294 Modern FishcuUure in Fresh and Salt Water. 



which caused the water to rise and fall in the jars. 

 These jars had holes in their bottoms, which were 

 corked, and the jars filled with eggs and water; a bit 

 of cheesecloth was fastened over the top, the jars re- 

 versed in the box, on strips, and the cork removed. 

 The water would then rise until the siphon began to 

 work, and then it would fall until the siphon stopped. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



THE TOMCOD. 



This fish {Microgadus tomcod) is a miniature cod- 

 fish, to the casual observer ; rigged out with three dorsal 

 fins and two anal fins in true cod style. It ranges from 

 Labrador to Virginia, coming into harbors to spawn in 

 brackish water. In some parts it is called "frostfish," 

 but there is another fish by that name, and "tomcod" is 

 more generally used. In New York harbors it spawns 

 along the docks and in the weeds in December ; eggs 

 free and heavy, about fifteen to the inch. They .latch 

 in thirty to forty days, and the young take food at four 

 to six days, according to temperature. The tomcod 

 grows to two pounds weight, but the average is between 

 one-quarter and one-half pound. I began hatching this 

 fish in 1884, with some sneering from the inland Com- 

 missioners, but when those who live near the salt water 

 found it out the applications for them came in fast. The 

 fish increased in all the harbors. In my report to the 

 New York Commission for 1893, page 36, I say : "Be- 

 tween November 27 and January 15 we had a good run. 



