92 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
BRYAN PoINT STATION, MARYLAND (S. G. WORTH, SUPERINTENDENT). 
Preparations for the opening were made by Mr. L. G. Harron, super- 
intendent of aquaria, but his services being required in connection with 
the maintenance of aquaria at Chicago, he was ordered away early in 
the season. rom that time the immediate supervision of the station 
was under W.'T. Lindsey, custodian, the superintendent being detained 
at the general office in Washington by temporary assignment. 
The cold of the winter preceding was almost unprecedented, and a 
poor fishing season followed. The running of ice in the Potomac 
seriously damaged the temporary wharf, and it was necessary to rebuild 
in the month of March. The river shore was not clear of ice until Feb- 
ruary 9. Employees were again quartered in tents, furnished by the 
courtesy of Gen. Albert Ordway, commanding the District of Columbia 
militia. The tents were ready for occupation April 9. The adoption of 
tent quarters became necessary on account of lack of buildings, but 
their use during three consecutive seasons has demonstrated that they 
are more desirable than one large building. Each tent aecommodates 
two sleeping berths, and as the spawn-takers are usually paired off, and 
come in from their work at all hours of the night, it is found that by 
having sleeping quarters subdivided those who arrive early are less” 
disturbed in sleep; moreover, from a sanitary standpoint it is found 
that tents are greatly to be preferred. As the weather is sometimes 
quite harsh during the shad-hatching season, even so late as in May, 
the tents were provided with heating stoves made of sheet iron, which, 
with the necessary piping and chimney pots, cost less than $2 each. 
By using shavings and finely split wood the tents could be warmed and 
made comfortable within two or three minutes’ time. 
On May 6 occurred the most severe freshet since 1889. Prior to this 
day the fishermen had a favorable outlook, the first gill fishermen: 
having commenced operations as early as March 27, catching at that 
time 12 fish at a drift, and on March 31 some capturing as many as 22 
at a drift. The results, however, were poorer than in some years. The 
seine operated by the Fish Commission was put overboard April 14, but, 
like all other fisheries, it was rather unproductive of eggs. The total 
results for the season were only 8,870,000. The eggs from all sources 
between April 17 and May 22, are shown in the statement below: 
Bry anseoint Seine: ses reecesce. + eee eee To ee eee 939, 000 
Chapman seiner ssc st san so: Poe ee ee eae eons 958, 000 
TMi Th te GUN yenh sneer eee eemerin es eet are RUM gS as ef 683, 000 
Stony Ponti seine 2 = sce Sern oe en oes see ee ee eee eee 512, 000 
GUUS Ie Te OT Sate Lee te a ee reels eer ae ee ee et 5, 778, 000 
ft RY ET Deak ar eae eae cM ete ee ae ea i we nee 8, 870, 000 
Following the practice inaugurated more than ten years ago, eggs 
collected were transferred to Central Station, Washington, D. C., for 
hatching, consignments being made in crates by the Mount Vernon 
and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company’s line, the April shipments 
amounting to 3,023,000, and those of May to 5,847,000. 
In consequence of the poor success met with by commercial fisher- 
