THE SAINT JOHN'S RIVER, FLORIDA. 615 



large as those of the Connecticut, tlie average weight being .'! or 3i pouuds. In 1874 1 was told 

 that they sometimes weighed pounds, in 1878 that they never exceeded 5. Has there been 

 a falling off in size f They are rather higher in body than the Northern shad, but are in no wise less 

 plump and delicate in flavor. Like most Southern shad, they have black-tipped caudal tins. I 

 ate shad caught at Jacksonville April 15, 1878, and in spite of the warmth they were fully as 

 hard and sapid as the best May fish from the Connecticut, just from the seine. 



"The season of 1877-'7S was unusually long in the Saint John's. The first shad was taken 

 November 20, 1877, and they were iu market in some numbers at Thanksgiving. December 15 

 shad fishing was at its height. April 15 shad were still iu fine condition, though the nets were 

 taken out about this time. In 1874 the first was taken November 10, in 1876 December 1. In 

 1874 the fishing continued till June 1. 



"The spawning time is apparently from the middle of March to the latter part of April. March 

 20, 1875, and April 15, 1878, showed mother fish in fine full roe, almost ready to spawn. I am told 

 that the fishing continues a week or two later farther up the river at Lake Monroe. The fishermen 

 .say that the shad spawn at the very head of the river, but I have uo doubt that many deposit their 

 eggs on convenient grounds nearer the sea. The fishermen also have a notion that shad that have 

 well ascended the river never return, for they say that they have never known a spent fish. This 

 they account for by the theory that they are devoured by alligators and catfish, the shad being 

 weak and helpless after spawning. The young fish, they tell me, are seeu in large schools along 

 the banks in summer and autumn, descending to the sea. 



" The shad fishery is carried on entirely with gill-nets. These nets are 4| to 5 inch mesh, 

 usually scant 5 inches, 45 to 50 meshes deep and 300 to 500 fathoms in length. They are 7nade in 

 Boston and cost from $100 to $125 each, fitted for use. The boats are center-board sail-boats, 

 about 15 feet long, with movable mast and sprit sail. They are built at the mouth of the Con- 

 necticut River, and cost about $00 each. 



"The nets are heavily leaded ; the leads weigh 2 ounces each, and are placed 2 feet apart. 

 Formerly they were placed 6 feet apart. 



"The fishermen are principally Northern men from Cape Anil, Connecticut, and Delaware Bay, 

 who come south expressly for this shad-fishing. From sixty to one hundred of these men come 

 down every winter. They camp out in tents or shanties conveniently situated to the various reaches 

 along the river. 



"The nets are allowed to drift with the current; they are set directly across the river, and 

 drift broadside to, one end being buoyed, the other retained in the boat. 



" There were about eighty shad-nets operated on the Saint John's at the date of my last visit, in 

 April, 1878. Of these Kemps, Mead & Smith, of Jacksonville, owned twenty-five, receiving also the 

 proceeds of four independently owned. John Buckle, of New Berlin, owned seven, and received 

 the fish from eight fishermen who owned their own nets and boats. The Mayport Fish Company, 

 Mr. L. S. Buroughs agent, runs four nets, and there are also eight or nine independent fishermen 

 at the bar who own their own gear. There are said to be one or two nets at Lake Monroe. Kemps, 

 Mead & Smith work their nets in all the reaches from Mayport to Palatka; Melton & Co. from May- 

 port to Jacksonville ; Mr. Buckle and the other New Berlin fishermen from Mayport to New Berlin ; 

 and the Mayport fishermen from Mayport almost to New Berlin. 



"Between Mayport and Jacksonville are seven reaches or long stretches of river suitable for 

 drifting with the shad-nets. They are (1) the Mayport Reach, about a mile long; (2) the Sisters 

 Reach, 2 miles long; (3) Saint John's Reach, under Saint John's Bluff, half a mile long; (4) 



