CULTURE OF THE SHAD. 141 



CHAPTEE VI. 



CULTURE OF THE SHAD. 



The Shad.— Its instincts, and analogies to the salmon. — Migra- 

 tions. — Former abundance. — Incubation of its ova. — Its growth. — 

 Its introduction into rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, by Dr. 

 Daniell.— Hatching its spawn at Holyolie. — Ascent by fishways 

 over dam of Susquehanna Canal Company. — Keport of Col. James 

 Worrall. The Alewife. 



An account of the specific characteristics of this fish is 

 unnecessary here, and would scarcely interest the general 

 reader; we will, therefore, allude only to its instincts and 

 hahits, bearing on the subject-matter of this chapter. 



The shad belongs to the great family of herrings ( Ohi- 

 peidse), so useful, and it might be said, almost indispensa- 

 ble to man. Although there are two varieties which visit 

 our rivers, i. e., the white shad, and that with a row of 

 spots on its sides, they are known as the same species Alosa 

 prxstabilis, and, doubtless, occupy the same spawning- 

 grounds, at the same time, and breed promiscuously the 

 one with the other. Its geographical range extends all 

 along our Atlantic coast ; and through the laudable efforts 

 of Dr. W. C. Daniell, has been introduced into the Gulf of 

 Mexico, by stocking the Alabama river by means of arti- 

 ficial propagation. This gentleman based his hopes of 

 accomplishing this enterprise, on his knowledge of the un- 

 erring instinct of this and other anadromous fishes, return- 

 ing to their native rivers to reproduce their species. 



