Evening journal., 1890-06-10
THE SHAD SEASON CLOSED
MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN THE
OLDEST FISHERMAN S MEMORY.

All Due to the Eneotive Work of the
United States Fish Commission + The
Enormous Catch--A Steady Market aud
Excellent -Fishermen's Jubilee.
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
NEW CASTLE, June 10.--At 12 o'clock
to day the shad law went into effect,
thus ending one Of the most If not the
most successful seasons ever known on
the Delaware river. The shad, in size,
variety, favor and quantity were never
equalled, and many OF the local fishermen
have netted good round sums of money
from the seasons 8 work.
The first of the toothsome fsh were
brought to this city on March l. much
earlier than In any previous season. Sew
eral fish were brought into market that
day. and for them tS5 per hundred was
received. This very early haul was
great surprise to the oldest fishermen and
they Immediately began to prophesy that
an unprecedented season was at hand The
first catch was IN such great demand
that the fish were sold while alive
The largest shad ever caught in the
Delaware river we're brought into market
by New Castle fishermen this season.
The largest of all these was caught by
John Foster on April i6 and this nam
moth shad was viewed by hundreds Of
people, who were unanimous in the
opinion that the fish was without peer
in size. When taken out of the water
the angle tipped the beam at nine pounds
and twelve ounces. The fish was wanted
by everybody who saw it, and many flat
tering and tempting offers were made
before the sale was consummated.
Finally some anxious Wilmington people
procured the monster for $3.50.
Two-thirds Of the shad that were
brought to this city were handled by
John A. Walls, on the Delaware street
wharf He purchased and sold ~, 456
shad, which number is unprecedented in
the history of New Castle. He received
tie best of prices for the fish, the lowest
being $S and the highest $50 per hun
dred. His fish were bought and sold
exactly ss they were taken from the net,
and he did no retailing Ali the fish he
handled were sold at wholesale, either to
local dealers, traders or metropolitan
commission merchants. Joseph H. King,
another agent, handled over 20, 900 shad
during the season.
This has also been the greatest season
for traders that was ever known. Four
hfths of the shad brought to this mar
ket were disposed OF to the traders, who
came to this city from miles around,
and were supplied with the delicious Ash.
The work was so skillfully managed
that, although the wharves were covered,
many times, with the wagons waiting to
| be loaded, they were all filed in good
time, and with shad that were large
alive and kicking" These men, some of
whom travelled here from points
forty miles distant, were all honor
able men, and by their liberal
patronage, gave the local fisher.
men an excellent and ready market for
their fish. The dealers and agents de-
sire to extend their hearty thanks to
these traders for their patronage. and
will do their utmost to give them entire
entire satisfaction in the future. There
were many big days this spring. but
the biggest day" was Monday, April 29,
Below are few of the fishermen who
made enormous hauls on that day