Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-06-19
The Potomac Fisheries.

A correspondent OF the Washington Star,
writing from King George county, says:
The fishing season just closed has been more
disastrous to the seine fishermen than last
years, aud repetition Of the same i'll luck an-
other year will sweep the long seiUes out OF the
river 1t is to be regretted that so important
an industry should be Frustrated by too eager
pursuit, but it is not the first time the goose
has been killed 10 too great greedlness after
the golden eggs. To say that the river is over
ished, hardly expresses The truth; it is under.
stocked. Nature only repeuishes her own
waste, and when man draws upon Der treasures
be must deposit IN return or have his drafts
dishonored. The farmer or gardener expects
10 return to the soil literally for his takingS
from it or soon to have only barren acres, and
the fishermen will in time learn that if they
constantly ply their calling without artVtciaty
Increasing the supply Of fish they will land Only
empty selues. This artificial propagation has
been 80 long practlsed that It's results can be as
confidently counted Oh as the planning of corn
or cotton, and q few thousand dollars in the
hands of man skilled iu the business would
soon supply every reasonable demand.
But 10 amount of expenditure can make an
ABUNDANT supply of fish 10 the river until
the method of taking them in the lower fish
the taking of fish and the destruction IT
spawn is concerned the fish propagator eau
easily more tLan restore the loss, but be can
not bring them back to the fishing grounds
when grown while the lower river is totally ob.
s,ructed by nets drawn from shore to shore.
In Napjemoy reach, where the river Is CON-
paratively narrow and where fish strike the
first fresh water, during the last season there
were at least twenty nets, completely closing the
channel, aud on shore were any number of
pounds" and it is a mystery how any fish got
above them. That these distractions turned
back-not caught-the fish is evident from the
fact that at night, when the gilers were ashore
with their nets, the haul of the seiDes above
the reach was generally good, while the
"day haul" when the glllers we're back 10
their berbs, was not worth luaklrg; and
after the lower gillers had 'cut out the
fish found an unot ructed way to the
upper fisheries, aud very materially as
sisted those who had not cut out ln retrlev-
ing their losses. say turned back, which
is the fact. A few of the leaders OF school are
caught and the main body are frightened back
and deposit their spawn IN the lower river
where it is mostly destroyed by salt water dep
redators 1t was this obstructing the river that
produced the late ''war" on hePotomac, and the
same cause will be liable every season to lead
10 the same result Some one suggests not to
fish for one or more years; but what would be
tie use of that if the increase are TO be shut
out of the river. An appeal to the Legislatures
of Virginia and Maryland will never accomplish
apy good, because there are ten klllers votes TO
one seine proprietors, and the votes are what
counts. Io Virginia We have soil and climate
admirably adapted to the culture OF sheep; but
the countless thousands OF worthless dogs pre-
vents the planters from going loto the busl-
ness, and as long as every miserable cur
10 the State is backed up by vote while
the largest flock of sheep has only the
same, of course the dog will triumph. 1t would
be of incalcuable benefit to the planters anu to
the fna1 ces of the stale-the extensive deVo-
ton 10 this industry-but the politician Can
only see the dog and his vote. But happily
the proper remedy tor the fisheries Hes 10 Con-
gress, not by direct Legislation 10 favor OF hSh
protection. but in the interest OF commerce. ln
the height of the season the gilels so obStruct
the river that i. is navigated wit great Diff
culty. This is the universal testimony OF the
river men, and it is a nulsancc that, hsh or 10
6sh. mist be abated Now, If Congress directs
the proper department to mark out channtl
a. far down the river as is necessary as Wlue as
NAV be required by vessels proceeding against
the wind-say one halt mile wide from lily
mont down-and so buoyed aud staked that It's
location can be readily and uomistakably known,
and inside of which 90 net shall be permitted
to DRIFT or be stakcd out, under heavy penal
ties, all the protection would be given which
the case requires. This ives no preference to
seines or gers. but keeps the river open Tor
commerce primarily and the upward passage OF
fish Incidentally, aod if after his lie glsation Is
secured. little money is placed at the disposal
OF an honest and capable man Tor propagatlDg
"food 6shes," every desirable result will be
readily obtained. Ia the hudson river this
system prevails to the entire satisfaction OF the
boatmen, who have an unobsuuc ucted channel
and the fishermen, who have each tar chance
at the fish, and little effort on the part OF
those most interested in placing the matter be-
fore Congress would doubtless secure Its adop-
tion here.