I2 FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The following is the letter in reference to the young of the 
cross of the shad with the herring of the Hudson river : 
Some few years since I heard the shad fishermen on the Hud- 
son were taking a new variety of shad, called by them rebel shad, 
some calling them Seth Green shad ; on investigating the matter 
I found at the shad-hatching station on the Hudson, in stripping 
the fish off-hand, sometimes the ripe male shad was not to be 
had in quantities to suit, and that in cases of this kind the small 
herring was sometimes substituted ; hence the hybrid, or cross. 
These fish have all the characteristics of the adult shad, and 
average from one and a quarter to two pounds each. Having 
formerly heard so much on the subject of fly-fishing for shad at 
the Holyoke dam, I concluded to give them a trial in the Hud- 
son, and had procured some of the Holyoke shad-flies, and tried 
for them long and faithfully for two seasons, without success ; 
but about five years ago I was fishing for white perch, on a fine 
day in October, and was much surprised by taking about ten of 
these new shad. I was fishing on the bottom, and the fish would 
take the bait when the line was being rapidly hauled from the 
bottom ; live bait was used (small shiner). I sent a couple of 
specimens to Seth Green, who pronounced them these herring- 
shad of about two years of age. I have taken them regularly 
since, every fall, with a light fly, or any ‘dark fly will do; the 
season generally commences October rst, and lasts about five 
weeks. The time to fish is at daybreak or sunset, and then you 
. have to fish on the middle of the tide, half ebb or flood, it don’t 
seem to make any difference ; they begin to feed at half-tide and 
- can’t be caught on the surface at any other time. They present 
a beautiful sight when feeding, the water seems alive with them, 
darting and jumping everywhere; some of them jump a foot 
clean from the water. They feed on small shad about one and 
a half inches long. They feed from about twenty to twenty-five 
minutes, and then the “jig is up” till next tide. Twelve to 
fifteen is a good catch on a tide; they average about one pound 
each ; the largest 1 have caught weighed 1 ,{ pounds. It is no use 
fishing for them on a bright sunny day, as they will not bite. I 
have had anumber of my friends go out with me fly-fishing for 
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