464 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



anadromous species of North America. Among the fishes of eco- 

 nomic vahie in the United States only the salmon and cod exceeded it 

 in value for many years, and, considering all branches of the fishing 

 industry, only the whale fishery and oyster fishery, in addition to 

 those mentioned, were financially more important than that of the 

 shad. 



In 1908 the catch of shad of the Atlantic seaboard was approxi- 

 mately 25,941,000 pounds, representing a value of $2,091,500 to the 

 fishermen. According to recent canvasses, the catch of shad by 

 States, in pounds and value to the fishermen, was as follows : 



HABITS AND LIFE HISTORY 



Notwithstanding the economic importance of the shad and the 

 attention that has been devoted to its artificial propagation for so 

 many years, there is an extreme paucity of explicit knowledge as to 

 its habits and life history. The extent and direction of the migra- 

 tions of anadromous fishes are factors of vital interest. How is the 

 run in one river affected by the fishing operations in another, and in 

 what degree does artificial propagation at one point jneld returns of 

 value in another? The question also arises as to the origin of the 

 "sea shad" which are a feature of the local markets on the north- 

 eastern coast. Are they bred in the southern rivers or are they a 

 distinct race ? 



SHAD IN THE OCEAN 



The shad passes most of its existence at sea, and little is known of 

 its habits and movements when out of the rivers. The ocean areas 

 to which it resorts are unknown, and what its salt-water food consists 

 of has not been determined. In the Gulf of Maine it is known to 

 associate in large numbers with mackerel and herring during the 

 months of June, September, and October, being most numerous in 

 June. It has been taken at North Truro, Mass., in the fall, when 

 the ocean temperature was from 43° to 49° ; in the month of November 

 it has been found on the west side of Sakonnet River, R. I.; in May 

 and June it has been captured with mackerel a few miles northeast 

 of Cape Cod Light. Some instances of capture indicate that under 

 certain conditions the adults may remain in the fresh-water rivers a 

 whole year. In November, 1890, 600 were taken in the Chesapeake 



