Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-03
TIE ABANDONED FISHERIES.
Gloomy Prospects on the Potomac fO
the Present Season.

According to statements made by MIR. Gwynn
Harris, inspector of marine products, to a STAR
reporter yesterday the prospects for the
catch of shad and herring the coming season,
are ut present very gloomy, indeed. Very few
of the fish landings have been rented this year,
as fishermen are unwilling to make the neces-
sary outlay. From twenty to thirty years ago
almost fabulous sums used to be paid for these
landing places, and much money used to be
made by the lessees. For the past five years,
however, there has been gradual falling off
i'll the catch OF both shad and herring, and large
losses have been sustained by the lessees of
fishing shores. Thus far shores have been
leased this year. Out of all the heretofore val
liable property of this kind none will be Occrl-
pied with the exception OF Windmill Point by
Capt Living, and THE Gums" by the widow OF
the late Jerry Robb. The pound and gill
nets have largely taken the place OF seines.
Thousands OF them are scattered all over the
Potomac river and its inets. Some fishermen,
few days ago, dropped Il seine at Chapel
Point, near Mt. Vernon, but not shad was
cauS mt. Latel y, however, some few hundred
herring have been secured, and at present they
show signs OF increasing in numbers, but no
shad are found. The few that are caught are
small and poor compared to the old sort. The
river IS nigh, the currents swift and muddy, to
which is attributed the present state OF affairs.
1t appears from all accounts that while fish are
disappearing from the Potomac river, they are
appearing more numerous In other rivers fur
Their south. Favorable accounts are heard from
Baltimore and from the rivers in North and
must be some unknown cause which is driving
the Hsh from our river. Some of the fishermen
attribute the scarcity of fish in the Potomac to
the manufacture OF gas in Washington, West
Washington and Alexandria, as the water,
they claim, is mixed with offensive chemical
materials which the fish avoid. other causes
are named. Some think the exceedingly rolled
condition of the water keeps the 1ish back
Since the improvements in our harbor have
been going ON, the water has been constantly
disturbed and the currents changed making
the river muddy all the way down to the BAY
Small and poor shad are brought to this mar
ket for $50 per hundred and herring for SO to
$40 per thousand. High Point, Stony Point
and Ferry Landing SHORES and most OF the
shores further up stream and below High
Point, on both sides OF the river, have been
abandoned. The river is alive with the pound
net men, and they say that they can
make more money by using the
pound nets, as they have fewer expenses
than with a large outfit. The GibsOns, Nett
ZeyS, Stewards and most of the famous fisher
men have abandoned their seineS and taken UP
the gill and pound nets. Inspector Harris
states that almost any man can make up an
boat. Following is a list of inspections OF shad
ana herring for the thirteen years from 1 S13 to
1850, Inclusive, at the ports OF Washington
and Georgetown: 1873, shad $4,000, ner-
ring 80 500; 1874, shad 62S,6 herring
6,o6I ,24O; 1875, shad AGA ,215, herring 1874
400; 1876, shad 319,O79, herring I,4SS, $50;
1877, shad Isl, 1919, herring 2,o72, 124; 1875,
shad l2l,1 herring 3,491,259; 1879, shad
31l,o3I, herring q, o5S, S39; 1881 shad 81 2t5,
herring 9,62S,6S3; 1881, shad 49,, 5l7, her.
ring 2,oO1, 800; 1882, shad 35O.3U9, herring
G,439.63o; 1883, shad 26I AIS, herring 49S3-
99o; 1854, shad 231, iii, herring 56iOSI2:
1890, shad 12o,4 oS, herring 9,S13,oi