BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 405 



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experts Sauerhoff and Tolbert, who were in charge of the hatching 

 house, the loss of eggs from the pollution of the pool water, although 

 of considerable extent, was kept as low as possible. 



Every effort was made to prove the feasibility of this pool experi 

 nient, but without success. To facilitate the hauling of the pool seine, 

 and also to allow more space for the fish, the several interior aprons 

 and bulkheads were removed this spring, and one apron only was 

 placed in the northern end of the pool. This worked more satisfactorily 

 than the first arrangement. By the direction of the assistant com- 

 missioner, a space of some 20 feet was netted off in the entrance to the 

 pool with nets of different sized meshes. When a haul of fish was 

 turned into this space, the small fish and herring would pass through 

 the larger mesh into the pool, leaving the shad. At intervals the shad 

 would be examined, but always proved "hard" or "rotten ripe." 



As stated above, it is my belief that the experiment of penning shad 

 until ripe is not practicable, experience having shown that it is only when 

 fish are captured ready to deposit spawn that good eggs are obtained. 



Herring. — During the season attempts were made to hatch the eggs 

 of the herring, but the apparatus used was not adapted to this work, 

 and little success was attained. However, by careful management, 

 some 200,000 young herring were produced, and placed in the waters 

 about the station. 



Perch. — Several very large, ripe perch being caught in the seine, 

 their eggs were taken and impregnated. A-Chase jar was used in de- 

 veloping them, after which the fry were deposited in the neighborhood 

 of the station. During the season 1,250,000 eggs of the perch were 

 obtained, from which number 1,000,000 fish were hatched and planted- 



Havre de Grace, Md., June 30, 1885. 



