YARROW ON SHAD RIVERS SOUTH OF THE POTOMAC. 401 



4. — CONTRIVANCES THAT CAPTURE ALL THE FISH. 



At Goldsborough, also, on the Wilmington and Weldou Eailroad, 

 some thirty miles from New Berne, shad are taken, but in smaller quanti- 

 ties than at Kinston. At Smithfield, on the railroad leading to Ealeigh, 

 vast numbers of shad were taken in former years; now, however, but 

 little fishing is carried on at this point. Just here, on the Neuse River, 

 are a series of small falls, beyond which the fish seldom pass, although 

 formerly numbers were taken within six miles of Raleigh. 



At Rocky Mount, situated on the Tar River, on the railroad between 

 Goldsborough and Weldon, Mr. Spicer owns quite an extensive shad- 

 fishery, but the number of fish secured here in nowise compares with 

 the number taken at the fisheries lower down the stream. 



The next point of importance which I visited was Weldon, N. C. 

 Here I had the good fortune to meet with Mr. John Emry, proprietor of 

 the Emry House, mayor of the city, and controller of all the fisheries on 

 this part of the Roanoke River. In this locality shad-fishing is carried 

 on by means of scoop-nets and what are technically called "' fish-slides." 

 The scoop-nets, when in use, are allowed to trail in the rear of the boats, 

 which are permitted to drift slowly down the stream. The fish-slides 

 are solid and substantial structures, built of timber, and are placed in 

 the strongest currents just below the falls at this point ; these falls pre- 

 vent the higher navigation of the river. The shad, seeking the head- 

 waters of the stream, in endeavoring to find their way above the falls, 

 get into the currents and are at once washed upon the screen of the 

 slide, which slants upward from the bottom of the river. The force of 

 the current effectually prevents their return. Owing to the ingenious 

 construction of these traps, and the well-chosen positions in which they 

 are placed, it is almost impossible for any fish to escape them, if seeking 

 a higher part of the river. 



Mr. Emry informed me that his average daily catch of shad for the 

 season was perhaps 25 or 30. Commencing early in March, the season 

 ends late in April. The number reported by Mr. Emry is, I believe, a 

 low estimate, since I myselt saw at a time when the shad were not "run- 

 ning" 15 taken upon the slide within two hours. It is his opinion that 

 the supply has decreased in the Roanoke at least one-half in the last ten 

 years, and, with due deference to his ingenious method of fishing, 1 must 

 say that, in my opinion, if this plan is continued, shad will have disap- 

 peared almost entirely from these waters in a few years hence. 



The price of shad varies very little at this point, 60 cents being about 

 the average price per pair. The spawn of the shad will probably be 

 ripe in about three weeks from this date, April 15. 



Upon the slides are taken nearly every species of fish found in the 

 Roanoke, sturgeon forming no inconsiderable item, while catfish, suck- 

 ers, and rednose are captured in countless numbers. Later in the season 

 the rock-fish resort to this locality in enormous numbers, and I am in- 

 S. Mis. 74 26 



