340 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



sliad. The first lieriiDg taken this season was on the IStli of February, 

 when 23 were caught at Moxlej's Point. During the succeeding days 

 of February only 1,033 Aerring were l^rought up to this market, and 

 not one shad. The first shad caught this year was on the 5th of March, 

 when 6 were sent up to market. About this time the cold weather came 

 again and the fish were driven back into the bay by the northwest winds. 

 No more shad were seen until the 10th of March, and but few herring. 



The 3d of March, 3,G72 herring were brought to this market, and no 

 more were caught till the 10th of March, when 530 were landed ; the 24:th 

 of March, 20,262 were received, the largest number for any oye day in 

 that month. The total number of herring in March from all tJie shores, 

 on both sides of the river, was 185,540, and of shad, 20,351. April is the 

 best month for the yield of fish in the Potomac. This city ii\ only one 

 of the many markets for Potomac shad and herring, but generally very 

 large numbers of fresh shad are brought to our wharves to pnck in ice. 

 The number caught up to and including the 17th of May is 5,4^i4,997 her- 

 ring and 222,082 shad. 



As before stated, the seines are nearly all cut out, but i he river is 

 bristling with trap and gill-nets from the highest tide- water t > the Ches- 

 apeake Bay. With a very slight exception, every one engage 1 in fishing 

 has sustained a positive loss. For instance Moxley's Point - »perated by 

 the late James Skidmore's heirs did nothing. Heretofore tb 'S shore has 

 been reckoned as first-class among the successful ones ; ne st in detail 

 is Bryan's Point, operated by Mr. Conrad Faunce, an old ind reliable 

 fisherman; then comes Greenway, Pamunkey, and Chapi?ian's Point, 

 before considered good shores, but this season they are fa 'lures. The 

 above shores are on the Maryland side. On the Virginia f ide we have 

 Ferry Landing, White House, Stony Point, and Freestone F oint. These 

 shores generally yield a small but sure profit, but this seasc n they made 

 signal failures, losing in the aggregate about $7,000. The o/^ly exception 

 to this general rule of loss is the Clifton, operated by Mr. Waller; The 

 Gums, fished by Mr. Jerry Eaub; and Windmill Point, operated by 

 Messrs. Ewing & Co.; the last three named being the thren lower shores 

 on the Virginia side. Their success is attributable to the peculiarity o) 

 location, being shallow and flatly formed, together with t\ combination 

 of circumstances such as the great rains in February and March, and 

 northwest winds that prevailed during the month of April. These 

 ^ores were the great center of attraction for the branch herring. 



In regard to the artificial plants, were it not for the services of the 

 United States Fish Commission, necessity would compel a cessation of 

 fishing the large shores; and the Potomac, as far as the large fisheries 

 are concerned, would be a thing of the past. In view of the fact of 

 there being no legislative protection for shad and herring, they are fished 

 in season and out of season, hence the almost extiuctiou.of one of our 

 best food-fishes. 



The following will show the decline in the numbers of shad. Dur 

 iug- the present season there have been caught and brought to the fist 



