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opposed, and permission was not granted. The burg- 
hers feel differently now. Until the erection of the dam 
at Holyoke in 1849 caused an effectual blockade, shad 
were fairly abundant in the lower reaches of the Con- 
necticut and falls ; wherever they occurred were always 
chosen fishing places for both salmon and shad. Gangs 
of professional fishermen hired valuable  seining 
privileges, and during the fishing season in April, May 
and early June, rival camps were often the scenes of 
much horse play and frolic at off hours. History tells 
how the farmers and netters used to gather from all parts 
of the adjacent valley, and even from Berkshire, to the 
number of 1,500 or more at a time, just as they gather 
now on the tributaries of the Columbia when salmon are 
running, or on the rivers of Nova Scotia for alewives 
and gaspereaux. 
Since the construction of the Holyoke dam many 
efforts have been made to restock the Connecticut with 
salmon and shad, and with partial success as respects 
the latter. But it is very doubtful if its old prestige 
ever returns, and certain that shad will never again be 
sold for a penny a piece. 
AFTER THE READING OF THIS PAPER, 
Mr. Ford said : ‘“‘ The lower part of the Delaware is so 
taken up with nets that the fish have very little chance to 
reach the spawning beds. In the upper part of the Dela- 
ware River the fish weirs cause a great deal of anxiety but 
we have at last secured legislation which has eradicated 
them. We have tried to secure reciprocal legislation 
between New York and New Jersey so that we can 
make it illegal to take shad on Saturday till twelve 
o’clock on Sunday, thus giving the shad one day to get 
up the river, but naturally we have been unsuccessful. 
There should be some means devised by which the 
shad could reach the spawning grounds in the upper 
part of the river. Now, gentlemen, the construction of 
