LXVIII EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



from the outlet. Those liberated on the 26th were taken np the eastern 

 shore in boats as far as the ice permitted, and scattered along shore as 

 much as practicable ; most of them from one-half to three- fourths of a 

 mile from the outlet, all upon rocky bottom. 



The results of this experiment will be looked for with much interest ; 

 and by 1885 the increase, if any, should be appreciable. 



I. Tbe Atlantic or Penobscot Salmon {Salmo salar). 



The BucJcsport (Me.) Station. — The report of Mr. Charles G. Atkins, 

 the assistant in charge of the Maine hatching stations, shows a very 

 satisfactory condition of affairs there. As usual the United States Com- 

 mission carried on this work in connection with the fish commissions of 

 Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The first Pe- 

 nobscot salmon eggs were taken October 28. The total number of 

 eggs taken was 2,090,000. These were obtained from 250 females, show- 

 ing an average of 8,360 eggs per fish. Ninety-eight per cent, of these 

 eggs were successfully impregnated, and 95.7 per cent, were shipped; 

 in round numbers 2,000,000, The share of these belonging to the United 

 States was 1,208,000. The mortality among the spawners kept in the in- 

 closure was considerably less than in 1881. This is attributed to the 

 smaller size of the Penobscot variety this year. Penobscot salmon eggs 

 are now shipped in the same way that they have been for years at the 

 Maine stations, except that layers of chopped hay are used instead 

 of moss. Moss is difficult to obtain, and hay is found to be a very satis- 

 factory substitute. In all cases, however, wet bog moss is still the ma- 

 terial in which the eggs are first embedded. 



All the packages reached their destination in safety, and the hatch- 

 ing was so successful that 1,716,617 healthy young salmon were turned 

 out in public waters. 



Mr. Atkins furnishes an interesting chapter in regard to marked sal- 

 mon. In the autumn of 1880, 103 females and 81 male salmon were 

 marked with the usual platinum tags. The fish were, at the close of the 

 spawning season, let loose. In the spring of 1881, 12 were recovered. 

 This number was less than had been hoped for, though it was probably 

 as large as could be expected. 



The data obtained in this way affords a substantial corroboration of 

 the conclusions drawn from previous experience. Four females, in two 

 years, increased 40 per cent, in weight and 14 per cent, in length. 

 These experiments, in Mr. Atkins's opinion, warrant us in saying that 

 salmon visit the Penobscot Kiver for the purpose of spawning but once 

 in two years, and that they visit it for no other purpose. 



The number of fish purchased and held by Mr. Atkins for spawning 

 purposes was 470; of egg», as stated above, 2,000,000 were secured. 



The Boslyn {N. Y.) Station. — Desirous of hatching salmon eggs in- 

 tended for jSTew York waters in some central station from which the 

 young fry could more readily be distributed, I x>laced the matter in the 



