820 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [^0] 



repair steam-launch No. 55, just arrived from Battery Station. Sent to 

 Dr. Shortlidge* 450,000 more eggs, after which returned to the usual 

 anchorage off Gloucester. On the 13th launch No. 55 arrived from 

 Wilmington and began to render service in distributing spawn takers 

 and tending the different fishing- shores. The fishermen reported a 

 great decrease in the catch of shad for the week ending May 15, and 

 attributed this to the constant easterly weather. Almost daily deposits 

 of fry were made in the river, as will be seen from the appended table. 



Owing to heavy rains the river was very muddy during the middle 

 part of May, and some of the eggs in the jars and cones were covered 

 with a muddy sediment and died. This led to the use of raw cotton in 

 the jars for the purpose of filtering the water. 



On May 27 William P. Sauerhoff reported for duty from Battery Sta- 

 tion, to assist in shad-hatching work. On the 31st orders were received 

 to discontinue gathering spawn. 



On June 3 transferred to Dr. E. G. Shortlidge 180,000 fry; a ship- 

 ment was also made to Philadelphia, in launch No. 55, of fifteen cans 

 containing 1,910,000 fry, which were delivered to XJ. S. Fish Commission 

 car No. 2. As there were no more eggs or fry on hand, this terminated 

 the shad-hatching operations of the Fish Hawk for the season of 1886. 

 Appended will be found a table giving details of the work, showing 

 especially the number of eggs taken, the number of fish hatched, the 

 number deposited, and the times and places of deposit, with other state 

 ments of particulars in this connection. 



U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Fish Hawk, 



^Yood's Holl, Mass., October 11, 18S6. 



* Dr. Shortlidge reported that the general condition of the 1,110,000 eggs which he 

 received from the Fi.sh Hawk on May 11 and 12 was had, as at least one-third were 

 found dead on unpacking. The subsequent loss on these eggs was about oue-eightli 

 All tho fry were planted in the Brandy wine Creek, near Wilmington. July 21 a smal! 

 shad was caught in Brandy wine Creek, supposed to have been one of those planted ij' 

 May. 



