Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-11
THE POTOMAC FISHERIES.
Ine Cause OF Their Destruction
Act1Ve Measures Needed for Thei .
Restoration,

Inc remarkable decline in the Potomac
hsherieS is a subject which deserves serious
consideration. Once the best Shad stream in
the country, cur river IS now surpassed by
nearly ALL. Some facts learned by STAR
reporter in conversation with Prof. Spencer F.
Bard, the head of the U. s. Fish Commission
VINO knows all about the past, present and
future OF every fish that swims, may be of
interest in this connection. No accurate state.
menl OF the catch of fish in the Potomac was
made prior to 1888 In that year a work
appeared entitled Martins Gazetteer of Vir-
giiE, glinia, which sets forth among other things
without any indications that the author sun
poses himself to be stating anything remark
aple: that in the previous year $500, 600 shah
ana ,oQ,GOO.WO herring had been taken from
OF weight to each Shad, and three -fourths of
pound to each herring, and considering the
large number of sturgeon. rock fish, etc. also
taken.
SIN HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS OF FISH
is The least estimate that can be made for the
result of six weeks of fishing. $4,000 barrels
OF fish were salted in that year, and sent
throughout Virginia and the surrounding
states and to the West Indies. The fact that
lne maximum annual yield of the Scottish her
ring hsheries is represented by 100000 barrels,
and that this amount was Obtained by the
'a90fS OF 5o,OOO men in 5000 boats. for a con-
Siderable portion of the year, when compared
Mltm MIN ne 1act tfat larger supply was taken
bN
5000 men. with nothing like tie exposure and
prlvations OF tire Scottish fishermen. enables
one one to estimate the value and extent of the
F0tomac fisheries at that time 1t is doubtful
whether the present shad yield OF the entire
river IS 25O.OO0 or less than one per cent. of
Wlat was hall a century ago.
FISH MURDER
IL may safely be assumed that the fisheries
have been destroyed by human agency. No
diSease to account for the decreased number
mas been discovered among Shad: no artificial
gam has ObStructed their passage to the breed
ing grounds: no predaciOuS fish has dimin-
ished their forces Excessive fishing and the
disturbance of the shad night and day from
the Tine they come into the river until they go
out again, by shore nets close to land and gill
nets In the channel which break up the schools
o1 nSh and prevent them from breeding are
NE true causes OF the present condition of af
1alrS. Two remedies are suggested:
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION AND LEGAL PRO
FICTION.
Ihe second would be sufficient without the
hrsf, but would not bring about the desired
results so rapidly when working alone. The
INST without the second is useless expense.
me evil Is is great and heroic treatment is re
CURED. The most effective measure would be
the absolute prohibition of fisheries for three
years, except enough to secure stock for
aftlnclai propagation. If this could not be
GStalnea Gstin tr lay might be passed forbidding
O'Clock Monday morning during the season.
and prohibiting it entirely after the first or
middle of May.
DIVIDED JURISDICTION.
The dlfficultieS in the way of satisfactory
legislation arise from the position of the
stream. Maryland has jurisdiction over it up
to low water mark on the Virginia shore but
NfglnlaS concurrence to laws passed bv
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
caIchlng, handling and transporting of the
fiI fish has been allowed to decay Farmers
,Hmaa Mthln haii days Journey of the fisheries no
p BY OF shad at sl.55 hundred or of herring at
through the winter. Nearly all of the vast
amount OF cheap food represented by the
flgures given concerning the former fisheries
is now distracted ,and the necessity has arisen
OF purchasing a more expensive food in its
stead. This is the principal evil of the decline
n the Il G shing trade; but as above suggested
prompt legislation by Maryland and Virginia
may yet effect something in the way Of i'm
proyement; and it is to be hoped that this NAV
be obtained. '