The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-03-26
To The Editor of the Cecil UhtD:


My attention was arrested by an article
under the Caption "GllI Nels;n in the
kenl News, a paper printed at Chester
town, Kent County, Of the 10Th inst, the
article Is III part as follows:
"GlLL NETS.-We understand that
an act vas passed al the recent Session of
our Legislature, against the circumstances,
and opposlllon, OF our Senator and Dele
ga'es, to prevent, by pains and penalties,
The setIlng any gill net in the waters Of
The Chesapeake Bay, from the Mouth of
SaSsa!ras river to the Southern end of
Pool 5 Island. This measure, will bear
peculiarly Lard uron many persons ell
gag Ill taking shad, Sc, IN our county,
and is, IN our view, all unju and oppres-
sNe law, which was not called for by any
public consideration. The Design mus
have been to benefit the Fisheries "up-the-
bay at the expense OF other persons.n
Surely, the highly respectable editor
oil the News has not AIKEN the ir ube
To investigate this subject; had he done
so, his good sense, love OF 3uSiic and ha-
tired of oppression would have led to
decision, directly the reverse.
1t is well known to all who have had
an opportunity of seeing the manner in
which the stake Gill net fishery is conduc-
ted that The great public highway, of the
Chesapeake Bay, is INSTRUCTED by large
stakes, orplles, extending from llowell's
point, dlagoually, neary across the bay,
to Spcsuiia Island; some Of them 80 or
40 ieel long, aud presenting dangerous
Obs tacleS 10 the navigation, many vessels
having already been snagged, and mi reG
th'raby, and from their rapid increase,
would lilonger suffered, make the naviga-
ton OF the head-walers Of the Bay exlre-
nelly hazardous
The nets attached to the Sc stakes, are
put down al the commencement of the
fishing season, and suffered To remain there
until lis close, presenting an almost per-
lecl barrier, to the passage of the Shad TO
the fresh waters of the Susguehanna,
where they spawn, and thus rot only de-
crease the future supply, and prevent the
fishermen at the head of the bay from re-
celvIng share and being repaid for their
labor; but at least one fourth of the Shad,
caught i'll those nets, are eaten up by eels,
and of course lost to all consumers (the
eels of course eXcepled.(
lit well known, that this stake net
fishery was commenced, and is still MAIN
ly carried on,ibv men from Jersey, Penn
sylvania. and Delaware, and thus fishing
shores in Hartford and Cecil, some of
which have rented as high as $4,000 per
annum, and many hundred thousands of
dollars worth. of fishing properly, are
made nearly valueless; all of which are
heavily assessed, and paying taxes TO sup
port The State; whilst those who destroy
this valuable property, of our own ci,i-
zcns, and endanger the navigation of the
bay, are citizens of other states, paying no
taxes to Maryland, and who carry the
profits of their labor to enrich Jersey,
Pennsylvania, SC. thus wrestling the rich
es of the Chesapeake from the hands of
our citizens, and transferring it to others.
And why should the State of Maryland
suffer this impositon2
W by iorsooth, to permit the same pira-
teal plunderers, who haul seines on any
shore they may think proper, and if the
owner objects TO it, he is most likely to be
we'll thrashed, and his poultry roosls
Gle AIRED, for his pains. In the season for
shooting wild fowl, they sweep the rivers
in their boats, killing, and driving off The
game, and thus depriving the land owners,
and residents upon the tributary streams
of the Chesape Ike, of advantages, and
luxuries, enjoyed from time immemorlal,
until those lreebooters made their appear
ance. CECIL.
SPLENDID PKEsGNr.-The Emperor
of Russia has preserved Mr.. Norris, the
celebrated LOGON olive engine maker, with
ring valued at $4,000, as compliment