In the face of these discomforts the winter fisherman, slapping his legs to restore lost circulation, moving stiffly because of the rheumatism contracted last year, or nursing the cracked and bleeding fingers that were frozen last week, is as cheerful a citizen as circumstances will permit; but it is a far cry from the frozen river as he sees it, a field of labour and a scene of drudgery, to the glittering, joyous plain that the well clad and nourished ice-boatman beholds.

43^ The Hudson River

As every one knows, the most imj)ortant fisheries on the Hudson are those where the shad is taken. There has long been a rivah-y between Hudson River and Chesapeake shad, New York and Maryland each claiming precedence, and finally agreeing only upon one point -- that lieside those two there are no others. From the mouth of the river almost to the head of navigation, as soon as winter closes, the boats of the fishermen |)ut out to set the shad poles and get ah in readiness for the approaching season. From the vicinity of Fort Lee, Piermont, Croton, Poughkeepsie, and many another favourable point, they range themselves " in order serviceable " and wait the advent of the vanguard of that unnumbered host that about the ist of April begins to move towards the headwaters of the river. The first "run" sends a quiver of excitement through the communities of fishers, and the news is telegraphed from New York to Albany. The newspapers herald the coming of the shad and the marketmen display them with pride and expatiate upon their merits. At that time a multitude of the passengers returning from the Jersey shore to Manhattan by w^ay of the upper ferries may be seen carrying mysterious newspaper packages, that emit a fishy odour.