558 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] _ 
For carrying the spawn, nine boxes, each containing 20 canton flan- 
nel trays 16 inches square, were made, also one large can for the same 
purpose. This can is 24 inches high by 16 in diameter, cylindrical in 
shape, and filled with a system of wire trays fitted around a central 
tube, funnel-shaped at its mouth, through which the water is intro- 
duced and conducted to the bottom of the can before being freed, the 
bottom of the tube having a conical flange attachment to diverge the 
water, which then flows upward through the trays of eggs (or fish) and 
out of the ventricle provided near the top of the can! It is undoubt- 
edly superior to the boxes for carrying spawn, but is much more expen- 
sive, and, when in transit, requires extra attention as to frequent changes 
of water. 
The Chase hatching jars, 100 of which had been ordered of the Dor- 
flinger Glass Company, White Mills, Pa., had not yet arrived October 
20, although advices of their shipment September 29 had been received. 
Considerable uneasiness was felt on account of their non-arrival, as the 
anticipated time for using them was near at hand, and steps were at 
once taken to locate their point of detention. They finally arrived 
October 28, without the loss of a single jar or tube by breakage, and 
were placed in position as soon as possible. <A full head of water was 
turned on to search out any leaks or disclose any defects that might 
exist in the trunks, tanks, &¢., and in time to make any needed repairs 
or changes before eggs were received. The preparatory work was now 
soon completed—none too soon, however, as subsequent events will 
show—and everything placed in readiness for the reception of spawn. 
SPAWN-GATHERING OPERATIONS. 
While the preceding operations were making, a visit to the ‘‘ Bass” 
Islands of Lake Erie, viz, North Bass, Middle Bass, and Put-in-Bay 
was made in the early part of September for the purpose of arranging 
for the privilege of collecting whitefish eggs from the catch of the lead- 
ing pound-net fishermen. Usually, it is ‘first come first served”; but, 
in the present instance, several net-owners were found who were quite 
unwilling to allow their eggs to be taken for the benefit of the United 
States Fish Commission, preferring to give them to the Ohio State com- 
mission, whose work, being more of a local character, would naturally 
include deposits of fry in their vicinity. A sufficient number, however, 
cheerfully offered to co-operate in the work. 
While on this trip I engaged the services of Mr. P. Wiers and Mr. 
S. W. Downing, residents of North Bass Island, and experienced spawn- 
takers, to assist in that work during the season. 
A second visit was made to the islands October 25 and 26, to complete 
the preliminaries and note the condition of the fish, which were then be- 
ing caught in considerable numbers. Many of the large females showed 
indications of early spawning, while several ripe males were found— 
always reliable evidence that ripe fish of the opposite sex will soon 
