Snyder. — The Shad Outlook 117 



from states interested, to act as a head, or nucleus to all, whether 

 members of this Society or not, who are interested in bringing 

 about Federal action? 



As the spawning beds of the shad and the channels through 

 which they must pass to reach these beds are navigable waters, 

 it seems certain that the Federal Government has authority to 

 take action. The question arises, however, as to how far this 

 action should go and along what lines? I believe this Society 

 should take a definite stand on this question of the shad outlook 

 with a view to bringing about uniform remedial state or Federal 

 action. This is a question that is so pressing that its action should 

 not be deferred. It is for this reason that I bring the matter to 

 your attention. We all take pride in establishing new fish in our 

 waters, but let us also take the same pride in the perpetuation of 

 those which nature has placed there. 



Discussion. 



Mr. Marshal McLean, of New York: The Conservation Commission of 

 New York is tremendously interested in the shad question. In years past the 

 Hudson River was very valuable from this standpoint. But the shad fishing 

 there, like those farther south, has dwindled away, probably due to two 

 causes. At least one of these has been intensive fishing, without proper 

 regard to reproduction; the other is the pollution of the river. 



I am glad to say that most of these questions are now coming within 

 the grasp of the proper authorities here in the state. Until last year the 

 commission had authority only over the upper reaches of the river, as far 

 down as Verplank's Point. Last winter the legislature placed the entire 

 river under the jurisdiction of the commission. This means that nets had to 

 be removed from the river from Friday night till Monday morning and the 

 mouth of the river opened up during that time. Mr. Pratt has been making 

 a study of the river and of the spawning beds and of the fishermen them- 

 selves, as described by the last speaker. The men who fished on the spawn- 

 ing beds complained of the men at the mouth of the river, and the men at 

 the mouth of the river complained of the men fishing on the spawning beds. 

 But now we have taken away the privilege of fishing from the mouth of 

 the river during a certain period of each week. Perhaps for a week or two 

 that is going to be extended still further to give the fish a chance to get up 

 the river. Some of the fishermen themselves have recommended that 

 certain areas of the spawning grounds on the upper reaches of the river be 

 declared closed territory, and no fishing on it allowed. We hope to get 

 some good results from that. If you close the door to these fish they 

 cannot get in to reproduce, and if they cannot reproduce we are going to 

 lose them. I think it would help the work enormously along the whole 

 coast line if an association having the weight that this one has would take 

 some affirmative action in regard to this matter. 



