New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29
RESULTS SECURED BY TAGGING GOLDFISH.
REPORTS TO FISH COMMISSION OF FISH RECAPT.
URED WITH COPPER LABELS

In the winter Of 1897 80 the United States IOa-
mission OF Fish and Fisheries began the expert
H1ent of tagging adult cod and then releasing them
IN order TO secure certain data when these liberated
nsh We're caught The scheme has been fairly
successful and the Information obtained has proved
OF considerable value 20 ichthyolOgists during the
short time it has been in operation.
The cod which were thus treated had been caught
IN october and November OF each year Nan
tucket Shoals, and brought TO the Woods Hole
CNass) station in the wells OF fishing vessels The
fsh weighed from two and two-third TO twenty
pounds and were what the fishermen call the
shore cod" as distinguished from the bank cod
The average weight OF those released was five
pounds
The fish were caught with hand lines. and only
those in which the hook wounds were trivial were
retained Immediately arriving at the station
they were transferred 10 large floating cars, IN
which they were held pending the ripenng OF their
eggs. The egg taking season is from the middle
OF November to the last OF January or first OF
February. and the maturing Of the eggs OF indi-
vidua fish often extends over a period OF several
weeks, during which time the fish are handled TWO
three times week As soon hsh has been
finally stripped IL is set liberty. either in Vine
yard Sound or Buzzard'5 Bay
Owing 10 the captivity and TO the rather rough
handling to which the brood cod are necessarily
subjected in taking their spawn and mit IN addi-
ton TO the loss Of vitality incident to the spawn
ing process. they become much enaciated. and
some Of them succUmb, Notwithstanding claims and
fish led 70 them
The first tags used were Of pure sheet tin. but
these proved unsatisfactory. the salt water cor
roCed them. Later they were cut from sheet cop
per- as this metal is cheap and withstands the ac-
ton Of salt water for long time They were from
dve-sixteenths to three-quarters OF an inch long.
and one-quarter Of an inch wide. small hole
was punched IN one end through which fine cop
per wire was passed attaching the tag TO the Ash.
The places OF attachment were the bases Of the
three dorsal fms, the bases OF The anal fms. and
the upper and lower caudaI IObes Most Of the tags
were fastened 10 the upper part OF the caudal I'm.
near its junction with the peduncIe where the rays
are toughest and the tags least liable to be torn
out To facilitate the passage OF the wire through
the I'm aneurism needle was used The FISH
were then tOwed into the sound or bay in live
cars and turned loose. The record kept for each
fish comprised the following items: Tag number.
position OF the tag date when released. where
leased the weight length, sex and spawning condi-
ton whether spent or IMMATURE
In order TO acquaint fishermen and fish dealers
with the purposes OF the tagging, and to encourage
the preservation and return OF the tags. circular
printed and distributed IN the fishing towns
In November 1851. The circular contained a cut
Of a cod showing the position OF the tags. and
asked that any person coming into possession OF a
cod having such q tag forward the latter by mail
to the United States Fish Commission. Washington,
or TO the United States Fish Commission Station.
woods Hole together with the following informa-
ton concerning the fish: The dats when caught.
on what grounds taken. weight before being
dressed total length measured from end OF nose
to end OF tail. sex. and whether milt eggs were
ripe large but not ripe immature
The novelty Of the schens~ excited unusual IN
terest and the hearty cooperation OF the fishermen
was secured. as shown By the large number OF
tags recovered and the fling OF full data regarding
the captured fish.
The number OF fish tagged during the four winters
covered by the experiment was 4.019- Up 70 Deem
Der 81. 1901. 40 OF these were captured BY COM
rlerciaI fishermen In addition to the above, there
were a number OF tagged fish taken for which
records unobtaInabIe. the fishermen having lost
or misait the tags failed report the captures
IN some cases the cod were liberated alive when