96 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 
with and as much dissatisfaction was expressed at its use by the 
neighboring fishermen. 
On account of the limited means at our disposal it was impossible to 
engage the force adequate for the work. Hence the steamers Fish 
Hawk and Halcyon were sent to the station to assist in hatching opera- 
tions. These vessels were utilized in securing spawn from the gill-nets 
on the eastern side of the Bay. 
The Fish Hawk operated in this manner until May 2 , when, finding 
the prospects so favorable, she proceeded to Bull Mountain and 
anchored, where she continued independent operations until the work 
ceased. During the season this vessel transferred to Battery Station 
1,330,000 shad eggs. # 
The Halcyon made daily trips to the eastward, leaving the station in the 
evening and returning early the next morning. There were 8,402,000 
eggs transferred to the station by this vessel. The Halcyon was also 
utilized in the shipment of shad fry to the Chester, Elk, and Sassafras 
Bivers. An accident to her wheel, which necessitated a trip to Balti- 
more for repairs, suspended her operations for a few days, but on her, 
return to the station the daily trips for spawn and the shipment of shad 
fry were resumed and continued until May 21, when the steamer wrns as- 
signed to other duty. During the season the Halcyon deposited about 
3,000,000 young shad in the rivers named. 
Marketable shad were very abundant this spring, the run being 
greater than has been known for many years. One fishing float secured 
as many as 47,000 shad. 
Only four spawn takers and two men for handling the stationary gill- 
net for catching ripe male shad had been engaged, and this small force 
was totally inadequate for the work. The number recommended was 
forty, but lack of funds prevented their employment. In order to sup- 
ply the deficiency, a detail of twenty- one men from the steamer Alba- 
tross, accompanied by an officer, was sent to the station. This action 
was made possible by the laying up of that vessel to receive new boil- 
ers. The men, however, did not arrive at the station until May 10. 
Had they reported for duty ten days earlier, the result of the season’s 
work would have been much larger, as they proved apt and soon learned 
to take spawn successfully. 
The abundance of ripe shad is illustrated by the fact that on one 
night (May 7) five of the station boats secured four millions of eggs, 
one of them obtaining as many as 1,300,000. All of the fishermen were 
as successful as the ones whose fish were overhauled, but it was impos- 
sible for the few men to attend them in time to get the spa^u from the 
fish while they were alive — and this was the case night after night. 
The hatching operations were under the charge of Mr. Wm. P. Sauer- 
hoff, assisted by three trained experts, under whose careful handling 
the eggs usually hatched successfully. Upon three occasions very se- 
