REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 61 



be washed out, and we would keep the brine on from 3 to 5 minutes. We feel by- 

 doing this we have checked the fungus and, in part, nipped the parasite; still, the 

 parasite can be seen on a large number of the fish yet. The only remedy we know 

 of is to keep cleaning and salting, and I am glad to say at this writing we can see a 

 marked improvement in the fry. We are now salting every other day, and when a 

 trough does not improve as we think it ought, we give it a quart every day. I send 

 you by this mail two vials with labels inside that will show the parasite and fungus 

 on the fins of the fry. Someone has said "the price of all fish is eternal vigilance," 

 and I will add, in this locality, a free use of salt. 



Very respectfully, E. M. Rouinson, 



Superintendent. 

 Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, 



Assistant in Charge Division of Fish- Culture, 



U. S. Fish Commission, Washington, D C. 



Epidemic among trout. — April 21, 1894, Superintendent Clark reported 

 an unusual loss of yearling and 2-year-old brook trout at the Nortk- 

 ville, Mich., Station, which begun ten days before and was without 

 visible cause. The iish were dying at the rate of from 40 to 100 a day 

 in spite of the ample water flow and plenty of wholesome food. Trout 

 in ponds below the dying fish did not seem to be affected, although the 

 same water flowed through all. 



Dr. It. R. Gurley was sent to Northville on April 23, and after 

 investigation made a provisional report upon the epidemic. Arrange- 

 ments were soon made also to isolate the diseased fish and to provide 

 separate drainage for each pond. The epidemic abated considerably 

 from the beginning of May. It involved the black-spotted as well as 

 the brook trout. 



Black bass killed by thunder. — On June 5, 1894, at the Neosho Station, 

 Missouri, a very heavy storm of lightning and rain occurred about noon. 

 Next morning thousands of young black bass were found dead on the 

 bottom of a pond, mostly in water 3 feet deep. No sigus of wounds or 

 punctures were upon them and they were all in excellent condition in 

 the morning of June 5. Some of the dead fish were examined by 

 Dr. R. R. Gurley, assistant to the United States Fish Commission, 

 who found no evident cause of death. He refers to an item in Rayer's 

 Archiv de Med. Comp., Paris, 1843, pp. 253-254, in which it is stated: 



In times of storm fish, and particularly carp and perch, experience a very marked 

 eflect from the electricity. The fishermen assert that after a peal of thunder, in an 

 6tang or in a lake, fish have been seen to die in a few days. 



Fish struck by lightning.-— The Philadelphia Public Ledger stated that 

 at Allentowu, September 2, 1895, during a severe thunder storm light- 

 ning struck the water of one of the fish ponds of the State Fishery which 

 contained 5-year-old California trout. The trout measured from 18 to 22 

 inches in length. Between 75 and 100 of the finest trout were paralyzed 

 and many of them had their backs broken. 



