1018 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



posed extension of the system by the addition of interesting forms of 

 life which belong- to salt water will render this feature of the station 

 most valuable as a means of engaging public attention, awakening 

 public interest, and communicating instruction in natural history. 



2. The personnel of the station. 



This consists of a superintendent of the station, a superintendent of 

 fish-culture, a storekeeper, and such assistants, watchmen, laborers, 

 &c., as the .exigencies of the work from time to time require. 



3. Improvements and alterations. 



During 1883 the following changes were made : 



a. That portion of the lower or basement floor heretofore occupied 

 by Mr. Horan was vacated, and the interior reconstructed and arranged 

 with reference to the greater convenience of the work of propagation 

 and distribution. 



b. The roadways and footways in the interior of the inclosure were 

 concreted and asphalted, the interspaces sodded, and a substantial 

 retaining wall of brick, with heavy stone coping, bailt along the line of 

 the B street siding. 



c. The hatching-jars improvised for the shad work of 1882 were sub- 

 stituted by the perfected jars, which were designed for but not com- 

 pleted in time for the work of 1882. 



d. Six collecting aquariums of plate-glass sides and ends, and slatej 

 frames, each having a storage capacity of one-half million shad fry, ; 

 were added to and completed the equipment of the fish-cultural divis- 

 ion of the station. 



• 4. Current work of the station. 



Propagation of shad. — The eggs hatched at Central Station during thf 

 season were obtained exclusively from the Potomac Eiver. The eggs 

 collected from the gillers and from the fishing shores were concen- 

 trated at Fort Washingtoii, whence they were shipped to Central 

 Station either by the steamer W. W. Corcoran or by the steam yacht 

 Lookout. In emergencies shipments were made by the Herreshoff 

 launch attached to the Fort Washington Station. The work of col- 

 lecting and forwarding the eggs was under the direction of W. C. 

 Babcock, U. S. N., with James Carswell as executive officer in immedi- 

 ate charge of the details of the work. The total number of eggs for- 

 warded from the Fort Washington station was 24,275,000, which, after 

 being freed from shells, and from unimx)regnated and water-hard eggs, 

 amounted to 17,761,500, and yielded for distribution 470,000* eggs and 

 12,128,500 fry. The percentage of loss in forwarding and hatching was 

 exceptionally great, and is to be attributed to several causes, namely : 



