BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 141 



ocean, aud Las been noticed 5 miles from the beach. [From the Wash- 

 ington Post, Washington, D. C, June 27, 18SG.] 



Shad in the Ohio Eivek. — Shad have occasionally been caught 

 here for three, aud some say for four, years. Tliey are generally taken 

 near the falls or rapids of the Ohio, in nets aud seines, both above aud 

 below the falls. Local experts xirououuce them Potomac shad. They 

 are caught in the spring whenever the water is low enough to fish with 

 set-nets and seines. In weight they run from ^ to 3J pounds. Several 

 dozen have been sold in the markets here and in Louisville, Ky. (just 

 across the river), each season for several years. [J. P. Applegate, New 

 Albany, Ind., June 23, 188G.] 



Pish and oyster tkade of Bkashear, La. — I herewith send the 

 amount of oysters aud fish shipped from this port for the period of 

 eight mouths, from September 1, 1885, to April 30, 188G: 



Number. 



Oysters, open 8,513,239 



Oysters, in shell 1 , 799, 815 



Total 10,313.054 



These oysters were shijiped entirely by Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express 

 per rail to Texas and California, and in addition about 2,000,000 were 

 shipped by steamers to Galveston, in shell and open. They are taken 

 on the Gulf coast eastward of this port, and the business furnishes em- 

 ployment to a large number of owners of small luggers, most of which 

 are under 5 tons burden. 



There have also been shii3ped from this port, in the time mentioned, 

 about 321,785 pounds of catfish, which are caught in the Atchafalaya 

 Kiver, and adjacent bayous. [William T. Carrington, Collector of cus- 

 toms, Brashear, La., June 21, 1886,] 



Codfish on the Pacific coast.* — Mr. James G. Swan, writing 

 from Port Townsend, Wash., on July 9, 188G, states as follows : "This 

 summer there has been an abundance of true cod in Port Discov- 

 ery Bay. One or two persons have pickled a few barrels, but many 

 tons have been thrown away for want of knowing how to dispose of 

 them. This year the cod taken here are of almost mature growth, aud 

 next year they will spawn. I have made diligent inquiry among the 

 white fishermen and Indians, and fail to find that the cod taken this 

 season had any spawn. One fisherman told me that he caught a large 

 female cod last December full of spawn, but that this was the only one 

 he noticed. The fact that they have again come upon our coast here 

 is of much interest. They have been more plentiful this season than 

 at any other time since 1859-'G0, when they were very abundant. The 

 next year none were taken, and the cod seemed to have disappeared 

 from our waters, and since then until recently only an occasional one 

 has been seen in the fish-markets of Victoria, B. C, and Port Towns- 

 end." 



* See also F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. 131, 



