The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-18
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the Senate on Fish ana Game have divided
the different branches of The subject com.
United to them annengt their members WITH
the view Of going 10 work. The public In
teress requires That something should sDe
done for the protection Of game and Tor the
stocking. OF rivers with fish. The absence
of sui restraint upon hunting and fishing,
and the poor effort Virginia has made to
cultivate fish, have seriously diminished
game, and almost exhausted our !. rivers q
fish. ~ 3ss.ss
we know there are game laws, but Stney.
need amendment and something to give
then, vitality. In the recently perfected art
81 fisb-culture Is found one Of the finest
sources 81 bcnefcenee TO society, and all
civilized communities are ,exerting them
selves to profit by II. Many Of the States
have nude liberal approx riations for hatch
ing-houses and experts 20. manage them.
The United States has its tish mmissioner,
and places at bis disposal a sum Of mo-
ney for the purpose OF importing food fishes
from other lands and placing them IN our
American waters, and also for the purpose
81 distributing the best fishes 10 our own
country throughout the States. 1F y
Fish constitute not only palatable food,
but food thst at some seasons is valuable, II
not essential, for health. We can well
imagine how, il our rivers were well stocked
with fish-good foolish the people
delight In the satisfaction and pleasure that
would be afforded. A plentiful supply Of
| fish would become very Important for the
addition it would make to the means OF sub-
sistence, and certainly amongst refined peo-
pie it would zelda great deal Of pleasure.
The State should regard the business Of
fsh-culture as altogether q matter Of: high
lpublic interest. 1t eminently deserves the
fostering care Of government. In no other
way can the appropriation. OF public money
bring such large proportionate compensa-
ton for the amount expended 80
! ArdentlY devoted to the pleasure Of .pur-
suing the sports OF river and field, we are
not an enemy Of what is. known as the
"pot'' hunter and fisher. They are not
only unavoidable, but essential. Those who
cannot hunt aud fish want the luxuries Of
land and water, and, within limited bounds,
those who supply the wants Of such per-
sons should be encouraged. But all de-
structive appliances for capturing fish and
game, and all pursuits out Of season, ought
to be most rigidly prohibited. ). .r.,.r$.g
There are seines employed in these latter
days which are destructive to- fish, and really
cut off the supply of fish to all inhabitants
upon rivers that reside above their mouths.
All States which encourage the stocking Of
rivers with 1sh; and Che Just distribution
of fish-food amongst the people, should put
u heavy hand upod these destructive seines,
which are not only depriying SO many To-
calities Of their rights. but are steadily: di-
lninishing the, supply Of fish,! so that fish
famine is, Inc time, threatened famine
that will deprive these seines Of occupation.
We beg the legislators to give the. sub
ject their most serious. consideration It is
one that is receiving the liberal appropria-
tions of the most enlightened: people. and
we here in Virginia should not put shame
upon ourselves BY any nigggard1y, treatment
of it. -. j.. ...,.,. f.. ..,et,i.,. F:n+