New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19
THE SHAD AND IT'S ENEMIES.


stinct approach our coasts various seasons seem to
be in search of Place of deposit for their eggs where
the young fry NAV pass their first period of growth in
the warm and shallow waters which battle our shores.
The salmon, the mackerel and the herring tribe,
among these, the best known because the most
useful to man. who takes advantage of this natural in
stnct TO capture them in large numbers at these sea-
sons Many other fish approach coasts also for the
same purpose, but do not ascend our rivers like the
sanon and the shad, which appear to make the most
strenuous exertions to reach the actual head OF navg
ton and in the case of the salmon even go beyond II.
The shad however, passes up our rivers to higher
point than any other species of its tribe attaining in
the Hudson River distance of one hundred and sew
enty miles from the ocean IL belongs TO the division
of fish called by naturaiss ClupeidG from the clypei,
or scaly shields on the abdomen. To this division be-
long also the herring. the anchovy, the sardne the
sra and the white bait of Europe and the menhaden,
the Fall shad the alewfe, the thread herring, and
other small species of our coasts None of the fish of
this division have conspicuous teeth, and some have
not any at all Their food consists of the smaller crus-
taceous or crab-like animals which are found in vast
numbers the surface of the in patches float
ing and feeding on still more minute organisms) and
perhaps also swallowing the small jellyiish which live
in the same manner. AS this kind of food s not found
in our rivers or fresh waters in any abundance, it is
evident that the fish do net ascend the rivers in search
of more abundant supply of nourishment.
The shad as most New-Yorkers well know, makes
its first appearance at the mouth of the Hudson River
in the Spring. varying in date from the 9TH to the 9th
of March and reaching Pougbksepsie, some eighty miles
from the ocean, about three weeks aferward 1t, how
ever not caught in any numbers untilhe third week
in April when il is sometimes abundant that they
have been sold at ten dollars hundred In other sea-
sons. from some unknown cause it is less plenty, and
cannot be had at less than twenty-five dollars hund
red in the hight of the season. 1t continues to be
rought TO market until July when the fish become
carce and poor and no longer taken by the fisher
men, 1t does not travel in compact schools or swarms,
nd swims about Underwater between the surface and
ottom and rarely turning aside avoid any obstacle
its free passage From this peculiarity in its habits
he fishermen are enabled 10 capture it in large num-
ers by means of set or gil nets fastened to poles
placed across the stream. These rows Of poles are
ometimes placed directly the river channel, and
n such numbers between Staten Island and Albany
bat il seems wonderful how single fish can escape
the insidous nares which beset their upward journey
The evil thus done increases every year, and must be
fore very distant period the entire destruction
of the fish for is supposed with good reason that
the shad like the salmon seeks only TO enter theriyers
where il has been bred. The capture of single grayid
female must cause the humiliation Of at least twenty
thonsand Of the young fry. Allowing that OF each
fish, from the various enemies which pursue them,
only ore hundred young produced which reach the
Sc and that three-quarers these again devoured
by other fish in the ocean, il will be that fish
out of twenty five must escape the nets, in order 10
keep up the usual run Of chad in each year, The eggs
of FISH are geedily devouled by host of different
aquatic animals all seeking eagerly to obtain delicate
an article of food Other sh frogs and salamanders,
perhaps ortoses ALSO and aquatic insects craysh, and
even water Birds all make sad havoc among the fresh
Dropped eggs or the newly hached fry of the shad so
that it seems even marvellous that single fish should
escape the circle of dangers which encompass it. At
sea the full-grown fish not safe though here the
vast spaces of ocean which not visited by preda-
ceous fish afford them comparatively cafe asylum.
The porpoise the shark the funny, the bono, and the
blue sh or horse-inackere perhaps also the striped
bass are busy thinning out the schools of shad and
herring gorgng themselves with the oily and soft flesh
Of these mresstipg fish. single fish, however, taken
in the river nets, causesgreaer dimnution amoDgther
ranks than all their aquatic enemies taken together,
and unless checked by regulations strictly enforced
the hosts OF this valuable fish which at time fire.
quened our rivers must gradually and surely be dmin
shed to "A point at which the numbers taken will no
longer afford profitable return for the capital invested
in the appliances for their capture.
The remedy teems to be simple enough and with the
following suggestions for the regulation OF the shaa
fisheries embodied in the shape Of law by the new
Jersey ana NewYork Legislatures, and strictiy en-
forced by the Supervisors of the river countess "e
should again zee the shad ascending our rver IN count
ess numbers and offered for sale at prce whih inc
reach of ali our citizens.
First. cbannel-way should be prescribed oy snch
natural landmarks as would easily bound it unassisted
by man of such width may be most proper for the
va,oua den,hs of the river in its course from Albany
down ard 10 set or seine should be allowed inside
II without mourning reasonable penalty
,eeoudiy, No nets should be allowed TO be set until
the 9Th Of April.
T6bdlg. All nets to be taken up after the Isl OF
June. -,
Eonrthly Nonets to be used Of smaller mesh than
- inches.
These simple regulations would not be oppressive in
their Observance, and, with moderate penalties at
tached TO their violation, could be easily enforced
uroper person in each county might be paid by the
son TO rec that they be observed for year two.
After that time their advantage wonll he apparent
that the fishermen themselves would enforce them on
each other 1t might also be worth while to try the
effect Of artificial propagation in ponds and streams pro-
teeted from the dertroyers Of the eggs. Allowing