SHAD FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 191 



miles, respectively, from the mouth of the river. These seines were 450 

 and 800 yards long, respectively, with 2 and 2£ inch mesh, and required 

 the services of 6 or 7 men each. The season extended from the last 

 week of March to the end of May, and at the lower beach 815 shad were 

 taken, of which 585 were bucks, while at the upper one the yield of shad 

 was 5,977, of which 3,791 were bucks. Both of these seines are also 

 used throughout the year for taking other fish. Prior to 1885 a hatch- 

 ery was operated on the opposite side of the river from the Port Tobacco 

 seine, utilizing the eggs therefrom. 



A few shad are taken during March and April in the fyke nets set 

 near Tappahannock. Eight nets were used in 1896 worth $190, and the 

 yield of shad numbered 1,015, of which 460 were roes and 555 bucks. 



From Tobago Bay to Fredericksburg. — The upper end of the navigable 

 portion of Eappahanuock River consists of a tortuous stream, 36 miles 

 in length, 50 to 250 yards wide in its upper 28 miles, broadening out at 

 its lower end, and terminating in two small bays — Nauzatico and 

 Tobago — a mile or more across. The counties bordering this section 

 are King George, Caroline, Stafford, and Spottsylvania. Drift nets, 

 pound nets, and seines are used for taking shad, and at the extreme 

 upper limit, in Falmouth Falls above Fredericksburg, there are several 

 fall or finger traps. The drift nets and pound nets are used from 

 Tobago Bay to Hop Yard, the lower 17 miles, and the seines are used 

 at the two extremities. Of the 52,642 shad obtained in 1896, 32,774 

 were caught by drift nets, 16,862 by pound nets, 2,948 by seines, and 

 58 by fall traps. 



The drift nets measure from 75 to 100 yards in length, 30 to 52 meshes 

 deep, with 5-inch mesh, and cost from $12 to $20 each. Near Port 

 Royal the season begins about the second or third week of March and 

 lasts about two mouths. In the short drifts, fishing is prosecuted only 

 during slack water. When the water is clear fishing is restricted to 

 the night time, but when it is muddy the fishermen operate mostly 

 during the day. Of the 32,774 shad taken by these nets in 1896, 19,941, 

 or 61 per cent, were bucks. 



The pound nets in the upper section are very small, averaging about 

 $65 in value each. Excepting two strings just below Oaken Brow, one 

 containing 4 and the other 3 nets, all of the pound nets are set singly. 

 An average of $10 is paid for shore rental for each net. The season 

 extends throughout the months of April and May, and about 5 per cent 

 of the catch is reported as being ripe roe shad. The total catch of shad 

 by the 31 pound nets numbered 16,862, valued locally at $1,414, of which 

 6,285 were roes. 



A 500-yard seine, with 2£-inch mesh and 8 feet deep, was operated on 

 the upper side of Tobago Bay in 1896, taking 2,892 shad from March 20 

 to May 20. In addition to this seine there were two others, 150 yards 

 in length each, with 2^-inch mesh and 6 feet deep, operated on the Staf- 

 ford County shore, opposite Fredericksburg. Very few shad were taken 

 in these two seines, the total number being 56, of which 49 were bucks. 



