LXXXII EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



By this time the season Lad so far advanced that there was little 

 prospect of obtaining material for further experiment, so the force was 

 recalled from New York, and the cod work discontinued for the season. 



The experiments made by the Commission clearly show that special 

 preparations must be made for collecting and keeping the parent cod- 

 li.sh for a considerable time and iu suitable water. It is hoped and be- 

 lieved that the arrangement proposed for the Wood's Holl Station will 

 answer every purpose, and that in a few years the work will be a com- 

 plete success. 



Much interest has been excited both in Europe and America by the 

 experiment of the Commission with codfish, and the commissioners of 

 several foreign gOA^ernments have asked permission to witness them. 

 A similar favor was asked by Mr. Harvey, of Saint John, Newfound- 

 land. At the proper time it will, of course, be a pleasure to welcome 

 ^ny one to the station desirous of seeing it operated. 



m. The Striped Bass (Eoccus lineatus). 



It was not possible to accomplish anything during the year in refer- 

 ence to the artificial propagation of the striped bass, no localities pre- 

 senting themselves of sufficient promise to warrant the establishment 

 of hatching stations. The success, however, of the experiment made a 

 few years ago of the transportation by Mr. Livingston Stone, of the 

 United States Fish Commission, of striped bass to California, has in- 

 winced the commissioners of that State to renew their efforts, and Mr. 

 Woodbury was sent East to obtain a fresh supply of the young fry. 



cones for hatching, using water from the bay. About 75 per cent, of the eggs ap- 

 peared to be alive when they were brought on board. 



At 12.50 p. m. on the date above mentioned, we left the navy-yard and steamed 

 down the Potomac River; at 10.45 p. m. anchored in Cornfield Harbor. 



The cod eggs were distributed among three cones and one glass aquarium, the 

 water of the bay and river being used ; they sank to the bottom, showing that the 

 specific gravity was much less than that of sea water. They were then treated as 

 shad eggs, the feed water being admitted at the base, and discharged through the 

 gauge at the top of the cone in the usual manner. The aquarium was covered with 

 •one thickness of white bunting, which prevented oscillation by the motion of the 

 vessel, and allowed the water to escajie freely. A quarter-inch glass tube was intro- 

 duced as a feed-piiie, and the discharge took place through the bunting cover. The 

 temperature of the water was 40° F. at the surface, and 41° F. in the cones. 



On the 26th, about 60 j)er cent, of the eggs seemed to be alive, although little or no 

 development had taken place since the day before. They sank promptly, and the 

 ordinary water feed for shad hatching would not keep them at the surface. 



When the eggs were received on board they were 0.06 of an inch in diameter, 

 germinal disk, f^ of an inch, the live eggs seeming to be healthy. During this day, 

 the germinal disk appeared to have contracted, and the proportion of dead egga 

 rapidly increased. 



On the moruiug of the 27th, there were but few cod eggs alive, and they were in an 

 •abnormal condition, the germinal disk distorted, shrunk, and shriveled. 



At 9.10 p. m. no good' cod eggs were to be found iu the cones. 



On the 1st of March all the dead cod eggs were thrown overboard and the tank, 

 <5ones, &c., cleaned and properly cared for. 



