372 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER - OF FISH AND -FISHERIES. 



These are the results of the series of experiments which, I think, show 

 less advantage in an attempt to transport shad of these sizes, from 1A to 

 4 inches, than in the littlethree-eighths-of-an-inch-longembryos. Besides 

 the longer endurance of artificial confinement of the embroy-shad in a 

 mass of thousands instead of four or five, as in these experiments, the 

 larger shad have the disadvantage of not being obtainable in anything 

 near the same numbers, and also that the proportion of fish to the quan- 

 tity of water used in transportation must be very many times less. 

 There may be something of value in the fact that our experience proved 

 the glazed-stone jars better for the fishes than tin; and the observation 

 that the lighter-tinted pale fishes invariably succumb first, proves that 

 in each year's stock of shad there is a considerable variation of vigor 

 and constitution in different individuals. 



C— APPARATUS FOR HATCHING SHAD-OVA WHILE EN 



ROUTE TO NEW WATERS. 



By Fred Mather. 



Honeoye Falls, N. Y., September 16, 1875. 

 I send report of shad-hatching at Point Pleasant. I also send you a 

 drawing of the improved hatcher. 



I believe, notwithstanding that the second German expedition has 

 failed, that I can get fry across, and that running water is superior to 

 the use of an air-pump. I cannot conceive of a more perfect approach 

 to the river-boxes than this can, and was glad to show you its perfect 

 working at Holyoke this summer, (July 20 to 25.) Simple as it seems, it 

 took some time to get it to its present perfection. The original idea as 

 tried at the Smithsonian worked well on paper ; but this one will bear 

 trial and favorable comparison with anything of the kind. 

 Very truly, yours, 



FRED MATHER. 

 Mr. James W. Milner, 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



According to instructions, I went to Point Pleasant, Bucks County, 

 Pennsylvania, to observe the development of shad-eggs in the hatching- 

 can, which I suggested after my failure to transport live fish to Ger- 

 many last year. 



I had one made with a diameter of 15 inches, containing a screen or 

 tray of 13 inches diameter ; and after searching for-something better for 

 reservoirs, we obtained three oak whisky-barrels which had been used 

 once, and, taking out one head, thoroughly charred the inside by burn- 

 ing straw in them ; after this, they were soaked in water twenty-four 

 hours, when they still had an odor of alcohol. 



