REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 7 
- Shad.—The scarcity of the shad in many of the eastern coastal 
streams, which has been so often discussed in the Bureau’s reports, 
continues. A fairly successful season obtained on the Potomac and 
Susquehanna rivers, however, partly from the fact that heavy winds 
blew out the pound nets and prevented fishing in the lower parts of 
Chesapeake Bay, thus permitting the fish to ascend to the spawning 
grounds in the rivers. At Edenton, N. C., a large proportion of the 
eggs—nearly 19,000,000—were obtained from gill and pound nets, 
while the seine fishery at Avoca, usually the main dependence of the 
Edenton hatchery, furnished but 5,000,000. The protection of the 
shad in Albemarle Sound has already afforded results, and it is 
believed that the State law now in force will enable the station to 
obtain a much larger number of eggs from the gillers in future. 
A new field in shad hatching was opened on the Pacific coast, 
1,245,000 eggs having been taken in Willamette River: It is reported 
by the superintendent of the Clackamas station that with proper 
equipment 10,000,000 shad eggs can be taken there annually. - As 
there is no regular commercial fishery for shad it is necessary for the 
Bureau to catch the fish from which to take the eggs. 
In an effort to inaugurate shad catching in St. Johns River, 
Florida, the steamer Fish Hawk was sent to that locality, but only 
negative results were obtained, owing to inability to secure ripe fish. 
Striped bass.—The three years’ operations at Weldon have demon- 
strated the possibility of propagating striped bass in North Caro- 
lina, and the 6,514,000 eggs secured in 1907 yielded 3,680,000 fry. 
Difficulty is experienced, however, in obtaining ripe fish. 
The propagation of striped bass was also taken up, experimentally, 
on the Pacific coast, under the supervision of the superintendent of 
the Baird (Cal.) station, in cooperation with the California Fish 
Commission. Eggs were collected on the San Joaquin River at 
Bouldin Island, where a temporary building was erected. It is inter- 
esting to note that during the first season’s efforts 18,705,000 eggs were 
secured—more than have ever been taken in any one season in North 
Carolina. With better hatching facilities another season, it is be- 
lieved that highly satisfactory results can be obtained. 
Atlantic salmon.—The number of Atlantic salmon hatched very 
nearly approached the best previous record. The output is regulated 
very largely by the number of mature fish that can be purchased from 
commercial fishermen. 
Trouts—It seems unnecessary to call attention specifically to the 
results of the work with all the various trouts. The output of brook 
trout depends to some extent on the amount of money available for 
the purchase of eggs from commercial fish culturists, this source of 
supply being more economical than collecting from wild fish. The 
demand for rainbow trout continues to be so great that, although the 
[| 
