The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
SOUGHT ADVICE OF FIsHERMES.
Results or the FSsk Connissios's I.ssiriss
Akoa< shs ShaA Supply.

The New York State Fish Commission has
tried in vain, year after year. TO solve the prob
lem OF increasing the shad catch in the Hudson
and Raritan rivers. Artificial propagation of
shad fry. begun twenty years ago. has apparently
had little result in increasing the supply. This
fall the Fish Commission has sought and OBJ
tained advice from the shad fishermen them
selves with interesting results, and In the report
Of the Commissioners to the State Legislature in
January the Commissioners will ask for the
passage of a law restricting SEEMING OF shad.
The Commissioners OF Fisheries last summer
turned over 10 President l.. ID. Huntington OF
the Commission the task Of communicating
with the shad fishermen. The most difficult
part of his Job was TO ind them. State lnspec-
tors In the department and personal friends OF
the members OF the Board were pressed into
service as detectives. In August the names and
addresses OF $50 shad fishermen were In posses
sion of President Huntington. They did not all
live near the Hudson or the Bay. Most OF the
shad fishermen who set their stake nets or their
Ail-deyAstating pound nets. near this city live in
the southern part of New Jersey. Some come
from Philadelphia others from Baltimore. On
Aug. 90 blank forms, with . stamp enclosed for
reply, were sent TO the $50. This ID the form OF
the letters sent to all:
Tho Commissioners OF Fisheries OF the State
of New York are anxious TO obtain accurate in
River and RaFitan Bay in order to enable them
to make every possible effort to increase the
present supply. Please give them near as
possible your catch for this season, and your
opinion as to what steps should De taken 70 in
crease the supply"
The following Is a copy of the printed circular
and the reply sent by Mr. Lem futile Of Yer
planck, Westehester County n, Y:
o.-what wAs about the date of the nrst shsd taken
By you this seasonf A.-ApnlS.
o.-About what was he " hole number OF shAd taken
By you this season A.-AbOut l5o0.
Q-About what ~as the date OF the best run this
ssasoni A.-From April 81 20 April 30
o.-whAt style of = net do you nsh with A--oil
net
o-HO~ does your catch this season compare With
your catch OF the past ave ssasOns' A little over
one half.
Q-In your opinion what steps should he taken 70
increase the supply OF shad In the Hudson RiysT'
A-To stop all seine fishing for them at the head OF
the rivers where they spawn
o-WhAt Was the number Of salmon, II any, taken
By you this ssason? A--Scne
o.-AbouI what Was their size A.
o.-What disposition made Of them. -
Q-PIsass slate any further information 20 the
catch OF salmon from the Hudson River this ssasORs
Al wrote you once before.
President Huntington said yesterday 70 sUs
reporter 10 describing the result OF toe appeal;
More than 200 replies we're received. In re-
ply to the question as 20 the size Of the fisher
mems catch Of shad last sprinE, twsnty-ssy
cay that il Was the poorest In i've years. twenty
eight that Il vas not up 10 the average OF the
past ave years. Nine declared that their catch
vas twenty ave per cent. OF the average and
ave that theirs mas 'thiEty-thres psr cent Of
The average
-IhAA supposed that this sesLd = ths rsz-ll