44 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
BRYAN PoINnT STATION, MARYLAND (L. G. HARRON IN CHARGE), 
The work of preparing the station for the season’s operations was 
commenced in March, and everything was in readiness by April 13; 
but as the weather was very cold and unseasonable the foree of spawn- 
takers was not taken on until April 19. The first eggs came in the 
next day, but the cateh of shad was exceedingly small, and at the end 
of April only 9,795,000 eggs had been secured, whereas the collections 
at the same time the previous year amounted to over 49,000,000. 
Unfavorable conditions prevailed throughout the entire season, fre- 
quent rains causing freshets and muddy water, which, with the low 
temperature and the scarcity of shad, proved so detrimental to the 
work that only 33,321,000 were obtained. Of these, 1,011,000 were 
shipped to Central Station. The others were hatched at Bryan Point, 
producing 27,154,000 fry, which were distributed in North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and on the natural spawning- 
grounds in the Potomac River between Broad and Occoquan creeks. 
The spawn-takers were dismissed on May 23, and on the 30th the 
station was closed and placed in charge of a watchman. The tem- 
porary force during the season consisted of 44 spawn-takers, 5 firemen, 
3 assistants in hatchery, 1 coxswain and engineer, and 2 cooks. 
The following shows the daily collection of eggs and the mean 
temperature of air and water: 











Mean temper- || Mean temper- 
Date. Received. anare. Date. Received. ShUEe: 
Air. |Water. Air. Water. 
- |) 9 28 DI °F. ° F, 
April 20'essssense se 136, 000 56 50 May 9A 33h 836, 000 68 64 
IN SWON ShS se enas= 279, 000 57 51 Miya OW eeete ene ee os ple 1000 64 64 
Apriliecee eee ee 84, 000 54 49 May lisse, Bees 555, 000 69 65 
A prili2aces ss oacecce 419, 000 54 49 May 12a 965, 000 7 65 
Aprile ieee sats ae le 520, 000 51 48 Mayilsth eis 1, 300, 65 64 
INDI a sn 207, 000 54 ADs | Mayol 4] se este 662, 000 66 63 
IA DTI ZO ae ee 451, 000 61 51 Maynor see 835, 000 69 64 
April 27_ _- 2 883, 000 57 52 May 162 225 eees 5 586, 000 ul 65 
April 28 1, 886, 000 58 53 Malyelive a. tase Serres 184, 000 12 66 
AWD Pili 20 ee ene 2,474, 000 64 54 May, 18s.) = ee 224, 000 71 66 
April 30 set ieee se ners 2, 456, 000 72 55 May 19822) seo 135, 000 63 65 
Mayle es ee 2, 062, 000 66 59 Maly, 20) zene Se ee 527, 000 63 | 65 
Marys 2 ieee Ree ei 3, 187, 000 71 61 May ees 828, 000 67 65 
May Sheencte a eee 1, 082, 000 68 66 Maye 22ieao saree S819: 000M Lee Se leeeeeeee 
May 4 1, 682, 000 65 63 IMayicoeee eset 751, 000 73 67 
May Des. ce oe eee 1, 020, 000 69 64 Mayicts eee 985, 000 76 66 
May 62: 222s 1, 239, 000 66 64 I Ak (iy Se a beh lp — Ne 61 63 
May, Use pee 1, 485, 000 64 64 Mayes es Be ean ae: )i2 SRE ee ee 06 64 
May-8 sik a Ore k 957, 000 67 63 May a0: Sete n ans eencene etna 68 65 



A number of improvements were made during the year, the most 
important being the construction of a wharf 70 feet long by 12 feet 
wide, running out from the front of the hatchery. This has proved a 
great convenience, and will materially reduce the expense of operating 
the station, as vessels plying up and down the river now land at the 
station daily, thus obviating the necessity for an extra launch, which 
has heretofore been employed mainly for running between the station 
and Alexandria for the purpose of carrying down provisions and 
bringing up eggs and fry. 
