EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXIII 



Of the eggs secured from gillers, there were obtained from the men 

 fisliing off Moxley and Bryau Points 4,890,000 ; White House, 1,587,000; 

 and Mount Vernon Flats, 770,000, the first being the product from 

 11 gillers, the second from 10, and the third from 1. 



This season's collection of eg-gs was tlie smallest of any year since 

 the commencement of the work on the Potomac Kiver, though the 

 quality of the eggs was better than usual. 



Shad were very scarce; one of the largest seines caught but 32,000 as 

 against 52,000 in 1891, 60,000 in 1890, and 72,000 in 1889. The Commis- 

 sioner's seine caught but 1,082, but this is of no value for comparison 

 for reasons already stated. A fair standard can be arrived at by a 

 comparison of the number of eggs obtained from gillers during the 

 seasons mentioned below, from 1888 to 1892: 



Season. 



]88S 

 ISSi) 

 18ii0 



Moxley 

 Point gillers. 



20, 007, 000 

 15, 72C, 000 

 13,114,000 

 4, 899, 000 



White House 

 gillers. 



7, 820, 000 

 4, 705, 000 

 4, 886, 000 

 1,587,000 



Total. 



27, 827, 000 

 20,431,000 

 18. 000, 000 

 6, 486, 000 



As regards the weather, it may be said that few such bad springs 

 are known in this latitude. The prevailing winds were from the west 

 and northwest, from which latter point a blow set in on March 10 and 

 lasted for a week. What effect the weather had on the run of sliad 

 does not appear quite clear. At Battery Island Station on the Sus- 

 quehanna Ptiver the temperature of the water was lower than at Bryan 

 Point, yet at the former place the catch of shad and production of 

 eggs was very good. The condition of the Potomac River was the 

 same as during the two previous seasons, clear, resulting in a poor 

 catch. During the seasons of 1887 to 1889 it was the opposite, with 

 numerous freshets, and greatly increased catch. The fact that more 

 fish can be caught in stained than in clear water is scarcely a sufQcient 

 reason for this difference, nor does a comparison of the water tempera- 

 tures aftbrd any further light on tbe subject. During the three freshet 

 seasons the yield of eggs was 59,435,000, 81,117,000, and 58,233,000, 

 respectively, an average per year of 60,282,000; and during the seasons 

 of clear water 34,865,000, 32,445,000, and 13,446,000, respectively, an 

 average per year of 26,918,000. The water temperatures during these 

 seasons were as follows : 



Mar. 



Apr. 



May 



Date. 



1887. 



2-11 



12-21 



22-31 



1-10 



11-20 



21-30 



1-10 



11-20 



21-30 



F c 92 m 



47.30 

 37.80 

 39.10 

 52. 85 

 55.95 

 57. .55 

 72.35 

 74.80 

 72. 80 



40.15 

 41.10 

 44.80 

 60.60 

 52. 25 

 03.00 

 71.35 

 02. )0 

 08.75 



39.90 

 48.95 

 52.95 

 53. 40 

 59.35 

 62. 45 

 69.05 

 77. 00 

 65. 05 



39.70 

 50.50 

 47.80 

 55.85 

 56.25 

 63. 35 

 60.05 

 72.20 

 71.95 



1891. 



36.65 

 43.05 

 45. 02 

 44.60 

 58.50 

 66. 75 

 63.52 

 63. 57 

 07.37 



40.70 

 37. 25 

 42.46 

 53.73 

 51.02 

 54. 33 

 65.06 

 67.66 

 65.50 



