REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XLIIl 



the various species of the cod family, especially of the true codfish. 

 While engaged in the prosecution of researches into the condition of 

 the fisheries at Gloucester, my attention was called to the fact, in the 

 early autumn, of the approaching ripeness of the cod, haddock, »&c., and 

 it was determined, after conference with Mr. Milner, to institute experi- 

 ments looking towards the artificial i)ropagation of the cod, it being 

 known from the researches of Sars that the eggs of that fish are non- 

 adhesive and that they are discharged in the open sea, and iioat freely 

 at the surface. With this information as a basis, preparations were 

 made to utilize a portion of the wharves and buildings leased by the 

 Commission at Gloucester for the erection of the necessary cod-hatching 

 apparatus. A steam-engine, pumps, and other appliances were ordered 

 on from the shad-hatching barges at Baltimore, and the work of fitting up 

 was vigorously prosecuted under the direction of Capt. H. 0. Chester 

 and Mr. Sauerhoft", the whole work being under the charge of Mr. 

 Milner. 



The cones, so serviceable in the hatching of shad, were first tried ; 

 but did not work satisfactorily, in consequence of the changed conditions, 

 the eggs being lighter and floating at the surface instead of sinking 

 to the bottom as with the shad. After numerous trials to overcome 

 this principal difficulty, a device was hit upon by Captain Chester, which, 

 in a great measure, answered the desired object; and as it became 

 possible to secure an ample supply of eggs, the experiment was prose- 

 cuted vigorously and ultimately crowned with success. Several millions 

 of cod were hatched out and turned into the harbor of Gloucester, 

 where, in the ensuing summer, they could be readily observed around the 

 wharves, and even taken with a hook, the unwonted sight attracting the 

 greatest interest of the fishermen and residents. 



Mr. Frank N. Clark, who had had charge of the shad-hatching work 

 at Havre de Grace, also supervised the hatching of cod at Gloucester, 

 and introduced some important improvements in the apparatus. 



Mr. Milner was obliged to return to Washington by illness, and Cap- 

 tain Chester having also been incapacitated from a similar cause, the 

 establishment was broken up in the early j^art of January, 1879, and the 

 apparatus dismantled and boxed, ready to be returned to the southern 

 stations. 



Other species of Gadidcc, as the haddock, etc., were experimented with 

 upon a small scale, and the feasibility of artificial propagation of the 

 species of the cod family fully established. 



The only very serious difficulty experienced during these experiments 

 was that from the turbidity of the water, this being necessarily taken 

 from the harbor, and more or less polluted, especially in stormy weather, 

 by the dock mud. 



It is confidently believed that if a vessel can be constructed and an- 

 chored in the proper quality of water an enormous propagation of fish 

 can be accomj)lished. There is apparently no limit to the number of 



