MARCH. 55 



But let us consider the year's third month without 

 reference to the libelous insinuation that it ever intends 

 to be interpreted in a prophetic sense. Probably no month 

 is so distinctly sui generis. The Indians called it Chwdme 

 gischuch, the Shad Moon, -and the name is still applicable. 

 Our swarthy predecessors in this river valley were enthu- 

 siastic fish-eaters, and they had better and bigger fish than 

 any but the very best of what are captured now. The 

 shell-heaps tell the story, for nothing so delicate but in 

 these kindly beds of ashes has been faithfully preserved. 

 This, of course, has been denied, and the world assured 

 that fish-bones are perishable. Keally ! and so the bone 

 implements in our museums are all frauds! But men- 

 dacious anonymities can not alter the facts. Shad for- 

 merly were larger as a rule than the usual " run " of them 

 to-day, but happily they are still large enough to rejoice 

 the rich, and plenty enough that all may feast. 



The river is this month's favorite highway. The up- 

 land winds are never so keen as those that rush counter 

 to the incoming tide and make a choppy, white-capped 

 sea. The shivering fishermen hold it bad luck then, for 

 the shad are stayed, and water-hauls, though a common 

 experience of all mankind, are never submitted to with a 

 good grace. 



The attractions of the fisheries established years ago by 

 our great-grandfathers have well-nigh disappeared. Now 

 it is a mere matter of business ; then it was one equally 

 of pleasure — ^a combination of play and profit. The la- 

 bor of the farm was lightened by the anticipation of 

 an hour with the net and a feast at breakfast the day fol- 

 lowing. 



With what excitement the net was gradually drawn to 

 the shore, and how eager was every lad to land the great 

 silvery-sided fish that now leaped in terror above the 

 water ! How lustily the men cheered when a successful 



