236 Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting. 
During the season of 1904, when the method of incision and 
gravity was tried the first time for a full season’s operations, the 
number of females stripped was 9,400; number of eggs taken, 
58,068,000 ; eyeing percentage, 9714. 
In making a comparison between the fishing and spawning 
work of the two seasons, it is only fair to state that weather 
conditions were considered somewhat better in 1904 than in 
1903. The increased catch in 1904 was not due to a heavier 
run of fish but to the fact that in 1903 a sudden flood carried 
away the upper rack in mid-season. But so far as spawning 
results are concerned, if there was any advantage in 1904 over 
1903 it was probably offset by excessive crowding in the hatch- 
ery in 1904 and also by the bad condition into which the hatch- 
ing equipment had fallen for want of an appropriation to re- 
place it. 
The most striking point of advantage of the new method is 
the improvement in the quality of eggs obtained, the loss under 
the old plan being 21% in 1903, while under the new plan it was 
a trifle less than 24%%. No doubt the difference would not be so 
great every season, but the writer firmly believes that the eyeing 
percentage should never fall below 95 with the improved plan, 
under any and all weather conditions. 
It seems reasonable to assume that the improvement in the 
quality of the eggs is due chiefly to the elimination of the heavy 
pressure on the soft and delicate ova, that is necessary to start 
the flow. It is true that as soon as the eggs are started the 
pressure may be somewhat lessened, but a great deal of force 
must still be used to resolve the mass of eggs into a small liquid 
stream through the vent. The unnatural force thus brought to 
bear unavoidably subjects the eggs to the danger of crushing 
and straining, and also starts and expels a part or all of the 
green eggs that should not and need not be taken. Incidentally 
it should be noted that a limited number of green eggs are 
present in nearly all salmon spawned at the right time, for if 
the taking of the eggs is deferred until the last one is ripe, loss 
by hydration of those nearest the vent frequently occurs. 
That some eggs are crushed in stripping is evidenced by the 
fact that shells are washed from nearly every pan; and it seems 
reasonable to suppose that a pressure sufficient to rupture even 
