Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-22
THE HABITS OF SHAD.

Shad spawn on gravelly bottoms They will
never deposit their Oya on a muddy or movable
surface, as they know well that they would not
adhere. Young shad on their way to the ocean
are rarely seen on soft ground, but only in the
vicinity OF gravel bottoms and a rocky shore
l have seen hundreds Of thousands passing
down the Hudson in the months of July and
august. Old shad commence ascending South
ern rivers in February and March, and the
Hudson and Connecticut rivers in April, May
aud June, coming directly from the deep sea
In large shoals searching for spawning ground
and Immediately after the operation, swim
with great rapidity near the bottom towards
the ocean, and If taken, are found thin and unfit
for the table. Full shad when they leave the
sea migrate to spawn beyond brackish water
and usually continue up the stream if the bot
tom Is suitable, until they are prevented by a
dam, or similar obstruction, which they never
attempt to overcome, as salmon do. The young
shad from spawn deposited by the April run Of
spawners, when returning down the Hudson OH
their way to tho ocean in August, are about the
size Of large herrings. If our fishermen were
experienced, they might meet the shoals at
Sandy Hook Immediately on their arrival from
deep water, and shorten the distance daily to-
wards the spawning ground, by which means a
vast number that now fortunately escape to
spawn, would be destroyed. There ID no salts
faction, however, in enlightening this class of
citizens, who are so selfish as to look only to
present gain, and are unwilling to spend half
an hour at the end Of each fishing season t.
plant the spawn of q dozen shad, each of which
would produce fifty thousand fish towards the
next year supply. have endeavored to in
duce our State Legislature to pass a law, ma
king 1t incumbent upon all fishermen so to do;
but have not been successful. If this plan
were pursued for five years, our rivers would
again TEEN with this delicious fish, as they al
ways return directed by instinct, to spawn
where they were born. Some years since, in
my vicinity on the Hudson, two thousand shad
were taken at single haul of the seine, where
now 1t Is rare occurrence to entrap three hun
dred. This fact plainly shows that if the pres
ent destructive system Is pursued, the supply
will soon fail TO meet the demand. Two years
since, / artifcially impregnated the ova of
shad. Thus: having partially filled a pail with
water, took a female Immediately from the
river in my left hand and stripped her gently
with my right, when the ova, some fifty thous-
and in number were forced into the pail The
spermatic fluid Of the male was then in the
same way caused to drop in the same pail, and
when thoroughly mixed together, the color Of
the ova changed from glowing red to a beau
tiful straw color. They were then placed under
fine gravel at the inlet Of one Of my breeding
ponds, and running water was permitted to
pass over them. At this time my microscope
only indicated single cell in the egg, contain
ing straw eolored fluid; forty days afterwards
the microscope exposed to view thousands of
different sized cells partially filed with blood.
Two days afterwards plainly saw eyes. Within
week thereafter, thousands of young shad
made their appearance with small appendages
attached to their bodies, but could not discern
with my glass either mouth or gils. The blood
vessels and heart were plainly seen. The eyes
were large, and the pectoral fins we'll deveI-
Oped. At the age of thirteen days the anal,
dorsal and caudial fins, devoid of rays, could
be seen without the microscope as well as the
gills and mouth. At this period the sack dis
appeared, and they attempted to eat; were
very lively, and concealed themselves when any
person approached. ~
L have also caused old shad to spawn in q
breeding pond and kept them healthy by an
occasional application of fine salt Their pro-
geny became fresh water fish.
tecundated oya OF the famous English sole,
white bait, touch, carp, roach, dace, perch and
jack, wrapped in flannel cloths, and packed in
boxes Of damp moss for me, were lost in the ill
fated Arctic. intended to plant the ova of
the salt water fish in the little BAYS formed by
the Hudson River Railroad and have made
arrangements with Monsieur Coste, of Paris,
and Monsieur Millet, of the French Societe
Zoologique'd d Acslimation, for another shipment
during the present season.
L offered the Legislature Of the State of New
York at it's present sitting, through the medium
of Senators Kelly and Fernden to stock all
the waters Of the State with salmon at my own
expense if they will pass a law for the preser-
yation Of the fish until they should become we'll
established in the different waters, but want
Of time will probably prevent Its passage.
~ Nsv York paper.