324 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



other rivers. If they have the instinct of locality to the degree that the 

 salmon and alewife have, there would be likely to be little disposition in 

 the shad of the Lower Connecticut to ascend the Holyoke dam. The 

 Holyoke dam was erected in 1849. The present colony of shad in the 

 Connecticut River can therefore have little of either inherited or devel- 

 oped instinct to extend their migrations above the foot of the dam. 



As yet, no fish- way has proved to any large extent successful for 

 shad. Their exceeding timidity is supposed to be the chief reason why 

 they will not enter a fish- way. Even if this be the reason, no thorough 

 test can be made until a colony has been established above the dam, 

 because of the evidence there exists that they have no disposition to 

 ascend higher than their familiar spawning-ground. 



The proof of the success of a fish-way as a means 'of ascent for the shad 

 to the upper waters of the rivers of the United States was regarded as a 

 matter of considerable importance. A test at this well-constructed fish- 

 way will probably afford all the evidence as to their desirability and their 

 merits in deserving outlay where their purpose is principally for the 

 ascent of shad. About 565,000 were placed above the dam, about one- 

 half million being moved above Bellows Falls, in the State of Vermont. 

 From this station, over two millions of young shad were seut to rivers in 

 New England, the tributaries of the great lakes, Lake Champlain, and 

 the Mississippi. 



The German government during 1871 sent out Dr. Otto Finsch to 

 examine into the fisheries and food-fishes of our waters, with reference, 

 if possible, to a better development of the resources of their own waters. 

 On his return he had strongly recommended the shad as above all other 

 fishes the most important acquisition to Germany. This country is trav- 

 ersed by long rivers like the Ehine, the Weser, the Elbe, the Oder, and 

 the Vistula. He was desirous, as a first experiment, that they should 

 be introduced into the Weser. 



The North German Lloyd Steamship Company, through their agents, 

 Messrs. Oelrichs & Company, offered to transport the fish and attend- 

 ants to Bremen, and return the attendants to New York, without 

 charge. The friendly action of the German government in 1873 in their 

 gift of 250,000 salmon-eggs prompted a ready compliance to this generous 

 proposal, and 100,000 fish in charge of Fred Mather and A. A. Ander- 

 son were seut from Holyoke, Mass., and left on board of the steamer 

 Donau, for Bremen, on the 5th of August. The steamer provided for 

 the welfare of the fish a large clean tank containing an ample supply of 

 Croton water. A convenient compartment on the deck contained the 

 cans of fish swung in such a way that they were not endangered by the 

 movements of the vessel. 



Mr. Mather reports that continual care was given them and they re- 

 mained in vigorous condition until the sixth day out, when they began to 

 suffer.* A fog settling down over the surface of the sea increased the 



*See Mather's reuort. 



