XCVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The work thus far accomplished in respect to these forms has chiefly 
been experimental, accompanied in part by observations on the devel- 
opment of the embryos, but it can, at any time, be placed upon a prac- 
tical basis with the best assurances of success. Mr. Y. XT. Edwards has 
been especially active in regard to these matters, having collected most 
of the eggs and attended directly to their installation in the hatching 
apparatus. The following species have received attention during the 
past year : 
The Soup ( Stenotomus chrysops). 
This species has floating eggs, of which 50,000, taken May 22, in- 
duced 30,000 fry May 27. In 1888, 50,000 ripe eggs, obtained June 4 
and 5, were hatched with a loss of only 3,500. 
The Sea Bass ( Serranus atrarius). 
The experiments Avith this species were also started in 1888 and con- 
tinued in 1889. The eggs float, and hatch in live days. Erom 2,660,000 
eggs taken in four lots between May 23 and June 10, 1889, 2,480,000 
embryos were obtained, an unusually large percentage. The tempera- 
ture of the water during this period was about 56° to 57° F. The 
ratio of success in 1888 had been nearly as great, but the number of 
eggs handled was considerably less. 
The Mackerel { Scomber scombrus). 
Capt. H. O. Chester and Prof. John A. Byder began the experiments 
with this species in the spring of 1886, obtaining the spawn from three 
fish on May 19. As the eggs were of less density than sea water they 
were treated in the tidal cod jar, and began hatching at the end of 
ninety-four hours. The embryos were kept alive in the aquaria ten 
days, giving Prof. Byder the opportunity to observe and figure their 
development up to that stage. In 1888 about 1,000,000 eggs were 
obtained between June 4 and 9, the same hatching between June 8 
and 13 with a loss of less than 10 per cent. In 1889 only about 215,000 
eggs were handled, having been collected May 21 and 24 and hatching 
May 25 and 28, with a loss of 30,000. 
The Tautog (Tautoga onitis). 
The egg of this very common species belongs to the same cla^s as 
the preceding, as regards its specific gravity, and hatches in five days. 
From 100,000 eggs taken June 27, 1888, 88,000 fry were obtained, and 
220,000 eggs taken May 21, 1889, produced 185,000 fry. The first ex- 
periments with this form began the latter part of May, 1886, and were 
carried on by Capt. Chester and Prof. Byder, the latter paying par- 
ticular attention to the development of the embryos, as in the case of 
the mackerel. 
The Bonito ( Sarda sarda). 
This species also has floating eggs, of which the first lot, numbering 
15,000, were obtained and placed in the apparatus June 7, 1889, hatch- 
ing June 11, with a loss of only 2,500, 
