Shad are an anadromous fish that live in the ocean and come way up into our freshwater tributaries (like the Mattaponi River) in the early spring to spawn. The Mattaponi (and other area tribes) have been catching shad during these spring runs for centuries. At one time, the shad were a primary food source for native Americans in the region. Although times have changes, every year the Mattaponi continue to observe this now symbolically important tradition by netting shad during the spring runs. The Mattaponi (along with the Pamunkey) have been taking the row (eggs) of captured female shad, fertilizing them and raising them in captivity to a critical larval stage before introducing them back into the river. The shad larvae mature and eventually return to the ocean. But, they remember from whence they came, ultimately returning to the Mattaponi to participate in the spawning ritual. This practice helps to replenish and maintain the shad stock which has diminished dramatically (as have many other fisheries). The Mattaponi and Pamunkey have been conducting this practice of fertilizing shad eggs and raising and reintroducing shad larvae for decades ... long before there were state and federal programs to do the same. Today, the Mattaponi River boasts the healthiest shad spawning run in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. The fishery, however, has yet a long way to go to recover to levels that are considered necessary for the health of the species.