POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF SHAD-HATCHERY WORK. 793 



The fish-cultural reputations of both Mr. Hessel and Mr. Page assure accept- 

 ance of their figures; and we know, of course, that no river herrings were among 

 the fingerlings released from Neosho station, while the large output notwith- 

 standing the crawfish and intruding black bass is a demonstration of the 

 certainty of results in shad rearing where the right kind of ponds are employed. 



The simplicity and the minimized cost in the rearing of shad makes it entirely 

 practicable to entertain the idea that perhaps all of the output of the shad 

 hatcheries might, in a short time, be subjected to the process. Deep ponds are 

 not required, 3-feet depth being ample. Necessary conditions are to have 

 ponds so arranged that the fingerlings require no handling — ^for their scales drop 

 off at a mere touch — and to exclude as many natural enemies as possible. The 

 first condition can be secured in either tidal or upland ponds, for the latter can 

 be arranged in a series of two or more, each one backing the head of water 

 against the gates of the next higher, the one nearest the stream being tidal 

 or semitidal. The uppermost ponds could be emptied serially into the next 

 lower down until the one next the stream contained all, when its gates could 

 be opened. In tidal ponds there would be difficulty in excluding natural ene- 

 mies, owing to the impossibility, ordinarily, of drying the bottom and keeping 

 it exposed. 



Lands available for the desired purposes are to be found throughout the 

 shad region, and twenty years ago I pointed out the ponds used as meadows 

 by farmers below Gloucester City, N. J., as exactly adapted to such use, they hav- 

 ing automatic gates which turned rain water out at low tide and closed against 

 the rising Delaware River lunar tides. Lands suitable for shad-rearing ponds 

 would as a rule, be too low for agriculture, and their market price, or annual 

 rental, would be inconsiderable. It has not been determined how large the 

 ponds should be, but the one so long used for rearing at Washington contained 

 about 5 acres. While such work should be directed intelligently, the chief cost 

 would be the maintenance of a faithful watchman during the few months the 

 shad were held. 



In view of the extraordinary interest that attaches to the shad along so great 

 a seaboard — Maine to Florida — by all citizens, of all degrees and conditions, 

 and with the renown that shad culture has brought to its originators and sus- 

 tainers, the work would seem to merit the bestowal of all rational culture methods 

 that are really apparent. The rearing of the young fish can not be considered 

 other than a strictly rational proposition, while, at the same time, it has passed 

 all experimental stages. Welcome the day when all the shad fry produced at 

 the shad-cultural stations shall be reared to fingerling size before being liberated 

 in the open waters. 



B. B. F. 1908— Pt 2—8 



