44 BULLETIN OF TUE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ter received from the Mexican secretary of the interior department 
announced that the tank of carp had arrived in the city of Mexico with 
a loss of only 5, the remaining 95 being in excellent condition. The 
fish were sent in one of my improved transportation tanks [simply the ! 
ordinary wash-boiler, or stove-boiler, with a piece of tin around the in- 
side near the top, and with holes punched in the lid near each end], 
and traversed a distance of 3,700 miles/ 7 
Snakes at the carp ponds.— May 3 and 4, 1887, Dr. Hessel killed 
with a rifle 250 snakes, which were believed to have come from the 
Potomac flats. So large numbers have never before appeared at one 
time. 
Carp and tench from Potomac River.— U nder date of March 16, 
1887, Mr. J. E. Brown reported that on the same day Mr. J. F. Bucket 
had sent to Central Station the following specimens in good condition, 
which had been taken in the Potomac: One scale carp, weighing 4 l 
pounds ; mirror carp, over 7 pounds ; leather carp, 7 pounds ; and some 
tench, weighing over 1 pound apiece. 
Fish-culture in Italy. — Dr. D. Vinciguerra, late of the Museum 
of Natural History, at Genoa, has been appointed director of the aqua- 
rium at Rome. The aquarium contains a section for fish- culture, and 
is the center of this industry for Central Italy. The Salmo solar var. , 
sebago is considered by him suitable for the clear, cold, and deep waters 
of the Latian lakes. He asks to have eggs of this species forwarded 
to him from the United States. [April 1, 1887.] 
Delaware fish commission.— Under date of May 3, 1887, Mr. El- 
wood R. Norny said that he had recently been appointed fish commis- 
sioner of Delaware, and that Dr. E. G. Shortlidge, of Wilmington, had 
been appointed assistant and superintendent of hatcheries. He pro- 
posed that the Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk be sent to Port Penn 
this season to hatch sturgeon, which are taken there in abundance in 
seven nets. From June 5 to July 1 is the best season. Sturgeon have 
recently been hatched in Germany. 
White-bait. — This is a collective phrase including, for the most 
part, the young of the Clupea liarengus or sea herring. It embraces the 
young of many other kinds, in one instance 14 species having been 
identified. The breeding grounds of sea herring in the United States 
extend from the Bay of Fundy to Block Island. 
Vessels for the Iceland halibut fishery.— On March 25, ‘ 
1887, the schooners Arthur D. Story and Annie M. Jordan sailed for 
Iceland. One more — the schooner Concord — is to start soon. [From 
Boston Fish Bureau, Boston, Mass., March 29, 1887.] 
Wholesomeness of boracic acid. — There are two sides to all 
questions. The British Medical Journal writes thus as to herring cured 
with boracic acid : Large quantities of herring, preserved with salt and 
boracic acid, being at present imported from Norway and sold in the 
London and Newcastle markets, and attempts having been made to pre- 
