212 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



water, and make a great noise (termed by the fishermen 

 in the Potomac "washing"). The eggs sink to the 

 bottom and are not adherent. The average number of 

 eggs in an ovary is about 25,000, in some instances 

 reaching 60,000. The diameter of the egg when laid is 

 1*5 mm., and it has the peculiarity that it rapidly absorbs 

 water, reaching a diameter of 4*25 to 4*60 mm. In 

 three to six days the young larvse appear, having a length 

 of 4*25 mm. They are provided with a yolksac of a 

 diameter of 1*6 mm. Unlike the young salmon, although 

 carrying as large a burden, they are, as soon as hatched, 

 quick, active little fish. 



The larvae, after leaving the egg, grow very rapidly, 

 arriving in September at a length of 100 mm., or four 

 inches. They then proceed to the sea, and nothing is 

 known of them after that until their return to spawn. 

 When entering the rivers from March to June inclusive, 

 they have arrived at lengths of from 57 cm. to 62" 5 

 cm., average 60 cm., and weigh from 2*3 to 3*0 kilos. 



In Germany and Holland a belief exists among the 

 fishermen that the Shad are attracted by musical sounds, 

 and they attach to their nets a number of small bells 

 (klokijes) to attract the fish. [The above account is taken 

 principally from the " Mededeelingen over Visscherij," 

 for the months of April, May, and June, in which is an 

 article by Dr. P. P. C. Hoek, Scientific Adviser in Fisheries 

 to the Dutch government, entitled " De elft op onze 

 rivieren," " The Shad up our rivers."] 



It is most desirable to increase the Shad in our waters. 

 There are ways in which it can be done. We might get 

 live fish from the Severn, keep them until ripe, then strip 

 them and hatch the eggs. I do not doubt but that ripe 

 fish might be stripped at Cologne (Koln) on the Ehine, 



