XXX KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



them on board fishing vessels on the grounds. Owing to the cold and 

 inclement weather during much of the winter cod were uuusually 

 scarce and fishing, even under the most favorable circumstances, was 

 poorly remunerated. The work of collecting, however, was continued 

 whenever opportunity offered until the middle of March. 



Work of the Fish Hawk. — Early in January, 1887, the crew and some 

 of the hatching apparatus of the vessel were utilized in the work at 

 Wood's Roll. Late in February and till near the end of March the 

 Fish HawTc was engaged in making short trips off Portsmouth and in 

 Ipswich Bay, boarding fishing vessels to collect codfish spawn for ship- 

 ment to Wood's Holl. 



d. The Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). 



In the month of May Captain Chester secured three gravid mackerel 

 at Wood's Holl, and from them eggs were taken and placed in the ap- 

 paratus which had been used for eggs of the cod. The fish commenced 

 hatching in ninety-four hours after the eggs had been placed in the 

 jars. This adds another very important species to the list of fishes 

 that may be propagated at the Wood's Holl Station. 



e. The Black Bass (Micropterus dolomiei). 



11 breeders and 100 yearlings were collected during the summer at the 

 Wythcville Station. 48 yearlings were sent away during the year. 



/. The Red-eye (Ambloplites rupestris). 



At the Wytheville Station, during the fiscal year 1886-87, 77 breeders 

 and 13,125 yearlings were obtained. 18 breeders were sent to the Cen- 

 tral Station and 2,085 yearlings were distributed, including 586 in 

 Cacapou River and 600 in Cowpasture Eiver. On March 1, 1887, 25 

 red eyes, about an inch in length, were sent to Max von dem Borne, 

 Berneuchen, Germany, 20 of which reached their destination in safety. 



The red-eye is a good pan fish, gamey, and weighs a half pound on 

 the average; it is likely to do well in ponds. 



(j. The Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). 



Daring the summer of 1886, 125 sunfish, about 1 inch in length, were 

 taken at Cold Spring Harbor and forwarded, through Mr. E. G. Black- 

 ford, to Max von dem Borne, Berneuchen, Germany, who was fully ad- 

 vised of their predatory character. 



/i. The White Perch (Eoccus americavus). 



Three shipments of the young of this fish were sent from the Cold 

 Spring Harbor Station to Max von dem Borne, in October and Decem- 

 ber, 1886, and March, 1887, of which only three, from the last shipment, 

 reached Germany alive. 



i. The Rockfish or Striped Bass (Hoccus lineal uh). 



600,000 eggs were obtained at the Battery Station, near Havre de 

 Grace, Md., but owing to pressure with the shad work, few of them were 



