Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-08

o
Entered al the Postoffice Alexandria, Virgin.
iS IS second -class matter.
POTOMAC SHAD AND HERRING.
The tabulation OF results obtained by
the fish commission of the extent and
value of the Potomac river shad fish
cries, shows that 246 men are given
employment by this industry, and that
Sl27, 900 Of capital is proftably invest
ed. 1t is claimed that the perpet-
uation OF the species in marketable
quantities has been due to artificial
propagation conducted by the fish COM
mission, and which has been in success
ful operation since 1876
The compilation Of the data collected
SHOWS that on the Maryland side OF the
Potomac 425 fishermen are engaged IN
the shad Industry and sd on the Vir-
ginia side, making a total of 1926 men.
The shore property on the Maryland
side is valued at $40, OPS; there are used
l3l pound nets, valued at $3,175; 5
selnes. worth 81 900; l05 gill nets, val
ued al SC. go, and 1874 boats, aggregat-
ing in value S6, ,965 The total invest
mcnt on the Maryland side, as thus in
dicated, is $37 ,395 The shore property
on the Virginia side is computed at
$l5,G25; 299 pound nets are used, esti-
mate TO he worth S35 ,l75; S senes, val
ued at $13, 700; 647 gill nets, worth
S7,19S, and 333 boats, aggregating in
value S1S.335 The total investment
on the Virginia side is 800 ,3333, making
the grand total of capital employed on
the Potomac in shad fishing Sl27,72
Tue total catch for the river in 1896
was 6S5, ,4l3 fish, weighing 2,447 ,091
pounds, and representing market
value Of S63 GIL This catch was di-
vided between the two states as follows
Maryland, 234 ,5SS fish, weighing SOL,
SCI pounds. and valued at $20,55
Virginia, 400, S25 fish. weighing 1892,
233 pounds, worth S43, ,0S4. The work
performed by the various instrumen-
talties employed in taking the fish
was as follows: Maryland, pound nets,
5204S fish, weighing 1S6,796 pounds,
worth 1886; gill nets, 1850 fish,
weighing SOC. .426 pounds, worth $ll ,459;
seines, II 060 f-h. weighing 15042
pounds, worth So 3S2 Virginia, pound
nets, 2l7, $50 isn weighing 729, $50
pounds, valued at $23 PCS; gill nets
i5S,9lO fish, weighing 56S, $40 pounds,
worth Sl3 345; seines, 7S,3S5 fish,
weighing 293 724 pounds worth S6,47l
In addition 600 dip neis were utilized
on the Maryland side in taking 1920
pounds of fish, valued at $50. These
were chiefly employed on the rocks at
Great Falls.
The past season was very poor one,
as compared with 1895, indicating
falling off in the catch of about two
fifths. Ia making the Investigation
data for both years was obtained, so as
TO make comparison. Every fisher
mau has his own peculiar reason TO
assign tor the great reduction IN the
number of fish taken, but none OF them
are satisfactory to the scientists, who
believe that the real reason lies
in the VARYING conditions of tenn
perature at the mouth of the river IN
different years, or that long continued
high gales blow the shoals OF fish past
their attempted destination, and they
90 or to the Albemarle and other re-
gions further south, so what constitutes
a loss in one section is gain in another.
The catch of shad in the Hudson river
shows about the same percentage OF
falling of rs iu the Potomac, while IN
the Delaware there was n considerable
increase over the preceding year. In
1895 more than one million shad were
taken in the Potomac.
During the past three years more
hop sb hpnn
placed in the Potomac by the fish COM
mission in carrying out long-establish-
ed system of artificial propagation. In
1894 there were deposited 100000
shsd fry; in 1895. 1l,7S5,000; 10 1896,
9,l31 COO. During each of these years
there were also deposited 1000, 600 OF
what are designated as "yearlings." 1n
the earliar periods of artificial propaga-
ton the fish were released when but q
few days old Now they are retained
in the carp ponds on the monument
grounds until the autumn of each
year, when the fish have obtained con-
siderable growth and have reached
length of three or four inches. The
theory is that fish of that growth
has better chance of existing
and escaping its enemies than
one but few days old. 1t is estimated
that if even less than 10 per cent. OF the
fish deposited as the result of artificial
propagation survive the shad industry
will be maintained and an opportunity
afforded for development.
The fact was noted that the past sea-
son was almost unprecedented in the
number of herring taken, the total
catch being in excess of 20 900, coo fish.
At the same time remarkably low
prices prevailed, and the fishermen
were comparatively unrewarded for
their labors.
For many years the revenue derived
from shad in the Potomac has been sec
ond only to the oyster trade, the river
itself ranking next to the St. Johns,
Hudson and Delaware in the value of
Its shad fisheries. The continual im-
provements in methods has gradually
reduced the number of men given EN-
plOyment, Six wears 400 - S-6 Dersons