COD-FISHERIES OF CAPE ANN. 731 



larger individuals of the species reaches over 1,800,000 (see Table II), 

 the quantity obtained for hatching purposes at any one time was quite 

 small as compared with the number taken from the cod or the pollock, 

 and the quantity of milt in the male fish was very much less than in 

 either of the other species. 



Different methods were employed in hatching the eggs ; among oth- 

 ers the Clark trough, and a floating box with wire-cloth bottom placed 

 in the harbor beside the wharf. Those placed in the former were in- 

 jured by dirt, but the floating box was more successful, and of the eggs 

 placed in this a number were hatched. The line of the fish could be 

 seen when the eggs were three days old, and in five days the fish was 

 fully formed, though no motion could be detected. The shortest time 

 required for hatching was eight, and the average nine days. 



7. — CONCLUSIONS. 



Up to the time of the establishment of the hatchery at Gloucester, 

 so far as we know, no attempt had been made to impregnate and hatch 

 floating eggs, and the whole subject involving the artificial j^ropagation 

 of so many important species had received little attention from the fish- 

 culturists of the world. 



The results of the experiments, during the three or four months of the 

 winter of 1878-'79, were all that had been expected, and gave methods 

 that will be of the greatest value for future extensive work. The prin- 

 cipal points involved in hatching this class of eggs are now fairly under- 

 stood, and most of the difficulties in the way of success have been met 

 and overcome. 



That the artificial propagation of the species is not only possible but 

 practicable is proven by the fact that, under the most unfavorable cir- 

 cumstances, a small party succeeded in hatching over a million and a 

 half of young cod during a short season ; and that the loss of eggs in 

 hatching was reduced from 100 to only 30 per cent, in about two mouths. 



With apparatus made of suitable material, and placed on the new 

 steamer now being built for the purpose, we see no reason why the work 

 may not be carried on with the utmost success. At Gloucester the 

 steamer can be safely anchored in the deep water of the outer harbor, 

 away from all dirt and sediment, and can, if necessary, be moved to any 

 other place where the fish chance to be more plenty. 



With other species hatched by the Commission the great difiiculty has 

 been to secure the spawning-fish, from which the supply of eggs could 

 be obtained. This has required a large force of men kept constantly on 

 the fishing-grounds, and even then the quantity of eggs taken has usually 

 been below the desired number, so that the hatching operations have 

 often been limited by the number of eggs that could be secui^ed. Again, 

 with most species the spawning season for any particular locality lasts 

 but a few weeks at most, and the loss of time occasioned jjy storms and 

 other causes frequently interferes greatly with the success of the work. 



