164 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of the catch, however, is obtained within 22 miles below and above New 

 Berne. For convenience of description, the shad fisheries of the Neuse 

 are divided into two geographical sections, viz: (1) the lower 72 miles, 

 from Pamlico Sound to Contentnea River, and (2) from Contentnea Eiver 

 to the headwaters. 



From the mouth to Contentnea River. — Below Contentnea Biver the 

 Neuse flows through a low, swampy, timbered section, the banks rising 

 from a few inches to 4 or 5 feet above low water, and large areas adjacent 

 being covered during slight freshets, which, however, are rarely sudden 

 or violent. The width of the stream from Pamlico Sound to New Berne 

 ranges from 6 to 1£ miles, and from New Berne to the Contentnea it is 

 from 250 to 80 feet at low water. 



The forms of apparatus used in the shad fisheries of this section of 

 Neuse River are seines, drift nets, bow nets, stake and pound nets, the 

 first-named being the most important. There are three branches of 

 this fishery, viz. : (a) the large seines below New Berne, requiring the 

 use of horses ; (b) the seine beaches above New Berne, and (c) the so-called 

 drag nets, which are small seines without permanent beaches, hauled 

 in such places as, from time to time, present favorable inducements. 



(a) The large seines below New Berne, 5 in number, are located on 

 the south side of the river from 3 to 6 miles below the city. It is 

 reported that the first haul seine was operated here in 1846 by Richard 

 Felton, a fisherman from Albemarle Sound. These seines are from 800 

 to 1,200 yards in length, 15 to 18 feet in depth, with mesh from 2£ to 2J 

 inches, the value ranging from $300 to $450 each. Six men, two horses, 

 and two boats are usually required, and the rental of the shores is from 

 $50 to $100 each annually. Seining begins about the first week in 

 February and continues until the second or third week in April. The 

 total catch by the five seines in 1896 was 5,688 roe shad and 5,954 bucks, 

 with a local valuation of $2,192. In addition to shad, these seines 

 catch quantities of ale wives and striped bass. 



(b) The seines used at the beaches between New Berne and Contentnea 

 River are from 80 to 240 yards long, with 2J to 3 inch mesh, 50 to 70 

 meshes deep, and cost from $30 to $75 each. An average of 3 men and 

 1 boat is required for each seine. At New Berne the season begins about 

 February 10, but near the Contentnea it is from two to three weeks 

 later. In 1896 there were 28 seine beaches, which yielded 82,512 shad, 

 of which 49,987, or 60 per cent, were bucks. Fishing is carried on 

 every day except Sunday, and even on that day when shad are run- 

 ning plentifully. The catch varies considerably from year to year, the 

 height of the water being the most important factor. The banks are 

 so low that during freshets many of the beaches are overflooded and 

 fishing is suspended for several days or even weeks. Since the above 

 cause permits the shad to pass the seines down the j?iver, it naturally 

 follows that the best seasons in the upper reaches are coincident with 

 high water in the lower part of the river. A few beaches, however, 

 are so situated as to make their best hauls during high water. 



