BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 389 



I MM « I Ml \ I 'S OFFERED I i-lll It'll \ TO FURNISH SHAD EGGS 

 FOR THE UNITED STATES HMPll^MON OF FISn AND FISHERIES. 



By SPENCER F. BA1RD, COMMISSIONER. 



The co- operation of all fishermen is cordially invited in this effort to 

 increase the supply of shad. 



A liberal price \vill be paid* to all gillers, pound net, and seine fish- 

 ermen for eggs of the shad taken according to these instructions, and 

 delivered on board the steamers of the Commission in their daily trips ; 

 by waving the hat or other signal the steamers will run down to the 

 boats or land at the shores : 



The necessary pans, trays, dippers, etc., will be furnished to respon- 

 sible parties by application to the Armory Building, Washington, D. C, 

 or on board the steamers. They must be returned or accounted for at 

 the end of the season. 



The accounts of each man will be kept separately, and the eggs meas- 

 ured at Washington by competent persons employed by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission for that purpose. 



HOW TO STRIP SHAD. 



As soon as the shad are taken in the nets or seines, those which are 

 ripe or soft should be selected, taking up the shad one by one. If ripe, 

 the eggs will flow freely from the shad when a gentle pressure is applied 

 to the belly of the fish ; if unripe, the eggs will not flow at all ; if the eggs 

 are only nearly ready they will come forth with difficulty, in masses; 

 such fish should not be taken. 



A sbort time before the shad spawns, clear eggs of large size will be 

 found in the roe, while the rest is still hard ; these become more and 

 more numerous ; after a time they separate and fall apart, a liquid 

 stream of eggs flowing from the fish with the slightest pressure; unripe 

 eggs will not flow at all. 



Each person who takes the eggs should be provided with a tin pail, a 

 pan, and a dipper. 



The milter, or male shad, is rather smaller than the female ; the sex 

 will be known by the flow of milt from the fish. A very small quantity 

 of milt will impregnate a large number of eggs ; about one male in good 

 condition to two or three females. 



The spaicner, or female shad, is easily known by its size and full ap- 

 pearance. 



When a female is found from which the eggs flow freely when a gentle 

 pressure is applied, take the fish carefully in the hands, grasping it with 

 the left hand close around the tail, the head of the fish being crowded closely 

 against the body of the person, while icith the thumb and forefinger of the 

 right hand apply a slight pressure to the belly of the fish. (See sketch.) A 



