332 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
the river course, every point yielding its quota for local 
use, and the limited demand not warranting the prosecu- 
tion of the fisheries so vigorously as to cut off the "run" 
at points above. But the profits derived from shipping 
shad to populous centers resulted in a concentration of 
the fisheries at points near the mouths of the rivers where 
most convenient shipping facilities exist, resulting in 
certain narrow streams in practically excluding shad 
from the middle and upper sections where the spawning 
grounds are located. The effect is not so apparent as in 
the case of impassable dams, for the latter form abso- 
lute barriers, whereas extensive fisheries merely limit the 
number of fish ascending to the extreme range of the 
river and not the length of that range; but in many cases 
they affect the future abundance of the species even as 
much as the dams. This is particularly noticeable in 
those narrow streams whose fluvial characteristics extend 
nearly or quite to the sea, as in most of the rivers be- 
tween the St. Johns and the Neuse, and to some extent 
in the Susquehanna, the Hudson, the Connecticut, etc. 
In the Ogeechee, Savannah, Edisto, Pee Dee and Cape 
Fear, the great bulk of the catch is obtained in the extreme 
lower end within thirty or forty miles of the sea, and 
comparatively few shad ascend as far as the spawning 
grounds. In the Connecticut nearly all the shad are 
caught within twenty' miles of the mouth. 
In the broad estuaries tributary to the sound of North 
Carolina and to Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, the 
effect of netting is not so apparent, yet even in these 
waters only a small percentage of the shad ever reach 
the spawning grounds. Formerly the great bulk of the 
yield was obtained from the middle and upper sections 
of those rivers; at present nearly all the catch is ob- 
tained in the lower section and in the salt water of the 
estuaries. The extension of the fisheries into the estuaries 
is of recent origin, dating only from the middle of the 
nineteenth century, and their development has been prin- 
cipally during the last twenty years. It requires large and 
costly apparatus to prosecute the fisheries there, and 
forms suitable have come into use only recently. At 
present about 47 per cent, of the total shad yield on the 
Atlantic seaboard is obtained in salt water regions, which 
half a century ago yielded none whatever-; this in some 
measure compensating for the 4,000 miles of river course 
from which shad are now wholly excluded and the lengths 
from which the exclusion is partial. 
It thus appears that the principal change in the shad 
fisheries during the last fifty years has been one of loca- 
tion rather than extent of the total yield, the great in- 
crease in the estuaries compensating for the decrease in 
the headwaters. This change in the fishing grounds re- 
sults m a large portion of the fish being taken before 
they reach the spawning areas in fresh water, thereby 
preventing them from adding their quota to future sup- 
ply almost as effectually as though they were excluded 
therefrom by means of dams or otherwise. 
Access to suitable spawning grounds in sufficient num- 
bers to compensate for loss by capture and natural causes 
is a physiological necessity for the maintenance of the 
fisheries if dependence is placed on natural reproduction. 
But from the foregoing it appears that the construction 
of dams has excluded shad from a large portion of the 
spawning grounds, notwithstanding the erection of fish- 
ways in those obstructions; sawdust, chemicals and other 
refuse and agricultural operations have greatly impaired 
the utility of the spawning areas even now available, and 
the extensive fisheries have very largely decreased the 
number of shad reaching those areas. These adverse 
agencies have reduced natural reproduction to almost an 
insignificent factor in the maintenance of the present 
fisheries and have rendered artificial propagation essen- 
tial to their prosperity. During the seventies the return's 
of the fisheries reached a minimum; then the results of 
artificial propagation appeared, not only restoring the 
former abundance, but even increasing the catch. 
