Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-01
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE BLACK BASS
Another Word on the Subject-HOW
shall They be S1vedf

TO the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR:
In my last article adverted casually to what
conceived to be the unnecessary and made
Guate laws enacted for the purpose of protect
Ing the black bass In the Potomac overland
the criticism thereon by your correspondent, the
Hon. Mr.. Turner. leads me now to give more
fully my Impressions upon the subject To is
gratifying TO know that one so evidently n ren-
tleman as well as an accomplished angler is
heartily Interested in the preservation of this
noble fish. and only regret that he should have
inferred that any harsh criticism was intended
upon the Maryland statute. to which he stands
''in loco PARENTS"
The coUtgulty of snch health-giving amuse-
ment and agreeable relaxation as is afforded
III angling for the gamey bass, to city
whose dwellers are manly followers OF
sedentary occupations. cannot be estimated too
hi9hly; and 1t IS worthy the same fostering care
and expenditure a. the beautiful parks for which
Washington il so justly famed it contributes
equally with them an inexpensive opportunity
for health and enjoyment. The hand Of the
wandering vandal Is restrained BY law and
watchful employees from mutilatng the beauti-
ful shrubs and trees of the parks. and she fos-
term" of all the food fishes Ofthe historic Poto-
mac, and especially those whose esprit and pluck
have made them worthy the anglers regard,
should nave equal encouragement and care
This is nearly everywhere admitted and it only
remains to secure such action as shall best
accomplish the purpose. which is only and solely
the repression of wantOn and useless destruc-
ton by any means To prevent all fishing for
the month OF May does not accomplish this
end. for many reasons. First, it Is hardly any,
where enforced, very few choosing to become
mformers against their neighbors for what
they conceive to be so small matter az a few
nsh; and, again. fish taken before and after Nav
are frequently sPawners. The law if enforced
Is also hardship upon the angler with rod and
line. and quite unnecessary. because such legit-
innate fishing does not demand representative
few fish so taken being of no consequence But
they must be included, we are told because fish
taken Unfortunately would by unreliable par
ties be sold as the product of proper angling
This state of affairs can De easily and
completely cured by law authOriZ-
ing the appointment of fish wardens whose
duty it shall be. during the fishing season,
to patrol the river and prevent both Illegal fish
Inv and the capture of fish below a cert ain size
and weight. This method is resOrted to in
England and many parts of Europe. and is uni
versaily successful. Anglers are also required
to register their names and addresses and obtain
permit each season. for which a small payment
is required The expense would not be great
and |. for one, would earnestly ask trial of it,
say between Great Falls and the Aqueduct
misunderstanding that much satisfaction would
result therefrom
Next to sweeping the river with nets trans
and outlines. and perhaps more destructive
are the feeder dams erected for supplying
the canal with water. Thousands of bass,
having their downward journey barred by
These instructions. find their way into the canal
and when the levels are drawn Off in the fall are
captured in great numbers by the nearby
dwellers and sated for winter use and myriads
more. too small for this purpose, are left to
perish. / have the assurance of gentlemen of
undoubted yeracity that large number of barrels
are SO taken every fail between Harper's Ferry
and washington. This is very serious source
OfdepopulatiOn, and one easily and inexpensively
corrected In this connection it is proper to
notice the subject of fish ways. which Mr.
Turner says are to be built to enable the fish to
overcome the dams and falls of the river in their
spring-tlWe migration to the upper and shall
lower portions of the stream. The approval of
these cOnyenIe.lceS by that distinguished scien-
list. Prof. Baird. eblites me to attempt no argu-
ment against their necessity and / therefore
yield TO that source. upon any question of alb
strdct science. eheerfuily ana readily. | only
state one well known fact. viz: that bass are
to-day. without fish ways. more plentiful
1boce than betO,1 Great Falls and the dams. 1
believe. toe, that that distinguished gentleman
could inform any seeker for knowledge why
the bass ciassed with the Percidae. and having
all the belongings thereof. should be christened
Myeropterds Sttimolies-or trout Gke-much
easier perhaps than he could throw hy 70 feet
or land five FOUNDER on a seveD-Ounce rod
The pursuit of science does not necessarily put
enc In sympathy with tee followers of the gentle
art or qualify him for its skillful practice
But, admitting the importance of easy
access to all parts of the river by
the bass. / do not hesitate to
say that One-half the cost of the ''ways' eX-
pended in the employment of men who know
every rod of the river would produce vastly
more satisfactory result and insure to honest
anglers with rod and line splendid sport at all
seasons of the year. Small fish should not only
not be basketed, but they should be at once re-
tnrned to the river. that they may acquire size
Ness in future contest. And the wardens should
be instructed that it is not part OF their pro-
vince to interfere with fair angling but. on the
contrary. to ilnpart any needed Information
Relative thereto. / do not believe that the mi
grafton OF the bass down the river in the fall
and back again in the spring is to be accepted
as IN entire fact. but feel confident that while
they Leave the shallow water to hibernate
during the winter they find suitable places
Therefor in the many deep pools with which the
river abounds. They are not anadromOus and
Go not from choice inhabit bracksh or salt
water or where the tide Gibbs and flows, though
occasionally taken there They are strong
hardy. pugnacious fish. qualified to thrive i'm
almost any water. and. protected from artificial
destruction. Will increase with wonderful "a
pi'iity- And when the many colOred tints of
gorgseousautumn. witnits bracing air. shall have
impaired new ylgor seek them i'm their river
haunts and try conclusions with some wary
patFtarch with your plant bamboo and, nv
word for it. YOU will return to desk or ledger
renewed and better fitted every way to solve the
pfaOiehn OF HE ana duty CHESTER.
WAsHINGToE. ID. c.. August Goth, 1883.
French Hsarriaye T.