Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-08
TEE POTOMAC FISHERIES.
How the 'sShores.' will be Worked
This Year.
Tue DECLINE IN TIE YIELD-THE BESIrICEST QPER
ATOMS OF TIE FISH COMMISSION. sc.


| ATIoNs OF THE FISH COMMISSION. &C.
The season Is now approaching when the indus
| trl0uS fishermen will commence their calling on
the river landings. 1t has not been many years
since hundred thousand herring and perhaps
nearly half as many shad were caught at one hau,
OF the seine on OF the shores by this CITY,
As result OF the rapid Increase of population I'm
our large cities and the general increased demand
for these fish they have for some years been grow
ing scarce. The Potomac river has always been
| famous for shad and herring. From the revised
census statistics 1T is learned that "if the sea
| llsnerieS proper be taken as standard. MARYLAND
| has an unimportant place among the fish produc-
ing states, but II the oyster and river fisheries
! extensively interested. she ranks second onIy to
Massachusetts in the value OF the products and
stands star first on the list in the number employed
Her 26CS persons employed as fishermen and shore
men produced in 1880 s5.22l,715 worth Of fishery
products while the 20117 persons Interested I'm the
Massachusetts, fisheries realized sS,14175O as the
result OF their labors. This is easily explained by
the TACT TN the fishing season IS much shorter In
the former than in the latter state and that the
tsiierlhtn are, as a rule. less energetic and less
fully equipped for the work.
WIN SO extensive river system it is natural to
suppose tat the fresh water fisheries would be of
ptchliar Importance and stich is indeed the case
lor more shad are taken by the fishermen In this
o tdin ny IiloSc OF any other state. Virginia
SHORES TO BE OPERATED THIS YEAR
a STAR reporter has made inquiries as to the
operations or the Potomac fisheries during the
approaching season. Monkeys point, about fifteen
miles below. on the Maryland shore will be oDer
alei ny the heirs of the late James Sl.idmore and
suptr1ntended by Capt Ed Faunce. an old fisher
nlla OF long experience This shore requires about
thrty men aud makes OF about $50 fatholn, of
| seine IIree haulS are made generally On the ebb
Tide and one on the food tide
Bryants Point, the adjoining shore about the
same Kind OF shore and with similar capacity for
fishing VIII be fishei by Conrad Faunce also an
experienced fisherman.
Poi nlNO
thls city, on the Maryland shore, where about 500
Iathoin5 OF seine are used and about forty-five men
employed will be fShei by James Cunningham At
ef9 LiinS one haul Is made on the ebb tide but
seldom Is any haul made on the fooi tide.
"A, Al onapmans Point, twenty-tbree miles below
TINS city, on the Maryland Shore about 300 f,tboms
OF seine are used and generally about thirty men
are employed, who make three hauls on the ebb
tide aud sometimes one ON the flood This is a well
hh1Wh oid i!sh landing, and used to produce heavy
yields yearly.
"Greenway.s about twenty miles from this city,
smith 1t takes about GEO fathoms of seine and
;lDout lorty men to work it. HaulS are made on
b9tn tf.eS at This place.
Ferry Landing. about eighteen miles from the
Oh inc virginia shore, Will be 1shed this year
o; capt VIM. Neitzey, who employs about fifty
men and fishes with about 1,GD fathoms of seine
h;,u:ed by steam power. Capt. Neitzey is an expe-
I1enced fisherman, and for many years was con-
hcyed with the late veteran fisherman, Capt. John
GIBSON. who probably caught more shad and her
lal,iing they make one haul on the ebb tide, and
landing
oidtn times was very successful.
White House landing about 20 miles from here
on the Virginia shore, will be fi,hed this year by
Capt. VIM; T: stuart, OF this city, who also is a
pupil OF old Capt. Gibson. He viii use $50 fathOms
of seine, ard Will require about 40 men to ha,, it,
making three hauls on the ebb tide and one on the
stony Point, about % miles below this city. on
me Virginia shore, will be fshed also by Capt. VIM
NtitI'y. This Is a long and generally fortunate
shore, and will take about 1850 tholns OF seine
with heavy steam power and about so men It
llsnes on the ebb tide only, making one haul ON
each
free-Stone Point, some twenty eight miles below
II, this city also on the Virginia shore will BE- shed
Hous" Landing This Is large shore and requires
about 200 fathoms OF seine employing about sixty
hen to work it. 1t is hauled 10y steam power, like
ana sometimes one on the food.
1.-The Gums fishery. about fOrty-fiye miles below
TINS Guy also on the Virginia shore Will he fshed
IT. uaodi ny Jerry Hiuo, It's owner He Uses about
ABOUT l:sD iathoms Oh seine. and employs sixty
Gh Makes n one haul on the ebb tide and very
Clifton fishery, forty mites down. on the Virginia
sh4e, VIII be 1lshed by Mr.. Waller. This landing
requires about 500 fathoms OF seine and employs
about fii1y Incn. 1t also makes one haul Oh the
ebb tide, and but seldom fishes on the flood tide.
"ind MIL Point fishery, about 80 miles down on
the virginia shore. Is iiShed by Ewing Il Co. 1t
makes Use OF about 1000 fathOmS OF seine and elm
pioyS about 60 men. These gentlemen are Operat-
ing with about onehalf of their net at the present
ti', but doing little on account Of the cold wea-
tiier ana muddy condition OF the water caused by
lhe late rains since the river opened This landing
makes one haul on the ebb tide and sometimes one
on the Hood The principal fishing with haul seines
Is done on the ebb tides very little is done on the
flood tides. ~ ~
The above comprise about all OF the principal
haul Scine:s
THE POUND AND GILL NETS
are lnhumorablc all over the river Gill netting Is
done on both the ebb and flood tides: pound nets
are stationary and are fishing all the time The
fish are removed from them without disturbing the
pound Twelve years ago there were sixteen shores
In full operation on the Virginia side OF the river
ana about twenty ON the Maryland shore. owing
10 the scarcity OF fish many of these shores had TO
suspend operations and were 1t not for the meal
clilaDie good the L. s fish commission Is doing the
Potomac fisheries, 1t is thought, would be among
the things OF the past.
From the fact that the Potomac waters have been
In dispute between the states OF Maryland and Viz
glnia. the fish have had no protection whatever
ana fishing Is carried on at all times to suit the
Whlins and capceS OF large numbers OF irreSponsi-
PIE men, who need the rigOrS OF law to arouse them
to sense OF duty. Notwithstanding the law passed
Dy congress prohibiting in this District the sale of
lfesn silad or herring after the 10th day of June,
considerable quantities are caught and sa,ted below
the limits OF this District on both sides OF the river