Comments on: City of Brotherly Love Woos Shad With Stairway to Harem

By: EllenB

EllenB — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:08:36 +0000

A positive step for this historic and important fish!

By: Shad: Philadelphia’s Fish. A Symbol of Hope for the Environment. | Science Cheerleader

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:35:41 +0000

[...] the interim, here’s a short, quirky audio piece featured on DiscoverMagazine.com that tells the unique story of the Shad, “America’s Founding Fish,” says John [...]

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:46 +0000

It’s really nice to hear that our rivers are making a comeback. Hopefully some local restaurant (Bookbinders, I am looking in your direction) will add Shad to their menus.
I for one would like to try this most delicious fish.
In regards to adding a local celebrity to the documentary, I offer up the following names- Manoj Nelliattu Shyamalan, David Morse, King Britt, Johnny Louch and or
Al Alberts.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:11:14 +0000

Hi Chris:
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have a local celeb in mind? Are you affiliated with the water department?
-Darlene

By: Chris K

Chris K — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:47:03 +0000

I am glad to see positive news about how the Delaware river is being improved! We all need to be aware of how we treat our water. Let’s hope we can begin to do the same kind of things for the Schuylkill river too. More public exposure to these efforts is needed – and a well done documentary could help to drive this point home. Perhaps adding a well know local celebrity would be of benefit too!

By: Keli

Keli — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:47:31 +0000

It’s about time that Philadelphia gets the recognition for it’s efforts to improve the environment. I think a documentary on the ‘return of the shad’ could be both entertaining and enlightening. My Native American ancestors would be proud to know that ‘Mother Earth’ is being well cared for in Philadelphia.

Although increasing the shad population in the Delaware won’t solve all the Worlds problems, showing how this critical first step improves our environment is important and worth the effort.

I applaud your work and hope you can expand it.

By: Philly Phil

Philly Phil — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:14:56 +0000

I’m younger, so I’ve never tasted shad or shad roe. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen it on a menu. As a food lover, I’d like to see these fish make a comeback so that I can give them a taste. I mean, did you hear in the piece that the Latin name for American shad is “most delicious”? Must be amazing!

Then again, I think I’d feel really bad eating our Philly Fish that’s finally making a comeback. PLUS, it stands for cleaning up our water which is all too important. So how can I really eat one of these little guys?

But then again…I do really want to know what it tastes like! This is turning into a serious dilemma.

Great piece!

By: Lisa MZ

Lisa MZ — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:20:30 +0000

What an interesting story, and how very important to Philadelphia and the planet. I remember shad roe as a kid – it was certainly a delicacy, not that I partook, but a memory nonetheless. I grew up in NY state on the Hudson River, and it is exciting to hear that our rivers are making a comeback. The MP3 piece was nothing short of creative, brilliant and informative – I agree w/ the other posters, what a great storyteller these lucky shad have! Another interesting piece is that Clean Water Action has done a tremendous amount of work in Philadelphia, and I think many other states reap the benefits. Wouldn’t it be terrific to see this story made into a series – many Philadelphians and beyond stand to learn a lot about these wonderful little scaly creatures and the integral role they place to our ecosystem. Stairway to Harem – for sure!

By: Gene

Gene — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:01:12 +0000

I thought it was a great story! I too think it would make a great documentary. Many people take the Delaware River for granted. It has only been since the 80’s that the river started to make its come back after years of pollution from Easton on down to the bay. Following the shad up the river are the herring and the strippers. All great fish to catch and the stripper great to eat. The money that the fishing is starting to bring into local towns, as word spreads across the country about the great fishing in the Delaware, is reason alone to celebrate.

All in all it was a great story and well told. I would like to see it set with a video, or for that matter expanded into a documentary.

By: Franco

Franco — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:25:32 +0000

Wow, great piece, I have heard Ed Grusheski speak many times about the Philadelphia Water Works and it’s significance in allowing our city to thrive, and getting his message to other people is a great benefit to all. I personally believe any efforts to reintroduce natural species back into their natural habitats is aways a reason to get excited. I look forward to the day that our children can again see the local waterways as a source of recreation and learning.