252 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Salmon. 



ihere were placed in the pond in the summer 6SS 



There had been found dead <)•) 



5!)G 

 Caught in October and November 355 



Leaving 041 



Perhaps as many as 50 salmon came into the brook besides those 

 caught ; but that would still leave 191 not accounted for. It was sup- 

 posed that they would make their appearance at the outlet of the pond 

 in the winter or spring. A few came in February and a few in April, 

 altogether perhaps 25 ; and there is still a remainder of 166 whose fate 1 

 is unknown. 



The fish caught at Rich's Brook were turned loose without marking. 

 Those at the spawning-shed were all marked, and then set at liberty in 

 the brook, whence they could at pleasure descend to the river. Over 

 the most difficult fall in their way a sluice was built for them to run 

 through, but it was found that instead of entering it they generally 

 dropped over the edge of the dam and fell 16 or IS feet upon a ledge 

 without any apparent injury. They continued to descend all through 

 the winter and spring. 



The mode of marking adopted was by means of metallic tags. Alum- 

 inum was the metal chosen, being desirable on account of its lightness 

 and anti-corrosive properties. It was rolled very thin and cut into tags 

 about half an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide. A number was 

 stamped on each tag with a steel die, and a small piece of gold, platinum, 

 or silver wire attached to it. The tag was affixed to the fish in two differ- 

 ent ways. The first mode was the attachment of the tag to a rubber 

 band that was slipped on over the tail. The second was running the 

 wire through the edge of the dorsal fin. Forty-two fish were marked in 

 the latter way, one hundred and ninety in the former. 



A. record is kept of all fish marked, showing the sex, length, and 

 weight of each one, and the date wiien marked and when set at liberty. 

 The capture and identification of any of these fish hereafter may there- 

 fore contribute much toward a solution of the obscure points in the 

 natural history of the species. At the beginning of the fishing season 

 of 1873 I distributed circulars offering a reward of three dollars in ad- 

 dition to the market price for any of these tagged salmon that might 

 be brought to me. But none were received, and I do not think any were 

 caught. About the efficiency of the rubber band I have serious doubts. 

 In many instances that came under my own observation the band had cut 

 quite through the skin, and threatened to destroy the fish. Such, I 

 think, will be the action of any band that is tight enough to stay on. Of 

 the tags attached to the dorsal fin I expect more, and believe that to be 

 the best mode yet suggested. 



