THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504150331
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WAKEFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The Wakefield Shad Planking will donate $1,000 to help restore shad to Virginia waters.
The 2,000 pounds of shad for Wednesday's annual political beer-and-fish bash will come from the Delaware River.
Virginia's shad population is so low that there is a ban against taking shad in the Chesapeake Bay and its Virginia tributaries.
The Wakefield Ruritan Club, organizer of the shad planking, will donate the money to the James River Association, said Stan Brantley, promotions chairman.
The association is helping raise money to build a fish ladder at Bosher's Dam on the James River in Richmond. The dam is the last obstacle to a series of fish passages that will enable the shad to swim upstream to spawn.
Price Smith of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said bids are being sought to build the passage. Within 2 1/2 years, the department hopes shad again can begin spawning upriver.
Federal, state and private funds are being raised to pay for the passage.
Bridging Bosher's Dam will create a 140-mile-long spawning ground in the James River between the dam and Lynchburg.
The passage consists of a series of baffles that slow the flow of water over the dam and allow the fish to swim over the obstacle.
Smith said the dam is the westernmost of five on the fall line in Richmond. The Manchester Dam dates to 1803, so, to some degree, the spawning area of shad began diminishing 192 years ago, he said.
``We know for a fact that we don't have the population we had in Colonial times,'' Smith said.
Water pollution and heavy fishing also have reduced the number of shad in Virginia waters, he said.
The 47th Shad Planking will take place at a wooded site near Wakefield in Sussex County. Gov. George F. Allen will be the speaker.
The shad are nailed to a plank and baked, using a secret basting recipe, for six hours before the event. In addition, the organizers plan to cook 1,100 pounds of trout.
The beer - and other libations - will be provided by politicians, who long have used the outdoor event to showcase their candidacies.
Organizers sell 4,000 tickets at $12.50 each. by CNB