PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1940 583 
production of trout and pondfishes is discussed under the heading 
“Trout and Pondfish Stations.” 
ANADROMOUS SPECIES, ATLANTIC COAST 
At the Fort Belvoir (Va.) unit, the take of shad eggs was sub- 
stantially increased. Due to favorable water temperatures through- 
out the season, the hatch was 95.7 percent. The fry, with the 
exception of 3,000,000 which were assigned to the Conservation 
Commission of Maryland for planting in streams tributary to Chesa- 
peake Bay, were planted in the Potomac River. Collection of 
yellow-perch eggs fell off slightly, although more than 243 million 
were taken. Of these, 41,124,000 were transferred to the hatchery 
for incubation and the remainder were placed in wire hatching baskets 
and incubated in natural waters. When the fry reached the free- 
swimming stage they escaped from the baskets. The benefits derived 
from planting yellow perch in suitable localities is well illustrated by 
the results obtained in the Wicomico River in Maryland. This river 
and its tributaries have been stocked with yellow perch fry annually 
since 1937, and a Marvland Conservation Commission inspector 
reports the following results: The first fish appeared in commercial 
quantities in 1939, when a catch of 75 barrels was reported “where 
none had been taken for years before.’”’ In 1940 it was reported that 
“as much as 3,500 pounds were caught in nets in 1 day in the upper 
Wicomico rRiveristn.* *  .” 
The Edenton (N. C.) station propagated four anadromous species 
of the Atlantic coast. Although the cold winter and late spring 
caused a delay in the run of fish, and the late freezing of the rivers 
and Albemarle Sound destroyed so many of the stakes of the Dutch-net 
fishermen that new settings were necessary, slightly over 1% million 
yellow-perch eggs were collected and approximately 1% million fry 
were produced. Because the shad run started much later than usual, 
the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development 
extended the fishing season 5 days to compensate. This was a dis- 
tinct aid to the hatchery, as the warmer water at the close of the 
season appreciably increased the number of ripe fish taken. The 
total shad-egg collection was almost double last year’s, and 13,600,000 
fry were planted in Albemarle Sound and its tributaries. About 
200,000 fry were held in the rearing pond for continued tagging ex- 
periments. A number of tagged shad released at the Skinner’s Point 
Fishery in May 1939 were taken within 4 miles of the point during the 
spring. Study is being made of reports that the shad run in Albe- 
marle Sound all summer. More than 4,000,000 white-perch eggs 
were taken in Washington County, across Albemarle Sound, and the 
fry were planted in waters near the hatchery. When the ponds were 
drained for removal of pondfish, a number of white-perch fingerlings 
were found. These were planted in a local pond, as an experiment 
to study the ability of the white perch to adapt itself and propagate 
in landlocked waters. 
The Weldon (N. C.) hatchery was operated from May 1 to May 20 
for the collection and hatching of striped bass. Although runs of 
these fish were considered below normal, the collection was about 
two and one-half times greater than last year, and 5,917,000 fry were 
planted in Roanoke and Tar Rivers. The results of herring-egg 
