Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-01-28
OUR FISH LAWS.

The propagation of fish by artificial
means is now claiming great attention,
both in Europe and 10 this country.
In New England efforts are being
made TO replenish the rivers with the
tnny inhabitants in 1hich thoy once
abounded. Salmon and shad are be.
ing largely hatched by artificial pro.
cess, at the heads of the streams they
once frequented, with the expectation
that they will return there TO spawn.
To facilitate their passage over the
dams, which occur at frequent inter.
walls, the most improved specimens of
fish ladders have been introduced
But, grave doubts are expressed, by
those who ought TO know, whether
any of the contrivanees which have
been employed are likely TO prove
entirely efficient.
In Pennsylvania the Susauehanna
offers the finest natural advantages
for the propagation of fish. The dams
upon it and its principal tributaries
are not nearly so numerous as they
are upon the New England rivers, and
their heighth not so great. If any
device can be successfully applied so
as TO enable fish TO ascend TO their
natural spawning beds they can GER
tainly be adapted 10 the dams on the
Susquehanna and the Juniata.
An attempt has already been made
to open passage way for the shad
which still abound in the lower waters
of the Susquehanna. They once fol.
lowed all its tributaries far up into
the mountains, and were formerly
caught in abundance in the creeks of
Bedford and Huntingdon counties,
which empty into the Juniata, as well
as in similar localities along the head
waters of the North and West Branch
of the Susquehanna. A fish ladder
has been erected at the dam below
Columbia, but whether any shad ever
ascended its steps would be difficult
to say, as there was a break in .he
dam through which they could pass.
That they were caught last spring as
far up the Juniata as Newport, in
Perry county, and that in considera-
bic numbers, is certain.
We notice that a decidedly import
ant suit has just been concluded at
Harrisburg, by which the right of the
Fish Commissioner TO enforce the act
for compelling the erection of fish lad.
ders at the different dams is to be
tested We are in favor of tho most
extended piscatorial privileges, and
hope the matter will not be permitted
to rest, until that most delicate fish,
tho shad of the Susquehanna, is given
free access to all its tributaries. An
other thing which must be carefully
attended to is the fish dams, in the
trans of which, inpnmarahl 1-nunr
shad are annually slaughtered. The
law must be so framed as to compel
the owners of these concerns either to
remove them entirely, or so TO remodel
them as to enable the young shad to
pass down without injury or hinder
ance.
But there is another step which we
hope TO SEQ the Legislature take at its
coming session. One of the very best
fish in this country is the black bass.
1t can be successfully propagated in
the Susquehanna. About a dozen
years ago a few pair were brought
from the head waters of the Ohio in a
locomotive tank on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and put into the Pc.
tomac near Cumberland, Maryland
The result is that they now fairly
swarm in that stream and its tributa-
ries. We have caught them at the
Great Fall, some fourteen miles from
Washington, aud away above Cumber.
land at the base of the Allegheny
Mountains. Through all that length
of river they abound, furnishing the
finest sport to the angler They are
among the gamost fish, and the pleas
ure of playing a five or eight pound
bass at the end of properly construct
cd tackle, is a sensation that is de-
lightiul Let the Legislature appro
pirate few hundred dollars, 20 enable
the Fish Commissioner to procure
black bass to be placed in the rivers
of the State at proper points. The
expense will be mere trihe when
compared with the results to be ob.
tanned. New York and the New
England States are making vigorous
efforts in this direction, and Pennsyl.
vania should not lag behind. There
is no more healthy food than fresh
fish, and no more healthy sport than
angling for them. Let us have the
shad well cared for, and our streams
thickly peopled with bass.-Lancaster
htelhgencer.