140 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



has been experienced and time consumed in deciding on permanent loca- 

 tions for hatclieries. 



The spawning period varies widely in different seasons ; in some years 

 shad are numerous and in spawning condition two or three weeks after 

 the time when they have ordinarily disappeared. They deposit eggs at 

 some point along the coast for six continuous months. 



The following streams have been occupied by hatcheries, as some of 

 them are now, and it will be observed that the approximate spawning 

 X)eriods, beginning early in the South, become gradually later toward 

 the North. 



The United States Fish Commission operates stations at Bryan 

 Poiut, 12 miles below Washington on the Potomac, and at Battery 

 Island at the mouth of the Susquehanna, while the steamer Fish Hmck, 

 fitted up as a floating hatchery, is engaged during the shad season on 

 the Delaware Eiver. These two stations and the vessel can receive 

 respectively 16,000,000, 40,000,000, and 12,000,000 eggs. On more than 

 one occasion each has been taxed to its utmost capacity, but as the 

 average hatching period is 8 days, and three of the special cars of the 

 Commission are hatcheries in themselves and capable of taking 2,000,000 

 to 4,000,000 eggs aboard at a time, the hatcheries can be quickly relieved 

 in case of emergency. 



In 1896 the total number of the shad eggs collected was 149,822,000, 

 yielding 93,481,500 fry. In 1897, owing to expansion of operations at 

 old stations and prosecution of work in new waters, 205,000,000 eggs 

 were taken, from which 134,545,000 fry were hatched. The aggregate 

 number of shad fry planted by the Commission to and including the year 

 1897 was over 1,375,000,000. 



The methods herein described are those in use on the Potomac, where 

 the eggs collected at Bryan Point are shipped to Washington and there 

 hatched in Central Station. 



Potomac River. — The Potomac Eiver, immediately adjacent to Fort 

 Washington (12 miles below Washington, D. C.),is probably more pro. 

 ductive of ripe shad than any other area of the same size. This was 

 discovered as early as 1880, and a station was soon developed there with 

 steam i)umps,tank, and hatching vessels. The seineoperated at this point 

 between 1887 and 1891 furnished 23 per cent of all eggs from the river. 



