Evening journal., 1905-04-21
ARE
MUCH ALARMED
Shad Famine Is Threatened
in the Delaware River
Ere Long
WILL ASK CONGRESS- 70 AC'

Citizens of Delaware and New Jersey, /
both fishermen and consumers are be-
coming alarmed al the condition OF the
Delaware river so Gar as shad fishing rs
concerned and are Unanimous in their
opinion thar unless some steps are taken
that the river ia few years viii become
depleted
For years past shad fishing has been "a
profitable business and thousands Of doll
lars have been earned each season by
that industry The Delaware shad' has
become famous in an ports of the coun-
try and yearly the demand for them IS on
the increase.
AS result of this fact the number OF
| fishermen has increased greatly in the
past few seasons and as a consequence
the drain on the supply IS becoming great
er. 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 Eng
land and even 70 Western markets.
ARTIFICIAL HATCHING.
In order that the river might not be
completely hshed out the United States
Fish Commission in former years has had
its propasating steamer Fish Hawk OPP
Grating in the stream each season and
daily Matching out thousands OF fry
which were planted as soon as they
were strong enoush 70 navigate For some
reason. however. The commissioner has
not seen ht TO locate che vessel IN Della
ware waters this year and this fact TO-
eether with tie large humber OF nshers
has caused grave foafs 20 be entertained
.HIf
naturally do not thrive particularly well
as large percentase of them are car-
riod cut of their native waters and many
5 of the fry are DESTROYED hy other fish.
So scarce are the hsh AT present that
the prices have SCARED almost out Of
I sight and more money is now paid foi
+ shad than ever before known at this sea-
son Of the year. In New York prices als
D quoted as si5 for bucks and $50 for roc
e shad.
e. Another feature hes entered into tiii.
years nshiug; that OF Swedish fisher
men who. during the early part of thl
j season have been operating n the Deia
, ware Bay These men are residents D
p neither New Jersey nor DciUaAre ara Sc
G they have been nouopoiizus large par
of the shad cansht in tie by. So in
dustrious have ncy boon ihft ihey hay
ALMOST lived m have A
4 supply boat funfins - ,liu re i1ur
I the hshing grounds bringing their pro
Visions.
So great is the shad industry considere
i'm this state and IN New Jersey that fou
= petitions are about TO be circulated, tw
d in Delaware and two in New Jersey pray
!, ing that Congress take some immedint
n action toward replenishing the Delawar
river. The petitioners win ask that ar
= proprations be made for the establish
le ment of two fish hatcheries along "a
k river, one in Delaware, probably nea
le New Castle and the other along the Ne
Jersey coast.
Two of the petitions will bear the sil
natures Of those engaged in fishing in I'll
two States while the others VIII contal
the signatures Of thousands of lovers {
the toothsome fish. The Delaware pet
tions VIII be brought TO the attention {
n Congress by Congressman Hiram r. Blu
ton, while the New Jersey Congressme
win look after those hearing the nam'
of residents Of that State
It is probable that Governor Lea
: Delaware and Governor Stokes, OF Ne
Jersey. win be asked 10 head the pet
tions.