124 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
the Roanoke, at Weldon, N. C., where supplies are limited. The Wil- 
liams fishery being situated immediately below and in the influence of 
this river, where it enters Albemarle Sound, caused reasonable hope 
that something of value might -be learned. Accordingly a visit was 
made to the scene, two days being spent there, April 29 and 30. Inquiry 
developed the fact that 60 per cent of the sales by J. K. Rea, operating 
there, were striped bass, and he was this year fishing 15 pound nets, 
4 sturgeon gill nets, and 1,500 yards of shad gill nets. Provisional 
arrangements were effected for obtaining the spare room in Mr. Rea’s 
buildings, his nets, boats, and his personal cooperation for the nominal 
sum of $1 per day, all fish stripped in obtaining eggs to be paid for at 
the rate of $1 each, to cover damage sustained. Recommendations 
being approved, on May 8 Mr. J. L. Leary, a former citizen of Edenton, 
who had operated nets in that region and was acquainted with the 
people and surroundings, was engaged to examine the fish taken. From 
Washington he took 50 jars, the necessary piping, and a hand pump, in 
order to subject a part of all lots secured to the hatching test. Within 
two days after arrival an annex to the fish-house, 9 by 29 feet, contain- 
ing hatching equipment, was completed. Three stands intended for 
salting fish were connected witb piping, forming a tank of 300 gallons 
capacity, and it was found that one person could in 20 minutes easily 
pump up a supply more than ample to run the 50 jars for an hour. 
Within two days the fishermen were confronted with a disastrous 
freshet from the Roanoke, the worst seen in ten years, the sound water 
being thick for miles, and covered with saw logs, railroad ties, and trees. 
Asa result all fishing operations in that area were suspended for a 
week, shad and herring disappearing by May 20, none having been 
caught throughout the entire week in ten pound nets. The weather 
became so cold that frost was barely escaped. From May 13, however, 
and every day after, the nets were examined, sometimes twice a day. 
The total number of bass caught consisted of 182 males and 10 females, 
none of the latter being in spawning condition. The weight of fish was 
from 2 to 8 pounds, males and females, with the exception of one female 
weighing 50 pounds. Of those caught, 75 were taken between May 28 
and 31, Not only were Mr. Rea’s nets constantly looked after, but com- 
munication was kept up with a number of other fishermen, and inquiry 
developed the fact that but few bass were anywhere taken in the sound 
after the muddy water arrived. The sturgeon fishery, which in 1892 
was inaugurated on April 8, was not commenced this year until April 
20. A trustworthy report was received that Captain Hettrick, the intro- 
ducer of the pound net in the Albemarle region, fishing some miles 
below, took on April 15 a large striped bass which was spawning. 
Reference to Mr. J. K. Rea’s book established the fact that it was 
between April 10 and 18, 1892, that the bulk of large spawning fish 
referred to were taken. On June 20 two ovaries in dry salt were for- 
warded from Edenton, one from a 72-pound fish and the other from a 
60-pound fish. The roe of the larger weighed 213 pounds. These were 
