Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-20
Eeciine Of the Potomac Fisheries.


Hecline Of the Potomac Fisheries.
The Inspector Of Marine Products has trans
mted his annual report to the Board otHeatb.
The report says: The decrease of tho shad
and herring fishery ot>the Potomac during the
past season has been OF most alarming char.
acter Very few Ct the large seine fisheries
have been continued throughout the season,
something unprecedented 10 thes, waters The
sil nets and pound nets have continued as US.
ua though with very meagre results for their
labor and investment. The cause of the de-
crease is without doubt the great amount Of
ishiug done. Within few years the gill nets
especially have multiplied many times. 1t is
not relative to this report to attempt to snow
the influence of the different kinds CT nes in
bringing about this state OF affairs. Very little
OF the water coming through the Potomac
reaches the Chesapeake without passing through
meshes of numerous nets. and it Is scarcely pos
sible for fish to ascend the river without cap
ture, especially as there is no general interim,
ncst OF the nets being 10 active use at all hours
ci the day aud night. This is the most prob
able cause Ct the decrease in the supply OF
shld and herring.
The salt water tailor, or blue fish, has been
quite abundant this season off Chesapeake bay
aud Yicioity. It is Que OF the most savage
species 90 the Atlantic shores. 1t not only
KILLS TO eat bur, striking right and left 10
sehool Ct more deteuceless fish, maDgles
AID wounds ouly for sport. Whether the
presence Of this fish Oh the coast has any
thing ID do with the absence OF 5had aud her
ring. We are not able definitely to tell. The whole
question of the causes OF the decrease is ao In
tricate one, aud requires great deal OF ob5er-
ratioo aud study. The most evident cause,
however, seems TO lie in the great ovelishlng
Of the waters of the river. Very many laws
have been proposed for the purpose OF remedy
ing the evil, by Legislative action 10 general,
each line of fishing or different net interest ad'
yocstipg laws which bear upon the opposing IN
terests. The State of Maryland proposed a
law during the early spIiGg, which, if it could
be carried out and enforced. would have largely
solved the problem.
The report quotes from "Martn's Gazetteer
Of Virginia and the District Of Columbia,
published 10 1885. that ''in short season 222.
,Ol, 900 shad and $50 100000 herring Were
taken in this river. Without including the rock
tish, sturgeon and other varieties, this would
.ford about G25, 900 pcuuds Of food, which,
st present prices, would realize very large
amount Of money. 1t is very doubtful that an
equal ABUNDANCE cau ever be restored to the
river, but one nall or one fourth Of these figures
gouId be regarded at this time as the return
Of the years of plenty after the dlscouTaglns
experience of the past two or three years
The report closes "Somc legislation or Coo
s7assonai action, looking to a remedy tor this
great over-6shug Of the waters of our river, is
urgently demanded, and one thog is certain,
unless some action is speedily taken, the I'M
meuse business Of fishing ou the Potomac will
.oon dWindle away to nothing. - WdSh. Star.
THE CASE OF LAWYER RUFFIN. " esegday
afternoon the case Of +. D. RuRD, the colOred
lawyer, was called in the Criminal Court, ~ udge
Macarthur, aud vas oncluded TO- day. Rufin
was charged With having received stolen goods,
knowing the same to have been stolen, and was
defended by Messrs. A. G. Riddle and Il. w.
Mitchell; Mr.. H. Ii. Wells, jr., represented
the government. 1t was 10 evidence that 10
April last gold watch and chain were stolen
from the residence of D. W. Classic, for which
larceny Edward Marlar, co!ored boy, was ar
rested and convicted, and sentenced to tGree
years in the Albany pcultentlary; that peoding
the trial Rufin went 10 see Nlr. Classic seVeral
times, and proposed that woman who had
the chain would give it upif he u. would "let
up on the boy. lne tnotEer OF tne IVY ,c'.,
lied that she got The chain from MIS-. foiiala'
aud she took i, 10 Ruhio, handing it 10 him
wrapped 10 her handkerchief, aud that when
she asked for it he handed her the hankerohlei
but no chain. 1t Was further in evidence that
Ruthn denied before Judge DIN that be had
ever seen the chain, but W hen confronted with
Mrs. Marar he admitted that he had had 1t ID
possession, but had given it back to the woman.
Mr. Wells briefly oDencd the case, and was f0l-
!awed by Mr.. Riddle, who Gained that 10 TINS
case as 10 case of larceny, telonlous intent
must be shown, but such intent had not been
shown here. He further argued that the oatn
of fau attorney did not make it any part OF
lawyers duty to furnish evidence against his
client.
The Jury after being out one hour and
quarter brought 10 verdict Of guilty. Mr..
Mitchell gave notice of motion for new trial.
and asked for stay oil judgment.- Washtng-
ton STIR.