14 FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
successfully hatched in the waters of Long Island Sound, and 
while your Commissioners, (from their own experience, and 
from a knowledge of some experiments conducted under the 
auspices of the U. S. Commission, by which it was demon- 
strated that the young shad hatched in fresh water, if put 
into salt water, all died,) Were utterly incredulous in the 
matter, it was deemed best to allow the experiment to be 
made, so that the question might be thoroughly tested. 
Messrs. Chalker and Rankin conducted these experiments 
from June 13th to July 22d. Their report is here given. 
To the Hon. Fish Commissioners of the State of Connecticut : 
GENTLEMEN—Your subscribers respectfully report. We 
began our operations this year on the Farmington’ River at 
Poquonock, on May 1lith, hauling the seine twice on that 
day, but finding no ripe shad. The first that we found suffi- 
ciently matured, were taken on the 23d of May, and we con- 
tinued our labors there until the 20th day of June. A de- 
tailed statement of our labors and results is appended to 
this communication. 
Our operations at this place were seriously embarrassed in 
consequence of several heavy showers, which in the Farming- 
ton river often cause (as they did this year) sudden freshets, 
disturbing the waters and carrying dirt, leaves, and rubbish 
of all kinds everywhere. Notwithstanding all disadvantages 
we turned, (as our statement shows,) 2,128,000 young shad 
into the stream in good condition, at this place. 
In accordance with instructions we commenced operations 
for the propagation of shad in salt water, at a suitable place 
about two miles west from Connecticut River at Gardiner’s 
fishery in the waters of the sound. 
We constructed two pens of netting, each twenty feet 
square, and set them in twelve feet of water. The first shad 
we put into them June 18th, and by June 18th we had two 
hundred and twenty-five shad secured in these pens. On the 
last mentioned day, the temperature of the water was 58° 
and continued to rise very slowly, reaching 67° by July 8th. 
Our operations continued until July 22d. 
