Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-26
The Fish Question.

Mr.. EDITOR In the Maryland Farmer of
January 1875, page 10th, observe this remark ::
'The Black Bass, of the upper Potomac
memory of the enterprising gentleman who
years ago introduced the splendid Black Bass
into the waters of the Potomac ought to be en-
balmed in the hearts of every lover of Drained
food and every owner of soil lying on or near
the river &C. &C.
1t is astonishing to see how the same facts
will operate on different minds. With all the
gentleman's good intentions, | conceive that he
could not have done greater evil than the in
PRODUCTION OF the greatest gormandizer in the
Potomac.
In the first place, it is one of the most indif-
ferent fish | ever attempted to eat: no better
than the abominable Hickory jack Sec
ondly, it is, as | have said above great gor-
mandizer of the ''fnny tribe" and is generally
considered the ''fresh-water Shark preying
first On the spawn of the Shad aid Herring as
long as that lasts, and then upon the young
fry, till they leave the river. which is some
time in September. Those living on the Poto-
mac, above tide water, being thankful for
small favors, may feel grateful but we on tide
water, who are accustomed to better things
cannot join in any such praise. Had they kept
their splendid Black Bass in their own wa
fers, We would have nothing to say, but they
nave left there, and come down into better So
Glety with all their naughty ways, and hope
10 see po more such trash introduced into the
Potomaea
would respectfully suggest to our ''Fish
Commissioners to think well, and learn the
character of any fish before they introduce them
IN the waters of Maryland, for any fish intro
duced lp the upper streams will soon find their
way into tide water and bring their habits with
them. We would most gladly get clear OF
many We have now, such as the Catfish. Gar.
Du1lft and Eel, which prey npon the spawn OF
the SEad and Hesriag, all of which are prefsra-
BILE to The Black Bass. Shad and Herring are
the fish that bring food and money in the State
all others "are but dust in the balance when
compared with them, and we should never lose
sight of that fact. The amount of money they
put adoat in our State independent of the in
dispe Hsabie food, is almost beyond comprehen-
sion. ! have seen many attempts-but al
failures as think. | will give one illustration
Some short time ago, | saw an estimate of thu
number Of Hearings, caught and sold on the
shore, at The different landings On the Potomac
at the one am interested in, they allowed us
seventy-fye thousand IN a season. Now
have often caught and sold on the shore thai
number before breakfast, and ready to repea
it after hasty meal. | was once called on by
Commodore Maury to give him an estimate O
the number of Shad and Herring Of the Poto
mac caught each season, and what they sole
for, but respectfully declined the undertaking
as impossible without | had every fisherman
and every giller present, to state the exac
truth of what he caught and sold for, and ther
it would be appalling. Add to this the grea
number OF labOrers on land and water, all tt
he paid high wages. A great many of thu
Herrings and most all the Shad 60 on thu
wings of the wind to Philadelphia and New
York, and the consumer there foots the bills