762 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



hauled, painted, aud launched. Six new fiat-bottom row-boats were 

 purchased, making the number of this class available 20. Two new 

 round-bottom gilling skiffs, 21 feet long, with masts, oars, and anchors, 

 were also purchased for use in the shad work. Two gilling nets of 100 

 fathoms each were added to the outfit, and the seine was hung and 

 tarred. The seine haul was well dragged and cleared of snags and 

 stumps, and all necessary work for putting the station in order for the 

 hatching operations was done. 



The shad season opened on April 18 and closed June 10, during which 

 time the station collected G0,76(>,000 shad eggs and 000,000 eggs of the 

 rockfish. A full report of these operations has been submitted by Mr. 

 L. R. Grabill, the superintendent of the station at that time.* 



At the conclusion of the shad work the temporary force was dis- 

 charged, the equipment dismantled and stored, and the seine cut out. 

 A drive-well was started on the island, with the view of obtaining an 

 artesian water supply. The well was carried to a depth of 150 feet by 

 July 1. The Assistant Commissioner obtained authority from the U. 

 S. Geological Survey to have a geologist examine this well, and Mr. W* 

 J. McGee proceeded to Battery Station during the first half of July. 

 His report, however, was adverse, and the well was abandoned. 



In the middle of July, Mr. Grabill left the station temporarily to as- 

 sume charge of some dredging operations to be conducted at Saint 

 Jerome Station. This work occupied him until August 5, when the 

 dredging-machine, which had been borrowed from the Xavy Depart- 

 ment, was brought to this station in tow of the steamer Fish Hawk. 

 The report of the work accomplished will be embodied in the annual 

 report of Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, superintendent of St. Jerome Station. 



In the mean time, the routine work of the station was carried on under 

 the supervision of Mr. William P. Sauerhoff, and the roof of hatching- 

 house was painted aud work was done to pumps, etc. The launch Blue 

 Wing arrived at the station on August 10, and was at once dismantled 

 and the machinery removed for overhauling, and the launch towed to 

 Havre de Grace to be hauled out for repairs to hull and condenser. She 

 was returned to Battery Station ou August 21 and hauled out. 



On Mr. Grabill's return with the dredging-machine, he proceeded to 

 cut a channel from the main channel to pool gates, and completed this 

 between the 9th and 14th of August; the cut was 20 feet wide with a 

 depth of 8^ feet at low water, mean. The remaining work in this line 

 was completed by August 21, and Colonel Abert, deciding to postpone 

 further dredging at Saint Jerome, the proposed return to that point was 

 given up. Mr. Spencer agreeing to make certain concessions as to the 

 use of his railway at Havre de Grace if permitted to do one day's dredg- 

 ing with the mud,-machine, the dredge was towed to that point on the 

 23d, the work he desired performed, and then the machine returned to 

 the station. The well-driving equipment was transferred to the steamer 

 * Sec F. C. Bulletin for 1886, p. 361. 



