Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-17
A DEMOCRATIC FISH LAW.

The present Democratic Legislature has
passed law for the protection of fish
which is exceedingly absurd and unneces-
sorily restrictive In some Of its fealures. 1t
provides that
Whoever, in any of the waters Of any
creek, river, canal, pond or reservoir, or in
any body OF water, whether artificial or
natural, lying within the State OF Ohio,
except the waters OF Lake Erie, iniures or
kills, or catches, in any other way than by
hook and line, nny fish, except minnows,
or owns or possesses any fish pond fshnet,
fish trap, or ish seine, except seines to
| catch minnows, in or connected with any
of the waters in the State of Ohio, except
the waters of Lake Erie, or IN my way
maliciously disturhs any fish in any pri-
vnte fish pond, shall he fined for each Of
Tense not more than $50 nor less than $40,
or be Imprisoned in the Jail oi the county
not less than II days nor more than 60 davs.
1Hd prOrtdcd FURTHER, that it shall be un-
lawful to catch or destroy fish in any
manner during the spawning season, ex-
ceptlng reservoirs containing 900 acres
/ - ,mure, from The 1St day of May to the
! 10th day June in each year, with the same
| penalties for violrtion Of this provision
us above provided in other cases.
This law was passed on The 10th OF
April, and took effect upon lis passage. 1t
was designed to protect the better classes
OF fish from too rapid decimation and the
object was a good one but it goes too far
The prohibition OF seine and pound fish.
ing, in the rivers and bays, for period of
L
five years or more, would have been well
enough. But such n law should have
taken effect some months after it's passage
Mott of those affected by its provisions are
poor men, with HS other means of support
ing their iamilies, and to be compelled to
quit fishing so suddenly, without oprcrtu.
nity to make other arrangements for en-
ploylnent, is a hardship which should not
have been imposed upon them.
Another absurdity Of this law il the i'm
position Of hne Of not less than $40 nor
more than $50, and imprisonment not
exceeding GO nor less than 10 days, for
owning Il fish pound, fish net, fish trap,
or seine!" Just what the legislators
thought the owners of this kind of prop
eriy could do with il, is not easily com i.
pretended. Some Of them haze large
amounts Of money invested in pounds
seins, etc. Must they destroy it?
The prohibition OF hook aud line fishing,
from the LIST of May to the 18th Of June,
is another absurd provision Of this law
All the fish taken, in the streams empty.
ing into Lake Erie, with hook and line,
will not make perceptible difference in
the general supply. But few fish caught
with hook aud line during the period
named are in theiT spawning season. This
il tue season for cat fish, and they do not
spawn until July and August. White
bass nre now spawning, and their run will
| continue until the middle of June. Per
laps il is well to protect them, since thal
species OF fish have become almost extinct
IN onr river. Nevertheless, the number
tateu with hook and line would not per-
eep'ily decrease the supply.
All things considered, the Democratic
lawmakers NJ Columbus have committed
a great blunder, one which will work ruin
to thousands Of poor people, when the de-
sired results could have been reached
without seriously expressing any class of
Giiizcns. The majority of the Legislators
are only familiar with the smGll streams
IN the interior OF the State, and tteir law
vas framed with reference to brook Father
ihan river fishing. They had no eopeep-
,aon Of the interests at stake on She Maus
wee and other important rivers.