[3] 



PROPAGATION OF PENOBSCOT SALMON IN 1882-'83. 



859 



eggs had accidentally escaped the scrutiny by which the unimpregnated 

 were removed in prei^aration lor shipment. 



The hatching out and planting also appear to have been attended 

 with a good degree of success and, as the footing of Table II shows, there 

 were 1,71G,G17 youug salmon safely turned out in i)ublic waters. The 

 difference between this number and the original 2,000,000 eggs shipped 

 is partly accounted for by the number (75,000) devoted to exhibition 

 and laboratory purposes. 



2. EECOVERY of MARKED SALMON. 



In the autumn of 1880, after being manipulated, 274 salmon were 

 marked for future identification ; 193 of these were females, 81 were 

 males. The method of marking was similar to that employed at Bucks- 

 port in 1873. A tag of very thin platinum, about half an inch long and 

 a quarter of an inch wide, stamped with a number, was attached by 

 fine platinum wire to the rear margin of the main dorsal fin, and a 

 record made of the number, with the sex, length, and weight of the fish. 

 These fish were, at the close of the spawning season, dismissed into the 

 open " Narramissic " or Eastern Eiver. Twelve of them were recovered 

 in 1881, in April and May, all in poor condition. Doubtless many 

 others were taken or killed and not reported. Previous experience had 

 taught us to expect the return of these fish in good condition in 1882,. 

 and a reward of $2, in addition to market value, was offered for each 

 salmon bearing a tag. The number brought in was less than had been 

 hoped for, but was perhaps quite all that should be expected when we 

 consider the many chances against a tag remaining in place. For in- 

 stance, the fine wire is liable to create a sore or to cut its way out through. 

 the margin of the fin or of the tag by the inevitable sawing motion cre- 

 ated by the swaying of the fish in swimming ; or it may be torn off by 

 contact with some foreign object ; or iwssibly the shining bit of plati- 

 num may be seized by a neighboring salmon or some other fish. How- 

 ever, from the data aftbrded by the salmon actually recovered w^e ob- 

 tain a substantial corroboration of the conclusions drawn from previous 

 experience. The following statement shows the entire record of each 

 fish recovered : 



' See revised estimates helcw. 



It must be borne in mind that when these fish were marked they 

 were in exceedingly poor condition, having just been deprived of their 



