THE FISHERIES OF DELAWARE RIVER IN 1837. G55 



"We may fairly iufer that their nutriment consists of the mucilage or matters hold in solution 

 by the waters. That they flud congenial aliment in these waters is obvious from the fact that, 

 they increase in fat and flavor the longer they remain in the rivers. 



"Whether all the myriads of shad which enter the Delaware annually would proceed to its 

 head waters if unobstructed is quite doubtful. 



"There is some reason for believing that, like some of the migratory birds, they return annually 

 to the parts of the river in which they were bred. How else are we to account for the marked 

 difference observed in the shad taken iu the different parts of the Delaware and its tributary 

 streams? Those, for example, which are caught in the creek are so small and HO inferior iu flavor 

 to those caught high up the river as almost to form a distinct variety of fish. 



"The Trenton shad, or those caught at the falls, have from time immemorial been proverbial 

 for their superiority in quality as well as size to those takeu iu the waters below. 



"It would seem that these fish enter the Delaware in successive 'runs' or shoals, and the 

 experience of all observant fishermen goes to prove that these runs make their appearance iu 

 ordinary seasons at definite periods. For example, there is a scattering run from the middle of 

 March to the middle of April. These are for the most part small in size and not remarkable for 

 flavor. 



"From this period to the 25th of April occurs the great run, and this is felt at each successive 

 fishery for nearly a week if no storm occurs to drive them iuto deep water, for it is a fact well 

 ascertained that while in pleasant weather these fish swim near the surface, yet the moment a 

 cold easterly wind commences blowing they sink so near the bottom that the deepest nets will 

 sweep over their usual grounds iu vain. This run generally continues until the beginning of May, 

 alter which period the successive shoals which enter the river are small and scattered until the 

 termination of the season, which is usually about the 20th of June, though by an existing legisla- 

 tive restriction it [the fishiug ?] is limited to the 1st of that month iu the lower waters of the river 

 and to the 10th in the upper. 



" The distinctness of these different runs is proved by the appearance of the fish, by their 

 quality, and by the state of roe iu the female, those of the late runs being for the most part less 

 forward than those of the great run in April. 



" The final cause of their annual visit is doubtless to seek a suitable place for the deposit of 

 their eggs, which probably require a temperatuie higher than that of the ocean for their de- 

 velopment, and a safe and appropriate nursery for their young during the early period of their 

 existence, when they are of all others the most delicate. 



"After having spawned the old fish soon disappear. They are occasionally caught, indeed, 

 in the nets, but they are thin and worthless, and, from their attenuated condition, are called by 

 the fishermen "racers." 



"The young fish remain in the river until towards autumn, by which time they have attained 

 the size of small herrings, when they in their turn disappear. They are caught iu immense num- 

 bers in the weirs aud racks and baskets which are constructed in the shallow waters above the 

 falls for the purpose of taking the common river fish, and they are so tender as to be destroyed 

 by the least violence. These contrivances, so destructive to the young fish, have consequently 

 become objects of legislative prohibition. 



"The destination of these fish after they quit the fresh water is unknown. I have never yet 

 met with an authentic account of their being caught or even obsi rved at sea, not- have naturalists 

 attempted to trace their route through the ocean, as in the ease of the herrings. 



