336 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 2.— THE PAMTJNKEY RIVER STATION. 



In the mean time, a reconnaissance was made of the James, York, and 

 Pamunkey Rivers, Virginia, and a point on the latter near the historic 

 White House, was selected for the hatching-station. Mr. Fred Mather 

 was appointed to take charge of this, and arrived on the 11th of May, 

 and continued until the 20th, taking a few shad-spawn, which did not 

 seem to be healthy, and from which no fish resulted. 



3. — THE POTOMAC RIVER STATIONS. 



The work on the Potomac began on the 14th of May. Previous to 

 this time, a general reconnaissance of the fisheries had been made on the 

 steamer Triana, and points determined upon for the hatching-stations.* 



The first station, placed in charge of Mr. Jonathan Mason, was estab- 

 lished at Free Stone Point, Va., tbe property of Mr. J. W. Fairfax. Mr. 

 J. D. Faunce had the fishery, and was quite willing and obliging in 

 all our relations with him, affording the fishes from each haul, and 

 furnishing assistance when it was needed. Ripe fish were obtained 

 from the time we arrived here until the fishing stopped. 



The temperature of the river, owing to the cold season, was quite low 

 and at first the development of the eggs was very slow. On the 15th, 

 the temperature did not rise above 64°, and this was the highest water 

 temperature until the 20th, when a gradual rise began. The young 

 fish also seemed to suffer a degree of torpidity in the cold waters. The 

 first fish were turned loose on the 21st, five days after the eggs were 

 impregnated. The seine in use at this station was a large one, and 

 the large expenses attending the fishing with the poor returns did not 

 permit its continuance later than the 21st. 



There were hatched altogether at this station and turned into the 

 river 1,156,750 shad. Mr. Mason's camp was removed to Moxley Point, 

 Md., at J. D. Skidmore's fishery on the 25th. 



In the mean time, on the 18th of May, a station was established at the 

 end of Long Bridge, opposite Washington, D. C, and put into the hands 

 of Mr. H. W. Welsher. This was continued until June 5, and 1,072,800 

 shad were turned into the river at this point. 



While this station was in progress, Mr. Welsher also carried on opera- 

 tions at Ferry Landing, Va., near Mount Vernon. This station pro- 

 duced the largest results of any one established on the river, as it was 

 begun on May 21 and closed on May 29, and in only nine days 

 1,473,500 young shad were turned into the waters. 



The Moxley Point (Md.) station continued from May 26 to June 7, 

 and 1,182,500 shad were turned into the water. 



The entire number hatched and put into the Potomac River was 

 4,885,550.t 



The spawning-season in the river continues longer than the large 

 seines find it profitable to fish. The height of the spawning-season 

 begins about the 22d of May and lasts during the first week of June. 



* See report on the Triana trip on subsequent page. t See tables on subsequent 

 page. 



