152 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



extend quite across the stream, and that the lowest dam was not com- 

 pleted until 189G. 



The Narrows is a remarkably picturesque series of rapids confined 

 between high cliff's, with a length of about 4 miles and a total descent 

 of 105 feet. Forty years ago Judge Locke had six or eight fishing 

 "stands" in the Narrows each year, which are reported as having 

 yielded on certain days as high as 300 shad each. Many of these were 

 sold fresh to hucksters, who disposed of them in the neighboring set- 

 tlements, and the rest were salted for use on the plantations. 



Mr. Wesley K. Littleton has maintained a fishery there since 1880, 

 having in that year 2 dippers or wheels, which caught about 300 shad 

 in the season, lasting during March, April, and May. The catch has 

 decreased constantly since 1880. In 1892 only 2 shad were taken, and 

 none whatever since then, although the fishery has been increased to 

 7 dippers. 



From the Narrows to the headwaters. — From the head of the Narrows 

 to the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge near Salisbury, a dis- 

 tance of 43 miles, the Pee Dee has a width of 500 to 1,800 feet, a depth 

 usually of less than 3 feet, and an average slope of over 5 feet per 

 mile, and contains a dozen or more shoals with plunges from 1 to 6 

 feet. Prior to 1890 shad were occasionally taken in the numerous fish- 

 dams located in this length of the river, but I have learned of none, 

 whatever being taken since that date. The catch consists principally 

 of redhorse, suckers, carp, fatbacks, etc. 



From the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge to the foot of Bean 

 Shoals, a distance of 64 miles, the river has an average slope of a little 

 over 2 feet per mile, the elevation at the foot of Bean Shoals being 725 

 feet above sea level. In this stretch there are numerous fish-dams, 

 several occupying the full width of the river, and a number of shoals, 

 none of which have a vertical fall of more than 2£ feet. From the foot 

 of Bean Shoals to Wilkesboro, a distance of 57 miles, the slope approxi- 

 mates 3 feet per mile. This stretch of the river contains 25 or more 

 old fish-dams, and but few vertical falls of more than 1 foot. The 

 elevation of the river at Wilkesboro is about 931 feet above sea level. 

 Col. John A. Holt, of Salisbury, N. C, reports that thirty or forty years 

 ago shad were caught in considerable numbers at the various fisheries 

 between Salisbury and Bean Shoals, occasionally at Bean Shoals, and 

 rarely at Wilkesboro. Needless to state, they have not been seen in 

 these waters for many years, the extensive fisheries and the numerous 

 dams below preventing their ascent. 



Lynch River. — Of the numerous tributaries of the Pee Dee, Lynch 

 River affords the longest run for shad. This river rises in Union 

 County, N. C, and after flowing a distance of 200 miles enters the Pee 

 Dee about 86 miles above Georgetown. The stream is quite shallow 

 and narrow and its drainage small; at one point near its mouth it is 

 but 20 feet in width, and at numerous other points the water is not 

 over 1 foot deep. A small skiff can not navigate the river without 



