Rulifson and Batsavage: Population demographics of Alosc mediocris 
223 
Figure 2 
Map of the lower Roanoke River watershed and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina, showing 
the general locations where adult Hickory Shad ( Alosa mediocris) were collected during Feb- 
ruary-May 1996 from 2 independent gillnet surveys in the western end of Albemarle Sound, 
in the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge (RRNWR; indicated with dotted rectangle), 
and in the recreational fishery on the spawning grounds of Hickory Shad near the city of 
Weldon, North Carolina. 
though none except Batsavage (1997) were focused on 
age and growth. At the southern end of its range in 
Florida, the St. Johns River population was studied 
early by Walberg (1960) and Williams and Bruger 9 . In 
North Carolina, no directed sampling by state agen- 
cies has been conducted since 1993, but the NCWRC 
has collected Hickory Shad data for the 4 major North 
Carolina coastal rivers (Roanoke, Tar- Pamlico, Neuse, 
and Cape Fear) between 2000 and 2010 with annual 
monitoring (Dockendorf 10 * * ). 
Understanding key aspects of the life history, as 
well as the stock status of individual populations, is 
critical for species management. The ASMFC has long- 
identified life history aspects and the stock status of 
Hickory Shad as priorities for future research (Richkus 
and DiNardo 1 ; ASMFC 1112 - 13 ). 
9 Williams, R. O., and G. E. Bruger. 1972. Investigations 
on American shad in the St. Johns River. Technical Series 
No. 66, 49 p. Florida Department of Natural Resources, St. 
Petersburg, FL. [Available from http://research.myfwc.com/ 
publications/publication_info.asp?id=29934.] 
10 Dockendorf, K. 2013. Personal commun. North Carolina 
Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC 27606. 
n ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 
1985. Fishery management plan for the anadromous alosid 
stocks of the eastern United States: American shad, hickory 
shad, alewife, and blueback herring. Phase II in interstate 
management planning for migratory alosids of the Atlantic 
The goal of our study was to characterize the de- 
mographics of Hickory Shad during a known period of 
stock rebuilding with the Albemarle Sound-Roanoke 
River watershed as the focus population because of the 
important commercial and recreational fisheries there 
that target Hickory Shad. We describe the age, size, sex 
ratio, fecundity, age to maturity, growth, and mortal- 
ity of adult Hickory Shad in the spring prespawning 
population in Albemarle Sound and during the spawn- 
ing run near the spawning region in the Roanoke River 
near Weldon, North Carolina. Results of this study pro- 
vide important life history information for future man- 
agement plan development. 
coast. Fisheries Management Report No. 6, 347 p. ASMFC, 
Washington, D.C. [Available from http://www.asmfc.org/up- 
loads/file/1985FMP.pdf.] 
12 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 
2007. American shad stock assessment report for peer re- 
view, vol. 3. Stock Assessment Report No. 07-01 (Supple- 
ment), 489 p. ASMFC, Washington, D.C. [Available from 
http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/2007ShadStockAssmtRepo 
rtVolumeIII.pdf.) 
13 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commis- 
sion). 2009. Review of the Atlantic States Marine Fish- 
eries Commission fishery management plan for shad and 
river herring (Alosa spp.) 2009, 11 p. ASMFC, Washing- 
ton, D.C. [Available from http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/ 
file/2009ShadFMPReview.pdf.] 
