THE SAINT JOHN’S RIVER, FLORIDA. 615 
large as those of the Connecticut, the average weight being 3 or 34 pounds. In 1874 I was told 
that they sometimes weighed 6 pounds, in 1878 that they never exceeded 5. Has there been 
a falling off in size? They are rather higher in body than the Northern shad, but are in no wise less 
plump and delicate in flavor. Like most Southern shad, they have black-tipped caudal fins. I 
ate shad caught at Jacksonville April 15, 1878, and in spite of the warmth they were fally as 
hard and sapid as the best May fish from the Connecticut, just from the seine. 
“The season of 1877/78 was unusually long in the Saint John’s. The first shad was taken 
November 20, 1877, and they were in market in some numbers at Thanksgiving. December 15 
shad.fishing was at its height. April 15 shad were still in fine condition, though the nets were 
taken out about this time. In 1874 the first was taken November 10, in 1876 December 1. In 
1874 the fishing continued till June 1. 
“The spawning time is apparently from the middle of March to the latter part of April. March 
20, 1875, and April 15, 1878, showed mother fish in fine full roe, almost ready to spawn. I am told 
that the fishing continues a week or two later farther up the river at Lake Monroe. The fishermen 
say that the shad spawn at the very head of the river, but I have no doubt that many deposit their 
eggs on convenient grounds nearer the sea. The fishermen also have a notion that shad that have 
well ascended the river never return, for they say that they have never known a spent fish. This 
they account for by the theory that they are devoured by alligators and catfish, the shad being 
weak and helpless after spawning. The young fish, they tell me, are seen in large schoois along 
the banks in summer and autumn, descending to the sea. 
“The shad fishery is carried on entirely with gill-nets. These nets are 44 to 5 inch mesh, 
usually scant 5 inches, 45 to 50 meshes deep and 300 to 500 fathoms in length. They are made in 
Boston and cost from $100 to $125 each, fitted for use. The boats are center-board sail-boats, 
about 15 feet long, with movable mast and sprit sail. They are built at the mouth of the Con- 
necticut River, and cost about $60 each. 
“The nets are heavily leaded; the leads weigh 2 ounces each, and are placed 24 feet apart. 
Formerly they were placed 6 feet apart. 
“The fishermen are principally Northern men from Cape Ann, Connecticut, and Delaware Bay, 
who come south expressly for this shad-fishing. From sixty to one hundred of these men come 
down every winter. They camp out in tents or shanties conveniently situated to the various reaches 
along the river. 
“The nets are allowed to drift with the current; they are set directly across the river, and 
drift broadside to, one end being buoyed, the other retained in the boat. 
“ There were about eighty shad-nets operated on the Saint John’s at the date of my last visit, in 
April, 1878. Of these Kemps, Mead & Smith, of Jacksonville, owned twenty-five, receiving also the 
proceeds of four independently owned. John Buckle, of New Berlin, owned seven, and received 
the fish from eight fishermen who owned their own nets and boats. The Mayport Fish Company, 
Mr. L. S. Buroughs agent, runs four nets, and there are also eight or nine independent fishermen 
at the bar who own their own gear. There are said to be one or two nets at Lake Monroe. Kemps, 
Mead & Smith work their nets in all the reaches from Mayport to Palatka; Melton & Co. from May- 
port to Jacksonville; Mr. Buckle and the other New Berlin fishermen from Mayport to New Berlin; 
and the Mayport fishermen from Mayport almost to New Berlin. 
“Between Mayport and Jacksonville are seven reaches or long stretches of river suitable for 
drifting with the shad-nets. They are (1) the Mayport Reach, about a mile long; (2) the Sisters 
Reach, 2 miles long; (3) Saint John’s Reach, under Saint John’s Bluff, half a mile long; (4) 
