REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 129 
1900, some observations were made at the laboratory which materially 
contributed to the knowledge of the spawning of eels in American 
waters. On July 31 the schooner Grampus collected a number of eel 
eggs at the surface, about 30 miles south of South Shoal light-ship. 
The eggs reached the station on August 1 and were placed in charge 
of Professor Eigenmann. Inasmuch as no eel eggs had before been 
taken in our waters, the progress of these was watched with much 
interest. The development was rapid, and many eggs hatched during 
the night of August 2-3. The last larve died on August 14. A 
preliminary note on these eggs and larvee was published by Professor 
Eigenmann in Science for September 14, 1900, and a full account of 
his observations was prepared for publication in the Bulletin’ of the 
U.S. Fish Commission for 1901. The latter article first reviews the 
modern work on the development of the eel by Raffaele, Grassi, Cun- 
ningham, and other European biologists, and then describes in detail 
the eggs, embryos, and larve in hand, many drawings accompanying 
the text. The identification of the eggs as those of the conger eel 
not previously described—is based on strong circumstantial evidence. 
In the last week in August, 1900, information was received at the 
laboratory that for two or three weeks previous there had been streaks 
of reddish water in Priests Cove, Buzzards Bay, near the Fairhaven 
shore. It was stated that the ‘‘ streaks” varied in width from 50 yards 
to one-half mile, and those who conveyed the information said that 
when fishing they had caught no fish within the limits of these areas. 
According to the report, thousands of dead or dying fish were seen on 
the shore, among them minnows, chogset, tautog, eels, ete. The 
tautog ranged in length from 6 inches to 1 foot, and the eels from 1 
to 2 feet. There was a bad stench from the red water, and the fish 
washed ashore were bloated. 
Upon learning of the appearance of the red water, the director of 
the laboratory suggested to Prof. C. H. Eigenmann and Mr. Vinal N. 
Edwards that they visit the region of New Bedford and examine into 
the matter, and this they did on August 29. Professor EKigenmann 
reported that reddish-brown water ina band about 100 yards wide was 
found extending from Fort Phoenix eastward toward Egg Island, and 
that the red water had been noticed during ten days previous to his 
visit. It appeared that the period of discoloration of the water must 
have culminated on August 25, for during the following night a 
number of dead eels, tautog, cunners, minnows, and squeteague were 
cast on shore, and none were cast up later. Squeteague had been 
abundant in the bay previous to the appearance of the red water, but 
none had been taken since it appeared, and fish were generally absent 
in its neighborhood. Some of the water placed in glass jars was found 
to contain great numbers of minute bodies which gave the water a 
yellowish tinge; many settled to the bottom, forming a yellowish 
floceulent Jayer. The bodies were found to be globular unicellular 
F. C. 1901 —9 
