182 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



operated with profit. From April 1 to April 10, 1779, 2,200 shad were 

 taken in one seine located at Wood Island, 100 miles above Richmond. 

 At present few shad pass above the falls at Richmond, and i>ractically 

 none go higher than Bosher's dam. 



The shad fishsries of James River are naturally divisible into three 

 geographical sections, viz: (1) from the mouth of the river to the 

 entrance of Chickahominy River, this portion being strictly an arm of 

 the Chesapeake Bay; (2) from the Chickahominy to the entrance of 

 Appomattox River at City Point, and (3) from the Appomattox to the 

 foot of Bosher's dam, 9 miles above Richmond. Of the 324,555 shad 

 taken in 1896, 100,379 were caught in the lower section, 190,791 

 between Chickahominy and the Appomattox, and 33,385 above the 

 Appomattox. 



The principal form of apparatus below the Chickahominy is the stake 

 net, with an occasional pound net and seine. Between the Chicka- 

 hominy and the Appomattox drift nets and seines are used, and thence 

 to Richmond Falls the drift net is the only form of apparatus. In the 

 falls there are a number of traps which take a few shad. 



From Chesapeake Bay to Ghiclialiominy River. — On the lower section 

 of the James there were 84 strings of stake nets in 189G, each contain- 

 ing from 20 to 90 nets. The nets were each 30 feet long, from 40 to 70 

 meshes deep, with 5-inch mesh. The cost of the nets varies according 

 to the depth of water in which set. but averages about $60 for a string 

 of 50 nets, divided as follows : 



Twine, 30 lbs. at 75 cents each $22. 50 



Poles, 51 at 15 cents each 7. 65 



Skinning 51 poles at 7 cents each 3. 57 



Sticking 51 poles at 20 cents each 10. 20 



Hanging; 50 nets at 11 cents each 5.50 



Rings, 100 at 6 cents each 6. 00 



Rope, 50 lbs. at 10 cents each 5. 00 



Total 60. 42 



The strings of nets are set across the current on the sides of the 

 channel in depths ranging from 8 to 18 feet. The season begins during 

 the first week of March and ends about the last week of April. Fish- 

 ing could be extended several weeks later, but on account of the low 

 prices of shad and the deleterious effect of the warm water on the nets 

 it is not generally profitable. Even with less than two months' fishing 

 it is usually necessary to replace the nets at least once. In the 84 

 strings operated in 1896, containing 3,898 stations, there were used in 

 all about 8,719 nets. The catch numbered 91,778 shad, of which 31,026, 

 or 33.8 per cent, were bucks, the small proportion being due to the large 

 mesh of the nets permitting them to pass through. 



Just opposite Newport News, on either side of the channel, there were 

 three small i)ound nets, worth about $100 each, which caught a few 

 shad, the total yield being 3,119. These are the only pound nets used 

 on the James, there being an interdiction against their use in this 

 stream above Newport News. 



Two seines were operated in 1896, one at Piney Grove in James City 

 County, anti the other at Swan Point in Surry County. These were 



