50 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
the fish had commenced to nest, the ponds were overflowed and the 
nests washed away, many of them being buried in mud and drift. 
The ponds were at once repaired and the remaining fish were distrib- 
uted in them again. They soon resumed their nesting, and a good 
many young have been seen, though the number hatched could not 
be determined at the end of the year. 
On April 26 the breeding-ponds of the black bass were stocked, and 
on May 7, when one of the ponds was partially drawn for the purpose 
of repairing a leak, numbers of fry were noticed. Owing to the 
muddy condition of the water it has been impossible to make any 
estimate of the number on hand. 
Following is a list of the stock on hand at the close of the year: 
Calendar year in which fishes were 
hatched. 
Species. ria 
1901. | 1900. | 1899. | 1898, | 1897 or 
— — | | 
Rainbow troub 22 s2scesocce~ 2 beeen Sones ee ee ceeee ae se ateece= =| 6185000; 25; 080 598 339 1, 872 
Brookitroute 65-0 26 eee nok cde ee eee ees Ae) OA 00 Meee eee eta y= Seale Ee Ee 
arce-motuthiinlacksbass 2: s.5..o200 sae ean nee cneeee ene een-| see as] oes SOn|c Seccecs 57 
Smallmouth black Dass 252 0.225.222. seooec ec eee=s Se See a ee je coeaeeet 6 
UOC aSS sae Meee i ann en Ns eg a | See | ene eee 39 80 180 
OPE yO) sepa tess & aah OP ee arr iene ee Aer pee esl aoe eee eee eemse Jee ae Bases 20 
| 
EDENTON StaTION, N.C., (S. G. WORTH, SUPERINTENDENT). 
Early in March arrangements were made for collecting shad eggs 
from the seines and the trap and gill nets fished in the Chowan River, 
Roanoke River, and Albemarle Sound, an additional steamer being 
chartered and a large force of spawn-takers and assistants employed. 
The results were far in excess of any previous work on the Albemarle 
Sound, 75,400,000 eggs being collected and transferred to the station 
from Mareh 29 to May 15. The run of shad was large and the herring 
catch under the average, thereby rendering conditions most favorable. 
The temperature throughout the spring was also below normal, 
another favorable circumstance. 
Arrangements were made with Dr. Capehart for securing eggs from 
the seine fished at Avoca, and from this source 61,195,600 were 
derived, as measured at the station. From the trap nets, gill nets, 
and other seines 14,205,000 were collected, nearly 4,000,000 more than 
the previous season. At Skinner Point there was a decided falling 
off as compared with the past year, owing probably to adverse winds. 
The trap nets on the Chowan River afforded but few eggs, but under 
different conditions it is believed that the yield at this point may be 
materially increased. Conditions on the Roanoke were unusually 
favorable, only one freshet occurring during the season; this lasted 
ten days. The Willow Branch seine, on the Chowan, from which 
large numbers were collected the year before, was not fished this sea- 
son, but the gillers on the Roanoke furnished twice the number they 
