XXVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In connection with Fort Washington as an auxiliary station, it is the 

 great hatching and distributing station for Potomac River shad. 



It is also a central point for repair and equipment of the vessels of 

 the Commission, and fish cultural and scientific equipment. 



It is the aim of the Commission to constitute it also, as rapidly as 

 circumstances will allow, a point for experiment, development, and 

 illustration of the methods of fish culture and of scientific inquiry. 

 This will include the development of aquaria, experimental ponds, etc., 

 as a means of observation and determination of the habits and life 

 histories of fishes, as also models of fish-cultural apparatus, both his- 

 torical and representative. 



During the earlier part of the fiscal year, all work appertaining to 

 the receipt, shipment, and hatching of fry was in charge of Mr. William 

 F. Page ; the custody of the property of the station and shipment of 

 carp devolving on Mr. J. E. Brown. 



The Commissioner upon assuming office found a partial reorganiza- 

 tion necessary, and Mr. William P. Seal was appointed superintendent. 



The necessity imposed by Congress of making an exhibit at the 

 Ohio Valley Centennial Exposition, held at Cincinnati, Ohio, com- 

 pelled the transfer of Mr. Seal to that point to establish and operate an 

 exhibit of aquaria as apart of the general exhibit of tbe Commission, 

 under the charge of Capt. J. W. Collins, chief of the fisheries division, 

 and Mr. S. G. Worth was made superintendent of Central Station. 



The operations of the station are shown in the tabulated statements, 

 which, with the exception of the shad., were prepared by Mr. Page, that 

 of shad having been prepared by Mr. Seal. During the present fiscal 

 year adult fish and fry and eggs, as follows, have been distributed 

 through Central Station: German carp, 225,070 ; goldfish, 10,037; rock 

 bass, 960; tench, 2,175; rainbow trout, yearlings and adults, 5,026, 

 fry, 20,000; brook trout, adults and yearlings, 2,989, fry, 20.000; lake 

 trout, 20,000 ; shad fry, 39,664,000 ; shad eggs, 13,351,000; whitefish 

 eggs, 2,912,000; rainbow trout eggs, 57,032; besides several other 

 kinds of fish in small numbers. 



Cold Spring Harbor Station, New York, Fred Mather, Superintendent. 



This station is leased and operated by the New York State Fish Com- 

 mission, through whose courtesy operations in the hatching and planting 

 of salmon, whitefish, shad, and several varieties of the trout, etc., are 

 conducted each season by the U. S. Fish Commission, under the im- 

 mediate direction of Mr. Fred Mather, superintendent. During the past 

 year a new hatchery, with complete hatching equipment and increased 

 facilities for efficient work, was constructed by the New York commis- 

 sion, at a cost of about $5,000. 



Atlantic Salmon. 



In January, 1888, 500,000 eggs of this species were received from 

 Bncksport, Maine, only 300 being dead on arrival. Losses in incuba- 



