398 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



although they too have greatly decreased in numbers within the past 

 few years. It is the impression among fishermen that they spawn as 

 near the head-waters of the river as it is possible for them to get. Mr. 

 Heckle earnestly recommends that the Commissioner of . Fish and 

 Fisheries authorize the introduction and reproduction of the red-bellied 

 perch and bald-headed bream, common in this neighborhood, into more 

 northern waters as well as into the waters of this vicinity. These fish, 

 he informs me, are highly esteemed and readily command a high price. 

 Some ten years since he placed a few bream in a i^ond on his planta- 

 tion, which have increased a thousand fold, the species appearing to do 

 quite as well in the sluggish water of the pond as in the rapid stream. 

 My next point was Columbia, South Carolina. In former years the 

 Congaree and Wateree Elvers, near Columbia, were justly considered 

 most excellent fishing-grounds for shad. Such, however, is not the 

 case at the present time, nor has it been for several years past, not 

 a sufficient number of shad being taken to warrant the expenditure 

 of either time or money in their capture. A few are caught occa- 

 sionally near the city in scoop-nets, but no regularly organized shad- 

 fishing is carried on. It was impossible to ascertain the cause of the 

 decrease. Eock-fish are still caught in these waters, bat not to any 

 great extent. 



3. — DECREASE IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



At Wilmington, N. C, the next place visited, I found the condition 

 of affairs, with regard to the decrease of shad, to be about the same as 

 that which existed at Columbia and Augusta. Owing to the peculiar 

 character of the bottom and banks of the Cape Fear Eiver, no seines 

 are used in its waters for shad-fishing, the only means employed being 

 drift-nets. Intelligent observers stated that the daily catch of this fish 

 in the Cape Fear, between the mouth of the river and Fayetteville, is 

 not at present more than 100 pairs. Here, ten years ago, shad sold at 

 from eight to ten cents apiece; they now bring from 60 cents to $1.25 

 a pair. The cause of the decrease could not be ascertained. I found 

 liut very few shad from the Cape Fear in the market. The fishermen 

 informed me that five years since a haul of 150 pairs in a single day 

 was quite a common occurrence ; to-day they seldom take over 20 pairs. 

 The first shad of the present season were tvvo taken on the 28th of 

 January ; none, however, were subsequently seen until the 5th of Feb- 

 ruary, when the number began to increase. At this date (April 8) the 

 spawn is far from being ripe. The shad season closes here in the latter 

 part of April. 



In the Wilmington market I observed numbers of drum, trout, 

 whiting, and herring from Masonboro' Sound. Herring, ho welder, are 

 not so abundant as formerly. The price they command at this point is 

 from $3 to $5 per 1,000, though at the sound, seven miles distant, they 



