INLAND FISHERIES. 59 



collected by J. M. K. Soutliwick, at Newport, September 29. Its 

 natural rang-e is from Cajje Cod to Brazil. They are common in 

 the south, but are very rare north of Cape Hatteras. Since 

 their flesh is ill-flavored and said to be poisonous, they are not 

 valuable as food. The average length is 2 feet. One somewhat 

 smaller was caught in a purse-net near Point Judith by Joseph 

 Church, September 28. 



Hippoglossu.s hippoglossus (Linnseus). " Halibut." 



On April IG a 100-pound halibut was brought to Newport. It 

 was caught with others off Block Island by a cod fisherman. Hali- 

 but were formerly quite common around Block Island and Vine- 

 yard Sound, but none have been taken for several years. The 

 catch leads one to hope that this valuable food fish is again re- 

 turning to our waters. 



The halibut is the largest of the flounders. Its maximum weight 

 is about 400 pounds, and it is one of our most important food 

 fishes. It is found on all the cod banks of our northern seas, and 

 ranges as far south in the West Atlantic as Sandy Hook. 



XIII. Experiments in Lobster-Culture. 



The artificial hatching of lobster eggs has been carried on for 

 many years at the U. S. F. C. stations at Wood's Hole and Glouces- 

 ter', and the young fry turned out each year in immense numbers. 

 Within a day or two after they have been hatched the young- 

 lobsters are taken in jars, carried out into the sea, and are then put 

 overboard. It is admitted that the procedure is unsatisfactory, 

 from the fact that the fry are poorly equipped to take care of 

 themselves at this early stage. The reason for turning them loose, 

 however, is that they would die if kept in confinement. 



Many attempts have been made, botli abroad and in this country, 

 to rear the newly-hatched lobsters ; within the past two years 

 the United States Fish Commission has given to this problem 

 special attention, and a series of experiments have been instituted 



