88 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Woods Hole Station, Massachu.sett.s (John Maxwell, Superintendent). 



Operations were on the usual basis, fish-cultural work consuming 

 about eight mouths of the year. A large amount of interesting and 

 valuable material, consisting of marine fishes, crustaceans, plants, etc., 

 was collected Ai)ril 1 to June oO for transicr to the aquarial exhibit at 

 Chicago. About 1),0()(> living animal ibriiis were transferred, these 

 representing 40 species. The lobsters were crated in seaweed. Large 

 alcoholic collections were also made. 



Codfisli. — This was a poor season for hatching codfish. On October 

 27 the Gramp'us was detailed to make collections of adult fish, but 

 between the date named and December 2S the total amounted to but 41. 

 In order that success might be secured, Mr. Yinal N. Edwards, the 

 collector at the Woods Hole Station, was sent out as pilot, but the 

 great draft of the Graminis prevented successful handling in shoal 

 water, where cod were most abundant. Numerous trips were made 



too scarce to aflbrd success. Eventually a contract was entered into 

 with private i^arties engaged in fishing, and by purchase 275 additional 

 fish were obtained, a total for the season of 31G. On January 1 the 

 Grampus sailed for Gloucester, operating there the remainder of the 

 winter. 



The total of eggs obtained was 2,883,000, taken December 13 to Jan- 

 uary 5 from 20 fish. The fry produced amounted to 850,500, a fraction 

 over 29 per cent. It will be noted that this winter was one of unusual 

 severity, and on January C a sudden change in temperature reduced 

 the harbor water from 31° to 29°, causing the death of all adult codfish 

 held iu the iuclosures awaiting the ripening of their eggs. The fish 

 thus killed amounted to 204, and operations were abruptly terminated. 

 Many of the fish in the harbor were killed, among them cunners, 

 tautog, and eels. The statement below represents the work with codfish 

 somewhat in detail : 



The eggs hatched in periods of 552 to 904 hours, in a temperature 

 varying from 31.25° to 33.75°. 



Flatfish. — Parent fish of this species not being obtainable in large 

 numbers, tlie amount of work done was limited. Only 17 spawning 

 fish were obtained, March 20 and 22, the eggs amounting to 4(>1,000 

 and the fry to 288,000. The period of hatching ranged from 552 to 576 

 hours, in temperature of 37.5°. 



