expend so mucli of our appropriation for shad Ijatcliing, as 

 the agreement proposed by us would necessitate, as the shad 

 have not yet become so scarce as to make their diminution 

 felt by our people. I hope that we will be able to arrange 

 our expenditures this year, so that we will have a sufficient 

 amount next year to enter into an arrangement with you, 

 and early enough in the Spring to take advantage of the 

 whole spawning season, which commences and ends much 

 earlier with us than in your State, As I think the Senate 

 will pass the deficiency appropriation bill, which has passed 

 the House, in time for Proiessor Baird to commence opera- 

 tions next week, you will have your hands full *=!<** 



Very truly, yours, T. B. FerCxUSOX, 



Commissioner of Fisheries, Md, 



It was impossible to devise other apparatus suitable for 

 hatching shad, before the close of the fishing season of 1874. 

 Your Commissioners, however, conducted a series of experi- 

 ments, and obtained information necessary to insure a success 

 in shad hatching the following season, the results of Avhicli 

 will be seen by a reference to the subsequent table, showing 

 the operations during the season of 1875. Professor Baird, 

 U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, however, assured your Com- 

 missioners, that should the bill then pending pass Congress, 

 making the necessary appropriation for fish culture, in time 

 to find any ripe fish in the Potomac, he would push opera- 

 tions vigorously on that river. The season was so far ad- 

 vanced before the appropriation was made, that he was un- 

 able to operate south of the Delaware. In reply to an ap- 

 plication for young shad from his camps on the more Northern 

 Rivers, letters dated June 26th and 27th, were received from 

 Professor Baird, authorizing the Commissioners to call on Dr. 

 J. H. Slack, who would have charge of a hatching camp on 

 the Delaware, and stating that he had been instructed to 

 transfer as many young fish as he could to the waters of 

 Maryland. We therefore addressed this letter, viz : 



Maeylaxd Commission, Fish and Fisheries, 



192 N. Charles St., Baltimore, 



June 28fh, 1874. 

 Dr. J. H. Slack, 



Dept. U. S. Commission Fisheries, 



Bloomsburg, N. J. 



Bear Sir: — I have received a letter from Prof, Baird, ask- 

 ing me to communicate with you on the subject of a supply 



