LXVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The improvements made by the engineer department at Saint Jerome 

 during 1888 and 1884 caused the inclosure of a spacious pond, covering 

 perhaps 10 or more acres, which may become a useful adjunct to future 

 experiments. These improvements also render it possible greatly to 

 extend the construction of other ponds or inclosed areas for purposes 

 of oyster culture, though the excavation of the sandy flats for such pur- 

 poses may be a trifle more expensive than ujion the firm, loamy marshes 

 found in many other places along the shores of the Chesapeake and 

 Chiucoteague Bays, 



X. The American Lobster {Homarus americanus). 



October 18, Lieut. W. M. Wood procured from Mr. E. G. Blackford, 

 in Isew York, 125 live lobsters of small and medium size, many of them 

 being females with a full supply of eggs. They were placed in a tank 

 through which salt water was circulated, but quite a number died the 

 first few hours. On aVrival in the Chesapeake, the next day, he de- 

 posited 03 in good condition off Back Eiver light. 



D.-ABSTEACT OF THE ARTICLES IN THE APPENDIX. 



25. — CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICLES. 



In the general appendix to this report will be found a series of forty- 

 two separate papers treating upon matters relating to the work of the 

 Fish Commission. These are classified under five headings, as follows: 



A. — Reports of Steamers and Stations 



The first article is by Lieut. -Commander Z. L. Tanner, and gives a 

 report of the work of the steamer Albatross during 1884, illustrated by 

 three plates. In this report are also included subordinate reports by 

 Lieut. Seaton Schroeder, Passed Assistant Engineer G. W. Baird, 

 Surgeon James M.Flint, Naturalist James E.Benedict, and various tables 

 of temperatures, specific gravities, stations occupied, records of dredg- 

 ing and trawling, and lists of fishes, invertebrates, &c., taken. Next* 

 is given a report by Lieut. W. M. Wood on the work of the Fish Hawk 

 during 1883 and 1884; and a report follows by Mate James A. Smith 

 on the work of the Lookout during 1884. The twelve papers which 

 follow relate mostly to the propagating operations of the Fish Com- 

 mission, and consist of reports from the persons charged with the work 

 of propagation, distribution, or investigation. They consist of three 

 reports on fish hatching, shipping eggs to foreign countries, and re- 

 ceiving them from foreign countries at the Cold Spring Harbor Station, 

 by Mr. Mather; the operations at the North ville and the Alpena 

 Station, by Mr. F. N. Clark ; the salmon-breeding and trout-breeding 

 work on the McCloud Eiver, by Mr. Stone ; the work in Maine in 

 propagating Penobscot salmon and Schoodic salmon, by Mr. Atkins ; 

 the shad-hatching operations at the Fort Washington Station, by 



