760 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



cars (though this could not be the case, as there was plenty of ice in 

 the chambers). It may be that these crates have been tumbled out of 

 the cars like cord-wood, or barrels of pork, or crates of hardware, and 

 the eggs became injured by concussion in falling, and thus killiug them. 

 Yet I am doubtful whether this theory will hold good, as it is perfectly 

 astonishing the knocking about that eggs sometimes get and yet receive 

 no injury. If the injury did take place from the last-mentioned cause, it 

 would be imi)ossible to find out where the blame was to be placed, from 

 the many changes in transhipment and no one in particular looking 

 after them. In opening some of the crates the layers were very much 

 displaced, some being quite to one side, as if forced there b}" some pres- 

 sure or shock. There were no labels or directions on the crates giving 

 special instructions for " careful handling," or "keeping this side up 

 with care," so that they may have been carried in the cars or in ex- 

 press wagons on their " sides" or " ends." There was a painted address 

 on each, Sam Wilmof^ Netccastlc, Ont, 105,000 fish-eggs. 



As you will find in my note to Professor Baird (copy herewith), the 

 crates were brought from the village of Newcastle, which is about three- 

 quarters of a mile from the fishery, in my own wagon, walking the team 

 all the way 5 they were unloaded in my i)resence and under my direc- 

 tions, with every possible care. I opened two of them myself and 

 helped remove the eggs, as described, taking, as far as my experience 

 and judgment were concerned, every precaution to prevent any possible 

 injury to the ova ; yet the consequences have been as related. I was 

 not present at the opening and laying down of the three last crates, 

 being called away to make the customs entries, &c. My assistants, how- 

 ever, followed the same course I did with the first crates. About G p. 

 m. my head man informed me that he was afraid the eggs would all be 

 bad ; when I saw them a couple of hours later I came to the same con- 

 clusion. On the following morning (Sunday) I saw the white mark on 

 almost every Qg'^. Now and then an QQg was noticed with the embryo 

 in it alive, giving rapid, jerky-like motions; these few were picked out 

 and put by themselves, but they died too. During the following few 

 days the men kept close watch and were constantly looking out to find 

 any eggs that might prove sound ; and out of the whole half million we 

 managed to get between one and two thousand that had not succumbed 

 to the malady, or whatever else you may call it; these few hatched out 

 in about five or six days after, and we have them yet (looking well) as 

 the last remnant of the Livingstone consignment. 



In connection with the history of these five large crates^ and the one 

 large crate of last year, it is strange that they should all have gone in a 

 somewhat similar way, whilst the former smaller packages of 10,000 and 

 50,000 in previous years all came to hand in the very best of condition; in 

 fact, the loss in them was extremely trifling. ISTone of these latter-men- 

 tioned good consignments hatched out for five or six weeks after being 

 laid down. In the crate of the fall of 1877 there was not one good egg. 



