for both seasons: 1.7 shad. Bank fisher- 

 men accounted for 43.9 percent of the 

 catch in 1957 and 44.2 percent in 1958. 

 Boat fishermen landed 35.1 percent of 

 the catch in 1957 and 37.6 percent in 

 1958. Bridge fishermen took 21.0 percent 

 in 1957 and 18.2 percent in 1958. In both 

 seasons Connecticut waters accounted for 

 approximately 72 percent of the catch 

 and 68 percent of the effort. 



In 1957 male shad in the catch were 

 predominantly 3, 4, and 5 years old and were 

 present in approximately equal numbers. 

 The females in 1957 were predominantly 5 

 years old. In 1958 male shad in the catch 

 were predominantly 4 years old, while the 

 majority of females were 5 years old. The 

 average fork length of shad for years 1957 

 and 1958 was 1 5.6 inches for males and 1 8.7 

 for females. The average weight of shad for 

 years 1957 and 1958 was 2.3 pounds for 

 males and 3.6 pounds for females. 



Creel census data obtained in 1957 

 and 1958, together with catch records 

 collected at the state -controlled area, were 

 used to estimate the total shad catch by 

 the sport fishery, 1941 through 1956. The 

 catch decreased from 35,600 in 1944 to a 

 low of 12,400 in 1950. Between 1951 and 

 1956 it fluctuated from 13,400 to 19,900. 

 Both 1957 and 1958 produced high catches 

 reaching a peak of 38,570 in 1958. 



LITERATURE CITED 



BEST, E. A., AND H. D. BOLES. 



1956. An evaluation of creel census 

 methods. California Fish and Game, 

 vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 109-115. 



CATING. JAMES P. 



1953. Determining age of Atlantic shad 

 from their scales. U. S, Fish and 

 Wildlife Service, Fishery Bulletin, 

 vol, 54, No. 85, pp. 187-199. 



FREDIN, REYNOLD A. 



1954. Causes of fluctuations in abun- 

 dance of Connecticut River shad. 

 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

 Fishery Bulletin, vol. 54, No. 88, 

 pp. 247-259. 



SNEDECOR, GEORGE W. 



1956. Statistical methods. Fifth edition. 

 The Iowa State College Press, Ames, 

 Iowa, pp. 489-523. 



TALBOT, GERALD B,, AND JAMES E, 



SYKES, 



1958. Atlantic coast migrations of 



American shad. U. S. Fish and 



Wildlife Service, Fishery Bulletin, 



vol. 58, No. 142, pp. 473-490. 



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