870 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ship advertised to leave for Boston every Thursday ; am iu hopes to go on 

 the next one, which leaves on the 13th. 



December 8. — Mr. Long has offered to lend me two heavy galvanized 

 iron cans, each 4 feet 3 inches long by 2 feet G inches wide and 2 feet 

 high ; these are elliptical in shape, with a top piece C inches wide 

 riveted on all around, with a flange an inch wide dropping from it, into 

 which the cover fits. These cans may be returned by next steamer; 

 or, if there is a prospect of returning for more fish in the spring or 

 early summer, they may be stored until then. 



December 10 — Men at 9 p. m. reported thirty-five small soles iu the 

 boat, but could not be reached until daylight ; gave a man a shilling to 

 bring them early in the morning. 



December 11. — The fish reported yesterday were all dead this morning ; 

 it has been cold, but no frost ; begin to think that these small soles do 

 not stand the rough handling or bruising of the trawl 5 this is partly 

 confirmed by Mr. Long, who says that half or more of those caught iu 

 summer die. 



December 13. — Day for ship to sail, but no letter from Mr. Cunard. 



December 15. — Wrote again, asking if it would be possible to leave in 

 the next ship, leaving on the 20th. 



December 18. — Letters from Mr. Cunard and Messrs. Mclver, both say- 

 ing that there will be no ship of their line leaving for Boston before Jan- 

 uary 3. 



Mr. Jackson suggested also taking a few turbot for trial, to learn how 

 they would bear transportation, and thought that the sand which I had 

 been advised to put in the cans might in a heavy sea have its lighter 

 particles in such constant motion as to interfere w ith their gills, and that 

 it would be better to substitute shingle. Mr. Long also approved of 

 this, and it looked quite reasonable to me then, and so that was decided 

 upon. 



January 2, 1878. — Went to Liverpool and procured my ticket, and 

 called on Mr. Moore. It was decided to get on board at the dock, which 

 the ship left at 9 a. m., the passengers leaviug the landing by a tender 

 at 10. To do this the fish must leave Southport at 7, and stop at Bank- 

 hall, a suburb of Liverpool, Mr. Moore very kindly i)roraising to have a 

 conveyance and two men in readiness at the station, where there was a 

 flight of thirty-six steps to carry the cans up and required six men, 

 but which saved about three miles cartage. Telegraphed Mr. Long 

 that the fish should be caught tonight. On arrival at the aquarium, 

 found the fish had been taken from the show-tanks and placed in the 

 store- tanks. 



January 3. — The fish were put up and the programme fully carried 

 out. In one tank were six turbot, each 11 inches long by 8 broad, and 

 three soles ; the other contained twenty-three soles, the smallest 9 inches 

 in length, and the largest 12^ by 6 broad, each can having a quantity of 

 gravel in the bottom. In carrying up the steps the gravel all got in one 

 end, and I feared for the fish. The shii) was the Siberia, Captain McKay, 



