Shad-fatching. 87 
have not quite money enough to pay for the net, but I 
mortgage my place. Yes, he accepts the mortgage. Time 
goes on. ' The’ next: year. I set my’ net. The -fish ‘do not 
come. The next year I patch up the net, grow poor, live 
on liver, and all sorts of things. Well, I get through that 
year. “About the,end of three years he’ comes around/at 
have no money. My children are all ragged, the fish are 
not coming, and I am giving out, and my place is sold for 
the mortgage. I know lots of places that have gone up the 
same way, and I know lots of men who have sold their 
places the way I have told you. 
ProFessOR MILNER read the following paper on “The 
Work of Shad-Hatching on the Head Waters of Chesapeake 
Bay,” describing a new plan of hatching-machines. 
The work of shad-hatching in 1877 and distribution on 
the part of the United States was carried on as in the pre- 
vious years in connection with the Commissioner of Mary- 
land, Major T. B. Ferguson. No work was done south of 
the Susquehanna, at Havre de Grace. The Maryland Com- 
mission began operations about the 8th of May at Havre de 
Grace, Maryland, near the point where the Susquehanna 
pours its waters into Chesapeake Bay. The seines and gill- 
nets in this vicinity are very numerous, and by stationing 
men at points conveniently near two or three nets a great 
many fish can be handled. On the night of the r4th, Major 
Ferguson’s men took 1,250,000 shad-eggs. About this date, 
having received word from Major Ferguson that he was 
ready for codperation with the United States in the work of 
hatching and distribution, we went to Havre de Grace with 
a force of men, and between that time and the 13th of June 