The total shad yield on the Atlantic seaboard in 1880 
numbered 5,162,315; in 1888 it was increased to' 10,181,605 ; 
in 1896 it was further increased to 13,067,469, and in 1001 
it approximated 15,000,000, 48 per cent, greater than in 
1888, and nearly three times as great as in 1880. While 
this increased yield was preceded by an increase in the 
quantity of apparatus used, yet it was made possible by 
the greater abundance of shad due to artificial propaga- 
tion. Comparing 1880 with 1901 it appears that the in- 
crease in the yield numbered 9,800,000. At twenty cents 
each, which is the average price paid by consumers, this 
represents an increase of $1,960,000 in the value, over 
fifty times the expenditure for shad propagation, a re- 
sult probably unsurpassed in any other line of fishcul- 
ture. The large number of persons employed in this 
fishery and the present inability of natural reproduction 
to maintain the supply, make it essential that no decrease 
be made in this important branch of fishculture. 
The support of profitable shad fisheries is not the only 
object to be gained in maintaining the supply of shad 
on the coast. The relation between the different species 
of fish in the economy of nature is not very well under- 
stood, but sufficient is known to indicate that the valu- 
able shore fisheries are intimately associated with the run 
of shad and similar species. Seventy years ago, when the 
run of fish up the rivers of New England, for instance, 
was very much greater than at present, the young later in 
the year descended to the sea in enormous schools, at- 
tracting the cod, haddock, and other offshore species, 
which were caught in abundance within a short distance 
of the coast. But with the depletion of shad, alewives, 
salmon, etc., came a corresponding diminution in the 
number of other fish near the coast. And it appears that 
any measure tending to restore the anadromous fishes to 
their former abundance will also improve the coast fish- 
eries. Charles H. Stevenson. 
[Some Don'ts for Fishermen. 
Don't use stale bait nor be stingy with fresh bait. 
Don't keep all good spots to yourself. 
Don't take undersized fish and then brag of your luck. 
Don't anchor above another who may already be fishing. 
Don't cast your anchor as though you were pitching a 
game of quoits. 
Don't be noisy; noise frightens fish and disgusts your 
neighbors. 
Don't make a practice of saying the biggest got away. 
Don't imagine you know it all. Ideas of. a novice are 
sometimes followed with success. 
Don't go about in wet shoes and clothes. 
Don't carry loose hooks in your pockets. 
Don't blame your' tackle dealer always, if your rod or 
reel breaks. 
Don't let the wind and rain get at your bait. 
Don't keep worms in cigar or cedarwood boxes. 
Don't attempt to cast over your companion's head. 
Don't become discouraged if you fail to catch fish. 
Don't forget to send one dollar with your name and 
address to the office of the Protective League of Salt 
Water Fishermen, and receive a membership card at once 
(which includes one year's dues in advance). 
The objects of the League are to obtain legislation look- 
ing to the enactment of beneficial laws for the protection 
of salt-water fish, the co-operation of fishermen at large 
in conforming to and enforcing the same, and, generally, 
in furthering and aiding all lawful methods looking to 
prompt action in all violations of the law. 
Office and headquarters, Wall's Hotel, 106 W. Thirty- 
first street, New York city. 
Netters and Anglers. 
There has been a great deal of misunderstanding in 
regard to the dispute between the net men and the line 
men. The Protective League of Salt Water Fishermen 
is not the creation of fools who would interfere with the 
reasonable rights of the netters. Everybody knows that 
nets must be used to supply the markets ; but few people 
believe that only a fourth of the choice game fish caught 
in nets should go to the market, and the rest allowed to 
spoil, to be tossed overboard, or converted into material 
for manuring potato patches. 
It is against this shameful waste of good fishes that 
the anglers are now leagued. Of course the spoiling of 
their sport has much to do with the position they have 
taken. This they admit frankly, like honest men, and it is 
not at all improbable that a compromise may be made 
between them and the netters, by which the latter might 
endeavor to limit their operations to the necessary market 
supply. 
For instance, they might stop netting to some extent, at 
least during the spawning season, and raise their pounds 
and stop working the' purses for one or two days 
every week during the summer months. That might 
benefit themselves in the long run and satisfy the anglers, 
the hotel keepers and the shore railroad companies. 
