28 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



were turned loose, and before the close of the year 11 were captured 

 between Chatham and the New Jersey coast. 



It was decided to take up the flat-fish work early in January, as 

 past experience seemed to indicate that a larije number of fish spawned 

 during that month or early in February. The work was somewhat 

 delayed by the presence of ice in the bays in which the nets were set, 

 but the season proved very satisfactory; over 102,000,000 eggs were 

 collected, which yielded 87,115,000 fry. In view of the fact that very 

 unsatisfactory results had been secured during the past two or three 

 years where the eggs had been artificiall}^ fertilized, it was determined 

 this season to allow the fish to spawn naturally in the tanks at the 

 station, and the results were most satisfactory. 



Owinsc to the continued decrease of the lobster fishery, strenuous 

 efforts have been made during the past two years to increase the 

 output of lobster fry, but the scarcity of lobsters and the difficulties 

 encountered in getting the egg lobsters from the fishermen, notwith- 

 standing the cordial cooperation of State fish commissions throughout 

 New England, has made this impossible. Arrangements were made 

 during the winter months to collect all of the egg-bearing lobsters 

 captured from Eastport to New York. The Grampus, assisted by a 

 steam smack, plied along the coast of Maine, and visited all of the 

 important fishing centers from early in April to July. Besides this, 

 local agents were stationed from Kittery to New London, Conn., who 

 purchased egg lobsters, not only from the fishermen, but also from 

 the dealers in large towns. These were then transferred to Woods 

 Hole and Gloucester by sail and steam boats provided for this pur- 

 pose. Notwithstanding the efforts made, only 4,643 egg lobsters were 

 secured north of Cape Cod. These yielded 63,335,000 eggs, from which 

 were hatched 58,560,000 fry, which were deposited on suitable grounds 

 along the coast. At Woods Hole only 28,140,000 eggs were secured 

 and 22,643,000 hatched. 



The propagation of shad was conducted as usual on the Albemarle 

 Sound, the Potomac River, the Susquehanna, and the Delaware. The 

 establishment of a new shad station at Edenton, N. C, obviated the 

 necessity of our utilizing the Fish Hawk at that point. The season 

 was very backward, and at one time it appeared as though the work 

 would be materially reduced. The run of shad on the Potomac was 

 seriously affected by the unfavorable conditions and work practically 

 ceased by the middle of May, but operations were vigorously pushed 

 until the end of the month on the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. 

 The number of eggs collected at the four stations aggregated 316,000,000, 

 which produced 241,056,000 fry, an excess of about 6,000,000 over 

 the previous season. The results secured on the Delaware were par- 

 ticularly gratifying. The run of shad was immense, the fish being 

 caught in such large numbers that there was practically no sale. The 

 Fish Hawk between April 27 and May 31, when operations ceased on 

 account of lack of funds, had collected over 80,000,000 eggs. 



