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“FISHERIES AND FISH CULTURAL

: CONDITIONS

ON THE

RASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND

“1917

BY

J. P. SNYDER, FISH CULTURIST
U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES

REPORT

OF

FISHERIES AND FISH CULTURAL

CONDITIONS

ON THE

EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND

1917

BY

J. P. SNYDER, FISH CULTURIST

U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES

JUN 28 1917

D..of De.

ee

INTRODUCTION.

The Conservation Commission of Maryland recognizing the
ereat possibilities of the fish industry in the waters of the
State, determined to make an exhaustive study of the problems
in order to plan for a systematic development.

The United States Bureau of Fisheries was asked to assist
in this work and assigned Mr. J. P. Snyder, one of their expert
culturists, to investigate the fisheries and fish cultural conditions
on the Eastern Shore. His work covered a period of about nine
weeks during March, April and May, 1917, and discloses con-
ditions so alarming that it seems advisable to give his report
wide circulation in order to acquaint the people of the State
with the need of remedial legislation to rehabilitate one of
Maryland’s great natural resources; we are therefore submit-
ting, to the interested public through this pamphlet, his full
report to this Commission with all criticisms and recommenda-
tions.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF MARYLAND.

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
BuREAU OF FISHERIES,
‘WASHINGTON.

Address all communications to
Commissioner of Fisheries,
Washington, D. C.

Washington, May 31, 1917.

The Conservation Commission of Maryland,
: Baltimore, Md.

GENTLEMEN :—Permit me to present for your consideration
the following report as to fish cultural possibilities of yellow
perch, white perch and shad on the Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanti-
coke, Choptank, Tuckahoe and Chester Rivers—all on the East-
ern Shore of Maryland. This report is confined to those parts
of the above mentioned rivers that are natural spawning beds
of shad. No effort was made to obtain data as to yellow perch
and white perch cultural possibilities on other waters or on the
above waters except as indicated above.

PocoMOKE RIVER.

On this river shad spawn on a section from a few miles below
Pocomoke City to three or four miles above Snow Hill, a dis-
tance of about 22 miles. This is governed somewhat by the
volume of fresh water coming down the river. During heavy
freshets spawning shad are found farther down the river than
during droughts. This same variation is found on the other
rivers mentioned.

On this section of the river shad are taken only in hoop nets
(skin nets) except that four pounds are set about four miles
below Snow Hill. These bow nets are fished from rowboats or
dugouts. The fishing is done by two men drifting with the tide.
One man sits in the bow of the boat and holds the net sub-
merged in the water and the other man sits in the stern and
keeps the boat straight and pushes it along just fast enough to
keep the bag of the net extended. When a fish enters the net
and strikes the webbing it imparts to the net, including the

6

handle, a vibration or jar that is sensible to the man holding it
and the net is immediately drawn up and the fish removed, then
the net is again submerged and the fishing continued.

To determine just what the shad cultural possibilities are on

this river I personally interviewed 17 men who have fished for
shad on this section of the river more or less during the past 15
years. In these interviews I asked each man to give me the
smallest catch he made last year in any one day, his largest
catch and his average catch for the season for each day he
fished, then I asked each one to go back 15 years ago and give
me as nearly as he could reeall his smallest catches, his largest
eatches and his average catches. A summary of these interviews
is herewith submitted in tabulated form.
_ From this report it would appear that about one-seventh as
many shad returned to these spawning beds on this river as re-
turned there 15 years ago, but this is not strictly true for only
about. half as many men fished on these waters last year as
fished there 15 years ago. This unquestionably tended to in-
crease the catches of the men fishing last year beyond what they
would have caught had the number of fishermen been doubled
so that it seems certain that only about one-tenth as many shad
return to their spawning beds on this river as compared with
15 years ago. Nor is this all for it is well known that the run
of shad on all these rivers had been rapidly decreasing for
years prior to 1901. By this tabulated sheet it will readily be
seen that very little shad cultural work can be done here under
present conditions.

Practically no yellow perch are taken on this section of the
river. Some white perch (locally called black perch) are taken
in gill nets and in the four pounds below Snow Hill, but not
enough to justify fish cultural operations. Catfish, striped bass,
herrings and bullheads are rapidly disappearing. See addendum,
Report No. 1.

Report No. 1, Shad Catch, Pocomoke River.

mmahlest tatch wie. fase saa 1901— 16 1916— 1
Jaarrest ental... ead, we -, 1901—125 1916—30
Average-catch. 7.052 9 hes 1901— 33 1916— 5

This represents experience of 17 fishermen of record.

7

Wicomico River.

In this river shad spawn from a point about two miles below
Salisbury to eight miles below that city. See attached tabulated
Report No. 2 showing the shad caught on this section of the
river as compared with years ago. From this tabulated report
it will readily be seen that only about one-twentieth as many
shad spawn here as in previous years and I am convinced from
personal observation and contact with these men during the sea-
son just closed that this tabulated report is no exaggeration of
the decline of the shad industry at this place, nor is this con-
dition confined to shad alone, but to herrings, rock and sturgeon.

About 50 men drift gill nets on this section of the river. These
nets are about 60 yards long and some men use several nets.
These men are mostly farmers and laborers living along this
part of the river.” Years ago several haul seines were operated
here. Mr. S. M. Smith, Capt. Henry Todd and Mr. Elijah Town-
send told me that at one time these seines frequently caught
as many as 600 shad per haul but that when they were discon-
tinued five or six years ago a catch of 25 shad was considered
a large catch. All of these seining shores have been abandoned
as the run of shad and herring and rock became so small that
enough fish to cover the expense could no longer be taken.

Mr.°S. P. Jenkins, one of the men employed as a spawntaker
at that place last year, told me that they had six spawntakers
on this front of the river, that they regularly attended all the
fishermen and that they obained during the season less than
100 spawning fish. This was verified by my interviews with
fishermen. From these reports and the attached tabulated re-
port it will readily be seen that very little shad cultural work
ean be done here under present conditions. Some yellow perch
are taken in gill nets, but not many, and at times fair catches
of white perch are taken in the same way. White perch and
yellow perch are also taken in pound nets farther down the
river, but nowhere in large numbers.

