50 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



thousands have been sent out through all parts of the United States, 

 this work being done either by shipments in passenger trains under the 

 direction of messengers, or by car loads. Much apprehension of loss 

 was excited by tbe ice gorge of the Long Bridge, at Washington, on the 

 12th February, 1881, by which the waters of the Potomac were backed 

 up so as to completely flood the carp ponds. Fortunately, however, the 

 grounding of the floating ice on the exterior limits of the ponds seemed 

 to have the effect of preventing the fish from escaping ; at least, careful 

 examinations induced the belief that no considerable number had been 

 lost. 



The collecting of the eggs of the shad, and the hatching out and 

 distribution of the young fish, were also carried on throughout the year 

 on a very large scale. The three principal stations were Albemarle Sound, 

 the Poiomac Kiver, and the Susquehanna. The "Fish Hawk" was 

 first dispatched to Avoca, Albemarle Sound, passing through the Chesa- 

 peake and Albemarle Canal, for the purpose, arriving the end of March. 

 The steamer " Lookout," in charge of Lieutenant Wood, was also dis- 

 patched to Albemarle Sound in March, and the two vessels were engaged 

 for several weeks in the operation of hatching shad ; after which work 

 was transferred to the Potomac Eiver. By the courtesy of the Navy 

 Department and the authority of the commandant of the navy-yard, 

 the principal station was made in the boat-house of the yard, to which 

 the eggs were brought by the '' Lookout " from (he seine-hauling localities 

 down the river. The " Fish Hawk" was engaged also for a time on the 

 Potomac in similar work. Battery Island, on the Susquehanna, was also 

 utilized in a like connection, and many eggs hatched out both there and 

 on the " Fish Hawk", which was for the greater part of the time anchored 

 some miles distant, in the northeast run. The shad thus obtained were 

 sent into almost every State of the Union, and very greatly to the 

 satisfaction of the inhabitants. The total number distributed amounted 

 to many milliotus. 



As in previous years, the obtaining and distributing of eggs of the 

 California salmon were also carried on on a very large scale at the 

 station on McCloud Eiver in California. Many millions of eggs were 

 distributed throughout all parts of the United States, and a number 

 sent to foreign countries in response to official requests to that effect. 

 As usual, several millions of the young fish were hatched and planted 

 in the Sacramento Eiver for the purpose of keeping up tbe supi)ly. The 

 hatching station itself had been destroyed by flood during the previous 

 winter, but a special appropriation having been made by Congress for 

 rebuilding it, the money was received in time to make the station avail- 

 able for this purpose. 



The collecting of eggs of the Atlantic salmon was continued, as here- 

 tofore, at the station near Bucksport, on Penobscot Bay, in Maine, and 

 the eggs obtained were distributed, for the most part, to State fish com- 

 missioners, to be hatched out and i)lanted at their discretion. 



