The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-07-09
HATcHING OUT sHAD.
Capt. Peetmeier, Of the ~Flsh-Hawk, Preparing
for Next Seasons Fishery.

Capt. Peetmeier, of the Flsh-Kawk, Preparing
for Next Seasons Fishery.
eve are here in the interests of the
United States fishing commission
said Capt. Peetmeier, of the United
States gunboat Fish-Hawk, now lying
at anchor off Gloucester. 1--WE are
Matching shad eggs. The process is a
simple one. Come this way and l will
show you"
He led the way to the fore part of
the gun deck, which was cleared of
all implements of war for the reception
of some of the most scientific machln-
cry of peace. In the center of the
deck stood a large copper tank, con-
tanning water constantly changing
from the river, but capable of being
stopped when at sea. On one side of
this tank stood twelve zinc cones,
about three feet in height, with the
conical ends downward. A multiple
ity of pipes, tubes, valves, and stop
| cocks showed that the cones were in
connection.
''This is were we do the Matching"
said Capt. Peetmeier. ''These cones
are supplied with water from below
by tubes from the tank. The supply
is regulated by 4 stop-cock at the top
and the surplus water escapes though
this zine network which surrounds
the top of each of the %conical tanks.
Thus we have running water all the
time. If we are in a river we allow
the surplus to 90 overheard, but when
at sea, it being impossible to get the
fresh water necessary for Matching the
eggs, we allow the water to run back
into the main tank, and SO it keeps on
running over and over again. When
The seine up is drawn we take the fe-
male fish with roes and force them to
discharge the ova by squeezing them.
same process of squeezing force them
to impregnate the ova. The mass is
then counted, OIL rather measured, and
put into one of these cones and the
water allowed to run"
GLOW do you count the eggs; for l
see you have 100, 900 eggs in this cone.
sit is done by measure; SO many
eggs to an ounce,-a fluid ounce. |
mean; say TO-, 900. Well, there are
Ehirty-two fluid ounces to a quart,
therefore there must be within one or
Two of 800, 900 eggs. We use an ordin-
airy graduated glass druggist quart
measure. 1t takes from one to three
days for the eggs to hatch. Then we
keep the young fish two or three DAYS
more and then consign them to their
native element. To put them in the
river requires considerable care. We
gather them into a bucket then lower
The bucket into the water and allow
The little fellows to swim out.
Now let me show you some
Of the eggs" He took a piece of glass
tube and pushed it into one of the onl-
:al tanks and, bringing it out, closed
each end with a finger. 1t was tull
IF small transparent globular SUBJ
stances. all moving about In the tube
and somewhat difficult to see at first.
eff you look carefully at them you
will see young fish inside. Most of
Them + nearly ready to come out.
There are also some of the young fish
N this tube. Do you see that tiny
globe hanging to each of them? That
s the umbilical sac. The young fish
leeds upon that up to a certain age
md finally absorbs it altogether. You
may see the same thing attached to
The fish still in the eggs. Do you no.
ice how the eyes of the young fish are
sparkling. That is because they are
sick. They have no air in this tube"
"Do they feel the want of it so soon
Is that:?"
go yes. There, L will put them
back in their cone; perhaps they may
recover. The eggs, you observe, al
remain at the bottom of the tanks,
unless l turn the water on hard. That
drives them to the top but it is not
good for them, for it matches them too
quickly. Since we have been on the
river, some weeks now, we Matched
several millions of eggs, which would
have been lost. OF course a vast num-
Der are Matched by the process of ma
5ure in the river. But these that we
have produced artificially will go a
long way toward stocking the fishery,
and would have been cooked and eaten
Or otherwise destroyed if we had not
stepped in and saved them. We have
other tanks COR Matching the eggs
smaller glass ones-but they are only
used when we are very busy. We
keep the water running through them
by an arrangement of siphons, all
leading to a large aquarium. [ don't
know how long we will remain here,
but 1 suppose as long as we car OBJ
tain ova to work upon."-PhtiadeIpAja
Times.