Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-07-14

this Is the fifth. Until last year there was
considerable difficulty in getting a good
supply of ripe fish so late in the season as
the 10Th of June, when the lawful time for
catching shad for market expires. This
difficulty is now entirely obviated, owing
to the greatly increased numbers of the fish
since Seth Green began his operations there
four years ago. We had the pleasure of
visiting the spot last Monday, which is
now historic in fish culture. Operations
commenced about the 10th Of June and
over 100000 of shad fry had already been
turned into the stream. The river all along
the shore above and below the boxes, is
swarming with young fish from half
inch TO an inch and half in length.
Tho shad deposit their spawn mainly at
night, and the most of it probably near
midnight The seine is drawn three times
for the gravid fish between eight and one
o'clock at night Tho first haul of the
seine brings in very large proportion of
male fish. out of one hundred and fifty
taken ON Monday eycningat the first haul,
not more than dozen were females in ripo
condition. The second haul gave about
three times us many, and the last most.
After the fish are brought TO the shore they
are Immediately put into large baskets and
carried to the foreman, Charles G. Smith,
who is seated with common milk-pan be-
tween his knee An assistant holds the
fish, while the foreman takes the milk and
spawn. This is done very rapidly, the
whole lot having been stripped in less than
half an hour. The fish are so plenty that
no effort is made to spare their lives. Prob
ably not more than third of the spawn of
any fish is taken, rs only part of 1t is
ripe.
The shad like the salmonidac, deposit
their spawn at intervals of several days.
1t is only the eggs that flow freely that can
be fertilized. Probably five hundred fish
were captured on Monday evening, and
the catch was not unusual. After The spawn
and milk have remained in the pans for
half hour or more, they are carefully
washed and then poured into the Matching
boxes, where they remain about three days.
Not more than one per cent. of the eggs
fail to hatch. The fry are carefully turned
into the river near the shore at night be-
cause the fish that prey upon them retire to
deep water at night, and the young fish
stand better chance for life.
Last year iify-iour millions Of fry were
put into the river ut cost to the state of
$500. This year the spawning fish are
much more numerous, and if the weather
continues favorable, there is no doubt that
much larger number will be put in, at
about the same cost. The Shad Matching is
~ fut ,.b Of II, ;,, II,
necticut wonderfully, Notwithstanding the
pounds at the mouth Of the river
have taken and destroyed multi
tudc Of the half grown FISH. Now that the
pounds are broken up and the ways of the
fishermen are more carefully watched shad
will increase much faster.
The catch of fish, especially in The river,
has been very much larger than last year,
and the shad have been of excellent quail
ty. At one time they glutted the New
York market, and shad were sold at Lyme
and i'm the city for ten cents apiece. 1t is
so long since shad have been plenty, that
the present generation of fishermen hard
ly knew how to salt them. Everything
caught has been sold fresh at good prices.
This year there has been some sailing, and
another year we shall have the luxury of
salt shad in abundance.
There seems to be no limit To the produce
ton Of this fish. 1t is merely question of
dollars and cents how many millions shall
be turned into the Connecticut every year.
a certain portion will escape their enc
mics and come back merchantablc fish,
The sea furnishes all their food after the
first six months, and the sea can feed bill
ions with rs much facility ~ millions of
this delicious fish. The fry are easily
transported, and few hundred dollars
would stock every stream in the state.