Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-11
alexandria 6ax&tte
MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY IL.
Potomac Fish.

| A writer in the Port Tobacco Times, alud'
| ing to the announcement that Mr.. Cox, the
delegate from Charles county to the Maryland
Legislature, had concluded to offer an amend-
| ment to the fishing law with reference to the
license, and to the prohibition of taking fish in
"6sh traps" pounds or 'auy fixed appara'
| tus," &c., says: -
THE writer of this is as directly Interested
| in the matter Of the protection OF shad and
herring in the county, and to somo extent Ia
miliar with the different modes OF taking fish
and has no hesitation in saying that OF all the
appliances used, the "6xed apparatus with
the exception of the "haul seine''-is the least
damaging.
Under the head OF fixed apparatus may
be cIassed, | presume, the "trot lines" hand
lines" 'augle rod, ''eel tub," 'crabbiug,"
trap net or pound" and lastly. and most
important of all, the haul seine" tho trap
net" and "haul seine" being tho only ones Of
these fixtures or appliances, that under any
circumstances whatever could interfere with
shad or herring. The haul seine is exclu'
sivey designed for the latter fish, its speciality;
the specalties of the trap metz or pound
arc tho game fish, but sometimes take shad
and herring, of the former very lew are
trapped or pounded, as is we'll known b9
those familiar with the habits Of The fish.
Differing from most other varieties, they will
not trace line, but upon the first appearance
of the seine dart back and, in fisherman 3 phrase
give the "pound" wide BERTH Other
fish trace 'the line until it leads them to tue
mouth of the pound" where they enter. The
trap ret" is also near the shore, on the tiat'
n consequence of which they catch compare
h,t horrop nnN anmnnpcatp then
for what they take of them, by the destruction
of their deadliest enemies, eels, catfish, ~.
that feed on their spawn and young.
The idea that trap nets destroy young ISL ID
o mistaken one. They fish for merohantable
fish alone, and can regulate the szs OF their
mesh to take noae other. Again should they
catch small fish, can return them as is usually
the case, to the water urharmed. SO fishing
from all liked apparatus being interdlcted
will be confiued to unstatonary fishermen. who
take only stock fsh-shad and herrlng-and
meet them at the mouth Of tho river on their
way to lay their eggs, and then follow them TO
their nest and broak up them and disturb their
young.
All legislation upon the subject of fish,
take it, looks, or at least, should look, to their
preservation and increase, particularly our
stock fish which have evidently diminished,
whilst fancy or game fish. their natural enemles
have increased. Why then interdot liked
apparatus" that destroy the enemies OF What
We aim to protect?
1t is not the number of grown fish caught
that causes the diminution complained of, but
the havoc upon their spawn and young on their
breeding grounds. Suppose prohibition was
placed upon fishing above Budd's Ferry, during
the spawning season, why the result would be
that in few years shad aod herring would be
as abundant ss ever. The fish caught below
this point would produce no diminution as not
an egg would be disturbed or a young fish de-
stroyed. Thisis merely supposition, from which
iu my opinion the result would naturally follow;
not recommendation invidious laws | op'
posc-but suggest as an Offset to the prohibi.
tion of catching fish "beIow Maryland Point
(where no shad or herring spawn, and where no
young fish are caught) as some, individually IN
terested, have suggested to our delegates III
the Legislature, as am informed. | have ~
objection to legislation in the matter of fish tax.
ing. provided it looks to the common veal!
and not 10 individual pelf