Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-24
MILLIONS OF YouSe sHAD.
A Report of the Work Of Propagation
on the Potomac.
COL NC DONALD DESCRIBES THE OPERATIONS
DURING THE PAST sEAsoN-How THE Fly
WAS DIsTRIBUTED-THE EFFECT OF TEMPER
AZURE on INCUBATION.

COL NC DONALD DESCRIBES THE OPERATIONS
DURING THE PAST sEAsoN-How THE Fry
/ WAS DIsTRIBUTED-THE EFFECT OF TEMPER
| AZURE on INCUBATION.
| A bulletin of the United States Fish commits
sion, recently issued, contains an interesting
! report by Marshall Mcdonald OF shad propaga-
! ton in the Potomac river during the season Of
/ 1885. Priorto the season Of 1885 the work OF
/ collecting shad eggs on the Potomac river was
| independently organized and under the direc-
/ ton Of an officer of the commission, specially
| detailed for that service. The eggs collected
were delivered at central station in Washing
/ ton, where they were hatched and from which
/ they were distributed to suitable waters by car
/ and messenger service, in accordance with a
| program approved by the com missioner. In
| February Col. Mcdonald was placed in charge
! of the production OF shad on the Potomac river
/ during the season of 1885.
Immediately after taking charge OF the
work., says Col. McDonald's report, II made
an inspection OF the Fort Washington station,
and alter examining rs facilities and convent
ence for the wCrk, determined upon the cree
ton of an additional building to be appropri-
ated exclusively to holding the eggs in good
condition until convenient to ship them Plans
for a building 10 feet by - feet were at once
prepared, its erection contracted for and the
structure completed and equipped for work in
time 10 receive the first eggs taken. A steam
pump, with capacity Of loo gallons per min
ute, drew the water from the river and forced it
into :, 400 gallon tank, from which it was dis
tributed To thirty of the automatic hatching-
jars conveniently arranged on tables in the in
terror of the building. Mr.. James Carswell,
collecting for the two seasons Immediately pre-
ceding, was placed in charge Of Fort Washing
ton station, and directed to organize his force
ana make all necessary arrangements prelimi-
nary to occupying the station. March so the
shore was occupied by Mr.. Carswell with four
men Of his force. The others were called in as
the emergencies of the work REQUIRED The
nshing shore was cleaned up, the seine rugged
and every thing In order for work by April s.
OPERATIONS AT THE SHORE.
There being No prospect Of shad in the river
the seine was not regularly hshed until April
10th; only five shad were taken prior to April
20, at which date fifteen were taken, among
them one ripe female, furnishing 10000 eggs;
the temperature OF the river at this date being
52' Fair. After the goth the temperature
Iv7. 600 sbad eggs were obtained from the rish
commission seine.
The following extract from Mr. Carswells re-
the work: ION May the run OF shad had
greatly increased, and was averaging 75O. 600
eggs per night; but on the 9th and TN OF May
the largest amount for the season was secured
nearly three and One-half millions being taken
on those two nights. Up to the 2sth of May
iair average was maintained, but from this
date there was gradual decrease, and the last
eggs were taken on the 9Th OF June, the total
for the season being 22. 576 900. The number of
shad taken during the season Of 1885 in the
Potomac river Is the smallest for q number of
years.
tanned Tor the season was derived as follows:
From the fish commission seine, 7,2SO,OOO;
from Greenway fishing shore, 432 900; from
Monkeys Point fishing shore, APIS, 600: from
Ferry Landing fishing shore, 2, $50. OOO from
Pomonkey Point fishing shore, 333, 900; from
lent lanu1ng iissh,ng shore, '96 900: from
the OILERS. 1881 900
A review OF the record OF seine hauling at the
Fort Washington shore during the season iur.
Dishes the following conclusions: l. That at no
lime during the season were the males in
married preponderance over the females.
2. That for the entire season the number of
females was considerably in excess of the num-
Der Of males, the relative percentage being
females. 54-3 per cent; males, 45.7 per cent.
3. The proportion OF ripe females in the entire
number OF shad taken was per cent: the pro-
portion OF ripe females In the entire number Of
females taken was II per cent. d. The average
yield OF eggs per ripe female was 2S,SSS the
number ranging from six thousand to one hun
dred ana two Thousand. Conclusion four is
probably. generally applicable TO the shad in
tue Potomac river. Conclusions one two and
Three can be held 10 apply only to the Fort
Washington shore. a discussion of like data
Obtained from other shores would possibly lead
to conclusions widely different.
THE CENTRAL STATION
"In connection with the main work Of the
station" the report continues special atten-
ton was given to devising a successful method
for Matching the adhesive eggs of the herring
including Ctuped mediocris, or hickory lack
Every form OF apparatus that ingenuity could
devise Was used without success, and unless the
failure Is TO be attributed to the low ternpera-
tUre OF water prevailing during the course OF tue
experiments the range Of temperature being
our want OF success. The shad eggs after icing
taken were held at Fort Washington station
rom IL to 80 hours. and then were forwarded
oy TIE steamer CorcOran, In charge Of a special
messenger. TO central station, where they were
hatche|t, and from which they were distributed
Sy car and messenger services, The total NUM-
Der OF eggs produced at the collecting station at
Fort asninEtoD, as measured ut the station
was y; 900. OF these p ,O19, 900 were for
100000 fry, were Matched out at the station
ana planted in the Potomac at the mouth of
tine piscataway river: OF the entire number
station In good condition, and yielded ID 79I,-
600 shad fry for distribution A separate
record was kept of each lot of eggs. as to fur
nlsh complete history Of T. from the time the
eggs were taken until they were distributed
from central station. BY reference to this
same conditions oil temperature SO far as re-
corded, the period OF time from impreynation
10 Matching varies from few hours to sever al
days.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
The rate Of development is not determined bv
the temperature at which impregnation takes
place. since we find considerable differences in
the period of incubation when the temperature
or nnpregnat!on is precisely the same We
know that in damp aud cloudy weather the
rate OF development IS slowed down that IN d.
rect sunlight il receives marked acceIeration
ana 10 Il less degree by reflected light in clear.
rect effect OF Increased temperature since either
The direct or reflected heat rays would pass
through the moving water without producing
any sensible rise OF temperature in it. but
would be absorbed by the eggs and accelerate
their Development just as would result IL the
temperature OF the water Itself were to rse The
earlier runs OF shad habitually spawn I'm n lower
temperature than those that come later in rho
season II may therefore, well be that a differ
ence IN the rate OF development OF different lots
OF eggs may come by inheritance
An investigation of the conditions other than
temperature which modify or influence the rate
OF development in the eggs of shad and other
species OF nsh would furnish the subject OF a
fruitful biological study. which would probably
nave important practical applications
liable prepared by w. f. Page superin.
tendent OF propagation, central station giving
the average period OF Matching under different
temperatures from SO. 80 to 155c shows that
While there is considerable variation in the DE-
riod OF Matching IN different jars under the ga me
conditions OF temperature, yet the average time
OF incubation AT Il given temperature is longer
The lower the average temperature prevailing
during incubation.
All who have been connected with the work
l OF shad production have had occasion i'm DIFF.
erent seasons to note the variations i'm the date
when We nrst begin TO get ripe eggs in any
quantity, In the date at which nroduction
reaches the maximum for the season and in
the period at which the season closes II is
shown by another table prepared by Mr. Page
that the season of 1885 was remarkable late
No eggs were taken up to April % On the
corresponding date in 1854 the aggregate col.
Iecled was 2,248,OOO, and In 1888 :S65 GOO
The season OF 1884, which yielded the laryest
I'M lr CH os.evH N<.rwr