398 ANNUAL EECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



were taken at one drift, and the average per net was double 

 that of the preceding season. 



The quality fully corresponded with the increased num- 

 bers, shad of eight pounds having been captured. Notwith- 

 standing the great increase, the fish kept up in price satis- 

 factorily; and the fishermen themselves admitted that the 

 improvement in the fishing is due to the enforcement of the 

 laws, and are much more ready to accept them than former- 

 ly; in fact, every where the report confirms the statements 

 of the increase referred to. 



The Commissioners make a distinction between the work 

 done by the gilling-nets and the shore or sweeping seines. 

 They also state that the shad-fishing commenced unusually 

 late in 1875, and that the fish entered the bay in immense 

 numbers, but were kept in the brackish water by the continued 

 cold weather, and were taken there in great numbers by the 

 drift nets. The shore fishing did not commence until the 

 26th to the 28th of April, more than two weeks later than 

 usual. 



Reference is made to the concurrent action of New Jersey 

 and Pennsylvania in regard to the hatching of shad in the 

 Delaware River, the total number hatched at the several 

 stations amounting to 1,400,000, at a cost of $937.20. 



ACTION OF THE KENTUCKY FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



Among the commissions appointed in the different states 

 having for their object the protection and increase of fishes 

 throughout their borders, none promises to be more enter- 

 prising and efiicient than that of Kentucky, established by 

 an act of March 20, 1876. The number of Commissioners is 

 much larger than usual, being one for each Congressional 

 district, or ten in all. The Executive Committee consists 

 of Messrs. P. H. Darbey, John A. Steele, J. H. Bruce, Dr. S. W. 

 Coombs, and Pack Thomas, the latter gentleman being presi- 

 dent and executive oflScer of the board. 



An address has just been issued by the Commissioners to 

 the people of Kentucky, publishing the act, and making many 

 suggestions in regard to the future of the Commission and 

 the results to be attained. 



Extracts from various reports of National or State Com- 

 missioners are given, including the whole of the annual re- 



