228 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



point cause an accumulation of fish which are in better average 

 spawning condition, perhaps, than an equal number of tish which may 

 be found anywhere else in so small an area. If the total number of 

 eggs bandied this year could have been turned at once into the hatch- 

 ing jars, the result of the season upon the basis of 50 per cent would 

 have been 1,210,000 fry. 



The hatchery which was left behind is in first-rate condition, and 

 everything favorable for future operations and in such readiness that 

 in any other attempt there need be no risk whatever of losing any ripe 

 spawn which may be procured there. As to the possibility of pro- 

 curing this spawn, it may be well to say that the fishermen almost 

 without exception, though they number more than one hundred, are in 

 lull accord with the work of artificial propagation, and are ready to 

 lend every assistance in their power toward building up a permanent 

 station at that place. 



I have examined with considerable care the striped bass at the fish-, 

 eries known as Calm Point, Kittyhawk, Mizell's, Eock Point, and others 

 lying below, between the mouth of the Roanoke Elver and James ville, a 

 distance of 25 miles, and also in large numbers those taken fronthelarge 

 seines just below the mouth of theEoauoke, and furthermore in the pound 

 nets about Edentou, and have so far failed to discover any point ap- 

 proximating Weldon for the puri:)ose of propagating these fish. It 

 occurs to me that quite a great deal has been accomplished this season 

 at Weldon in having discovered so many million of eggs in such a 

 poor season, and furthermore in finding that the eggs may be success- 

 fully handled in the apparatus generally used to-day. As far as the 

 keeping of the fry is concerned there is no difficulty ; in former experi- 

 ments I have found no difficulty whatever in keeping them alive in 

 ordinary shipping cans a period of twelve days with moderate changes 

 of water through the tin strainer tube. I feel gratified at the result 

 at Weldon, and assure you, while my expectations were not fully met as 

 to the number of eggs we should get, that I am entirely satisfied as to 

 the result, and feel all confidence in any future labors at that point. 

 I am glad to state that the citizens of Weldon themselves showed a 

 ready and untiring interest in developing there a station unequaled in 

 any other locality in which I have operated. 



Before concluding this report it may be well to mention that while 

 Weldon is a small town, containing only about 1,500 inhabitants, it is 

 yet a very considerable railroad point, fiv^e roads terminating there. 

 During the height of the season as many as two hundred visitors a day 

 were welcomed to the hatchery; and during the season probably up- 

 wards of two thousand were received. 



Table I shows the whole work in brief, and Table II the water and 

 air temperatures during the period of actual oiierations. 



Ealeigh, N. C, June 11, 1884. 



