664. HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
THE SHAD-FISHERY.—The shad-fisheries of the Connecticut are still of great importance, 
though the number annually captured on this river by no means equals that taken on any of the 
other principal rivers of the Atlantic coast, from which latter, however, we would expect no larger 
yield than from the Connecticut River. 
The following tables, from the report for 1870 of the Connecticut commissioners, giving 
statistics showing the annual catch of the fishery for a series of years at Griswold’s Pier, at Lyme, 
and of the fishery formerly known as the Parsonage Pier, are interesting, as they show the material 
diminution which has gradually taken place at these fisheries. 
= 
Griswold’s Pier, Lyme. 
Number Number Number Number 
Year. of Year. of Year. of. Year. of” 
shad, shad. shad. shad. 
1BKS 2 ne cece ne mene ene 10, 043 || 1855 .... 22.22... e wane 10,125 || 1860 .....-..nseeeeeeee- 1,470 || 1865......- 2. eneencncne 38, 974 
1846... cee eeecneesecene 7,850 || 1856 .........-.....06-- 10, 200 || 1861 ........... javaiana ewes 6,000 |} 1866.22.22. .2eneeseenee 4, 445 
NOE 5. wis s:0ic:ste cinie wainciciersie 6, 540 || 1857 ...- 2.22. eee 3, 357 || 1862 ...... eee eee e ee 7,000 || 1867......----.-------+- 1, 730 
LOS ooo cee ecne cc cee cece 10, 246 || 1858 ............--00-- 11, 646 |} 1863 .........--. acne 5,000 |} 1868........22-0-eennee 830 
ae 8, 600 || 1859 0... eee eee 10, 200 }| 1864 .........----.0-00e 1,948 || 1860...-...2.2--2eneceee 1, 500 
The books of this pier are lost from 1847 to 1851; also from 1851 to 1854. 
For one or two years previous to 1845 the average catch was 12,000 per year. 
Mr. Griswold writes that for the last three years he lost money, and was obliged to abandon 
this fishery. 
Fishery known as the Parsonage Pier. 
Number Number Number Number 
Year. of Year. of Year. of Year. of 
shad. shad. shad. shad. 
3,091 } 1888 ....0...2.......... 8,734 || 1849 ...........0. ees 19, 410 |] 1860..............22-66- 2, 045 
10, 716 |] 1839 ........2 2. eee e eee 9, 029 || 1850 -.-.-.-.....-....-- 20, 401 || 18613..........-2.22.... 10, 654 
7,138 || 1840 .........---...-6-- 79236 || 1851 wcxcseesscerewcsces 25,227 || W862. sciiciceremcewemsimoms 6, 449 
8,937 || 1841 ....8..........-.-- BSF 2T |) 1852 sc cievete sic ciieaweees 14, 257 || 1863. ...2..-<--2ssc0ee% 5, 675 
9, 064 |] 1842 ......2.22.. eee eee 7,280 || 1858 .......-.-. 2000 18, 138 || 1864.....--...-..---.--. 5,491 
11,713 || 1843 22. .seeecscescaees By 416: || LEDS cs ciniciewecis otic sineacine, 10,148 || 1865...........-.22..08. 10, 672 
8, 670 || 1844.00... 2.2... eee 11, 088 || 1855 ..-.......0...ceene 8; 236: 1966: 20e eens tootene 2,100 
14, 934 || 1845 ...........--0022.- 16,091 || 1856. .....--..-..-..... 13, 940 || 1867.........2- 2-2 seen 4, 864 
23, 376 || 1846 ..........ceen- eee 12)798: |) 1857 x22 ccc cceceaseedes 8, 826 || 1868.........--..--...- 1,970 
11, 050 || 1847 .....2-... eee eee 18, 690 || 1858 .....--..-....-2..- O;826 ||-1869 jcc sewe.s ccc edeceas 1,796 
_ 9,096 |] 1848.0... 18, 468 || 1859 .-..- 2... e eee eee 7, 846 
No account of the number of shad taken in the pounds is given, as no satisfactory information 
concerning them could be obtained. It is reported that on the 14th of May, 1870, the pounds 
yielded from 300 to 1,100 shad each, which is probably above the average. 
In this connection also the following statement by R. B. Chalker, of Saybrook, Conn., 
regarding the yearly catch of a pound-net, located 44 miles west of the mouth of the Connecticut 
River, in the town of Westbrook, Oonn., furnishes additional information of the same tenor : 
