REPORT ON SHAD-HATCHING OPERATIONS. 4*05 



well as the water we brought along from Indianapolis. The weather 

 had grown cold during the uight, and the water showed a temperature 

 of 65°. This was cooler than suited the fry, and some of them perished. 

 They grew more lively as the heat increased. At Washington, and at 

 Hermann, Mo., where the cars stopped a few minutes, we made small de- 

 posits of the fry, in the Missouri River. At Kansas City we found that 

 we had ice and water enough to last another day in case we could not 

 obtain it along the road. We left on the Kansas Pacific at 11.10 p. m., 

 for Denver. 



July 6. — We took in a fresh supply of ice at Brookville, and found 

 good water at Wilson's Station, thirty-nine miles farther west. We 

 now felt quite confident of getting some of the fry into the Platte in 

 good condition. We are indebted to the officials of the Kansas Pacific 

 Eailroad for many courtesies. 



July 7. — We met a train off the track about 7 in the morning, which 

 delayed us over an hour. We reached Denver about 9.30 a. m., and 

 in a few minutes had the joy of seeing Connecticut River shad swim- 

 ming in the waters of the Platte. They were lively and headed 

 up stream. We estimated the number of fry planted at this point at 

 2,000. As the Platte is fed by mountain streams full of trout, there 

 can be little doubt that the fry will thrive in its waters. 



I think the trip, so favorably ended, establishes the following conclu- 

 sions : 



1. Shad-fry in any desirable numbers can be planted in every barren 

 stream in the country. 



2. That all the larger branches of the Mississippi, the Missouri, and 

 the^ Ohio Rivers can be stocked with shad next year at small expense. 



3. That, as the numbers put into a stream in any shipment of 

 fry depends upon its nearness to the source of supply, it would be 

 desirable another season to hatch shad upon the Potomac, which is a 

 days' journey nearer the west. From this point the distribution might 

 begin as early as the first of June, to be followed by fish from the Hud- 

 sou and the Connecticut Rivers later in the season. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



M. CLIFT. 

 Hon. Spencer F. Baird, 



United States Commissioner of Fisheries. 



Rochester, July 19, 1872. 



Dear Sir: My men have returned from Saint Paul. They had good 

 luck, having placed about 25,000 young shad in the Mississippi River, 

 two and a half miles above Saint Paul. 



The shad put into the Alleghany River were deposited at Salamanca. 

 Future observation must determine as to the return of any of these fish, 

 though my experience assures me that they will come back if possible. 



