The American shad (Alosa sapidissima) is a species of anadromous clupeid fish naturally distributed on the North American coast of the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida,

The American shad has been described as "the fish that fed the (American) nation's founders". Adult shad weigh between , and they have a delicate flavor when cooked. It is considered flavorful enough not to require sauces, herbs, or spices. It can be boiled, filleted and fried in butter, or baked. Traditionally, a little vinegar is sprinkled over it on the plate. In the Eastern United States, roe shads (females) are prized because the eggs are considered a delicacy.

Life history

The shad spends most of its life in the Atlantic Ocean but after three to six years they become sexually mature and swim up freshwater rivers to spawn. they have been pulled up in nets as deep as .

Like other herrings, the American shad is primarily a plankton feeder but eats small shrimp and fish eggs. Occasionally, they eat small fish, but these are only a minor item in their general diet. American shad demonstrate an unusual ability to detect very high frequency sound (ultrasound) above 50 kHz

Nutritional information

Like most herring species, American shad are very high in omega 3 fatty acids and, in particular, contain nearly twice as much per unit weight as wild salmon. They are also very low in toxins such as PCBs, dioxins, and mercury by EPA estimates. The American or Atlantic shad (A. sapidissima) is a valued food fish.

Shad populations

thumb|left|An American shad is measured during a [[stock assessment|survey at the Holyoke Dam fish ladder, circa 1970]]

Declines in the Atlantic coast shad population were documented as early as the turn of the 20th century. Traditionally, shad were caught along with salmon in set nets, which were suspended from poles driven into the river bed reasonably close to shore in tidal water. Many of the rivers where shad were once common now suffer from pollution; however, the short time spent by shad in freshwater may minimize contamination. For example, fisheries scientists have found that shad in the Hudson River are not in the river long enough to be affected by PCBs and other contaminants (however, fishing for or possessing American shad [including catch and release] in the Hudson River or Marine District is now prohibited). Pollution, however, may impact shad reproduction and studies have been undertaken to determine whether fingerlings suffer DNA damage.

Most rivers across the historic shad range are now heavily dammed, eliminating many of the spawning grounds. For example, the number of shad harvested in the Merrimack River declined from almost 900,000 in 1789 to none in 1888, likely due to the inability to reach their spawning ground following a period of heavy dam construction. Fish passage efforts, including the Chesapeake Bay program, have begun to remedy this situation.

Shad fishing

right|thumb|Early 19th-century shad fishing on the [[Peedee River|Peedee (Greater Pee Dee) River, South Carolina]]

Shad are also valued as a sport fish that exhibit complex and little-understood feeding behaviors while spawning. Unlike salmon, shad retain the ability to digest and assimilate food during the anadromous migration. Like other fish, turbidity and water temperature can trigger their feeding instinct. <!-- how-to not encyclopedic Anglers use spinning and fly-fishing tackle to pursue shad. Spin fishermen use a shad dart jig or a flutter spoon. Some anglers use a downrigger to place the artificial lure at the desired depth and location. This is usually in the channel, or deepest part of the river. Migrating shad tend to occupy the lower portion of the water column, making this the typical depth of choice for fishing. In the North, April through June, shad spawn in coastal rivers and estuaries once water temperatures reach 58°F (14°C). Fishing conditions typically improve as water temperatures warm and flow decreases.

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Society and culture

Shad serve notable symbolic roles in regional politics and culture. A shad bake is a culinary tradition found up and down the East Coast, often being large community events. On the year of every gubernatorial election, would-be candidates, lobbyists, campaign workers, and reporters gather in the town of Wakefield, Virginia, for its annual Shad Planking event. Similarly, in Connecticut, the towns of Essex and Windsor hold annual shad festivals. Each spring, the town of Lambertville, New Jersey, on the Delaware River across from New Hope, Pennsylvania, also hosts an annual Shad Festival. There is a multi-day Shad Festival that has been enjoyed by thousands every spring in Grifton, NC for decades. The Salem County New Jersey Attorney Bar Association has held an annual Shad Dinner every spring since the 1940s. There is a shad museum on the Connecticut River in Haddam, Connecticut.

William Penn negotiated with the Lenape for the Schuylkill shad fishing grounds in the 1680s. Shad, he said, were "excellent Pickled or Smoked."

In Quebec, there is a major annual spring shad run in the Rivière-des-Prairies, and many people fish for shad near the Rivière-des-Prairies dam in Laval. The fish is known as saumon des pauvres, or salmon for the poor people.

References

  • "Fried Shad Roe" recipe.
  • Village Voice article, "Shad Madness".
  • New England Shad Association