Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-04
THE VIRGINIA FISHERIES.
Recommendations Made by Commits
slOner McDOnaId-Legis latiOn Against
Pound Nets Asked fOr-The POssibfi.
itfes Of the Chesapeake Oyster Fish.
cries.

Col. Marshal Mcdonald, as commissioner of
fisheries Of Virginia, has made a report to Gov,
Cameron OF the work OF the state commission
ior the two years ending September 3Oth, 1885.
The report says: Rigid Limitation and control
OF the pound net fisheries is necessary in order
to prevent the destruction Of the shad and her.
ring fisheries. The practical exclusion from
our streams (by the multiplication of pound
nets in the bay and the estuaries of our rivers)
of species like the shad and herring which
must reach fresh waters before they can re.
produce their kind, must produce q rapid
decline in the amount and value of these fish.
cries. Artificial propagation, which has exer.
cised an important conservative influence over
the nsheries is inadequate to contend unaided
them and threaten their very existence The
number OF shad reaching fresh water grows less
year by year, and the opportunity for artificial
propagation, which depends upon the catch OF
shad in the rivers, grows correspondingly less
with the decrease in the river catch.
It is recommended, therefore: 1. That the
setting of pound nets pike nets, wefrs stake
nets and all other fixed contrivances for the
capture OF FISH In our rivers be prohibited under
such penalties and forfeitures as will guarantee
?. That the setting OF pounds in the bay be
prohibited, unless the party or parties propos.
ing to operate the same shall have previously.
in the manner prescribed by law, obtained a
permit or license for the same such permit de-
scribing precisely the location OF the pounds
OF pots, bowls or pounds to be operated and such
other details as are necessary for enforcing the
provisions of law, and further tor each pot, bowl
or pound specified in the license or permit. the
licensee shall pay to the officer authorized by
law to collect the same the sum of 500.
o1io alat Jme Ptoceeas o, an ices or taxes thus
commonwealth, and kept and accounted for as
"the fishing fund, and applied to artificial pro.
compensation OF such fish wardens' or other
officers as may be necessary to enforce the laws
regulating the fisheries.
The report urges the desirability of the en-
actment of a law general in it's application and
without Limitation as to time prohibiting the
use OF poisons or dynamite for the capture OF
nets, fish dams, traps, or any other fixed con.
trivance for the capture of fish in any stream
above tide-water. Attention is called also to
the advisability of modifying the law requir
ing the general erection OF fshways, as it is now
in great measure imperative.
THE CHESAPEAKE OYSTER BEDS.
OF the oyster fisheries the report says: 1.-THE
oyster fisheries of the Chesapeake, which are to-
day an important element of wealth to the tide.
water section of the state, and which afford
profitable employment to SO many of her peo-
pie, have not one 1.-THE OF the importance or
value they are destined to attain at some future
capabilities OF production which now lie dor
mant under the surface of this magnificent
inland sea.
The natural oyster beds from which we now
draw our principal market supply, and which
furnish the seed for the planting grounds, not
only in the Chesapeake, but for the whole coast
from New Jersey to Long Island Sound, occupy
but an Insignificant portion of the entire area
of the bay. The area adapted to planting, is
alike limited in extent, and under the present
system of licenses cannot be enlarged, because
any extension would involve heavy expendi-
lures In the consolidation of the bottom SO as to
furnish a firm bed for the oysters or in the
erection of break waters to protect the planting
grounds from the violence of the waves, and
no one would be willing to make such OUTLAWS
with the present insecurity of tenure. 1t is
probable, however, that the whole bed of the
bay may be converted into oyster bearing
grounds, as has been already done by the
Forbes and others in Long Island Sound.
It is certain that the extensive region Of salt
marshes which fringe the bay can be brought
into profitable production by the adoption of
notifications of the French system OF oyster
cultivation in "ParcS' and "Claires, " provided
that the necessary legislation be enacted to in
sure security of tenure beyond a peradventure
II all that portion of the Chesapeake area
which lies below the level of low waters and
constitutes the sovereign domain be declared
subject TO entry and patent, as are now the pub
lie lands which are above tide level, care being
taken not to impair vested rights, then the Gen.
eral Assembly will have done all that is peces-
sary to tnaugurate an expansion in oyster cul-
ture, the extent of which can now scarcely be i'm
agined. Private enterprise Will accomplish the
rest, and the increase in taxable values thus
created will constitute no Insignificant addition
70 the revenue Of the state.