundation of the wharf, and 

 several important changes were made in the steam plant with the 

 view to increasing its efficiency and effecting economy in coal con- 

 sumption. 



In the prosecution of the pollock work the same adverse condi- 

 tions contended with last year were again in evidence, operating in 

 some respects with even greater force than in 1922, and as a result 

 the collection of eggs was greatly reduced as compared with the 

 average of recent years. There appeared to be an abundance of 

 pollock on the inshore fishing grounds, but, owing probably to food 

 conditions, the fish were constantly shifting about. This not only 

 curtailed the daily catch of fish, but entailed a serious loss of time 

 in resetting the nets. 



The unusually small force of spaAvn takers available for making 

 egii: collections was compelled by circumstances to work on smaller 

 fishing boats than formerly and with a feAv exceptions these boats 

 were equipped with old nets, which had to be favored in l)ad 

 weather, thus causing the loss of many days when fishing might have 

 been profitably conducted had proper equipment been available. All 

 these factors operated to reduce the egg collections. 



