774 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the gills was avoided. As soon as the fish were spawned they were 

 marked by cnttiug a piece from the dorsal fin, and immediately returned 

 to the river, most of them swimming off quite vigorously. The first eggs 

 were taken on November 23, and the last on December 12. The hatch- 

 ing-house was supplied with water from a small stream that was con- 

 stantly roiled up by the cattle and horses running loose over the countiy, 

 and then the heavy rains swelled the stream to an unnatural size, and 

 leaves, twigs, and mud would be swept down into the tank and choke 

 n]) the flannel screens, so that it was necessary to clean them every few 

 minutes,, and a watchman was kept on duty all night to see that there 

 was a good supply of water running through the trough all the time. 

 The temperature of the water was sometimes as low as 38°, ranging 

 from that up to 54°, averaging about 47°. The eggs were from 23 to 27 

 days in showing the eye spots, and from 5G to GO days in hatching, a few 

 not hatching tiU C4 days old. After keeping the young fry from three 

 to four weeks they were taken up the river and placed in some small 

 creeks 1^, C, and 12 miles from the mouth of the river. Owing to the 

 difificulty in keeping a pure supply of water running through the trough, 

 and many other adverse conditions, there was a large loss in hatching 

 the eggs, probably 30 per cent. 



Again, in transporting the young fry up the river to the small creeks 

 where they were planted there was a considerable loss, owing to the 

 overcrowding in the tubs and pails in which they were carried. How- 

 ever, at least 100,000 healthy young fry were planted in the streams, and 

 probably many of those that were thought to be sufibcated revived after 

 being turned into the stream, for some were seen to swim oft' after a few 

 minutes. 