Report No. 2, Shad Catch, Wicomico River.

Sumal lest. cated... /. has. Seecece 1901— 10 1916— 1
MAP OCMENGALCIY,, «5-55 0, <b 8s ecee's’é 1901—100 1916—12
Average catch... ......52.0 1901— 36 1916— 3

This represents experience of 19 fishermen of record.
A number of other fishermen gave similar data, but they
seemed suspicious of me and refused to give me their names,

a

8

NANTICOKE RIVER.

On this river ripe shad spawn from Sharptown, Md., to a
point about four miles above Woodland, Del., a distance of
about 12 miles. These fish also spawn in a creek entering the
Nanticoke River, about three miles below Woodland. The fish
are taken in gill nets, pound nets and haul seines. The gill nets
used are from 125 to 175 yards long and most. men use two nets.
No pound nets are set above the Delaware line, about two miles
above Sharptown. Formerly eight haul seines were operated
on these spawning beds, but at this time only one is used. This
seine is about 450 yards long and is fished about one mile above
Woodland, Del. During the season just closed less than 40
shad per day’s fishing were taken in this net. Years ago on this
same beach more than a thousand shad per day were taken in a
similar seine, and at this same place the decline in the herring
fishing is even more marked, especially branch herring.

Seine and pound-net men whom I interviewed told me that
branch herring once so numerous here were almost extinct; there
is still a run of glut herring, but only about one-tenth as large
as 15 years ago.

Some fish cultural work had for many years been conducted
on this river, but from the reports obtained almost no eggs of
any species were obtained in recent’ years. Mr. A. S. Boyee,
who operates the seine just above Woodland, Del., told me that
he caught approximately 50 spawning shad last season, an aver-
age of less than two per day during the spawning season. Some
ripe shad are also taken in gill nets, but the catches are so
small that but few eggs can be obtained from these men and the
cost would be prohibitive. See attached tabulated report giving
catches in recent years as compared with years ago.

From the reports obtained and in view of the facts that each
year less and less men fish in these waters for shad and the
further fact that those that do fish are using two nets to each
boat where but one was used years ago, it seems certain that not
more than one-twelfth or one-fifteenth as many shad spawn here
as compared with 15 years ago.

As no pound or fyke nets are used above the Delaware line
and during drouths brackish water ascends to Riverton, Md., a

9

village five miles below Sharptown, it will be seen that the see-
tion in which yellow perch and white perch eggs can be obtained
is quite limited. In fact but few yellow perch are caught in this
section of the river. Good eatches of white perch are taken
and it is believed about fifty million eges could be collected.

The eggs collected at this place were incubated in a small
hatchery situated below a dam on a tributary of the Nanticoke
River. Mr. J. H. Bennett, who had charge of this work in
recent years, told me that the water in this dam became very
warm and injuriously affected the eggs and fry.

Report No. 3, Shad Catch, Nanticoke River.

SpPaNlest CAVCR. 2 os ie ees eas 1901— 15 1916— 1
BY UMT ORL Gabe OS ieee. ois 1901—200 1916—45
Bvoratestatelt es. 2.. 5 sie. 419012 5-47 1916— 7

This represents experience of 20 fishermen of record.

Finau Report, CHESTER RIVER.

On this river shad spawn from Chestertown, Md., to a point
two miles below Millington, Md., a distance of about 12 miles.
On this stretch their abundance is greatest for a distance of
three miles above Crumpton, Md. Some years ago a channel
was dredged in this section of the river and in this narrow
ditch shad in some seasons have been quite plentiful. They are
taken principally in gill nets set across the channel and held
in place by stakes. In the upper stretch of the river the nets
are set and lifted each evening. Between Crumpton and Ches-
tertown they let them set day after day, lifting them twice each
day on low water. Along this section it is safe to say that
most of the ripe eggs within the shad taken in these nets be-
come food for eels, for if shad are permitted to remain long in
anchored nets they are almost invariably sucked by eels. Some
eges could be collected in the upper section of the river and
some may also be collected in the vicinity of Chestertown if the
fishermen could be induced to lift their nets more frequently.
See addenum report.

10

It was found that the 1917 run of yellow perch and white
perch on this river was the largest in recent years. This was
true at all the points visited. It was learned that many millions
of their eggs could have been obtained in the vicinity of Centre-
ville. Seven men fish at ‘this place and at one time they had
over 7,000 yellow perch penned waiting for a better market.
Many of these fish spawned in the pens and buckets of eggs
eould have been obtained. These men could be induced to hold
all the green perch taken if they were paid a reascnable sum
for the eggs collected from them. Doubtless from 50 to 100
million yellow perch eggs could be collected here and from the
reports obtained a large number of white perch might be ob-
tained. These eggs if desired could be transferred to Crump-
ton, Md., where even larger collections of yellow perch and
white perch eggs could be made. Many fyke nets (so-called
pound nets) are fished in the vicinity of Crumpton. One man
alone had 50 of these nets set in the river at the time of my
visit, April 18, 1917. Many of the white perch taken on that
date were ripe and from this man alone (H. H. Hartley) on
that date several million of white perch eggs could have been
taken from the fish he caught. On-the same date at Chester-
town I saw large numbers of ripe white perch, tons of yellow
perch and white perch were daily taken at Crumpton and other
tons were taken by men living along the river and at Chester-
town. It seems certain more of these eggs could be collected
along this section of the Chester River and at Centreville than
at any of the other rivers visited by me. The fishermen at.
Crumpton would be willing to pen the hard yellow perch taken
in their nets and collect the spawn before selling the fish.

All these men report a great decrease in the number of her-
ring taken. From the reports obtained it seems certain that not
more than one-tenth as many herring reach their spawning
beds on the Chester River as compared with i5 years ago.

Rock and eatfish are also getting very scarce. See addendum,
Report No. 4.

aye oe |

11

Report No. 4, Shad Catch, Chester River:

Dinallest “Catebts ose. . cs oe 1901— 10 1917— 1
MADEN CAL bee cS). “icc ney es 1901—300 1917—46
Averame’ cateht.. ec.). i. fe. 2% 1901— 58 1917— 9

This represents experience of 16 fishermen of record.
One fisherman reported that his entire catch of shad for 1917
season only 398.

