110 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



gadidarum, was a small organism 0.4 to 0.5 yu in diameter, growing 

 larger by repeated cultivation. It stained readily with all common 

 stains, Gram positive, non-motile, aerobic, grew feebly on standard 

 beef agar, did not grow in other ordinary laboratory media. On 

 special media made with codfish the colony was 1 to 2 mm. in diameter, 

 edge regular and slightly raised, salmon pink in colour with the edge 

 whitened. Grew in 15 per cent, salt, but not in 20 per cent., best 

 growth on 5-10 per cent. salt. 



Beckwith produced the characteristic pink colour on tubes of 

 shredded fish and obtained it again in pure culture from this pink 

 material. This organism was prevalent in 1907 and 1910 at Glou- 

 cester, Mass. 



Bitting (24) has given a full account of his investigations at 

 Gloucester. The colouration varied from pale pink colour to bright 

 red. The more intense colour appeared when the fish was drier and 

 the germs formed thicker spots. The redness occurred on all parts 

 of the fish, including the skin. Spoilage at the factory was limited 

 to the months of July, August and September, and did not appear 

 in the cooler months. 



The source of infection was no^ fully determined. The organisms 

 probably had a normal habitat in the salt water and the lowlands 

 along the coast, and grew freely upon fish or wood that is salty. 

 Red organisms were obtained from salt from the hold of a salt steamer, 

 and from the salt in a store house. This salt was solar sea salt, and 

 came from either Trapani (Sicily) or Iviza (Spain). Formerly Cadiz 

 salt was used, but the change was made to the two former when it 

 M^as believed that the reddening was due to Cadiz salt. 25,000 tons 

 a year are used at Gloucester. 



In nearly all cases examined there were three organisms found: 

 a coccus, a bacillus, and the cells of a mold-like fungus. Where the 

 last was present brown spots formed, distinct in appearance from 

 the reddening. 



The red growth was very viscous, the material drawing out in 

 fine threads. In the pink spots this was less noticeable than in the 

 older and redder spots. When mixed with water the pink growth 

 became very viscous. The viscosity made separation of the organisms 

 very difficult and no dilution was used in making plate cultures 

 directly from the fish. 



The coccus was the organism which produced reddening in 

 cultures and on the fish. It was variable in size from 2-5 m in diameter, 

 averaging 2 to 2.5 /z. Many times a pair was found composed of a 

 large and small coccus, or a tetrad with one, two or three large ones 



