The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-18
SUSQUEHANNA SHAD.
Pound Nets and Other Devices, However,
Work Such Damage that it is Only
the Work of the United States
Fish Commission that Keeps
Up Good Supply.

The Susquehanna shad fishing season is
now about at its height, and the river in
the vicinity of Havre de Grace can be seen
dotted with the cabin boats of the shad
fishermen. So far, the season is fairly
profitable, and the men who follow the
business are pleased. Along during the
winter the prospects of good year were
discussed by the fishermen, and nearly
every one concluded that the outlook was
poor, owing to the comparatively mild
winter. A severe winter is always re-
garded as sign that shad will he plentiful,
provided there is an abundance of snow
and ice up the Susquehanna, with quick
thaw early in February, accompanied by a
rushing current that will last for two or
three weeks. None of these occurred dur
ing the past winter and dull shad season
was looked for, but the fishing has turned
out better than the men expected.
The reason for the desire to have biz
freshet in February is to have the fish come
up to the headwaters of the Chesapeake
Bay and then up the Susqueharna, the
shad requiring a taste of the fresh water
outside of the capes. A big thaw will
carry the water down to the sea, and when
the luscious shad once gets a taste of this
fresh current he is attracted to Maryland's
greatest river. 1t is the natural instinct of
the shad when they make their yearly run
for the purpose of spawning to come to the
headwaters of the bay. They follow the
first fresh water reached and 20 to the
highest point attainable The natural for
nation of the Susquehanna river from Port
Deposit, Md, to Columbia. Pa, seems to
be particularly attractive place for the
fish, presumably because the rocks and
islands give greater advantages for the
protection OF the spawn. The whirlpools
formed by these rocks and islands also give
the spawn the necessary motion for its
successful development.
No one who does not live along the river
has any idea of the number of fish taken
during a successful season, nor do they
know OF the various ways of catching them.
All the way from Cape Charles to places
above here the shad encounter their de
stIoyeis. Pound nets can be found
stretched across their path like fence,
catching countless numbers of shad, herring
and other fish that are in the run. This
method of fishing is a regular trap, fixed
day and night. no attention being required
except to raise the pound and take out the
fish. 1t is unlike all other modes used,
and is condemned by all who have the real
fisheries interests at heart, on account of
its great destructive powers. Some other
devices are always out of use some
part of the day, thus giving the fish some
chance of escaping destruction. Pound
nets are not used after the head~a alters of
the Chesapeake City are reached.
The shad if successful in passing the
pound lets, next encounter the 'gillers,"
who are to be found in great numbers from
Poole's Island to Port Deposit Their
cabins dot the shore on both sides, and
their boat houses can be sesn at almost any
place along the river. Judging from the
numbers Of this class OF fishermen, it would
make person think that the shad would
he annihilated; but it is not So OF course
the fish are not so plentiful as they were a
number of years ago, but this is due to the
large fishing operations conducted farther
to the South. In all probability if it was
not for the assistance OF the United States
Fish Commission, shad fishing in the Sus-
quehanna would be thing OF the past
within few years. The Commission an
nually distributes over $4,000, 900 young
shad fry in the river, and this keeps up the
supply fairly we'll.
Around Havre de Grace there are more
than 100 gill boats, requiring upwards Of
300 men for their opera ton. The boat
used is round bottomed skfT, % feet long,
7-foot beam, fitted with two leg-of-mutton
sails. 1t takes two and three men to man
l., II ~