Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-06
LOCAL. MATTERS,

HEATnEb pHoGABlLITIEs.- - Var Depart
-Ir,t Office Of the Chief Signal Officer, HAsh
sgf0n D. g., June 6 lS7S--l0:3O a. d.
In the Middle Atlantic States rising barometer,
lower or stationary temperatures, north 10 west
winds, and generally clesr weather.
CATCHING STURGEON Quite a punb;r Of
Ale2andrIaps arc DOW engaged 10 the sturgeon
fishery. 1t does not qura much capital and
serves as 90 avoo.!oD by which many in1u,trl
Gus meu obtain good hVnF Il is said there
is scarcely ten miles on the aver from eff Gies
borJ' 10 the end Of fresh waller where there arc
DOT fishing boats 1t seems 10 be the general
opinion he fishermen that there has been no
past thirty years The yield Of tt C river above
Fo.t Wa,hir gton i, estimated at about one
hundred sturgeon per day. The fact that The
sturgeoo have not decreased az have the shad
and herring is considered 10 be wi lcnce that
the gill nets and the Iorg seioes arc the maiu
sources from which has arsl the dminulion
10 the supply of the main classes Of food fish.
The sturgeon are too large to be taken 10 Gill
nets. aod they spawn too late in the season for
the long saiocs to disturb their young, az
the long seines have been all laid aside
btf,ra the body of the sturgeon reach the
fresh water Of the river. While, however,
they have not fallen off at all within the
last quarter CT century. it is evident that
there has been some dimiaulion since the latter
part OF the list century. a gentleman who
reside at Mt. Vernon for some time after the
revolutionary war, writing in 1883. says on this
subject From General Washiugton's house,
which stands on the lofty banks Of the Potomac,
| have seen for several hours together 10 sum.
mer 5 evening hundreds, perhaps [ might say
thousands of sturgeon at great height above
the water at the san instant, 50 that the quan
tty ia the river must have been ineonceiVably
great. Certainly even attcr making all al.
lowances for exaggeration 10 such supply of
sturgeon can be fCuod 10 this portion Of the
river at this day. The fishermen say that
sturgeon come 10 three sectons-the first carly
10 May the second about tho middle or close
of June, and the third in August. There arc
three gluIs, alternating with comparatively
scarcity Of fish. There are several hundred
men engaged 10 tho sturgeon fishery on the
Potomac
THE STREETS SOUTH OF TIE ToWN.-It was
mentioned yesterday that it was 10 contempla.
ton to propose some corporate action 10 refer
ence to the opening of the streets on the south
side Of tho town between Franklin street and
Hunting creek. Although tho propreors OF
the lard laid out the streets as early as 1855,
yet the streets not being needed 20 effort was
made to keep them opep: so that there is but
one street (Lee) which is open to Hunting
creek. The necessities OF the case have also re-
quircd lane on Washington street as far as
Church street and similar lane 90 Patrick to
connect with the Hunting creek bridge, but all
the other streets have been closed. 10 view
of the contemplated improvement and grading
of Frapkliu street, an interest has been
awakened in reference to tho streets beyond.
AS a contribution to public information Oh the
subject We give the last action Of the Common
Council on the sui jeot Of these streets, This
action was taken Oh the 10th Of May 1902. The
Council then made the following order;-
1.-THE committee appointed to enquire what
streets within the limits Of the corporation now
shut should be opened, made report that they
are Of opinion that the following streets should
be opened, Wis: Royal street southwark as far
as Church street. all the streets below Gibbon,
inclusive from Royal street to the river Poto'
mac and that Gibhon and Franklin streets
ought to be opened westward across Royal
Whereupon the said report is concurred in apd
it is ordered that the parties concerned have 80
days notice in writing for the removal of their
fences" The subject will doubtless claim fur
Their attention.