LXII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



all these remained liealtliy, plump, and active for six months, some 

 Iivin<i' 1)oyond the end of the fiscal year. 



In February, 1S;)2, some of the flounders were Ibuud to be in spawning 

 condition. Their eggs were stripped, but none seemed to be fertilized. 

 They were heavy. Two of the blue crabs underwent their shedding in 

 September, 1891. On first coming out they seemed to be healthy and- 

 strong, but they died in from three to five days; the cause, however, 

 was not dctermir.ed. 



A number of young oysters obtained from a water tank of the 

 steamer Fish Raiclc, on which the spat was supposed to have been 

 deposited in Angust, 1891, were placed in the aquaria in December. 

 These, when received, were from 1 to li inches in diameter. They 

 lived about four months, during which time their growth had increased 

 a half inch in diameter. Whelk eggs sent from Woods Holl hatched 

 out in pod-like envelopes in about three months after their receipt. 

 None of the young, however, lived longer than a few days. 



Very successful results were had with the specimens kept in the 

 fresh-water aquaria. But few specimens, however, spawned, probably 

 due to the presence of alum in the water, resulting from the use of the 

 Loomis filter. Owing to this it was found impracticable to place any 

 dependence upon successful results in the growing of plants. 



ADDITIONAL FISH-CULTURAL STATIONS. 



Montana. — The appropriation providing $1,000 for investigation 

 respecting the advisability of establishing a fish-hatching station in the 

 Rocky Mountain region in the State of Montana or Wyoming being- 

 available July 1, 1891, Prof. B. W. Evermann, assistant in the division 

 of inquiry respecting food-fishes, was placed in charge and began his 

 investigations at Helena, Mont., on July 18, 1891, and prosecuted them 

 continuously until August 27. 



The establishment of a fish-cultural station in the Rocky Mountain 

 region is advisable, without doubt, since the wide extent of country 

 centering around the Yellowstone I^ational Park has no fish cultural 

 establishment, and the waters of this region can be stocked only by 

 costly transfers from remote stations, with a great loss of the fish in 

 transit. The character of the fish-cultural operations which may be 

 profitably undertaken in any region varies with climatic conditions, 

 and with the phj'sical, chemical, and biotic features of the water. 

 These facts must be more or less accurately known in order to deter- 

 mine the extent and nature of the fish-cultural installation needed, and 

 to direct advantageously the stocking of the waters, in the interest of 

 which a station is sought to be established. 



One of the principal objects of the investigation was for the i)uri)ose 

 of determining the best location for fish-cultural operations, and as the 

 station for this region would be largely devoted to the hatching iind 

 rearing of various species of trout and other salmouiflne, visits were 



