Your request is so specific, and of such a pleasing subject, that I will type the whole portion, which begins on p. 605 and goes through to p. 607. FISHERIES.--Various places along the Delaware River, at Gloucester, became noted as shad-fishing stations at the time of the settlement, but the first mention of them is contained in a will of Sarah Bull, made in 1742. She was a daughter of Thomas Bull, whose mother, Sarah Bull, is mentioned as a widow in 1688, and as owning one of the lots that extended down to the river. The fishery designated was above the wharf, extending to Newton Creek, and was left by her to the Harrisons, and used until the erection of the factory, when its usefulness was destroyed. Gloucester Point has ever been the resort of experienced fishermen, whose purpose was less for pleasure than gain, and fisheries with immense nets have troubled the waters ever since the white man's boat first pressed the gravelly strand. For many years it was the occasion of an annual picnic with New Jersey farmers, far and near, to go with their teams, in large companies, each spring, to Gloucester Point, load their wagons with shad, haul them home and cure them for family use during the year, salted and smoked herring and shad being deemed as essential to the larder as pickled pork. Shad were more plentiful and larger in those days than now. In the language of Alexander A. Powell, a fisherman, threescore years ago, "Shad don't run as they used to do when I was a boy; they used to bring in six thousand at a haul; now six hundred is a big catch, and such big ones as they used to catch! eight-pounders, many of them, while now a four-pounder is called a beauty." The Hugg fishery, extending from Clark's to the old ferry at Hitchner's, and the Champion fishery, north from Hitchner's to Newton Creek. The latter was purchased by the Gloucester Land Company in 1848. The Clark fishery was united with the Hugg right about seventy years ago, and Alfred Hugg, a leading lawyer of Camden, whose ancestors for generations owned the fishery, with other heirs, is now the owner, and was the operator until 1886, when it was leased to William J. Thompson and William Guy. The net used is five hundred and seventy-five fathoms in length, twenty fathoms in depth, and the lines over four miles long, being the largest net used on the Delaware. Shore-fishing has been less lucrative since gill-fishing came into vogue. This method came into use as early as 1800, and was considered injurious to the general fisheries to such an extent that an act was passed, November 26, 1808, prohibiting the use of the drift net or gilling seines. This act was in force many years, and June 10, 1820, Aaron Patterson, Charles Anderson, William Griffith and William Campbell were tried for the offense committed May 6th, opposite Howell's fishing- grounds, at Red Bank. The act became inoperative a few years later, and the method was largely used. Alexander A. Powell was one of the earlies to engage in this mode of fishing. He drifted his first net, sixty fathoms long, from Gloucester to Red Bank, in 1828, and continued in the same occupation, each returning spring, until 1882, when the weight of seventy winters compelled him to desist. Sixteen gill-fishers now constitute the Gloucester contingent, using nets one hundred and thirty fathoms long. Formerly sturgeon fishing was quite a business, but it has fallen off, and the boats go to the bay in the early part of the season, following the fish as they move up the river, and reach Gloucester in July. There are two fishing districts on the Delaware River, in Camden County. The southern district extends from Federal Street, Camden, to Timber Creek. Patrick McGallagher is fish warden of this district. The following is a statement of the catch for 1886, with the number of men employed and nets used: At Gloucester, William J. Thompson and William Guy employ sixty men, and work a net of five hundred fathoms length. The number of roe shad caught was 9240; bucks, 6153; skips, 2431,-- total 17,824; herring, 179,406; rock fish, 691. Gloucester City, 21 gillers, 2500 fathoms, 8300 shad. Bridge Avenue, Camden, 10 gillers, 750 fathoms; 3000 shad. Kaighns Point, 10 gillers, 1000 fathoms, 5000 shad. PLANKED SHAD may not be called an industry, but planked shad dinners are an institution peculiar to Gloucester Point, one that is rapidly winning popularity for the locality. Who was the inventor, and when and where the invention was first applied, is not surely known. Tradition has it that a hundred years ago Jersey dames, living near the banks of the Delaware, always famous for the abundance and delicate flavor of its shad, pleased and cultivated the epicurean appetites of their lords, the ploughmen and the fishermen of the day, by serving up the dainty fish, toasted on oaken planks, free from the effluvia of swine fat. This is tradition, however, dark, dim and uncertain, but living testimony verifies the statement. Samuel Reeves, now in his ninety-sixth year, living in Haddonfield, began fishing at Eagle Point fishery, at Red Bank, in 1818, and says planked shad were then prepared, but