Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-15
FOR THE PROJECTION OF THE GAME OF

FOR TIE PROJECTION OF THE GAME OF
TENNEssEE--NO 8.
amy last went to show something ofthe desruc-
tive nature Of fsh-trsps, on the fsh in streams
end promised in ms next to notice the sein and dip
net. The fsh-trap is no doubt the most destructive
mode of fishing, it regards those fish that move to
a considerable distance up and down the stream,
while the sein Is the great destroyer of those fish
that locate themselves, and become resident fish,
One thing that makes the sen, 50 Objectionable is
the particular season Of the year in which ssining
is DONE which is generally June and July, before
that time the water in the stream is too cold, and
generally too flush Well, what are the facts in the
ease5 In the first place the weather is too hot to
save fish for any length Of time, that in the gen
eral the fish that caught become tainted before
they can be got into the pan In the next place,
the water In the stream becomes warm and stagnant
so that the fish are unhealthy and consequently un-
ct for food, and further, if the water was pure
enough to keep them sound and healthy, the fish
themselves in the midst of their nursing season.
and not suitable for food on that account.
Now that the reader may have this subject before
him in form that will be readily understood will
| give an instance. Some time since was on board
boat that came to at the mouth of Harpeth on the
Cumberland river in order to take on board num-
| Der Of gentlemen who had came down to Harpeth
from Nashville and its vicinity for the purpose of
| SEEMING. I should think there were about twenty
persons in the company. They had seine that cost
them, as well as recollect about one hundred and
thirty dollars, and had been three or four days
soon fell in with the fishermen having fondness
for the sport myself found they had just six fish
| viii oil RIFF r.
sst faint longer than any fish we have owing to the
fact no doubt that they are covered with very
large thick scale that resists the atmosphere. On
asking are these all you caught" in answer they
SAID we caught lots and CABS" and in the course
of conversation, learned these facts. They went
to the stream at the head of long and deep pool of
water, and put in the seine, being long enough to
reach across the stream, aud dragged down two
or three hundred yards at least, to the lower end
| of the deep water, and came to shore with about
eleven hundred fine fish, which they drew out on the
sand. The day was very warm, the process of draw
ing theseine slow and very laborious, and by this
time the day was far spent, and the strength
Of the seiners.
Measures had to be taken to make themselves
comfortable; a camp had to be pitched dry clothes,
rest and food were indispensable, which took the
whole of the night and by morning their fish were
all spoiled But still they were determined to have
fish, SO they moved half mile lowerdown thestream
to another deep hole of water and drew their sein
through it, and caught about twelve hundred fine
fish. Now to make sure of these they took small
ropes and bark, which they run through the gls of
the f>h, and attempted to tow them down the
to the mouth; but the process drowned the fish,
and the length and heat ofthe day was too great SO
the whole lot, with the exception Of the six mention
above, were spoiled, and they were in rather
doubtful state. l suppose the gentlemen did not
get one fish home with them in a sound state, go
that some twenty-five or three hundred fine fshw
hauled out on the sand to rot hundreds of them
large jack and trout, with quantity of red-horse
and buffalo suppose there must have been at least
eight thousand pounds of fine food destroyed-say
two thousand dollars worth. Now this is sOi-
tary case it is about specimen of seine fishing in
our country and if the loss of fish taken was all it
would not be so bad, but they take the mother fish
away from their spawn and leave the spawn to be
destroyer, that the destruction is wholesale, and
unless there is protection for the fish in our
small streams there will not be fish left. But if
| proper measures be taken there will soon be fish
enough in our waters to supply the wants of all.
More this subject in my next.
| LOVER OF NATURE.
| P. S-When / am through with the fish I shall
| take up the subject of birds and other game,