The New York herald., 1879-03-29
WELCO NJ E SHAD.
The First Capture This Sea-
son in the Hudson.
FULTON MARKET EXCITED.
Some Account OF the Habits
Of Favorite Fish.

Few OF the people who pass to and fro in the vi.
cinity of Fulton ferry know appreciate the pc
culiar charms that belong to the heaps of lnny
treasures OF the deep which displayed upon the
stands of the fish marketmen. A glowing descrip-
ton might be written of them. but the business Of
reporter of the HERALD in visiting that
locality yesterday was to find wonderful shad
and feast his eyes thereon-wonderfui. because il
WAS large and handsome and the first victim of the
seasons fishery in the Hudson River. The advent
of this shining trophy is annual event of as much
moment in the fish market the solemn wedding
OF Venice to her august spouse. the Adriatic, in
the city of the Doges. 1t marks the commencement
of the summer of fish, delectable the epicure
for the prospect of many exquisite morses and to
the fishermen and dealers because of probable profits.
RECENT DETERIORATION OF THE sHAD
For the past few years the catching of shad in the
Hudson has been less extensive than it formerly was
and the fish have been Of an inferior quality. This
decadence has been attributed to two causes-the
depletion OF the stock by a too rapid consumption
and the latencss of the Mr.. Seth Green ia
sufficient authority for the first opinion and the
older fishermen unite in saying that the silvery
river princes have been repeatedly kept away by
the low temperature of the water until they were
so far matured as to be Less delicate and savory,
the other have been lured the fresh water
by premature warmth while they were small and
lean thus in either beying the unique reputa-
ton as food for gods and men,. The truth OF this
qualities of the shad which canght in widely
separated streams. For instance. the Florida shad.
which make their appearance in the st. Johns River
in the month of December, inferior to the North
Carolins shad. which,, i'll turn, not SO good as
surpassed in nutrtiousness and sweet
ness by those of the Delaware, which again
must yield the palm to the shiny visitors to own
broad Hudson The Connecticut River shad are the
best that come to this market Those which are
found farther north apt to become too aged be-
fore they submit themselves to the gentle OF
the net In any locality however if they their
native waters two or three weeks later than their
ordinary time of arrival the deterioration is certain
to be observed. They usually appear ut Charleston
some time in January at Norfolk in February. in
by the end OF April and in the Bay Of
Fundy in the middle ot May Their life is believed
rivers IN the early par of afe
the apple orchards in full bloom, which the sh.
ermen mysteriously associate with. their luck. The
old ones return to the in August and the young
migrate in September. when they three or four
inches in length An idea OF their fecundity may be-
formed when it is stated that the average yield Of
eggs from one female, as ascertained by piscicul-
turists, is l0,27S.
The first Hudson River shad OF the season lay in
state yesterday on the stand of tho lucky Fulton
Market fish dealer who had obtained the remains at
public auction for the fabulous Of So The bid
ding for the honor Of performing the last rites was
quite lively and even after 1t was all emulous
hotel keeper eager complete their decent bestowa
offered IS to their proud possessor. Even that sum
at this triumphant moment seemed paltry and was
rejected. great bulletin was posted outside tho
market with letters US huge those which
would announce to the gaping crowd victory OF
irst shad of the season had been caught of the
Ely sian Fields" The attraction powerful to
be resisted, and straightway hundreds rushed into
the market to gaze upon the prone Aiosa prastab
She-for it of the feminine gender-had been
tendcry deposited in the midst OF heaps of the fnny
kind. all OF them cleaning in their scaly like
old Triton himself There, close at hand. were her
cousins and her aunts OF the watery fef of the
nxl.x ..k1.a
collateral line which enjoy the rich and pleasant
subaqueous meadows of the Connecticut. The first
and ther dorssl hns had peculiar twist, exc
pressive Of patrician style OF swimming unknowu
in tho severely democratic waters of New York.
LOOKED.
She was indeed plump and graceful shad boauti.
full in forn-not Ia Worth. by the way-and wear
ing coat OF scales upon which were reelected from
the sunlight the choicest tints of the rainbow Her
back was Of q dark blue. shaded of into rich
purple; then pink and finally. on the belly. TO .
silvery gray. When held in certain positions q
summer of silver seemed to flash all over it. The
few hours before this princely shad had been
merrily swimming the happy hours away on her
way to the bowers Of love sacred to- her race on
the Esopus Flats.
It was about three O'Clock in the morning just
before the dawn, when the fisherman stolo from
the shadow OF the classic Elysian grove got his
boat and softly pulled out TO his weirs 1t what
is called the -high water lift tull tide Imagine
his delight when hc pulled up his meshes and found
his fondest hope realized. The first shad! Without
losing a moment he placed 1t i'll q box half filed
with water and rowed for the New York shore. No
had he landed than he hsstened the Fulton
Fish Market to reap the tu beneit OF his good
tune.
The number of the river engaged in shad
fishing during the Is usually from $50 to l000
Even the farmers who live near the shore devote
their time TO it long 1t lasts 1t s generally
over in the Hudson about the middle OF june in tho
Connecticut about the list OF July and in the Della
ware about the LIST OF June Good shad have been
caught in the Hudson Oh the 4th of July. but very
rarely By that time they have usually deposited
hair ufdnra ur.6f
very unhealthy.
The shad caught yesterday weighed four and three
quarter pounds when taken out OF the water. but
only four and half several hours afterward. Much
larger specimens found in the Connecticut some
of them weighing as much eight pounds. IL iaH
expected that few more Hudson River shad will be,
received ON Monday. The price for y few days wiz