REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 31 



River. The crappie (an excellent food-fish), though not handled in 

 large numbers in the markets, is also very abundant. 

 Mr. C. N. Ironsides, of New York, under date of January 10, writes: 



Some four or five years ago, at my request, your Commission sent me 100 (rrap- 

 pie to be planted in York Lake, Sullivan County. It gives me great pleasure to 

 report to you that the planting was entirely successful. Ninety-eight were placed 

 in the lake, and the catch last summer and fall was very large. The lake is now 

 well stocked with crappie. 



SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS AND INSPECTIONS. 



During December, at the request of the Fish and Game Association 

 of the District of Columbia, arrangements were made to seine the 

 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal just after the drawing down of the water 

 for the winter, with the view to transferring the fishes remaining in 

 the pools to the Potomac River. This work was directed by Mr. L. G. 

 Harron, who between December 14 and 22 removed all the fish in the 

 canal from Middlekauff's Mill to Great Falls, a distance of 92 miles. 

 Over 4,000 small-mouthed black bass were saved, 410 rock bass, 610 

 crappie, 700 white perch, 3,800 sun-fish, and 3,400 cat-fish, besides 

 70,000 or 80,000 of the commoner varieties. Nearly 500 carp, weigh- 

 ing from 1^ pounds to 15 pounds, were also captured, but no small 

 ones were seen, and it is supposed they had been eaten by bass and 

 other fishes. 



At the request of Mr. Moreton Frewen, of Innishannon, Ireland, 

 arrangements were made in May to forward a consignment of shad 

 eggs to Queenstown with the view to stocking some of the rivers of 

 Ireland with this valuable food-fish. On May 15, Mr. J. F. Ellis, 

 superintendent of the car and messenger service, delivered on board 

 the Oceanic, of the White Star Line, 700,000 eggs which had been 

 furnished from the steamer Fish Haivk. They were placed in the 

 refrigerator and arrangements were made with the steward to have 

 the temperature kept between 51° and 55°. It is to be regretted that 

 on the arrival of the vessel at Queenstown the eggs were all dead. It 

 is believed that, if an experienced messenger were sent, shad fr}^ and 

 possibly eggs, could be successfully transported, as the vessels take 

 only about 4| days to make the trip and there would be no difficulty 

 in obtaining fresh supplies of water and ice en route. 



In August the Fish Commission stations at Wythe ville, Va., and 

 Erwin, Tenn., were inspected by the assistant in charge of the Division 

 of Fish Culture. The construction work accomplished at Wythe- 

 ville during the past year was excellent, but in order to make the 

 station efficient it will be necessary to build additional bass ponds 

 and make a number of improvements, which, it was estimated, will 

 cost about $2,500. At the Erwin station the pond system for the 

 propagation of trout was practicall}^ completed, but the grounds were 

 in an unfinished condition owing to lack of funds, and it is estimated 

 that it will require about $500 to put them in good shape. The Crow 



