The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-24
Shad Culture.

The recent report Of the Commissioners Of
Fisheries of the State of New York recalls the
interesting subject of propagating this excel
lent table fish in our own waters. The shad is
certainly the best table fish in existence, ex-
cept possibly the speckled trout of mountain
streams A few words about their habits may
not be out of place.
They remain three or four years in the ocean
before attaining to maturity but they do not
roam the "vasty Deep" preferring to remain
quietly near the streams of their birth until
the time comes to seek the fresh water, and
complete their duties of procrcation. They
usually enter the Florida rivers in February,
and as the season advances and the temperature
of the water increases, the people along more
northern streams are made happy. The shad
will grow and live in the sea, but it cannot
breed there and although it will live and
breed to the end in the fresh water, still it is
doubtful whether that element alone will pro-
duce fish of full proportions. When the ma
ture shad prepare to perform the duty of prop
agating their race they direct all their energies
to overcoming the obstacles that nature and
art may have placed in their way. Every fish
that escapes the nets and snares at the estuary
goes straight to the proper spawning grounds,
without once stopping to chat with the old-time
residents of the stream that he annually visits.
The young fish has to earn his own living
from the first moment of his watery life. They
become the only haryesters of the fields of the
sea that grow vast amount of nutritious veg
etable food. Some species, such as the white
fish and suckers, subsist alone on the meadows
below the tide but the fish of our story, in
common with most other varieties, is of a can
nibalsh turn of mind. He swallows his lesser
fnny brethren without compassion. And thus
YOU see that the culture of fish enables US to
utilize what would otherwise be lost to mans
profit.
Nor is the value of fish flesh rightly under
stood A pound of shad contains as much
nutriment as pound of steak cut from the
best quarter of beef in the markets, and will
sustain human life equally we'll. 1t supplies
phosphorus to the brain and nerves, which is
as essential to perfect health as glute or starch;
and, at certain seasons of the year, it is far
more wholesome than the grosser food of ter
restial animals or BIRDS A wise economy of
natural resources, therefore, will never over
look this easily-secured "harvest of the sea-"
The principal work of the New York Com
Seymour, Jas. NJ. Smith and Robert B. Roose-
velt-was directed to stocking the upper waters
of the Hudson River with shad In six weeks,
beginning on the 18th day of May, they cap
tured 4,527 mature shad, and from these $780,
900 spawn were extracted On account of the
interposition of nets at every available point,
the breeding of shad has declined until the
ordinary yearly production of the river, from
its mouth to the Troy Dam, does not exceed
one million full grown fish. The addition of
S,5OO,OOO of young must largely increase the
supply. The Commissioners now propose that
law be passed forbiddng the use Of nets from
Saturday night until Monday morning of every
week. Successful steps have also been taken
towards stocking the Genesee River of that
State with the same kind of fish. The Genesee
is small stream, full of impossible falls and
the shad must live, breed and be caught there
in, without once seeing the waters of the ocean,
or even Of the great lake at the rivers mouth.
Now, gentlemen Of the jury, or rather of the
Legislature, do you perceive the drift of this
article? The expense is trfing; the results
are sure and of incalculable profit to the people
of the State; and the natural opportunities
unsurpassed. Our own rivers, now almost
barren of fish, might easily be made to yield
large crop of this most desirable and nutritious
food. No one man, or set of men, can be ex-
pected to do the work, besause the harvest
would glide away from them into undeserving
nets 1t is properly and rightly the work and
duty of the State. Please make note thereof,
We men in authority Atlanta Constitution.