The sun., 1895-04-14
POTOMAC RIVER SHAD.
The Red Mud They Fiad Thcre Makes Thens
Eat, SO the NIrgIninns sny.

WAsuiNGToS April l3.-Thc yellow waters OF
the Potomac have begun to yield their annual
supply of shad. and the hosOm OF tho river from
the capital to- us mNn,h is dotted with scines VI
all kinds. while thousands OF men arc busiy en-.
gagged in the harvest. which this year is unu-
suaily promising. Tho run Of shad in the Po-
toinac generally lasts for six weeks. and during
that timc great many OF the csculert fish are
taken, tho catch somo days in the vicinity OF
Alexandris, the chief shipping point for some OF
the largest operators. amounting to several
thousand fish. On Tuesday last an operator Mt
High Point took 2.2o0 shad and 1000 herring.
This fisherman, however, operates the largest
seine In the world. ho having moro than eight
miles of net, and in working this immense
plant he uses two steamboats, very much like
the New York harbor tug. When not engaged
in manipulating tho nets. the tugs convey the
fish to Alexandria in a huge barge. making two
trips daily. The people OF this city, and. in fact.
OF Virginia and Maryland declare that no shad
equals those caught in the Potomac in point Of
flavor or Orilliancy OF scale when taken out Of
tho water.
This red mud OF the Potomac makes 'em
fat" was the way nn old-time fisherman cx-
pressed himself when questioned by o reporter
OF THE SuN one day this week.
1t is n most interesting sight to q novice to
witness the hauling OF the seine. The poorer
class OF fishermen have no Bte0mb0ats, ike tho
big operator at High Point. and they depend
upon an assistan! at the oars to propel their
craft slowly, while yard by yard the seine 10
hauled in and arranged in the stern OF the boat.
Now and then there is n gleam q. OF n bar OF
silver and lusty shad Is tumbled from the
folds or the seine and cast among his fellows
to die. Sometimes three or four are caught to-
Gether. but ottencr they are In pairs or sngly.
and it is this fact that makes the operation fas.
Cinating to the onlooker. The river at tide
time is iull of small boats. some rigged with sail
and the OF thers with no other method of propul-
sion shan comes through the com binatiun OF
strong arms and several pairs OF oars.
Across the mouths Of tho many creeks or
large number OF seines. and these are usually
among the most productive of all the nets
placed during the season. The shad seem to
want to reach the head waters of all streams TO
deposit their spawn. and thousands OF them are
taken at the entrance to the dozen small streams
which enter the Potomac for twenty-five miles
being idle who cares to work while the run OF
shad is on. and frequently partnerships nre
made and boat leased with no ready money in
bring the firm out safely in tho transaction.
The market price varies considerably. and Is
scarcely tho Same two days in succession; The
delpha. and Chicago. All OF tho largest fish
ermen have representatives at Alefnndria, and
the historic old town smells OF fish in a manner
ers Point or Barren Island.
There are several places on the Potomac be-
low Washington There feature is made OF
son q steamer carries several hundred persons to
the chief of these. Planked shad at any time
caught before your eyes and IS on your plate
within twenty minutes Drowned deliciousy. ap-
petite Is never absent.
The herring catch is unusually big this season
the streets at prices that would be godsend to
the tenement poor Of the metropolis.