142 AMERICAN FISH CULTUEE. 



The Oh/peidse. show many analogies to the salmon family, 

 not possessing, however, the adipose dorsal fin. The most 

 noble species of each — the shad and the salmon, — resemble 

 each other in their migratory habits, and both attain that 

 rapid growth and excellent flavor, for which they are dis- 

 tinguished on similar feeding-grounds, and likely, to a great 

 extent, on the same food ; although the locality of these 

 feeding-grounds, where they do not overlap, may occupy 

 different parallels of latitude. There can be no question 

 that soft-shelled Crustacea, the young of molluscs, small 

 fish, and the lower orders of marine life, are consumed in 

 large quantities by each. 



It is generally believed now, that the shad, as well as 

 the salmon, does not wander far at sea from the mouth of 

 its native river; and in seeking it may coast along for 

 some distance from the north or south, and thus give the 

 impression that the great shoal may come from either point. 

 At the north, the old theory was, and still is with many, 

 that shad come from the south, while Dr. Daniell alludes 

 to the supposition on the coast of Georgia (though he 

 doubted it), that they come from the north. 



Notwithstanding the analogies of the shad and salmon 

 just mentioned, it is surprising that the former retains its 

 fleshiness and delicate juices quite up to the time of spawn- 

 ing, while the latter continues to fall off from the day it 

 enters fresh water. It has even been insisted on by many, 

 that the longer a shad has been in fresh water before 

 , spawning, the better its condition ; as many of those taken 

 just before the season closes, and high up the rivers, are 



