REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 31 



siou and assigned to the duty of carrying spawn-takers to fisheries 

 lying between Bryan Point and Cockpit Point, at the lower entrance 

 to Occoquan Bay. 



The employees, with a few exceptions, were again housed in tents, 

 furnished by Gen. Albert Ordway, commanding the militia of the Dis. 

 trict of Columbia, and the use of such quarters was found beneficial. 



Seining operations with the Fish Commission seine began April 5. 



Indurated fiber tubs with drop handles were substituted for the tin 

 tanks formerly used for holding eggs in the boats and were found to 

 possess many advantages. Being without joints and hoops, they do 

 not fall to pieces or corrode, and they are good nonconductors of heat. 

 The tubs are 17f inches in diameter and 8i inches high, with tops of 

 one-half inch white pine, to prevent splashing. Around the edge of 

 the top is attached a rubber packing of suitable elasticity and in the 

 center a 4 inch hole is cut to admit air. 



The Fish Commission seine captured at Bryan Point 5,231 shad, of 

 which 46G were skins, skips, or immature fish. The ripe fish yielded 

 4,350,000 eggs. Only a very small number of fish were hatched at the 

 station. The total number of eggs obtained and the sources from 

 whence derived are shown in the following statement: 



Chapman Point seine 2, 007, 000 



Stony Point seine 2,216,000 



Tulip Hill seine 573,000 



Tent Landing seine 235,000 



Freestone Point seine 3, 249, 000 



Bryan Point seine 4, 350, 000 



Gill nets 19,763,000 



Total 32,393,000 



There were shipped to Central Station 32,254,000, which, on the day 

 following their receipt in Washington, were measured and their num- 

 ber found to be 27,334,000, the loss in transportation being attributed 

 chiefly to breakage of defective eggs. The eggs were packed in crates 

 and delivered daily by the launch or small boat at Marshall Hall, 

 whence they were taken in charge by Mr. F. H. Williams and carried 

 to Washington on the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall steamers. 

 The season closed in early June, but shad continued to be abundant in 

 the Potomac during June, July, and August, and some were observed 

 in September. For the greater portion of that time eggs of apparently 

 good quality could have been collected in large quantities. 



Central Station, Washington, D. C. (S. G. Worth, Superintendent). 



From the beginning of the fiscal year until February 19, 1894, the 

 superintendent performed the additional duties of acting assistant in 

 charge of the division of fish culture during the detail of the assistant 

 in connection with the World's Fair at Chicago. He was also a mem- 

 ber of the examining board of the Civil Service Commission, and took 

 the general oversight of the aquaria in the absence of the superin- 

 tendent of aquaria. 



