National Republican., 1873-05-29
FIGHT OF THE FISHERMEN
THE TRAPPERs vs.. SEINE HAULERs.

A Talk Before the Committee on Police Of
the Legislative As-cmhiy-vicwz OF
Representatives Of Both Psrties-No
Conclusion Reached on the Subject
Professor Baird Stocking the Potomac.
Yesterday afternoon, at l O'Clock, the Com.
mlttee on Police OF the Council, consisting OF
Messrs. Browne and Hall, met to consider
Council bill No. IS for the preservation Of shad
and herring in the Potomac river, and to pro-
hlbit the sale Of oysters alta certain season Of
the year.
As petitions had been made from the fisher
men pro. and con. on the passage OF this bill, the
committee decided that both sides should be
granted gran e., hearing, and nxed yesterday as the
There were present favorable TO the passage oi
the bill Messrs. w. Il. Stewart aud q. n. Chand.
leri opposed TO II, Messrs. J. W. Reed, Ralnor
aud and Robert Robert Lomax, the latter being known as
Mr.. Browne stated that both sides would be
given a patient hearing, and the committee
desired that they would be explicit IN thelr
statements, as the committee were anxious e
obtain as much Information on the subject as
MI. !; ", Reed spoke for the opponents Of tn,
test against the passage cf the bill, interfering
as " would with thelr rights and preventing
theln providing bread for their families Mr
could a1orJ TO be favorable 70 the bin, AZ the,
were wealthy men, anu they had a good reasof
ior stopping, as the nsh had passed below thell
isndings, aud y was useless for them to hau
called small or nye-cent nshera.
Those possessing landings haul over from nv,
70 seven miles o. water with solnes 10 900 fathomi
| N lenHh, aad destroy more spawn In one hau
than those using traps can DO In n hours. Il
was not the destruction Of the nsh that actuatet
them in this movement but simply because thel
using traps making a dollar. lie had commence,
| nshlng on WestmOrcland county, Va, In March
and gradually worked up the river. Tue met
/ with traps commenced above Fort Washington
about the 10th OF May, and by the middle of Jull
got TO and above the Long bridge, when tn
season closes, Those carrying on the business
and during that time make considerable money
weeks.
There are now engaged In the las, style o
nshlng about three persons, employing In al
about ten hands. Put them ell together thel
would not catch IN twenty-four hours over ni
teen or sixteen thousand herring. All Of TIT
nsh caught are brought 10 and sold In this mar
ket. The assertion that the nsh were offere,
for sale by the trappers was false, for, as a gen
eral thing, they were landed At the wharves ant
assn tpcm M wae Une hOur and "a Dali .er ee,nl
Browne, the speaker then made a rude penci
drawing TO show how the traps were set 70
pounding the nnny trlbel During the prysen
I
into his trap, and he did not wish to captur
any at this time OF year.
he did not believe that using a gill.net de
passed to the bottom Of the liver and % nsts seys
did. The passage OF the bill would have n,
serious effect on the large fishermen, as its pro
visions went into operation at time after thel
Mr.. RAlnor corroborated the statements Of IN
previous speaker, and asked that action might b
Seayea on me blll until Us opponents could pre-
mlltee. He believed that the bill was originate
by the propuetors OF large landings 10 break
sne owners o. traps, As they were Jealous OF IN
success achieved BY them, and besides it prove
detrimental to their trade In the market.
They were willing TO catch nsh, even the las
one II u could be done In the time allowed b
law 10 maui seine, but when they were compt lie
to stop then they wanted the small fisherman /
cease also.
Mr. brown said that the committee had moth
ing 70 90 win the lealousles existing betwee
the different classes OF nshermen; what taeJ
wished 10 nnd out was " these trapplnRs pry
vented the propagation Of nsh, and u such wa
, the case how the remedy could be applied.
Mt. Robert LOmaN contended that nsh cauRh
N the waters Of the Potomac were better tha
those sold In the New York market, and he bt
lleyed that herring were nt TO eat 80 long a.
person had an appreciatiye appetite fof them.
Mr.. Browne stated that Il was not the inten
ton OF the Council 10 pass a law 70 merely q,
stroy the business Of trap fishing, but II 1t wa
eeStsi1 'n sns pr9ee,s BY being continue
.
only destructive to fish, but fatal to the spawI
then u would be the duty OF the committee /
report bill to that effect aud urge It's passage q
matter OF Importance and future bene1t 20 th
citizens OF the District. He believed In doln
the greatest good for the greatest number, an
TO carry out that view Of the matter he had ir
ylted the presence OF the advocates and oppC
nents OF the measure, In order to obtain as mlc
light as possible on the subject.
Mr. u. y. Chandler, nsh-tlealer In the maj
ket, felt deeply interested In the matter, m
laws OF Maryland and Virginia required all pei
sons occupying landings along their shores ;
discontinue fishing by the 10Th OF May in.eac
year, and trap-nets are not permitted along IN
river border Of either State. Mr. Henry IN
knight was as extensive a Usher as any OF IN
rest using traps, and he had expressed himsel
as perfectly willing 10 stop, II others engaged Ii
the business would enter into such an arrange
ment. The regular season for shad and herrinl
commenced April I, and terminated May 20 o
each year. He believed that trap-nshinR belnl
followed at the close OF the regular season, wa
destructive TO shad, as they were taken from tn
water during spawning time.
Mr. WIN. u. Stewart, a fisherman, said thA
they proposed to abolish the sale OF shal an
herring merely TO preserve the breed Of nsh, 10
u they should continue to catch and offer then
Tor sale during the coming two months the
would disappear from our river. The step ha
not been taken by the fishermen In an oppres
sive spirit toward those using traps, but as
necessary one Tor propagatlnR that species o
nsh. He did not think shad any more 1t 10 ca
after the INST OF June than were partridRes o
rabbiu, The hearing then closed, and Nj
Browne announced that n the committee cor
cluded TO allow q second session, all parties In
terested should be informed, and gfanted a
opportunity TO present their views.