The theory that the food supply of the sea can never 
be affected by any device of man is perfectly sound in 
regard to outside deep-sea fishing; but the notion that 
the inshore run of game fish cannot be turned back or 
affected by miles of pound nets stretching out in echelons 
along the coast is simply absurd, 
T. Biedinger. 
Neighborhood Angling, 
Early Ttout Fishing, 
The lack of spring weather has retarded the early 
trout fishing in most sections of New York and Pennsyl- 
vania. The season opened in New York on the 16th of 
the month, and in Pennsylvania on the 15th. Reports 
from the streams are to the effect that they are still swol- 
len and muddy, and that the fishing on the opening days 
was poor. The mild weather of the past few days, how- 
ever, should have its effect and produce better fishing. 
Dealers in fishing tackle report a very satisfactory out- 
fitting season. 
Sullivan County Trout. 
A New York city angler, who has just returned from 
several days' fishing in Sullivan county, says that the 
streams in this section are in excellent condition, al- 
though this is no{ generally the case throughout the State. 
On Saturday of last week he caught thirty-five trout, 
measuring from seven to ten inches. They were all 
caught on the fly. A number of parties from New York 
have gone to Sullivan county to try the fishing, but it is 
yet too early to have heard from them. 
Long Island Trout. 
Mr. Fred Sauter, Jr., of New York, spent several days 
last week in the vicinity of Hauppauge, Long Island, 
where there are several good trout streams. He did no 
fishing, but says that the streams are clear and in good 
condition. On Monday of last week a Brooklyn angler 
caught twenty trout in one of the._ streams near Haup- 
pauge. and on Tuesday he got eight more. This man 
has visited these streams for several years past, and al- 
though he has fished through central New York, he pre- 
fers this locality. This is an evidence of the sport which 
may be had here. 
Mr. George C. Pennell, of New York, is having mounted 
a fine brook trout weighing 2 l / 2 pounds, which he caught 
at Carman's River. Mr. Pennell is a member of the 
Carman's River Club, and has had several days of fishing 
on the club's stream. 
Fishculture Notes. 
Washington, D. C, April 19. — The shad-hatching sea- 
son is very backward. The North Carolina station has 
had a very light season so far. If the weather grows 
warmer the Potomac and Delaware River stations will 
have a short, though probably very full, season. 
A remarkably large number of eggs of pike-perch are 
being taken at the Put-in-Bay station, Lake Erie. The 
Total so far for the season being 260.000,000. B. A- B, 
The Coming of the Shad. 
The first shad is well known to be due in the waters of 
the Hudson River on the day consecrated to the blessed 
St. Patrick. But while this day always comes round on 
time, the shad are too often late. Of course much de- 
pends on the weather conditions, and often the waters of 
the stream are too cold on March 17 for the shad to 
enter them. This year, however, the fish could have had 
no such excuse for tardiness. Spring is early, the weather 
warm ape) the river's temperature probably high. Never- 
P f Aran. 26, 1902. 
theless the shad are extremely late, and it is only within 1 
a week or two that they have been caught and they are 
still scarce. A gill netter who was floating recently off. 
158th street took only eight fish on a tide, where last 
year in the same time he would have taken 120. 
A little later we may hear of the shad being taken on 
the fly in_ small numbers at Verplank's Point, in the 
Hudson River, and still later a few may be taken below 
the dam at Holyoke, in the Connecticut River. Fishing 
for shad with the fly was formerly a regular practice 
with quite a number of anglers, but of late years we 
hear much less of it. The shad's extremely tender mouth 
requires very delicate handling, and perhaps a greater 
stock of deliberation and of patience than most anglers 
have on hand. Nevertheless, as we can testify from 
experience, it is a stirring sight to get an eight-pound 
shad up to the side of your boat, and to see his head 
slip into the landing net and his silver body pass over the 
gunwale to safety. 
