REPORT OF STATE FISH COMMISSIONERS, ETC. 941 



MARYLAi^D. 



Atlantic mhnon. — We were not Lopeful of any results from the intro- 

 duction of the salmon of Maine, as it has been known only in the coldest 

 waters. We, therefore, devoted our attention rather to the salmon of 

 the Pacific slope, which, on the contrary, were known to ascend rivers 

 in which the Avater at times reached a very high temperature. Contrary 

 to our expectations, the true salmon have returned to the Delaware 

 River in some abundance, a great many adults having been taken during 

 the last two years in this river. On the night of the 11th of May Mr. 

 Frank Farr, one of the gillers of Havre de Grace, who had been in the 

 habit of furnishing us with the ripe shad taken in his gill-net, secured 

 the first adult Atlantic salmon of which we have any record taken in 

 Maryland waters. This fish was a female, measuring .3 feet 4^ inches, 

 and weighing about seventeen pounds, fresh run from the sea. 



The fish was captured oft" Spesutie Island, having been entangled in 

 the gni-net, which was much torn ; and Mr. Parr, who captured it, is 

 confident that at least one other fish accompanied the one taken, but 

 made its escape. 



The gillers are in the habit of having their nets much torn by stur- 

 geon, and no doubt have attributed to them many casualties which may 

 have been occasioned by salmon. (Report Fish Commissioners Mary- 

 land, 1879, p. xiv.) 



VIRGINIA. 



Salmon. — "To us in Maryland of more importance is the reappearance 

 in the Delaware of salmon of both varieties, the Sahno salar, of the 

 J^orth Atlantic, and the 8almo quinnat, of the Pacific. I have received 

 authenticated accounts of the cajjtiire of one weighing eight and a half 

 pounds, at Newcastle ; one weighing eight and a quarter x>ounds, at 

 Riverton ; and one weighing nine pounds, taken between Bordentown 

 and Trenton ; and have myself seen a large female Penobscot salmon, 

 with the mature eggs running from her, which was taken at Easton in 

 the act of spawning.; and there have been several others reported, even 

 weighing as high as twenty pounds. These indications of the success- 

 ful introduction of salmon into the Delaware, commenced two years prior 

 to the establishment of a fish commission in Maryland, strengthen our 

 hopes and confidence in the result of our efforts. More important to us 

 still than the accumulated evidences of the laws which govern the mi- 

 grations of the salmon are the proofs which have been added during the 

 year that these laws are as surely applicable to the migrations of the 

 shad." We cannot spare space to quote further from the very full and 

 interesting report of Major Ferguson, and can only say that the hatch- 

 ing-house at Druid Hill Park is working very successfuDy on salmon and 

 trout, while outside the commissioners are devoting their chief attention 

 to shad and smelts, with every i>rospect of success, which another year 

 will manifest in all probability. 



