Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-24
THE FISH LAW.
Lndge POtter,s OninInn.

A few days since, Mr.. II. +. PECK, oil
this place, addressed note to Judge PoT-
TER, asking his opinion of the clause of
the fish law which prohibits hook and line
fishing from the LIST day OF May to the 18th
day of June. The Judge having received
numerous letters OF inquiry concerning the
provisions Of said law, has answered Mr.
PECK ard all other inquirers through the
columns of the Blade, as follows:
OSLO STATE FIsH HATCHERYJ
TOLEDO, o., May %, 1873.
II. Peek, E'q.:
DEAR Sm:-Yours Of the 18th was received
in due time, aud would have been promptly
answered, but did not have the amended ish
law of April 10, 1878, before me.
have only just now procured a copy Of il.
The first clause prohibits fishing in any of the
| waters of the State in any other way tran by
hook and line, except in the waters Of Lake
Erie. This exception includes the Maumee,
| probably as high AS the water sets back by the
rise and fall of the water in the lake, and will
affect all che streams putting into the lake to
| the same extent.
The prOvso, or second clause, prohibits the
catching or destroying of fish in any manner
during the spawning season, excepting reser-
| voirs containing one thousand acres or more
from the lst day of May to the 18th day of
June. This proviso applies to all the waters
in the State, including Lake Erie and all its
tributaries. So from the lst day Of May 10
the 9th day Of June, catching or destroying
fish anywhere in the State, except in re servoirs
containing one thousand acres, is unlawful.
You will consequently have to suspend your
recreations in the gentle art till the 18th day
Of Jane.
do not know why the legislature should a I
| lhay ,,i, fr. A. -. Ng
| 18th o! June, unless they intended to make il
| unlawful tor fish to spawn at any other Time
| The grass pike, or Esox lUcius, spa wn in
| April, so does the wRll-eyed pike, oc Stiz os
tetheum Nitreum, and the SAUCER, or Lucio
perea, and most Of the perch family; and these
4 need protection in their spawning season as
much as any other fish, the wall.eyed pike and
sauger being especially the most important
! food fishes Of commerce.
TIE bass family mostly dpposit their spawn
in MAY aud Jane, and SO with the redhorse aud
sucker family, and these seem to be the princi-
pal fish protected by the law uPOn tie, 5 awn-
ing gr0unds-lhe mnscalUnge the latter part Of
! April and the fOrePaIt OF May; so, she seems
t0 secure partial protection but Rlost Of these
are now taken in the nets and pounds on their
ascent I" the spawning grounds, before their
season Of spawning commences, and but liz tie
is gained in the law to protect them.
The catfish has Of late years become quite an
important article of commerce and has estab-
lshed itself MS one of the valuable food fishes
Of our western waters. They spawn in Jnne
and are projected during the lose OF season, aud
yet am told THAI many Of them are destroyed
al this liWe E!th spears and other eontrivanees
ON their spawning grounds. This sheuld be
stopped. OF the proprieiy Of the law, have
nothing to say. II Is enough fer me TO know
that Il is on the statute book, aud as law. abid-
ing citizens we sbON VI observe u, not only for
ourselves but we shoald see that il is enforced
upon others, and il il needs alteration or amend
meni, let us bide our time aad seek for modi-
hcatIon by the law making power. The white.
hsh aud herring spawn in the Fall, October
and November, and are not protected in their
| spawning grounds. Indeed, the only season
for catching them is during spawnag iine, fnr
theS do not visit our shores al any other uae.
Ii is trae that they are taken in the deep wa
ter at the lower end 0f Lake Eiie with & III acts
! In Summer, but not 10 any great extent. AS /
have received numerous letters upon this sub
jeet, have concluded to publish this, as an
! answer to all.
Very truly, ENERy d. Potter.