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



placed iii frames of various designs, so as to be in horizontal and up- 

 right positions. Wire trays, covered with oysters and slate, resting ou 

 trestles about 8 inches high, were used in the ponds where artificially-fer- 

 tilized spawn was distributed. In addition to these, plastering laths 

 and si i ingles nailed to strips were made use of in the ponds and sur- 

 rounding waters, fixed so that where some floated on the surface, others 

 rested on the bottom or were anchored midway. Shells were also 

 used as formerly, strung on galvanized wire. 



The Steamer Fish Hawk arrived July 11 with dredge and two scows. 

 Leaving them she proceeded to Battery Station, returning on the lGth 

 with two launches and a large force of men to work the dredge and 

 sink an artesian well under the direction of Mr. Grabill, superintendent 

 Battery Station, who, immediately upon his arrival, commenced sink- 

 ing the well at the north east corner of wharf. After several attempts 

 to get water near the surface, the pipe was driven down about 80 feet 

 and then abaudoned, in consequence of the pumps being out of order. 



The dredge commenced work in front of wharf to dig out a basin 150 

 feet wide by 9 feet deep, and to continue deepening the channel leading 

 to station. Very little progress was made, owing to the poor condition 

 of machinery, the difficulty of getting fresh water, and the hardness of 

 the soil. On the 24th the dipper-pole broke and was not replaced until 

 the 28th, when work was resumed. 



The Assistant Commissioner arrived on steamer Halcyon on 30th in- 

 stant to inspect the general work of station. 



During this month all the shells in the baskets were washed, as much 

 sediment had collected on them ; very few young oysters were found at 

 that time on them. 



In August spawning was pushed with energy, new collectors being 

 nut out daily until the 21th, when these operations ceased. The first 

 appearance of spat was in pond 2 on July 29, when oysters one-eighth 

 of an inch in diameter were found. Mr. Grabill left for Battery Station 

 August 3, sending the dredge, scows, and a launch by the Fish Ha irk 

 to same poiut; leaving Launch No. 55 and crew to assist in spawning 

 at this station. 



On August 18 Machinist Glennan and a carpenter reported for duty 

 with a pump borrowed from the Fort Washington Station and work 

 was resumed on the well. After several ineffectual attempts to drive 

 the pipe deeper it was given up and a new one commenced, which had 

 been sank to a depth of 91 feet when Passed Assistant Engineer Beeves 

 arrived on Fish Hawk with a large force of men to take charge. The 

 work was now pushed night and day until, on the 20th, when a depth 

 of 303 feet had been obtained, the pipe wrung off 23 feet below the sur- 

 face. It was then abandoned and the Fish Hawk left for Wood's LToll, 

 Mass., taking with her the carpenters, the greater part of the engineer 

 force, and the well-driving equipment. The rest of the men, except 

 Coxswain Jones, were sent to Battery Station on the 31st. 



