The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-06
The Fisheries OF tho s,na"- -. 's,,.
I'm thc Number OF Fis" C"' u
Southcru Winters.

, Tho Fisheries Of the Hssua"r
A., thc Number OF FISH 1s ia
| Southern Waters.
I.n;,cd states Fish Commissioner IarTo"
| hoan Intoxicating in the States oil VT
a;,., North and South Carolina, and Geor-
81, IN crard 10 the slad, herring, and rock
0Shcr;es with q. view to inquiring into the
,,Icccd decrease OF these fish aud the best
methods of and most favorable localities for
establishing latching-houses for their arti'
fetal propagation.
lie reports that he visited Richmond or
the Sd Of April. Here he says:
Il visited the fish market. but found oh,s
few of the abov" mentioned species OF h.n'
The limited number Of Shad for St'c co'n
manded a price beyond the means OF MOS,
persons. On inp,ring the cause OF trS
learned that but Il small number were 10"
caught in the James river, ana tli;' , iol NV
yc,rs past the supply had been Stc'"l't ~,
crra>i;;,, ut The rate OF probably ten per c.,!.
annually: thai to such an extent ','o '"'.
Ir,rr,sr continued that hu; few fishermen
were wil!in. 10 Iik their iiailtco cap''a ~
an occurtion promising such neaS'c re-
salts. The cause of the decrease was FaI'-
ou,ly stated. Traps, filth from the sewers OF
me city. constant fishing. and Inc pifinS OF
numerous Stcamvcs.cS, are tholi%ht 10 oliNe
the fish from their SpawninS-bcds.
The shad met with commanded rcad!
sale at from G5 cents 10 81 per pair. Az inns
time (Arril - the spawn was not Wlln''i
three weeks of being ripe. The fist Shau ol
the season were taken in the latter part OF
February. The fishermen generally expect
the season TO close ABOUT The last OF May.
Herring aboundcd III this market. lhcy
were from Pamlco and Albcmarle SOUNDS.
The price asked for them was from 81 TO GO
Der ,0C0. Some rockf-h were also seen
which were taken near the city; these
brought fl ON 10 10 cents per pound"
Or. Narrow found great decrease in tie
quantity of fish caught at other points In
Virginia. in parts of North Carolina, and in
Georgia. He comments severely OH the use
of traps which capture all The fish. His re-
port concludes as follows:
"From Weldon proceeded to Norfolk,
Va, where the story heard 50 often within
the past few days regarding The decrease IN
the supply of shad WIS repeated. Learning
o! no favorable localities in this neigll"or-
hood for tive establishment of liatchlnS-
houses, delayed only long enough to ena'
ole ME TO collect specimens of the tood-tlshcs
of the waters contiguous to the city.
From testimony OF the individuals
have mentioned, all more or less directly ~
tcrc>lcd in slad-ii>hing. il il very evident
that tie supply of this fish has been steadily
decreasing, and continues to decrease year
bv vear throughout southern waters; and
turtncr, it is my sincere belief that unless
some means are employed 10 correct the
state OF affair, now existing in the sections
visited, In q short time our tables viii no
longer be supplied with this delicate and
bighy-valued fish. whose advent in the
Spriag is so eagerly anticipated.
;" As localities Tor bachiuG-houSe> have
no hesitation in recommending Augusta,
Ga, Ncwjern, \. c., and Weldon, y. G.,
since am Of The opinion that The ripe SlIId
spawn can DC obtained in the best possible
condition for pfopagatiug purposes ut these
points. | would also recommend that The
Apalachicola, the Savannah. the Cape Fear,
The NcuSe. and tie Roanoke rivers be re-
stocked with silad, close communication
Being made with all these streams ~ rail-
road.
in conclusion, I am happy in being able
TO state that at every place visited the great
est interest was manifested in the operations
of the Fish Commission, while the hope was
expressed on every land that the enterprise
about to lie naucuratcd throughout the
south and West in restocking the southern
waters with fuod-lisiirs might prove chi
ucutly. successful