236 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
specimens, and will direct attention to the possibility of sporoplasmic 
degeneration having taken place.! 
Series 1: Consisting constantly of 2 deeply-staining globules (best 
shown by carmine), always found in the median tongue-like process 
of the sporoplasm, usually disposed submedianly, one behind the other, 
though not infrequently obliquely or even transversely directed; often 
seen closely approximated, sometimes flattened on their adjacent sides. 
Series 2: Forming 2 curved lines whose direction and position coin- 
cide in a general way both with the concave anterior margins of the 
sporoplasm, and also with the adjacent postero-inner border of the cap- 
sule; best stained by carmine. Hach line is resolved by high powers 
into several deeply-stained dots; its outer end approaches so closely 
the usual position of the pericornual nucleus that I suspect that this 
latter structure may form the last dot. Further, with one pair of such- 
lines distinctly in focus, a second pair (parallel and slightly anterior to 
the first) can sometimes be seen. That this pair exists on another 
focus-plane becomes evident by change of focus, when it comes into 
distinct view, the first pair at the same time receding into obscurity. 
Finally, at the anterior median cornu a distinct deeply-stained granule 
is also sometimes seen. 
Series 3: These chromatophile bodies are best shown by gentian 
violet. This reagent differentiated, besides the lightly tinted shell, 
three kinds of substances which stain, respectively, not at all, medium, 
and very dark. There is never any difficulty in distinguishing these 
from one another; that is, there are no transitions between the tints. 
The medium-stained portion is the general protoplasm. Without pro- 
nouncing such to be their nature, I may say that the dark-, and non- 
staining portions behave toward gentian violet precisely as would 
nucleolar and nuclear substances, respectively. Moreover, the order of 
succession (from the center of the space outward) is always deepest- 
staining, nonstaining, medium-staining, the nonstaining portions form- 
ing circular, oval, or slightly irregular spaces, which are delimited by 
a sharp, clearly defined border from the surrounding medium-stained 
protoplasm on the one hand, and from the inclosed deeply stained gran- 
ules on the other. 
As regards their location, though they often seem to, and apparently 
sometimes do, honeycomb the protoplasmic portion of the spore, they 
nevertheless show a decided tendency toward peripheral aggregation. 
In most cases there can be distinguished in the posterior two-thirds of 
the spores 2 zones, a more deeply stained tongue-shaped median, and 
a markedly lighter band-like circumferential portion. The latter is, by 
preference, the seat of the third series of chromatophile bodies. The 
'The fishes had been kept for yearsin rather weak alcohol and their condition of 
preservation was by no means perfect. Further, the results of staining with gen- 
tian violet were by no means constant, only a single slide serving as a basis for the 
description given. The action of carmine was less variable. 
