436 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



a dam or waterfall tliat obstructs their passag'e up a stream. They per- 

 sisted iu clamberiug out of the can, and were with the greatest difdculty 

 driven back by repeated washings down with dippersful of water 

 until it was freshened sufficiently to be agreeable to them, when they 

 settled to the bottom and remained there. A. few got out on to the 

 floor of the car, and of course quickly perished. Water was also afford- 

 ed to the young shad. . 



At Elyria, at 8.4:5 p. m., the reserve-can was supplied. The water 

 from the well had a temperature of 54°. 



At Sandusky, 10 p. m., changed the water partially, taking only a 

 pailful from the well at the east end of the depot, as the train-men 

 legarded it as poor water. 



At Port Clinton, 10.28 p. m., examined fish and found them in lively 

 condition. 



At Toledo, at 11.4:5 p. m., we did not use the water from the artesian 

 well, as it had a strong mineral flavor. 



Mr. Mason took charge of fish the latter part of the night, obtaining 

 water at Edgertou, Indiana, 2.01 a. m. He drew the water all away 

 from the eels, finding about one hundred and fifty dead ones. Fresh 

 water was supplied them again. It was evident they required more fre- 

 quent changes than the shad, or a less number of eels to the quantity 

 of water. 



AtLaporte, Ind., at 6.05 a. m., the can was refilled for the last time, fresh 

 "water having been supplied, about twelve quarts at a time, to each can 

 sixteen times, the eels having had a larger supply at the time of 

 refilling the can. 



At 7.30 a. m. of the 15th we reached South Chicago, and Col. James H. 

 Bowen, kindly responding to a telegram from Palmyra, was at the 

 depot with a handcar, and a boat on the river near by. The shad hav- 

 ing been conveyed to this boat were moved up the river for some dis- 

 tance and consigned to the waters iu the middle of the river, where no 

 small fish were found to attack them. The young fish were found in 

 vigorous condition, the number of dead ones being very small, and 

 they swam around in the vicinity of the boat very activelj^ and with no 

 appearance of injury from their journe}^ in the cans. 



The eels seemed to evince a ludicrous state of elation at their escape irom 

 thecaua, and showed similar iudications of enjoyment of their freedom to 

 what may be seen among a flock of lambs let loose into a pasture from 

 confinement in a pen. They made sudden darts for short distances, 

 and turned right and left, twisting and wriggling until everybody was 

 laughing ac their funny antics. A number of them persisted in follow- 

 ing the boat as it moved slowly along while we were turning the j^oung 

 shad from the cans into the stream. 



At Colonel Bowen's suggestion, one can of shad was retained to be 

 moved up the river some seven miles, in his little steamer, in the after- 

 noon, Mr. Mason remaining to take charge of it and see the fish safely 



