632 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 



pretty steep as to weight, but he was beaten by Jenuison Harvey, esq., 

 an old resident of Plymouth, Luzerne County, now of Wilkes Barre, 

 who says that he saw a shad weighed — on a bet — that was caught in 

 the river in the \alley, and that it weighed 13 pounds. Some folks will 

 think it a fish story. Harvey has decidedly the advantage of Major 

 Fassett, as he had the last say. 



8. Statemenf of Gilbert Fowler. 



Berwick, Pa., February 23, 1881. 

 I wastvi/rn February L'3, 1702, in Briar Creek Township, Northumber- 

 land County, now Columbia. I write or dictate this letter on my eighty- 

 ninth birthda}'. I have lived near the Susquehanna River ever since I 

 was born. My knowledge and recollections about the shad fisheries extend 

 from Wilkes Barre to old JSTorthumberland. The first shad fishery near 

 my home was Jacob's Plains. This was located just above the town of 

 Berwick, and one of the most productive fisheries on the river. Here I 

 have assisted in catching thousands upon thousands of the very finest 

 shad, weighing 8 and 9 pounds, The next nearest was Tuckahoe 

 fishery, situated about one and a half miles above Berwick, on the same 

 side of the river. At this place many thousands were caught night and 

 day in early spring. The next was down the river about six miles from 

 Berwick. This was the fishery of Benjamin Boon. At this fishery I 

 have known so many caught that they were actually hauled out by the 

 wagon load on Benny Boon's farm for manure, so plenty were they. The 

 next fishery was that of Samuel Webb, located about four miles this 

 side of Bloomsburg. This was an immense shad fishery. From the 

 banks of the river at this fishery could be seen great schools of shad 

 coming up the river when they were a quarter of a mile distant. Thej' 

 came in such immense numbers and so compact as to cause or produce 

 a wave or rising of the water in the middle of the river, extending from 

 shore to shore. These schools, containing millions, commenced coming 

 up the river about the 1st of April and continued during the months of 

 April and May. There was something very peculiar and singular in 

 their coming. The first run or the first great schools that made their 

 appearance in the early spring were the male shad — no female ever ac- 

 companied them. In about eight or nine days after the male had as- 

 cended the river then followed the female in schools, heavily laden with 

 eggs or roe. Those were much the largest and finest fish, and com- 

 manded the highest price. Those shad that were successful in eluding 

 the seine and reached the hatching ground at the headwaters of the 

 Susquehanna, after depositing their eggs, returned again in June and 

 July, almost in a dying condition, so very poor were they. Many died 

 and were found along the river shore. The young shad would remain 

 at their hatching places till late in the fall, when they would follow the 

 old shad to the salt water. During the summer they would grow from 

 three to four inches in length. The Susquehanna shad constituted the 



