New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-31
TIE VANISHING SHzD.
REASONS FOR IT'S INCREASING SCARCITY ~
NORTHERN WATERS FACTORIES AND
FOUND FISHING LARGELY RESPONSIBLE

REASONS FOR IT'S INCREASING SCARCITY IN
NORTHERN WATERS FACTORIES AND
FOUND FISHING LARGELY RESPONSIBLE
The growing scarcity OF shad n rivers o, the
New England and Middle states has been 4 serious
anxiety Of late years. II has been attributed to
various causes, and would seem 70 10 due in a
measure 20 Il o. them rather than n any one
Every m.dile-aSc1 man remembers when these
hsh II dug In the market AMI were pc idlol
In Ncw-EnGland towns A. 10 each. The
Thames. Connecticut End Housdtonic TENED
with the spawning fish every spring. The Govern
mcut hauled selncs and took young fry and spawn
10 stock Western rivers IN Oregon Washinston and
California. sixteen years shad were 70 be
found on the Pacific Coast. All that were planted
In California. taken together. are loss than ar,
deposited IN the state ~ Delaware each season but
IN" catch o. shai In the former state in 1882 was
I've times lrcat that IN Connecticut. The
building o. The great dam at Holyokc. Mass built
Nl9. the first heavy blow to the Connec ;icui
River shgi Industry. and this followed up by
thu erection Of factories AID mills aonG the whoo
valley. poisoning the water with sewage and dis
charges of all sorts and befouling II with sawdust
and vast" papor-pup. Thousands % dollars are
spent each year in the Connecticut and other
rivers In the cndeaNor To repair the raw
ages Of the milldam and poundnet. The latter
must not be forgotten in "A review OF tho causes
referred to- for it has played important part in
the work Of destruction. Fishermen obtained
grants or licenses to ish. and then completely
fenced "A bay or river mouth across with pounds and
~cirs. Every spawning shad that entered the river
was slauehtered with greed and far-roaching'
rccklcssncss which is being dearly paid for by tn
common peop.e to-day.
10 show how violent the public sentiment has
become in opposition TO the extending of thes,
fishing privileges. one has only to turn 10 the
proceedings OF the last session OF the Nev-Jsrscy
LEGISLATURE. when bill introduced for the
purpose of absolutely forbiddng the Of nets
OF any sort within the boundaries Of the State
Tho marHrt fishermen and fertilizer and net
manufacturers sent representatives. to every
influence to prevent its passage. and they Were
cessful our North River shdd. fish of most de-
llcicus flavor is Threatened with destruction
Unless strong restriction * placed upon the
number and length OF nets to be used in that
river. IL il only question of time when the shad
VIII Only be IA memory We're ii not FOR the blessed
fact that bic sld"wheclers. that ply between
here and Albany. keep open channel and force
space uncoggcd with fyHos and pounds and Kill
nets. the few surviving had would not be on their
way North to-day.
ono more factor Is to b. included in the list OF
,icstruycrs- the growth OF the southern fisheries
Tho high prices paid by opicuros here I'm the North
for the early Shad seen In market in February
and March have cncouraSod large numbers of j, II
To engage in fishing all along the Virginia Caro-
linas. Georgia and Florida shores. The immense
shoals Of shad that years ago had practically Il
free right Of way from the Florida Keys to Sandy
Hook. are now bosct and attacked every mile
OF their Journey.