Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-04-24
EIAKING POTOMAC SHAD.

| -IAhlNG pO1OMAC SHAD.
| Tie Potomac shad in the hands of the fisl
commission is rapidly gaining a reputation
as broad and as long as the United States
During the previous season these fish were
introduced into many streams by agents o
the commission, and in most cases il i;
reported thar .hcy are thriving and multi
plying.
| Potomac shaCi have even reached the
| shores OF the Pacific, and can be found now
in the markets Ct San Francisco. Before
! tjic present season closes it is estimated that
n least &0,000,OO0 tiny sh&d will be placed
| ia tha haadwaters Of several western rivers.
The hatchery in Washington is i'll full
operation. and over 100000 eggs are now il
course Of Matching, The eggs are taken
along the river, and prepared for shipment
| 10 that ci!y AT the Fort Washington station.
Tie technical name Of the latter Is 'The
Eori Washington Station of the United
States fish commission for the collection of
the eggs of shad, herrings, and other river
fishes" The station Is in charge of Lieut..
". &. Babcock cf the navy, and consists OF
a frame building, similar in many respects:
TO The station houses of the life saving SER
comprises Mr. Carswell, chief spawn laker
in charge: Mr. John +. Luckett, captain of
ihe seine nine colored seine hauers. and
six spawn takers, besides the engineer and
fireman ci the steam launch. The spawn
takers arc white men who were specially
instructed in the delicate work OF taking
eggs from the live fishes. They are djstrib
uled daily by the steam launch from Fort
Washington. ;.s iar down the river as Chap
mans embracing the extensive private fish
cries at Moxicy's point, Ferry landing.
Bryan's point, and the White House. The
government has made an arrangement with
many iisicrmcn TO allow the spawn takers
10 take tl~ eggs from a}! ripe" shad caught
ia giil and pound nets, as we! rs the haul
s.:ucs. The eyes taken 2re measured with
Il pccu;av measuring rot and the fishermen
ere allowed il consideration Of $40 for every
million ot eggs furnished by them. Printed
c!rcu!ay; otinstructions have been distribu-
ted ii the several fishing shores. They ia
form fishermen that fish commission steam
ers will Tun up and down the river at regu-
lar intervals, and that they will stop for
| eggs if any fisherman will wave his M. or
hand Pans and transportation csscs arc
furnished by the commission Oh application:
also. printed instructions for taking eggs
from live fishes.
The commission operates lis own seine at
the Fort Washington station. The haulcis
are paid al the rate cr SO par million eggs
TIE other operatives receive regular sala-
rjea Thcv alj live il the oiiiccrs' quarters
or1ha (D:t. ARCS? OF comfortable frame houses;
situated on u wooded knoll outside Of the
inclosure.
The government seine is l:SiJ1 tathoms long
! and forty ieet deep. i was constructed al
| tcy The ,nost improved style, and is rugged
| with attachments, 10 prevent "SnagglnG" on
the extensive ridges Of iron ore II the bot
tom Of the river in that locality. Hauls are
made with every tide. The average daily
catch is $50 shad, beside thousands Of her
| rings and other fishes. These are sold by
| the seine hAuiers 10 dealers
The station building is situated near the
watcr7 edge, near the light house and fog
bell tower. It is fitted up with long shelves
and other necessary appliances.
The operation of taking eggs from shad is
a ve:y delicate one, and requires much
skill Only trained spawn takers are al
lowed to try il. At first II female fish is
taken from the water, "alivc and kicking,
and held in the lett hand over a pan
of fresh water. Tho right hand is gent
ly passed from the head TO the tail
with a slight squeezing pressure. IL
the fish is ripe the eggs will pour into the pan
They resemble miikcoictcd glass beads. The
same operation is then repeated with II male fish
and the eggs are allowed to impregnatc. In a few
hours they swell and increase III size. They are
aftcrward spread OH transporting trays OF cotton
and shipped t. the Washington hatchery. Inc
trays arc kept saturated with water. Each ono
of them has Il capacity of from 5000 to 9ooI
Gags The trays are piled up and strapped to-
gclher until the package, which IS light and OF .
| convenient size for handling, contains oOo,Ooe
eggs. Attached 10 each package is register con
tanning the time they were taken, date, ana DA
whom. When received nj the Sixth street hatch
crv the eggs are placed in propagating jars anG
tanks aud subjected to constant flow oi ircsi
water II 4: few weeks the little beads open ant
tiny shal not much larger than al ordinary pm
emerge In few days thereafter they are ready
for SHIPMENT The cars of the commission ar
then brought into regusiton, and the wee tshc
are sent to their destination.
Lieut. Babcock says that the ten miles oil rive
from tho ncighborhood of the Fort Washington
station up aud down. yields more shad eggs ina
ali other streams in the United States. Tho rea
son OF this is that the river i'll that locality Is ia
and hard bottomed The shad run IN on the iia'
and spawn. Further down the bottom Is nuad
and deep. and vicious salt water hsh aDounu.
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