152 Miscellanies. 
better than th€%ommon mackerel. Sells here, while fresh, for about 
ten cents—along the river, at a distance from cities and populous vil- 
lages, for six cents. 
From fifty to sixty years ago, Mr. Adams rarely caught over five 
hundred shad in a season; which was then confined to the month of 
May. Some seasons he caught but one hundred, with the utmost - 
diligence. Before the dam was erected, shad increased quite as 
fast as herring or sturgeon decreased; and the season for taking shad 
increased to two months—beginning the latter part of April and con- 
tinuing towards the end of June. ‘The same diligence and the same 
method of operating, which gave him, at most, but nine or ten hun- 
dred shad, in the years 1789, 1790, 1791, &c. gave him about twen- 
ty thousand from the years 1820 to 1825. This gives an average 
ratio of increase, equal to more than the whole he ever caught in 
the years 1770, ’71, °72, &c. He says, there has not been the 
same increase at all the fishing grounds between this place and the 
mouth of the river. But there has been®more than a tenfold in- 
crease throughout the whole length of the river. Since this dam 
was erected, the number of shad has been gradually diminishing. 
He supposes the shad are reduced about one fourth, during the last 
five years. This he ascribes to the exclusion of the shad from their 
usual spawning ground, by the dam at this place; as very few are 
seen above the dam, even at Baker’s Falls, formerly the best fishing 
ground on the river. 
? 
Queries respecting the increase of shad§ on the Hudson River. 
1. Does the increased population cause an increased wash of ani- 
mal matter into the Hudson, which serves as food for shad? 
2. Does the diminution of herring and sturgeon, cause the in- 
crease of shad? 
3. Has a change taken place at the bottom of the Atlantic, nea 
the mouth of the Hudson, which turned the course of shad into this 
river? ‘ 
4. Does the increased number of fishermen, and,the increased 
“number of improved fishing grounds, by w ‘ictilibecey or thirty fold 
more are taken, kill off the older fish, leaving room for the young 
and healthy, who can live in a more crowded situation, cause the 
mcrease? 
Such being the facts, national economy demands a reason. 
Respectfully yours, Amos Eaton: 
w 
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