CHOPTANK RIVER AND TUCKAHOE CREEK.

On the Choptank River shad spawn from Williston, Md., to
a point seven miles above Denton, Md., a distance of ten miles
and on the Tuckahoe Creek from a point one mile below Cowards’
Point to a point six miles above that place. On these beds the
fish are taken almost entirely with gill nets that are drifted with
the tides. These are short nets averaging about 70 yards long
and each fisherman usually fishes about four nets. Although
more shad.are taken on the spawning beds of these waters than
cn the spawning beds of the other rivers visited from inter-
views with the fishermen and from personal observation of the
catches made during the season just closed there can be no ques-
tion, but only about one-tenth as many shad spawn here as com-
pared with 15 or 20 years ago. The average catch per boat per
day’s fishing with three, four and five nets did not exceed 10
shad. Years ago an average of 40 or 50 shad per day were
taken with one net. .

On these waters the eateh of yellow perch and white perch is
becoming less and less showing’ a gradual decrease in theirynum-
ber. Roek fish are rapidly disappearing as well as whitecat and
bullheads.

Almost no braneh herring spawn on these beds where years
ago all the shallow waters and every stream was alive with them.
They came up here in endless numbers. now almost none are
seen. In these waters as in the other rivers visited there is still
a limited run of glut herring, but here too they are very rapidly
disappearing and unless drastic measures are immediately taken
to permit these fish to return to their natural spawning beds
they too will soon be practically extinct.

12

On the Choptank and Tuckahoe for some years past the State
has done some fish cultural work and although every effort was
rade during the past season to obtain the eggs from all the ripe
fish taken in the fishermen’s nets only 4,215,000 shad eggs were
obtained. This is very discouraging. In view of the small
number of eggs available for propagation and the expense at- .
tached thereto the wisdom. of continuing the work here becomes
doubtful until remedial legislation is passed permitting more
shad to reach these spawning beds.

See addendum report covering hatchery work on these waters.

TUCKAHOE AND CHopTANK HatcHERY Work SEAson, 1917.
YELLOW PERCH.

On March 14th arrangements were made for opening the
Tuckahoe Hatchery with a view to collecting yellow perch,
white perch and shad eggs from fish caught by commercial fish-
ermen on that creek, also for handling any eggs of these species
that could be obtained from men fishing on the Choptank River.
To do this work a few men were employed and two small gas
boats were transferred to the station. From March 22nd to
April 2nd a total of 45,050,000 yellow perch eggs were collected
and placed in hatching boxes. All of these eggs were in good
condition and it is estimated that 98 per cent. of them produced
fish. See addendum, Reports Nos. 5 and 6, covering collections
and distribution. More of these eggs could have been obtained
had the collections been started earlier and had the employees
made a greater effort to attend all the fishermen. Although the
foreman had been directed to attend the fishermen on the Chop-
tank River in the vicinity of Denton, Williston and Ganey’s, 11
was later found he had not done so. The eges received from
that river were collected independently of the hatchery crew
and later turned over to the State’s employees. Many more of
these eggs could have been collected on this river for the follow-
ing fishermen: Pinkine, Frazer and Deal told me that they
could and would have furnished large numbers of these eggs
had the State’s employees attended these nets or furnished them
with the proper equipment for collecting the eggs.

See addendum, Reports Nos. 5 and 6.

é

Report No. 5

15

, Collection of Yellow Perch, Tuckahoe and

Choptank Rivers, Season 1917.

0) LGN SIRT STS gi a A 21,400,000
(ULOT) SU 680 Mh gee a a 23,650,000

Report No. 6, Yellow Perch Distribution, Season 1917.

Number Waters Stocked Locations, etc.
1,000;000 -~.-Moore’s Creek...5........ Talbot County
Pero OOGL Watts’. Creek... 0... el Caroline County

400,000....West fork, Nanticoke R....Caroline County
400,000.... West fork, Nanticoke R....Dorehester County

400,000....Nanticoke River........... Dorchester County
400,000. ...Mardella Creek.:.......... Wicomico County
600,000. ...Horse Shoe Bend Creek. ...Caroline County
Penne ew Ve Oreek oo ore. neh da Oe Queen Anne County
GUU;000- > Chester River... ..... 2.00 5. Kent County
eau O00. po.ipins’ -Creek... 0.6.5 5. Caroline County
a ooU. s. Deep :Creek. yo... 2.0. a Caroline County
400,000....Fowland Creek........... Caroline County
£00;000.°. .. Williston Creek......0.... Caroline County
Per Gue-000:.-.:. Tuckahoe River... 5.52. Vicinity of Hatchery
600,000—West fork, Nanticoke R...... Caroline County
G00:000: 2: “Choptank River... ....6... Caroline County
(Carter’s Bridge)
000,000... Choptank Rivere. i)... 3. Caroline County
rusU.000. +s. Tuckahoe River. 2. s.4. <3 Caroline County
POO Patuxent “Riverscc. oo. 525 Anne Arundel Co.
: (Bristol)
BUCPRIRY 1 3.0t VWWERLSIRIVBIO So. 3 tos GC slbla was Anne Arundel Co.
TON-O00s South: River. ope oa os Anne Arundel Co.
POO OU ec node: RIVEr: 922). hao aes ee Anne Arundel Co.
SO HOU SEVER IRIVOL. sans Hie eae Anne Arundel Co.
BOM Os -.bsaek- Raver. ooo. peeks nk eek Baltimore County
200000... Middle River... :...4..000. Baltimore County
200,000....Big Black Water.......... Dorchester County
200,000... .Little Black Water........ Dorchester County
200,000....Transquakin River........ Dorchester County
200,000....Chicacomico River......... Dorchester County

43,450,000 Total
45,050,000 Eggs
1,600,000 Lost

Collected

14

TUCKAHOE AND CHOPTANK HATCHERY WORK.
Wuite PeErcH.

