20 



must siu'C(!s,sinl as l(H';ilitie.s inr luitcliiiig camps. A tabular 

 statement of t]ie operation conducted by Mr. Chase is licrewith 

 submitted. We are under obligations to Mr. W. E. Sunder- 

 land, the ownei' of the fisliery, for the many facilities which 

 he rendered us in procuring the spawn from the fish taken in 

 his seine. About the same time that Mr. Chase was located 

 on the Patuxent, we sent Mr. Alex. Kent to Coppage's Land- 

 ing, on the Chester, with the necessary equipments for shad 

 hatching. A detail record of his operations will be found in 

 Table. V/e are under many obligations to Mr. A. Al- 

 bert, and the officers of the Chester Elver Steamboat Com- 

 pany for free transportation of ourselves, assistants and stones, 

 and for many acts of courtesy. 



It will be seen by reference to the tables, showing opera- 

 tions at the several camps, that little or no success is attained 

 when the water continues beloAv sixty degrees, and after it 

 had risen above eighty-three degrees, showing that the tem- 

 perature of the water exercises an important influence on the 

 development of the eggs, which do not seem to be matured 

 sufficiently to be spawned, until the advancing spring has 

 caused a rise in the temperature of the water. Again, on the 

 increase of heat towards the middle of June, the eggs were 

 either found dead in the ovaries, and without the capacity for 

 fecundation, or after im})regnation, died in the boxes, thus 

 shortening the season in which operations can be successfully 

 conducted. 



The mortality wiiich was noticeable in these eggs taken at 

 the close of the season, might be attributable to the heat of 

 the surfoce of the water, and the increased power of the sun. 

 This might be remedied by submerging the hatching boxes. 



Coppage's Landing, 

 •hme 'iOth, 1875. 

 T. B. Ferguson, Esqr. 



Dear Sir: 



* :'f * * * ;s S: :i: 



We have taken about five hundred thtmsand eggs this week, 

 all of wliich have looked as well the morning of the second 

 day as the lot you saAv when you were down here. But, after 



