[7] EARLY SHAD FISHERIES OF SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. 625 



day, and sold them for 50 cents each. This is the first instance within 

 our knowledge of shad being- caught with a hook. We mention the fact 

 as one altogether new, as well as to say to the down-river folks our 

 market has not been altogether destitute of shad, though many a gen- 

 tleman's table has." 



We are informed that to-day the shad manage to get over the Co- 

 lumbia dam only to be received in nets spread for them at the head of 

 the sluice-way by a pack of scoundrels, among whom, if we hear cor- 

 rectly, are parties connected wath our State fish commission. If it were 

 not for this we would have shad in small quantities as far up as the 

 next dam at all events. The cutting off of this stai^le of food from tens 

 of thousands of people in this section of country could not but be a great 

 loss, and it has been questioned if it was not greater than the benefits 

 derived from the great internal improvements. Some slight improve- 

 ments in the sluice-way of the lower dams and a regular ladder-way in 

 that of the Xanticoke dam; good protective laws, well enforced (with 

 a double-barreled shot-gun for Columbia dam); certain days set for 

 fishing along the i iver, and one good stocking with young shad would, 

 we believe, give us shad in fair quantities all the way up the river. 



We do not believe the expense would be very great, whereas the ben- 

 efits would be incalculable. There is no doubt that the experiment is 

 well worth trying. Luzerne County will contribute her share towards 

 the necessary improvements. 



Wilkes Barre, May 27, 1881. 



1. Statement of Joseph Van Kirk, Northumberland, Pa., May 25, 1881. 



My recollection of the shad fisheries dates back to the year 1820 ; in 

 that year, and the succeeding two or three seasons, I fished at Rocka- 

 feller's fishery, near Danville. In our party there were six of us; we 

 fished with a seine 150 yards long, and caught somewhere from 3,000 to 

 4,000 marketable shad, weighing from 3 to 9 pounds. At that time there 

 were eight fisheries between Danville and Line's Island, located as 

 follows: Rockafeller's, just below Danville; next Carr's Island; next 

 Grant's fishery; next Scott's, near where my residence was; next Line's 

 Island upper fishery; next Smith's fishery; next Line's Island middle 

 and low er fisheries. At all these points large quantities of shad were 

 caught, and they were sold from 12|^ cents to 25 cents apiece. I have 

 heard of hauls containing from 3,000 to 5,000, and 300 was a very common 

 haul. People came from 12 to 15 miles for shad, and paid cash ex- 

 clusively for them. 



Salmon, rockfish, pike, eels, suckers, and a general variety of fish 

 were caught in addition to shad, and we always had a ready market for 

 them for cash. Ko shad have been taken since the canal was built, and 

 all other fish have sensibly decreased since that time. 



The cutting off of the shad supply was a great and serious loss to this 

 community, from both a monetary and economic view, since this fish in 

 S. Mis. 110 40 



