630 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
nets are in use all along the river from 9 miles above New Berne to the vicinity of Raleigh. Above 
Kinston this operation is carried on for the most part by farm hands in the early morning and 
in the evening. 
Below is a tabular statement showing the number of men, with boats, nets, and their value, en- 
gaged in skimming, and the amount of fish taken. Between Kinston and Raleigh the average 
catch is estimated at only fifty shad per net during the season : 
Value of 
Number | Number | Number Average| Total 
Location. of men. | of boats. | of nets. poate pat catch. | catch. 
From 9 miles above New Berne to Cowpens. . 40 20 20 $140 190 2, 000 
At Cowpens ......6-ecnee-eee eee nn eee ee eee ee 82 16 16 112 100 1, 600 | - 
From Cowpens to Pitch Kettle .....--..:--. 30 15 15 105 100 1, 500 
AtPitth Kettle ..cccccccsocsccccssecmswsnaas 20 10 10 70 100 1,000 
Pitch Kettle to Kinston ......-.---.--.--++- 50 25 25 175 100 2, 500 
Kinston to Raleigh .........----.-.20-++-+-- 100 50 50 350 50 2, 500 
272 136 136 952 |....-.---- 11, 100 
GILL-NETS.—The use of these nets on the Neuse River is prohibited by law, but six or eight are 
nevertheless fished during the night between New Berne and Pitch Kettle. 
PROPORTIONS OF BUOK AND ROE SHAD. 
The following table will show the proportion existing between the number of buck and roe shad 
taken in several seines on the Neuse River during the season of 1879: 
Season. Catch of shad. 
1879. Total. | Pet cent. | Per cent. 
‘| of bucks. | of roes. 
Began. | Ended. | Buck.| Roe. 
Dollygut (1 mile below Cowpens) --! Mar. 10 | Apr. 15] 1,153 945 | 2,098 54 46 
Ewell's Upper Beach (Cowpens) ...| Mar. 8 | May 18] 1,398 995 | 2,393 58 42 
Ewell’s Lower Beach (Cowpens) ...| Mar. 8] May 4] 1,399 960 | 2,359 59 41 
Notalscaic.darcmwescueecece desl seauaccaeepieaseese he 3,950 | 2,900 | 6,840 |........ 2]. 22. eee ee 
During the same season also the firm of O. T. Watson handled as follows: 
Per cent. | Per cent. 
Month. Buck shad. | Roe shad. of bucks. of roes. 
February.......... 543 271 
Maroh ..5...-.--... 8, 219 8, 093 
April ........ 2.2.0. 2, 404 1,135 
ne 548 590 
Total ......... 6,714 5, 049 
An analysis of the above tables shows, first, that the number of male shad is considerably in 
excess of the number of female shad for the season; second that the preponderance of males over 
females is very great at two periods during the season. This inequality in the run of males and 
females, and the capture of so large a proportion of males in advance of the maturation of the 
females, would indicate that the loss of fruitful eggs in the spawning season from lack of fecunda- 
tion must be enormous. 
