XXXIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



As showiug the fluctuations in the yields of eggs on the Potomac 

 Eiver the table below will prove of interest : 



Table of I'oiomao Hirer shad-eyy prmlacfion, hy localities and years, 1SS0-9J. 



Total '5'.(, 435, 000 i 



,000 13,446,000, 468,434,000 



During many years it has been observed that the eggs secured from 

 certain seines have developed badly, notably in those obtained from the 

 Stony Point fishery. The seine at this fishery is probably the largest 

 in the world, being 14 miles long and sweeping on each ebb tide an 

 area of 3 square miles. Great numbers of spaAvniug shad are caught 

 there, but the quality of eggs was so poor as to cause dissatisfaction 

 both to the proprietor of the slioie and to the Fish Commission's 

 employes. The greater the take of eggs the greater the disappoint- 

 ment when the eggs were measured for payment, and as a consequence 

 it was deemed best to greatly intermit the attendance on the shore. 

 During the season Mr. Worth personally investigated the matter and 

 attended the hauls as often as other work would permit, stripping the 

 fish himself, lie discovered that no eggs could be depended upon 

 which were found in partially spent fish, and that it wasunpvofltable to 

 devote time to that class of spawners, however numerous. He then gave 

 his attention only to those fish which were found by actual handling 