Ripe white perch were seen as early as March 25th. At that
time men were making fairly large catches of these fish, but as
only three men had been employed and they were engaged in
collecting and looking after yellow perch eggs, the foreman
made no effort to collect any white perch eggs during my- ab-
sence inspecting fish cultural conditions on other rivers. He re-
ported, however, that he could have gotten a good many millions
of these eggs, but said he failed to do so because none of the
hatching boxes were fitted with suitable wire for retaining the
fry. Upon my return to the Station I went with him on April
2nd and personally visited a number of fishermen and found
that a large percentage of the white perch being caught were in
a spawning condition. I directed him to attend as many of the
fishermen as possible and to secure all the eggs he could, also
directed him to arrange with the fishermen where possible to
take the eggs themselves, to pay them not alone for the eggs
taken but for their time while so engaged and to make every
effort to get as many of these eges as practicable with the men
at his disposal. The following day I went to Washington. Some
days later upon my return to the station I found he had eol-
lected but 800,000 of these eggs, that the smaller gas boat was
out of commission, needing repairs, and that he had let one of
the employees go home in the larger boat. This man failed to
return until April 12th. By this time the white perch season
was practically over. Sometime then was lost in the distribu-
tion of yellow perch fry, but as soon as this was done I relieved
him of attending any of the fishermen on the Choptank River,
except those at Ganey’s, but later I found he did not go near
Ganey’s and had attended but a single fisherman on the Tucka-
hoe named Wilson. When I remonstrated with him for not at-
tending other men he said he couldn’t, for all the men lifted
their nets at the same time. It never seemed to occur to him to
divide his men, leaving one man to attend Wilson while the other
two men attended other fishermen, and this in spite of the fact
that I had specifically directed him to do so. It is true one of
the men at his command was unexperienced and that the boats

15

were old, in bad condition and lable to get out of commission
at any time. It is also true that the catch of white perch was
the smallest in years, but in spite of these disadvantages many
more of these eggs could have been obtained had a proper he
been made to get them.

A. total of 5,950,000 eggs were collected, of these 3,950, 000
were collected on the Choptank and 2,000,000 on the Tuckahoe
These produced a total of 2,750,000 fry, which were planted as
follows: Choptank River, 1,158,000; Tuckahoe, 1,292,000.

See addendum, Report No. 7

Report No. 7, White Perch Hatchery Work, Season 1917.

Spawn collected on Choptank River...... 3,950,000
Spawn Collected on Tuckahoe River...... 2,000,000
Bee VEO MCE DMO athe vighs > ao hare ok 5,950,000
TSS A TEN EG SC 0 goa lage Sear Mi Se Pe 2,450,000

Distributed in Choptank and Tuckahoe Rivers.
HATCHERY Work. SHAD.

This work was conducted both on the Tuckahoe Creek and
Choptank River. The number of men engaged in catching shad
on their spawning beds on these rivers has decreased until at
this time no haul seines are used and only a few men continue
gilling. These men are mostly farmers or colored men who go
out from time to time when not otherwise engaged. The fishing
of all kinds is simply local in character and of little importance.
On the Tuckahoe Creek the three spawntakers engaged attended
all the fishermen and it is believed they collected all the shad
eggs that were available. On the Choptank floating boxes as
temporary egg receptacles were placed at all the fishing shores
and the fishermen were supplied with the necessary spawning
equipment and instructed in taking eggs and all agreed, in the
absence of the station’s employees, to take and did take all the
eggs available. The two spawntakers attended as many fisher-
men as practicable and regularly collected all the eggs taken so
that the eggs from practically all the ripe fish taken were re-

16

ceived. On the Choptank a total of 1,246,000 eges were taken
and on the Tuckahoe a total of 2,969,000 eggs, a combined
total of 4,215,000 eggs. As the number of shad that reach
the spawning beds are decreasing each year there is no reason
to hope that larger collections can be made in the future.

The equipment used in hatching the eggs was very crude and
although the eggs were carefully measured before placing them
in the boxes there was no practical way of determining the num-
ber of fry resulting therefrom. The numbers of fry produced
in all cases were simply guessed at instead of being estimated by
careful measurements as is done where more up-to-date hatchery
equipment is used. It is estimated that the 1,246,000 eggs col-
lected on the Choptank produced 952,000 fry and the 2,969,000
eggs collected on the Tuckahoe produced 2,177,000 fry, a com-
bined total of 3,129,000 fry. :

See addendum, Reports Nos. 8 and 9, for detailed collections
and distribution.

Report No. 8, Shad Hatchery Work, Choptank River,
Season 1917.

Thales tishe ReGeryed otek tee eens te 39
Totalvecos :colleched: 0 eo ate. is. wine see 1,246,000
Total iireye natehed: ci. Gee Mote ve ke ee 952,000

Planted in Choptank, Nanticoke and Transquakin Rivers.

Report No. 9, Shad Hatchery Work, Tuckahoe River,
Season 1917.

Potak tise taken se ica, etry Gis ae ae eee 92
Totalecos-collerted | coc Maks cae eee 2,969,000
Ota irysnauehed: e-..ekess 84k Ae ee 2,177,000

Planted in Tuckahoe, Deep Creek, Knotts Creek, Snows Creek,
and Chester, Sassafras, Transquakin and Pocomoke Rivers.

HatcHery Work. HERRING.

In view of the economic importance and rapid decline in the
eatch of these food fish an effort was made to collect and hatch

17

as many of these eggs as practicable, but as there was but a
single small pound and no fykes set for these fish in the vicinity
of the hatchery and the catch in this pound averaged less than
100 fish per day a total of but 6,600,000 eggs were collected.
These produced 5,280,000 fry which were planted in the Chop-
tank River, near Denton, Md. As these fish are still taken in
pounds in fairly large numbers at Crumpton, I would recom-
mend, if hatchery work is taken up there, that every effort be
made to propagate as many of these fish as possible. It is be-
lieved there are other places in the State where large numbers

of these eggs for propagating purposes ean be obtained.

SUMMARY.

Shad (alosa Sapidissima).—It is evident that less than one-
tenth as many shad return to their natural spawning beds on
the rivers of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as compared with
15 or 20 years ago.

Branch Herring (Pomolobers pseudoharengus).—The outlook
of the perpetuation of the branch herring industry is very dis-
couraging. Reports everywhere show that very few of these fish

?

once so numerous, return to their spawning beds. Years ago

these fish in great numbers spawned in the shallow waters of all
these rivers, creeks and rivulets. In these same waters today
they are nearly extinct.

