XXXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
shipping them across the Atlantic. 850,000 fry were deposited in the 
river basin. 
Plantings have been made during the present season in streams of 
all the Atlantic coast States from Massachusetts to Florida, Partieu- 
lar localities selected for planting are chosen with a view to the general 
distribution of shad in all waters of the Atlantic coast. 
v. The Carp (Cyprinus carpio). 
The total distribution for the season aggregated 133,769, of which 
38,6354 were delivered to State commissioners and 95,135 to individual 
applicants. 589 applications had to be carried over until another year, 
and the number of fish given to each applicant was reduced from 12 to 
15, instead of 20 as in preceding years. 
The Washington Station.—The yield of the ponds was small, possibly, 
in part, on account of the low temperature of the entire season. In- 
ability to drain them in the spring, because of the filling in of the Po- 
tomace flats, had an injurious effect on the carp, as it was impossible to 
kill the eels, sunfish, perch, and other predaceous fish that prey upon 
them. 
The Wytheville Station.—During the fiscal year 1886-’87, 452 scale 
earp and 3,017 leather carp were received from the Central Station. 
450 scale carp were planted in south fork of Reed Creek, in Wythe 
County, Va., and 1,925 leather carp were distributed to 91 applicants 
in southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee. 
w. The Gold-fish (Carassius auratus). 
The Washington Station.—During the season 2,755 gold-fish were sent — 
out, in lots of 4 to 10 each, to applicants in 22 States and 2 Territories. 
260 of the Japanese fan-tail variety were issued in small lots in De- 
cember, 1886. 
The Wytheville Station.—During the fiseal year 1886-87, 50 gold-fish 
were distributed to 9 applicants in Virginia, North Carolina, Missis- 
sippi, and Texas 
xz. The Tench ( Tinca tinea). 
Less than 1,000 tench were reared at the Washington Station, their 
number being reduced by the ravages of eels. At the Wytheville Sta- 
tion 2 breeders and 450 yearlings were received from the Central Sta- 
tion, and the yearlings were planted in the south fork of Reed Creek, 
in Wythe County, Va. 
y. The Lobster (Homarus americanus). 
The Woods Holl Station.—During the season the experiments were 
continued in the artificial propagation of the lobster. Eggs were ob- 
tained and placed in hatching jars, the number in the apparatus some- 
times reaching nearly 1,000,000, and the young were deposited in Vine- 
yard Sound and adjacent waters. In April and May Capt. H. C. Ches- 

