386 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



J3I.— REPORT OF SHAD HATCHING OPERATIONS BY THE STE UllB 



LOOKOUT, SEASON OF 1885. 



By JAMES A. SMITH, 



Mate, U. S. X., Commanding. 



I respectfully submit the following report, with appended record and 

 meteorological tables, of the fish-hatching operations conducted on 

 board this vessel during the past season, from May 13, to June 5, 1885, 

 inclusive. On the return from the trip to Florida, arriving at Washing 

 ton, D. C, May 8, took on board all the hatching equipment, consisting 

 of 2 cone stands, 8 icones, and 24 McDonald hatching jars, and pro- 

 ceeded at 1 p. m. on the 9th to Baltimore, Md. Arrived there on the 

 10th at 8 a. m. and made fast to Clark's machine-shop wharf, to have 

 some needed repairs made to the boiler. By Wednesday, May 13, 

 repairs to the boiler being completed, received orders from Assistant 

 Commissioner T. B. Ferguson to proceed to Battery Station, Havre de 

 Grace, Md., and begin operations in shad hatching in that vicinity. 

 Left Baltimore, Md., at 6.50 a. in., and arrived at Battery Station at 

 11.40 a. m. Crew employed fitting up hatching cones and jars. As the 

 crew of the vessel was not experienced in spawn taking, two expert 

 spawn-takers were detailed from the station for duty, and two of the 

 crew were sent on shore in their places, to be instructed in spawn-tak- 

 ing. At 3.30 p. m. left Battery Station, steamed over to North East 

 Biver and visited Carpenter's Point and Red Bank fisheries, also the 

 gill-boat men, and made arrangements about getting spawn ; at 6.15 p. 

 m. anchored off Bull Mountain. At 7 p. m. sent spawn takers to tend 

 gill-boats; at 10 p. m. spawn-takers returned with 217,000 shad eggs. 

 Placed them in the McDonald jars. 



Thursday, May 14. — At 6.30 a. m. we got under way and steamed over 

 to Battery Station ; at 3.30 p. in. returned to North East Biver, east side 

 of the bay, and left spawn-takers at Carpeuter's Point and Bed Bank 

 fisheries; at 6 came to anchor off Bull Mountain. During the evening 

 the spawn-takers tended as many gill-boats as possible, and succeeded in 

 procuriug from fisheries and gill-boats 338,000 shad eggs. Put 173,000 

 in McDonald jars, and kept the remainder for Battery Station. 



Friday, May 15. — At 6 a. m. got under way and steamed over to Bat- 

 tery Station, arriving at 7 a. in. Transferred 165,000 shad eggs to su- 

 perintendent of Battery Station. At 3.30 p. m. left station and pro- 

 ceeded across the bay to North East Biver. Distributed spawn-takers 

 to fisheries and gill-boats. During the evening spawn takers returned, 

 having succeeded in procuring 529,000 shad eggs. G-illers report fair 

 catches. 



Saturday, May 16. — At 6 a., in. steamed over to Battery Station and 

 transferred all the spawn obtained last evening, 520,000, to superintend- 



