858 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



Males, 121 measured — Continued. 

 Weight : 



Average pounds . . 10. 9 



Heaviest do .... 22. 3 



Lightest do 7 



Females, 240 measured. 

 Length : 



Average inches . . 31.5 



Longest do 39. 5 



Shortest do 20 



Weight before spawning : 



Average pounds . . 12. 2 



Heaviest do 28. 1 



Lightest ^ do . . 5. (> 



Weight after spawning : 



Average pounds . . 0. 4 



Heaviest do 23. 8 



Lighest do 4 



The first spawn was taken October 28. The work was nearly com- 

 pleted November 9, but the last e.iigs were not taken until J^ovember 

 23. Spawn was obtained from 250 females, and the total number of 

 eggs was estimated at 2,090,000. The mean yield was thus 8,300 per 

 fish. 



The eggs were kept in the coolest water at command until sufficiently 

 developed for shipment. The losses sustained during the development 

 aggregated 90,000, of which it is estimated that 42,000 were unimpreg- 

 nated. From these figures we deduce that 98 per cent, of the eggs were 

 impregnated and 95.7 per cent, were shipped. 



The eggs available for shipment numbered 2,000,000. Based on the 

 contributions to expenses a pro rata division gave to the United States 

 Commission 1,208,000 eggs; to Connecticut, 132,000 j to Maine, 440,000 ; 

 to Massachusetts, 220,000. 



The transfer of the Penobscot eggs is now effected by precisely the 

 same methods employed for years at both the Maine stations, except 

 that the protecting envelope is latterly composed of chopped hay in a 

 somewhat thicker layer than is necessary with moss. The moss is diffi- 

 cult to obtain at Orland, and the hay is found to be a very satisfactory 

 substitute. In all cases, however, wet bog-moss is still the material 

 in wliich the eggs are first embedded. 



As will be seen by reference to Table I, all the packages reached their 

 destination in safety, and with two exceptions the number of eggs found 

 dead on unpacking was insignificant — less than two per thousand. The 

 exceptions were two lots that were sent to Enfield and Norway, Me., 

 March 1, in which the losses were, respectively, 20 and 14 per thousand 

 ( = 2 and 1.4 per cent.). The true explanation doubtless is that these 



