INLAND FISHERIES. 105 



bonito, blnefisli, and tile-tisli. The fish taken from the traps of 

 the United States Fish Commission furnished an unlimited supply 

 of material. During the months of July and August, the most 

 abundant tish were squeteague. The flesh of these fish is soft, 

 very susceptible to invasion by putrefactive bacteria, and difficult 

 to preserve by the ordinary methods of packing. The flesh of the 

 bonito is firm and hard, and is much easier to preserve. 



I. The first experiments were made with squeteague, with a 

 view to determining the influence of ordinary summer tempera- 

 tures, and of difl'erent methods of killing and handling, upon 

 putrefaction. Forty-eight fish were hung up, by a wire passing 

 through the eyes. Twenty-four had the intestines removed, and 

 the fish were drained immediately after capture. The remaining 

 twenty-four were not opened. The experiment was made in a 

 place that was protected from the sun, but to which the air had 

 free access. The weather was humid and foggy, the temperature 

 being 68 ° at 8 A. M., 72" at M., and 71° at 5 P. M. After remain- 

 ing twenty-four hours, the fish were examined : those which were 

 unopened were putrid and emitted an almost unbearable odor. 

 The fish whose intestines had been removed were in a better con- 

 dition, and the abdominal cavity was much fresher. Putrefaction 

 had not penetrated so deeply into the flesh, and these fish might 

 even have been used for food. The experiment shows that when 

 the intestines are not removed decomposition takes place much 

 more rapidly, and that the immediate removal of the viscera delays 

 decomposition. 



II. The next experiment was made with twenty-four squeteague 

 and six bonitos. After the removal of the intestines as above the 

 fish were laid on their sides, but not in contact with one another. 

 The day was humid and foggy, the temperature ranging from 69° 

 at 8 A. M., and 72° at 12 M., to 71° at 5 P. M. At the end of 

 twenty -four hours the fish were examined. The squeteague were 

 badly decomposed on the side next the wood. On the other side 

 decomposition had not proceeded so far, although it had pro- 

 gressed to a considerable extent. In the body cavity decom- 



