106 American Fisheries Society 



the Penobscot, ovarian disease is very rare ; but with the 

 land-locked salmon of the Schoodic lakes it is very com- 

 mon. In 1883, by careful observation, we learned that 

 18 per cent of the female fish were affected with some 

 disease of the ovaries, resulting in defects of the eggs 

 which were apparent to the eye, in some instancs involv- 

 ing the entire litter, but in general a very small number 

 of eggs. The phenomenon was observed before artificial 

 breeding began at Grand Lake stream, and does not ap- 

 pear to be influenced thereby." 



We do not know how extensively that phenomenon had 

 been observed prior to that fishery conference, because 

 not a great deal of anatomical study or many observa- 

 tions had been made on the land-locked salmon, but this 

 suggested to me that a rupture of the membrane or in- 

 jury to the ovary had possibly caused the ovarian disease. 

 I will mention further that I have seen a number of the 

 golden trout of Sunapee lake with distorted and diseased 

 ovaries, and hardened eggs in them. Taken together with 

 what I saw in the National Museum fish, this fact and 

 Mr. Atkin's statement gave me a suspicion that those ab- 

 normal ovaries after all were probably due to rough strip- 

 ping. I have not had time for thoroughly investigating 

 this subject, but hope that I or someone may soon settle 

 the question. 



Even the small amount of evidence already presented 

 suggests that no harm and possibly much good can re- 

 sult from exercising more care in stripping the fish than 

 has been employed in the number of instances that have 

 come under my observation. 



DISCUSSION 



Mr. Titcomb, of Vermont: Dr. Kendall has very properly emphasized 

 an important point for fish culturists, that we should use great caution 

 in stripping to avoid injury to the membrane around the ovary. Another 

 point to which I would call attention is, that if too much pressure is 

 applied in expelling the eggs, the undeveloped eggs of the next season's 

 series may be injured. One often hears the argument made that we 

 should not catch trout before the breeding season, because to do so 

 means the destruction of the eggs. But no matter when you catch trout, 

 oggs will be taken because there is always a series developing. In 

 May you will destroy just as many eggs as you will in September. 