not often, and not until many years later did it become extensively known. About fifty years ago "Aunt Polly" Powell, wife of Abraham Powell, living near the shore at Gloucester Point, so served the fish, on occasions, to the hungry disciples of "Izaak Walton," who sought the gravelly shore on piscatorial expeditions. "Aunt Polly"--the term was one of affection and respect--did not make it a business to cater for the hungry, but, at times, fishing-parties, hungering and thirsting, would entreat her kind offices in warming a cup of coffee or frying a bit of bacon, and, in the goodness of her kindly heart, she sometimes varied the regimen with planked shad, to their delight and her gain. "Aunt Polly's" skill, however, never made planked shad famous. They were delicious, and the fishermen knew it, and repeated the experiment to prove the fact; but they were not judges, for fishermen are always hungry, and a hungry man knows not whether it be the excellence of the viand or the sharpened appetite that makes it taste so good. The first to provide the dish to parties was Mrs. Wills, the widow of Aden G. Wills, who kept the ferry-house, "The Old Brick," over forty years ago. He removed to Red Bank, where Mrs. Wills supplied planked shad to her guests occasionally. Aden Wills died, and Mrs. Wills, who is still living in Philadelphia, leased the Buena Vista, at Gloucester Point, about thirty years ago, and had a limited patronage for planked shad. Among her regular patrons was Detective Ben Franklin, who sometimes alone, at other times with company, doubled his enjoyment by sampling the luscious dish while inhaling draughts of cool air. But while Mrs. Wills was an expert in the culinary art, she knew not the mysteries of printer's ink, and the knowledge of the dish was limited. Daniel Wills, a son, served planked shad at the Buena Vista years later, and after that at the Lazaretto, where many a bon vivant sought his hospitality. A Chester host took up the role a number of years ago, and many went thither for the delightful dish, but the later lustre of the Gloucester dinners has paled the rival lights in the land of Penn, and if they still burn, it is dimly and subdued. Plank shad continued to be served, but their renown was confined within narrow bounds, and Philadelphia almost monopolized the privilege until about ten years ago, when William J. Thompson, who had been running the Buena Vista, was supplanted by John Plum, and, building a house of his own farther south on the shore, set rival tables, which, exciting emulation, led to a strife for trade that lined both their coffers with silver and gold. The rivalry led to extensive advertising, until Gloucester Point's special dainty had been read of all over the land, and parties from distant States, after experimenting, have gone home, told their story and started others on the pilgrimage. John J. Jackson succeeded Plum, who supplied the commodity at the "Buck," on Timber Creek, but the pilgrimage to Gloucester still continued, requiring constant expansion and multiplication of appliances to feed the increasing pilgrims, which this year will reach ten thousand. All classes are included, United States judges, Senators, Congressmen and heads of departments, Governors, legislators, State, county and municipal officials, military and naval heroes, the grave, the gay, all, in singles, pairs and fifties, all partake; even the bootblack, if he has the price, may enjoy the luxury, barring the wine. Mr. Thompson is constantly adding attractions to his spacious hotel, and his guests warmly praise his hospitality and successful management. He is one of GLoucester's most active citizens, and in business and political matters, a leader. When Mr. Thompson came to Gloucester (1869) "planked shad" dinners were served in a primitive way. He has brought it to a state of perfection, and his hotel is the resort not only of Philadelphia's most noted people, but the entire country. It is a great place for foreign tourists, who desire to receive instruction about the mysteries of that great American dish. Plank shad is thus prepared and served. A hickory or white-oak plank, two and a half inches thick, is heated almost to ignition; upon it is placed a "roe shad," fresh from the water, and split down the back, seasoned and then placed before a fire of coals. It requires from half to three-quarters of an hour to cook properly. The fire cooks one side, the hot plank the other, the process conserving the aroma and juices; and served hot, with new potatoes, fresh green peas, asparagus and waffles, with wine to those who will, it is a dish fit for the most epicurean of American sovereigns. Among the noted sportsmen was John Burroughs, whose reputation for fishing and gunning was second to none in the country. This was so nice, and serves three purposes, so I send it to the NJCAMDEN and NJGLOUCESTER groups, also. First, for your lookup. Second, for a bit of unique history. And third, to let the others know I am back, and will continue on the Cooper typings if given the page number and paragraph number again (I lost all my mail the other day, etc.). Vince