XI.-REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION OF SCHOODIC SALMON 



IN 1884-'85. 



By Charles G. Atkins. 



The routine work of the season was accompanied by very few inci- 

 dents worthy of mention. Preferring myself to remain at the Penob- 

 scot station, I j)nt the work of the spawning season at Grand Lake 

 Stream in the hands of Mr. H. H. Buck, who had the assistance of our 

 foreman, Mr. Munson, and of several other experienced hands. 



The nets spanning the stream were placed in position as usual about 

 September 15, and the inclosures for the capture and retention of the 

 fish were constructed after the former fashion during the last week in 

 October. The fishing, which was carried on constantly between the 

 dates of October 30 and November 22, yielded 808 female fish and 378 

 males, a total of 1,186. In number this was a gain of 184 fish over the 

 catch of 1883, and there was a considerable increase in size. The 

 average weight in 1883 was 3.2 pounds for the males and 3 pounds for 

 tlie gravid females j in 1884 the males averaged 4 pounds and the gravid 

 females 4,1 pounds. This is the highest point yet reached in the in- 

 crease of size, which has been going on for a series of years. 



Spawn was taken from 775 females. The gross yield was 1,820,810 

 eggs } an average of 2,349 eggs per fish. There were 155 females that 

 yielded a percentage, generally inconsiderable, of visibly defective eggs. 

 The losses of eggs during development amounted to 254,410, including 

 19G,7()1 taken out after the usual concussion intended to destroy the 

 unimpreguated. If we increase the latter figure by one-fifth the other 

 losses, the usual mode of arriving at an estimate of the total of unim- 

 l)regnated eggs, we have 208,291, or ll^^g per cent of the original stock 

 of eggs. This is an unusual proportion. 



The eggs were all deposited in the river hatchery, where, in the cold 

 lake water, their development was slower than usual, and shipment 

 was accordingly delayed till March, when it was accomplished in the 

 usual manner between the 16th and 25th. The total shipments amounted 

 to 1,169,000 eggs. 



There were retained at the station and hatched according to law and 

 custom, to keep up the stock of fish in Grand Lake, 397,400 eggs, from 

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