162 THE SHAD STREAMS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

abundant means for spawning and rearing the young fish. The obstruc- 
tion to the free passage of fish up the river ought to be removed.” 
On February 23, 1881, Mr. Gilbert Fowler, of Berwick, Pa., writes what 
he knows about shad fishing in the Susquehanna: 
“T write or dictate this letter on my eignty-ninth birthday. I have 
lived near the Susquehanna river ever since Lwas born. My knowledge 
and recollections about the shad fisheries extend from Wilkes-Barre to 
old Northumberland. The first shad fishery near my home was Jacob’s 
Plains. This was located just above the town of Berwick, and one of 
the most productive fisheries on the river. Here I have assisted in 
catching thousands upon thousands of the very finest shad, weighing 
eight and nine pounds. 
“The next nearest was Tuckahoe fishery, situated about one and a half 
miles above Berwick, on the same side of the river. At this place many 
thousands were caught night and day in early spring. Thenext wasdown 
the river about six miles from Berwick. This was the fishery of Benjamin 
Boon. At this fishery I have known so many caught that they were 
actually hauled out by the wagon load on Benny Boon’s farm for manure, 
so plenty were they. 
“The next fishery was that of Samuel Webb, located about four miles 
this side of Bloomsburg. This was animmense shad fishery. From the 
banks of the river at this fishery could be seen great schools of shad 
coming up the river when they were a quarter of a mile distant. They 
came in such immense numbers and so compact as to cause or produce 
a wave or rising of the water in the middle of the river extending from 
shore to shore. These schools, containing millions, commenced coming 
up the river about the first of April and continued during the months of 
April and May. There was something very peculiar and singular in 
their coming. 
“The first run or the first great schools that made their appearance 
in the early spring were the male shad—no female ever accompanied 
them. In about eight or nine days after the male had ascended the 
river, then followed the female in schools, heavily ladened with eggs or 
roe. Those were much the largest and finest fish, and commanded the 
highest price. Those shad that were successful in eluding the seine and 
reached the hatching ground at the head waters of the Susquehanna, 
after depositing their eggs, returned again in June and July, almost in 
a dying condition, so very poor were they, many died and were found 
along the river shore. The young shad would remain at their hatching 
place till late inthe fall, when they would follow the old shad to the salt 
water; during the summer they would grow from three to four inches 
long. 
“The Susquehanna shad constituted the principal food for all the in- 
habitants. No farmer, a man with a family, was without his barrel of 
shad the whole year round. Besides furnishing food for the immediate 
