OBSERVATIONS UPON FISHES AND FISH-CULTURE. 
51 
6,311,000; temperature, 61°. With the temperature at 78° the largest yield was 
only 148,000. 
April 29, 1889, Mr. W. A. Wilcox stated that the shad catch of the Sacramento 
was 56,471 pounds ; June 22, 1889, he announced the occurrence of shad in the Columbia. 
River; May 8, 1889, he again mentions shad in the Columbia River. 
W. JEL Woodcock, January 25, 1889, reported three shad caught in the Stikine 
River, Alaska, by salmon fishermen during the past season. 
April 20, 1889, Prof. Charles H. Gilbert reported that there was no foundation for 
the statement of the capture of shad in the Colorado River. 
In 1890 the collection of eggs for the Fish HawJc began April 30 (when 40,000 
were obtained) and closed May 23. Nearly 34,000,000 eggs were collected during the 
season, from which were obtained 20,596,000 fry. Eggs were taken from 691 females, 
the average being about 49,000 to a female. The greater portion of the eggs were 
taken in the first half of May. The temperature of the surface water at 8 a. m. varied 
from 57° on May 1 to 64° on May 15. 
At Fort Washington station, in 1890, the usual shad-hatching operations were 
conducted in April and May. Although shad were abundant in the wide waters and 
the lower river, they failed to reach the headwaters in sufficient numbers to furnish 
the usual quantities of eggs, and those that were obtained were secured in small lots. 
The seine belonging to the station took only 4,606 shad, while the annual average of 
four seasons preceding was 8,800. The abnormal conditions were expected as a con- 
sequence of the unusually open winter. The production of eggs was no earlier, but 
several schools of fingerling shad were surrounded by the Fish Commission seine and 
by the seine at Moxley’s Point, an occurrence not previously observed by Superin- 
tendent Worth since the station was established. Associated with the shad were 
schools of fingerling herring. The smallest of the shad were only 5 inches long, a 
size not usually seen in rivers in the spring. Another unusual occurrence was the 
daily catching of young sturgeon. The whole number of shad eggs collected was 
35,202,000. The collecting began April 15 and closed May 17. The greatest number 
taken in one day was 3,564,000, on May 5, 1890. 
H. M. Smith, of the Fisheries Division of the Fish Commission, observed a peculiar 
habit of the shad in the town of Steuben, Maine. The fish arrive in June and are 
taken in brush weirs set for herring as late as October. At times they go into Dyers 
Bay at high tide and remain on the flats when the tide recedes. The fishermen do not 
think that the shad are stranded, but are inclined to believe that the habit is due to a 
dislike to return to salt water. It is observed that the fish make holes in the soft 
mud and sand, in which they remain until the water again covers the flats. From 
conversations with the fishermen it would appear that during some seasons large 
numbers of shad are seen at the head of the bay and are easily taken with the hand. 
The annual number reported to have been thus caught in 1888, 1889, and 1890 was 
between 150 and 200, although many more could no doubt be secured were the fisher- 
men so disposed. This habit of the shad has not been reported elsewhere in Maine 
and appears to be unique. 
California Salmon (Oncorhynchus chomcha). 
This salmon came into the McCloud River, at Baird station, Cal., in two runs in 
1888, the first beginning August 14 and ending September 24, the second beginning 
