1008 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



retard their development until they reach Germany. By the 1st of 

 November the eggs are large enough to hatch out in the eastern hatch- 

 ing establishments. 



Respectfullv, yours, 



SPENCER F. BATED, 



Commissioner. 

 Herr von Behr, 



Grei/swald, Prussia. 



Washington, January 19, 1877. 



Sir : In replying to the questions you have referred to me, in the 

 letter addressed to you by Mr. von Behr, of December 7, 1876, relating 

 to the artificial propagation of food-fishes, I have preferred to amplify 

 the answers, so that they will include not only reference to the appara- 

 tus for propagation, but also the methods employed by our best cultur- 

 ists in overcoming some of the difficulties referred to by Mr. von Behr. 



As to the "carrying-package" referred to, it is similar to the one de- 

 scribed on page 547 of Part II of your report as the invention of Mr. N. 

 W. Clark. (Part II Report of the Commissioner (United States) for 1873 

 and 1873 Washington: Government Printing Office, 1874.) Mr. Clark 

 (now deceased) had the device patented. It is not extensively used in 

 this country, as the simpler method of packing eggs described by Mr. C. 

 G. Atkins, on page 263 of the same report, is found to answer the pur- 

 pose better for several reasons. In the first place, it is absolutely essen- 

 tial in the carrying-package spoken of that it shall not be turned 

 down on its side, as the eggs are not in contact with anything above to 

 hold them in position, and, consequently, fall In a mass to the lower side 

 if too much tipped. By Mr. Atkins's method, the soft moss packing hold 

 them snugly in the same position however the box may be tipped. It 

 also economizes space, and large quantities of eggs are frequently trans- 

 ported very successfully without an attendant. 



The carrying-package first referred to was made use of by Mr. Wel- 

 sher and Green in the second attempt to carry shad to Germany. 

 For this project, which involves the difficult task of carryingshad a journey 

 of twelve or fourteen days, it is perhaps indispensable. The experiment 

 made previous to the voyage proved that the shad ova could be retarded 

 in their development to a period of seven days and then hatched out as 

 vigorous fishes. The purpose was to retard a number of eggs taken 

 immediately before the starting of the steamer until seven days out 

 from land, and then to have a suitable contrivance for the care of the 

 young fishes until they could be placed in the river Weser.* 



The apparatus brought into notice by Mr. Atkins, referred to pre- 

 viously, is better adapted for hardy transportable eggs, which those of 



* See United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Part III ; Report of the Com- 

 missioner for 1873-74 and 1874-75, Washington : Government Printing Office, 1876. 

 pp. xxi, 3-28, 337. 