Glut Herring (Pomolobers aestivalis)—The Glut herring
which normally keep in the deeper water of the rivers and bays
and spawn in deeper water than the branch herring have fared
somewhat better, but even they are rapidly disappearing so that
from reports obtained it is certain that they are reproducing in
very greatly diminished numbers as compared with years ago.

Striped Bass or Rock Fish (Roccus lineatus).—Very few of
these fish are taken in the spring of the year, showing that but

few spawn here as compared with years ago. In recent years

seme isolated large catches of rock have been made in several
of these rivers in the fall of the year where normally they have
not been taken in large numbers. The explanation of this is not
to be found in an increase in the stock of rock fish, but in a de-
crease of food supply due to extensive menhaden and erab fish-

18

ing. For the same reason large numbers of sea trout have
recently been taken in waters not normally inhabited by them.

Common Sturgeon (Acipenser Sturio).—These were once
very numerous but are now nearly extinct.

White Cat (Ameiurus Catus).—These fish are taken in
pounds, fykes and other nets during their migrations to their
spawning beds and are rapidly disappearing.

Bull Heads (Ameiurus nebulosus).—This common food fish ts.
also becoming searee.

Yellow Perch (Perea Flavescens).—In some rivers these fish
are taken in large numbers and some fishermen are inclined to
think they are not diminishing, but these large catches in recent
years as compared with catches made years ago is not necessarily
due to as large a stock of fish as then as it is to improved meth-
cds in fishing and a greater effort being made to catch them be-
cause of the great increase in their market value. This is true
of all these fishes; as they become searcer and scarcer and their
inarket value higher and higher their pursuit on the part of
those who have continued fishing becomes keener and keener.
fn other rivers, for instance, the Nanticoke, Wicomico, Poco-
moke and Choptank there can be no question but that these fish
have greatly diminished in numbers. Yellow perch is one of
those species of fishes that under natural conditions fertilize a
very high percentage of the eggs deposited and a very large per-
centage of the eggs hatch. They are a hardy fish and when let
alone a few years rapidly increase in numbers.

White Perch (Morone Americana).—On all the Eastern Shore
rivers these fish have decreased in numbers with the possible ex-
ception of the Chester River. On some of the rivers, for in-
stance, the Wicomico and Choptank their numbers have greatly
diminished, while on the Chester River abnormal catches were
made during the past season.

CRITICISMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

The fish cultural work as conducted by the State has been
of a very unscientific, unprogressive and primitive character.
This has been true, not only in methods and equipment used, but.
in the personnel employed.

ih}

' The duties of a fish culturist are so varied that only by years
of elose observation, study, experience and instruction under
the direct supervision of experienced and progressive fish ecul-
turists does he become efficient. He not. only must have some
knowledge of the fishes he intends propagating, their economic
value to the State, their habits, migrations, growth, food, en-
ee: vironment, enemies, natural reproduction which necessarily in-
cludes some knowledge of the character of the water in which
this takes place, such as temperature, depth, nature of bottom,
nest building, if any, ete., the character of the eggs, such as
+ adhesive, buoyant, heavy, semi-buoyant, length of incubations,
character of the young, their enemies, food, growth, nets or
traps of various kinds used in catching fish, best methods of
taking, fertilizing and caring for eggs in the field, their transfer
to the hatchery, their handling therein, together with a full
knowledge of the most approved hatching equipment, the care
of the fry, their transfer to planting beds, and if rearing is done
he must have full knowledge of the time to begin feeding, the
food to be used, its preparations, preservations and presenta-
tions, rearing equipment, fish diseases and the most approved
methods and remedies in combating them, sorting and a thou-
sand and one things that can be learned only by close observa-
tion and experience. He must also have some knowledge of
physics and be some sort of a civil engineer to be able to use
good judgment in the construction of racks, sereens, traps,
filters, ponds, reservoirs, flumes, dams, ete. Nor is this all, for
he must have imagination to create and adaptability to apply
many and varied devices to meet the many problems constantly
presenting themselves to the practical fish culturist. He must be
able to make close observations, careful experiments and keep
- correct records. He must have some administrative ability to
be able to direct the work of his assistants. He must be a dip-
ae lomat and teacher in order to command the good will, assistance
and cooperation of fishermen and sportsmen as well as that
i of the public in general. It is needless to say that the services
of such a man cannot be obtained except at an exorbitant salary
if his tenure of office is to be determined by political favoritism
oe Cor. ‘exigencies and the value and benefits to be derived from pro-

gressive fish culture by the great State of Maryland is far too
he
ie
=.

20

important to be entrusted to any one other than the most com-
petent fish culturist that can be obtained.

The equipment on hand is not only obsolete, but nearly all of
it is in very bad condition, being a discredit to the State and a
reflection upon the cause of fish culture in that intelligent men
seeing the bad condition of the equipment, such as cans, boats,
buildings, boxes, ete., the unsanitary and filthy condition of
quarters and bedding, the crude methods of handling eggs and
fry, the guesswork used in estimating the eggs taken and fry
produced, the lack of fish cultural knowledge on the part of the
men employed, these things must necessarily unfavorably im-
press all who come in contact with the work. The State cannot
afford to permit such conditions to exist any more than can a
business house or corporation expect to prosper and command
the respect of the public that uses obsolete equipment, loose
methods, untrained employees and unsanitary buildings and
quarters.

The boats of all kinds should be thoroughly overhauled and
repaired, painted and put in good condition. The power boats
should be supplied with lights, life preservers, fire extinguishers,
horns, suitable water-tight lockers for batteries, tools, fish eul-
tural equipment, such as pans, buckets, dippers, oilskins, etce.,
and in a proper receptacle on each boat should be a suitable kit
of tools, packing and duplicate parts of everything on the en-
gine that is liable at any time to give way, such as springs,
firing pins, spark plugs, ete.

All the hatching boxes in good condition should be retained
for use in handling yellow perch eggs and for distribution along
the river as temporary receptacles for holding eggs as indicated
elsewhere in this report. All other boxes should be destroyed.
All the cans should be condemmed as all are in bad condition.
New 10-gallon cans should be purchased. These should be
painted outside and stenciled with the name of the State and
station in which they belong.

