[5] SHAD OPERATIONS AT FOKT WASHINGTON, MD., IN 1881. 19 3 



abuiulance of fish for the food of the 22 men living at the fort, as well 

 as several hundred catfish sent to the hatchery for distribution. The 

 seine outfit cost but little, as most of the things were in store. I deem 

 this to be an extreme test of the seine, when no other in the neighbor- 

 hood could pay expenses. The experience of this year leads me to rec- 

 ommend a seine somewhat different from the one now in use, which 

 was made from a bay-mackerel gill-net, and having been in use for three 

 years is entirely worn out. 



On page [7j will be found a diagram of the proposed seine ; it is out 

 of proportion in its general dimensions, as it would be very difficult to 

 represent by a sketch the proportions of a seine 12.5 fathoms long and 

 48 feet in depth. 



I also append* a chart of the Potomac Kiver, near Fort Washington, 

 with references to the hangs and rocks found in the seine berth. One 

 of the smaller rocks near the wharf can easily be removed, and by the 

 use of bell-buoys on the other hangs the seine can be hauled over them. 

 It will be seen that in some places the water is upwards of 70 feet deep, 

 which makes it very difBcult to work over such ground. The seine can 

 be hauled only on the ebb or on the first of the tlood tide, from eight 

 to ten hauls being made daily. With a strong flood tide many eddies 

 and whirls are found in the channel, which often roll the seine. A 

 shore where a haul could be made at any stage of the tide would be 

 most useful to the Commission, as in former years it has been observed 

 that most of the fish run in on the flats to spawn 'towards nightfall. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE WORK ON THE POTOMAC. 



The seine at Fort Washington can be fished very economically by the 

 Commission if the men are hired on shares; being a Government reser- 

 vation it is particularly adapted to our use. While the catch of fish 

 has not been great this year, the seine has done better in proportion 

 than any other in the vicinity. 



A careful examination of the seine berth leads me to recommend the 

 following seine to be used next year (see page [7]): 



One hundred and thirty-five fathoms cork line, |-iuch manilla; lead 

 line, 3-iuch hemp rope, Eussian bolt; depth of inner end, 18 feet, 150 

 meshes, 2^ inches; depth of outer end, 47 feet, 290 meshes, 2^^ inches. 

 The general size of the seine will be 2:^-inch mesh, ^o, 12 thread twine, 

 with a back 1 inch mesh. 



The following articles are on hand, and can be made of use in the 

 futui"e: 



On hand: 10 fathoms l^-inch mesh, 310 meshes, No. 1) thread; 135 

 fatl^oms 3-inch hem]) (Russian bolt); 135 fathoms 34-inch manilla; 2^ 

 polls l^-inch, li-inch, |-inch rope; 2 capstans; 232 corks; 2 seine lamps. 



Required: 100 fathoms 2^-inch mesli, 290 meshes deep, ^STo. 12 thread 



* See plate accompanying this report. 

 y. ms. 08 13 



