850 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Mr. Frank !N. Chirk was sent on a reconnaissance to Windsor Locks, 

 Conn., to determine the eligibility of that point as a hatching station, 

 but the season proved to be too far advanced for successful work. It is 



It is asserted that the falls and dam constitute almost as complete an 

 obstacle to the migration of the shad at this point as the dam at South 

 Hadley Falls, although a law has been enacted by the State providing for 

 a passage for the fish. A fishery has been established a few rods below 

 which is carried on during the months of Muy and June. About the last 

 week in June daily fishing is stopped, and tlie seine is hanied at intervals 

 for the next two months and captures sturgeon, which are used almost 

 entirel.v for local supply. During the last foituight of regular fishing a 

 sufficient capture of shad is made to warrant the success of a hatcbing- 

 station nearly equal to that at South Hadley Falls, provided the fish are 

 found to be ripe in this part of the river. The discovery that shad are 

 in full spawning condition but a short distance above brackish waters 

 in the Southern Atlantic rivers renders it probable that they are also 

 so here. The testimony of the fishermen is to the effect that many ripe 

 spawning fish are found in the season, and an adequate reward will 

 probably follow the efforts of whoever attempts to propagate shad at 

 this point. 



The accompanying tables exhibit the extent of the work done here. 



C— TABLES OF SHAD FEOPAGATION IN 1877. 



Hccord of shad-hatching operations conducted at IJavre de Grace, Md., on the Susquehanna 

 River, from May 21, 1877,* to June 10, 1877. 



* For eggs obtained previoas to this date see Report of Commissioners of Fisheries for Maryland. 

 !A heavy gale. ; Calm. 