Arrangements or agreements should be entered into with all
the public carriers of the State for transferring fish. All pans,
buckets, dippers, screens, aquaria, tables, tubing, tubes, nets,
jars, trays, shipping boxes, tanks, ete., should be as nearly stan-

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21

dard in size as possible and should be purchased with a view to
their adaptability to their respective intended purposes.

A comprehensive up-to-date hatchery should be constructed
and equipped in accordance with approved plans and under the
direct supervision of an experienced fish culturist. The location
of the hatchery and its equipment must be determined by the
kinds of fish it is desired to propagate and their abundance. It
should be located as near their spawning beds as possible, but
regard must also be given to transportation facilities, ease of
securing supplies, suitable and abundant water for hatching
purposes, cost of pumping or securing gravity flow, ete.

It seems certain that more shad eggs can be obtained on the
Tuckahoe Creek than elsewhere from the Eastern Shore waters,
but as the number of shad eggs that can be obtained even on this
ereek and in view of the fact that even this number is certain
to decrease unless very radical measures are taken to permit
shad in increased numbers to return to their spawning beds, I
cannot recommend the continuation of shad cultural operations,
except as a side issue to other fish cultural work, anywhere on
the rivers or creeks mentioned in this report. On the Tuckahoe
Creek aside from the limited number of shad eggs that can be
obtained no eggs in large numbers from other fish can be ob-
tained. Practically no herring and only very limited numbers
of yellow perch and white perch are taken on this creek. In
fact the fishing on this creek has declined to such an extent that
no pound nets and only about a dozen hedge fykes are set on the
spawning beds of yellow perch and white perch. The same con-
dition exists on the spawning beds of the Choptank River.

As no extensive white perch, yellow perch or herring cultural
work and only a very limited amount of shad cultural work can
be done on either the Choptank River or Tuckahoe Creek, I re-
spectfully recommend that an effort be made to collect these eggs
in the vicinity of Crumpton, Md., on a section of the Chester
River from Chestertown, Md., to Millington, Md. It is certain
that a greater number of yellow perch, white perch and herring
egos can be obtained at this place than elsewhere on the Eastern
Shore. Some shad eggs can be obtained at this place, but not as
many as on the Tuckahoe. Large numbers of yellow perch and
white perch eggs can also be obtained at Centreville. Md., on a

22

branch of the Chestertown River. These eggs could be trans-
ferred to Crumpton by boat or auto. If work is taken up at this
place I would recommend that in advance of the season arrange-
ments should be made with the fishermen in the vicinity of
Crumpton and at Centreville to hold all the unspent yellow
perch in live cars until after they have cast their eggs, the eggs
to be collected from time to time and transferred to the hatch-
ery. These men, as well as all other fishermen along all that
part of the Choptank River in question, should be provided with
floating boxes as temporary receptacles for holding fish eggs of
any species collected until they are transferred to the hatchery.
To carry out this transfer work the Commission should have
suitable power boats of sufficient speed and room.

In the case of all eggs the fishermen should be instructed in
taking them—to this end all hatchery employes should be ex-
perienced spawntakers—and induced to take them—thereby re-
ueving the Commission from the expense of employing a lot of
men. It may not be practicable to interest all the fishermen in
doing this the first season, but it should be the aim and purpose
of the Commission as these men ean learn to take the eggs and
ao it with but little loss of time or trouble, but it will be neces-
sary for the Commission to make this as easy as possible and to
this end the fishermen should be provided with the necessary
spawning equipment, such as pans, buckets and dippers.

The basis of payment should in all cases be the number of
good eggs received and in no ease should the men be paid for the
number of fish handled and no tickets should be given the fisher-
men other than a daily statement of the number of eggs received.
A correct record of the number of good eggs received from each
man should be kept and this record used as the basis for pay-
ment at the end of each month, or better still, at the end of the
season. only.

I would recommend that payment be made on the following
basis:
Rate Per No. Eggs

Species Quurt Per Quart
Yellow Perch...... ee) 100,000
White- Perch... s- 6.00 1,600,000
Herring =. 220 leeks d25 600,000
Shad. <2 24 Sete 54 28,000

This would be at the rate of 3 cents per thousand eggs.

23

Should the market value of the fish remain abnormally high
it might become necessary to change these prices in order to in-
duce men to take the eggs, but under normal conditions these
prices will be found to be reasonable and just, both to the State
and to the fishermen.

Should it be deemed desirable to continue shad cultural opera-
tions on Tuckahoe Creek this could be done as in the past, but if
confined to shad but two or three men will be needed and then
cnly from April 15th to June Ist. In no sense, however, will
the number of shad eggs obtainable there justify the expense
of establishing and operating an up-to-date hatchery.

Wherever hatchery work is permanently taken up it should be
the aim of the Commission to well stock and build up the fishing
in the waters from which eggs are collected before ceiving atten-
tion to other waters.

OBSERVATIONS OF VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.

On March 19, 1917, about a mile above the Tuckahoe fish
Hatchery a man in a boat was seen to throw overboard hundreds
uf small white perch at least 90 per cent. of which were dead.

On March 22, 1917, about two miles below the 'Tuckahoe Fish
Hatchery at a bridge, a man was seen to throw overboard hun-
dreds and hundreds of undersize dead white perch. At the same
time he was seen to deliver to a local trader several bushels of
yhite perch at least half of which were under size.

On April 2d and again on April 11th a man on the Choptank
at a point near Denton was seen after fishing his nets to sort the
larger white perch from the small ones. The larger ones were
seld on the streets in Denton, while the small ones were put in
baskets and when last seen were in the eabin of his boat. Dis-
position unknown. These were the most flagrant violations
seen by the writer, but upon other occasions at other places |
saw large numbers of dead undersized white perch lying along
the river bank where fish had been culled or floating upon the
surface of the water in the vicinity of nets that had been fished,
showing that little or no regard is paid to the law forbidding
taking or killing perch under seven inches long. In all cases
the excuse was offered that it was impracticable to avoid killing
a lot of these undersized fish when taken in fyke nets.

