The sun., 1900-05-07
SHAD FISHING DYING OUT
Delaware River is so Over
stocked That the Industry
No Longer Pays.
ON THE EVE OF DISSOLUTION
Giut on Market is Due to Artificial
Propagation of Fish by the
United States Government.
Forsaking Trade of
Their Fathers.

Ar In eresting condition Of affairs pre-
sents ltself to the one thousand or more
shad fishermen along the Delaware river.
Shad have become SO plentiful and SO
cheap that the glut has financially en-
barrassed the fishermen, and an ancient
industry is on the eve of dissolution.
Never in the history of fisheries have
nets produced so much on each haul
5000 for large nets, while small nets
have Welded 400 and 500 in single
haul. During the past week tie height
of the season was reached, and from inn
perfect reports received from the fish
cries along the Delaware on Thurs lay
last the catch amounted to over one
hundred thousand shad, the biggest
catch for one day on record. Ever since
the shad season opened, the run .of fish
has been SO large as to border on the
phenomenal.
Big Fisheries Gave Up.
The small fl .hermen, out Of sheer
necessity, have Continued to fish, par
| ticuarly where two or three men were
III partnership, but the larger fisheries,
where men were employed and pay
roll had to be faced, the nets We e
early abandoned and the season de-
cartd fl.
Twelve years ago there was an urgent
Idemand for the protection ot the shad
al. d the shad Industry. Artificial prnpa
CATION was demanded. The Legislature
was constantly importuned TOR an ex-
tended close season, and the strictest
vigilance was demanded OF the waters
OF the Delaware to prevent Sunday fish
| ing, the use OF wall nets, and in fact
every precaution was taken to prevent
anv interference with the shad propaga-
tion. The artificial propagation OF sbad
on the Delaware river b-gan twenty
nine years ago.
Laughed at Artificial Propagation
The fishermen we're suspicious of the
scheme, and poked considerable fun Al
the experimenters. But some who
laughed then, weep now, for they hav'
seen the propagation of fish become sucf
a succe that tile river is acsually over
stocked, the prices are down to cheal
song and the profitable season OF tn
year turned into dtsolation.
Twenty-Five years ago six-pound shat
created much admiration. Gradual
they have been tting larger, until nov
ten or twelve pound slad ceases to b
curiosity The argument OF the fisher
men now is that it would he well, to in
, sure them any profit in The fnture. t
suspend for few wears he propagate
Of siad, so as to get the supply down
tile demand and enable the fishermen
get some return for their labor. Ma !
threaten to forsake the vocation OF the1
fathers ii artiticial propagation continues
brcanse it ceases To secure them llyei
, hood.
|, Another question which is botheln
fishermen is tie decline in sturgeon fist
ing. The re is now general demand fe
! the United States Government 10 TAX
hold OF the sturgeon problem and see
artificial propagation cannot be accon
pished in some way. Sturgeon fishin
is more pr, ftable than shad, but t.
; sturgeon are last disappearing from y
, Delaware river, yet there is upward OF
i, half million dollars invested in boat
arks, ferti zing and oil plai.ts.