242 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Our biggest haul with the seine was four shad. Usually we caught 

 nothing. I doubt whether anj' but gill-nets will ever be used here by 

 proiessional lishermen. The fyke-nets might be used here successfully 

 in place of the bow-nets. The latter are fished in the deep water close 

 to the bank and the fish seem to follow the shore close at certain i)laces, 

 probably look for spawning-beds. A fyke set in these spots would prob- 

 ably take a large number of fish. 



A firm of Northern fishermen, engaged in shippingshrimpandfishfrom 

 Fernandina, asked me to let them know if it would be possible to haul 

 a seine in the Saint JMary's. If so they Avould fish one next year, but, 

 as stated above, they would not be justified in attemi>tiug it. 



So far we have not been fortunate enough to secure a single impreg- 

 nated egg, and for the reasons given above I do not think this river 

 will ever be a favorable locality for shad i^ropagatiou. Since the first 

 two days we have taken no sturgeon. The only other fish taken have 

 been one small rock, several gar, a few bream, and some catfish. 



King's Ferry, Fla., March 26, 1884. 



I have just returned from Jacksonville, where I went to see if there 

 was au}^ chance for shad work on the Saint John's. There was no 

 chance^there for shad propagation. I consulted the principal fish deal- 

 ers, and they told me that very few shad are now coming in. Much 

 longer nets are fished in the Saint John's than here, but the heaviest 

 catch for the season, from January 1 until now, for one boat, was only 

 1,100 shad. Mr. Mervin, the largest dealer, spoke vaguely of some lakes 

 way up the Saint John's, where he thought enough spawning fish could 

 be taken in the height of the season to make it an object. He also said 

 that the Saint John's shad are smaller fish than those taken elsewhere. 

 The Saint Mary's shad run as large as those taken North. 



I have nothing to add to my former report.  We have kept up our 

 operations steadily, and have caught about the same number of shad, 

 but still have not been able to get an impregnated egg. 



King's Ferry, Fla., March 27, 1884. 



133.— REC'ONIVAISSAIVCE OF THE 8SIAD FBSMKKIES OF ^VIIVVAAV BAY 



AI\I> BTS TBlStJTAKBES BV THE STEAITIEK FISBI HAAVK, 



By l>ieut. W. M. ^VOOD, Conasaaasiding:. 



After leaving Fernandina, Fla., I proceeded in this vessel to George- 

 town, S. C, to investigate the shad fisheries there, and have the honor 

 to submit the following report : 



We arrived on the afternoon of the 5th instant. The shad season 

 was found to be about over and most of the fishermen had left. I was 

 fortunate enough to find Mr. E. Barnes still in town. Mr. Barnes is 

 the largest owner of nets and bags, and ships all the fish caught in the 

 vicinity. Accompanied by him I took the launch and went up the 



