36 



in tlieir respective States. Those sent to Mr. Atkins, the commis- 

 sioner of Maine (out of this year's invoice), were fonnd to be covered 

 witli frost when he unpacked tliem, yet nearly 100 per cent hatched. 

 I think a like result was obtained in the hatching of the remainder 

 of these eggs by Mr. Clift. 



In 1870 the fish commissioners of Maine and Connecticut purchased 

 from the New Castle (Lake Ontario) establishment — Mr. Wilmot — 

 some 18,000 eggs, which have been hatched and distributed. 



In 1871, Maine, Massachusets and Connecticut jointly built a sal- 

 mon breeding establishment on the Penobscot river in Maine, from 

 which a fair amount of salmon ova has been procured, and is now in 

 process of hatching. 



The recapitulation and formation of tables showing the introduction 

 of salmon into American waters being, for want of correct data, 

 hard to determine, I have concluded to forbear any summing up of places 

 and data of their introduction. 



I think it must be definitely determined that Dr. Wm. M. Fletcher, 

 of Concord, N. H., has the honor of being the first man who success- 

 fully introduced salmon to American waters, and who first established 

 the best and only successful method, viz., by ova, as he found the 

 adult salmon could not be transferred. 



The places best suited in our rivers for the introduction of the young 

 salmon fry is, in my opinion, where there is a cove or estuary, into 

 which debouches a cold spring brook. The water should be quite 

 shallow and habited by no other fish. Even the small dace or min- 

 now of double or equal size should be excluded. 



Professor Ilagar has seen the dace fry of similar size killing and 

 devouring the young salmon. The voraciousness on the part af the 

 dace, trout or other fish is only evinced when the salmon are first 

 introduced. 



When first put into a stream where they are to remain — having 

 been transported from ever so short a distance — they seem very dor- 

 mant, hardly moving from the spot where you put them. Two or 

 three days after they gradually learn their new position and their 

 latitude and longitude, and commence feeding ; and it is at this time, 

 and before they commence feeding, that other fry prey upon them so 

 badly. After getting six or eight montlis old they will tight their 

 way as readily as any young fry of that age, and take care of them- 

 selves. The best food for them in the early months is the fly maggot. 

 Take any dead animal — cat, dog, woodchuck or rabbit — suspend it to 

 a pole overhanging your pond, invert a nail-keg over your animal, 



