The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-05-01
HoYT g. CO., Froprietors

HOYT g. CO., Proprietor
The shsd FISHERIES Of the Savannah River.
Hon.seth Greep, of New York, . now on a
visit to. Augusta for the purpose of restocking
the Savannah River with shad, by certain
and rapid process of Matching, which will in
sure an almost, ine1haustible supply of this
delicious fish. Mr.. Green has much expert
ence in the artificial propagation of fish, and
is an exceedingly intelligent, well-inforuaed
gentleman. He served for several years as
one OF the Commissioners Of Fisheries in the
State, of New York, being associated with
Hon, Horatio Seymour and Hon. Robert B.
Roosevelt in The discharge of this important
duty, and give some idea of what has been
accomplished there, the report. of the New
York Commissioners shows that last year Mr..
Green placed seven millions and "a half Of
Young shad in the Hudson River, besides
stocking different. lakes and rivers with inn
mense numbers of other fish. At the last ses-
sion of Congress, en- appropriation was made
,for! restocking the,depleted rivers of the coln-
try, and Mr.. Green has been selected to take
charge of the work on account of his great
ability and experience. Bis witt to Augusta
lis in discharge of this duty, and an examina-
tion satisfies him that the Savannah River can
be easily replenished, SO, that in three years,
which is the time required for the full growth,
that stream will Ibe perfectly alive with fine,
fat shad. If he can procure sufficient NUM-
ber of what is termed sriipe" fish, Mr.. Green.
will begin at once the process of Matching out
spawn in his patent boxes, although q partial
investigation among the fsheriep about Angus
ia Indicates that his visit is too early in the
season to obtain the proper fish. 5..ss.ei.5s,e
Asa matter of. interest to our readers, we
copy the following description of the Matching
process from recent number of the Augusta
Chronicle and Sentinel, = + n ,@
When che mature shad prepare to perform
the dutytof propogating their race they direct
their energies to that, and without intermission.
They seem to be pressed by an overpowering
necessity, and will do their best to overcome
all obstacles that.nature or art may have placed
in their way, IandA they never rest until they
have reached their proper spawning grounds.
In March they make their appearance at the
mouth of the Hudson, and continue to- arrive
until June, when the fishing at the estuary
portion ceases, and so much of the school as
has escaped the net of the fisherman is at its ap
pointed work of continuing its species. In this
month the water is in its best condition, and
at the proper temperature for this purpose;
that is to say, during this time il is less subject
to disturbance by freshets, and ranges from
sixty-fiye to seventy-fve degrees of heat. One
of the most fatal causes of injury to the spawn
is the 1diseoloration produced By heavy rains
and consequent rise of water, signifying as it
does that large amount of earthly matter is
held in suspension, and will in the end be de-
posted upon the, impregnated eggs. The trst
essential to the safe Matching OF the latter is
the continued contact Of pure water, and silt
rdift deposited upon them will smother them
as surely as the deprivation of air will kill q
terrestrial animal Once let them be covered
over and life is extinguished Immediately, and
even the cessation of q steady flow of water all
around them will cause their death finally
Matching operations have to be carried On with
this important point always in view, and the
patent boxes invented by Mr.. Seth Green are
especially constructed in compliance with this
necessity. Another cause of loss arises from
the number of eggs which are swept away by a
rapid current, as they are so light as to scarce
ly sink, having but little greater specific grav-
ity than water. The ordinarily placid and
equable weather Of June is favorable to both
these conditions, without whick shad would
hardly have held their own against the diff
culties of existence For the purpose of spawn
ing they seek parts of the river where there is
steady current and rocky or pebbly bottom,
and can be distinctly heard of still night
making peculiar duttering noise when they
are in the act of parturition, if that word can
be used, an act which is performed by the males
and females simultaneously. The spawn is i'm
pregnated by the milt the moment it is exuded,
and then gradually sinks to the bottom prey
to all manner of insects and TO- many species
of small fishes Shad do not spawn during the
day, but commence these operations about dusk
and continue them till midnight. For the pur-
pose of artificial cultivation they must be taken
when they are perfectly ripe, as.it is called, 10
other words when the eggs are mature and
ready to be deposited in the natural way. So
it is over these beds, and during the first half
of the night, that the seines are swept to catc11
the spawDers and milters which are to be man.
ipulated scientifically, as they are thus secured
In their best condition. The moment the seine
is hauled, its contents of all sorts is ladled with
a scoop-net into boat, and while it Is being
set again the fish are handled. The manipula-
tor has in front Of him on one of the thwarts a
tin pan containing little water and taking
fish after fish he holds it over this with one
hand and gently presses its belly with the
other. The ready performance of this is a
matter of practice, and if the eggs and milt
are ripe they will exude under slight pressure
As fast as the fish have been stripped, males
and females being used indiserinlinately, they
are thrown into another boat, being subsequent
ly sold in market for about the same price as
the unstripped shad.
When the fish have all been stripped or the
nan Ia frlll il is kent in pentla motion for ff