398 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Besides, the grass is so heavy that in a few days it would be almost 

 impossible. 



June 10.— Howell's Cove has cut out. Eeceived last uight 738,000 

 eggs. Deposited 896,000. Total number of eggs received during the 

 season, 10,604,000. I shall proceed to Burlington, N. J., to finish hatch- 

 ing the eggs on board, and put them over at that place. 



June 11 and 12. — Steamed up to Burlington, 1ST. J., and lay there for 

 two days. Put over 450,000 young fish. Found that only 200,000 of 

 the eggs received on June 9 hatched out. 



June 13. — I left Burlington and proceeded to Port Eichmond, filled up 

 with coal and stores, and steamed down the bay. Put over the re- 

 maining young fish, 670,000, which had just hatched out, off Billings- 

 port. 



Bemaeks. — I regard the Delaware as an excellent field of operations 

 for the Fish Commission during the shad season. At the time the 

 Fish Hawk arrived there the fish had evidently been spawning for 

 some time. We were told stories of much larger catches of fish than 

 any that took place while we were there. Though it is probable that 

 the proportion of ripe fish was not so great at that time, still out of 

 these great numbers it is to be supposed that many spawning fish 

 might have been obtained. 



All the principal shores are from 4 to 12 miles below Philadelphia. 

 What effect the oil and other impurities in the water may have on the 

 young fish I am not prepared to state, though I have several times 

 observed a sluggishness in their movements that I can ascribe to no 

 other cause. I think it would be well if the young fish or the partly 

 developed eggs could be transported to some point at least 10 miles 

 above Philadelphia. 



We have obtained by far the largest number of eggs from the Howell's 

 Cove fishery, 7,156,000 out of a total of 10,604,000 ; while from the 

 Gloucester Point fishery none were received. 



The two shores almost join each other. The first is a comparatively 

 retired cove, with a decided curve inland, well clear of the channel, 

 while the other is a straight shore, near the channel, and near the 

 Gloucester ferry slip. 



Faunce's seine haul, though we did not get so many ripe fish there 

 as at Bennett's, has a reputation for big roe shad. It is also well out of 

 the main chanuel. It is said to have numerous springs at the bottom. 

 Bennett's is also said to have springs at the bottom. 



I think that with an earlier start next season, the work of this year 

 can be doubled or trebled. 



I append a table showing in statistical form the number of eggs 

 received, proportion hatched out, time of hatching, disposition, tem- 

 perature, &c. 



