X Y 
J. H. S. Hubbard. 
1. Have been engaged in fishing and dealing in fish for 
about twenty-five years, 
2. In the Great Choptank Fiver. 
3. Have closely observed the habits of fish for many years. 
4. Shad begin to spawn about the 25th of April and con- 
tinue until the 1st of June. They are rapidly diminishing. 
5. I keep an account of the catch, the temperature of the 
water and the range of the winds. The temperature of the 
water is from 30° to 50°. The best catch is made when the 
water is from 35° to 45° and the wind south, southwest, west 
and northwest. Fishing is poor in these waters when wind is 
from east or northeast. 
6. Shad are diminishing at the rate of one-tenth per year. 
We attribute the decrease to the very effectual blockade of 
the lower part of the Choptank Fiver by weir or stake nets, 
which destroy many fish and turn many back that would come 
up bnt for these obstructions. 
7. We catch shad, herring, rock, perch, pike and cat-fish, of 
which three-tenths are shad, one-tenth herring, and six-tenths 
rock, &c. The white cat-fish is a valuable fish and ought to 
be propagated, as like all other fish in our waters it is rapidly 
diminishing. 
8. Have kept an account of the fish sold since 1873. The 
catch has diminished one-tenth per year up to the spring of 
1879. The herring are almost exterminated. Of the number 
caught three-tenths were shad, one-tenth herring and six- 
tenth were rock, perch, pike, cat-fish and other fish. I would 
call your attention to the importance of the earliest possible 
preparation for the propagation of herring. Twenty years 
ago the Eastern Shore rivers furnished enough of this fish to 
supply all that section of country, as well as Delaware, with 
salt food-fish, wdiereas in the spring of 1879 many people 
living along the Choptank could not get a fresh mess. The 
people of the Eastern Shore depend much on a supply of 
small bone bacon. 
9. I have closely observed rock-fish. Have obtained ripe 
female rock on but five occasions. 
