37 
water, and make a great noise (termed by the fishermen 
in the Potomac ‘‘ washing”). The eggs sink to the 
bottom and are not adherent. The average number of 
eges in an ovary is about 25,000, in some instances 
reaching 60,000. The diameter of the egg when laid is 
15 mm., and it has the peculiarity that it rapidly absorbs 
water, reaching a diameter of 4°25 to 460 mm. In 
three to six days the young larve appear, having a length 
of 4:25 mm. They are provided with a yolksac of a 
diameter of 16 mm. Unlike the young salmon, although 
carrying as large a burden, they are, as soon as hatched, 
quick, active little fish. 
The larvee, after leaving the egg, grow very rapidly, 
arriving in September at a length of 100 mm., or four 
inches. They then proceed to the sea, and nothing is 
known of them after that until their return to spawn. 
When entering the rivers from March to June inclusive, 
they have arrived at lengths of from 57 cm. to 62°5 
cm., average 60 cm., and weigh from 2°3 to 30 kilos. 
In Germany and Holland a belief exists among the 
fishermen that the Shad are attracted by musical sounds, 
and they attach to their nets a number of small bells 
(klokijes) to attract the fish. [The above account is taken 
principally from the ‘‘ Mededeelingen over Visscherj,”’ 
for the months of April, May, and June, in which is an 
article by Dr. P. P. C. Hoek, Scientific Adviser in Fisheries 
to the Dutch government, entitled ‘‘De elft op onze 
rivieren,’ ‘“‘ The Shad up our rivers.”’] 
It is most desirable to increase the Shad in our waters. 
There are ways in which it can be done. We might get 
live fish from the Severn, keep them until ripe, then strip 
them and hatch the eggs. Ido not doubt but that mpe 
fish might be stripped at Cologne (Koln) on the Rhine, 
