Middletown transcript., 1905-04-29
FISHERMEN ARE
MUCH ALARMED
Shad Faminsjs Threatened in
the Delaware River Ere Lona
WILL ASK CONGRESS TO ACT

CHAeis vi DelaWdTe ana New jersey,
both fishermen and consumers. are be-
coming alarmed at the condition of the
Delaware river so far as sllad fishing is
concerned and are unanimous in their
opinion that>unless some steps are taken
that the river in few years will become
depleted.
For wears past shad fishing has been
profitable business and thousands of dol
lars have been earned each season bv
that industry. The Delaware shad"
has become famous in all parts of the
country and yearly the demand for them
is OIL the increase.
As result of this fact the number of
fishermen has increased greatly in the
past few seasons IN as consequence the
drain Oh the supply is becoming greater.
The principal point of shipment is at
New Castle and as high as 10000 shad
have been shipped from that point daily
to Philadelphia, New York, New England
and even to Western markets.
Artificial Ratching
In order that the river might not be
completely fshed out the United States
Fish Commission in former years has had
its propagating steamer Fish Hawk op-
Grating in the stream each season and
daily Matching out thousands of fry which
were planted as soon as they were strong
enough to navigate. For some reason,
however, the commissioner has not seen
fit to locate the vessel in Delaware waters
this year and this fact together with the
large number of fishers has caused grave
fears to be entertained for future years.
Shad which propagate naturally do not
thrive particularly well as large percent
age of them are carried out of their native
waters aud many OF the fry are DESTROYED
by other fish.
So scarce are the fish at present that
the prices have scared almost out of sight
and more money is now paid for shad
than ever before known at this season of
the year. In New York prices are quoted
as $40 for bucks and $50 for roe shad.
Another feature has entered into this
years fishing; that of Swedish fishermen
who, during the early part of the season
have been operating in the Delaware
Bay. These men are residents OF neither
New Jersey nor Delaware and yet they
have been monopolizng a large part of
the shad caught in the bay. So indus
trious have they been that they have
almost lived in their boats and have had
supply boat running to and fro from
the fishing grounds bringing their pro-
visions.
So great is the shad industry consider
ed in this State and in New Jersey that
petitions are about to be circulated, two
in Delaware and two in New Jersey pray
ing that Congress take some immediate
action toward replenishing the Delaware
river. The petitioners will ask that ap-
preparations be made for the establish
ment of two fish hatcheries along the
river, one in Delaware, probably near
New Castle and the other along the New
Jersey coast.
Two OF the petitions will bear the sig
natures OF those engaged in fishing in
the two States while the others will con-
tain the signatures of thousands OF lovers
of the toothsome fish. The Delaware
petitions will be brought to the attention
of Congress by Congressman Hirman r.
Burton, while the New Jersey Congress
men will look after those bearing the
names OF residents of that State.
1t is probable that Governor Lea, OF
Delaware and Governor Stokes, of New
Jersey, will be asked to head the petition.