200 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



To preserve fish indefinitely in glass jars, observe the following- direc- 

 tions : first, select a jar of the proper size to accommodate the specimen 

 amply, without bending or distorting it in any way; put in the fish with 

 the tail down in nearly all cases; the tail may often rest upon the bottom 

 of the jar, or the fish may be suspended from the hook which is now 

 found in the stopple of the modern museum jars; cover the fish com- 

 pletely with the alcoholic mixture referred to in the closing sentence of 

 paragraph 4 ; discoloration of the alcohol is a sign that its preservative 

 power is weakened and calls for a renewal ; fishes in alcohol will never 

 make a good show unless the liquid is kept clear and clean. A label 

 giving the name of the fish, place of its capture, and name of its captor, 

 should be tied on the neck of the jar by means of a piece of narrow tape 

 passed through holes punched in the ends of the paper. The jars must 

 have accurately ground glass stopples. It is best to use no kind of 

 sealing wax to coat the joint of the stopple; simply wipe the glass per- 

 fectly dry, close the jar properly, and there will be little danger of 

 evaporation. Do not let the direct sunlight strike your jars, and keep 

 them well removed from stoves, registers, and the like. 



National Museum, Washington, D. C, December, 1881. 



20.— l»l,AXTIIVG AIVD €AT€II OF SIIAI> IX COOSA RIVER, ALABA.1IA. 



By C1IAS. W. SJIILEY. 



A report of the number of shad taken at Wetumpka, on the Coosa 

 River, has been received from Mr. Cabot Lull, which is as follows: In 

 1ST!), 1,000; in 1880, GOO; in 1881, 55; in 1882, 35; in 1883, 22. These 

 tish were caught in eight traps at that place. 



Concerning this report, which was forwarded by Mr. T. S. Doron, of 

 Montgomery, Ala., the latter remarks: "I think it is as accurate as can 

 be obtained. Mr. Lull seems to think that the shad had disappeared. 

 I know that the rise in the water has prevented the catch of shad dur- 

 ing the past three years. Those caught last year were large fish, some 

 weighing four pounds each. 1 ' 



In connection with the above it is interesting to know what deposits 

 of young have been made in this vicinity by the United States Fish 

 Commission. The deposits in 1870, 1S77, 1878, and 1870 were as fol- 

 lows : 



July 11, 187G, in Alabama River at Montgomery 90,000 



May 29, 1*77, in Tallapoosa River at Montgomery 75,000 



June !), L878, in Tallapoosa River at Salisbury 50,000 



June 13, 1879, in Coosa River at Lebanon 45,000 



In L880 and 1881 there were no deposits made. 

 United States Fish Commission, May 14, 1883. 



