XIV.-REPORT ON THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF 

 SCHOODIC SALMON EGGS IN 1877-'78. 



By Charles G. Atkins. 



1. — Prepaeations. 



The collection of eggs of Schoodic Salmon in 1877 was carried on at 

 the same site and substantially with the same fixtures and in the same 

 methods as in former years. A series of pounds built of stakes and fine- 

 meshed nets on the gravelly shallows below the dam at the outlet of 

 Grand Lake sufficed to entrap almost the whole run of breeding fish, 

 and no other means of taking fish were provided. The eggs were 

 brought forward in the old house at the spring, half a mile up a little 

 brook tributary to Grand Lake Stream. 



Though the general plan of the fixtures for entrapping and keeping 

 the parent fish was the same as in previous years, considerable im- 

 provements were iatroduced. The "main lead" by which the fish de- 

 scending the stream approached our enclosures was narrowed to about 

 20 feet, and brought to resemble a long tunnel flaring at the upper end 

 to about 60 feet, and at the lower end abruptly contracted to 5 or 6 feet 

 at the point of entrance into the first pound. The water was rapid 

 throughout nearly the whole of this main lead, and afforded so good 

 spawning-ground that we were compelled to exercise great vigilance to 

 prevent many fish making their nests there. It was found necessary to 

 drive down, by means of a small seine in the hands of two men, all the 

 fish that lingered on this ground. As they were apt to take the alarm 

 and dart up stream beyond reach on the approach of any one, a net 

 stretched on stakes across the very head of the lead, and weighted with 

 a heavy chain, was so arranged that it could be drawn uj) from the bot- 

 tom by means of a line running ashore and held suspended so as to 

 allow fish to pass freely down into the lead. At fixed hours during the 

 night this net was suddenly dropped, and all retreat being thus cut off 

 the reluctant fish were driven down into the enclosures before they had 

 time to lay their eggs. Probably the fish saved in this way amounted 

 to 10 or 20 per cent, of the total catch, the remainder passing down at 

 once and entering the pounds without comi)iilsion. 



Another change introduced this year was the entrapping of the fish 

 in a small i)ound where they could be examined and counted before 

 placing them in the main enclosure. This was a very satisfactory 

 arrangement. The examinations were made at stated times each night, 

 immediately after driving the fish in from the lead, and the record of 

 52 P 



