NOTES ON THE SHAD AND ALEWIFE. 453 



The first shad taken near Beaufort appear about the 25tli of De- 

 cember, and from this time until the latter part of May they are taken 

 iu more or less numbers, Increasing generally toward the latter part 

 of the season, although for some years past the largest catches have been 

 in March. 



As already stated, the number of fish captured is not very great, 

 being about one-fiftieth, as compared to the so-called herring, {Poono- 

 lohus pseudoliarengus ;) but in making this comparison it must be 

 remembered that this is not a good ground for the fish mentioned, 

 nor is fishing for the herring systematically carried on to anything, 

 like the same degree it is in the waters of the ISTeuse Elver, not 

 many miles distant. According to many observers, shad formerly were 

 very numerous in this region, and have probably decreased 30 or 

 40 per cent., the reason for this diminution being, in the opinion of the 

 fishermen, the filling up of Beaufort Inlet. In view of the fact that 

 there still remains 14 or 15 feet of water in the channel, which is appa- 

 rently sufficient to admit large schools of fish, I hardly think much 

 credit can attach to the statement, unless some other causes oper- 

 ate to prevent the entrance of the fish. It may be as the channel has 

 changed, forming shoals in some instances at right angles with the 

 shore, the fish either coming up from the south or from the ocean, strik- 

 ing the shoals, are deflected off toward deep water, and thus pass the 

 inlet. As the cause mentioned has greatly interfered with the mullet- 

 fishing at this point, it may also have done the same with regard to other 

 fish. 



Shad taken near Beaufort, though generally small, frequently reach 

 a length of 18 inches, such a fish weighing from 4 to G pounds, but the 

 average length of those taken will not exceed 15 inches, the average 

 weight from 3 to 4 pounds. It is supposed that about three years 

 are required for a shad to attain its full growth, but in the absence 

 of reliable and positive data this statement is given for what it 

 is worth. With regard to difference of shape and rate of growth 

 between the male and female, the latter is supposed to grow rather 

 faster and is always the largest, having a broader back and more pro- 

 tuberant belly. 



The different modes of entrance of these fish are through the 

 different inlets into the sounds of this part of the coast, and 

 their movements in entering and leaving are entirely similar to 

 those of the so-called herring or alewife. It is a mooted ques- 

 tion as to the winter-residence of the shad, some inclining to the 

 belief that they remain in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, 

 while others believe that they run out to the deeper waters of the 

 ocean. The latter theory will probably prove the correct one. The 

 first appearance of shad at Beaufort Harbor, as has already been 

 mentioned, occurs about Christmas, and from this time they are 

 only scattering, until March, when the larger runs take place, but as 



