Evening star., 1909-02-14

prediction of John w. Titcomb. chief or
the division Of fish culture. that the run
of shad is annually falling off due to the
changes in methods of fishing. which
makes 1t impossible for the majority Of
the fish to reach the spawning grounds
before they are caught: hence it is i'm
possible for the bureau to Go such effec-
tive work In the conservation of eggs as
was possible a few years ago.
The conservation OF eggs of the shad
has now been conducted for number Of
years by the bureau of fisheries. much
Of the work being accomplished at Bry-
ans point, in the neighborhood of ort
Washington. few miles down the river
from this city. At Havre de Grace, Md.
and Edenton, n. c.. there are also
hatche ries, and these three stations
represent the most of the bureaus work
in the attempt to increase the numbers
of the shad.
1t is easy for any Washingtonian to
view the entire process of artificially
Matching shad, ana also the methods en-
ployed by Uncle Sans fishermen for dis
tributing the fry. AS the operations at
Bryans point, however. will not be in
full swing until about the middle of
April, the curious in the matter of ar
tiicial fish propagation. as conducted by
6oNCi HhiCAt CApCitS SSdSoH tiiCu
admiration for 4 time" before viewing
a very remarkable attempt upon the part
of science to aid the demands of the
piscatorial epicure.
The Bryans point hatchery occupies
the site of former fishing shore, once
notable for the rich hauls of the seine,
but no longer affording field for the
net. To the government expert a shad
is valuable only for the eggs which it
yields. each fish producing on the aver
age of about thirty thousand. A study
has been made of the best methods of
obtaining the eggs. and it has even been
determined that the fish are not in ripe
condition until late in the afternoon.
Thus said Mr.. Titcomb, the fish
captured in the late morning or early
afternoon are not available for the res
cue work of the spawntaker. but on the
approach of evening during the spawning
may be found leaving their camps for
the various fishing boats seininS
shores, where shad in ripe spawning
condition are caught.
Even under these conditions contin-
u"i the expert, only from 10 to u per
Z = of the females are ripe, but the
eggs saved from this small percentage
nave proved sufficient to maintain extern
sive fisheries for a long period OF years.
The government experts are veritable fish
nurses. and assume the responsibility OF
caring for the different stages of the
early life of the shad. from the egg to
little flappers, they are ready TO continue
active independent eXistences. The first
act in the artificial drama of shad 8
existence is apparently simple and not at
all spectacular. The eggs from two fishes
are put together in pan and fertilized.
Water is added and the pan is gently agi-
tated 10 secure a proper mingling. In a
surprisingly short time, however, evil
dences of success are unmistakable.
fish life now follow quickly. In fact, in
most, IL the conditions are favorable, the
eggs have swollen perceptibly and the
contents Of several pans are put together
able eggs are taken they are carefully
washed by adding and pouring off fresh
water. then carried ashore and placed in
the Matching jars for further development.
They will now bear transportation. and
few millions are shipped TO the bureaus
building In this city and put in jars in
the museum, where the visitor may watch
the very interesting future development
of the embryo fish. In the meantime.
however. the original number at the main
hatchery has been joined by hundreds OF
thousands and often millions of others
From the waters of the Potomac TO the
District line the shad run a gantlet OF
seines. although not more than so per
cent of these nets are now operated as
compared with the number operated ten
or fifteen years ago. This reduction in
the amount of netting used in the Poto-
mac river has been caused by the extern
sive Introduction OF pound nets into
Chesapeake bay and in:o the mouths OF