Smyrna times., 1883-02-07
For the Smyrna Times.
Fish Commission and Food Fish.
A lonely household fairy she
That witcheth all for good"

MIR. EDITOR.-There are perhaps
but few states that enclose in an equal
area more streams and lakes of water
suitable for the production of food
fishes than are to be found in this
state, but with all our advantages in
this respect there has been compara-
lively nothing done toward stocking
these waters. called the attention |
of our representative from this hundred |
at the last Legislature, and prevailed |
on HIN ~ bring the matter before the
House, which he did and had a COM
mittee appointed on it, who reported
favorably. But the House or Senate
in acting on it provided for only one
commissioner, whose pay is not, per-
haps, sufficient inducement for him
to neglect his more profitable employ
ment, consequently our progress is
slow in stocking our streams, so slow
that without more liberal Legislation
the child is not born that will live to
see them stocked.
The state of New York has COM
mission of four commissioners and a
superintendent. The superintendent 1
presume has about all the work to do.
Maryland and other states have similar
commissions. Three commissioners
would be sufficient for this state The
pay of two of them need be but trif-
ling. The superintendent according
to his work, but none large enough to
cause dozen applicants for the place
before the ink on the act is dry. 1t is
not necessary to make salary thous-
+ and dollars when men just as good and
1 efficient can be had for half the money.
e There are plenty ofintelligent mechan-
s les who do not earn five hundred
dollars year working ten hours day
a who would be glad of the appointment
t of commissioner of Emigration or
a superintendent of fish commissions or
t any like Office for half the salary
named, and would devote all their
e their time to it. They might not con-
n tribute quite as much to the corruption
a fund as they would from a thousand
d dollar salary. But these new offices
It should not be created to make thi:
# much party capital. The whole people
h pay the bill, and men of one party are
really as much entitled to them as the
D. other. Just let the salaries be sucl
l. that there will be no scramble fol
a them. Then the right man in the righ
d place can be had. 1t is the money il
1t the offices that cause all the bite
ar strife and corruption in politics.
le The Maryland commissioners ar
f. stocking the waters of that state, whicI
ut 1 doubt not will tell favorably in
ID few years.
lg The New York commissioners ar
sending out from their Matching pond
wv millions of young fish of several varit
ID ties to all parts of the state. VIII
r. should not Delaware have a commi
as sion of like character. True, we al
e. small in territory, but it would on thi
in account cost much less to stock. IftI
ponds are stocked at the expense
ed the state thus be free to all citizen
ad but when ponds are stocked by indivi,
,w uals at their own expense they shoul
le- be protected as much in their pont
no as in their corn fields. The Legislatu
,rd should pass an act either for an effecti,
,se commission, or one to protect priva
all parties who may go to the expense
lev stocking the ponds.
ian T. B. G..
Tho Spring Mills, February 1st. 1888.