Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-10
From the Toledo Telegram.
RIVER FISHING.
What Shall be Done to Protect this
Interest?

The Toledo Fishing and Hunting
Club very justly condemn the laws of
Ohio as utterly worthless, so far as they
affect rivers emptying into Lake Erie.
The laws are made by men who know
nothing about the fishing interests on
such streams, and too often the legisla-
ture has been misled by persons whose
interests are i'm the rapid destruction,
rather than in the protection, of fish
men who would clear the lake and river
of all good fish in single season if they
could do so.
Through the operations of these laws,
fish are allowed to be taken at the
mouths of rivers, as they approach on
their way to spawning grounds, thus
preventing reproduction and also keep
ing the rivers largely stripped of q sup
ply of the smaller varieties usually ta-
ken by hook and line. So destructive
has been this work that one of the best
varieties entering the river, and one
which, few years ago, afforded an
abundant supply during the season, is
now practically extinct. Reference is
of course had to the white bass, pan
fish which has no superior in the lake.
But the destruction is not to end
with the loss of this fish. If any one
doubts it, let him visit the fish houses
and see the wagon loads of perch that
are brought in from the ponds at the
mouth of the river. The perch is sell
dom taken by river fishermen, for the
reason that its haunts are not on the
grounds dragged by nets. Until within
a few years, perch have been abundant
in the river. There are two varieties,
the large golden and the small blue
perch. The former is regarded by many
as choice pan fish and remains in the
river through the entire season, afford
ing delicacy for the tables of labering
men, who can go the river on pleas
ant evening and soon procure nice
mess of fish. They are perceptibly di-
minishing in numbers and it is now
much more difficult to get them than it
was five years ago. At the rate of
slaughter this spring, this standard riv-
er fish will soon become about as scarce
as white bass.
The same is trne of the silver catfish
thought by many equal to the brook
trout. They have generally been abund-
and in the river and could be taken
freely from the middle of May until
late in the season. They are now being
slaughtered at such rate that within Q
few years every variety of the cat will
be practically extinct. The old ones
are taken by every conceivable method
the young ones are taken while attempt
ing to enter the river, and thus repro
duction is cut off and the supply mus
speedily be exhausted.
In view of these facts, it is time thu
people interested should make them
selves heard in behalf of such legisla
tion as will prevent the conscienceles
greed of those who recognize no righ
except that of getting all they can from
natures food supply, regardless of tn
general interests of the people, ant
their rights in and to this common
property. 1t is strange that member
of the legislature representing countie
bordering upon the rivers running int
the lake do not do something to proven
the terrible slaughter of fish. Unles
something can be done to check sucl
work, the time is near when fresh fisl
will be beyond the reach of the averag
| citizen