624 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2} 
2. BUYING SALMON. 
The same arrangements for our supply of salmon were made as the 
previous year. The fishermen furnishing them brought their catch 
every tide to Mr. Whitmore at the lower end of the island of Verona, 
and thence, after counting and weighing (by Mr. Whitmore’s eye), they 
were sent up the river to the inclosure. The first fish were received 
June 10 and the last July 2. The total purchase was 522, of which 42 
died in transit. There was a serious loss soon after inclosing them, 
65 having died and been found up to July 28. Nearly every one of 
these had sore eyes, and to that cause I attribute their death. The cause 
of the sore eyes is a problem not yet solved. I am inclined to attribute, 
it to something occurring during their capture or transportation, as the 
effect followed so speedily on their inclosure. After July hardly any 
died, only two being found in August. No other trouble occurred, and 
the bulk of the fish came in good condition to the spawning season. 
3. TAKING SPAWN. 
Floods interfered with the count of the fish at this season, but it is 
known that 227 females were manipulated. 
The work of spawning began October 25, and closed November 10. 
The whole number of eggs taken was afterwards computed at 1,930,561. 
Theimpregnation of the eggs was very satisfactory, as is almost always 
the case with this variety of Salmo salar. But 50,854 were taken out 
known to be unimpregnated, and the total of pickings was but 80,061, 
by actual count. 
The most of the females and a good. many of the males were marked 
for future identification by attaching platinum tags to their dorsals, as 
formerly practiced at Bucksport. They were then turned loose in Dead 
Brook below the inclosure. Many of them are known to have staid 
in the river above Orland village all winter, as they were seen in con- 
siderable numbers in the early spring. 
4, SHIPMENT OF SPAWN. 
As in 1879, the warm water of Craig’s Brook hastened the develop- 
ment of the eggs, so that we were compelled to begin shipments early 
in December; but the water cooled rapidly after that date, so that the 
final shipment was not made until February 28. 
The allotment pro rata with the contributions in money gave the 
United States about 1,264,000; Maine, 340,000; New Hampshire, 45,500; 
Massachusetts, 225,000; these being the only contributors. The actual 
division will be seen by the appended Table II. 
The packages of spawn reached their destinations in excellent condi- 
tion, and the aggregate result was a large number of healthy salmon fry, 
whose hatching and planting are detailed in Tables III and IV. 
