BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 83 
a case which will hardly ever occur in the open sea. It might be recom- 
mended to make an experiment with bow-nets made of galvanized-iron 
wire, painted brown, like the color of the bow-nets usually employed. 
The shape of these bow- nets should be that of the common bow-nets used 
for catching cod, but the entrances to the different chambers should be 
so arranged as to make it easy for the seals to slip in. Live fish— ~ 
especially cod, of which the seals are very fond — might, if necessary, be 
put in these bow-nets when they are set $ but there would probably be 
no lack of bait to attract the seals, as even in wire bow-nets plenty of 
fish are caught. Such an experiment, which should be made in places 
frequented by seals, would not involve any great expense, and would 
certainly be a step toward solving the question as to the best way of 
protecting the fishermen against the seals. 
The chief cause why the seals infest our fishing-grounds in such large 
numbers must, however, be sought in the circumstance that in many 
places they enjoy full protection, so that sportsmen and visitors to 
watering-places may have a chance to follow the sport of seal-hunting. 
Near the Island of Riigeu certain districts are rented out to seal-hunters, 
and the persons owning these districts take good care that the game 
shall not decrease, but rather increase, in number. 
Kiel, Germany, April , 1886. 
30.— REPORT ©N TISE SRAD WORK ©F TI1E STEAMER FISH HAWK 
DURIIVG THE SEASON ©F 1887. 
By Mate JAMES A, SMITH, U. §. N. 
[Abstract. ] 
The shad work prosecuted by the steamer Fish Hawk during the sea- 
son of 1887 covered the period from May 2 to 26, inclusive. 
On May 2 the ship took a position on the east side of Chesapeake 
Bay and near the mouth of North East River, adjacent to the fishing 
shores and gillers in that vicinity, and began the work of hatching. 
On May 3 arrangements were made with the proprietors of the fish- 
ing shores and the giilers to pay them for all impregnated shad eggs, 
and the spawn-takers began by tending Carpenter’s Point, Red Bank, 
and Roche’s fishing shores. As many gillers as could be conveniently 
were visited by the crew of the vessel. 
On May 4 the ship was visited and inspected by the Assistant Com- 
missioner, who gave instructions for the vessel to remain on this sta- 
tion until further orders, and the work of collecting, hatching, deposit- 
ing, and transferring was carried on until the end of the season. 
On May 6, all of the cones and hatching jars being full, 1,130,000 eggs 
were transferred to Battery Station. The next day, spawn being plen- 
tiful, 3,157,000 impregnated shad eggs were deposited. 
On May 8, spawn still being collected in great numbers, the outside 
hatching cylinders were put in operation and 220,000 eggs were placed 
