EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. XXXI 



as the salmon-hatching house, with a capacity of 6.000,000 eggs. Hav- 

 ing prepared the ponds, which were supplied by a constant and ample 

 flow of water, the breeding fish were captured by angling and kept in 

 traps constructed of heavy timber poles. The traps were well secured 

 against casualty in case of high water. 



This fish is much esteemed and will no doubt be a valuable acquisi- 

 tion to the food fishes of the Atlantic States, especially to such waters 

 as may be found too warm for the less hardy brook trout native to the 

 Atlantic. 



An interesting experiment in connection with the culture of the Saltno 

 iridea was made in Japan by Mr. Sekizawa Akekio, a most accomplished 

 Japanese gentleman, who manifested very great interest in all exhibits 

 pertaining to fish culture at the Philadelphia exhibition of 1876. Shortly 

 after his return to Japan he established several hatching stations at 

 various points. On June 9, 1877, he received a supply of eggs from the 

 United States fish ponds on the McCloud River. A large number of 

 fish were hatched oat, and, as may be seen from a commuication received 

 from him on April 12, 1880, lived (for at any rate) nearly three years, at 

 which period of their life they averaged nineteen inches in length. A 

 drawing of one of these 3-year old fish accompanying his communication 

 furnished a magnificent illustration of the species. At that age both 

 males and females were ready to spawn and promised to furnish a large 

 number of eggs. 



These results show clearly the ability of this species to sustain itself 

 in remote localities, and also illustrate the fact that in less than three 

 years they are ready to spawn and may at that age have attained the 

 weight of at least five pounds. 



Atlantic Salmon (Sahno salar). 



The Penobscot River Station. — The indications of the successful intro- 

 duction of this fish into rivers even as far south as the Delaware and 

 Susquehanna, and the great increase which has already been observed in 

 its abundance in the Penobscot Bay, led to the determination that the 

 work which had been intermitted at Bucksport should be again pushed 

 forward. 



Mr. Atkins was therefore instructed to arrange for a supply of breed- 

 ing fish and to extend the operations at Bucksport as far as practicable. 

 It having been clearly shown that the salmon could be readily confined 

 in fresh-water ponds from June until November without interfering with 

 the development of the ovaries, Mr. Atkins selected Dead Brook as a 

 good site for the inclosure, and a convenient location for a hatching 

 house. 



He secured in good condition 264 salmon at an average cost of $2.16 

 each. A heavy rain-fall on the 17th and 18th of August caused a 

 freshet in Dead Brook which resulted in a considerable loss of fish, re- 

 ducing the number to 59. He commenced to take spawn on the 24th 



