[3] DISTRIBUTION OF FISH FOR THE YEAR 1883. 1053 



abnormally low tonperatiire which prevailed in the Potomac Eiver, the 

 effect being to retard greatly the ripening of the fish. The first mes- 

 senger shipment was made to the Monocacy, a tributary of the Potomac, 

 on April the 30th. 



The first car shipment, consisting of 238,000 shad and 4,300,000 her- 

 ring, was made May 10; the shad being planted in the Scioto Eiver 

 at Chillicothe, and the herring in the Ohio River in the vicinity of Cin- 

 cinnati. 



The second trip of car No. 2 was with 1,350,000 shad for James River. 

 These were planted in fine condition in the river several miles above 

 Bosher's Dam. Dr. W. M. Hudson, the Commissioner of Fisheries for 

 Connecticut, accompanied the car as the guest of the Commission, he 

 having been designated by the United States Commissioner to inspect 

 and make a report upon the working of the McDonald fishway at 

 Bosher's Dam. 



Car No. 2 completed the white fish distribution May 10 and shortly 

 afterwards reported at headquarters in Washington, ii5 readiness for 

 the shad work. 



Being fitted with the necessary machinery and apj^liances for main- 

 taining a regular circulation of water, it was determined to test its 

 efficiency in shad work. The entire shipment of 1,200,000 shad destined 

 for the Savannah and the Congaree Rivers was divided, one-half being 

 placed in ordinary transportation cans, the other in the automatic cir- 

 culating cans. The fish in the latter proved a total loss. This ex- 

 periment, while discouraging, does not give occasion to doubt eventual 

 success, when we shall have studied and better understand the condi- 

 tions upon which success depends. An interesting feature of the sea- 

 son's work is the large plant of herring (4,300,000) made in the Ohio 

 in the vicinity of Cincinnati. This and the plant of 2,000,000 made 

 in the Colorado River of Texas, in 1882, would seem sufficient to test 

 the probability of acclimating this important species in the rivers tribu- 

 tary to the Gulf of Mexico. 



The total number of shad and herring fry distributed through Central 

 Station for the season of 1883 is as follows : 



Shad. Herring. 



SasqnehaiiBa Biver : 

 Battery Station 



Potomac Eiver : 



Fish Hawk Station . 

 Central Station 



1,275,000 ' 



1,684,000 6,850,000 

 9,449,000 



Total 



12,408,000 I 6,850,000 



A tabular summary of the distribution of shad and herring for the 

 season of 1882 will be found in Table I. This summary is based upon 

 the reports of messengers in charge of shipments, and gives the number 

 actually planted. The discrepancies between Table I and the tables of 

 distribution, given under the head of propagation in the report of Cen- 

 tral Station, indicate the losses in transportation. 