The Bonefish* 
Washington, D. C, April 18. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: In your issue of April 19, just repeived, on 
page 311, under the heading "Florida Bonefish Record," 
Henry Guy Carleton says: "In my last I spoke incor- 
rectly of this fish as the Albula vulpes, having authority 
of a member of the Fish Commission for my error. Hav- 
ing read better authorities, I am convinced that the 
bonefish is the Elops saurus, first cousin of the tarpon, 
while the bony fish, or lady fish, is the Albula vulpes." 
Without further evidence, it might appear from the 
above that Mr. Carleton had nailed the Fish Commission 
man, but his picture of three Albula vulpes, labeled "Mr. 
Hunter's Record Bonefish," gives the poor Fish Com- 
mission man the last laugh. 
The name ten-pounder is usually applied to the Elops 
saurus in Florida, on both coasts and especially at Key 
West. B. A. Bean. 
Designing Competition for the Sea- 
wanhaka Corinthian Y. C. 
To be Known as the Seawanhafca 15-Footers. 
The competition is open both to amateur and profes- 
sional designers. Three prizes will be awarded for the 
best designs of a yacht conforming to the following con- 
ditions : 
I. A keel sloop to measure 15ft. racing length under 
the club's new rule. 
II. Sails: Mainsail, jib and spinnaker. The area 
of the mainsail and jib shall not exceed 350 sq. ft., not 
over 80 per cent, of which shall be in the mainsail. 
HI. Planking shall not be less than Y^n. in thickness. 
IV. Spars shall be solid, and the mast shall be of 
sufficient strength to be used without runners or pre- 
venter backstays. 
V. Cockpit shall be open, and bulkheads or air tanks 
are to be provided sufficient to insure the boats being 
non-sinkable. 
VI. The boats shall be capable of carrying full sail in 
ordinary summer breezes on Long 1 Tsland Sound. 
VII. Construction shall be strong and durable. 
VIII. All competitors must furnish a drawing of the 
lines, which will also show the position of the lead keel, 
and a table of calculated weights, which will give dis- 
placement, weight of lead, weight of hull, weight of rig, 
center of buoyancy and center of lateral resistance, center 
of effort and center of gravity of the lead keel; also a 
sail plan, on which the diameters of spars and sizes of 
rigging shall be marked; also a deck plan and amidship 
section, which will show height of cockpit seats and floor, 
and height of coaming. The midship section must also 
show the construction. 
The boats are to be measured with a crew of two men 
aboard, their weight to be taken at 30olbs. 
The actual sail area will be measured. 
The following prizes will be awarded: First prize, 
$100; second prize, $50; third prize, $25. 
In the event of one of the prize designs being selected 
by the club and yachts being constructed therefrom, the 
winner, in lieu of the cash prize, may furnish the neces- 
sary additional plans and specifications and supervise the 
construction and receive $25 for each yacht built. In 
awarding the prizes, speed will be the first consideration, 
but appearance, construction, simplicity of rig and con- 
venient arrangement will also carry weight. 
Sail plan, y 2 m. scale. All other plans, iin. scale. 
The designs must be received at the office of Forest and 
Stream, 346 Broadway, New York city, not later than 
May 15, 1902, and should bear a nom-de-plume only. A 
sealed envelope containing the designer's nom-de-plume, 
together with his own name and address should accom- 
pany the designs. The right is reserved to publish any or 
all of the designs. Those desiring the return of their 
drawings should inclose the necessary postage. 
The designs will be judged by a committee consisting 
of Messrs. John Hyslop, A. Cary Smith, J. Rogers Max- 
well, Jr., and Clinton H, Crane, and the result of the 
competition will be announced through these 'columns in 
the issue of May 24. 
The club's new rule referred to in Paragraph I. is as 
follows: Yachts shall be rated for classification and time 
allowance by racing 'measurement, which shall be de- 
