894 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



operation at this station with very promising results. The water used as 

 a motive power was the waste from the cones, and consequently clear 

 gain. The annexed sketch (Plate I) will give a good idea of the appa- 

 ratus as used here. 



A float, A, was built just the size of the slip in the boat-house, the 

 j-euds acting as guides as it rose and fell with the tide. Uprights were 

 erected at each end and in the middle 5 between these, resting in suita- 

 ble bearings, were placed the shafts B of 2 J-inch iron pipe. Into these 

 main shafts were screwed short ijieces of pipe, 0, as arms to carry the 

 hatching cylinders. Directly opposite but near the outer end a similar 

 arm, D, was placed to carry the trip-bucket E. This arm has also a mov- 

 able weight, F, which is used to counterbalance a greater or less number 

 of cylinders by moving it either direction. The waste water was carried 

 over the trip-buckets by suitable pipes. 



The operation of the apparatus was as follows : The bucket gradually 

 filling the increasing weight caused it slowly to descend, the cylinders on 

 the opposite side being correspondingly raised. When the bucket 

 filled to the projecting spout shown in sketch, the balance being 

 destroyed it pitched to the front, and, emptying itself, immediately 

 returned by means of a counterbalanced bottom, to the vertical po- 

 sition again. The effect of this sudden emptying destroyed the bal- 

 ance between the rising cylinders on the one hand and the counterbal- 

 anced arm on the other, the cylinders plunging back to the position 

 they first occupied. This of course repeats itself indefinitely. The rise 

 and fall each way was regulated by a small guy line. The movement 

 of the cylinders keejis the eggs constantly in motion and gives excellent 

 results. 



For hatching floating eggs, such as those of the Spanish mackerel, I 

 would suggest that sufficient agitation and change of water might be 

 had by simply moving the float where it would be acted upon by the 

 waves. This float is very buoyant, as it is composed largely of casks, 

 and dances about at the slightest provocation. 



In conclusion, I beg to say that I have been ably assisted in the man- 

 agement of this station by Masters W. C. Babcock and A. 0. Baker, 

 United States Navy, under whose direct care the hatching-house opera- 

 tions have been conducted. 



