The New York herald., 1878-03-15
SHAD.
rHEiD EARLY APPEARANCE IN THE NORTH
RIvER-HIsToRY AND MIGRATORY HABITS OF

RIvER-HIsToRY AND MIGRATORY HABITS OF
THE rIsH- PRICES, QUANTITY AND QUALITY.
It. was announced in the HxRALD of Wednesday
that on the day previous tho first sad OF the
had been caught In tho North River, of Wcehawken
THIS capture just all hrst captures OF shad have
been from time immemorial, Ii an occasion OF
wontcd excitement among hotel keepers and market
people, who exchanged bets to the date upos
which II would be made. In former years tho nra
shad was always expected ON ST. PAtrck's Day but
OF ate years has not made its appearance before
Goth or 25th of tho month. and the usually
reaches its height by the middle OF April. larger
catch of shad expected this season, for tho
that In 1874 Mr. Seth Green, superintendent OF tho
stato Hatching Works, turned loose into the North
River a. 70o COO young shad arsnciully hatchcd and
as II takes teo years for shad 10 attain its growth
It is consequently expected that the present year will
be unusually productive. 88t
snAD HArcnyS0.
Tho history Of the shad may be briefly told. Whom
the young shad turned loose romans IN the river
until iall when goes TO tho sea, but TO which par
tcuar part Of tho sea, however. Is unknown Il then
returns to tie place OF It's birth three. alter
turc shad. tsst
Tho Matching house Tor shad is located the North
River, few miles above Albany. The process
Matching is as follows Tho ripe female 1sh taxcn
ana stripped 1t is caod by gently passing the hand
over tho belly Of the fish, whom tho eggs out into
a pam Tho maie hsh Is then taken and subjected 10
the same manipulation by which tho melt squeezed
into the pan with tho female oggs. Then tho whole
mass IS gently stirred with glass rod that each
egg becomes impregnatod with the melt The eggs
ure then placed Matching boxes hatching box Is
u small square compartment the bottom Of which ts
CONSTRUCTED oil fine wire cloth These boxes arc care
a n tue waos
tho wire cloth over the eggs In few
weeks tho young shad haschod, and after Keeping
river to take care OF themselves. II II estimated that
each female shad will produce on average forty
thousand eggs
The enliro number o. snad taken In thoONorth
hundred ana twenty thousand per year The lowest
price they touch IN tho wholesale market moro has
shaa usually brings S. then the price gradually tails
TO 81 81, 81 25, 81 90 cents At the height OF the
Che price Of snsd Is as low as x cents
each ut Wholesale Tho retailers mako profit OF from
TO ~ cents each. Altogether the shad business
Ia tho North River OF about three months,
valuc some $40 600. These statistics may
DO altogether correct, for the reason that ado
Quatc provision has been made by tho State for the
collection OF more accurate Information, winch Ia
now mostly based upon estimates OF which the above
mny be taken as a fair approximation.
NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR risH STATISTICS.
The United States Commissioner OF Fsheries. Pro.
blanks and sen. them to ce nied by ali tho prominens
dealers IN fish IN this market. T. 9. Backford beng
s
tho number of fish taken In tho North River and ad-
jacont waters
leans, as they publish reports in ertenso, continuing
the minutest details OF the value OF the coast and
river fisheries OF tho Dominion down 70 the value OF
half pound OF salmon On account Of tho complete
ness OF their statistics and the meagreness Of the
American the Canadians were enabled 10 obtain the
award Of $4,000 900. that sum beng determined as
the value o the snng privileges accorded the United
Statos over the value oil the pshing privileges con-
ede v O @ Dominion.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHAD.
Tho misra.ory habits OF 9th the . snad have always
IN the study oi pscIcuture. IL 10 said the first shad
Of the season makes its annual appearance In the ST.
Johus River, Florida carly IN December. Those shuA
rather dn.nutve IN size averaging about two and
half pounds each. flavor also being iuferior.
the Ogeeches River, Georgia These latter shad are
very much larger, tatter and better favored than
those oi Florida. They are commonly known as the
| Savannah shad.
Iu The latter part OF February shad make their ap.
excel all Other southern shad IN size and flavor and
the oest that como 70 the Northern market from
| the southern waters.
Potomac and tho James River (Virgnia) shad, which
come IN carly Ia March. The latter esteemed By
| Tho Now YORK market The Potomac shad, however,
Inferior both In s,ze and quality the flesh being
| softer
The prices OF the above Southern shad vary In this
market according 70 the quantity and quality. The
first from Florida bring 81 each, rapidly declining
80 cents as tho season advances The 0goochos shad
| commence 81 90, seldom selling at than Is
| cents. Tho Mouse Rivcr and James River shad sell
readily at 81 each until tho regular North River shad
como into the market.
Not many Delaware shad arc sent to the New York
Market as Philadelphia absorbs almost the cntro
eaten. They arc undoubtedly an excellent 6sh, and
by Pennsyivanians are esteemed beyond all otncrs
aud sell tor botter price among them than they
would In the Now York market.
Conneclcut River shad will mako their appearance
this year about April ], allowing for the advanced
season In New York and other waters. The Con-
necticut shad considered superior 10 all Others
both IN weight and flavor. IL 70 > great favorite
among connoissours and highly roshed by those who
do not profess much proficiency the gastronomio
art Last year tho Connoctlcut shad brought high
prices this market owing 70 very small CATCH
What tho yield the present season will be prob
lcmatca.
and OF tho Connecticut River the shsd do
rot reach high degree o perfection as they
do further SOUTH aud aro caught In very small guam.
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