176 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



current iu the creek and the sun beamed down on them, destroying 

 some, and the others followed iiresumably from the putrid water. There 

 were 4,000,000 shad eggs and fish in the hatchery at the time, and the 

 rock fry died from neglect. Two thousand hybrids were removed and 

 kept in a shipping can for twelve days. They were watered ever two 

 to four hours, but survived under conditions that shad fry could not 

 have done, being near the boiler and machinery, in a high temperature 

 all the while. They were carried to Ealeigh, where it was designed to 

 put them into a fresh-water jiond, but they died at the depot on the 

 twelfth night after they were hatched. They had sacks of good size 

 still remaining upon them. The temperature of the water during hatch- 

 ing was GGo to 67° Fahrenheit. 



From the recital above it may be inferred that rock-hsh eggs are as 

 easily fertilized as those of shad, and it would in addition appear that 

 a less amount of milt is necessary. It would further appear that tbey 

 are more hardy, even admitting large amounts of sand and other me- 

 chanical substances into the water while undergoing impregnation. 



These points being as well determined as the limited experiments 

 with a single lot of eggs would admit, it occurs that it only remains to 

 ascertain the spawning localities of the parent fish when their propaga- 

 tion will follow. As an aid to discovering these localities it may be well 

 to mention the capture of three spawning fish at Scotch Hall fishery in 

 1879. This fishery is only two miles from Avoca. In 1880 five were 

 captured within four miles, and in 1881 three were captured at Oasou 

 and Wood's fishery, six miles from Avoca, and near the town of Eden- 

 ton. All of these were of large size, i)robably averaging 55 pounds. 



No specific mode is adopted for the cai)ture of rock fish in these waters. 

 Twelve of the large seines, of one and a quarter to one and a half miles in 

 length, aggregate about 150,000 i)ounds per year. A great number 

 ascend the Eoanoke, the main tributary of the sound, which stream is 

 preferred by them in their ascent. More than a hundred fishermen are 

 engaged at intervals in the spring, fishing for them with dij)-nets from 

 dug-out boats below the falls at Weldon. They consume or sell the 

 catch at home, but a small number being shipped away. 



Dr. W. R. Capehart, the proprietor of the Avoca fisheries, made an 

 experimental haul on May 6, 1876, wliich was called to notice by the 

 late Mr. James W. Milner. His fishing operations had closed, but being 

 induced for some cause to make the haul, he cast one of his large 

 seines. Eight hundred and forty rock were captured, which weighed 

 35,000 pounds. Tliree hundred and fifty averaged 65 pounds, and many 

 of these ran to 80 and 90 pounds. The roe from one female weighed 24 

 liounds, which must have contained, on comparative estimate, six to 

 eight million eggs. Dr. C. had not given any attention to artificial proj)- 

 agation at that time, and does not know if any were ripe. In tbis 

 connection it may not be inappropriate to mention that rock-fish eggs 

 were taken at Scotch Hall fishery in 1879. Dr. Capehart, assisted by 



