BULLETLN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 391 



been so far about 2,500, herring 5,000. As there were oo more fishing 



.shores between here and Bordentown I interviewed the fillers, and 

 found that but 5 were fishing in tin's vicinity, although daring the 

 season some L5 had operated. They use a very large mesh, 5| to 5£, 

 so that nothing but very large fish are caught. They reported an aver- 

 age season. At 1 p. m. got under way with Lookout and steamed down 

 the river to Burlington, picking np the spawn-takers on the way down, 

 as all the shores stop fishing from Saturday noon until Monday morning. 

 At 2.30 p. m. came to anchor, and concluded to locate in the vicinity, it 

 being near the center, and within easy reach of all the principal fishing 

 shores. Launch Cygnet returned at 4 p. m. with the remainder of spawn- 

 takers, but were not successful in procuring spawn from any of the 

 fishing shores during the day. 



Sunday, May 31. — At 5 p. m. sent one spawn-taker down by train to 

 Kivington, near Fa-iince's fishing shore, to be on hand to tend morning 

 hauls, and to remain there during next Monday. 



Monday, June 1. — At 4 a. m. launch Cygnet started with spawn-takers 

 and boats and distributed them at all the fishing shores in the immediate 

 vicinity; at 1.30 p. in. got underway with Lookout and visited the fish- 

 ing shores. All reported a fair Monday's catch of shad, but no spawning 

 fish were found; at 5 p. m. came to anchor at Torresdale, 4 miles below 

 Burlington, and concluded to tend the gillers at the sundown drift; at 

 7 p. m. spawn-takers returned with 149,000 shad eggs, obtained from the 

 gillers ; at 8 p. m. launch Cygnet returned from Faunce's fishing shore 

 with 159,000 shad eggs, and reported that seine cut out. Placed eggs 

 in McDonald hatching-jars ; spawn-takers tended gillers during ebb tide, 

 but failed to procure any spawn. I am pleased to state that the fisher- 

 men take a great interest in the work, and seem willing to assist in every 

 way possible. According to instructions from Assistaut Commissioner 

 Ferguson, 1 paid the fishing shores and gillers at the rate of $10 per 

 1,000,000 for all good impregnated shad eggs. 



Tuesday, June 2. — At 6.30 a. m., when spawn-takers returned from tend- 

 ing gillers at morning high water, steamed up the river to Burlington 

 and anchored ; at 8.45 got under way, and proceeded up river with 

 launch Cygnet in tow ; at 10 arrived at Bordentown, anchored Look- 

 out, and started up river in launch Cygnet to make an investigation 

 of the fisheries as far as Trenton ; visited Shamptowu fishery, about 1 

 mile above Bordentown shore, owned and fished by John Seeds, seine 

 115 fathoms long, season's catch of shad about 2,500 ; fish reported very 

 scarce now. Had made several hauls, but no shad were caught and 

 but 150 herring. Two other small seines, one on Biles Island and the 

 other on Moon Island, which had operated at those points during the 

 season, I found had cutout. The gillers had nearly all cut out, not 

 more than 10 operating the whole distance from Bordentown to Trenton. 

 All the gillers I interviewed reported a fair season's work; at 1.30 