24
REMEDIAL.

The fishing industry of the State as pertaining to the anad-
romous fishes has reached a condition where its salvation is to
be found in nothing less than radical legislative action and rigid
enforcement. Important as fish culture is the fish culturist is
helpiess unless the brood fish are permitted to reach their natural
spawning beds. Only after the fish reach the spawning beds do
iheir eggs become sufficiently developed to be susceptible to
natural reproduction or to fish cultural methods.

The foundations of ail legislative action should be to permit
the parent fish to reach their spawning beds. The ideal law is
that which permits every fish to reach maturity and reproduce
itself before being used for food. Herein is found the only pos-
sible remedy for the unsatisfactory condition of the State’s fish-
ing industry. The wholesale slaughter of your anadromous
fishes en route to their spawning’ beds must inevitably result in
disaster and that this condition is rapidly approaching admits
of no doubt as shown by the records in this report; nor is this
condition of the anadromous fishes confined to the Eastern Shore
of Maryland, but exists all along our Atlantic Seaboard and in
all the States directly affected the nation’s representatives are
urging’ remedial legislation.

The one thing more than any other one thing that is respon-
‘sible for the present unsatisfactory condition of the fishing in-
dustry is the excessive use of pound nets in taking fish.

There should be no extension in the use of these nets and laws
should be enacted forbidding the use of these nets, except dur-
ing every other week, and that the law might be easily enforced
the open and closed weeks should be the same in all parts of the
State. During the closed weeks the fishermen should be com-
pelled under heavy penalties to lft and keep lifted all pounds
and hearts thereto. It is not enough that the pounds or traps
proper be lifted, but the hearts téo for these are easily converted
ito traps and the law that was once on the Statute Books which
compelled fishermen to lift and keep lifted all pounds from
Saturday night until Monday morning soon came into disrepute,
and was repealed because the fishermen made traps out of the

25

hearts and forebays of their pounds thereby making the intent
of the law without effect. In fact a pound net heart either
single or double is an effective trap in itself. See Sketch.

a a » Cc

Pound with double heart Pound with single heart
a-lead, b-heart, c=pound.

Fishermen should be compelled to let a break at all times between

all ths pounds equal to the length of the lead used, viz:

4 fF] ia oN] c —_+-$>] oH
sana-lende, bbbb-pounds, cccc-open space equal to the length of the leads
used,

These so-called hoop pounds, or fyke nets or hedge fykes or
trap nets (there seems to be no distinctive name for them) that
are extensively used in all the Eastern Shore rivers should be
forbidden by law, except during the months of November, De-
cember, January, February and March when the water is cold
and fish are hardy.

It is understood these nets came into use to avoid paying a
pound-net license. The objections to these nets is found in that
nearly all the shad and many of the herring and white perch
that enter them soon die, and unless the nets are frequently
lifted, these dead fish soon became unfit for food or are eaten by
eels, besides the fishermen almost without exception say it is im-
possible to comply with the State law forbidding taking or kill-
ing undersized white perch and yellow perch when fishing these
nets in warm weather.

These nets are set in various ways, but the fundamentals re-
main the same, viz. :

Fyke
| Lead _ Heart Lead Héart or pen
Fyke Fyke

They are simply fykes having leads and forebays or hearts.

The use of trammel nets (so-called buck nets) in taking rock
should be forbidden, especially the use of these nets in surround-
ing schools of rock.

26

All rock weighing more than 10 pounds should be protected at
all times, except those taken by angling with hook and line. A
law should be passed forbidding taking rock in ee manner
under 10 inches long.

All white perch and yellow perch less than eight inches long
should be protected at all times.

It should be unlawful to set any pound net within several
miles of the mouth of rivers nor anywhere in the main channels
of rivers or streams.

Pound nets should not be permitted on the spawning beds
of shad except for fish cultural purposes under special permit
from. State or national representatives. Staked or anchored
oill nets for shad should be strictly forbidden in any waters
of the State, except for fish cultural purposes under special per-
mit from State or national representatives and then only be-
tween the hours of 3 P. M. and 10 P. M. and in no ease should
any crew of two or three men, one of which should be an ex-
perienced spawntaker, be permitted to set more than 600 yards
of net and then only at such places where the nets can be fre-
quently overhauled for spawning fish.

A law should be passed requiring a license for each and every
net of any kind used in taking fish for any purpose whatever in
any waters of the State and it should be unlawful to use any
net of any kind without having attached to it a metal tag hav-
ing stamped thereon the name and address of the owner, and the
Commission, and its representatives, should have full authority
to confiscate any net set or used in any waters of the State that
is not so marked. :

The importance of licensing all nets is twofold—to provide
adequate funds for the propagation of fishes and for the en-
forcement of protective laws. 3

‘There should be embodied in every license a provision requir-
ing the lessee at all times to permit the State’s or Nation’s repre-
sentatives to take fish eggs for fish cultural or scientific pur-
poses or the same to be done by the lessee when directed to do
so. As the fishermen are most directly benefited by fish prop-
agation and protection, they should bear the burden of said
protection and propagation.

27.

The fees for these licenses should be graduated according to
the kind and size of nets used. For the small nets used by farm-
ers and others at irregular intervals in taking fish for home con-
sumption, the cost of the license should not exceed the cost of
recording the same. The burden should fall upon those men
who take fish in large numbers for commercial purposes. In re-
gard to these licenses valuable information can be obtained from
an examination of the licenses and laws governing the same in
New York and Michigan, also as embodied in the laws of the
Province of Ontario, Canada.

The Commission should be empowered to issue special licenses
for the use of any kind of net at any time in any open or closed
waters of the State for fish cultural or scientific purposes, under
such restrictions as they may deem advisable.

In the absence of sufficient funds from licenses a specific and
adequate appropriation should be made by the State for the
propagation of fishes.

Adequate funds from licenses or otherwise should be provided
for the detection of violations of the laws as pertaining to fishes
and their enforcement.

A law should be passed, together with heavy fines or imprison-
ment, for any one to offer for sale, or to purchase, or to have in
possession any undersized white perch, yellow perch or rock or
any other fish not of lawful size.

A law should be passed forbidding’ black bass to be taken in
nets at any time in any of the waters of the State, and it should
be unlawful to take them less than 10 inches long in any way at
any time. As large mouth black bass (Micropterus Salmoides)
and small mouth black bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) are strictly
game fishes it should be unlawful to sell them or take them in
any way, except by hook and line.

