These were hatched out by Dr. Slack, at Bloomsburg, and planted in the Muscanetnong in the spring of 1873. Subsequently the commissioners of New Jersey and Pennsylvania introduced other lots, and it is difficult to say how many of these deposits contributed to the results of 1878.

The first show of salmon in the Delaware was in the autumn of 1877, when a large fish was seen directly engaged in the act of spawning at the mouth of the Bushkill River, this quite probably being one of Mr. Norris's fish. It was killed by a rifle-ball in ignorance of its true character, and sent to me for identification. It is now preserved in the collections of the National Museum.

On the 19th of January Dr. Abbott, of Trenton, reported the capture of a salmon 16 inches in length at Trenton, this being probably a grilse.

On the 6th of April Mr. E. J. Anderson, fish commissioner of New Jersey, announced the taking of two salmon, one weighing 18 and the other 234 pounds, in the Delaware. One of these was also sent to the United States commission at Washington, where it is preserved, together with an excellent cast.

Later in the year the catches in the Delaware were quite numerous, the total number, according to the fish commissioner of the State, amounting to some hundreds.

The southernmost locality in which salmon have been taken is the Susquehanna, a fine one of 19 pounds having been caught in a gill-net in the vicinity of Spesutie Island, just below Havre de Grace, and obtained by Mr. James W. Milner, in charge of the United States shad-hatching operations there, and sent to Washington. This was a fresh-run fish, in perfect condition, and formed the subject of an admirable drawing and plaster cast. It probably was derived from a lot of salmon planted by Mr. Ferguson, fish commissioner of Maryland, in one of the tributaries of the Susquehanna.

For fuller details of the occurrence of salmon in the Eastern and Middle States and in Maryland I refer to the appendix, where a condensed statement, as prepared by Mr. C. W. Smiley from reports of State commissioners, will be found.

While these facts show conclusively that the experiment of introduc ing the Salmo salar into the more northern rivers of the Atlantic States by the United States has been a success, it will be readily understood that the great object will be to establish a continued run to be kept up by naturally spawned fish, a result which should be continually aimed at. It is not to be expected that the general government or the States will continue indefinitely their effort to obtain eggs and plant the young fish, especially as the time may come when this resource will not be at their command.

Where rivers are entirely destitute of salmon, either from an exhaustion of the supply or from never having existed there, artificial

propagation must begin the work. But unless this is supplemented by the enactment and enforcement of laws forbidding absolutely the capture of the fish for a period of four to six years, and then establishing a close time of several days in each week up to a certain period, after which no fish at all shall be taken, the efforts now being made might as well be intermitted first as last. There is no object in going to the expense for the purpose of furnishing a few fishermen with a supply of fish to be sold for their benefit, and not administered for the good of the community. The magnitude of the results will be in direct proportion to the enactment and enforcement of the proper legislation.

Schoodic salmon (Salmo salar, subsp. Sebago.)

Grand Lake Stream Station.-Of the various species of Salmonidæ, treated by the United States Fish Commission, the fish variously known as landlocked salmon, Schoodic salmon, Sebago salmon, Glover's salmon, Win-ni-nish, &c., is one that is most eagerly sought after by State fish commissioners, fishing clubs, and fish culturists generally. An exact miniature of the sea salmon or Salmo salar in appearance, flavor, game qualities, &c., the difference in size was for a long time considered sufficient to establish it as a distinct species. Late researches, however, prosecuted by Professor Gill and Professor Jordan, among the large collections at Washington, have satisfied these gentlemen that it must be regarded as a dwarfed form, hardly even a variety, of the Salmo salar, owing its reduced proportions to its abode in lakes or ponds, and consequently more limited range than it would have in the ocean, although its continual sojourn in fresh water may have had something to do with it. The westernmost locality where it is found on the New England coast appears to be Sebago Pond, a large body of water which discharges into Casco Bay, north of Portland. Here it is called Sebago salmon or Sebago trout, and attains a considerably larger size than in most other waters, as in the Sebec Lakes, northwest of Bangor, in certain ponds in the Mount Desert region, and the Schoodic Lakes of Maine and New Brunswick, which are perhaps its best-known localities. It is also seen in the Saint John's River and certain ponds of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as in the tributaries of the Saint Lawrence. To what extent it is taken on the south shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence or on the coast of Labrador, I am unable to say.

