32 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Forr WASHINGTON STATION, MARYLAND (8S. G. WORTH, SUPERINTENDENT), 
1889-90. 
This station, lying on the Potomac River, about 12 miles below Wash- 
ington, was open during April and May, 1890, and produced during the 
ege-collecting period of thirty-two days, commencing April 15, 35,202,000 
eggs. The catch of shad in this vicinity was less than one-half that of 
the four preceding years. Of the eggs obtained (55,202,000) 34,446,000, 
after being held thirty-six hours, were measured and forwarded on the 
river steamers to Central Station, and 756,000 of inferior quality were 
held and hatched, producing 356,000 fry, which were liberated. in the 
Potomac River at the station. The eggs were derived from sources as 
follows: Fort Washington seine, 10,224,000; Chapman Point seine, 
2,842,000; Tulip Hill seine, 3,835,000; Moxley Point seine, 1,078,000; 
gill-net fishermen, 17,223,000. 
The weather of the preceding winter and of the spring months of 1890 
was unusually mild, effecting no advancement in the spawning period 
of the shad, but probably accounting for the abnormal presence of large 
numbers of young shad, alewives, and sturgeon in the upper waters of 
the Potomac. Several schools of fingerling shad and alewives were 
hauled nearly ashore at different times by the seines at Fort Washing- 
ton and Moxley Point. Many sturgeon, 12 to 18 inches long, were daily 
captured by the Fort Washington seine. The water temperature April 
15 was 57° F.; April 30, 60°; May 15, 68°. 
The equipment of this station was improved by the introduction of a 
larger steam boiler and pump, which were obtained by transfer from 
other stations, and a larger water tank. 
1890-91. 
The production of shad eggs during the season, April 21 to May 17, 
1891, was, by measurement thirty-six hours subsequent to fertilization, 
32,544,000. These were forwarded on trays to Central Station, except 
183,000 retained for hatching, producing 170,000 fry, which were released 
in the Potomac River. For two months preceding the commencement 
of operations there were continuous freshets in the Potomac, culminat- 
ing March 28 in an extreme flood which overflowed the Fort Washing- 
ton wharf and freshened the water in the lower river to such an extent 
as to destroy thousands of acres of oyster beds. Upon the cessation of 
freshets the water became clear, as in the previous year, and being held 
at a low temperature by the prevailing cold weather, the conditions 
favored the spawning of the shad in the wide waters many miles below 
the station. In the vicinity of Fort Washington all fishing by daylight 
was unremunerative, as on the Susquehanna River, the catch being 
but two-fifths to one-half that of ordinary seasons. The operations of 
three of the best egg-yielding seines and many gill nets were suspended 
