458 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



those who wish to engage in this highly laudable and beneficial 

 enterprise to carry out their endeavors successfully. 



A word in passing with regard to our shad fisheries may not be 

 deemed inappropriate. A bill was at one time introduced into 

 the New- York Senate requiring every fisherman to impregnate the 

 spawn of two dozen female fish with the milt of the same number 

 of males, at or near the close of the fising season, and plant the 

 same on his fishing ground in the presence of a justice of the 

 peace. This bill was not passed, but if it had been would have 

 been of little avail, as this species spawns only in fresh water. 

 Should pains be taken to select suitable spawning grounds near 

 the head waters of the Hudson and stock them abundantly, our 

 tables might again be plentifully supplied with this delicious 

 article of food. At present, artificial obstructions in the form of 

 dams, prevent their seeking their former spawning places, as it is 

 well known that the shad, unlike the salmon, will not leap up a 

 water-fall. 



Eye witnesses have informed us that fifty years since these fine 

 fish were caught in the seine by thousands, four or five miles 

 above Waterford, at the head of navigation. Now they are no 

 longer found there, and in consequence are rapidly diminishing in 

 the river below. 



Attention has from time to time been turned to the subject of 

 the protection of fisheries in particular localities in our State. In 

 a copy of the Laws passed in the year 1832, we find an act for 

 the preservation of salmon trout in the waters of Herkimer 

 county. 



In the year 1835, laws were passed for the protection of fish- 

 eries in Salmon river, county of Oswego. 



For the benefit of those curious in such matters, and to show 

 that this subject was considered worthy of interest as far back as 

 the days of our colonial history, we insert the following copy of 

 an act to prevent the taking and destroying of salmon in Hudson's 

 river, passed ICth of February, 1771 : 



" Whereas, It is thought that if the fish called salmon, which 

 are very plenty in some of the rivers and lakes in this and the 

 neighboring colonies, were brought into Hudson's river, that they 