In various parts of the British provinces it is known as the Win-ninish, which would perhaps be a much more appropriate appellation than the term landlocked salmon, since other species of the Salmonida present themselves under similar circumstances. A similar variety occurs in Sweden, and possibly elsewhere in Europe, and relating to the same species, Salmo salar.

In the opinion of many persons, and especially of Mr. Samuel Wilmot, the salmon of Lake Ontario belongs to the same division, although in size it more nearly corresponds with the sea-going salmon. Formerly

immense numbers of these fish existed in Lake Erie and ascended its tributaries on both the Canadian and American sides to spawn. They have, however, for the most part, been exterminated on the American side, and but for the efforts of Mr. Wilmot would probably have experienced the same fate on the north shore. A number of years ago, however, that gentleman, finding a few pairs in a small tributary of Lake Ontario, near Newcastle, undertook their artificial propagation, and so successful were his efforts that he increased the number enormously, although no great increase in the number of captures has resulted. This is probably due to the fact that they cannot be taken at the time when they are fresh run and in good condition for food. Their present spawning-grounds are very near the lake, and, as in the short rivers of California, they come into the streams only when they are nearly ripe, and remain a very short time, returning at once to the lake. It would seem that, to have a satisfactory river salmon fishery, the stream must be long enough for the fish to remain a considerable time in it, so that they may enter it before they are ripe and give an opportunity for their capture by suitable devices.

The advantages of this landlocked form, which, so far as the United States Fish Commission is concerned, it is proposed hereafter to term the Schoodic salmon, unless the name Win-ni-nish be considered preferable, are the readiness with which the eggs can be obtained, the hardiness of the fish, and their perfect adaptability to a great variety of circumstances and temperature. They are said to resist warmth of water better than even the brook trout and to be an available fish not only for lakes and ponds, but also for long reaches of deep water in rivers through which there is comparatively little current, such as are found in the Saint John's River in New Brunswick and elsewhere.

The Schoodic salmon has, for several years, occupied the attention of the United States Fish Commission, and the successive reports will show what has been done in this connection. A trial made several years ago in Sebec Lake and this year at Sebago Pond, have led to the conclusion that the Schoodic lakes of Maine, and perhaps New Brunswick, will furnish the best stations for the collection and distribution of eggs. The locality controlled by the United States Fish Commission is situated not far from the tannery of the Messrs. Shaw Brothers, on Grand Lake Stream, the outlet of Grand Lake, one of the Schoodic chain of eastern Maine, and at no great distance to the west of Calais. This, for many years, had been the resort of fishermen in the proper season, the fish occurring in immense numbers and furnishing admirable sport. By arrangement with the Messrs. Shaw, certain privileges of water and fishing were obtained by payment of an annual rental, on the usual condition as established by the laws of Maine, that one-fourth of the eggs obtained should be hatched out and the young returned to the waters. In addition to this, a considerable per-cent. of the remainder goes into the waters of the State in other localities. Here, the United States, in conjunc

tion with the States of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut (two or more of them), has carried on operations under the superintendence of Mr. Charles G. Atkins and with varying success, for which reference may be made to the detailed report of Mr. Atkins. There have been some difficulties from time to time in getting a proper head of water for developing the eggs to a suitable stage for shipping, and numerous obstacles have been found in the securing of the fish. These, however, have now all been palliated or overcome.

The taking of eggs in 1878 was begun on the 7th of November, and closed on the 4th of December, at which time the return of the parent fish to the lake ended. The total number of eggs for the season amounted to 1,723,000. One great advantage connected with the taking of eggs from salmon as well as trout is that the parents are not injured, but by careful handling may be returned to the water in good condition, so that another year they may yield an additional supply. Great care is exercised in this respect, so that neither at Bucksport or Grand Lake Stream are many fish absolutely lost.

