630 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



nets are in use all along the river from 9 miles above New Berne to the vicinity of Raleigh. Above 

 Kinston this operation is carried on for the most part by farm hands in the early morning and 



in the evening. 



Below is a tabular statement showing the number of men, with boats, nets, and their value, en- 

 gaged in skimming, and the amount of fish taken. Between Kinston and Raleigh the average 

 catch is estimated at only fifty shad per net during the season : 



GILL-NETS. The use of these nets on the Neuse River is prohibited by law, but six or eight are 

 nevertheless fished during the night between New Berne and Pitch Kettle. 



PROPORTIONS OP BUCK AND ROE SHAD. 



The following table will show the proportion existing between the number of buck and roe shad 

 taken in several seines on the Neuse River during the season of 1879 : 



During the same season also the firm of 0. T. Watson handled as follows : 



An analysis of the above tables shows, first, that the number of male shad is considerably in 

 excess of the number of female shad for the season; second that the preponderance of males over 

 females is very great at two periods during the season. This inequality in the run of males and 

 females, and the capture of so large a proportion of males in advance of the maturation of the 

 females, would indicate that the loss of fruitful eggs in the spawning season from lack of fecunda- 

 tion must be enormous. 



