REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 43 
only to the officers and men belonging to the vessel, but to the fisher- 
men, who assisted the spawn-takers to the extent of their ability in 
securing all the eggs possible. 
There was a decided increase this season in the capture of Atlantic 
salmon in the Delaware River near Gloucester. Nine specimens, 
weighing 8 to 15 pounds each, were taken at Howells Cove; two were 
captured at Bennett’s fishery, weighing 11 and 15 pounds, respectively ; 
and one, weighing 143 pounds, in a gill net off Camden. The prices 
received for them varied from 40 to 45 cents per pound. 
BATTERY STATION, MARYLAND (J. N. WISNER, SUPERINTENDENT). 
The work of getting the station ready for shad propagation com- 
meneed in March. The machinery was placed in order and a number 
of minor changes made which tended to increase its efficiency. As 
for several years the hatching facilities had not been adequate, 280 
new jars were purchased and the necessary tables provided, which of 
course necessitated the extension of the circulating system. The old 
boat railway, which had been in a dilapidated condition for several 
years, was torn out and rebuilt, and a scow was constructed for trans- 
ferring fry from Battery Station to Havre de Grace. A supply of 
herring roe was also canned and shipped to Wytheville, Va., and 
Erwin, Tenn, to be used as trout food. 
As the egg-taking season approached arrangements were made for 
attending all the seining-grounds in the vicinity, a number of sail- 
boats being chartered and a force of spawn-takers employed. The 
large catch of shad reported below the island indicated a successful 
season, but for inexplicable causes no eggs were obtained until April 
26, and even then the collections were small. On May Ist 8,993,000 
were secured, and from then until May 8 large numbers came in, but 
from that date to the close of the season the daily take amounted to 
only a little over a million, the total collections aggregating only 
61,075,000. In addition to these, 24,796,000 were transferred from the 
Fish Hawk on the Delaware River. At first the small collections 
were attributed to the cold weather and high water prevailing, but 
this theory was abandoned later when weather conditions became more 
favorable. The fish apparently abandoned their usual spawning- 
grounds. In a singie night over 5,000 shad were taken by gillers in 
the vicinity of Port Deposit, and on one day 1,900 were secured at one 
of the floats where a large seine is fished. 
From the eggs collected at the station 38,845,000 fry were hatched 
and planted, a little over 63 per cent of the number collected. The 
eggs from the Fish Hawk produced 6,548,000, or less than 27 per cent 
of the number transferred. 
The buildings at the station are in good repair, but the condition of 
the wharves is deplorable. It is urged that an appropriation be 
secured for the purchase of larger and better launches, as those at the 
station are very old. 
