124 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the Koanoke, at Weldon, N. C, where supplies are limited. The Wil- 

 liams fishery being situated immediately below and iu the influence of 

 this river, where it enters Albemarle Sound, caused reasonable hope 

 that something of value might be learned. A(;cordingly a visit was 

 made to the scene, two days being spent there, April 29 and 30. Inquiry 

 developed the fact that 00 ])er cent of the sales by J. K. Rea, operating 

 there, were striped bass, and he Avas this year fishing 15 i)ound nets, 

 4 sturgeon gill nets, and 1,500 yards of shad gill nets. Provisional 

 arrangements were effected for obtaining the spare room in Mr. Rea's 

 buildings, his nets, boats, and his personal cooperation for the nominal 

 sum of $1 i)er day, all fish stripped in obtaining eggs to be i)aid for at 

 the rate of $1 each, to cover damage sustained. Recommendations 

 being api^roved, on May 8 Mr. J. L. Leary, a former citizen of Edenton, 

 who had operated nets in that region and was acquainted with the 

 l^eople and surroundings, was engaged to examine the fish taken. From 

 Washington he took 50 jars, the necessary piping, and a hand pump, in 

 order to subject a j^art of all lots secured to the hatching test. Within 

 two days after arrival an annex to the fish-house, by 29 feet, contain- 

 ing hatching equipment, was completed. Three stands intended for 

 salting fish were connected with piping, forming a tank of 300 gallons 

 capacity, and it was found that one person could in 20 minutes easily 

 pump up a supply more than ample to run the 50 jars for an hour. 



Within two days the fishermen were confronted with a disastrous 

 freshet from the Roanoke, the worst seen in ten years, the sound water 

 being thic'k for miles, and covered with saw logs, railroad ties, and trees. 

 As a result all fishing operations in that area were suspended for a 

 week, shad and herring disappearing by May 20, none having been 

 caught throughout the entire week iu ten pound nets. The weather 

 became so cold that frost was barely escaped. From May 13, however, 

 and every day after, the nets were examined, sometimes twice a day. 

 The total number of bass caught consisted of 182 males and 10 females, 

 none of the latter being in spawning condition. Tiie weight of fish was 

 from 2 to 8 pounds, males and females, with the exception of one female 

 weighing 50 pouiuls. Of those caught, 75 were taken between May 28 

 and 31. Not only were Mr. Rea's nets constantly looked after, but com- 

 nninication was kept up with a number of other fishermen, and inquiry 

 developed the fact that but few bass were anywhere taken in the sound 

 after the muddy water arrived. The sturgeon fishery, which in 1892 

 was inaugurated on April 8, was not commenced this year until April 

 20. A trustwortliy report was received tliat Captain Hettrick, tlie intro- 

 ducer of the pound net in the Albemarle region, fishing some miles 

 below, took on April 15 a large striped bass which was spawning. 



Reference to Mr. J. K. Rea's book established the fact that it was 

 between April 10 and 18, 1892, that the bulk of large spawning fish 

 referred to were taken. On June 20 two ovaries in dry salt were for- 

 warded from P^denton, one from a 72-pound fish and the other from a 

 60-pound fish. The roe of the larger weighed 21f pounds. These were 



