L124 FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
lower side of dams, when they could go down. As to the de- 
scent of large eels in fall—if it is not so, why are all eel fisheries 
arranged to intercept downward migration ?—Most fresh water 
eels are caught in that way. 
Mr. Biackrorp called attention to a few viviparous perch 
from California, sent by Mr. B. B. Redding. They were exam- 
ined and two were opened, but the insides were too decomposed 
to trace the presence of young. 
Unfortunately the best specimen was left on Mr. Blackford’s 
stand in the market, which Mr. Mather had dissected and found 
filled with young. 
Salmo purpuratus, from Alaska, were shown in alcohol. They 
were from the National Museum and were collected by Captain 
Beardslee, U. S. N., and identified by Dr. Bean. 
An express messenger here delivered a package from Profes- 
sor Baird to Mr. Mather, which proved to be an elegant diploma, 
awarding him a gold medal from the International Fishery Exhi- 
bition at Berlin, 1880, for his invention of the conical hatcher for 
shad eggs. 
THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND. .NUGRELYS 
VALOR ORS ET . 
BY PROF. W. O. ATWATER, WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, MIDDLETOWN, 
CONN. 
[This paper gave an account of the progress during the past 
year and the results of the work upon the composition and eco- 
nomic values of our food fishes, of which an account was given 
in the last meeting of the association and reported in this jour- 
nal. A full report of the investigation up to the present time is 
to appear in the next report of the United States Fish Commis- 
sion. In view of these facts and expectation that the work will 
in the near future have progressed so far as to permit more sat- 
