790 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[4] 



The trials whicli we have thus made seem to indicate that it is imprac- 

 ticable to carry shad-spawn in an ice-chest, as can be done with many 

 kinds of spawn, especially such as is laid in the fall or winter season. 

 But it is possible that more trials and greater precautious are necessary 

 before we can be positive in this respect, particularly as I am informed 

 that Mr. Welcher, now of the Michigan fish commission, has kept shad- 

 spawn in an ice-chest for a considerable time, and afterwards hatched out 



Fig. 3.— Apparatus for using the same water over again in liatcliing shad. 

 young shad from such spawn. I am not conversant, however, with 

 his method, nor do I know to what extent he was successful in such ex- 

 periments. But judging alone from onr efforts, the results seem to show 

 that an ice-chest is seriously detrimental to the integrity of shad-ova. 

 So far, then, as our experiments have been carried, and as regards the 

 ice-chest, the question would have to be answered in the negative. 

 Our second set of experiments were then begun for the purpose of test- 



