354 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The Triana reached the navy-yard a little after 4 p. m., having been 

 away about four days and six hours. 



Throughout the Potomac waters, although examining the shad con- 

 tinually, no ripe ones were found. The Patuxent-shad eggs which had 

 been obtained at Bristol were suffering from the low temperature of 

 the water, and will fail to come to maturity ; so that it is evident that 

 it would be premature to begin shad-hatching operations at present, 

 though a week may make a change in the aspect of things. 



We gathered a good deal of valuable information with reference to the 

 fisheries. A list of the fishing-shores, from Point Lookout northward, is 

 given herewith, and the seines in operation this season. 



The quantity of shad and alewives (herring, as they are called here, 

 Pomolobus pseudoharengus), is said to be far below that of any preceding 

 year. The larger seine-proprietors insist that they are losing money 

 daily, which is probably the case as their outlay is very large. 



The early abundance of fishes in the river is fresh in the memory of 

 the older residents on the Potomac, and is but the repetition of the 

 history of the early times on many of the Atlantic rivers. 



Mr. Chapman recollects the time when the seine-hauls on the shore 

 piled the herring up from the water's edge 12 or 15 feet landward. 

 The men walked or waded knee-deep among them, thrusting in their 

 arms to find and select out the shad, and allowed the herring to float 

 off. at high tide. In Mr. Chapman's words, "This reckless, destructive 

 policy has brought its results, and this year the fishery-owners have to 

 bewail the scarcity of herring," which they would be very glad to have 

 in abundance. 



In the *Gazetteer of Virginia, published in 1835, is the statement, 

 referring to " the immense fisheries of the Potomac," that " the num- 

 ber of shad frequently obtained at a haul is 4,000 and upward, and of 

 herrings from 100,000 to 300,000. In the spring of 1832 there were 

 taken in one seine, at one draught, a few more than 950,000, accurately 

 counted." * * * * " The lowest prices at which these fish sell when 

 just taken are 25 cents per thousand for herrings, and $1.50 per hundred 

 for shad, but they generally bring higher prices, often $1.50 per 

 thousand for the former, and from $3 to $4 per hundred for the latter. 

 In the height of the season, a single shad, weighing from 6 to 8 pounds, 

 is sold in the markets of the District for 6 cents. Herrings, however, 

 are sometimes -taken so plentifully that they are given away or hauled 

 on the land as manure for want of purchasers. Some idea may be 

 formed of the importance of these fisheries from the following statement: 



Number of fisheries on the Potomac, about 150 



Number of laborers required at the landing 6, 500 



Number of vessels employed 450 



* A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of Virginia and the District of Columbia, 

 containing, &c. * * * By Joseph Martin. To which is added, &c. * * * 

 Charlottesville. Published by Joseph Martin. Moseley & Tompkins, Printers, 1835. 

 p. 480 



