REPORT OF CO^rMISSIONER OF FIKII AND FISHERIES. CXXXVII 



The examination of the coast streams of California be^un in May, 



1897, and referred to in the hist annual re[)ort, was continued until 

 August 15, 1897, by wliich time all the rivers of California north of San 

 Francisco aud some of those of southern Oregon had been visited. 

 The inquiries were in charge of Dr. C. H. Gilbert, of Leland Stanford 

 Junior University, assisted by four students of that institution. The 

 streams were very thoroughly examined with reference to their fish life, 

 large collections of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc., being made. 



OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 

 SHAD or THE OHIO RIVER BASIN. 



From time to time the capture of shad in the Ohio and Mississippi 

 rivers and their tributaries has been reported. The fish have locally 

 been regarded as identical with the shad of the Atlantic coast {Alosa 

 sapidissima), and have been called "Potomac shad," "white shad," etc. 

 In view of the large numbers of shad fry planted in the Mississippi 

 Valley, it has been thought that their attempted acclimatization may 

 have proved successful. Ichthyologists have had little ojiportunity to 

 examine these shad from the Ohio basin, but the Commission has 

 recently been able to make some interesting observations thereon. In 

 the spring of 1896 it was reported from Montgomery, W. Ya., that shad 

 were being taken in some numbers in the Kanawha River at that place. 

 In May, 1897, a fish-dealer in Louisville, Ky., stated that considerable 

 quantities of shad were being caught at the Falls of the Ohio, and four 

 fresh specimens were sent for identification. The same dealer, in May, 



1898, wrote that the shad had again appeared, and forwarded six 

 specimens. An examination showed that these represented a species 

 of true shad {Alosa), aud not a hickory shad or skipjack {Pomolobtis), 

 gizzard shad {Borosoma), or mooneye (Hiodon), which are popularly 

 known as shad in various parts of the interior. It was also seen that 

 they were closely related to the shad of the rivers of the Atlantic slope, 

 but had certain characters which were apparently sufficiently marked 

 to render the fish specifically distinct from the common shad, and also 

 from the shad {Alosa alabamw) recently described from the Black 

 Warrior Eiver, Alabama. 



In order to secure more definite information regarding the nature, 

 movements, and abundance of this fish, Prof. B. W. Evermann, in May, 

 1898, was instructed to proceed to suitable points on the Ohio River 

 and tributaries. 



Montgomery, W. Va., was first visited. No shad had yet arrived, but 

 additional information concerning the runs in 1896 and 1897 was 

 obtained. In 1896 the fish appeared during the third week in May, 

 the largest number being caught on May 20, Several hundreds were 

 taken for home use by the people of the town, and the run was reported 

 to consist of thousands of fish. In the following year the shad came 

 about the same time and were reported to be quite as numerous. 



