180 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMINAL 

 MALACOPTERYGII. 



THE SHAD. 



Alosa PrcEstabilis; DeKay. 



This delicious and well-known fish, which is by many persons es- 

 teemed the queen of all fishes on the table, has been, until very re- 

 cently, regarded as one that could be taken only with the net, and 

 therefore of no avail to the angler. It is, however, now clearly proved 

 that, like the Herring, the American Shad will take a large gaudy fly 

 freely, and being a strong, powerful and active fish, affords great play 

 to the sportsman. 



It is undoubtedly the fact that, until within the few last years, fish- 

 ing in the United States, except of Trout, having been practised 

 rather as a means of providing the table, than as a matter of sport, it 

 has been taken for granted that many species of fish, which arc easily 

 captured by the sean, will not take the bait or the fly ; and few spe- 

 cies have been pursued as game except those which are not easily 

 caught otherwise than with the hook. Fly-fishing, moreover, having 

 been a few years ago confined to a very few individuals, and even now 

 being comparatively limited, it was attempted only with those families 

 which could hardly be otherwise captured. Now, however, nous avous 

 change tout cela^ and opportunities for the practice of this delightful 

 art are sought for so eagerly, that any person is regarded in some de- 



