XVII 



SHAD — Alosa sajndissima. 



The co-operation of the U. S. Fish Commission, during 

 previous years, having proved so important in general 

 results and so advantageous to the State of Maryland, 

 I naturally sought a continuance of sach co-operation 

 and assistance in arranging for our spring work. 



I was most fortunate in securing the detail of two 

 machinery Barges, together with two others, which had 

 been furnished with quarters for the employes, for the 

 station at the Head of the Bay, to which they were trans- 

 ferred in the latter part of April. 



Prof. Baird had obtained from the Secretary of the 

 Navy the loan of two steam launches which could be 

 readily used in collecting the eggs of the Shad, both from 

 the large fisheries and from the gillers ojjerating in the 

 neighborhood of Havre de Grace, I, therefore, determined 

 to utilize the Steamer ''Lookout" on the Potomac River. 

 As she was provided with hatching apparatus sufficient to 

 accommodate from 600,000 to 1,000,000 eggs, we confi- 

 dently expecte(J to hatch out several million eggs during 

 the fishing season on this river. 



POTOMAC RIVER. 



During an inspection of the fisheries on the Potomac 

 River, on the 26th of April, I chanced to arrive at Mr. 

 Skidmore's fishery, at Moxley' s Point, about 6 o'clock in 

 the afternoon, as the seine was being landed, and found 

 unexpectedly^, a considerable number of ripe male and 

 female shad. 



About a quarter of a million of eggs in good condition 

 were readily secured, but as it was considerably earlier 

 in the season than we had ever before obtained rij)e shad 

 on this river, the hatching appartus had not yet been 

 j^laced in running order, and, after keeping the eggs a 

 few liours in pails, I emj)tied them into tlie Eastern 

 Branch of the river at a point near the JN^avy Yard. 



Finding the season so un usually advanced I immedi- 



