88 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Woops HoLe STATION, MASSACHUSETTS (JOHN MAXWELL, SUPERINTENDENT). 
Operations were on the usual basis, fish-cultural work consuming 
about eight months of the year. A large amount of interesting and 
valuable material, consisting of marine fishes, crustaceans, plants, etc., 
was collected April 1 to June 50 for transfer to the’aquarial exhibit at 
Chicago. About 9,000 living animal forms were transferred, these 
representing 40 species. The lobsters were crated in seaweed. Large 
alcoholic collections were also made. 
Codfish.—This was a poor season for hatching codfish. On October | 
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27 the Grampus was detailed to make collections of adult fish, but 
between the date named and December 28 the total amounted to but 41. 
In order that success might be secured, Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, the 
collector at the Woods Hole Station, was sent out as pilot, but the 
great draft of the Grampus prevented successful handling in shoal 
water, where cod were most abundant. Numerous trips were made 
to Block Island, Nantucket Shoals, and Browns Ledge, but fish were 
too scarce to afford success. Eventually a contract was entered into 
with private parties engaged in fishing, and by purchase 275 additional 
fish were obtained, a total for the season of 316. On January 1 the 
Grampus sailed for Gloucester, operating there the remainder of the 
winter. 
The total of eggs obtained was 2,883,000, taken December 13 to Jan- — 
uary 5 from 20 fish. The fry produced amounted to 850,500, a fraction 
over 29 per cent. It will be noted that this winter was one of unusual 
severity, and on January 6 a sudden change in temperature reduced 
the harbor water from 31° to 29°, causing the death of all adult codfish ° 
held in the inclosures awaiting the ripening of their eggs. The fish 
thus killed amounted to 204, and operations were abruptly terminated. 
Many of the fish in the harbor were killed, among them cunners, 
tautog,andeels. The statement below represents the work with codfish 
somewhat in detail: 
Per cent 
No. ofeggs| No. of fish owe 
Date. ar eo of fish 
taken. produced. produced. 
ASCEND OT ae oie wlere rete siersiaclafatcwcia ia cccet wercine cee heehee eee ene 370, 900 175, 000 47 
Deetelare iain cate eee miaudie eines we erm ciate ie eae eis peraie = ee eee 278, 200 Died Jan. 16 |--...--.-. 
Bb dcah= bt eb pS Sane crins Deane Spahr Raabe ac ave eoOnee one 208, 400 Died ans 207 s- ences 
tL se aocioebones aubEpLecuboseoue “scopcdcdaecasbeceasee cc 510, 000 225, 000 44 
Diemer sae veces siecle cistaciie ae amtatelee Susie cee «ee are aieae 1, 066, 300 400, 000 37 
Giree ceria a 2 adie Se teases cess. Oe celts ideas one esate 273, 900 50, 000 18 
Ue saecea eee enact Pere as maar tee oe Ud ipl ss NEU Be 50. 000 DiedMebat |-eeeses 
CLAIM ATS ea Gee erie ae ctapa tidal onmtols Aine <a ctarcideiee yatta pee easier cto 50, 000 Died Jjanj28 || -a5aee5 
Lee OS COORCO LE OA GE rE Aso eSSr AS Abdo maticnotrincsuanedad 75, C00 Died Jians28! 2. eee 
~ 
The eggs hatched in periods of 552 to 904 hours, in a temperature 
varying from 31.25° to 33.75°. 
Flatfish—Parent fish of this species not being obtainable in large 
numbers, the amount of work done was limited. Only 17 spawning 
fish were obtained, March 20 and 22, the eggs amounting to 461,000 
and the fry to 288,000. The period of hatching ranged from 552 to 576 
hours, in temperature of 37,5°. 
