788 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



cheese cloth, as the draught was very slight and only lasted from five to 

 fifteen minutes, when the return would come, releasing any that might 

 have got onto the cloth, but from other causes which lam unable to ac- 

 count for. The best success obtained was in one of the smaller aquaria 

 (No. 1), with a lot of very strong and healthy fry, which were put in 

 on the 22d of January and did very well for some time, but all gradu- 

 ally died, and on the 14th of February all were gone. I also kept some 

 of this lot in the hatching-jars, but they, too, died about the same time. 

 I noticed that the sacs of most of them were gone before they died. 



On the 25th of January the Grampus arrived with 162 live cod, which 

 were put in the basement, and they lived equally as well there as in 

 the cars. My experience in keeping large codfish alive is they will live 

 anywhere, provided they have a plentiful supply of fresh salt-water and 

 the temperature never goes below 30°; for at 29° all will die. Very 

 few eggs were obtained from this lot of fish, as the majority were males 

 and the females had mostly spent, and even those taken turned out 

 badly on account of the poor condition of the fish when received. 



I fitted up two tubs with the tidal motion and put in 1,000,000 eggs, 

 which did very well for a few days, but owing to the high temperature 

 of the hatchery and the large surface exposed to it, the temperature of 

 the water in the tubs got too high and killed them all. I did not get 

 another opportunity of trying the tubs, but from former experience I am 

 satisfied good hatching can be done with them. 



Several lots of eggs were received by express from Gloucester, and 

 Mr. Tolbert brought three lots, in all about 11,000,000 ; and on each 

 occasion from one- third to one-half died in transportation. On examin- 

 ing the apparently good ones with # microscope very many of them 

 were found to be more or less defective, and, consequently, but few 

 healthy fry were hatched out. 



1 submit the following suggestions for another season's work: 



1. That there should be a supply of not less than 1,000 codfish at the 

 station by the 1st of November, or as soon as they can be obtained from 

 Nantucket Shoals. 



2. That arrangements should be made for getting a monthly supply 

 of at least 500 more. By this means the number would be kept up, 

 and I think would furnish all the eggs the present force could handle. 



o. That the basement be fitted up with a number of small pools, 

 conveniently arranged, so the fish can be easily overhauled and get a 

 plentiful supply of fresh water. This will obviate the chances of their 

 getting killed by frost and afford an opportunity of examining them at 

 any time. 



Accompanying this you will find copies of the daily record kept 

 during the season. 



Wood's Holl, Mass., March 25, 1887. 



