[21] EARLY SHAD FISHERIES OF SUSQUEHANNA RIVEE. 639 



drew out on the beach of Samuel Gary's farm ; another just below that, 

 I think, drew out on the farm of Crandall Wilcox; another just below 

 the falls. Please excuse me now, as I have done as well as my memory 

 will allow me to. We have done no fishing since Nauticoke dam was 

 built. 



14. Statement of Steuben Butler, a son of Col. Zehulon Butler, who led the 

 patriots at the battle and massacre of Wyoming, 1778. 



I was born 1789; remember the old shad fisheries in the river here 

 very well ; was not a fisherman myself; after the run of shad had started 

 I used to get in a boat and row up to the fishery and purchase my sup- 

 ply of shad and bring them down and salt them away. The price varied 

 according to the abundance of the shad, some seasons being less expen- 

 sive than others. As 1 recollect it, the Pettibones used to have charge 

 of the fishery above Wilkes Barre. 



16. Statement of Br. Charles F. Inqham. 



I remember the old shad fisheries in the North Branch, particularly 

 the Butler fishery, which was on the bar opposite and a little above 

 Union street, Wilkes Barre. IlTanticoke dam was commenced in 1828 

 and finished in 1830, and I recollect that that ended our fishing. Al- 

 though 1 saw shad caught below the dam by hooks attached to poles — 

 think it was the year the Shamokin dam went out — yet I have never 

 heard tell of or seen shad being caught since that time above the dam. 

 The shad, as I remember them, were very fine and particularly large. I 

 have seen the beach, after the drawing of the seine, for a hundred feet 

 absolutely alive with flapping shad, each one reflecting the sunlight like 

 a burnished mirror. I recollect having the salted and smoked shad 

 during the fall and winter, and fine delicacies they were. 



After our shad fishing was cut off a great number of salt shad were 

 brought from Philadelphia and other points, meeting with ready sale, 

 on account of general knowledge of their delicacy. I believe that at one 

 time the people knew more of salt shad than they now know of salt 

 mackerel, and more of smoked shad than now of smoked salmon. 



I believe that a proper shad-way could now be put in the Nanticoke 

 dam at an expense not to exceed $10,000, and probably for less, without 

 interfering with navigation. 



10. Statement of Mr. Isaac S. Osterhout. 



In 1830 or 1821 we caught shad ia very large quantities at Black 

 Walnut Bottom. I remember well I went with a gentleman to Salina, 

 N. Y., after salt, as we had run out of that article very early in the sea- 

 son ; he had a load of whetstones and I a load of shad. I could have 

 easily gotten rid of my shad on the first day had it not been that he and 



