THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, December 17, 1994            TAG: 9412170203
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Short :   34 lines

ALLEN MAKES DONATION TO SHAD FISH-LADDER FUND

Gov. George Allen wrote a personal check Friday to help pay for a fish ladder so shad can reach spawning beds in the James River above Richmond.

The ladder will allow shad to climb over Bosher's Dam in Henrico County and travel an added 140 miles upstream to near Lynchburg.

The bulk of the $952,000 cost is being raised privately. The state has committed $205,000.

Frank Sutton, chairman of the Lower James River Association, said Allen's contribution brought the amount raised to $912,000. Sutton said Allen's contribution was ``very considerable,'' but he would not reveal the amount.

Allen presented the check at a Capitol news conference.

``We certainly need more shad in Virginia,'' Allen said.

``I think it's an absolute disgrace that the shad planking has been buying shad from other states. That's unpardonable. No good Virginian should tolerate such a disgrace.''

The shad planking is a traditional must-attend event for the state's politicians, who join citizens in feasting on the bony fish.

Sutton said the project will help restore a declining shad and herring population. Eventually, he said, the project will boost the state's economy by at least $5 million a year. by CNB