Biology and Management of the American Shad and 

 Status of the Fisheries, Atlantic Coast of the United States, 1960 



By 



CHARLES H. WALBURG ^ and PAUL R. NICHOLS^ 



Fishery Biologists 



Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory 



Beaufort, N.C. 28516 



ABSTRACT 



This paper summarizes current information on the American shad, Alosa 

 sapidissima , and describes the species and its fishery. Ennphasis is placed on 

 (1) life history of the fish, (2) condition of the fishery by State and water area in 

 1960 compared to 1896 when the last comprehensive description was made, (3) fac- 

 tors responsible for decline in abundance, and (4) management measures. 



The shad fishery has changed little over the past three-quarters of a century, 

 except in magnitude of yield. Types of shad-fishing gear have remained relatively 

 unchanged, but many improvements have been made in fishing techniques, mostly 

 to achieve economy. 



In 1896 the estimated catch was more than 50 million pounds. New Jersey 

 ranked first in production with about 14 million pounds, and Virginia second with 11 

 million pounds. In I960 the estimated catch was slightly more than 8 million 

 pounds. Maryland ranked first in production with slightly more than 1.5 million 

 pounds, Virginia second with slightly less than 1.4 million pounds, and North 

 Carolina third with about 1.3 million pounds. 



Biological and econonnic factors blamed for the decline in shad abundance, 

 such as physical changes in the environment, construction of dams, pollution, over- 

 fishing, and natural cycles of abundance, are discussed. Also discussed are methods 

 used for the rehabilitation and management of the fishery, such as artificial propa- 

 gation, installation of fish-passage facilities at impoundments, and fishing regu- 

 lations. 



With our present knowledge, we can manage individual shad populations; but, 

 we probably cannot restore the shad to its former peak of abundance. 



INTRODUCTION 



The annual commercial yield of American 

 shad, Alosa sapidissima (Wilson), on the At- 

 lantic coast of the United States declined from 

 more than 50 million pounds in 1896 to about 

 10 million pounds during the 1930's. Produc- 

 tion increased slightly during World War II, 

 but by 1949 had decreased to less than 10 

 million pounds. Alarmed by the continued de- 

 cline, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 

 Commission requested the Federal Govern- 

 ment to investigate this resource. In 1949 

 Congress, in Public Law 249, authorized the 



Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department 

 of the Interior, to study the shad. 



Since 1950 the Fish and Wildlife Service 

 (including the Bureau of Commercial Fish- 

 eries) has been investigating the fishery to 

 (1) discover causes for the decline, (2) deter- 

 mine conditions favoring recovery, and (3) 

 provide information for scientific management 

 of the species to obtain nnaximum continuing 

 yields. 



With available funds and personnel, it was 

 not possible to investigate all Atlantic coast 



•"•Present address: North Central Reservoir Investigations, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Box 139, Yankton, 

 S.D. 57078. 



^ Present address: Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Washington, D.C. 20240. 



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