Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-26

To the CittzenS of UdShlhSioh' Frede-
rick. and Montgomery cSuRtieS.
4 S the General Assembly Of Ma
n ryiand will sit in the course of
a few weeks, | take the liberty Of call
ing the attention of the people Of the
upper counties to the subject Of GIL
Nets that all those who ma! agree
with me in opinion. may unite in Pc
ti.ions to the Legislature to pass such
laws as may effectualIy prevent he
use of them hereafter in the Potomac.
Since the introduction of these Nets
into our waters, the people of the up
pcrcountics have experienced the most
pernicious effects Of this practice. Ii
is fact well known, that many per.
sons at the last season, after leaving
their homes, with their teams, at The
most busy season of the year. and ira
Yelling, perhaps, from so to Zoe miles
TO reach the nearest landings. and al.
ter being detained there consider.
bic time, exposed to the inclemencie'
Of the weather, and often without any
shelter but what was afforded to then
by the coverings Of their Wagon,
while their crops too were suffering
greatly at home, were obliged at las
to return without any fish. Some pro
cured their Herrings. but not one in
tex could get the Shad they wanted
for their families. These Gill Nets,
il is said, arc fished almost exclusive
Iy by persons from the Eastward
covctous people they must be they
would take the bread from our mouths
if they could do it-and they certainly
will the fish if left to themselves. Ii
is stated they had 500 vessels engaged
in this business during the last season;
such a number of Nets Will form such
an obstruction i'm the river as to keep
back the Shad altogether, ard by
breaking the schools of Hcrrings ~
render even the catching Of them Ut
certain. And what adds TO cur griey.
ance, the fish that are caught in this
manner are not disposed of to our CT
tizens. but are cured on board the
vessels that take them. and carried as
an article of traffic 10 some other pOr.
items Of the Union. or, perhaps, TO 70.
reign parts.
The people Of the upper COUNTIES
are peculiarly situated: living remote
from aIy of the Rivers, with whisd
nature has 50 bountlfully watered our
state. they have only az opportunity
aflardeded TO them once a year Of laO.
curing fish Of any kin! for their FAM.
lie: and it rests with the Legislature
to determine whether they shall bee.
pri,ed of this right. attended as is
too, with great sacrifice, expensein md
trouble: and il must be known tt 10
the members that may compose bat
body, that fish, from long use and u.s.
tom. have become indispensably ntes-
sary to our families.
Il any doubt should exist as td.Ic
facts herein stated. have only u ID.
serve that they will be entirely re-
moved by referring to any one on
either of the upper counties. VIII a.
tended at the landings either 81 ina
two last seasons, particularly the asl'
Having said much more than m
tended, I have only TO call up'a al
those who feel an interest in this bu
.inesS, 10 lose no time in getting sls
natures to such petition as hay
recommendcd,-and also TO see al
converse upon the subject with su'
persons as they may think proper
send as delegates to the next Genel
Assembly and ] have also to rcq,H
the favor Of the editors Of the FIRE..
ricktown papers, to give these
marks place in their respective
pers, that the SUBJECT may be fU
brought before the people of the uff
counties.
ONE OF THE PE0PEr