PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1923. 53 



ANADROMOUS FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 



The fish-cultural work coming under this head is conducted at 

 three stations and one substation and includes operations with the 

 Atlantic salmon, shad, the river herrings {Pomolohus cestivalis and 

 P. pseudoharengus) ^ the humpback salmon, and the striped bass or 

 rockfish. The total output of these species during the fiscal year 

 was 183,803,000, an increase of approximately 11,500,000 over that 

 in 1922. The distributions of river herring were nearly doubled as 

 compared with that year, but the production of shad and Atlantic 

 salmon fell short of the usual numbers. This being the off year for 

 the run of humpback salmon introduced in certain coastal rivers 

 of Maine some years ago, no eggs of that species were taken. 



SHAD. 



BBYANS POINT ( MD. ) SUBSTATION. 

 [L. G. Hakron, Superintendent.] 



Shad propagation at this station was undertaken under very un- 

 favorable conditions. Cold stormy weather prevailed at the begin- 

 ning and practically to the end of the spawning period, seriously 

 curtailing the run of fish to the spawning grounds in the Potomac 

 River. Only a comparatively few shad were in evidence when the 

 collection of eggs was undertaken on April 20, but the work was 

 vigorously and continuously prosecuted up to the middle of May, 

 when it was recognized that the run was practically over. It is 

 estimated that about 30,000,000 eggs were delivered at the hatchery, 

 but as it was desired to pay for good eggs only no measuring or 

 recording was done until the second day after their receipt, thus 

 allowing sufficient time for the detection and elimination of any 

 that might be of poor quality. The eggs paid for aggregated 17,- 

 627,000. Practically all were of fine quality and from them 16,700,- 

 000 fry were hatched, the losses during incubation amounting to only 

 about 3 per cent. All fiy hatched were liberated in good condition 

 on the principal spawning grounds in the Potomac River. 



During the year a bungalow 14 feet square and 8 feet high was 

 constructed as living quarters for the superintendent. Four new 

 live cars for holding brood yellow perch were built and various 

 minor repairs were made to the hatchery and equipment. 



SHAD AND RIVER HERRINGS. 



EDENTON (N. C. ) STATION. 

 [W. S. Vincent, Superintendent] 



As the prevailing public sentiment in this region was in opposition 

 to the issuance of licenses for the operation of gill nets for taking 

 shad within certain restricted areas of upper Albemarle Sound, no 

 permits of tliis character were issued during the spring of 1923. 

 From the information at hand it appears that during the years when 

 gill netters were allowed to operate on these grounds many unripe 

 shad were taken and sent to the market which otherwise would have 



