REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LIX 
and brackish water, the latter, measuring from half an inch to 3 inches 
long, having been found especially abundant in the headwaters of Alli- 
gator River, which are entirely fresh. According to the information 
collected, spawn might be secured in Charlotte Harbor aud San Carlos 
Bay through a long period, beginning in September and continuing 
until early in January, but it was ascertained that the mullets have 
not decreased on the west coast of Florida to the same extent as along 
the south Atlantic coast. Lieut. Platt recommends as a site for a 
hatching station a place near Sinnable Point, in San Carlos Bay, about a 
quarter of a mile from the light house. There is a good wharf belonging 
to the Light-House Service in that locality, and a steamer leaves there 
every alternate day for the railroad terminus at Punta Gorda. 
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocepbalus) with ripe spawn were first 
taken by the Fish Ha tch March 19, at the entrance to Charlotte Har- 
bor, about 2,000,000 eggs beiug secured from 10 females and being im- 
pregnated with the milt of 1 males. Subsequently over 20,000,000 more 
of the same eggs were obtained. They are transparent, buoyant and 
very small, numbering about 50,000 to the fluid ounce. The tidal hatch- 
ing box answered satisfactorily for their incubation, which requires 
from thirty-six to forty hours. The embryos can be planted when from 
seventy-two to eighty hours old; they are small, but hardy and active. 
The spawning fish can best be taken just before sundown, as the flood 
tide begins to make. They swim in schools, but not near the surface, 
and tha seine would sometimes contain more than could be landed. 
Of the spotted weakfish (Cy noscion maculatum) about 1,450,000 eggs 
were obtained, April 1, from 4 females and were impregnated with the 
milt from 4 males. The eggs are said to be of about the same size as 
those of the sheepshead and are also buoyant, hatching in about forty 
hours. About 350,000 healthy embryos were obtained from the above 
lot. Large numbers of pompano and Spanish mackerel were captured 
at different times. The former were not in spawn, but in the latter the 
roe seemed to be somewhat advanced. 
THE ATLANTIC COAST. 
During the past year the general exploration of the fishing-grounds, 
hitherto the most prominent feature of the work along the Atlantic coast, 
was discontinued in that region, as explained above, and in its place 
special investigations relating chiefly to the oyster fishery were taken 
up. The latter industry is greatly in need of such assistance as might 
be afforded by careful study and experiment, and the time seems oppor- 
tune for utilizing in that direction the information which has been col- 
lected during the past eighteen years. The oyster ( Ostrea virginica) is 
native to all parts of both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United 
States, and small colonies occur even as far north as the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence. Only a few small natural beds now exist, however, in waters 
