INSHORE FISHERIES 



217 



The shad appear on the New England coast from about 

 the first of April to the first of May. They immediately 

 ascend the streams for the purpose of spawning. After 

 remaining in the rivers for several months they disappear, 

 in their annual migration to southern waters, for the win- 

 ter. The fish is of value not only on account of its availa- 

 bility of capture and its commercial worth to mankind but 

 indirectly because the large schools of young shad, when 

 leaving their native streams, attract to the coast the deep- 

 sea fish, as the cod, haddock, and other offshore species. 

 Thus the larger kinds of fish may often be taken without 

 the expense and risk of trips to the distant banks. 



The shad fishery of the United States centers principally 

 in New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. 

 The industry in New England is inferior when compared 

 with the fishery that is carried on in the other Atlantic 

 states. The number of shad taken in the country in 1896 

 was above 13,000,000, valued at $1,651,443. The catch of 

 the New England states was 490,000 fish, valued at $51,- 

 696. The value of the catch for 1898 was $44,018, and for 

 1902, $58,564. The rivers of Maine and Connecticut fur- 

 nish the larger part of the New England catch of shad. The 



the present range of the fish. The present range of shad in these 

 five rivers is less than 40% of the original range. 



