1168 



REPOBT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[12] 



Measurements. — lu addition to the foregoing cliaracters the following 

 measurements should be recorded, and those bearing the letters A, B, 

 B, and F (if a back-fin is present) telegraphed : 



JTiG. 1. — Showing the organs and regions of the body to which special names are applied. 

 Measurements in feet and inches. 



* A. Length over all (total) 



* B. liength of the mouth 



C. Breadth across the flukes from tip to tip (straight) 



D. Depth of flukes from before backward 



* E. Length of flipper (pectoral fin) 



*F. Height of back-fln 



G. Girth at largest part 



H. 1 istance from the tip of the snout to the base of the back-fin . 

 I. Length of longest whalebone (when present) 



* These are the most important measurements. 



Teeth. — Also telegraph invariably. 



Z. The total number of teeth. 



The following telegram may serve as a model: 



[A telegram showing the use of the symbols.] 



"Western Union Telegraph Company, 



" Gape May, N'. J., January 1, 1885. 



" Prof. S. F. Baird, 



" Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. G. : 



"Female porpoise stranded near Station Ten this morning. Numbers 

 four, seven, ten, thirteen. A, twelve feet eight inches ; Z, two. 



"John Smith, 



" Keeper. ^^ 



Telegram expanded. — The foregoing telegram expanded would read as 

 follows : "A female porpoise stranded near Life-saving Station No. 10 

 this morning. It has (4) teeth to the number of two or four in the lower 

 jaw only. (7) The belly is smooth. (10) The back carries a fin. (13) 

 The head is beaked. (A) Total length, 12 feet 8 inches, [z) Whole 

 number of teeth, two." 



METHOD OF PACBIING FRESH SPECIMENS. 



PacTcing. — If a response is received from Washington requesting that 

 a fresh, specimen or specimens be shipped, the latter should be packed 

 in ice, sea-weed, or sawdust. 



Use of ice, sea-weed, sawdust, and salt. — Ice is almost indispensable in 



