XXIII.— REPORT OF SHAD PROPAGATION ON THE POTOMAC 

 RIVER DURING THE SEASON OF 1886. 



By Marshall McDonald. 



The organization and conduct of the work was the same, in general, 

 as during the season of 1885. The facilities for collecting eggs were 

 greatly improved by substituting for the launch heretofore employed in 

 the collection service the small steamer Lilla, chartered for the season, 

 but at the close of the season purchased by the U. S. Fish Commission. 



The eggs collected from the fishing-shores and gillers were transferred 

 to the field station at Fort Washington, where they were kept and de- 

 veloped until hardened, so as to permit safe transportation to Central 

 Station, Washington. Here the hatching was completed, and the dis- 

 tribution of the fry conveniently made by car and messenger service, 

 Several million eggs were retained and hatched at Fort Washington 

 for stocking waters in the immediate vicinity of the station. 



COST AND RESULTS OF THE WORK. 



For the conduct of the work, in accordance with the program sub- 

 mitted and approved, the Commissioner authorized an expenditure not 

 to exceed $5,000. At Fort Washington Station the actual cost of col- 

 lecting, developing, and transporting the eggs was $2,879.90; at Cen- 

 tral Station, for hatching and distribution, $916.55 ; total, $3,79G.45. 

 The total number of eggs obtained was 36,362,000, and the losses during 

 incubation were 6,625,000, leaving the aggregate number furnished for 

 distribution from the Potomac Eiver stations 29,737,000. The percent- 

 age of loss during incubation was 18 per cent, and shows marked 

 improvement over the results of previous seasons. The cost of produc- 

 tion was $127.66 per million, or 78 shad for each cent of expenditure. 



FORT WASHINGTON STATION. 



On March 26 the station was occupied by a small force. The men 

 were employed in tarring and rigging the seine, cleaning up the shore, 

 and getting everything in readiness for active work when the run of 

 shad should begin. 



The first haul of the Commission seine was made April 12, and the 

 first ripe fish was taken on the 16th. The run offish steadily increased 

 from that time to the 22d, as did also the proportion of ripe females. 

 On the afternoon and night of the 22d of April 3,503,000 shad eggs were 

 taken and impregnated. This was the maximum number taken in one 

 day during the season. The period of maximum production was from 

 April 20 to 27, inclusive; the total production for the period referred to 

 being 16,01 7,000, or nearly one-half of the entire number obtained dur- 

 ing the season. 



[15] 615 



