148 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



length above the Narrows. lu this report the name Pee Dee is applied 

 to the entire stream above Waccamaw Eiver. 



The Pee Dee is one of the principal streams on the southern coast. It 

 rises on the eastern sloi)e of the Blue Eidge in Watauga County, N. C, 

 and before its entrance iuto Waccamaw liiver flows a distance of about 

 485 miles, of which 213 miles are in South Carolina and 272 miles in North 

 Carolina. It is navigable for steamers of 3i feet draft for a distance 

 of 230 miles above Georgetown, two steamers running regularly and 

 going as high as Cheraw when practicable. In discussing the fisheries 

 of this stream it is natural to divide it into three sections — (1) the 

 lower 204 miles of the river, being from the Waccamaw to the lowest 

 dam near Cheraw, covering the navigable portion ; (2) from Cheraw to 

 the Narrows, a distance of 71 miles, containing numerous dams and 

 other obstructions to the passage of fish; and (3) the 210 miles above 

 the Narrows, known as the Yadkin. 



From the Waccamaui to Chermv. — The lower portion of the Pee Dee 

 possesses the usual characteristics of South Carolina streams. The 

 banks are low and swampy, occasionally varied by bluffs; the width 

 varies from 150 to 300 feet at low water, and the slope averages 0.279 

 foot per mile. The course is extremely winding, being almost a con- 

 tinuous series of semicircular curves, requiring 203 miles to traverse 

 from the Waccamaw to Cheraw, whereas in a straight line the distance 

 is less than 100 miles. 



Shad are obtained throughout this length of the Pee Dee, but in no 

 great abundance at any point. From the Waccamaw to Mars Bluff 

 they are at present taken only by means of bow nets; drift nets have 

 been used to some extent, but the numerous logs and snags in the river 

 prevent the successful prosecution of that form of fishery. From Hunt 

 Bluff to Cheraw, a distance of 50 miles, seines and drift nets areemployed. 

 During 1896 the total number of shad taken on this length of the river 

 was 8,967, of which 7,759 were taken by bow nets, 1,018 by seines, and 

 190 by drift nets. 



The bow nets are employed most extensively at Smith Mills, Dunham 

 Bluff, Savage Landing, Stone Landing, Drewit Bluff, Birch Ferry, and 

 Crawford Landing. The season begins about February 10 and lasts 

 generally 2i months, the catch ranging from 20 to 200 shad per boat. 

 It is said that twenty years ago the boats usually caught 20 to 40 

 shad each per night. In 1890 the average catch per boat for the entire 

 season approximated 114, and during 1896 the average for the 168 bow 

 nets used between the Waccamaw and Mars Bluff' was 46 for the sea- 

 son. The catch in 1895 was considerably more than in 1896, but in 1894 

 it was somewhat less than in 1895 on account of the i^revalence of low 

 water in this portion of the river. 



Between Hunt Bluff and Cheraw there Avere formerly numerous 

 seine fisheries, but on account of the increased scarcity of shad these 

 have been greatly reduced, both in number and in size. The lowest is 

 at Hunt Bluff, 15 miles below Society Hill, where two small seines 



