166 THE SHAD.STREAMS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



provisions of bounty for them on many occasions, which were wrought 
out in such a way as neither to give offense nor to convey a sense of 
undue obligation. 
“ Among the arrangements of this character was that of giving one of 
the hauls at each fishery, every year, to the widows and fatherless of the 
neighborhood, and hence called the ‘widow’s haul.’ By common con- 
sent it was agreed that the widows should have a haul made on the first 
Sunday after the season of shad fishing commenced, and they were to 
have all caught, whether more or less. 
“At the rate I have given, which is made up more from general infor- 
mation upon the subject than from statistics, the number of fish caught 
annually was about a half a million, which, at thirty cents each, would 
make $150,000. Were the Susquehanna as well stocked with shad to- 
day as it was a hundred years ago, our keen and hungry fishermen 
would easily double the catch, and still, like Oliver Twist, ‘cry for more.’ 
“T recollect seeing, in the spring of 1826, a haul made in a cove at the 
lower end of Wintermoot island, west side, numbering 2,800 shad. 
When thrown out they whitened a large space upon the shore. Being 
the first haul of the season, the fish were largely distributed among the 
people, and even after that my grandfather had a half barrel for his 
right as owner of the seine and fishery. 
* About 1831 or 1832, in the fall, an unusual catch of eels was made 
in a wier on the east side of Wintermoot island. During one day and 
night 2,700 of them were caught, while many escaped from want of 
means to handle them and take them away as fast as they came in. 
Another day and night 900 of them were caught, when the basket 
floated off with the high water. 
“T herewith give you copies of two papers in my peeeeecroa bearing 
upon the shad fishery question. It will be seen by one of them that. 
the price of shad in the early times was four pence, or four and one- 
third cents, each; quite a different price from what they sell at in our 
day. Tear the dam from the Susquehanna and we shall have plenty of 
shad if not at fourpence each. 
“Be it known that I, Peter Shafer, have sold all my right in and 
unto all my right in the Dutch fishery, so called, below the Nanticoke 
falls, so called. For and in consideration thereof, I, Jacob Cooley do 
promise to deliver seventy shad unto William Miller, on account of me, 
the said Peter, on or before the 20th May, instant, or otherwise settle 
with said Miller for what I am indebted for my part of said seine, and 
likewise the said Cooley is to deliver six gallons of whiskey unto the 
said Peter between this date and Weat harvest. 
“«¢ Witness our hands this 14th day of May, 1800. 
““* PETER SHAFER, 
“*JacoB COOLEY.’ 
