REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXIII 



Of the eggs secured from gillers, tliere were obtained from the men 

 fishing off Moxley and Bryan Points 4,89J),()00; White House, 1,587,000; 

 and Mount Vernon Fhits, 770,000, the first being the product from 

 11 gillers, the second from 10, and the third from 1. 



This season's collection of eg-'gs was the smallest of any year since 

 the commencement of the work on the Potomac Eiver, though the 

 quality of the eggs was better than usual. 



Shad were very scarce; one of the largest seines caught but 32,000 as 

 against 52,000 in 1891,6(3,000 in 1890, and 72,000 in 1889. The Commis- 

 sioner's seine caught but 1,082, but this is of no value for comparison 

 for reasons already stated. A fair standard can be arrived at by a 

 comparison of the number of eggs obtained from gillers during the 

 seasons mentioned below, from 1888 to 1892: 



As regards the w^eather, it may be said that few such bad springs 

 are known in this latitude, The prevailing winds were from the west 

 and northwest, from which latter point a blow set in on March 10 and 

 lasted for a week. What eflect the weather had on the run of shad 

 does not appear quite clear. At Battery Island Station on the Sus- 

 quehanna Eiver the temperature of the water was lower than at Bryan 

 Point, 3'et at the former place the catch of shad and production of 

 eggs was very good. Tlie condition of the Potomac Eiver was the 

 same as during the two previous seasons, clear, resulting in a poor 

 catch. During the seasons of 1887 to 1889 it was the opposite, with 

 numerous freshets, and greatly increased catch. The fact that more 

 tish can be caught in stained than in clear water is scarcely a suttioient 

 reason for this difference, nor does a comparison of the water tempera- 

 tures afford any further light on the subject. During the three freshet 

 seasons the yield of eggs was 59,435,000, 81,117,000, and 58,233,000, 

 respectively, an average per year of 66,282,000; and during the seasons 

 of clear water 34,865,000, 32,445,000, and 13,446,000, respectively, an 

 average per year of 26,918,000. The water temperatures during these 

 seasons were as follows: 



¥ c 92- 



