722 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



that the water which supplied the hatching-house was not suitable for 

 the purpose. The pond was shallow, with a bottom of black mud, very 

 soft and very deep. The shores were partly marshy, and the brooks 

 that fed it were devoid of copious springs and much affected by drought. 

 The water was very dark in color, strongly impregnated with earthy 

 and peaty solutions that were always unpleasantly prominent to the 

 taste, especially when low and warm, as after midsummer. Copious 

 rains, which commonly came in September or October, so far improved 

 it tbat I think it was then equally good with ordinary river water for 

 the development of salmon spawn; but the rains did not always fall in 

 due quantity, and at the right season. That happened in 1874. The 

 brook had ceased to flow from the pond in the summer and was giving 

 but a very small stream, barely enough to supply the hatching-house, 

 when the spawning time came. The salmon were taken with much less 

 trouble than usual, and a large lot of spawn, apparently in the very best 

 condition, was deposited in the troughs. The water was at first warm, 

 and tasted very muddy, and was full of minute vegetation of a low order. 

 I was not free from anxiety as to its effect on the eggs, but nothing 

 could then be done but wait and see. The temperature soon fell, but 

 the water mended but slowly in other respects. However, the eggs did 

 not die. They were faithfully attended. Inspection showed that they 

 were well impregnated. Midwinter came and the embryos were well 

 grown and strong, as far as we could see, and I flattered myself with the 

 hope that this would be the best lot of eggs ever sent out from the estab- 

 lishment. We began to pack them for shipment, and then discovered 

 that the shells lacked strength. On exposure to the air they shrunk 

 and put on the appearance of half-dried currants, and many of them 

 collapsed altogether. But there was no escape from packing them up 

 and sending them off to their destinations. Great loss ensued. It was 

 not so bad with the eggs that were kept here and hatched for the State 

 of Maine, which were nearly, if not quite, as good as ever. 



The next year, 1875, the rains came in good season, and the eggs 

 taken and distributed turned out remarkably well. But it was evidently 

 necessary to provide a hatching-house where we could command better 

 water, for use, at least, when that at the old hatching-house should be 

 unsuitable from lack of rains. Just at this point the subscriptions of 

 the United States and Connecticut commissions were withdrawn, the 

 funds formerly appropriated being needed more in another direction. 

 The remaining subscribers, the Maine and Massachusetts commissions, 

 did not feel able to carry on the establishment alone, and it was, there- 

 fore, closed in 1876. The next year the lease under which the premises 

 had been occupied expired, and being unable to meet the views of the 

 proprietor as to the terms of a renewal, I was forced to look about for a 

 new site for both the salmon pond and the hatching-house. 



It was of course very desirable to have hatching-house and salmon 

 pond close together. But I was limited in my search by the necessity 



