Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-10
Our Fish Supply

A short time since petition signed by some
of our prominent business men, WAS sent to the
Senate, praying for tue enactment OF some law
for the protection OF fish in the Potomac river,
subject upon which legislation Is undoubtedly
needed Tho inspector OF marine products,
(Mr. LudingLon) has in mis- two last annual re-
ports TO tho Board of Health urged tho passage
ut some protective measure: Prof! Baird, COM
missioner OF fish and fisheries has explained the
necessity OF action, and others equally cXperlcn-
ced, have Z wen expression 10 views concurrent
with that OF these gentlemen upon the subject.
Although it is arsusd by some that unfavorublc
winds, existing at the time Of migrations Of the
shad and herring into the mouth Of the river
rom the bSy has tendency TO prevent such
migration, and account partly for the scarcity
OF these fish IN our river, yet 1t has hocA pretty
ceury shown that it is in the main due 10 over
fishing ana 2 pernciDus sytcm of netting Care,
however, should BIZ exercised in the enactment q!
n law ul the kind asked for LIST it be drawn
So rs 10 work in the Interests O one class OF oar
fishermen. The persons most likely To move III
such matter Hrc those whose Interests ARC to BIZ
advanced, and the ones who give the lnitnenca
of their names think only OF the good results
which the face Of the thing proposes.
Now. in such y law, it would be very unfair
to compel the owners CT trap ncIS, who catch
the fish for our daily use, TO stop tshirg when
the la-ge ''haui seine fisheries suspend. The
principal work done by these men is ettcr the
suspension Of operations oy these large fisheries,
and upon .hem alone do we depend for our fresh
fish during the latter par; OF The fishing season.
a !aW compelling al to suspend oy the 10th OF
May, would BE- in the direct interest Of the large
fisheries, rs it would bring salt fish into market
earlier The cstch Of the large fisheries is used
in the main for sailing and sold in other markets
than our own; AID they are compelled TO suspend
operations upon the migration of the shnd and
herring to other waters. The eaten OF The trap
net, which will not amount to rs much IN q sea-
sor As single hau of one OF The large selncs Is
used alone !or our own msrket, and never ssltnd.
Now Wru,u it be ar TO compel these men who
| catch t w hundred Of fish during the season.
u stop operations nj the same time with those
who catch thousands daily? The trap net,'
upsdeS giving uS our supply OF brook fish, is in
II; eli prudu tive rather tasn destructive moth
| od. They remain in their places FIRMLY Tor eight
days vt time, giving the Shad and herring
time 10 Spawl. in and around the net, and no.
destroying the spawn by the dragging process
| as is the case with gill nets and haul scinns;'
;lor c.n il be- said that they obstruct the migra-
tun OF the t>h, rs they only occupy some thirty
square feet of surface, and that i removed 70
dry every eight days. There are not more then
fifteen "tr%p nets' the river, and they should
be exempted from tie early suspension in view OF
the If els above stated. Every gill net should
tc removed from the river and their use strict
ly prohibited more shsd are eaten by eels i'Om
tao gill metz thsn are brought from them to
the market, while their raking destroys millions
of spawn annually. There arc over IL thousand
Of these net: on the river covering each MI srea
Of five thousand quarc feet Tie "hau senes,
about forty in number, average about fur miles
in the haul to each
This may seem plea for the trap nets, but
il is only justice. These nets are, As before stat!
ed, of less injury to the fin than any Of the 9th
crs; are fsheu IN shallow water almost above the
spawning ground, and are our dependanc for
fresh fish during the latter part OF the season.
IruvGiu,,y1J ToIi,,.