24 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND l^ISHERIER. 



Kittcry Toiiit. After storms tlic turbid walei- (;ause(l tlie sinkinji- of 

 many o<;«;s, wliicli were diseliarged overl>oanl; but upon testing a lot of 

 eggs whicli were too UeaA^v to fioat at tlu' time of their receipt, it was 

 found that with care they liatclied with good results. The questiim 

 of impr«'gnation was usually determined by the use of tlie microscoi)e 

 when the eggs wen; lirst received. 



The surface temperatun; on the collecting grounds, about 45'^ F. at 

 tlie commencement of tlie season, gradually fell to 33^ by December 25, 

 from which time till March it ranged from 34° to 37°. 



During the whole ]»eriod of operations co])epods were abundant in 

 the water used for developing the eggs and were considered injurious. 



Below is a condensed statement of operati«^ns : 



Woods Hoia. Statiox, Massachusktts (.Joiix Maxwkli., Supkhixtkndknt). 



18S9-90. 



The fish-cultural work of this station covers a period of eight months, 

 and was conductedchiefly by the resident employes of the station. In 

 the pi'o])agati<ni ofv-od the force was increased by the assignujent of 

 Mr. Jiichard Dana, who Avas placed in charge, the ]>eriod of activi^ work 

 being from October 14, 1881), to April 4, 1890. 



Cod. — As a source of efi;^!; supjdy, 3,403 adult codiish were ol)tained 

 fi'om iishermen OctolnM- L"_* to No\'ember 1!), 188!), and ]»lac<'d in lixc- 

 cars and in one of the tidal basins. Here, under as natural conditi<»ns 

 as ]>racticable, the brood lish were hehl to await, maturity, when they 

 were stripped of their eggs eveiy t wo oi- three days until the su)>ply 

 was exhausted. Many of the adult (isli died iuimediately alter being 

 j>lac<'d iu the iiiclosures, t lie temi>cr;it iiie Ix'iiig then r»r»'M<\, and some 

 died ea<'li day until the water tcinpeiature fell to 4(!^. A gi-eat many 

 became blind, and it was sui)i>osed to be caused by the glare c>f the 

 sunlight, the water being shallow. 



In the two months following !)1 lish yielded 8,r»4r>,7()() eggs, and from 

 these there were hat.ched and lil>erate»l in local waters, when frcun tliree 

 to six days (»ld, i'»,8r» 1, 100 fiy. At the termination of the spawning 

 s<'ason there werercMuaining on hand 1,000 of thebrood tish, which were 

 retained in one of the tidal basins to determine their value as spawn- 

 producers the succeeding fall. < )ii February U, 1800, L*,374,200 eggs 

 r(M*eivc«l fiom Ghnu'cster Station were ])ut in i)rocess of hatching, Avith 

 the result of 084,700 (ry, and a si'coinl consigunuMit, April 14, of 021,500 

 eggs, from the same sources, produced 410,300 fry. 



