1032 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERrES. [16] 



A method by which we could satisfactorily transfer shad eggs from the 

 collecting- stations to points in the vicinity of the waters to be stocked, 

 and where they could be hatched successfully, promised results of such 

 importance to fish-culture that Mr. S. G. Worth, the active and progres- 

 sive^ superintendent of fisheries for Korth Carolina, made arrangements 

 early in the season of 1883 to forward the eggs intended for stocking the 

 l^euse Eiver from Avoca, his collecting station on the Albemarle Sound, 

 to Ealeigh, N". C, by ordinary express shipment. 



To guard against rapid fluctuations of temperature, which is always 

 disastrous, and at the same time to retard development during trans- 

 portation, the eggs were placed on wire-bottom frames, covered with 

 cotton cloth. A stack of twelve or fifteen of these were strapped to- 

 gether, placed in a packing box, and surrounded on all sides with a 

 layer about inches thick of chopped hay and pounded ice. 



The cases thus prepared were forwarded by steamer to Franklin, Va., 

 and thence by rail to Ealeigh, ¥. C. Arriving at this point, the eggs 

 were transferred to hatching jars, and the young fry obtained were 

 planted in the J^euse Eiver, in the vicinity of Ealeigh. These experi- 

 ments were fairly successful. They indicated that when the conditions 

 of successful transportation were established by experience, the method 

 would prove an important adjunct to fish-cultural work by greatly cheap- 

 ening the cost of production and distribution. 



To enable Mr. Worth to continue his experiments, I was instructed 

 .by the Commissioner to forward to him, at the rock-fish hatching sta- 

 tion at Weldon, N. C, several lots of eggs by messenger and by express. 

 The details of these experimental shipments, which were made under 

 the immediate personal supervision of Mr. Page, superintendent of 

 propagation. Central Station, were reported as follows : 



"The first shipment consisted in part of lot 221, 85,000, and lot 222, 

 85,000. They were taken at Moxley's Point at 12.30 a. m. May 25, and 

 transported to Central Station on dry trays, reaching there at 11.15 

 a. m. on the 25th. They were then put into McDonald jars and kept there 

 until 2.30 p. m. on the 25th, when they were repacked on dry trays. 

 They remained crated until 6.30 a. m. on the 26th, receiving frequent 

 sprinkling with water. Also shipped in same lot 223a, 30,000, from 

 White House, taken at 7.30 p. m., 25th ; lot 223&, 20,000, from the gillers, 

 taken at 6.30 p. m., 25th; and lot 224, 50,000, from Moxley's Point, taken 

 at 1 p. m., 25th. These last three lots, making 100,000, reached Central 

 Station at 10.30 p. m., 25th ; and were immediately placed in McDonald 

 jars. They were repacked at 6 a. m. on the 26th. The entire shipment, 

 270,000, was sent by rail, in charge of Mr. Charles Ellis, to Mr. S. G. 

 Worth, superintendent of North Carolina Fish Commission, at Weldon, 

 K C. 



" The second shipment consisted of part of lot 226, of 50,000, from 

 White House, taken at 8 p. m., May 26; reached Central Station 11 p. 

 m., May 26; placed in McDonald jar till 4 a, m. on the 29th, and then 



