ABSTRACT 



The purpose of the Neuse River shad investigation was to determine 

 total catch, fishing effort, fishing rate, size of run, and spawning escape- 

 ment for 1953. The total catch in the commercial fishing area was 98,000 

 shad. The fishing rate in this area was estimated to be 65 percent, and the 

 number of shad available to this fishery was approximately 151,000. Most 

 male shad entered the fishery at 4 years of age, most females at 5 years of 

 age. Less than 3 percent of the run had spawned the previous year. It was 

 estimated that 440 shad used the Goldsboro dam fishway during the 1953 run. 



Collection of yearly catch and effort records for a period of years is 

 necessary before studies can proceed to determine factors limiting shad abun- 

 dance in the Neuse River. It is recommended that the gates on the Goldsboro 

 dam be left open during the period March 15 through July 15 so that shad and 

 other migrating fish may have uninterrupted access to the spawning area above 

 the dam . 



