372 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Table showivfj the catch of sturqeon on the Delaware Eiver and Bay for the years 1890, 

 ». 1891, 189^, 1897, and 1898. 



* Taken incidentally in seines. t Pennsylvania and Delaware were not canvassed for 1898. 



The best method of improving the condition of this fishery is by arti- 

 ficial propagation. In 1888 Prof. John A. Ityder, after an exhaustive 

 investigation, under the auspices of»the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion, conclusively proved that this work was feasible if spawn could be 

 secured in the proper condition; yet little, if anything, has been done 

 in this direction. Mr. L. G. llarrou, under the auspices of the Com- 

 mission, took up the work at Delaware City, Del., in 18!)9, but unfor- 

 tunately he was unable to secure any ripe fish, so his efforts came to 

 naught. The difficulty is in getting the ripe spawn and milt at the 

 same time. The soft spawn is the only kind that can be used by the 

 fish-culturist; as this can not be utilized by the fisiierinen in making 

 caviar, they would readily turn over to the Commission all that they 

 get. Some seasons, however, there seems to be very little of this kind 

 of spawn to be had. The New Jersey fishermen say that ripe spawneis 

 are generally caught around Benny's Buoy, about miles below Bay- 

 side, between the 10th and 17th of May. The buck sturgeon are usually 

 about a day or two behind. The Cohansey liiver empties into the bay 

 near here, and it is probable that the fresh water from the river causes 

 more favorable conditions for the spawning of fish. 



The proper protection of the "maramoses" or young sturgeon would 

 benefit the sturgeon fishery. For some years past these' have been 

 destroyed by the shad gill-netters and other fishermen on the river and 

 bay merely because they injure the nets by their struggles. These 

 young sturgeon are very common as far up the river as the Trenton 

 Falls, and in 1898, 100 of them were captured in a shore fishery near 

 Newhope, Pa., but it is unusual to find them that far up the river. There 

 is quite a widespread belief among the fishermen that the "mammoses" 

 are not young sturgeon, or, at least, are not the young of the common 



