BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 375 



lived, another on the point of Wiutermoot Island, and the next on tho 

 side of the island between two and three miles from where I lived. They 

 drew out on the beach of Samuel Gary's farm ; another just below that, 

 I think, drew out on the farm of Crandall Wilcox ; another just below 

 the falls. Please excuse me now, as I have done as well as my memory 

 will allow me to. We have done no fishing since Nanticoke dam was 

 built. 



With regards, ISAAC THOMPSON. 



INTERVIEWS, &c. 



Steuben Butler, a son of Col. Zebulon Butler, who led the patriots at 

 the battle and massacre of Wyoming, 1778, says : 



I was born 1789 ; remember the old shad fisheries in the river here 

 very well ; was not a fisherman myself ; after the run of shad had started 

 I used to get in a boat and row up to the fishery and purchase my sup- 

 ply of shad and bring them down and salt them away. The price varied 

 according to the abundance of the shad, some seasons being less expen- 

 sive than others. As I recollect it, the Pettibones used to have charge 

 of the fishery above Wilkes Barre. 



Dr. Charles F. Ingham says: 



I remember the old shad fisheries in the North Branch, particularly 

 the Butler fishery, which was on the bar opposite and a little above 

 Union street, Wilkes Barre. Nanticoke dam was commenced in 1828 and 

 finished in 1830, and I recollect that that ended our fishing. Although 

 I saw shad caught below the dam by hooks attached to poles — think it 

 ■was the year the Shamokin dam went out — yet I have never heard tell 

 of or seen shad being caught since that time above the dam. The shad, 

 as I remember them, were very fine and particularly large. I have seen 

 the beach, after the drawing of the seine, for a hundred feet absolutely 

 alive with flapping shad, each one reflecting the sunlight like a burnished 

 mirror. I recollect having the salted and smoked shad during the fall 

 and winter, and fine delicacies they were. 



After our shad fishing was cut off, a great number of salt shad were 

 brought from Philadelphia and other points, meeting with ready sale, 

 on account of general knowledge of their delicacy. I believe that at one 

 time the people knew more of salt shad than they now know of salt 

 mackerel, and more of smoked shad than now of smoked salmon. 



I believe that a proper shad-way could now be pjit in the Nanticoke 

 dam sluice-way or chute at an expense not to exceed $10,000, and prob- 

 ably for less, without interfering with navigation. 



Mr. Isaac S. Osterhout says : 



In 1820 or 1821, we caught shad in very large quantities at Black 

 Walnut Bottom. I remember well I went with Captain 



to S'\Mna, New York State, after salt, as we had run out of that article 



