CULTURE OF THE SHAD. 141 



CHAPTER VI. 



CULTURE OF THE SHAD. 



The Shad. Its instincts, and analogies to the salmon. Migra- 

 tions. Former abundance. Incubation of its ova. Its growth. 

 Its introduction into rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, by Dr. 

 Daniell. Hatching its spawn at Holyoke. Ascent by fish ways 

 over dam of Susquehanna Canal Company. Report of Col. James 

 Worrall. The Alewife. 



AN account of the specific characteristics of this fish is 

 unnecessary here, and would scarcely interest the general 

 reader; we will, therefore, allude only to its instincts and 

 habits, bearing on the subject-matter of this chapter. 



The shad belongs to the great family of herrings ( Clu- 

 peidse)^ so useful, and it might be said, almost indispensa- 

 ble to man. Although there are two varieties which visit 

 our rivers, i. e., the white shad, and that with a row of 

 spots on its sides, they are known as the same species Alosa 

 prsestabilis, and, doubtless, occupy the same spawning- 

 grounds, at the same time, and breed promiscuously the 

 one with the other. Its geographical range extends all 

 along our Atlantic coast; and through the laudable efforts 

 of Dr. W. C. Daniell, has been introduced into the Gulf of 

 Mexico, by stocking the Alabama river by means of arti- 

 ficial propagation. This gentleman based his hopes of 

 accomplishing this enterprise, on his knowledge of the un- 

 erring instinct of this and other anadromous fishes, return- 

 ing to their native rivers to reproduce their species. 



