New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-03
THE FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH
REPORT OF THE FISH COMMISSIONERS.


Fisheries, Washington, d. O.
SIR: In accordance with your instructions,
submit the following the result OF my inFoo.s''o"
IN the States OF Virginia, North and South oafO"a' u
Georgia in regard TO the shad herring anu rooA n'"
cries with view 10 inqulring into tt alleged decrease
OF these fish and tho best methods OF ana inoS'
localities for establishing hatchinghouses Tor 'nei '
fcIal propagation. -.
Having received the necessary leave or absence
through tho courtesy OF my commanding orncer' .".
George NJ. Wheeler OF the u 8. Engineer CorP7, ''
Washington for Richmond, Va on the night OF tho zu
inst arriving the latter city on the morning OF INC o
At Richmond visited the fish market but iounu o'S
few Of the above mentioned species of fish Inc I'M
tied number OF shad for sale commanded price D'yo
the means OF persons. On inquirng the cause VI
this learned that but small number were no" cauBn'
in the James River and that for five years past o sup
ply had been steadily decreasing at the rate OF poDaoY
ten per cent annually that to such an extent hao TINS
decrease continued that but few fishermen were Wiling
TO risk their limited capital in an occupation promising
such meager results. The cause OF the decrease was
yariously stated Traps fifth from tho sewers ot the
city, constant fishing and the plying OF numerous steam
vessels thought to drive the fish from their spawn
ing beds.
The shad met with commanded ready sale at from
G5 cents TO 81 per pair At this time April 3, the spawn
was not within three weeks OF being ripe The first shad
OF the season were taken in the latter part OF February
The fishermen generally, expect the season 10 close
about the last OF May Herring abounded in this market
They were from Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. The
price asked for them twas from SASS per 1000 some
rock fish were also which taken near the city;
these brought from cents to 10 cents per pound
GREAT DECREASE OF FIsH IN GEORGIA.
Inext visited Augusta, Georgia, where according 70
all accounts, most amentable decrease IN the supply
OF shad has existed for some time. Mr. J. Hggs of No
Elisst an intelligent fisherman, informed me
that 1t was his belief that there were not
oneeighth az many shad in the Savannah
River AT the present time formerly. He attributes
the decrease the numerous traps and nets
used since the war, and tho ORh from the
gasworks and papermills near the city OF
savannah. lie further informed me that shad
running up the river and meeting from the sources men
toned impurities in the water, would retreat TO Broad
River below the city His statements cOrrObOrated
by Powell of the City Marshals Office and other per-
sons Intelligence. do not doubt the correctness 0t
the Of Mr.. Hggs TO a certain extent but consider
the chief offending to be the numerous traps ana
nets which cover the of the river from It's mouth II
Augusta. Al TINS datei there are perhaps $50
between Savannah and Augusta, while the average
daily haul per net Is not more than 20 shad
Byinvitation visited Mr.. POwells fishery aud found
il TO be an admirable location for Matching purposes ON
account OF the natural advantages surrounding It, and
the fact that fish taken than at any other
point the except. 1t may be, at the traps OF Mr.
Thos Hecklc about five miles above the city. The nets
used BY Mr. Powell are OF ordinary gilhug Irvine. with
5nch mcsh and yards in length aud Is feet deep
When shed the nets drifted mile or 80 down the
river at intervals during the day and night Mr. Powell
estimates the decrease in the supply OF Sad IN the last
five years AZ Oue-hal aud considers 20 FISH fair daily
average during the season. At this date, April c. "a
hours fishing with three has resulted in the capture
OF = shad This. however far above the number or
diuary taken in the time mentioned According to this
gentleman shad make their appearance nthe Savannah
near Augusta early in March Tins year, however owing
10 the backwardncss Of Spring they did not appear until
three weeks later than the usual time. They are taken
until late IN Nay.
Mr. Tnos. Hecklc. who also valuable fishery
five miles above Augusta, stated does not use nets,
the shad by OF traps formed Of stakes
Of wood Mr. Hcckle takes in these traps not more
haps, than ten FISH per day average during the
shad season but Notwithstanding the limited catch,
have hesitation In recommending his fishery "a Ia
yorabe for Matching house, since in the traps the fish
remain alive until the OF their removal whereas
in the drftuets they frequently drowned. and
thereby rendered useless far their spawn IS con
cerned Mr. Heckle informed that nc had tshed the
savannah Tor number Of years, and that eight years
ago 800 shad taken at a single haul At present
haul Of 40 seldom occurs. They sell readily at from
70 cents TO 81 Is per pair while formerly they brought
but from cents cents each. The shad spawn viii
bc ripe in about ten days hence.
Rock are quito numerous the Savannah later in the
season. although they too have greatly decreased in
|
| among fishermen that they spawn as near the head
waters OF the nvcr rs II Is possible for them get Mr.
lIecke earnestly recommends nat the Commissioner 81
Fsh ana FL HERES authorize the introduction and
reproduction of the rrdbclied perch and baldheaded
hream common IN this eghborhoOd into more northern
waters well as into the waters OF this vicinity These
fish. he informs me- are highly esteemed ana readily
command high price. some In years since ne placed
! few Dream into pond on bis pantition which have
increased thousand fold, the species appearing 10 do
quito well IN the sluggish water Of the pond as in the
My nexJ point was Columbia. South Carolina. In
former years COngtee aud Watercc Rivers near Co
umDa, were justly considered most excellent hNnIng-
grounds for shad SuCh however Is not the at the
present time has been for several years past not
sufficient number OF Shad beng taken Ia warrant the
expenditure either lime or money IN their canture.
4 few caught occasionally near the city IN scoop
Eets, aut 4larll organized Establishing Is carried
/ WAS impossible the of the de
Euc, are still caught IN these waters but not
/ 10 any great cNteut
DE,rEAsE n PARTS on NORTH CAROLINA.
At wilmington. " c.. the next place VISITED, found
the condt ion OF affairs with regard 10 the decrease OF
shad. TO be- about the that which existed at
Columbia and Augusta. owing TO the peculiar charao
ter of te and BANKS of the Cape Fear River
seine are used its for shad fishing. the only
means employed being duit-nelS Intelligent observers
that the daily catch of tins sh IN me Cape Fear
between the mouth OF the river ana Fayetteville Is not
~ present more than 100 pairs Her ten years ago.
hlad SOFA ~ from rl-ht 10 'ch 'ehn V''t' lHl no"
bring from ca cents 81 y apar The cause Of the de-
could moi he gsccrluned. fOunu va very few
informed that five years since haul OF $50 pairs in
! a single day was unite "A common occurrence; today
thry seldom take over ~ pairs rue hIsl shad Oh the
present season were two taken on the Sh Of January
none, however were Nun'''hlp seen uul the ON oi
February. wbrn The NUMBER began 10 increase AZ TINS
date ttprIl 81 the spawn Is not near ripe The shad
season closes here ia tIc latter part OF April
In the WILMINGTON market | observed numbers OF
/ drum. front. winning anu herring from Masonb0ro'
! sound. Herring, however, arc not 80 abundant as
formerly Tt" price they command ~ this point Is from
s. o. - pcr 900 though "a the Sound miles dis
iinl, thcy be- nad or 30 cents per loo. They APP
pear early IA April, al which time the spawn h Well
advanced. learned from the fishermen that n the