Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-13
The Potomac Fisheries.


The remarkable decline 10 the Potomac
fisheries is a subject which deserves serious
consideration, Ouoe the best shad streams 10
the country, our river, is now surpassed by
nearly all. Some facts learned by a Star re
porter 10 converts alton with Professor Spencer
4. Baird, the head of the U. s. Fish Com
mission, who knows all about the past, present
and future Of every fish that swlms, may be OF
interest 10 this connection. No accurate state
ment of the catch of fish in the Potomac was
made prior to 1888. In that year work ap
pesred entitled "Marlin's Gazetteer OF Vr
gipia," which sets forth among other things,
without any indications that the author sup
poses himself to be stating anything remark
able, that 10 the previous year Is. SUI, O0O shao
aud $50 0O0 900 herring had been taken from
the Potomac. Allowing three or four pounds
of weight to each shad, and three tourths OF
pouod to each herring, and considering the
large number Of sturgeon, rock hsh, ETC.: also
taken, six hundred million pounds of fish Is the
least estimate that can be made tor the result
of six weeks of fishing. $4,000 barrels of tdh
were sailed 10 that year, and sent througnout
Virgins aud the surrounding States and to the
nual yisld of the Scottish herring fisheries is
represented by 900 900 barrels. AID mat TINS os
amount was obtained by the labors OF SO OOO
men 10 Is, 600 boats, for considerable portloo
of the year, when compared with the fact that
larger supply was taken from the Potomac
10 SIX weeks by less that 6 600 men, With moth
ing like the exposure and priVa!oos OF the
Scottish fishermen, enables one to estimate the
value and extcnt of tho Potomac hherles at
that time. 1t is doubtful whether the present
shad yield Of the entire river is 25O 600 OF less
than one per cent of what it was halt o century
ago.
It may safely be assumed that the fisheries
have been destroyed by human agency. NO
disease to account for the decreased number
has been discovered among shad; 20 artlhclal
dam has INSTRUCTED their passage the breed.
ing grounds; DO predscious fish has diminished
their forces. Excessive fishing and the dls-
turbapce Of the shad night and day from the
time they come into the river until they go out
again, By shore nets close to land and 81 nets
10 the channel, which break up the schools OF
fish and prevent them from breeding, are the
true causes Of the present condition OF affairs.
Two remedies are suggested: Artificial propa-
CATION and legal protection.
The second would be sufi cient without the hrst,
but would not bring about the desired results
so rapidly when working alone. The rst with.
out the second is useless expense The evil Is
great and heroic treatment is required The
most effective measure would be The absolute
prohibition OF fisheries for three years, except
enough to secure stock for artificial proraga-
ton If this could not be obtained 4 law might
be passed forbidding fishing from + O'Clock Sat-
urd ny night until O'Clock; Monday morning
during the season, snd prohibiting it entirely
ha frat or mid la
The difficulties in the way of satisfactory legls-
lation arise from the position OF the stream.
Maryland has Jurisdiction over il up to low
water mark on the Virginia shore; but Vlrgnis's
concurrence to laws passed by Maryland on this
SUI ect is necessary, and an agreement OF the
two states 81 to the plan to b pursued has not
vet been effected. A great trade, formerly
employing thousands in the catching, handling
and transportsting of the fish, ha, been allowed
to decay. Farmers within half days journey
of the fisheries 10 longer drive down their carts
and lay in supply of shad at S1.75 hundred
or of herring at 81 Is thousand, sufficient to
supply them through the winter Nearly all OF
the vast amount of cheap food represented by
the figures given concerning the former fisheries
is now distracted, and the necessity has arisen
of purchasing more expensive food in its stead.
This is the principal evil of the decline in the
fishing trade but rs above suggested, 1t Is now
entirely irremedisble. Wise and prompt legl5-
lstion py Maryland and Virginia may yet effect
something in the way Of improvement; and 1t ls
to be hoped that this may be obtained. -Wash.
Star.