The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-19
OBSTRUCTING THE FISH.
An Interesting Paper from the Carolina
Commissioner.
augusta Chronicle and cOnstitutiOnalist.

An Interesting Paper from the Carolina
Commissioner.
Auq,.sta Chronicle and Constitutionalist.
HAMBURG, S. G., May 80, 1879.
l am pleased to learn, through the COL
ums of your valuable and widely circu-
lated paper, that the people of South
Carolina and Georgia are becoming en-
liyened to the Importance of enricbing
the waters Of the two States with food
fish, and are not willing to remain idle
and see other States wheel into the line
of progress, while they remain indifferent
to The importance of so valuable an in
dustry as fish culture. Anadromous fish,
such as shad, sturgeon, striped bass or
rock, etc., formerly assembled the Savan-
nah to its head waters. Nature directed
them to the pure limpid waters, where
sandy, pebbly bottoms, the temperature
and The agitation of the waters were ia
vorable for the incubation of the Qua, and
to escape the numerous enemies in the
deeper waters below. "Man's agency" "
interposed and prevented their migrations
to their natural spawning grounds, and
the results are sadly felt by all classes to-
day, especially by the poor people. Ask
the people along the border counties in
both States from the mouth to the source
of the Savannah, what is the difference
in the numbers of fish of to-day, compar-
ed with the numbers caught thirty years
ago2 In answer it may be emphatically
said that the change has been caused by
the obstructing their free passage by
dams, and the various modes OF obstruct-
them during the spawning season, viz:
Continuous fish dams from one shore to
the other, intenected with traps, the use
of seines, nets, gigs, explosives, and al
lowing the coal tar from gas houses to
flow into the streams, which is deadly
poison to all fish. Professor Beard, United
States Commissioner of fish and fisheries,
is rendering valuable aid to the States of
South Carolina and Georgia, in replenish-
ing the depleted waters of both States.
Salmon and shad fry have been released
in the head waters of the Savannah, but
it would be folly to continue the expense
and sacrifice of time in releasing migra-
tory fish in the waters of stream that
was obstructed by dams most effectually
preventing them from returning to their
spawning grounds. Upon an investiga-
ton made by the committee appointed by
the Legislature of South Carolina the
fact is apparent that fish can pass the
canal dam in ordinary stages of the river.
In YOUR issue of the 23d instant, I notice
this statement in reference to the dam:
"Tbe Legislature of South Carolina char
tered water mill company composed
mainly, we believe, of members of the
then City Council), and this company
purchased the land on the eastern bank
of the river upon which the dam abuts.
So far as the Legislature has power to
confer authority to build the dam the
case of the Canal Company is perfect"
Allow me to call your attention to the
terms of that charter granted by the South
Carolina Legislature requiring that fish
ways should be constructed allowing free
passage to all migratory fish. Again, you
by Mayor Meyer that there is no less than
FIVE openings in the DAM" I would re-
spectfully submit that the charter does
not specify any number of openings, and
ten times that number would not avail
anything if the fish failed to pass through
those so.called fish ways. "There is
very important fact" you continue, "that
our friends up the river appear to have
overlooked that the run of shad below
the dam has been unusually small during
the past two years." The reports from
the different fisheries this season of the
number of shad caught below the dam
show that the run of shad has been much
larger this year than the previous year,
and I take pleasure in stating that no
doubt the increase is owing to the fact
that shad fry has been released in the
head waters of the Savannah by the
United States Commissioners. Knowing
the fact that distractions preventing the
free passage of fish would prevent the re-
stocking of the Savannah by either natu-
raj or artificial propagation, is the cause
of this widespread dissatisfaction, and it
is certainly very erroneous idea that
the supply of fish will not be affected be-
low the dam. If tie fish are prevented
from going to their spawning grounds,
then the supply will be equally affected
above and below the dam, and will most
effectually destroy those fisheries in the
lower portions of the river, which have
usually reaped the "harvest of the sea"
by the thousands annually. I would re-
spectfully suggest to the citizens of the
river counties in Georgia, from Franklin
County to Chatham, that they make eve
ry effort to prevail upon the authorities
of the State of Georgia to epjoin upon
their Legislature lin JULY to enact CO.
operative laws, that the people in both
States may secure the benefits from the
fish in the Savannah. I know that your
efficient Commissioner of Agriculture,
Col. T. P. james, will aid you in making
recommendations with the view of CO.
operating with the State of South Caro-
lima. The people of the river counties of
South Carolina and Georgia only ask
that the same protection be given to this
important industry in the waters of the
Savannah river that are given by the
Legislatures of twenty-thrce other States
in this Union. They only ask that the
same laws be enforced in these two States
that are rigidly enforced in all the other
States. It is certainly not an unreasona-
BILE request for the citizens of the two
States to request the City Council not to
destroy so important food supply, and
from my personal knowledge of several
of the gentlemen who compose that Coun-
Gil, I am certain they will be found will
ing to advance so important an interest.
The labors of this work are for the peo-
pie, and the Importance of this measure
should interest every citizen in both
States. A. P. BUTLER,
Fish Commissioner of South Carolina.
I. liz nll-orr An Dannrnfinn Dnu