PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 55 



Coincident with the spawning season of the shad in Albemarle 

 Sound is that of the river herrings, two species, the branch herring 

 {Portiolohus fseudoharengus) and the glut herring {P. cestivalis), 

 coming under artificial propagation at the Edenton hatchery. Al- 

 though less abundant, the branch herring, because of its larger size 

 and early run, is more highly prized than the glut herring, though 

 large numbers of the latter species are absorbed by the local markets. 



From observations made of the spawning habits of these fish at 

 Edenton during the past three seasons it appears that the branch 

 herring spawn in about the same temperature as the shad, 62° F., 

 but that the spawning of the glut herring is delayed until the water 

 reaches a temperature of 66° F. The eggs of both species when 

 first taken have a strong adhesive tendency. To overcome this in 

 artificial propagation, they are passed through a fine screen im- 

 mediately after being delivered at the hatchery. The incubation of 

 branch-herring eggs is about five days, with a mean water tempera- 

 ture of 62° F., while the incubation of glut-herring eggs is com- 

 pleted in 36 hours at the higher water temperature of 66° F. The 

 aggregate egg collections of the two species for the fiscal year was 

 116,920.000. From this number of eggs 82,600,000 fry were pro- 

 duced, all of which were planted on the local spawning grounds. As 

 compared with last year's output of river herring, 43,815,000, the 

 figures for the present year seem large, but they do not represent 

 the full possibilities in artificial propagation that are present in 

 Albemarle Sound. Closer cooperation on the part of the market 

 fishermen and funds for the maintenance of operations over a longer 

 period of time would undoubtedly very materially increase the 

 amount of valuable work that could be accomplished. Like most of 

 the bureau's fish-cultural work in connection with the commercial 

 species, the herring eggs were all obtained from fish taken in pound 

 nets by the local market fishermen. 



The Edenton (N. C.) station, in addition to the work discussed 

 above, produces annually a variety of the so-called pond fishes. 

 This branch of the work is mentioned on page 77. 



STRIPED BASS, WELDON (N. C.) SUBSTATION. 

 [Dell Brown, Superintendent.] 



An increase of fully 100 per cent is to be recorded in the amount 

 of work accomplished with the striped bass at this station during the 

 fiscal year 1922 as compared with the previous year. This may be 

 attributed to the increased interest in the work on the part of the 

 commercial fishermen, and if it is possible to maintain this spirit of 

 cooperation among them it will enable the bureau to further extend 

 its valuable line of work. The spawning season opened on April 12, 

 somewhat earlier than usual, and egg collections were continued until 

 May 15. This year's record output is in line with the increase in the 

 output that has occurred almost without interruption since the in- 

 ception of striped-bass propagation on the Roanoke River. 



ATLANTIC AND HUMPBACKED SALMONS, CRAIG BROOK ( ME. ) STATION. 

 [J. D. De Rocher, Superintendent.] 



During June of the fiscal year 1921 adult Atlantic salmon to the 

 number of 208 were purchased from local fishermen operating weirs 



