668 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



house or on deck, put them under the deck, but in a room where there 

 is sufficient air ; at any rate, the ice should be regarded as the most im- 

 portant thing-, as well as necessary for the resorption of air." 



As the air in the ice-house, and even in the other rooms below deck 

 (owing to the presence of 5,000 pounds of fresh meat), was not pure, we 

 placed the four barrels — which were very heavy and required four men 

 to handle them — on deck amidships. Captain Voss kindly instructed the 

 steward to give me all the ice I needed ; and the first officer, Captain 

 Froboes, was kind enough to take a supply of fresh water from the Elbe 

 in small barrels, which were placed at my disposal in the life-boats, to 

 keep the water cool. 



When starting from Hamburg on April 23, the day was quite warm, 

 and having no ice on the small steamer, we pumped in air by means of 

 an air pipe, which refreshed the fish considerably. Temperature of 

 water, 4£° to 5° (40.1° to 41° Fahr.). One fish died. 



April 24. — In the North Sea ; cool weather ; water 5£° (41.9° Fahr.) ; 

 pumped in air several times. 



April 25. — At Havre ; very warm day ; water 6° (42.8° Fahr.) ; put 

 in ice twice ; aerated the water frequently ; six fish dead. 



April 20. — In the channel; filled up with fresh water; used ice three 

 times; aerated several times ; water 0° (42.8° Fahr.) ; ten fish have died. 



April 27. — In the Atlantic; put in ice twice; aerated; water remained 

 at 5° (41° Fahr.) constantly ; thirteen fish dead. All these fish were dying 

 in one barrel, the same in wbich we found the seven dead fish when they 

 arrived at Hamburg. In order to discover the cause of this mortality, I 

 had all the fish transferred into another barrel, which had been filled with 

 fresh water, and noticed that most of them were relieved in a half hour's 

 time ; and those which had been swimming on their sides when in the other 

 barrel became quite brisk again. The barrel from Luebbiuchen was 

 cleaned thoroughly, and was found to contain a great quantity of mud ; 

 six times the water had acquired a black color, and it was very evident 

 that the barrel had not been cleaned properly (as it should have been), 

 and which unfortunately was the immediate cause of the death of so 

 many fish. 



April 28. — Put in ice three times ; notwithstanding, the temperature 

 reached 7° (44.0 Fahr.). The balance of the fish which had been taken 

 from the unclean barrel died, making the total loss thirteen, although 

 the barrels had been filled up with fresh water. 



April 29.— Put in ice ; water 0° (42.8° Fahr.) ; six fish died. 



April 30. — Used ice once; water 5° (41° Fahr.) ; two fish died. 



A dissection of dead fish show that they were all in excellent condi- 

 tion, being fat and well fed. Although we had very fine weather and 

 the ship rolled very little, the sea being nearly smooth, some of the 

 carp had injured their snouts. To prevent any rolling we hove up the 

 barrels (now only two) into the life-boats, where tney remained sus- 

 pended between the davits, and had no greater movement than a lamp 



