XLII EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ington 65 leather carp, 48 scale carp, 10 golden ides, and 14 tencli, which 

 were distributed as follows : 



All the mirror carp and the golden tench, about half of the scale 

 carp, three-quarters of the stock of ides, and most of the tench remained 

 in Baltimore. ^ 



In order to diminish the danger of loss of the carp in the Monument 

 Park by disease, inundation, or theft, the offer of Major McKee, com- 

 mandant of the United States Arsenal, to accommodate a pcn^tion of 

 them in the ice-pond of the arsenal grounds, was gladly accepted, and 

 all of the scale carp, 48 in number, were placed therein on the 23d of 

 May. So far as known, these fish continued in excellent condition 

 throughout the year and without loss. 



The very severe weather of the end of December, 1878, and beginning 

 of January, 1879, caused the two carp ponds to freeze over sufficiently 

 thick to bear skaters, and the opportunity was eagerly embraced by 

 large crowds of both sexes. As any disturbance overhead was likely to 

 seriously injure the carp in the east pond, a notification was placarded 

 around it forbidding entrance on the ice on any pretense whatever. ISo 

 restriction, however, was made in regard to the western pond, and while 

 the deprivation was cheerfully borne, the community enjoyed the facili- 

 ties allowed to their fullest extent. The superintendent, Dr. Hessel, 

 was directed to j)revent the crowd from coming upon the island in the 

 west pond, on which tanks and hatching apparatus were located, hut 

 was authorized to allow ladies and children to enter the house, a privi- 

 lege gladly embraced, and to such an extent that sometimes as many as 

 sixty persons were in the buildiug at one time. A few days of incessant 

 skating cut up the ice so that several applications were made by the 

 public to have the surface of the pond flooded, and thereby make a new 

 skating surface. It was found impossible, however, to meet the request 

 of the j)etitioners, as there was no plug of sufficient size in the west pond 

 to produce any effect. 



The Cod (Gadus morrhua). 



The Gloucester Station. — A most important increase in the range of 

 the work of the United States Fish Commission, in the way of the pro- 

 pagation of food fishes, was made during the year in connection with 



