THE PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SHAD. 327 



B— REPORT ON SHAD-HATCHING IN NEW JERSEY. 



By G. A. Anderson. 



I have the honor to submit the following report of shad-hatching 

 Operations on the Delaware for the year 1874, compiled from memoranda 

 left by the late Dr. J. H. Slack, deputy commissioner. 



In response to your telegram of June 23, Dr. Slack took the evening 

 train to New York, and on the 24th called on you and received instruc- 

 tions. He left New York in the afternoon and reached Point Pleasant, 

 Pa., (where the work was to be done,) on the 25th. His messenger from 

 Troutdale met him with apparatus and the work was at once begun. 



Owing to the very great drought prevailing at the time, the water in 

 the river was very low, and the run of shad was small. 



Dr. Slack remained at his post until the afternoon of July 2, when 

 he returned to Troutdale, and on the following day was prostrated by a 

 sudden attack of pleuro-pneumouia from which he never rallied, and 

 which terminated fatally on the 27th of August. There is no doubt 

 that exposure on the river at night, in the prosecution of his work, in- 

 duced the disorder. 



After Dr. Slack went away, the work was carried on by his assistant, 

 William H. Swartz, who continued it until the 13th July, when he was 

 ordered to cease operations. The number of spawn taken appears by 

 the abstract hereto attached. It is proper to say that the water in the 

 river was lower than had been known for many years, and that this 

 interfered materially with the work. There appeared to be at all times 

 a scarcity of male fish, and this fact prevented his increasing the num- 

 ber of spawn reported. It is probable that had Dr. Slack lived to con- 

 tinue the work this difficulty would have been overcome by keeping 

 alive a few hours some of the males taken through the day.* An ac- 

 count of expenditures will be forwarded herewith. In conlusion, I will 

 say that the importance of the work you have undertaken is beginning 

 to be understood and appreciated by our people, and it is hoped you may 

 be able to continue it. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



'Attempts to keep males confined for a few iiours have usually resulted in their death. 



