XXXI.-REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION OF PENOBSCOT SALMON 



IN 1882-'83. 



Bt Charles G. Atkins. 



1. EouTiNE Work. 



At this station the arrangements of former years were continued, Mr. 

 Buck remaining in charge, and the salmon being collected at the south 

 end of Verona by Mr. Whitmore and confined in the inclosure in Dead 

 Brook, whither they were taken in submerged cars. 



The season's work opened with the purchase of adult salmon June 3, 

 1882. There were received in all 586 salmon, of which the last were 

 inclosed June 29. The weight of 473 individuals was estimated singly, 

 and their general average was 13.04 pounds, which is about the ordinary 

 size, but 4 pounds under the average of 1881. They did not appear to 

 be up to the ordinary standard in fatness, but no measurement was 

 made to determine this point. It is quite possible that this was a false 

 impression occasioned by a comparison by memory of the fish with those 

 of the preceding year, which were thought to be remarkable for plump- 

 ness as well as for length. 



With the hope of lesseniug the mortality occurring during the term 

 of imprisonment, some changes were made in the cars, and fine minnow 

 nets were used for dipping, but no very decided result followed these 

 eftbrts. The summer mortality in 1881 was 146 out of 509 deposited in 

 the inclosure. This year out of 560 placed in the inclosure 134 were 

 found dead, and this number should possibly be increased by adding 13 

 more which were missing at the end of the season. The slight im- 

 provement shown by these figures may have been owing less to better 

 handling than to the fact that the salmon this season were of smaller 

 size than in 1881, a circumstance that experience has shown to be favor- 

 able. 



However, at the spawning season, there were found to be on hand 

 440 healthy salmon, of which 256 were females and 184 males — 58 and 

 42 per cent., respectively. The most of these were weighed and meas- 

 ured, and the results may be stated thus : 



Males, 121 measured. 

 Length : 



Average inches . . 32. 1 



Longest do 41.5 



Shortest do... 28 



[1] 857 



