20 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The majority of the brood fish used at the station were caught in the 

 vicinity of Block Island and IsTantucket, aud were of three kinds, as 

 recognized by the fishermen, though all beh)ng to the species Gadus 

 callarias — school cod, ground cod, and rock cod. The first were taken 

 off Block Island, and the others from Nantucket Slioals. The eggs 

 of the school cod were clear, transparent, and almost crystal; those of 

 the ground cod were much darker, while those of the rock cod were 

 deep orange in color. All of them, however, were subject to slight varia- 

 tions, according to the color of the fish producing them. The eggs of 

 the school cod gave the best results, and this is regarded of more impor- 

 tance as a brood fish. The ground cod possesses lew qualities to 

 recommend it for this purpose, and it spawns so late that it is almost 

 certain to be killed by cold weather before it can be used. 



The following table gives an idea of the relative value as egg-pro- 

 ducers of the fishes from the fishing-grounds referred to : 



After January 1 the fish became mixed, and it was impossible to keep 

 accurate records. To avoid the loss of fish usually occurring in Jan- 

 uary from anchor frost, 283 of the best ones were transferred from the 

 live-cars early in the month to tanks under tlie hatchery. This proved 

 of no use, however, as they died at about the same time as the balance 

 of the stock, which were left in the cars, when the temperature reached 

 28|°. The loss was of but little importance, as most of the fish had 

 spawned. About 13,600,000 eggs were in the hatchery when the anchor 

 frost appeared, including 7,770,000 received from Kittery Point, Me. 

 Although development seemed almost at a standstill, it was thought the 

 eggs wMjuld pull through, but after ten days a change was noted and 

 they began to waste away. They seemed to break up and go to pieces, 

 filling the hatching-box with fragments of shells an d premature fish. 

 This wasting process continued until the number was reduced to 

 2,897,000 good eggs and 10,000 fry. As these had been in the hatchery 

 for fifty-one days, it was deemed advisable to plant them in the harbor. 

 It is interesting to note that at this time there were 20,000 fry ten days 

 old in the hatchery which did not appear to suffer any loss of strength 



and Avere very Aveak. The 20,000 referred to were held until they were 

 twenty-seven days old, and specimens of them were preserved. Tbe 

 cod work, as a whole, was the most successful ever done at the station, 

 the take of eggs exceeding by 18,000,000 any number secured before, and 

 11,000,000 more fry were distributed. The number of brood fish was 

 about the same as in previous years, and the increase was largely 

 due to the improved quality of the breeders, also to the favorable 

 weather, which permitted of daily overhauling. As usual, this branch 

 of the W'Ork was under the direction of Alex. Jones, the fish-cnlturist. 



