REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 161 
The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar). 
In the fall of 1890, after completing his monograph on the sea bass, 
Dr. H. V. Wilson paid a short visit to the Fish Commission station at 
Bast Orland, Maine, where he made careful preparations of a series of 
embryos of the Atlantic salmon, illustrating different stages in their 
growth. This material will serve as the basis for the study of the 
development of the species. 
The Flounders (Paralichthys dentatus and Pseudopleuronectes americanus. ) 
The two most important flounders which occur on the southern coast 
of New England are the common flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, and 
the flatfish or winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus. Both of 
these species, which have a very extended range, are now regarded as 
valuable food products, and both are sent to market from the Woods 
Holl region. Nothing is-positively known regarding the breeding hab- 
its of the former, except that it does not spawn in the shallow water 
near the shore, but the ripe eggs of the latter may readily be obtained 
there in large quantities. Experiments regarding the hatching of this 
species were taken up by Mr. V. N. Edwards in the spring of 1888, and 
were continued by him during 1890 and 1891. The spawning season 
begins early in February and lasts until late in April. During the 
spring of 1890 Mr. Edwards obtained 5,800,000 eggs from 87 fish, the 
same yielding over 4,000,000 fry ; in 1891 71 fish produced 4,680,000 eggs 
and 3,300,000 fry, the proportion of eggs hatched in each case being 
about 70 per cent. The length of the period of incubation varied from 
400 to 600 hours, the temperature of the water ranging from 32° to 
46° Fahrenheit. The fry were liberated in from 1 to 5 days after hatch- 
ing. The eggs are adhesive and sink. Several different-methods of 
handling them were tried, but the best success was obtained by spread- 
ing them thinly on panes of glass and placing them ina current of water 
in the hatching boxes. If allowed to accumulate together they adhere 
in masses, and under such conditions a very large percentage, if not the 
entire lot, soon dies. In some cases, Mr. Edwards found that the eggs 
had hardened up in the fish, and when pressure was applied they came 
out in one solid body. Under such circumstances the eggs do not ripen 
and the fish itself generally dies. 
This species can be caught in large numbers in the harbor of Woods 
Holl and in the neighboring waters during the spawning season, Dur- 
ing the more severe winter weather, however, they retreat to the deeper 
parts of Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay. The earliest spawners 
have been obtained in the upper parts of Waquoit Bay, in the town of 
Falmouth, where they are said to appear every season at the first thaw 
in February. Later in the spring they can be taken in the vicinity of 
Woods Holl. Dr. Wilson found it difficult to keep the young flounders 
alive for any length of time in the aquaria, but early in May, 1890, 
_ they were abundant at the surface and were captured in the tow net, 
H, Mis, 113-———11 
