NSI)ad of ff)e Hudson River. 



THE shad fishery of the Hudson River is one of the most important of the 

 commercial fisheries of the State, ranking second in the value of its product 

 among fishes specified in the statistical report of the Fisheries of the United 

 States. It is really of the first rank in value among specified fishes taken 

 in the fresh waters of the State, as the fish occupying first place in value of its product 

 is the bluefish — a sea fish. 



Upon the organization of the Fisheries, Game and Forests Commission it was found 

 that there were no reliable statistics in detail of the shad fishery and a census was 

 taken by a special agent covering the entire river from Castleton to Sandy Hook. Of 

 the value of fishery statistics Dr. Hugh M. Smith says : " The importance of statistics 

 in general needs no demonstration, and the value of statistical information regarding 

 the fishery industry is certainly as great as that of any other branch of human enter- 

 prise. I may go even further and say that, on account of the uncertainties attending 

 the prosecution of the fisheries and of the peculiar and unique conditions which 

 prevail, there are few, if any, industries the exhibition of whose extent, from time 

 to time, by accurate statistics is more desirable. 



" Fishery statistics seem to be particularly valuable and necessary in the United 

 States, where the regulation of the fisheries is vested in so many legislative bodies ; 

 where the conditions vary so much in different States, oceans and lakes ; where the 

 variations in the abundance of certain products from time to time have been so notice- 

 able ; where the artificial culture of fish is so generally carried on and is conducted on 

 such a large scale ; and where the fisheries occupy such a prominent place among the 

 national industries, on account of the large number of persons who find employ- 

 ment therein and the enormous 

 additions to our food supply resulting 

 therefrom." 



The result of the census of shad 

 taken in the Hudson River in 1895, 

 and the nets employed, shows al 

 previous estimates to have been in- 

 complete, and that the industry is of 

 greater value even than was supposed, 

 and is here °iven in detail. 



