[19] EARLY SHAD FISHERIES OF SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. 637 



lower end of Wiiitermoot Island, west side, numbering 2,800 shad. When 

 thrown out they whitened a large space upon the shore. 



Being the first haul of the season, the fish were largely distributed 

 among the people, and even after that my grandfather had a half barrel 

 for his right as owner of the seine and fishery. 



About 1831 or '32, in the fall, an unusual catch of eels was made in a 

 weir on the east side of Wintermoot Island. During one day and night 

 2,700 of them were caught, while many escaped from want of means to 

 handle them and take them away as fast as they came in. Another day 

 and night 900 of them were caught, when the basket floated off with the 

 high water. 



I herewith give you copies of two papers in my possession bearing 

 upon the shad-fishery question: It will be seen by one of them that the 

 price of shad in the early times was M. or 4^ cents each ; quite a different 

 price from what they sell at in our day. Tear the dam from the Sus- 

 quehanna and we shall have plenty of shad, if not at 4rf. each : 



" Be it known that I, Peter Shafer, have sold all my right in and unto 

 all my right in the Dutch fishery, so called, below the Kanticoke Falls, 

 so called; for and in consideration thereof I, Jacob Cooley, do promise 

 to deliver Seventy shad, unto William Miller, on account of me, the said 

 Peter, on or before the 20th May instant ; or otherwise settle with said 

 Miller for what I am indebted for my part of said Seine, and likewise 

 the said Cooley is to deliver Six gallons of Whiskey unto the said Peter, 

 between this date and Weat harvest. 



" Witness our hands this 14th day of May, 1800. 



" PETEB SHAFER. 

 " JACOB COOLEY." 



" James Fox holds an order for 725 shad drawn by George Frazer on 

 James Stewart, date Aj)ril 27. 



(Indorsed on the back in these words:) Credit for 350 shad received 

 by me. David Morgan, 



(Indorsed:) Copy of Frazey's order. Henry Thomas charges the 

 Estate with As. Sd., paid in Eye. Paid. 



No. 40 — 725 shad, less received, 350, leaves 375 shad, at 4<Z.=125s.= 

 £6 5s., or $16.67. Add interest on same $9.50=$26.17. (£=$2.67.) 



12. Statement of EUslia Blackman, Pittston, March 22, 1881. 



I see that G. Fowler, of Berwick, tells a hig fish story. I incline to 

 think, however, that it is true. I recollect when I lived with my grand- 

 father, in what is now South Wilkes Barre, perhaps 1798 or 1799 of last 

 century, the great haul of shad at Nanticoke was made. I believe there 

 were nine or ten thousand taken. A number of seines were engaged 

 in it, and lawsuits were the consequence. Salt was scarce and dear. 

 Northampton men came with pack-horses loaded with salt, and returned 

 loaded with shad. I bought and kept the public house that had been 



