The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-23
S H A D..
Important and Interesting Facts and Figures
on the Hudson River Fisheries.
Tho Daily Catch, and Men, Boats and Apparatus
Employed at Catshll, Rhinebeck, Kingston.
Hyde Park, Poughkeepsie, Low Point
Butchers Junction, Garrisons, Peeks-
kill, crugers Croton, Scar
borough and Newburg

P0UGHKEEPsIE. May %, 1873.
Shad fishing on the Hudson il now at its height.
The season this year will no doubt extend to the
18th OF June as thus far 1t has been very backward.
The business OF shad fishing Is important one to
scores OF families who depend upon IL in great
measure Tor their support, and every year those
who engage In 1t increase in NUMBERS. We have
been at considerable trouble and have consumed
much time In endeavoring to obtain full statistics
OF the business, and to certain extent have sue
ceeded beyond our expectations, though the de-
sired Information is not 80 full as we could
wish. However, what is at hand win with
out doubt prove interesting reading matter.
What is known as the .Poughkeepsie Reachn
extends from Crum Elbow four miles north OF this
city, to Milton, four miles south. On this reach
sixteen nets are IN daily use. Each net will when
stretched out extend from shore to shore, o dis.
lance OF over hall mile, ana one OF them Is so
long that when the west end Is held at point be-
tween Lloyd and Lewisburg, and the east end at
the steamboat dock, the bag part will lay on the
ferry dock. These nets, with boats to match, one
boat to net, cost about $500 and 10 men are
employed daily to handle each net and boat, each
man receiving about $50 per month during the
season. The 10 nets catch about 900 shad per day.
all Of which brought to this city and sold by the
hundred to street dealers and others. They are
also forwarded to Auburn, Syracuse, Schenectady
and other points in the Mohawk Valley, some
OF them having been sent during the past
week to the State Of Illinois. 1t Is also singular
fact relate that teamsters drivehere from towns
in Connecticut and loading their wagons with
shad, carry the hnny luxurles into the Nutmeg
State, selling them at great profit, some or the
teamsters clearing $50 per day each. This Is con-
sidered the best market Tor fishermen, shad sell
here on the average throughout the entire season
for $14 per 100. At present the demand Ii
much greater than the supply, wholesale dealers
running from 800 to 500 short daily.
sHAp SOUTH OF HERE.
At Low Point ten miles south Of this city, there
arc nets in the business Omen and boat to net.
The nets there when ready to put In the water cost
$3.50 each and in constructing them from As to
SIS pounds OF thread are used. The nets contain IS
''meshes," each mesh measuring inches
square. The fishermen at Low Point get $40 per
month and board to row the boats, and the man
who handles the nets gets $7b per month and
board $l75 per month: These nets catch about
100 shad per day. which sell sometimes for SIS per
1oo About 1000 shad have already been caught at
At Duchess Junction and vicinity there are
receive $50 per month and board. The catch is
very light in that locality thus far, the nets bring
ing up only 100 or $50 shad per day, for which $50
There are only two men fishing for shad at Cold
Spring, put they catch about one 100 per day, and
get SIS or $40 per 100 Tor them.
At Garrison's and West Point 40 or so men
are engaged. The helpers there get from $50 to
charge OF the nets from $50 to 500 per month
and board. These men have from 20 to Is
at that place are valued at from $500 to s4oO The
catch has averaged 100 shad to o net daily which
mand and supply. Some Of the fis6ermen use shot
nets, that Is, nets loaded with shot to keep them
In the "Peekskill Reach,n which extends from
Peeksktll to Haverstraw, go boats and nets are
engaged in shad fishing, each boat costing 500 and
each net l60 feet in length, costs 5000. Each net
averages $50 shad daily, or a grand total OF 1900
daily. There are about 100 men at work. who get
season the above vicinity has been the best thew
have seen for number OF years.
At Crugers men are fishing, who use
boats which cost 500 EACH Their nets are 900
feet in length and each net catches $50 shad daily.
per lOo., At Croton shad are caught on the
co-operation plan, and no stated wages are paid.
each having q share Of the proceeds. they have
Z boats and I nets each costing s15a Their
nets aT a zoo 1 Each ss net catches $50
In the. "Sing Sing reach" men are shad fish.
ing They own SSa their boats and FISH on shares.
loo. We have not spoken in detail OF New
burg shad fishing It is carried on there extern
svely but the statistics have not come to hand in
time for this article. She MIST use, however, ten
or twelve drift nets there. which win average loo
suAD SoRrH OF HERE.
North OF here commencing at Hyde Park the
Pa.n 10 nets and 10 men are employed ana
tne eaten averages 800 daily. The wages or the
men average soO.per month, and the market price
OF the snad varies from Sl4 to $2S per 100 fIvGa
Park shad net costs as follows =
sixty pounds Irvine. Observation-Disclosures. sso
Lead foats and seine lines
III
me largest catch there In one day this season
At Rhinebeck 20 men are engaged with IL boats
ana ~ nets, the latter measuring 200 fathoms each
me boats average loo shad daily, which sell
or SIG per 100. All the fishermen at Rhine
PECK are either interested In the nets or dsh IN
'hares-that IL. for u certain share of what
) caught. Fully Is men are also ennanad a.. .n~