LVIIT REPORT OF COMMlSStON^ER OF I'ISH AND FISHERIES. 



m. The Loch Leven Trout {Salmo le'^encci's). 



The NorthviHe Station. — One bnudred tliousaiid eggs oi this species 

 were received iu excellent condition on January 7, 1885, from Scotland, 

 having been sent by Sir James Gibson Maitland, of the Howietoun 

 fishery, Stirlingshire, and repacked by Mr. Fred Mather, of Cold Spring 

 Harbor, N. Y., by whom all shipments of eggs to and from Europe were 

 .skilfully and successfully handled. Fifty -five thousand of the eggs 

 were distdbuted to the commissioners of New Hampshire, Iowa, Min- 

 nesota, and Maine. The loss of the eggs in hatching was very slight, 

 and only a few of the fry died in the tanks. Of the 43,600 that were 

 hatched at NorthviHe, 36,500 were planted in various streams in Michi- 

 gan, and 7,000 were retained at the hatchery for breeding purposes. 



n. The Quimiat or California Salmon (Oncorhijnchus chouicha). 



Active operations at the McCIoud River Salmon Station were sus- 

 pended this year for reasons which will be found in Mr. Stone's report in 

 the Appendix. The property of the Commission at this point was placed 

 under the care of Mr. Robert Radcliff. 



o. The Shad {Clupea sapid Issima). 



The Fort Washington Station. — This station was continued in charge of 

 Lieut. William C. Babcock, U. S. Navy, uuder much the same general 

 (;oiulitions as in 1883. A small frame house was bnilt near the wharf as 

 an office and toi^reserve the eggs from bad weather and it still remains 

 as an improvement to the station. Arrangeiuents were made early iu 

 the season with a gang of seine haulers to fish the seine on shares, giv- 

 ing the spawn taken to the Fish Commission, which furnished the out 

 fit. Tent Landing, Chapman's Point, White House, and Ferry Land- 

 ing were visited regularly during the season ; and a number of gill-net 

 fishermen also furnished eggs. The owner of Moxley's Point refused 

 to allow the Commission to take spawn on his fishing-shore, as he ex- 

 pected a more liberal oft'er for the privilege. A steam-launch was fur- 

 nished by the Navy Department. From April 9 to May 1 this launch 

 made daily trips to the fishing-shores as far down as Ciiapmau's Point, 

 but this was found to be a severe task for so small a boat, aud during 

 May the Fish Hawk aided in this work. 



The station was fitted for service on April 7, and the first eggs 

 (45,000 in number) were taken on April 14, but the temperature of the 

 water was too low for their successful development. About the middle 

 of May severe rains and the resulting high water and currents disturbed 

 the fishing considerably ; but in general the conditions were more 

 favorable than during the preceding season. On May 27, nothing hav- 

 ing been caught for several days, the station was closed for the season, 

 a total of 19,000,000 shad eggs having been taken. The seine hauled 

 by the Fish Conuntssion was successful, as it aloue furnished 0,000,000 

 eggs, and supplied an abundance of fish for the food of the men. Ex- 

 periments were tried in penning shad, with the same results as in 1883, 



