44 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



station for an exhibit, and the resulting fry were returned to the 

 Potomac River. The eggs retained for incubation at the hatchery 

 produced 13,639,175 fry, all of which were deposited on local spawn- 

 ing grounds. 



The conditions during the season were especially favorable to 

 pound-net operations. The high water temperatures in March ap- 

 peared to cause the shad in their upstream migration to leave the 

 deep-water channels, which are unobstructed by nets, and seek the 

 shallower water of the flats, thus coming in contact with the pound 

 nets set to intercept them. In 1915 similar conditions prevailed, 

 and that season and the one under discussion represent the only 

 marked variations in the collections of shad eggs at this station in 

 a long period of years. 



Another factor bearing on the shad work in the Potomac River is 

 the apparent increasing indifference of certain fishermen to the 

 necessity for cooperating with the bureau by saving for propagation 

 the eggs from the spawning fish taken by them. Most of the fisher- 

 men render this service willingly, realizing its value to them and to 

 their industry, but the high prices paid for shad in recent years 

 have evidently created among a certain class of fishermen a feeling 

 that the only important consideration is to get the largest number 

 of shad to market in the shortest possible time. This attitude has 

 undoubtedly resulted in the loss of a very considerable number of 

 eggs, and if it continues it may become advisable to invoke the aid 

 of the Maryland and Virginia authorities. Since the shad fisher- 

 men are licensed by the State in whicli they operate, it would seem 

 that a regulation might be put into effect that Avould require all 

 fishermen taking shad on the spawning grounds within certain areas 

 and in working distance of the* hatchery to assist employees of the 

 bureau in conserving the ripe eggs under penalty of a revoked license 

 for failure to comply. 



The first shad eggs for the Edenton (N. C) hatchery were secured 

 on March 28, and on May 5 the season ended with a total collection 

 of 21,710,000 eggs. As at Bryans Point, climatic conditions were 

 unfavorable for the best results, the fluctuating water temperatures 

 being particulai-ly annoying. A considerable reduction in the ex- 

 pense of collecting eggs was effected during the season by closer 

 cooperative relations with the fishermen, a situation tliat the bureau 

 has constantly endeavored to foster. One of the difficulties in ob- 

 taining shad eggs in this region is the large number of pound iiets 

 used. As such nets are lifted at infrequent intervals, the eggs of 

 fish taken in them are seldom fit for incubation. Eggs of the shad 

 appear to l)e at their best when taken from fish caught between 

 sundown and midnight. For this reason gill nets, which are set on 

 the ebb tide and lifted at half-hour intervals, constitute the most 

 dependable source of egg supply for the Edenton hatchery. 



The Edenton station also propagates pond fishes, mention of which 

 is made on page 63. 



PROPAGATION OF GLUT HERRING, EDENTON ( N. C.) STATION. 



The propagation of glut herring was taken up last season for the 

 first time at P^denton, and the results obtained may warrant a con- 

 tinuance of the work. Some opposition was made by local fisher- 



