New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-03


boro. n. G., and II this industry IS continued we must
expecr in short tine the sane dcporabe scarcity Of
Mr. b. b. Lane. another Intelligent fisherman and nj 40
for years dealer, informs as follows: "shad
generally make their first appearance In the IN the
middle OF January the first this year being
Jan. During the present season from tho latter date
to April TO- six dealers have handled Newbern alone
no less than 5000 sbad by actual count In addition
there some six or light other dealers who probably
a fair estimate have handled 5000 more and n we
take this number IA indicating one half the entire catch
would have In round numbers the Of 10000 h.h
I am inclined to believe this a very moderate estimate
for the Neuse since many shad are taken at Knston
Godsboro Smitied ana other points on the river, OF
which account has been made and have no dOubt
that than 10000 had caught during the entire
In this river. The pTee OF shad has yared very
little In the last 10 year, the retail price being about 70
and the wholesale 40 ceuts per pair From this point
shad shipped in ice TO all parts of the Southern states
AhOugh herihS are sun very numerous ln thJ FIln
ty OF NewbeTD, the general impression prevails that
the supply has somewhat decreased within few years
These ish appear TO enter the river IN thIse waahes
40 called the first and largest OF which takes place
at the fishery OF Mr. Parish was % 800 lie Informs
that at this date he has taken at one haul over 10000
Mr. Is. H. Lane states, with regard 20 herring, that
the six firms above alluded TO have handled upward Of
i5ooO within the past 10 days and that tho other dealers
have probably handled 10000 but that the tOtu OF
these Is but small proportion OF th5 whole
number caught, as the citizens probably buy
twice IA many from the bOanen. He thinks that mil
lion and half have been taken during the period in
question, and that still greater number was taken In
haul OF herring made m tins river 1900 by Mr.
Crimson These fish are seen a. early the middle Of
April the spawn well advanced aud there Is no doubt
the fish up tho creeks and head waters % rivers 10
deposit their egg. The price OF herring varies very
little. They command nc wholesale s. 90, ami nc retail
about 50 per 1909 The prices are much lower than be-
Rock are quite numerous and up TO this time from the
lat OF January about 5000 have been handed by the
deaefs 10 Is thought they have decreased IN numbers
during last i've years They are taken during nearly
the entire year They sell at from TO 10 cents per
Is not known; probably cold Winters, IN which they per-
sh IN great numbers, may have an effect. Al KnsIon.
Newborn few shad have been taken, but not a sui.
hcout number however torender Their lsnng remuner-
alive. Seincs and drift nets are used here
CoSTRyANCEs THAT CAPTURE ALL THE FISH
At Goldsboro, also, on the Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad some miles from Newbern, shad are taken.
but IN smaller quantities than at Knson. AT Smith
field ON the railroad leading to Raleigh vast numbers OF
shad were taken In former years; now, however but
little fishing is carried At this point Just here
ON the Neu.e are series OF small idls, beyond Nhch
the fish seldom pass, although formerly NUMBERS were
taken within six miles of Raleigh. ,
At Rocky Mount situated on the lar lsVcf on tne ra
road b. tween G0l1sbOrO ana Weldon M. Splcer owns
quite an extensive shad fishery hut the number Of ish
secured here ia nowise compares with the number taken
nj the fisheries lower down the stream.
The next point Of Importance which visited was
Weldon n e.. Here had inc gOOd loItune 70 meet WIN
MIR John Enry proprietor Of the Emry House, Mayor OF
the city ana Controller Of all the fisheries on TINS part OF
the Roanoke River In THIS Ocaty shau H'hlhe Il CAT
ried on by means sCOOpnets and what are technically
called "1shsdes." The scOopnets, when "a use, are
allowed trail IN the rear 81 the boats when are per
tuittDd 10 drift slowly down the stream lhe nshShdes
are solid and substantial struc lures Dht or timber ana
are placed the strongest currents jus. below the ias
al this point these falls prevent tue higher Navigation
Of tine river the suad seeking tine hrid waters % ihe
stream I'm eudra yOng % find their way above the Tails,
get into the aud are at once washed upon the
Of the slide, winch SAINTS upward nom the Dot
tom OF the river Tue force Of the current eHectuay
prevents their return Owing TO the Ingenious cOnsruc-
ton OF theoe traps, and the WellchOsen positions ia
WHICH they are placed, It is almost impossible for
n to escape them NJ seeking higher part OF the river
Mr. Enry Informed me thar his average daily eaten OF
shad for the season perhaps p or % Commencing
lrly
Der reported by Mr. EIry Is / believe low estimate
since n,v.elf .aq AT a time when the shad not
running u taken upon the slide, ithin two hours
Is his opinion that the supply has decreased IN the
Roanoke NJ least Onchalf in the last ten years and with
ue dnfereuce TO hi. ingenious method ~ fishing, must
say that in ny opinion, n tns plan Is continued shad
viii have disappeared almost enurey from THESE waters
Tho price Of shad very little at this point GO
cents being about the average price per pair. The
weeks from thi, date. April lj
fish found In the Roanoke sturgeon forming 10 mcon-
siderable item, while catfish suckers, ana redhO-e are
rock resort 10 tnis locality in enormous numbers and
am informed that with two men constantly employed
mn rho sItde 10 remove them il u almost impossible
ma Nc room for the succeeding ones. Nj EmrN face
ousy observed that should the Commission desire the
eggs Of the rock, he could furnish CARLOAD IN Two
From weldon proceeded to Norfolk Va, where the
the decrease in The supply Of shad WAS Itpeaed LaLh
ing OF no favorable localities IN ths nelgDborhood Tor
tnc establishment OF hatchiug hOuse,, delayed only
long enough 10 enable me TO collect specimens oi the
foodhshes OF the waters contiguous TO the ctty.
From the testimony of the individuals have men
toned, all iaJT less directly interested III shad-
.hng t Is very evident that the supply OF this hsh has
been steadily decreasing and continues 20 decrease year
by year throughout Southern waters; ana Iurtner ~ is
my sincere belief that unless some means are employer
tn correct the state affairs existing IN the sections
visited, a short time tables VIII no longer De sup
Piled with this delicate and highly valued 1sh. whose
advent i'm the Spring IL so eagerly anticipated.
As localities for Matching houses, have no hesitation
in recommending Augusta. Ga, Newborn, N c., and
Weldon " c., since am OF the opinion that the ripe
sad spawn be obtained in tue best possible cOnd
ton for prOpagatug purposes at these points. would
also that the ApalachicOla, the Savannah,
the Cape Fear the NeuSe, and the Roanoke Rivers be
stocked with shal, close communication being made
with an these streams by railroad.
In conclusion, am happy IN being able 10 state that
ut every place visited tue greatest interest
manifested IN the operations Of the Fish Commission,
while the hope was expressed every hand that the
enterprise about To he inaugurated throughout the south
and West, restocking the southern waters WIth food
fishes, mi ht prove emIncItly successful
III. G. IARoW, A. \. surgeon, L. > A.