290 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



repair steam-launch Xo. 55, just arrived from Battery Station. Sent to 

 Dr. Shortlidge* 450,000 more eggs, after which returned to the usual 

 anchorage off Gloucester. On the 13th launch ifo. 55 arrived from 

 Wilmington and began to render service in distributing spawn-takers 

 and tending the different fishing-shores. The fishermen reported a 

 great decrease in the catch of shad for the week ending May 15, and 

 attributed this to the constant easterly weather. Almost daily deposits 

 of fry were made in the river, as will be seen from the ai)pended table. 



Owing to heavy'rains the river was very muddy during the middle 

 part of May, and some of the eggs in the jars and cones were covered 

 with a muddy sediment and died. This led to the use of raw cotton in 

 the jars for the purpose of filtering the water. 



On IMay 27 William P. Sauerhofif reported for duty from Battery Sta- 

 tion, to assist in shad-hatching work. On the 31st orders were received 

 to discontinue gathering spawn. 



On June 3 transferred to Dr. E. G. Shortlidge 180,000 fry; a ship- 

 ment was also made to Philadelphia, in launch Xo. 55, of fifteen cans 

 containing 1,940,000 fry, which were delivered to U. S. Fish Commission 

 car No. 2. As there were no more eggs or fry on hand, this terminated 

 the shad-hatching operations of the Fish Hawk for the season of 1886. 

 Appended will be found a table giving details of the work, sho wing- 

 especially the number of eggs taken, the number of fish hatched, the 

 number deposited, and the times and places of deposit, with other state- 

 ments of j)articulars in this connection. 



U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Fish Hawk, 



Wood^s Holl, Mass., October 11, 1886. 



*Dr. Shortlidge rei^orted that the general condition of the 1,110,000 eggs which he 

 received from the Fish Hawk on May II and 12 was bad, as at least one-third were 

 found dead on unpacking. The subsequent loss on these eggs was about one-eighth. 

 All the fry were j)lanted in the Brandy wine Creek, near Wilmington. July 21 a small 

 shad was caught in Brandywiue Creek, supposed to have been one of those planted in 

 Mav, 



