88 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH ’ COMMISSION. 
first successful experiment Mr. Mohr received 100 marks [123.80,] to be distributed 
among his co-workers. After news had been received from Mr. Koser at Twielenfieth 
that sturgeon-fishing was over for the season at that place, and that nothing had been 
accomplished, the hatching apparatus was sent to Gliickstadt, so as to afford increased 
facilities at that station. 
July 15, at 11.30 a. m., another mature female sturgeon was brought by Mr. Mohr, 
which contained fully 1 pound of ripe eggs. A milter had been kept in readiness, and 
the eggs were again successfully fertilized. On July 19, at 8.30 a. m., the first free 
embryos were observed and the remainder hatched out about noon. The number 
of young fish was estimated at 50,000. Meanwhile Mr. Mohr received another mature 
spawner at noon July 16. A ripe male was on hand, but did not yield enough milt for 
all the eggs. A sufficient quantity of eggs was impregnated, however, to fill four hatch- 
ing-boxes at once, and about 3 o’clock in the afternoon the remaining eggs were fertil- 
ized, filling two additional boxes. Altogether at least 1,000,000 eggs were impreg- 
nated. 
During the night of July 19 and 20, however, a very strong southwest wind arose 
producing rough water which submerged the hatching apparatus to some extent. On 
the morning of July 20 three of the boxes contained young sturgeon, but the bottoms 
of the other three had given way. The wire work in the latter had become rusted along 
the edges through contact with sea water, and could not withstand the force of the waves. 
Mr. Mohr had all the boxes conveyed to another locality, towing them slowly along, 
attached to the stern of a rowboat ; but it was imi^ossible to avoid losing some of the 
embryos during this transfer, from 20 to 30 of them being washed out by every high 
wave encountered. On the morning of the 21st all of the embryos that remained 
were set free, but their number was very small, as a large proportion had been lost in 
the manner described. It must be considered, however, that a great many young 
sturgeon actually got into the waters of the Elbe, for Mr. Mohr had observed large 
numbers of young fish in the apparatus that remained in good condition and in one of 
the boxes whose bottom had been broken he had also noticed a few embryos ; but 
they were not planted directly by the hand of man. Mr. Mohr again received 100 
marks [$23.80] for distribution among the fishermen and assistants. An old sturgeon 
fisherman, Friedrich Hansen, had witnessed the experiments in sturgeon hatching; 
and, after the first favorable results, he said: “ If we had only impregnated sturgeon 
eggs many years ago, we would now catch more sturgeon.” 
In view of these words, spoken by an old and experienced sturgeon fisherman, the 
board of directors of the Schleswig-Holstein Fishery Association feels justified in 
presuming that mature spawning sturgeon are caught by the fishermen more fre- 
quently than is generally supposed. The board of directors, therefore, hopes that as 
soon as the fishermen of Schleswig-Holstein have been duly impressed with the great 
importance of artificial sturgeon-culture, the future of the sturgeon fisheries will be 
assured ; but it should not be forgotten that this will take many years. 
On July 18, at 7 p. m., a fisherman brought to Mr. J. Lau, of Koilmar, a mature 
spawner. A milter was immediately obtained, the eggs were fertilized and trans- 
ferred to three boxes, and the latter were placed in the river Wetteree. July 19, at 
7 a. m., Mr. Lau received a second mature female. A milter was also secured at 
once, and the eggs fertilized, but there was only one more hatching-box on hand. 
This was filled with eggs, and the remaining eggs were placed in the Wetteree near 
the apparatus, where at every tide there is a current of fresh water from the Elbe. 
