iippuar before tlie committee, and explain to them the ends 

 Avhicli it was ho])ed could he accomplished. After their de- 

 liberations, the committee reported unanimously, a bill similar 

 to that enacted by the Maryland Assembly, creating a com- 

 mission, and makinjz,' an appropriation for fish culture, but un- 

 fortunately for the inhahitants of the Potomac as producers, 

 and the people of the States as consumers, owing to the ad- 

 journment of the Virginia legislature, the bill was not passed 

 until the following session. We are happy to report that the 

 bill became a law on the twenty-fifth day of March, 1875, and 

 Messrs. A. Moseley, W. B. Robertson andM. G. Ellzey, were 

 appointed Commissioners. Your Commissioners have been in 

 constant communication with them, and have found them on 

 all occasions ready to co-operate, to the extent of their means, in 

 any work on tl)e Potomac, tending to the benefit of that river. 

 Shad, (Alosa Sapidissima .) 



This being the most important of the food fishes of our waters, 

 your Commissioners immediately on their appointment, sought 

 for means for their increase by artificial propagation ; and the 

 following letter Avas addressed to the United States Commis- 

 sioner ot Fish and Fisheries, Professor Spencer F. Baird, who 

 had kindly promised his aid in this most important work. 



Maryland Commission, Fish and Fisheries, 



192 N. Charles St., Baltimore, 



Wi April, 1875. 

 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Commissioner General, Fish and Fisheries, U. S. 



Washington, D. C. 



Dear Sir: — Knowing that you are in communication with 

 many efficient persons, expert in manipulating ripe fish 

 and hatching the spawn, I write to beg you to secure for our 

 commission the services of a competent person, and make the 

 necessary arrangements for a hatching station to be established 

 to take advantage of the spawning season ot our Shad and 

 Rock. I will select the locality at which our operations will be 

 conducted, as soon as I return from my mission to Richmond, 

 My absence at this time renders it necessary for me to ask 

 your valuable assistance in this matter. As you are aware 



