ALBEMARLE SOUND AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. 633 
The princip4! tributaries of the Chowan are the Nottoway and the Meherrin. The sources 
of these rivers do not penetrate to the mountains, and this difference in the physical features of 
the two river basins entails gorresponding variations in the character of the rivers themselves. 
The muddy waters which pour down the Roanoke during the seasons of high water bear a marked 
contrast to the dark and clear waters of the Chowan. 
A number of minor tributaries of the Albemarle are North, Pasquotank, Little, Perquimans, 
and Alligator Rivers. These do not penetrate far into the interior, but all of them formerly re- 
ceived each season vast schools of herring and shad. At the present time, however, the fish- 
eries on these rivers have become unproductive in consequence of the diminution of the supply. 
The main fisheries of the Albemarle are found about the head of the sound and for a short dis- 
tance up the Roanoke and Chowan Rivers. 
The waters of the Albemarle Sound are always fresh; indeed, it is only in dry seasons that 
the waters of the sound become at all brackish. In the season of 1880, during the whole of 
which extreme drought prevailed, the water was somewhat brackish as high up as Palens fishery, 
where several salt-water species were captured in considerable numbers. 
The fishing season for the large haul seines on the A)bemarle begins between March 1 and 15, 
although shad are sometimes taken in gill-nets in the Sound some weeks earlier. The following 
summary of fishing records for Willow Branch Fishery from 1835 to 1874, which was compiled by 
the late Professor Milner from the books kept at the fishing shore, gives a number of interesting 
data in regard to these fisheries. The duration of the fishing season and the date of maximum 
run, both for shad and herring, is found to vary widely from year to year. These fluctuations are 
due to corresponding changes in the meteorological conditions, which are of course impressed upon 
the waters. i 
Summary of fishing records for shad and alewives kept at Willow Branch Fishery,” North Carolina, from 1835 to 1874. 
nee ; Num- Average| Average Date of maximum. 
“months, | “aeasons ” [Bnding of season, ber of 75h2a”lalewives. Der diem | per diom 
Shad. Alewives. 
51 | 33,259 | 484, 600 652 9,502 | April 6-14. April 13-19. 
12] 5,441| 57, 600 453 4, 800 
30 | 26,645 | 344,500 888 11, 483 
9] 1,173] 82,500 130 9, 166 
53 | 18, 231 |1, 236, 700 249 23, 333 | April 16-19. April 17-26. 
16} 3,160] 28,100 197 1, 756 
30 | 9,619] 939, 600 320 31, 320 
7| 1,462] 269,000 208 | ~~ 38, 428 
52 | 34, 169 |1, 982, 300 657 38,121 | April 9-21. April 23 and 24. 
16} 7,453] 76,700 465 4, 793 
30 | 24,566 |1, 635, 600 818 54, 520 
6] 2,060] 270,000 343 45, 000 
52 | 32, 204 |1, 093, 100 619 21,021 | March 30-April 6.| April 17-19. 
14| 9,480} - 56; 100 677 4,007 
30 | 19,739 | 785, 000 657 26, 166 
8| 2,985 | 252, 000 373 31, 500 
57 | 73, 130 |1, 595, 900 1, 282 27,901 | April 4-6. April 26-May 2. 
18 | 27,946 | 90, 500 1, 552 5, 027 
30 | 43, 351 1, 205, 000 1,445 40, 166 
ad 9] 1,833 | 300,000 208 | 38, 833 
* Willow Branch Fishery, North Carolina, situated just within the mouth of the Chowan River, was one of the 
most valuable of the extensive seine fisheries lying around the head of the Albemarle. Its records, running almost 
continuously from 1835 to 1874, present most interesting material for study; and, when taken in connection with 
other records of the Albemarle fisheries which are extant, and cotemporaneous meteorological observations will prob- 
ably furnish valuable conclusions in regard to the laws or influences determining the great seasonal fluctuations in 
the river fisheries. 
