20 



The fishermen suspended operations at this time, and we 

 were unable to procure any more ripe fish, so had not an op- 

 portunity of making the experiment. 



By the courtesy of the owner of one of the largest fisheries 

 in the Upper Bay, we examined his well kept hooks_, and 

 found that in 1824, when he worked a seine of only five 

 hundred fathoms, his catch of shad during the season ending- 

 May 24th, amounted to fifty-two thousand six hundred and 

 seventeen, whereas, in that of 18*71, he took with a seine, 

 one thousand one hundred and fifty fathoms, only seventeen 

 thousand eight hundred. The catch last year was consider- 

 ably larger, as it was the best shad season for many years. 

 On the 8th of May, his catch was twenty-eight thousand four 

 hundred and nine. The diminution in shad is even more 

 marked than would appear from the above statement, for we 

 learned that twenty-three fisheries above the mouth of the 

 North East, which were in operation some forty years ago, 

 have been abandoned. 



It was impossible for us to estimate the number of gill-nets 

 fished in this locality, but at night, the river was illuminated 

 by a thousand lamps, presenting the appearance of a moving 

 city. 



We observe that the ripe males or milters made their ap- 

 pearance in advance of the ripe females, and were much more 

 abundant early in the season. Quite frequently towards the 

 close of the season, we found numbers of ripe females, and 

 after taking the eggs, were compelled to abandon them for 

 want of milt to impregnate them. In some cases Ave used 

 the milt from the Herring, and we also impregnated one or 

 two lots of eggs with the milt from the Eock. After hatch- 

 ing as we had no means to keep them that their development 

 might be observed, we released these Hybrids. 



The Hereing — (Pomolohus pseudo harencjus.) 

 This fish is scarcely less important than the shad, and 

 should receive the fostering care of the State. The fecundity 

 of the Herring is so wonderful and their numbers so im- 

 mense that, it would seem only necessary to protect them, so 

 that they might reach proper spawning beds. The eggs are 

 much more adhesive thanth ose of the shad, and more dfiicult 

 to handle, but much can be done towards their increase, by 



