THK SUCCESSFUL TRANSFERENCE OF BLACK BASS TO 



THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WITH NOTES ON THE 



TRANSPORTING OF LIVE FISH LONG 



DISTANCES. 



Alvin Seale. 



(From the Section of Fisheries, Biological Lahoratory, Bureau of Science, 

 Manila, P. I.) 



In April, 1907, I was aiilhorizecl hj the Insular Government to secure 

 and Ijring to the Philippine Islands a shipment of live large-mouthed 

 black bass [Micro ptenis salmoides (Lacepede)]. One hundred and 

 seventjr-five fingerlings, alive and in good condition, were secured at 

 Folsom, California, upon the payment of a fee to the California State 

 Pish Commission. Permission was secured from the United States 

 Arm)' Transport Service to ship the fish on the transport Sherman, and 

 the success of this enterprise was due largeh^ to the intei'est of Ijoth officers 

 and men of that ship. 



A small motor, driven b}' the electric current of the ship, was 

 installed on the mess deck. An iron boiler, capacit)' 265 liters, was 

 secured from the transport as an air reseiToir, and a small air pumjD 

 was connected with the boiler. A system of rubber pipes conducted the 

 air from the boiler to the bottom of the cans in which the fish were carried 

 and by working the motor onh^ a short time sufficient air could be pumped 

 into the reservoir to circulate through each can for four hours, the 

 advantage of the reservoir being to maintain an even pressure and 

 allow the air to co.ol. By means of a pipe, cold water could be kept 

 running over the reservoir, which was also arranged so that ice could 

 easily be p)acked around it.^ The end of each of the rubber pipes leading 



'■ A system of cold-water coils inside the reservoir would perhaps be a better, 

 but more expensive method. 



1S3 



