330 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



eight days, unless we can discover some method of feeding them. This 

 seems at present difficult, and I have hope of a better result from taking 

 the eggs and hatching the fry upon the passage. This seems to me to 

 be the most practicable and easiest method; and in the connection I 

 would refer to the hatching-can which I invented and have given to your 

 commission. This was done too late for trial this season, and although 

 intended for use on railroad-cars may be of service on shipboard. 



The deputy commissioner, Mr. J. W. Milner, who had the charge of 

 the shad-distribution, intended to have this can tried on our voyage, and 

 when the fish were put up he had several thousand eggs put in the can ; 

 but on arriving at the railroad- station it was found that the wire cloth 

 was of too large mesh ; and that from the jolting of the wagon in which 

 the can was brought to the depot the eggs had passed through to the 

 bottom of the outer can. 



If, by experiment, we find that we can hatch the eggs at sea, and, by 

 the use of water at a temperature of 60° to 62°, delay the hatching 

 until the fifth or sixth day out, then we may reasonably hope for success. 

 The passage from New York to Bremerhaven occupied twelve days, and 

 as two days should be allowed for distribution from that port, it will be 

 a comparatively easy matter to get them through in eight days after 

 hatching. 



D— LIVING SHAD ON THEIR WAY TO THE WESER,* 



Translated by H. Jacobson. 



As has previously been mentioned, the German Fishing Society at 

 Berlin was notified in June by Mr. Roosevelt, the commissioner of fish- 

 eries for the State of New York, that a number of live shad would be 

 sent, which, however, never arrived in Germany, as, on account of the 

 unusual heat, all the fish had died before they reached New York. 

 Although we must acknowledge the earnest endeavors of Mr. Roosevelt, 

 this first attempt must be conceded to have been a failure ; and it is 

 chiefly owing to the great interest which Prof. Spencer F. Baird, United 

 States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, has taken in this matter, 

 that another attempt has been made during this year. The circumstance 

 that this year the migration-period of the shad in the Connecticut River, 

 which generally lasts from April until the middle of July, was prolonged 

 til' near the end of July, made another attempt possible. With his 

 peculiar energy Professor Baird knew how to make use of this circum- 

 stance, and in spite of the short time, made all the necessary arrange- 

 ments in a manner which augured well for the success of the undertaking. 



As early as the 7th August, Dr. Finsch received a cable telegram 

 from Messrs. Oelrichs & Co., agents of the North German Lloyd in New 

 York, announcing the shipping of a large quantity of live shad by 



*From the " Weser-Zeituug," August 28, 1874. 



