20 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISU AND FISHERIES. 



The majority of the brood tisli used at the station were caught in the 

 viciuity of Block Island and Nantucket, and were of three kinds, as 

 recognized by the tishernien, though all belong to the species Gailus 

 caUarias — school cod, ground cod, and rock cod. The first were taken 

 oft" Block Island, and the others from Nantucket iShoals. The eggs 

 of the school cod were clear, transparent, and almost crystal; those of 

 the ground cod Avere much darlcer, wliile those of the rock cod were 

 deep orange in color. All of them, however, were subject to slight varia- 

 tions, according to the color of the fish producing them. The eggs of 

 the school cod gave the best results, and this is regarded of more impor- 

 tance as a brood fish. The ground cod possesses iew qualities to 

 recommend it for this purpose, and it spawns so late that it is almost 

 certain to be killed by cold weather before it can be used. 



The following table gives an idea of the relative value as egg-pro- 

 ducers of the fishes from the fishing-grounds referred to : 



After January 1 the fish became mixed, and it was impossible to keep 

 accurate records. To avoid the loss of fish usually occurring in Jan- 

 uary from anchor frost, 283 of the best ones were transferred from the 

 live-cars early in the month to tanks under the hatchery. This proved 

 of no use, however, as they died at about the same time as the balance 

 of the stock, which were left in the cars, when the temperature reached 

 28^°. The loss was of but little importance, as most of the fish had 

 spawned. About 13,G00,000 eggs were in the hatchery when the anchor 

 frost ai)peared, including 7,770,000 received from Kittery Point, Me. 

 Although development seemed almost at a standstill, it was thought the 

 eggs would pull through, but after ten days a change was noted and 

 they began to waste away. They seemed to break up and go to pieces, 

 filling the hatching-box with fragments of shells and premature fish. 

 This wasting i)rocess continued until the number Avas reduced to 

 2,897,000 good eggs and 10,000 fry. As these had been in the hatcliery 

 for fifty-one days, it was deemed advisable to jilant them in the harbor. 

 It is interesting to note that at this time there were 20,000 fry ten days 

 old in the hatchery Mhicli did not appear to suffer any loss of strength 

 on account of the intense cold, while those hatching had but little sac 

 and were very weak. The 20,000 referred to were held until they were 

 twenty-seven daj's old, and specimens of them were i)reserved. The 

 cod work, as a whole, was the most successful ever done at the station, 

 the take of eggs exceeding by 18.000,000 any number secured before, and 

 11,000,000 more fry were distributed. The number of brood fish was 

 about the same as in i)revious years, and the increase was largely 

 due to the improved quality of the breeders, also to the favorable 

 weather, wliich permitted of daily overhauling. As usual, this branch 

 of the work was under the direction of Alex. Jones, the fish-culturist. 



