642 KEl'OKT OF COMMISSIOXEK OF FISH AND FISHEKIES. [24] 



at a siiilling a pound. A solitary one was caught about 2 weeks before 

 and sold to the same innkeeper." 



1819, Jfa^ 14. — "Shad are this season taken in unusual numbers: 

 they have been sold in Philadelphia as low as $4.50 per hundred and at 

 the Potomac fisheries as low as $3." 



1820, April 21.— "At Alexandria shad is selling for $2.50 a hundred 

 and Philadelphia they are selling for $3. In Wilkes Barr6, notwith- 

 standing the scarcity of money, they are held at $18.75." 



1822, A2)rtl 20. — "We congratulate our friends on the prospect of soon 

 obtaining a supply of fresh shad ; about sixty were caught here on 

 Wednesday (24th), and yesterday (25th) upwards of three hundred. 

 We learn that at Berwick they are caught in abundance." 



The above was all that could be found in a file of fourteen years, 

 1810-1824, bearing upon shad. In the Federalist, printed at the same 

 time, nothing was found. 



2,2.-Deed by Silas Smith of half Ms shad fishery. 



Know all men by these presents that I, Silas Smith, of the township 

 of Newport, county of Luzerne, and State of Pennsylvania, have sold 

 unto Caleb Wright of the district of Huntington, in the county and 

 State aforesaid, one equal half share of a fishery on the lower end of my 

 farm, for the consideration of twenty pounds ($53.33) lawful money of 

 Pennsylvania to me in hand paid, the receipt of which I hereby own 

 and acknowledge. I hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors, adminis- 

 trators, or assigns, and every of them, by these presents, to warrant and 

 forever defend unto him, the said Caleb Wright, his heirs, executors, 

 administrators, or assigns, the one-half of said fishery to the only proper 

 use and benefit of him, the said Caleb Wright, his heirs, executors, ad- 

 ministrators, or assigns. 



In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal, this four- 

 teenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 

 and four— 1804. 



2S.-Extract from Minerh History of Wyoming^ p. 141. 



"The month of February, 1773, had so nearly exhausted the provis- 

 ions of the Wilkes Barre settlement that five persons were selected to 

 go to the Delaware, near Stroudsburg, for supplies. * * * The dis- 

 tance was fifty miles, through the wilderness, &c. * * ♦ Xhe men 

 took each an hundred pounds of flour, and welcome was their return to 

 their haLf-famished friends at Wilkes Barre. Never was an opening 

 spring or the coming of the shad looked for with more anxiety or hailed 

 with more cordial delight. The fishing season of course dissipated all 

 fears, and the dim eye was soon exchanged for the glance of joy and 

 the sparkle of pleasure, and the dry, sunken cheek of want assumed the 

 plump appearance of health and plenty." 



