Notice of the Shad Fisheries of the River Delaware. 135 



obvious from the fact that they increase in fat and flavor the longer 

 they remain in the rivers. 



Whether all the myriads of shad which enter the Delaware an- 

 nually would proceed to its head waters if unobstructed, is quite 

 doubtful. There is some reason for believing, that like some of the 

 migratory birds, they return annually to the parts of the river in 

 which they were bred. How else are we to account for the marked 

 difference observed in the shad taken in the different parts of the 

 Delaware and its tributary streams ? Those, for example, which 

 are caught in the creek, are so small and so inferior in flavor to those 

 taken high up the river, as almost to form a distinct variety of fish. 

 The Trenton shad, or those caught at the falls, have, from time im- 

 memorial, been proverbial for their superiority in quality as well as 

 size to those taken in the waters below. 



It would seem that these fish enter the Delaware in successive 

 "runs," or shoals, and the experience of all observant fishermen 

 goes to prove that these " runs" make their appearance in ordinary 

 seasons at definite periods. For example, there is commonly a scat- 

 tering run from the middle of March to the middle of April. These 

 are, for the most pari, small in size, and not remarkable for flavor. 

 From this period to the 25th of April occurs the great run ; and 

 this is felt at each successive fishery for nearly a week, if no storm 

 occurs to drive them into deep water ; for it is a fact well ascertain- 

 ed, that while in pleasant weather these fish swim near the surface, 

 yet the moment a cold easterly wind commences blowing, they sink 

 so near the bottom that the deepest nets will sweep over their usual 

 grounds in vain. This run generally continues until the beginning 

 of May, after which period the successive shoals that enter the river 

 are small and scattered, until the termination of the season, which 

 is usually about the 20th of June, though by an existing legislative 

 restriction it is limited to the first of that month in the lower waters 

 of the river, and to the tenth in the upper. The distinctness of 

 these different runs, is proved by the appearance of the fish, by 

 their quality, and by the state of roe in the female ; those of the 

 late runs being for the most part less forward than those of the great 

 run in April. 



The final cause of their annual visit is doubtless to seek a suitable 

 place of deposit for their eggs, which probably require a temperature 

 higher than that of the ocean, for their development ; and a safe 

 and appropriate nursery for their young during the early period of 



