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


The remarkable decline in the Potomac
fisheries is subject which deserves serious
consideration. Ouce the best shad streams in
the country, our river, is now surpassed by
nearly all. Some facts learned by Star re.
porter ia conversation with Professor Spencer
+. Baird, the head of the u. s. Fish Com
mission, who knows all about the past, present
and future Of every fish that swims, may be of
interest in this connection. No accurate state
ment of the catch Of fish in the Potomac was
made prior to 1888. In that year work ap
peared entitled "Martins Gazetteer OF Vir
GINA" 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 100000 shad
and $50 600 600 herring had been taken from
the Potomac. Allowing three or four pounds
of weight to each shad, and three fourths OF
pouod to each herring, and considering the
large number of sturgeon, rock fish, etc., also
taken. six hundred million pounds of fish Is the
least estimate that can be made for the result
of six weeks offshing. $4,000 barrels OF h0h
we're sailed in that year, aud sent throughout
Virginia and the surrounding States and to the
West Indies. The fact that the maximum az
nue yield of the Scottish herring fisheries IS
represented by 900. 900 barrels, ard that this
amount was obtained by the fabors or 5O OOO
men 10 $4,000 boats, for considerable portion
of the year, when compared with the fact that
q larger supply was taken from the Potomac
10 SIX weeks by less than 6 900 men, with moth
ing like the exposure and privatloos OF the
Scottish fishermen, enables one to estimate the
value and exsent of the Potomac There's at
that time. Ii is doubtful whether the present
shad yield OF tho entire river Is $50 0OO or less
than one per cent of what it was halt century
ago. -
1t NAV 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; 90 artificial
dam has INSTRUCTED their passage TO the breed.
inc grounds; 10 predacious fish has diminished
their forces. Excessive fishing and the dis
turbance Of the 5had pight and day from the
time they come into the river until they 90 out
again, by shore nets close to land and 81 nets
ia the chanoel, which break up the schools OF
fish aud prevent them from breeding, are the
truo causes ofthe present condition OF affairs.
Two remedies are suggested: Artificial propa'
CATION and legal protection.
The second would be sufficient without the first,
Uub "Ouiu HOt Ullus oOous WV
60 rapidly when working alone. The hrst with
out the second is q useless expense. Inc evil Is
great and heroic treatment is required. Tho
most effective measure would BE- The absolute
prohibition OF fisheries for three years, except
enough to secure stock for artificial propaRa.
ton If this could not be obtained law might
be passed forbidding fishing from o. clock Sat-
urdsy night until 6 o'clock Monday morning
during the season, and prohibiting it entirely
after the first OF middle of May.
The difficulties in the way of satisfactory legl5-
lation arise from tie position OF the stream.
Maryland has jurisdiction over II up. to low
water mark on the Virginia shore; but Virglnls's
concurrence to laws passed by Maryland on this
subject is necessary, and an agreement of the
two states as to the plan to be pursued has not
yet been effected. A great trade formerly
employing thousands in the catching, handllng
and tt ansp ortating of the fish, has been allowed
to decay. Farmers within half days journey
of the fisheries no longer drive dowu their carts
and lay in supply of shsd at ST. IS 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 irrenledisble. Wise and prompt egls.
lstlon Dy Maryland and Virginia may yet effect
something in the way of improvement; ana IL Is
to be hoped that this may be obtained dsA.
Star.