138 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Alosa sapidissima (Wilson). 

 Shad. 



Reported to have been seen occasionally in the tide-water of 

 Cedar Swamp Creek near Petersburg. Usually every spring a 

 few are taken in the pounds at Green Creek in Cape May county. 

 They occur in the pounds from Cape May Point to Dennis Creek, 

 at least, but few are taken at a time, usually 4 or 5. They have 

 been brought in at Higbee's Beach, Fishing, Green and Dias 

 Creeks, according to Mr. Hand. Several were taken late in May 

 and early June of 1907, in the pounds at Green Creek. 



Shad fishing at Pennsville, in Salem county, during the past 

 season has been reported prosperous, some fishermen having 

 claimed as much as $800.00 for their catch, and the same is said 

 for others at various river towns. The number of fish has not 

 been remarkable. The lowest price received this season was 

 $19.00 per hundred, and the highest $60.00, with an average of 

 about $40.00. The fishermen estimate from 1,500 to 3,000 caught 

 by each individual. 



In Great Egg Harbor Bay it was rather scarce during the past 

 season. It was noted at Beesley's Point and the Tuckahoe River 

 in its lower tide-water, also Somers Point and the lower Great 

 Egg Harbor River, and apparently not ascending as far as 

 herring. 



Mr. J. B. Vanderveer reports that the largest shad under his 

 observation taken in the Delaware, a little above Trenton, weighed 

 13 pounds, 2 ounces. He also' notices that in the spring run all 

 examined contained food in their stomachs. When spent the 

 shad, like the chub, was found to be weak. They would drift 

 down with the tide, and sometimes when they would be carried 

 into an incoming tide at Trenton and not having strength to 

 resist it, though with the impulse, would die. They were then 

 found sometimes in numbers. At times fungus diseases would 

 break out, though equally rare at others. 



