582 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [30] 
insuring the proper degree of moisture in the event of a delay, and as 
it would seem to be quite essential for the retention of requisite moist- 
ure for long journeys, it may be regarded as nominally indispensable. 
But snow, which in the present instance was dry and frosty when 
packed, and hence exercised a salutary influence by maintaining a low 
temperature, can hardly be considered a safe covering either for long or 
short journeys, for the chances are all in favor of its melting in transit, 
thereby completely saturating a portion of the trays and their contents, 
a condition which repeated experiments have shown to be deleterious 
or even fatal to eggs thus situated for any length of time. 
Far better results were obtained from the second lot of eggs. Two 
hundred and sixty thousand fish were hatched from the two lots and 
planted as follows, according to report of President Griffith: 
‘¢White-fish fry deposited as follows: February 3, 1881, Barren River, 
tributary to Green River, tributary to Ohio River, near Bowling Green, 
Warren County, 100,000; March 5, same place, 160,000; total, 260,000.” 
CALIFORNIA.—The first case to San Francisco was started January 
17, and contained ten trays, 25,000 to the tray, with the flannel spread 
securely fastened with strips same as in last shipment to Maine. They 
arrived in excellent shape as the following from Commissioner Redding 
indicates : 
“The 250,000 whitefish eggs received in good condition, not to ex. 
ceed 1 per cent. loss. After regulating the temperature of the water 
they were placed in it and within twelve hours commenced hatching 
out.” 
A second lot of 250,000 packed precisely the same as its predecessor, 
shipped February 5, arriving 9 days later, was almost a total loss, as 
the following from Commissioner Redding will show: 
“The last lot of 250,000 whitefish eggs arrived a few days ago in a 
terrible condition. The top layers were entirely decayed, and there 
seemed to be hardly any life remaining in the lower eggs. All that ap- 
peared to have life have been put in the water. Ido not know of any 
reason for this result except probabiy they were detained by the snow 
blockade and the car was kept too warm.” 
The following is from a subsequent communication from Mr. Redding 
in reference to these eggs: 
“The eggs arrived on the 14th instant. * * * The messenger 
in the express car usually has two stoves, one in each end of the car, to 
keep himself warm, and the temperature is kept too high-for the trans- 
_ portation of fish eggs.” 
Mr. Redding’s supposition that the eggs were allowed to get too warm 
is undoubtedly correct. 
The report of Superintendent J. G. Woodbury, San Leandro (where 
the State hatchery is located), contains some interesting notes, and is 
given in full: 
“Whitefish shipments.—February 5, Tulare Lake, 125,000; February 
10, Mountain Lake, 10,000; February 12, Merced Lake, 10,000; Febru- 
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