Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-12-07

DECLINE OF PoToMAc FIsHERIEs.-
The Inspector of Marine Products has
transmitted his annual report to the
Board of Health. The report says -
8" The decrease of the shad and herring
fishery of the Potomac during the past
year has been OF a most alarming char
acter. Very few of the large seine
fisheries have been continued through
out the season, something unpreceden-
ted in these waters. The gill nets and
pound nets have continued as usual,
though with very meagre results for
their labor and investment. The cause
of the decrease is without doubt the
great amount of fishing done. Within
a few years the gill nets especially have
multiplied many times. II is not rela-
tive to this report to attempt to show
the influence of the different kinds of
nets in bringing about this state Of at
fairs. Very little of the water coming
through the Potomac reaches the Ches-
apeake without passing through meshes
OF numerous nets, and ii is scarcely pos
sible tor fish to ascend the river with
out capture, especially as there Is no
general interim, most of the nets being
in active use at all hours OF the day and
night. This is the most probable cause
ot the decrease in the supply OF shad
and herring.
The salt water TAYLOR, or blue fish,
has been quite abundant this season off
Chesapeake Bay and vicinity. II is one
OF the most savage species on the At
lantic shores. 1t not only kills TO eat,
but, striking right and left in school
of more defenceless fish, mangles and
wounds only for sport. Whether the
presence OF this fish on the coast has
anything to do with the absence of shad
and herring we are not able definitely
TO teE. The whole question of the causes
of the decrease is an intricate one, and
requires great deal of observation and
study.
The most evident cause, however,
seems TO lie in the great everlasting of
the waters of the river. Very many
laws have been proposed for the pur-
pose OF remedying the evil, by legisla-
tive action in general, each line of fish
ing or different net interest advocating
laws which bear upon the opposing in
terests. The State of Mar yland proposed
a law during the early spring which, if
il could be carried out and enforced,
would have largely solved the problem.
The reports quotes from " Martins :
Gazetteer Of Virginia and the District
of Columbia" published in 1885, that
in short season %, 2,500, 900 shad end
750, 900 400 herring were taken in this
river. Without including the rock-fish,
sturgeon and other varieties, this would
afford about 625, 900 pounds of food,
which, at present prices, would realize
very large amount of money. II is
very doubtful that an equal abundance
can ever be restored to the river. but
onc-half or one-fourth of these figures
would be regarded at this time as the
return of the years of plenty after the
discouraging experience of the past two
or three years"
The report closes: :" Some legisla-
ton or Congressional action, looking to
a remedy for this great everlasting OF
the waters Of our river, Is urgently de-
manded. and one thing is certain, un-
less some action is speedily taken, the
immense business of fishing on the Po-
tomac will soon dwindle away to moth
ing"