While, by actual experiment, about 90.1 per-cent. of all the eggs taken were impregnated and embryonized by the artificial process, scarcely more than 10 per cent. would have been by natural propagation. If we consider the immense number of even impregnated eggs consumed by the white perch and other vermin of the lake, and compare the remainder with the absolute propagation artificially, the vast disproportion of results can be readily appreciated.

Mr. Atkins, in referring to the impregnation of the Schoodic salmon states that at Bucksport the successful impregnation of 96 to 98 per cent. of the sea salmon was accomplished. This difference from the experience with the former he considers to be due to possible circumstances affecting the fish in their somewhat artificial detention in fresh water, from which the sea-run individuals escape.

Owing to various circumstances beyond the control of Mr. Atkins, such as an abrupt change to colder weather, a certain portion of the eggs collected were destroyed. But, of the 1,723,000, there were 1,470,000 embryonized, or carried to that point where the eyes of the young fish could be seen through the envelope. Of these, 370,000 were retained for Grand Lake Stream, and of the remainder 1,110,000 were shipped by the United States Fish Commission, and distributed among a number of States. The rest went to Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Of the 370,000 retained for Grand Lake Stream, 350,000 healthy young fish were hatched out and turned into the water.

The details of the distribution of these fish will be found in the tables of Mr. Atkins's report, to which I refer for much interesting information. Sebago Station.-An earnest appeal by Mr. E. M. Stilwell, fish commissioner of Maine, determined the United States Fish Commission to make an experiment in regard to securing a supply of eggs of the Sebago Pond variety of landlocked salmon, in view of its much greater size than

that found at Grand Lake Stream, and of the greater accessibility of the locality.

It will be remembered that the Sebago is a large stream, situated in Southwestern Maine, which discharges through the Presumpscat River into Casco Bay to the north of Portland. The landlocked salmon found in it have always been celebrated for their beauty and weight, a size of six or eight and ten pounds, and even more being not unfrequent.

Unsuccessful efforts were made some years ago to obtain spawning fish from Sebago Pond, for the purpose of securing their eggs. It was imagined that, owing to the protection afforded by recent legislation and the removal of certain obstructions in the water, a new effort might be more satisfactory. Acting upon this impression, Mr. Atkins was directed to establish a station, for the purpose of an experiment, which he accordingly did, leaving Mr. Buck, one of his assistants of long experience, in charge. After giving the matter a fair trial, the enterprise was abandoned, as, with all the devices in the way of nets, &c., only ten males and six females were captured, and the entire number of fish entering the river for the purpose of spawning was estimated at scarcely more than fifty. The largest fish taken was a female, weighing 8 pounds 10 ounces after spawning, and the average was about three pounds.

Whitefish.-(Coregonus clupeiformis.)

The great amount of attention paid to the artificial propagation of the whitefish by the commissioners of the lake States, especially of New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, has rendered it unnecessary for the United States Commission to take up the subject to any great extent, although Mr. Frank N. Clark usually collects several hundreds of thousands of eggs, and develops them at his fish-culture establishment at Northville, Mich., for any desired assignment. These, for the most part, have been sent to the commissioners of California, and also to various parties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin, &c. The actual distribution made will be found in the appropriate page of the tables.

Shad-Alosa sapidissima.)

As in previous years, the propagation and distribution of shad was conducted under the able and efficient superintendence of Mr. James W. Milner, co-operating for a portion of the time with Mr. T. B. Ferguson, the fish commissioner of Maryland, whose help, as in previous years, is gratefully acknowledged.

To Mr. Milner's report, in the appendix to the present volume, I refer for details of the work accomplished, confining myself here to a mere abstract.

Albemarle Sound Station.-In previous reports reference has been made to the advantages of substituting Mr. Ferguson's cone and bucket apparatus for the floating hatching-boxes, so unsatisfactory in tidal waters. Desirous of testing the experiment with this apparatus on a