39 



150, and that in six weeks time 22,500,000 Shad and 

 750,000,000 Herring were taken in this river." 



The number of fisheries operated last year was thirty-two, 

 and the yield of the Potomac river, as appears from the state- 

 ment of the Inspector of Marine Products to the Board of 

 Health, was, during the year ending September 30th, 1876, 

 319,079 Shad; 1,188,950 Herring; 47,500 Tailors; 183,111 

 bunches of miscellaneous fish ; 919 Sturgeon ; showing a dif- 

 ference of 22,180,921 Shad, and 748,511,050 Herring in the 

 catch of these seasons, being forty-one years apart, this too 

 when we recollect that the implements for the capture of fish 

 are very much more perfect now than they were 40 years ago. 

 The fishermen operating with very much larger seines ; in 

 some cases on the Potomac hauling them by means of steam 

 engines. To restore these waters to even a comparative 

 abundance, is a matter which should absorb the attention of 

 the Fish Commission. That the means by which we are en- 

 deavoring to accomplish these ends are designed to attain the 

 much desired results, is our earnest hope. We do not work 

 without hope and strong faith in the success with which we 

 will finally be rewarded, for everywhere comes to ns news of 

 the success which has been vouchsafed to those representing 

 this department in other States, who have been longer at 

 work, while in Maryland the fishing season was a disastrous 

 one to most all of our fisheries, and the catch of Shad smaller 

 than usual. Just the reverse was the case on the Connecti- 

 cut, where the catch was remarkably good. 



The Massachusetts Commissioners' report, on page 16, gives 

 us this cheering intelligence : 



" The Shad have been largely increased in the Merrimac, 

 and on the lower part of the Connecticut, the catch during 

 the last season was better than ever before known. 



" The head waters of the Merrimac are swarming with 

 young Salmon, while the full-grown fish are making their ap- 

 pearance in both rivers. 



" Some 68 great ponds of the State have been stocked with 

 Blftck Bass, Land-Locked Salmon, and other fish, and, as a 



