XX.-NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SHAD AND 



ALEWIFE. 



A— XOTES ON^ THE SHAD AS OBSERVED AT BEAUFOET 

 HARBOR, is'ORTH CAROLINA, AND VICINITY. 



By H. C. Yarrow, M. D. 



Beaufort Harbor is situated ou tlie coast of North Carolina, about 

 fifteen miles southwest from Cape Lookout. It communicates with 

 Pamlico Sound to the northward through Cove Sound, and with the 

 Atlantic Ocean by Beanfort Inlet, Onslow Bay, and a number of small 

 inlets from Onslow Sound. The accompanying map will, perhaps, show 

 its position better than a mere description. From its peculiar position 

 and surroundings, having a great number of outlets, we might sup- 

 pose it a favorite resort for fish of all kinds, which is indeed the case, as 

 the locality is a noted one. 



Among the fish visiting the shallow waters of this bay not the 

 least in importance is the shad, {Alosa prwsiaMlis^ De Kay,) so well 

 known as an important item of food both South and North. From 

 the fact that the only fresh-water river leading from this body of 

 water is small and short, w^e should not expect to find the shad 

 as numerous as in more favorable localities. Indeed, the general 

 impression among fishermen seems to be that as the schools of fish 

 gradually work their way North early in the spring, searching for 

 their favorite breeding-grounds, stragglers become separated from the 

 main bodies, and are from this circumstance taken near Beaufort. 

 However well grounded this belief may be, recent careful observation 

 will hardly bear it out, as it is now thought by observers who have 

 given much attention to the subject, that the fish, after leaving their 

 breeding-grounds simply swim into deep water, not a very great dis- 

 tance from the mouths of their respective rivers, remaining there until 

 the sexual instinct again impels them to re-enter. Of course, those shad 

 hatched in the Newport River, the one mentioned, would also return. 

 From the limited yield of the shad-fisheries at this place, I can hardly 

 consider it at present a favorable breeding-ground, although it is stated 

 that in former years the catch was much greater. If the fishermen's 

 theory above named is correct in regard to stragglers, it may be pos- 

 sible that the few shad who enter, finding circumstances unfavorable 

 for breeding, remain but a short time, going out to sea again soon after 

 entering. I may here mention that the facts given below in regard to 

 this fish are compiled from my notes taken while on duty at this point, 

 and from the experience of a large number of fishermen with whom I 

 have conversed. 



