654 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
7. MINOR TRIBUTARIES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. 
The minor tributaries, such as the Patuxent, Chester, Choptank, Wicomico, Patapsco, and 
the numerous creeks which indent the shores of the Chesapeake, contribute no insignificant portion 
of the total product of the Chesapeake area. We have not, however, the data enabling us to 
specify the exact amounts taken in each. Their aggregate is, however, included in the summaries 
for, Maryland and Virginia, given in another section of this report. 
4.—FISHERIES OF THE DELAWARE RIVER. 
By MARSHALL McDONALD. 
The present condition of the fisheries of Delaware Bay is discussed on a preceding page of 
this volume under the head of Fisheries of Southern Delaware. 
The following is a statistical summary of the Delaware River fisheries in 1880, based upon 
general estimates: 
Species. Pounds. Value. 
AIAWIVEE ick oicinaca sasxuweeaewsaranen @1, 800,000 | $26, 000 
Shad nce coecses os veces sudaserdeeces 1,050,000 | 52, 500 
SOUL ZOOD:.~/0o.0seace.n ce ccanneeee wee cies 450, 000 22, 500 
All other species.........-...-.-00006- 5995, 250 46,116 
MPOtaD 3 2.:2,cc,ancisientisedsaeemeee sk 4,295,250 | 147,116 
a In addition, 596,700 pounds of alewives and 120,000 pounds of sturgeon were taken by the sea-fishermen. 
b Includes 196,200 pounds of catfish, 150,000 pounds of perch, 100,000 pounds of striped bass, 15,300 pounds of turtle, and 533,750 pounds 
of mixed fish. : 
The following facts concerning the condition of the fisheries of Delaware River in 1837 are 
compiled from an article by Dr. Samuel Howell, in the American Journal of Science and Arts, 
Volume XXXII, 1837, page 134, entitled ‘‘ Notice of the Shad and Shad Fisheries of the Delaware”: 
“The shad usually make their first appearance in the Delaware about the middle of March. 
In early seasons, however, they are occasionally taken in February. 
“Tt is a singular fact that they are caught within a few days as early above the rapids, 160 
miles from the ocean, as at the lowest fisheries on the river; but, although their advance guard 
would thus seem to move on with such celerity towards their place of destination, the main body 
evidently pursue their course more deliberately, and it is obvious from the operation of the 
successive fisheries that their progress upwards is slow, and that they do not move as fast as the 
tide would carry them, even admitting that they remain quiescent during the ebb. While they 
work their way slowly against the ebb-tide, it would seem that they head about and rather stem 
the upward drift of the flood. This is proved by the fact that the drift nets or gilling seines, which 
catch them meshed on their lower sides during their ebb drift, have them entangled on the 
opposite side when drifting upwards with the flood tide. 
“ While their general movement is upwards, for their final destination seems to be the clear 
shallow waters above the tide, their instinct instructs them to loiter by the way to employ their 
appropriate food, with which the turbid fresh waters of the river seem to abound ; what this food ix 
is conjectural. 
“They certainly are not a fish of prey, and their alimentary canal on dissection discloses noth- 
ing but a greenish earthy slime, which is probably strained through their fringed throats as they 
suck in the water. 
