REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXIIY 
At the close of the season a part of the equipment was moved to 
Baltimore and a part was taken to Tangier Sound to be used in ex- 
periments with reference to oyster propagation, while two barges were 
left at the station to be used the following year. . 
Washington Navy-Yard Station—A station was organized this yea 
for the first time at this point, by permission of the commandant of the 
yard, with a view to bringing the eggs from the various points at which 
they were taken upon the river to a common rendezvous, for hatching. 
Accordingly the steamer Lookout was placed in service for communicat- 
ing between the fishing grounds and the station, Mr. Frank N. Clark, 
of Northville, Mich., was placed in charge of the station, not only for 
the purpose of conducting the hatching operations, but also for making 
certain experiments in connection with this service. Messrs. W. P. 
Sauerhoff and William Hamlen took charge of the collection of the 
eggs. 
The season opened on May 4, at which date 650,000 eggs were 
secured from 400 shad, at Captain Skidmore’s fishery, Moxley’s Point. 
Four days later, these, having been successfully hatched, were deposited 
in the Potomac. On the 9th of May additional shad-eggs were ob- 
tained, and also 1,220,000 herring-eggs from the same fishing-shore, 
More than one million of these herring were hatched and returned to the 
river. Later, 180,000 herring were hatched and deposited at Cumber- 
land, Md. Shad-eggs continued to be taken nearly daily until the close 
of the season, June 27. The total number of shad handled was 11,790, 
from which 20,749,000 eggs were obtained, and 18,550,000 fish hatched. 
Of these, 14,350,000 were returned to the Potomac, and 4,200,000 were 
taken to other waters. 
On the 23d of May, Superintendent Wilkins provided a baggage-car, 
which was loaded with two million shad, which were deposited in rivers 
of South Carolina and Georgia. On June 16, a car was again sent to 
Kentucky with 700,000 young fish, which Dr. Griffith, a commissioner 
of that State, deposited in suitable waters. 
Transportation of shad.—The policy of distribution was changed. 
During previous years deposits of a few hundred thousand each were 
made in as many different streams as possible. This year fewer streams 
were stocked, but with much larger installments of fish. The success 
in shipping by car-loads was very gratifying, and leads the Commission 
to anticipate the almost exclusive use of this method hereafter. This 
has been rendered possible by the increased production of young fish, 
whereby a million of fish can be accumulated in time to forward them 
in one shipment before the yelk-sacs have been absorbed. 
Several things, however, are very essential for a car suitable to trans- 
port the fish. Among these may be named, first, arrangements for keep- 
ing a constant temperature; second, capacity for storing special carry- 
ing vessels; third, arrangements for changing the water and aeration; 
fourth, comfortable accommodations for the messengers, so that they may 
S. Mis. 29 III 
