XlIT -REPORT OF OPERATIONS AT THE BATTERY ISLAND SHAD- 

 HATCHING STATION, HAVRE DE GRACE, MI)., DURING THE 



SEASON OF 1884. 



By Wili-iam Hamlen. 



In obedience to instructions received from T. B. Ferguson, I proceeded 

 to Battery Station, at wbicU ])oint I arrived on March 25, 1884. My 

 duties were to assume charge of the general work of the station, super- 

 intend the procuring of shad eggs, the liatching operations, the disposi- 

 tion of shad, &c. 



The station had been left in a very disordered condition from hist sea- 

 son's oi)erations, and I at once saw that the first work to be done was 

 to put tlie post in some order. I accordingly put my small force of 

 spawntakers to work removing old logs and rubbish to out-of-the-way 

 places. 



About the most important work that was found to be done at this 

 time was the putting of the apron in such condition as to admit of the 

 landing of the seine without loss of fish. An examination was there- 

 fore made of the same and the mudsill of the apron was found to be 

 at least eighteen inches from the bottom. In putting up the apron 

 a serious mistake was made in not driving piles into the mud at the 

 edge of the same and bolting the same to them. However, I concluded 

 that good-sized gravel would be the best article with which to weight 

 the apron down, and I set my force to work getting some. For this pur- 

 pose I was compelled to send our large scow in tow of a steam launch 

 to neighboring shores, and in this manner some 1,200 bushels of gravel 

 were procured and spread along the edge of the apron, which very 

 effectually forced the sill into the mud, and brought the sill on a level 

 with the bottom. 



The want of a suitable boat for carrying the seine was badly felt at 

 this time and several attempts to purchase one were made, without suc- 

 cess. Finally, one was discovered at Georgetown, Md., and purchased 

 at once. Launch No. 82 was sent after it, and brought it safely to the 

 station. After some slight repairs, the boat was in first class condi- 

 tion for service. 



In the meantime, a force under the direction of John I). Bartol had 

 been engaged in rigging the seine, which was i)roposed to be 1,400 

 fathoms in length, in two sections of 700 fathoms each. Efforts had been 



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