BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 373 



to deliver Seventy shad, unto William Miller, on account of me, the said 

 Peter, on or before the 20th May instant ; or otherwise settle with said 

 Miller for what I am indebted for my part of said Seine, and likewise 

 the said Cooley is to deliver Six gallons of Whiskey unto the said Peter, 

 between this date and Weat harvest. 

 " Witness our hands this lith day of May, 1800. 



"PETEE SHAFEK. 



"JACOB COOLEY." 



"James Fox holds an order for 725 shad drawn by George Frazer on 

 James Stewart, date April 27. 



(Indorsed on the back in these words:) Credit for 350 shad received 

 by me. David Morgan. 



(Endorsed:) Copy of Frazey's order. Henry Thomas charges the Es- 

 tate with -is. Sd., paid in Eye. Paid. 



Xo. 40— 



PiTTSTON, March 22, 1881. 



Dear Sm: Yours of the 15tli instant came to hand. I feel interested 

 in your Historical Society, having years ago, with the late Dr. Josiah 

 Blackman,been an invited guest to an anniversary dinner of your society, 

 and have written some reminiscences for the newspapers ; but I fear, never 

 having been a fisherman, I cannot afford you much valuable information. 



I inclose you a card with Esquire Thomson's address. Though a few 

 years my junior, yet I know that, in those days I shall speak of, he was 

 quite a fisherman. I understand from his son-in-law, H. C. Dewey, that 

 his memory and intellect are good. 



I see by your correspondent's — G. Fowler, of Berwick — published let- 

 ter that he tells a big Jish story. I incline to think, however, that it is 

 true. I recollect when I lived with my grandfather, in what is now 

 South Wilkes Barre, perhaps 1798 or 1799 of last century, the great haul 

 of shad at Xanticoke was made. I believe there were nine or ten thou- 

 sand taken. A number of seines were engaged iu it, and lawsuits were 

 the consequence. Salt was scarce and dear. Northampton men came 

 with pack-horses loaded with salt, and returned loaded with shad. I 

 bought and kept the public house that had been kept by John Court- 

 right on the Plains, Wilkes Barre Township, in the spring of 1815. There 



