48 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
as well as the smaller catches made in the pound nets along the shores. 
Notes were kept upon the abundance, sizes, and spawning conditions 
of the fish, and interviews were held with the masters of the different 
schooners relative to the more important incidents connected with 
their several cruises. 
INVESTIGATIONS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ADJACENT WATERS. 
The fishery investigations begun in June, 1892, in the lower part of 
Chesapeake Bay and the adjacent waters of the open ocean by the 
schooner Grampus were continued until about July 20, when that ves- 
sel proceeded to Woods Hole to take up the physical inquiries along 
the continental platform, as described above. <A few trips were made 
out to sea during this period, but the examinations were principally 
confined to the waters of the bay, in which the beam trawl, seines, etc., 
were employed with good results. 
FISHES OF CASCO BAY, MAINE. 
During August, 1892, Mr. W. C. Kendall was engaged in collecting 
and observing the habits of fishes in the more inclosed waters of Casco 
Bay, Maine, including the lower parts of some of its tributary streams. 
The special object of his inquiries was to ascertain if the menhaden 
spawn in that region, and if the young occur in the brackish waters” 
there during the summer months, as is the case south of Cape Cod. 
No specimens of young menhaden were secured, however, and no evi- 
dence was obtained to show that this species has been in the habit of 
Spawning in this bay during recent years at least. 
EMBRYOLOGY OF THE STURGEON. 
Arrangements were made, in the spring of 1893, for the study, by 
Dr. Bashford Dean, of Columbia College, New York, of the embryology 
of the sturgeon (Acipenser sturio oxyrhynchus Mitchill), on board the 
steamer Fish Hawk, while stationed in the Delaware River off Glou- 
cester City, N. J., during the shad-hatching season, the object of this 
inquiry being to supplement the investigations respecting the same 
species carried on for the Fish Commission several years before by Prof. 
John A. Ryder. As the necessary material could not be obtained 
conveniently in the locality named, however, Dr. Dean proceeded to 
Delaware City, Del., where he made his headquarters, and where he 
was fortunate in securing an abundance of ripe sturgeon of both sexes. 
His experiments and observations were carried on with entire success 
in all particulars. No difficulties were encountered in fertilizing the 
eggs and in holding them in good condition until they hatched. They 
were kept in improvised floating boxes, which were moored in several 
places in the river and canal, those placed in the mid-current affording 
the best results, Very few eggs were lost in any of the boxes, and 
