LX 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



During this season coal-bins and an addition to the hatching-house 

 were erected, together with a tower for the reception of two tanks for 

 increasing the supply of water. 



Congress having made an appropriation for the construction of ad- 

 ditional piers and breakwaters, a -piev or embankment running east and 

 west from the station, about 495 feet, was built for the protection of 

 the boats and to form, with a connecting pier from the westerly end of 

 the dike already constructed, a pond for the culture of carp. This work 

 was prosecuted under the United States Engineer Department. 



Alongside the original wharf an additional space of 32 feet by 100 

 was filled in to give greater wharf facilities and on which to erect ad- 

 ditional buildings. On this space has been located an iron oil-house, 

 10 feet square, in which all the paints, oils, and inflammatory materials 

 are kept, as being the most remote point from the buildings. 



As it has been found advisable to make this station the repair-shop 

 and store-house for the launches, boats, &c., operating in the Chesa- 

 peake Bay region, the addition to the hatching-house was converted 

 during the winter and summer months into a machine-shop. During 

 the summer and winter the launches, boats, t&c, were overhauled and 

 placed in condition for future operations; and various minor improve- 

 ments were made at tlie station to increase its facilities for accommo- 

 dating the hatching apparatus, equii)ment of the steamers, &c., when 

 not employed in hatching operations. 



During the fall a portion of the work constructed by the Engineer 

 Department was destroyed by a violent storm, and the engineer force 

 having removed, as the appropriations were not adequate for the com- 

 pletion of the work, the damage was repaired by the Fish Commission 

 force at the station. 



Central Station. — The eggs obtained at the collecting stations on the 

 Potomac Eiver are forwarded to this station, where they are hatched 

 and whence they are conveniently distributed by rail in all directions. 

 The total number of fish and eggs received in good condition at the 

 station for the season was 19,161,000, which were obtained as follows : 



From Fort Washington Station, 17,020,000 eggs ; from steamer Fish 

 Hawk, 865,000 eggs -and 370,000 fry. 



The number of fry produced for the season was 13,200,000. 



The following summary of production and distribution will be of in- 

 terest in this connection: 



station. 



Battery (Havre de Grace, Md. ) 



Steamer Fish Hawk (Potomac River) 

 Fort Washinjjtop (Potomac River) ... 

 Central Station ( Waaliington, D. C.) . . 



Eggs obtained. 



4, 617, .500 

 3, 000, 000 

 39,000,000 



Total 



26, 617, 500 



Fish hatched. 



2, 679, 000 

 SCO, 000 



13, 200 000 

 16, 679, 000 



