REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. IGl 



The Atlantic Salmon (Sabiio sahtr). 



In the fall of 1890, after completing liis monograph on the sea bass, 

 Dr. II. y. Wilson paid a short visit to the Fish Coiimiission station at 

 East Orlaiul, Maine, where he iiuule earefni preparations of a. series of 

 embryos of the Atlantic salmon, illnstrating dilltrent stages in their 

 growth. This material will serve as the basis for the stndy of the 

 development of the species. 



The Flounders {ParaUchthys dcntafus aud rsiiidoplciirviiccte.i amerlcanus.) 



The two most important flounders which occur on the southern coast 

 of New England are the common flounder, FaraUchihys dentatus, and 

 the flatfish or winter flounder, rseudopleuronectcs americanus. Both of 

 these species, which have a very extended range, are now regarded as 

 valuable food products, and both are sent to market from the Woods 

 Holl region. Nothing is positively known regarding the breeding hab- 

 its of the former, except that it does not spawn in the shallow water 

 near the shore, but the ripe eggs of the latter may readily be obtained 

 there in large quantities. Experiments regarding the hatching of this 

 speeies were taken up by Mr. V. N. Edwards in the spring of ]8S8, and 

 were continued by him during 1890 and 1891. The spawning season 

 begins early in February and lasts until late in April. During the 

 spring of 1890 Mr. Edwards obtained 5,800,000 eggs from 87 fish, the 

 same yielding over 4,000,000 fry ; in 1891 71 fish produced 4,080,000 eggs 

 and 3,350,000 fry, the proportion of eggs hatched in each case being 

 about 70 per cent. The length of the period of incubation varied from 

 400 to GOO hours, the temperature of the water ranging from 32° to 

 4(>o Fahrenheit. The fry were liberated in from 1 to 5 days after hatch- 

 iiig. The eggs are adhesive and sink. Several different methods of 

 handling them were tried, but the best success was obtained by spread- 

 ing them thinly on panes of glass and placing them in a current of water 

 in the hatching boxes. If allowed to accumulate together they adhere 

 in masses, and uij^der such conditions a very large percentage, if not the 

 entire lot, soon dies. In some cases, Mr. Edwards found that the eggs 

 had hardened up in the fish, and when pressure was applied they came 

 out in one solid body. Under such circumstances the eggs do not ripen 

 and the fish itself generally dies. 



This species can be caught in large numbers in the harbor of Woods 

 IIoll and in the neighboring waters during the sj^awn in g season. Dur- 

 ing the more severe winter weather, however, they retreat to the deeper 

 parts of Vineyard S<nind and Buzzards Bay. The earliest spawners 

 have been obtained in the upper parts of Waquoit Bay, in the town of 

 Falmouth, where they are said to a]i]iear every season at the first thaw 

 in February. Later in tlie spring they can be taken in the vicinity of 

 Woods Holl. Dr. Wilson found it difficult to keep the young flounders 

 alive for any length of time in tlie aquaria, but early in May, 1890, 

 they were abundant at the surface and were captured in the toAV net, 

 H. Mis. 113 11 



