LVI 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Woods Hole Station, Massachusetts (E. F. Locke, Superintendent). 



During the summer a number of repairs and improvements were 

 made to the buildings and equipment, including the substitution of a 

 wooden roof for the old iron one on the coal shed, the painting of the 

 residence, and putting in new plumbing. A new boiler was also placed 

 in the Cygnet, and the Blue Wing was provided with a new crank shaft. 

 The laboratory was kept open during the entire year, and in July and 

 August was taxed to its utmost capsicity. 



Following the usual methods, the collection of brood cod was com- 

 menced about October 1 by the Grampus^ the first lot being received 

 at the station October 11. Work was continued until November 15, 

 during which time the schooner delivered 2,485 cod, varying in size 

 from to 20 pounds; and this collection was still further increased 

 by the purchase of 349 from some of the commercial fishermen. All of 

 the fish were delivered in excellent condition. They were fed on freshly 

 shucked clams during the winter and api)eared to thrive on them. The 

 first ripe fish were found November 14, and collections continued daily 

 from that time until February 10, when all of the brood-fish on hand 

 were killed by the extremely cold weather. The total collections from 

 these fish amounted to 102,223,000 eggs. 



In- addition to eggs collected from fish at the station, 54,380,000 were 

 obtained at Plymouth by a crew of men stationed at that point under 

 the direction of Mr. F. S. Conley. Operations were to have commenced 

 in November, but owing to the fact that the steam launch Blue Wing, 

 which had been detailed for that work, was unable, on account of the 

 stormy weather, to report until December 12, no eggs could be delivered 

 at the station from that point before the 13th. The season M^as very 

 unfavorable, owing to the extremely cold weather and the numerous 

 storms that juevailed along the coast during December and January. 



As a result of the operations at the two points, 150,603,000 eggs 

 were received and 92,143,000 fry hatched. These were all liberated in 

 Vineyard Sound near Gay Head, except a few released in Buzzards 

 Bay when the weather was so rough that the vessel used in making 

 the plants could not reach that point. 



Table ahotving the v umber of cod eggs collected, daily losses in incubation, and f 7- y hatched. 



