Accordinof to the census of 1880 the catch of shad 

 in the Hudson was 683,400 fish, which at an average of 

 four pounds each would be 2,733,600 lbs., valued at 

 $136,680, at wholesale. While I have not the figures 

 at hand for any of the succeeding years I am informed 

 by the fishermen that the river has more than held its 

 own in the past fifteen years. 



From the above statements it seems plain that 

 while the fish culturist has been striving to increase the 

 food supply, and possibly chea|>en it, he has merely 

 been successful in keeping the supply up to the in- 

 creased demand, and the railroads have prevented any 

 decrease in prices by taking all surplus above the local 

 demand far inland, and thereby bringing to people 

 distant from the fisheries delicious and wholesome food 

 which has been produced by the fish culturist. 



Last year Mr. Charles Hallock read a very interest- 

 ing paper before this society, entitled "When shad 

 were a penny a piece," in which he stated that "Con- 

 necticut shad in barrels were first advertised in Boston 

 in 1736, though they were current in river towns for at 

 least three years previous at one penny a piece. By 

 1773 prices had advanced to two or three pence." 

 This was caused by lack of transportation to inland 

 towns, and no matter how many shad we may produce, 

 those prices will not be heard again, nor will the 

 markets be glutted to the extent of lowering present 

 prices, unless for an occasional day or two when the 

 catch has been much larger than usual. 



The extension of railroads will always drain the 

 fisheries, which are limited in production, especially in 

 the fresh waters. The shad only feed in fresh water 

 during their first year of life and afterward get their 

 growth at sea, but the pasturage for young shad, to 

 borrow a word from the herdsman, is limited by the 

 amount of food such as cyclops, copepoda, daphnia. 



