REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



XXIX 



the Commission to be batched en route to distant waters. The work 

 was stopped June 6. As in previous years, dependence was had on tlie 

 larger tisbing shores in the vicinity — Fannce's, Bennett's, and that at 

 Howell Cove — for the supply of spawn. During the entire season the 

 condition of the water was muddy. 



The following table exhibits the take of eggs, etc., during the season: 



Fish stripped. 



Male. Female. 



Noon tempera- 

 tures. 



Air. Water. 



May 9 

 10 

 11 

 12 

 13 

 16 



18 



20, 

 23 

 24 



20 

 27 

 28. 

 30. 

 31. 

 June 1 



2, 045, 000 



1, 140, 000 



623, 000 



998, 000 



2, 003, 000 



4, 7«M, 000 



2, 480, 000 



1, ,581, 000 



953, 000 



801,000 



2, 118, 000 



1, 240, 000 



1, 729, 000 



957, 000 



1, 250, 000 

 129, 000 



2, 578. 000 

 1, 878, 000 

 1, 182, 000 



30,521,000 



Battery Island Station, Maryland (W. de C. Ravenel, Superintendent). 



Preparations for the conduct of the propagation of the shad were 

 commenced in the early part of April. The auxiliary station on the 

 mainland in the vicinity of the railroad station at Havre de Grace, 

 which had been used for several years on account of the facilities it 

 furnislied for the transfer of eggs and fry to the messenger force of the 

 Commission, was abandoned, owing to the limited funds available for 

 the work on the Susquehanna Kiver, and the operations were confined 

 to the Battery Island Station. In lieu of the auxiliary station, two 

 serviceable launches were furnished, which permitted the shipments of 

 eggs and fry to be properly made, and also allowed the seines and gill 

 nets to the eastward of the island to be more readily attended. 



A small force, under the direction of Alexander Jones, fish-cultur- 

 ist, commenced early in April to get the hatchery equipped and the 

 boats and other apparatus in order. On April 21 the spawn-taking 

 force, 18 in number, was employed, and the collection of eggs com- 

 menced. From this date to May 31 the work was actively pushed, 

 though the force was materially reduced on May 25, owing to the inter- 

 ruption to the collection of eggs occasioned*by the heavy freshet pre- 

 vailing in the river. The result of the season's work was 53,550,000 

 eggs, from which were obtained 32,616,000 fry, in addition to 7,595,000 

 partially-developed eggs which were transferred to the cars to be 



