XCIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
used for the purpose were the gray variety; believed to come from the 
offshore banks to the coast of the mainland for the purpose of spawning, 
the winter season being the period of this migration. During the fol- 
lowing summer, small cod of the gray or offshore variety were met with 
around the wharves in the harbor, and at once attracted attention, such 
an occurrence being quite unheard of before. Again, the next year, 
these fish were found outside of the harbor, and of considerably larger 
size, fairly representing the second year of growth. The third year 
they were taken of a still larger size, and farther north along the coast, 
the fish of this school being universally known as the Fish Com- 
mission school. 77 
The work was first started at Wood’s Holl during the winter of 1879-80, 
when a few fry were planted in the neighboring waters. In 1885-86 it 
was again renewed, and has been continued down to date, the number 
of embryos liberated locally during the former and each succeeding 
year being, respectively, 3,000,000, 17,445,000, 8,840,000, and 9,175,000, 
a total of 38,460,000. The adult fish from which the eggs have been 
obtained belonged partly to the gray or offshore schools and partly to 
the red or rock variety. During his daily collecting trips in Vineyard 
Sound, Buzzard Bay, and the adjacent region, Mr. V. H. Edwards has 
secured much information which proves conclusively that this important 
experiment is already bearing fruit, and that as soon as the early broods 
have had sufficient time to grow an abundance of adult cod may be 
expected along this section of the coast. In considering the value of 
his observations it must be borne in mind that young cod, except occa- 
sional individuals, have not been known to frequent the waters about 
Wood’s Holl within the memory of the oldest fishermen, and there is ^o 
reason to doubt that the evidence here presented bears solely upon the 
work recently conducted at the Fish Commission station. Mr. Edwards 
has kept himseif informed, summer and winter, of the presence and 
movements of all the varieties of fishes in this region, both young and 
old, and the accuracy of his statements is unquestioned. 
The fry produced in the winter of 1879-80 were planted in the little 
harbor of Wood’s Holl, where the laboratory was then located. The 
following spring young cod were plentiful in both the little and great 
harbors, although only a few were seen elsewhere. In the fall of 1880 
individuals from the same lot, measuring from 10 to 12 inches long, 
were found abundant at Menimsha Bight, inside of Gay Head, near the 
southern entrance to Vineyard Sound. The most pronounced results 
have been observed, however, since the winter of 1885-86, when the work 
was first established on a permanent basis, each succeeding year adding 
its large quota to the embryo colony. The fish hatched during each 
winter attain a length of 1 to 1 J inches by April 1 $ by the middle of June 
their size has increased to from 2J to 3J inches. Year-old fish measure 
from 12 to 13 \ inches, and supposed two-year olds from 18 to 22 inches. 
The young cod are first taken in the spring, about April 1, and con- 
