XXIII 
12. Sexes differ in respect to shape and size. Rate of 
growth not known. 
13. Hav’nt given the question any consideration. 
John W. Bkown. 
1. Twenty years. 
2. H anticoke River. 
3. Yes. 
4. Spawn about middle of May. More abundant before 
spawning season, say in April. 
5. Catch from five to six thousand herring. 
6. Better than for six or seven years. A hard winter is- 
generally followed by a good fish season, as the fish that are 
kept back by the cold weather come in large numbers at the 
opening of the season. 
7. Herring, perch, shad and rock. Same quantity of perch,, 
herring and shad — not more than two hundred rock. I con- 
sider cat-fish and perch best suited to our waters. 
9. I have seen rock spawn. 
10. Males predominate in ratio of five to one. 
11. Have caught a rock weighing fifty -five pounds. Can- 
not tell average growth per year. 
Rock Fish— Roccus lineatus. 
Our long search for a ripe rock was rewarded by the cap- 
ture, by Dr. Capeheart, at the Scotch Hall Fishery, on the 
6th of May, of three large females of this species with ripe 
spawn. They were landed about four o’clock in the after- 
noon, and immediately reported to William Hamlin, one 
of the experts of the Shad-hatching Corps. He stripped 
them, and the eggs taken filled two large pails of about six 
gallons each. This Fishery was about three miles distant 
from the hatching station, and he was not provided with the 
proper means of preserving the eggs. During their impreg- 
nation the pans used in shad-spawning were filled, and it was 
necessary to transport the eggs from the Fishing-shore to the 
central station in an almost solid mass. Mr. Hamlin reports 
