Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-18
COMMUNICATED
The Potomac Fisheries.

ONCLUDED.l
The tctct that only five selncs caught Is many
| fish this year as last, has nothing to do With
gill nets, but the gill nets had u great deal to
do with the fIct, not only az to the future OF
the hauling seine, but With their own failure.
They are simply destroying tho business of
! each other and leaving nothing for the rich
| or the poor man.
The modern Improvement OF the loaded line
has done the work. When this line does not
| reach the bottom, it still holds the net SO per-
pendicular as to prevent the passage Ut fish,
aud when number of nets from 500 to 900
tathoms ia length, owned by one man, are so
laid as to dove tall with each other, the
whole width Of the river is easily spaDned
Place number OF nets in this way in Mamie
moy Reach, is it not fair to presume the fish
will be turned back or be compelled TO deposit
their spawn in salt wafer where it is lost?
Then as between the twenty three hauling
seines and the countless number OF gill nets
1.-THE largest and most inj urious being hshed by
non residents OF either State) where should
the restriction begin? Which kind of net sup
plies the "poor men" all along the river with
their family fish ?-the poor men who are
to make the law to control "Gier' aud
"Hauler." No one should know better than
"Giler," for he evidently writes US though be
knew where of he affirmed. y II may make
no difference to the purchasers in tho cities of
Washington and Alexandria, whether the fish
are sent to market by twenty five or thirty
rich men" than FIVE hundred or Il thousand
poor men," but il does make serious differ
along the river. And these poor men,
"GiIIcr" by his mode of fishing would deprive
of every advantage they should derive from tho
49,. fnnf fhof b,,t
small portion of the fish caught by gill nets
ever reach the families n the adjoining coun-
ties And "Giller' should bear in mind that
the cities of Washington aud Alexandria are
but portion OF the banks OF the river. Above
it will be noted that the iacIe pen OF "Giller'
ma gically increases the five rich men, to
twenty FIVE or thirty"
The interest of the 'poor" consumer calls
for an equal consideration with that of the
'poor" glller.
GiIler proposes that all fishing be prohibited
after the 18th or Goth of May. This may suit
his selfish purposes admirably, but let him
beware that when he fixes this period, like
Action he will be deYoured by bis own dogs.
''Can sny one inform US what are the rights
of GllIers spoken of asks Giller: We can. The
rights OF the bona 6de citizens OF the States Of
Virginia ADD Maryland are ample. He can
fish net as long as and deep, having mesh OF
any size that suits his purposes, in any por
ton OF the river that pleases bin, save in the
immediate water bounds or berths OF regu-
larIy hauled fishing shore" The necessity OF
this restriction is apparent. Two things can
not occupy the same space at the same time,
and the superior right to that particular place,
known as berth in the law, is in the riparian |
owner. Estabi different principal OF law |
and the right ct fishing long exercised by rlpa'
risu owners, will be struck dead by an ever |
present "Giller. So ample is the tight OF the |
citizen Giller, it is much easier task 10 say |
what is not his right. Notwithstanding the |
law of both States, has for years prohibited all !