SHAD FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 135 



ALT AM AH A RIVER. 



This river is formed by the junction of the Ocmulgee and Oconee 

 rivers,on the line between Appling and Montgomery counties, and, after 

 flowing a distance of 150 miles, empties into the ocean a few miles 

 below the town of Darien, the river, with its many tributaries, being 

 situated entirely within Georgia. The Altamaha is the most southerly 

 stream flowing into the Atlantic whose sources are above the escarp- 

 ment line, its two principal tributaries rising in the hills of northern 

 Georgia. The total fall of the river from the junction of its head 

 tributaries to Darien approximates 83 feet, an average of 7.6 inches 

 per mile, this slope being nearly uniform. Its width varies from 150 to 

 800 feet, averaging about 300. It is navigable for vessels of 5 feet 

 draft from the mouth to the junction of its two principal tributaries. 



Although shad are quite abundant in the Altamaha, yet the shipping 

 facilities are so unsatisfactory that the fisheries have never been devel- 

 oped, only enough for local use being obtained. These local fisheries 

 extend from the mouth of the river to the junction of its two principal 

 tributaries, but are most extensive in the vicinity of Darien and Doctor 

 Town. The season is much later in the Altamaha than in the rivers 

 south thereof, since the temperature of the water is generally lower, the 

 Altamaha having its sources in the mountains, whereas the other 

 streams rise in the sand hills and swamps near the coast. The forms 

 of apparatus used are drift nets, set nets, and bow nets, named in the 

 order of their importance as determined by the number of shad taken 

 in 1896. Of 25,030 shad caught during that year, 17,310 were obtained 

 in drift nets, 7,010 in set nets, and the remaining 710 in bow nets. 



Drift nets are operated principally in the lower part of the river below 

 Doctor Town, although a few are used above that settlement. Most of 

 these are owned by Darien and Brunswick fishermen. In 1896 there 

 were 162 drift-net fishermen on the river, using 80 nets, with a total 

 length of 4,000 yards and valuation of $2,000, and the catch numbered 

 7,835 roe shad and 9,475 bucks, valued locally at $5,803. 



The set nets on the Altamaha are used between Doctor Town and 

 Seward, near the junction of the two tributary streams. These nets 

 are each from 30 to 35 yards in length, with 5^-inch mesh, cost about 

 $15, and require one boat, worth about $5, and 2 men. The total 

 number of nets used in 1896 was 60, and the number of shad taken by 

 them was 3,335 roes and 3,675 bucks, valued locally at $2,270. 



Bow nets or skim nets are used in the upper reaches of the river above 

 Doctor Town. Fifteen of these were operated by 30 men in 1896, the 

 catch of shad numbering 310 roes and 400 bucks, worth $229, making 

 the total yield on the Altamaha River in 1896 11,480 roes and 13,550 

 bucks, valued locally at $8,302. 



Ocmulgee River. — This river is formed by the union of South and 

 Yellow rivers about 20 miles below Covington, and thence flows about 

 300 miles to its union with the Oconee. The head of navigation was 

 formerly at Macon, but at present navigation by steamboats with a draft 



