806 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [G] 



slew motion given d> the eggs. At8.25 p. m. on May 6th 210,000 of these eggs had been 

 taken, and 175,000 at 0.30 p. m. on May 7. The temperature of water at Battery Sta- 

 tion when the eggs were taken was 56 degrees ; the temperature of water in car was 

 60 degrees. Took on freshwater at York, Pa., at 10 o'clock p. in., from engine-tank, 

 using our suction-hose and pumping about 30 minutes. Pumped the water through 

 the ice-coil during the uight, so the temperature was brought down to 58 degrees. 

 Took on fresh water at Altoona, Pa., and after that pumped water from engine-tank 

 three times each day. 



May 10. The temperature was from 58 degrees to 60 degrees. The eggs worked 

 nicely, with only a small loss. About a dozen or so of those taken on the 6th instant 

 hatched this afternoon. The eggs look rather light in color, and the lish can be seen 

 moving lively in the eggs. One jar of eggs went over in the aquaria last night; re- 

 placed them in jar at 6 o'clock a. m. 



May 11. The temperature was from 56 degrees to 58 degrees. Only a few more 

 fish hatched out, as the fall in the temperature of the water seemed to retard them. 

 They all look well, and are developing slowly. 



May 12. Got on a little alkali to-day; this did not seem to have any effect on 

 the eggs. Those taken on the 6th instant are hatching to-day. Temperature of 

 water 58 degrees. The fish look well, and have a large sac. Those taken on the 7th 

 instant are almost ready to come o'ut, and a few hatched before night. Worked all 

 the dead eggs off and measured those left in jars; found the loss on the 210,000 eggs 

 taken May 6 to be 10 per cent, and the loss on the 175,000 eggs taken May 7 to be 

 3 -per cent. This would make an average loss of 9 per cent. We lost very few, ii 

 any, after this. The eggs were hatchiug slowly this evening. The water in tanks 

 got a. little low, so the pump was used to get some air into the water. The air-bub- 

 bles attached themselves to the young fish and turned them head down ; also col- 

 lected around the jars and aquaria. This caused some trouble, which was overcome 

 a little by keeping the lower tanks as full of water as possible. 



May 13. The eggs of the 6th instant are hatching rapidly ; temperature of water 

 58 degrees. The fish look healthy and strong, with large sacs. Those of the 7th aro 

 hatching slowly. Put up at 11 a. m. 25,000 fish iu five cans, aud 25,000 more at 5.30 

 p. m. The air-bubbles were still troubling the young fish a little, so took them from 

 aquaria as fast as hatched. 



May 14. Almost all the eggs of the 6th instant hatched to-day. The temperature of 

 water went dowu to 56 degrees this morning. This retards the eggs of the 7th 

 a little. The air-bubbles in the water seem to collect on some of the eggs, making 

 them come to top of jar; so can give them but very little motion or they will go over 

 in the aquaria. This air-bubble has been the only difficulty we have had to contend 

 with, which seems strange, as the air-pump has not been in use on the trip. The air 

 also collects on the shells and causes them to come to the top, when they can be easily 

 skimmed oft'. Removed the young fry from the collecting aquaria to transportation 

 cans as fast as they were hatched. Planted 25,000 of these fish in the Columbia River, 

 at Wallula Junction, at 11.30 to-night. They were in fine condition. 



May 15. The car arrived at Portland at 10.30 this morning. All the eggs of the 

 6th were hatched, and those of the 7th hatched rapidly all day, the temperature of 

 water gradually going up to 62 degrees. The air-bubbles entirely disappeared this 

 morning. The car was taken to the Willamette, at Albany, at 9.30 p. m., and the 

 young fry planted at 11,30 p. m. The eggs did not quite all hatch to-day, so ran the 

 pump up to 10 o'clock May 16, at which time all the eggs had hatched, with a total 

 loss of 9 per cent. The experience of this trip makes it safe to recommend the ship- 

 ping of eggs instead of the young fry on all long trips, as this is perhaps the most 

 difficult trip in the country. The water is very cold, going as low as 44 degrees in a 

 great many places. The alkali, too, is very strong. I think without doubt this car 

 can take 2,000,000 eggs to any stream in the United States, and hatch them in as 

 good condition as they come from the hatcheries, and with as small a loss. 



