MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 



31 



March 31st the number collected was 976,500, the largest 

 hitherto recorded on one day. The numbers continued to 

 exceed 100,000 per day until April 15th, after which there was a 

 considerable falling off. 



" The spawning season extended over 74 days, and the 

 total number of eggs collected from the ponds was 8,780,000 ; 

 while the total number of larvae hatched and set free was 

 7,706,800. The great majority of these were taken out to sea 

 by Professor Herdman in his steam yacht ' Runa.' One large 

 consignment, numbering 1,439,700, was set free off Port St. 

 Mary. The rest were distributed about five miles out to sea to 

 the West of Port Erin. 



" The Hatchery Record, giving the number of eggs 

 collected, and of larval fish set free on the various days is as 

 follows : — 



Eggs collected. 





Date. 



Larvae set free. 



Date. 



284,500 . 



. Feb. 



17 to 22 



236,300 . 



. March 13 



370,300 . 



?? 



24 to 28 



435,800 . 



• ,. 18 



313,700 . 



. March 1 and 3 



289,700 . 



• „ 22 



148,000 . 



j? 



4 and 5 



128,000 . 



. „ 24 



597,500 . 



33 



8 to 11 



509,800 . 



. „ 29 



'530,000 . 



33 



12 and 13 



430,600 . 



. April 2 



924,000 . 



33 



14 to 20 



850,800 . 



• „ 7 



495,600 . 



53 



22 



413,000 . 



. „ 8 



500,800 . 



33 



24 to 26 



445,000 . 



. „ 12 



228,800 . 



33 



27 and 29 



190,000 . 



. „ M 



1,635,900 . 



33 



31 to April 2 



1,439,700 . 



. „ 17 



315,000 . 



. April 



3 and 7 



257,200 . 



. „ 18 



1,883,700 . 



33 



8 to 14 



1,651,800 . 



. 21 & 24 



276,100 . 



33 



15 to 17 



204,400 . 



. „ 28 



276,100 . 



33 



21 to May 1 



224,700 . 



. May 10 



8,780,000= Total eggs. 7,706,800= Total larvae. 



" The plaice hatching season over, attention was turned 

 to the acquisition of a stock of ' berried ' lobsters, in anticipation 



