96 EEPOKT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1885. 



advantage to the successful introduction of the species. Eecent experi- 

 ments by the U. S. Fish Commission indicate that all of the important 

 Salmonoids and certain of the Clupeoids may be brought forward in in- 

 closures to such a size as will insure the subsequent attaining to matu- ' 

 rity of a very large percentage of individuals. 



From Mr. J. C. Courts, of Huntingdon, Tenn., were received a scale 

 carp (37211) and a mirror carp (37212), together with two very dan- 

 gerous little enemies of the eggs and young carp (Lepomis cyanellus 

 and Gamhusia patruelis). The carp were introduced by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. 



Mr. E. J. Donaldson sent from Georgetown, S. C, two mirror carp 

 (37050), a result of introduction similar to the preceding. 



Mr. William E. Stuart, of Washington, D. C, forwarded to the Mu- 

 seum a Maine salmon {Sahno salar), weighing 9h pounds, which was 

 caught at Indian Head, Potomac Eiver, June 16, 1885. This is sup- 

 posed to have resulted from U. S. Fish Commission efforts. The skin 

 has been mounted for the fish-culture series. 



Mr. J. 0. Wigglesworth, of Wilmington, Del., forwarded an ovarj^ and 

 a spermary obtained from a shad {Clupea sapidissima). (Ace. 15945 ; cat- 

 alogue number, 37191.) Mr. Eyder examined these organs and pro- 

 nounced them to be a genuine instance of hermaphroditism, 



(2) COLLECTIONS MADE UNDER GOVERNMENT AUSPICES. 



(A) By early exploring expeditions. — The fishes of the Wilkes Explor- 

 ing Expedition, which were sent to Prof. Louis Agassiz for study, were 

 returned to the -ISrational Museum, with the manuscripts and illustra- 

 tions based upon them. 



(B) By the steamer Albatross, of the U. S. Fish Commission. — The Al- 

 batross was engaged from January to April in making deep-sea collec- 

 tions in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea and in shore work 

 in Florida and on the island of Cozumel, Yucatan, At Key West par- 

 ticular attention was given to seining around the outlying mangrove 

 keys, and large numbers of fishes were taken. These have not yet been 

 studied, but they include many species of Lahridce, Balistidce, Gerridce, 

 Pristipomatidce, Serranidce, and other West Indian families. In the 

 Tampa Bay region, also, large collections were made from the shore. At 

 Pensacola the shores were not much investigated, but the trawl was 

 very active on the Eed Snapper banks. In the Gulf of Mexico, be- 

 tween the delta of the Mississippi and Cedar Keys, rich returns were 

 obtained from the trawling, and some very important additions to the 

 deep-sea fauna will be announced as a result of that work. In the deep 

 waters of the Caribbean Sea a great deal was accomplished for the col- 

 lection. Around the west side of Cozumel Island the seine was hauled 

 as frequently as the rough nature of the bottom permitted, and we se- 

 cured 57 species of fishes, several of which are apparently new to science. 

 These are a species of Scarus and two species of Xyrichthys. Our inves- 



