160 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). 
Mr. Edwards continued at Woods Holl, in 1890, his experiments with 
regard to the hatching of this species which had been conducted dur- 
ing 1886, 1888, and 1889, From 768,000 eggs, 688,000 embryos were 
obtained. About 2,000,000 eggs taken from fish which had been dead 
a short time proved worthless. During November, 1890, small mack- 
erel, measuring from 8 to 11 inches long, were unusually abundant in 
Woods Holl harbor, and about 5,000 were caught with hook and line 
from the Fish Commission wharf. Some adult specimens were also 
captured at the same place and others in a fyke net set by Mr, Ed- 
wards, the first time they had been so taken. 
The Scup (Stenotomus chrysops). 
About 396,000 fry were obtained from 443,000 eggs of this species at 
the Woods Holl station during June, 1890. Thé eggs are buoyant and 
hatch in from three to five days. Ninety-five per cent of all the scup 
taken at this period were milters. After remaining in the traps over 
twenty-four hours, the females are never found to contain any ripe 
spawn. An account of an experiment on the planting of young scup 
in Eel Pond during the summer of 1890 is given in connection with the 
sea bass. 
The Squeteague (Cynoscion regale.) 
The artificial propagation of this species was first attempted at Woods 
Holl by Mr. Edwards in June, 1890, when 237,000 eggs were hatched 
in 3 to 4 days with a loss of only about 10,000. The eggs are buoyant. 
Nineteen out of twenty of all the squeteague taken were milters, and 
ripe males occurred as late as June 30, but nearly all the females had 
spawned before that time. 
The Tautog (Tautoga onitis). 
From 808,000 eggs of the tautog, secured by Mr. Edwards at Woods 
Holl during June, 1890, 732,000 embryos were obtained. The eggs are 
buoyant and hatched in from 3 to 5 days. On June 29, 1890, about 
50,000 fry were planted in Eel Pond, where young fish were abundant 
in the following November. They did not attempt to escape from the 
pond, but stowed themselves away in the eelgrass. This species is said 
to be growing less abundant every year on the southern coast of New 
England. 
The Cunner (Ctenolabrus adspersus). 
The eggs of the cunner are buoyant and very transparent; about 26 
are contained in a linear inch. About 50,000 eggs of this species ob- 
tained May 22, 1890, were hatched at Woods Holl on the 5th day, with 
a loss of only 5,000. The tidal cod jar was used, the temperature of 
the water being 56° F. 
