The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-05-22
THE PROPAGATION OF sHAD.

The propagation Of shad in the Potomac Is
matter Of much interest to the people OF this
District, and we are glad therefore to observe
that Mr.. Myers, of Pennsylvania, has intro
duced q resolution which has been referred to
the Committee on Appropriations, authoriz.
ing the appropriation Of ", 500, to be expended
under tho direction Of Hon. +. L. Spinner,
Treasurer Of the United States, to aid Seth
Green, esq, to propagate this excellent fish In
the waters of the Potomac.
We are not surprised to notice that the Now
York Ersnfng Post sounds the alarm In regard
to this proposition, under the imposing cap
tion of "Ths Government going into Bust.
ness" and that this journal proceeds, In its
usual characteristic style, to warn the people
against this wanton and useless expenditure
Of the peoples money.
The Post couples with this proposal the bill
Introduced by Mr.. Washburne, Of Illinois, to
establish Government telegraph line between
this city and New York, which 10 to be under
the direction OF tn, Post Once Department.
We shall not, In this connection, attempt to
vindlcate Mr.. Washburns's measure, because
we have not given as yet sufncient examina.
tion to the plan, to be able to defend or con.
denim 1t, as the case may be. When we shall
have given that attention to the measure which
the subject demands, we may give our views
OF the proposition In detail.
In regard to Mr.. Green's proposal, we claim
to know something, as we have given to II
some attention, and We therefore believe Il to
be both wise and economically moreover, It
commends itself to our judgment as an impera.
tive necessity, II we would preserve this fish
In the waters OF the Potomac. Under the
present system, the day 10 not distant when
the shad will not be known as a ash belong.
Ing to these waters,
Adopt Mr.. Green's plan and 2OO, 900 900 OF
young shad can be propagated annually, and
our waters can thus be stocked with this val.
liable fish for all time to come. The o., 500 that
Mr.. Green asks for 10, when considered In the
light of the advantages to be conferred BY
him, mere tribe. He will make no money
by the success of the undertaking, but Its con =
summation will be Of vast Importance to the
entire people Of this District.
We believe that several OF the States have
enacted laws for the preservation and propa-
CATION also OF the fishes Of the several waters
In the different Commonweslths. Congress
has exclusive Jurisdiction over this District
under the Consultation Of the United States.
To that body, therefore, we must look for the
protection and preservation OF the fisheries.
This we have q right to do, and 1t 10 the duty
Of Congress to give US the necessary protsc.
tion. Mr.. Green volunteers to do for US q val
liable service, spd the only question 10, will
Congress give the needed aidf
The New York Poa 10 afiisted with chronic
madness against everything that looks like
Governmental protection. Its anti-tarin and
free trade notions are carried to ruinous ex-
tremes; and Its ideas are that what indavlduAl
and private enterprise cannot do should not be
done. Government, according to the PoH,
must never aid 10 any enterprises, and there