28

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.

‘Fish CULTURAL.

Shad.—Shad spend practically all their life in salt water, but
make yearly migrations to fresh water to mature and deposit
their eggs. Each female shad deposits about 30,000 eggs, but
under natural conditions only a very small percentage of the
eggs deposited are fertilized and many of those are lost during
incubatien. The eggs are semi-buoyant, nearly transparent and
average about 28,000 per quart when fully expanded. Most
shad spawn and the best results are obtained at a water tempera-
ture from 55 to 65 Fah. They hatch in about one week. The
fry are about three-eighths of an inch long, very delicate and al-
most transparent. In artificial hatching McDonald or Downing
jars give best results. These are arranged on tables around
glass and slate aquaria in which the fry as they hatch collect
and are held until planted.

Yellow Perch.—These fish are found in fresh and in brackish
water, but all resort to fresh water to deposit their eggs. The
average female deposits about 25,000 eggs. They spawn in early
spring in a water temperature from 38 to 45 degrees and hatch
in about 16 days. The eggs are semi-buoyant, small, averaging
about 100,000 per quart, semi-transparent and are heid together
in a mass by a semi-gelatine like ribbon. They are very hardy
and stand almost any kind of handling. In a state of nature
the eggs are cast among bushes, weeds, ete., and a very high per-
centage of the eggs are fertilized and produce fish. The fry are
small but hardy. The eggs can be successfully ineubated in jars
or boxes, but if handled in boxes the eggs and fry should be
planted as soon as the egg mass separates, for in boxes there is
no practicable way of separating the fry from the egg shells
which decompose and cause many fry to die if left in the boxes.

White Perch.—These fish are found in both fresh and brackish
water, but all resort to fresh water to spawn. They cast their
eggs in spring at a temperature from 48 to 60 degrees and hatch
in two or three days. The eggs are heavy, very adhesive, semi-
transparent and very small averaging about 1,600,000 eggs per
quart. They are hatched in jars but require a greater flow of
water than shad eggs to keep them moving. The fry are very

‘29

small and transparent, so small that the finest wire cloth or
linen scrim s¢reens are needed to retain them in the aquaria.
Floating boxes are worthless as a hatching device for these eggs.

Rock Fish.—Rock spend most of their life in salt or brackish
water, but resort to fresh water to spawn. The females are
usually very much larger than the males. They deposit their —
eggs at a temperature of 68 to 75 Fah. and the eggs hatch in
about 36 hours. The eggs at first are very small and are bright
ereen in color, but when expelled they absorb a great amount of
water which makes them semi-bouyant and quite transparent.
A fish weighing 50 pounds will deposit as many as 4,000,000
eggs, but in nature only a very small percentage are fertilized.
When fully expanded they average about 35,000 per quart.
They are hatched in jars. The fry are very delicate and can be
retained but a few days after hatching. |

Herring—These fish spend all their life in salt water resort-
ing to fresh water only to spawn. The eggs are heavy, adhesive,
small and semi-transparent. They average about 600,000 per
quart and the fry hatch in a few days.

Catfish and black bass are propagated in ponds under entirely
different conditions from the other species mentioned in this re-
port. Both the basses and eatfishes are nest builders. The for-
mer deposit their eggs on gravel or on the roots of bushes, the
latter in holes or under rocks or projecting roots. Both the
basses and eatfishes deposit but a few thousand eggs. The parent
fish guard the eggs and fry until the schools break up.

ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZATION.

In this the eggs from the female and milt from the male is
ejected into a moist pan and immediately the pan is tilted from
side to thoroughly incorporate the eggs with the milt. If nee-
essary to do this a little water may be added. The milt must
taken from a live fish or one still showing some signs of life, but
the eggs may be taken from a fish that has been dead for 10 or
more minutes. When the eggs are ejected they begin to expand
by the absorption of any fluid around them and fertilization is
produced by one or more living spermatazoa being drawn
through the micropyle of the egg’s shell and brought in contact

30

with the germinal vesicle of the ovum within the shell. The
eggs and milt must be quickly brought in contact for fertiliza-
tion can only take place while the egg is expanding by absorp-
tion and the milt dies within a few minutes after ejection. From
this it will: readily be seen why so few eggs are fertilized
naturally by shad, rock and many other fishes that cast their
cggs without any seeming regard to the presence of male fish.

After the eggs in the pan have been incorporated with the
milt the pan should be set aside for a couple minutes, then the
milt should be washed off by carefully pouring water in the pan,
then draining it off and repeating the process until the milt is
removed. In the case of shad, rock and yellow perch the eggs
require no further attention, except to shake the pan every 10
or more minutes and give them enough water for absorption.
When absorption is completed the eggs can be placed in the
hatching jars. In the ease of white perch and herring the eggs
rust be stirred during the entire period of absorption to over-
ccme their adhesiveness before being placed in jars. The eges
are estimated by measuring them in a’ glass graduate or by the
use of a scale after being placed in the jar. The fry are esti-
mated in the same way. Dead eggs decompose and form a coat-
ing above the good eggs in the jars and are easily removed by
small siphons.. Just enough water is turned into each jar to
keep the eggs in slow but continuous motion. The fry escape
from the jar with the discharged water and are retained in the
aquaria by fine wire or scrim screens. See attached eround
plan for 96-jar hatchery. Seale about 414 feet per inch.
Capacity at any one time—

Shad; 80,000 eees: perjar <4) ae ee 7,680,000
Yellow Perch, 200,000 eggs per jar. . . .19,200,000
White Perch, 800,000 eggs per jar... ..76,800,000
Rock Fish, 90,000 eggs per jar........ 8,640,000

~ This capacity, of course, can be greatly increased by crowding
more jars on the table.
Very respectfully submitted,
J. P. SNYDER,
U. S. Bureau of Fisheries.

9
0

SUGGESTED PLAN oF HATCHERY.

Door

Coal Bins or Small Office. Boilers or Gas Enzincs
Pumps

If Gas Engines are used

[Gey WIT SAIBYOSTG

*yooy save

“O48

Scale 4) f+, per inch,_

iM