XIL-REPORT OF OPERATIONS AT FORT WASHINGTON, MARY- 

 LAND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING SHAD EGGS 

 DURING THE SEASON OF 1884. 



By Lieut. William C. Babcock, U. S. N. 



I have the honor to make the following report of operations con- 

 ducted at Fort Washington, Maryland, under your direction, in the col- 

 lection of shad eggs on the Potomac Kiver during 1884 : 



The station established at Fort Washington, Maryland, for the col- 

 lection of fish eggs on the Potomac, having proved a success last year, 

 was reopened this year. The honorable Secretary of War issued a 

 standing order granting to the U. S. Fish Commission tlie fishing privi- 

 leges of Fort Washington, with permission to occupy any buildings 

 there found necessary. A small frame house, 20 by 15 feet, was built 

 near the wharf to serve as an ofiice, and also to be used by the spawn- 

 takers for their work, which had i^reviously been done in a tent; it was 

 found to be of great use for the preservation of fish eggs from the 

 weather, and remains as a pei-manent improvement to the station. 



The seine of last year having proved a success, arrangements were 

 made with a gang of nine seine-haulers to fish the same seine on shares, 

 giving the spawn taken to the U. S. Fish Commission, which furnished 

 the outfit. In case the total catch did not reach the value of $1 per 

 day for each man, an agreement was made that the Commission would 

 guarantee to each such a sum. Arrangements were made with the own- 

 ers of Tent Landing and Chapman's Point, Maryland, and of White 

 House and Ferry Landing, Virginia, also with thirteen gill- net fisher- 

 men, to supply fish eggs to the Commission. Mr. Skidmore, the owner 

 of Mockley's Point, a favorite resort for spawning fish, refused an offer 

 of $150 from the U. S. Fish Commission for the right to take spawn on 

 his shore; he expected $500, but, as he found himself in debt at the end 

 of the season, he jirobably regrets that he did not accept this liberal 

 oft'er. 



The opposition of fishermen to the work of the Commission seems to 

 be diminishing; they are now hoping that anything, even the restock- 

 ing of the river, may give them more fish. The fisheries of the upper 

 Potomac River this year have not paid expenses. I have heard of but 

 two seine men who have made money during the season. 



[1] 189 



