REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXV 
direction of the water registrar. It is hoped that the work may be en- 
tirely completed during the coming year. . 
For the purpose of assorting the fish and removing such as were not of 
an eligible quality, the different ponds were drained successively, the east- 
ernmost one being emptied on the 24th April. In addition to about 
100 carp, some weighing from eight to ten pounds, and a few tench and 
golden ides, a large number of mud-shad (Dorosoma), cat-fish, and sun- 
fish were obtained; these, in all probability, having been introduced 
through the water-pipes. 
The subsidiary pond at the Arsenal was drained on the 25d October, 
and a large number of carp obtained for distribution. 
The south pond was drained on the 8th November. ; 
The details of distribution of the carp will be found in another part 
of the report. In many cases the fish commissioners of the different 
States came to Washington to receive their supply; among others, 
Mr. B. F. Shaw, of Iowa, on the 27th May. An entire car-load was 
shipped to the fish commissioner of Missouri, at Saint Louis, on June Ist, 
and another, on the 25th October, to the commissioners of Wisconsin. 
Saibling (Salmo salvelinus). 
As areturn for the service rendered by the United States to the 
Deutsche Fischerei- Verein in the transmission of eggs of the California 
salmon and the California trout, Herr von Behr, president of the 
Verein, forwarded from Bremen 100,000 eggs of the sibling (salmo 
salvelinus) by the steamship Neckar of the North German Lloyd line, 
reaching New York on the 1st February, 1880. Only about 6,000 of 
them survived. 
At the suggestion of Mr. Livingston Stone they were sent to Mr. W. 
L. Gilbert, of Plymouth, Mass., to be hatched out. A brief note upon 
them will be found in Volume I of the Fish Commission Bulletin. 
The Gourami (Osphromenus olfar). 
In previous reports of the United States Fish Commission mention 
has been made of the gourami (Osphromenus olfax) (see Part II, page 
Ixxviil) aS a most desirable species of fish for introduction into the 
warmer portions of the United States. 
This fish belongs to the family of Labyrinthoids, and, like other allied 
Species, is able to endure deprivation of water for a considerable time, 
the peculiar arrangement of the gills holding the water like a sponge 
and remaining moist a long time. 
Its characteristics, as already explained, are extreme excellence of 
flesh, large size, and herbivorous character, although well provided 
with teeth by which it is enabled to cut and feed upon vegetables. 
It is also one of the nest-bearing species, the male preparing a depos- 
itory, weaving together water plants and grasses, for a receptacle in 
which the female lays hereggs. These eggs, as well as the young when 
hatched, are sedulously protected by the male until the latter are able 
a 
