358 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



In .111 effort to transfer the 1,794 brood cod purchased there was a mortality 

 of 794, leaving only 1,000 available for the propagation work. It being ap- 

 parent quite early in the season that, with the unsatisfactory transportation 

 facilities available, the Newport traps could not supply fish in adequate num- 

 bers for the work, the local hand-line fishermen were requested to deliver 

 their catches to the station. By this means the brood stock was increased to 

 1,750 fish, which yielded in round numbers 272,000.000 eggs. After the com- 

 pletion of spawning operations, the fish were tagged and liberated in con- 

 nection with the investigation being made by the division of scientific inquiry 

 concerning food fishes. 



The work of obtaining brood winter flounder in the vicinity of Waquoit, 

 Mass., was undertaken on January 12. Nets were set on the following day 

 and; weather permitting, daily trips were made to the fishing grounds from 

 that time to March 29. From the stock thus acquired, amounting to 2,516 

 female fish and a suitable number of males, S94.000.000 eggs were secured 

 and incubated, the total losses amounting to 18 per cent. 



During the month of June a small collection of mackerel eggs was made. 

 At an earlier period both mackerel and scup were abundant in waters adja- 

 cent to the station, but they disappeared to a great extent in advance of the 

 spawing time and only a very few of either species were to be found. 



Of 25,000 steelhead-salmon eggs received from the Medford (Oreg.) field, 

 about 70 per cent were hatched. The resulting fry were planted in Childs 

 River. 



ANADROMOUS FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST 



The fish-cultural work at the three stations of this class, located 

 in Maryland, North Carolina, and Maine, was concerned with the 

 propagation of shad, river herring, Atlantic salmon, and humpback 

 salmon. The collection of eggs of these species were small, as com- 

 pared with those of 1925, the cause of the falling off being the un- 

 favorable weather experienced during the herring spawning season 

 and the scarcity of adult shad both in the Potomac River and. in 

 Albemarle Sound. 



Shad 



Brya/ns Point (Mri.) substation. — The outcome of the season's work in shad 

 propagation on the Potomac River was very discouraging. While scarcity 

 of adult shad was mainly responsible for the poor results, there were other 

 contributing factors, among them being the unfavorable weather and water 

 conditions encountered. The first fish of the season with mature eggs was 

 taken on April 23. and from that time on the work was earnestly prosecuted 

 up to the close of the run on May 14. Eggs to the number of 9,625.000. all 

 of excellent quality, were secured and incubated, and the resulting fry were 

 returned to the more important spawning grounds in the river. 



A remarkable feature of the shad work on this river is that almost no 

 shad are now being taken on the formerly prolific spawning grounds lying 

 between the hatchery and the city of Washington, a distance of about 14 miles. 

 From this territory, which until quite recently yielded from 10.000.000 to 

 25.000,000 eggs per season, the total number of eggs obtained during the past 

 two years has amounted to only 050,000. From all the evidence obtainable 

 the conclusion has been reached that this desertion of a formerly favored 

 spawning area may justly be charged to pollution brought about by the 

 extensive discharge of sewage into the upper river at various points. 



Shad and River Herring. Edenton (N. C.) Station 



[William S. Vincent, Superintendent] 



On account of the prevalence of heavy adverse winds and unseasonable air 

 and water temperatures, the spring of 1926 was one of the most unsatisfactory 

 ever experienced in tins region, not only from a fish-cultural standpoint but 

 alsn as concerned the prosecution of commercial fishing. Shortly before the 

 commencement of the anticipated spawning period of the river herring the 

 commercial fish houses of the district were visited at regular intervals in quest 



