18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



water in the harbor to become so roily that it was imi)ossible to wash 

 the sediment from the eggs. Very few fry were hatched from the 

 9,085,000 eggs received in February, and none of them lived. This 

 was due to the low temj)erature of the water, which fell to 29^ F. and 

 continued cold until March 2G. The fry appeared to lack sufficient 

 strength to break out of the shell, and on March 19 the remainder of 

 the eggs (2,110,000) were put overboard, preparatory to the closing 

 of the station on March 26. 



Woods Hole Station, Massachusetts (John Maxwell, Superintendent). 



During the summer a museum and aquarium were installed in the 

 northeast section of the first floor of the laboratory building. The 

 aquaria were made of wood, with glass fronts, and are of the following 

 dimensions and capacity : 



Five aquaria, with glass 6 feet 4^ inches long by 2 feet 5 inches wide by 1 inch 



thick; length, 6 feet 9 inches; capacity, 400 gallons. 

 Two aquaria, with glass 4 feet 5| inches long by 2 feet 5 inches wide by 1 inch 

 thick; length, 4 feet 10 inches; capacity, 300 gallons. 



The tanks were cased in with ornamental panel work of cypress, and 

 were api^ropriately decorated in the interior with cement and stone by 

 L. G. Harron, the superintendent of the aquarium at Washington. 

 The total cost of the aquarium, including the purchase of all material 

 and labor, was $1,080. 



Fifteen of the exhibition cases received from the World's Columbian 

 Exposition were placed in the Zoological Museum and two in the hall 

 entrance to the museum. In these were exhibited the various specimens 

 of salt and fresh water fishes and other animals in alcohol and stuffed. 

 A number of changes were made in the system of water supply, and 

 hard-rubber jet-cocks were substituted for brass in the laboratory and 

 hatching-room. The residence, laboratory, water tower, storehouse, 

 and coalhouse were painted and other minor changes made. A brick 

 chimney, 55 feet in height, was built, adding greatly to the efficiency of 

 the steam plant. Four McDonald cod tables were added to the hatching 

 equipment, which increased the hatching capacity about 10,000,000; 

 also G tables for hatching lobster eggs. The McDonald cod boxes 

 superseded the Chester jars which had been in use at the station for a 

 number of years. 



A southeasterly storm of unusual severity, which occurred on January 

 26, caused considerable damage to the stone pier at breakwater, which 

 constitutes the harbor of refuge at the station. The work of repairing 

 the wharf was commenced on April 27, under the direction of the Engi- 

 neer Corps, and was in progress until tlie end of the fiscal year. 



God. — The first consignment of brood codfish was received from the 

 schooner Gramjnis on October 4, and during the season 1,022 were 

 derived from the same source. In addition to this, 1,700 were pur- 

 chased from fishing smacks, making a total of 3,322 brood fish. These 

 were kept in live-cars at the station until ready to spawn, being fed 

 daily on sea clams, quahogs, and small fishes caught in the fyke nets, 



