78 SHAD FISHERY COMMISSION 



to take the question up. I could not eonvinee him that a shad would swallow saw- 

 dust. He sent his sou to the feeding ground, where the sawdust lay on the flate, C 

 inches deep. We opened eight or ten shad, and sent the stomachs that were fillo ': 

 with sawdust (I have brought a sample to show how the flats are covered with saw- 

 dust now), though the mill has been shut down for six weeks. My sample is taken 

 fiff the flat where I have seen as high as 4(X) shad taken in one tide, with only 8 or 

 10 fathoms of net. There are no nets on this shore now. Where there used to bo 

 good fishing is now covered with sawdust. That is why the shad have left the feeding 

 grounds. I agree with Mr. Brain as to the methods that should be used to preserve 

 these fish; I think the mesh should be 5 inches. 



George Symes said: I fished shad for some years, but do not fish now. I am now 

 farming. I have heard what the others said, and don't know of any other reason for 

 the shad leaving the bay. I have seen lots of shad stomachs with sawdust in them. 



Fred. Seaman said: That having heard all that had been said in evidence at the 

 sitting he wished to say that he agreed with the information that had been given. 



Philip Burke said: I have fished shad, using set nets. I think that shad used to 

 spawn up these rivers, but since dams have been put in them and rubbish, and sawdtist, 

 allowed to go down the fish have left. I would like to see the shad brought back again 

 and think they would come back if given a chance. 



Fred M. Burke said: I am a fisherman and live at Mill Creek. I fish with set 

 nets and have a little weir, made of brush in which I catch cod, haddock, eels and tom- 

 cods. I never get salmon in the weir. I agree with Mr. Brain as to a close season. 

 I have seen lots of sawdust inside shad. Fishing is about half my living. If we 

 stopped fishing the track on the flats would get very soft. It is hard now because it is 

 tramped every year. 



Philip Bbaix said : I carry on fishing. !Xine years ago I began, and the first sea- 

 son it was very good, but it has been growing worse ever since. This year is the- 

 poorest we have experienced, the catch is the worst. But if it was half as good next 

 year as it is this year I would fish because the prices are so high that it pays better. I 

 h&Ve opened lots of shad and found sawdust inside, and I agree with the others as to 

 what might be done to restore the shad fishery, which was once so valuable here. 



Amos Vernon said : I don't fish, but I know that shad fishing was good here years 

 ago, and it is rapidly declining. The present condition is a serious loss to the com- 

 munity. I would like to see it restored. 



LoRANG S. Burke, Minutjie, said : I have fished eight years and used set nets. The 

 shad are not so plentiful as formerlj'. I think shad used to spawn up these rivers. I 

 believe that sawdust has been a hurt to fish of every kind, and both to the feeding and 

 the breeding grounds. We all would like to see the government do something to bring 

 back the shad. 



