40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Havino; received information that the Pennsylvania Fish Commission 

 would not operate the hatcher}' at Bristol, three spawn-takers were 

 detailed to attend the fishery at Riverton, N. J., 9 miles above Cam- 

 den. The first eggs were taken on May 1, but owing probabl}' to the 

 prolonged season of cool weather and the consequent low-water tem- 

 peratures very little spawn was secured until May 14. Contrary to 

 past experience, the majority of the spawning fish were found in the 

 upper river above Philadelphia, and the fisheries below that point 

 yielded very few eggs. Howells Cove, which has each season yielded 

 the greatest amount of spawn, the take there last 3^ear amounting to 

 nearly 60,000,000 eggs, produced this season only 6,500,000. 



The collecting season ended on June 9, the total take of eggs aggre- 

 gating 36,977,000. Of these 621,000 impregnated eggs were shipped 

 to Central Station, Washington, D. C, and 25,997,000 fry were 

 hatched; -l, 835, 000 of the fry were distributed on the spawning- 

 grounds at Howells Cove and at the mouth of Timber Creek, New 

 Jersey. The balance were planted by the regular car messengers in 

 the waters of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, 

 and Florida. 



Battery Station, Maryland (George H. H. Moore, in Charge.) 



The station was opened March 24 by J. J. Glennan, who, with a 

 small force of men, prepared the buildings and apparatus for active 

 operations. The superintendent assumed charge of operations on 

 April 21, and the first shad eggs were received April 22. The total 

 collections of eggs for the season, which ended June 5, amounted to 

 20,707,000. Of these, 2,134,000 were shipped to the Exposition at 

 Charleston, S. C, which were subsequently hatched and distributed 

 from that point. The balance, with the exception of 267,000 sent to 

 Central Station, were hatched and produced 14,943,000 fry. 



As at the other shad stations, ripe fish were scarce, and it is a notable 

 circumstance, as reported bj^ old and experienced fishermen, that while 

 the proportion of roe or egg-bearing fish was greater than usual, the 

 percentage of ripe fish was smaller than ever before noted by them. 



A suppl}^ of herring roe was canned and shipped to the stations at 

 Wytheville, Va., and Erwin, Tenn., to be used as food for trout fry. 



A few cases of shad roe were canned with a view to testing its edi- 

 ble qualities. From those who have tested it man}^ favorable reports 

 have been received, and it is the consensus of opinion that it would be 

 difiicult to distinguish it from the fresh roe. The method pursued in 

 its preparation and preservation is simple. After being washed a set 

 or pair of roe are put in a 2-pound tin can, which is then capped, 

 exhausted, tipped, and subjected to 15 pounds steam pressure for 

 about an hour. To prepare for the table it is removed from the can 

 and cooktHl the same as the fresh roe. The milt has also been success- 

 full}' canned, and it is quite as pahita))le as the fresh product. 



