The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-10-03
FISH AND GAME PROTECTION.

In our last. we alluded to the Virginia
Association organized 10 promote and pro-
tect the multiplication Of fish and game in
that Commonwealth. The objects Of the
Association are briefly and forcibly set forth
in the Address TO the people Of Virginia by
the Officers Of the Association. 1t to aid
in saving from absolute destruction the
game and tish Of Virginia. The same me-
cessity deyolves upon the people Of North
Carolina. How far the progress towards
extirpation has gone with US We briefly
showed in our former article, and the peo-
pie Of this State are now called upon to
take some Of the same steps backwards that
those of Virginia have begun to retrace.
We must begin to retrieve past errors and
repair the result Of long years Of thought
less waste.
The principle Of fsh protection is no new
thing in our statutory history. The past
two or three generations have only lost
sight Of or forgotten what the foresight of
their ancestors aimed to provide for. In
Martins compilation Of the laws of North
Carolina. public and private. both under
the Colonial and Federal governments, we
find many instances of the anxiety of those
sagacious and unselfsh men to ward oft
very evils under which we now suffer.
Numberless enactments provide for the I'M
obstructed passage Of fish from the mouths
Of the rivers up to their very sources. The
Roanoke. the Tar, the Neuse. the Cape
Fear. the Peedee-even the Uwharrie, are
secured as open highways to the inny tribe.
This too. at time when more than half Of
Moth Carolina was wilderness, when
white population was thinly scattered even
in the portion taat was settled, and when
fish and game were 50 abundant as to be
practically exhaustless. But these wise
men foresaw the day when the forests would
fall before the advance Of the settler; when
the banks Of the rivers would be crowded
with busy communities; and they endea-
vored to secure to posterity the abundance
they themselves enjoyed. What they FORE
saw did come to pass, but that posterity
forgot the lessons that had been set them,
and inproyidently wasted in generation
Or two bounty that might have been
enough for all time. They, lard we tool
in the language Of the Address. have dealt
With the bOunties Of nature as if posteri-
~ were wholly denied them. They. and
We, made haste to use up in a single gene,
satiOn supply, that prudently husbauded.
sould have made the country rich in its
cd supplies Is long as government cx-
ssted.
A beginning has been made in Virginia
BY the formation Of the Association above
named. For obvious reasons, they sees the
cooperation Of this State. This. in res.
rect to Ssh, Is essential. Some Of the most
important rivers Of Virginia fud their way
TO the Sea through our territory. Unless
protection is assured 10 both States. moth
ing substantial Is effected. Toe principle
Of the Association is set forth 10 Article 2.
IL is 70 procure the enactment and en-
forcement Of suitable laws for The preserva-
iion Of game aud certain varieties Of Esh,
and TO promote ish culture by such means
ne may be deemed most desirable
The laws Of Virginia, IL respect to the
protection Of fsb bave Como about IS far as
those Of North Carolina. Both u them are
local and partial 10 their operstlon. What
is needed is q general Law 70 Be stringently
enforced. preventing The erection Of ssh
dams across any stream, or the erection Of
traps or weirs Or anything TO obstruct the
passage Of fsh; 70 secure the entry Of fsh
from the bays and sounds into the mouths
Of rivers BY limiting the length Of seines,
and 10 enforce certain number Or 10y days
in which fsb shall not be molested at all:
and. 10 the restocking q exhausted streams,
20 protect The new supply By tho most r.
gid Legislation 70 punish severely he mo-
leststion q fsh eggs or young fry 10 the
spawning foxes wherever artificial propaga.
zion shall be resorted 10; to prevent the tax.
ing Of fsh 50 propaga,ed during .bo time
necessary for them 70 come 70 maturity,
and 70 prohibit tho taking Of certain fab
such ~ mountain trout, black bass or pond
club during their spawning season, which
is between tie Il. Of May aud tho Is. Of
July.
Appropriate legislation, and some pres.