Fish CuUurists' Association. 39 



In considering the form of a fishway which would invite shad to pass 

 through it, after enquiry amongst experienced fishermen and river men, 

 the undersigned considered the Foster ladder decidedly objectionable, 

 for he ascertained that shad moved more frequently in schools and flocks 

 than in pairs or small numbers. He made up his mind then that the 

 true form for shad should be capacious in size and as gentle as possible 

 in inclination. Further, that it should be so located as that it would be 

 easy to find. All these views indicated a cutting into the dam rather 

 than a gradus or ladder below it. He was strengthened in this view by 

 advice received from Mr. Daniel Shure, at that time Superintendent of 

 the dam, and from Major George M. Lanman, (now deceased,) who had 

 been engaged in its construction originally'. 



Advice was sought on the subject in Massachusetts also, whither he 

 repaired and consulted with the Fishery Commissioners of that State, 

 but especially with Col. Theodore Lyman. This latter gentleman stated 

 that he believed an inclination of 1.10 would be overcome by the shad, 

 but agreed otherwise with the undersigned as to the form of the fishway. 

 Returning to Penns3'lvauia, Mr. Shure was consulted again, who also 

 recommended 1.10 for the slope. The inclination of 1.15 was however 

 eventually adopted, and a simple trough cut into the dam fort}- feet wide 

 at its mouth, narrowing to twenty feet at its inlet by means of three or 

 four rectangular oflTsets ; these being the suggestions of Mr. Shure, who 

 believed that they would create eddies and resting places for the fish, 

 should the}' fail in gliding through the whole chute by a single impulsive 

 movement. The rise to be overcome was about three feet,* and the 

 length of the fishway was consequently fort}' five feet, obeying the inclina- 

 tion of 1.15. The widih of the chute was considered very small by the 

 undersigned (only forty feet in six thousand eight hundred, the length of 

 the dam,) but its cost was to be about $5,000, and the whole affair being 

 but an experiment, he hesitated in putting the owners of the dam to a 

 greater expense than that for a mere trial of a principle. He felt sure 

 that a few fish would ascend the chute and these would soon cause a feel- 

 ing in favor of the system which once established would eventually 

 induce the Legislature to make ample appropriations for more extended 

 works. Thus also the fishway was located near the off shore or right 

 bank of the river, in expectation of having another closer to the nigh 

 shore or left bank. The work was finished in 1866. In 1867 it was 

 looked to with great interest by a few friends of the measure, but it was 

 treated with ridicule by most others. The winter of 1866-7 caused an 

 abrasion of the dam, and this aiding the fishway, produced a consider- 



*The dam is six feet high, but the floor of the weir is two feet below the top of the 

 dam, and its lower end one foot above the bottom of the dam. 



