BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 177 



Vol. V, No. 13. Washington, D. C. Jibiic 29, 188.1. 



J9.-TQE SHAD FISIIEBIES OF THE HUDSON. 



By FRED MATHER. 



[Report of a trip to the principal sbad-fisheries of tbo Upper Hudson River, made at 

 the request of Mr. E. G. Blackford, in June, 1884.] 



Fishkill and Newburgh. — These cities, lying opposite each other, 

 were visited on June 5. At Fishkill, John Neal keeps bouts to let and 

 has fished for shad for twenty years. This year the water cleared 

 quickly and the season was poor; the run was short and was about over 

 so far dowu the river. Be fished from April 15 to June 1, with drift- 

 nets ; did not get one ripe fish this year; some years he has had four 

 or five ripe oues in a day ; usually throws them overboard; thinks that 

 on ordiuary seasons ripe fish may be got from May 21 to June 1; took 

 about 1,200 this year, and the price averaged 15 cents each. 



George Lucas lives at Sherman's Dock, 1 mile north of Newburgh. 

 He says that ripe fish are usually caught about the 25th of May, but he 

 only took three specimens this year. Still, he thinks we might arrange to 

 get eggs with a row-boat from the gill-netters who drift in shoal water. 

 He confirms Mr. Neat's statements regarding a light catch. He took 

 2,000 fish this year, but usually takes 3,500. He stops fishing June 1. 

 He thinks that 10,000 fish were taken in his vicinity by all fishermen, 

 and that a fair season's work would be about 18,000. 



Ehinebeck and Bondout. — These two places are also opposite, and 

 the season's catch was light. Charles Butler says that the highest 

 catch by one boat this year, with drift-nets, was 2,000. He got one ripe 

 fish this season and last year had two or three. F. H. Carr has fished 

 with drift-nets for six or seven years, usually from April 1 to June 10 

 or 15, and uses two to three boats. He considers that 2,000 to 2,500 to 

 a boat is a fair season's catch; seldom gets spawning fish; only two this 

 year. About twenty boats fish from Ehinebeck and Bondout; some of 

 the men go down to Stateu Island at the beginning of the season. 

 About 35,000 shad were taken here this year. 



Kingston to Catsklll. — Between these places the best shad grounds 

 of the purely fresh waters of the Hudson lie. John A. Earls, of Catskill, 

 has fished for eighteen years. Last year (1883) was very good, but this 

 year was bad; in fact, it was the worst in ten years, and did not yield over 

 half the shad that were caug"ht last year. He has taken 2,000 in fishing 

 from the Narrows to Catskill ; he drifts in the Narrows and in the High- 

 lands, but uses seines here. The catch of herring (alewives) was as 

 large this year as any, but the catch of shad was below the average. 

 Often takes ripe fish on " Kingston Middle Ground," which is above 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 85 12 



