The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-03
OUR FISH.

r 1911
And now again we learn that the
Gulf Of Mexico is being s'stocked"
with strange fish I! Is it not wonder
ful h.w the man who IA ks half tn"
alphabet TO his name may enforc'
the adoption of theory which con-
tradicts all our experience? 1t is
with our fish as it has been with |
our forests-there is a long period
of ruthless destruction and CORE
spending period of costly restora-
ton which never succeeds in doing
more than filing the pockets OF
some theorist at the exps nse of the
people. 1t il time for us to think
little and use the God-given reason
now necessary for the preservation
of our best interests.
= e. .-"'srr;-' rive u brit
g.. :ts -, 1".~ a Ia "rr F''fs
and along our Coasts by Nature!
Not so-our bass and mullet and
sheephead, ETC., are unsurpassed
anywhere, while the carp is no bet
. ter food than the gar f~h, and many
other various kinds whose spawn Is
being "planted" are almost equally
tasteless and innutricious. Shall
we sit still while the carp drives the
mullet from its spawning grounds
and takes possession of onr river?
If we do, then we deserve the dis
gust and regret which will surely
be our portion in after years.
1t is urged that the st. Johns is
rapidly becoming depleted of its
Ash-that the Dream are no longer
found on their old beds-that the
mullet are becoming scarcer in mum,
bers and beautifully less in size
that the black bass and shad and
channel bass will soon be curiosities
in our waters. All this We grant
but we dispute in toto the corollary
that because these things are so We
therefore stock the st. John'
with carp. Give to Our native fisf
the chance eagerly accorded TO thu
strangers; enforce the laws already
enacted for their protection ant
once again our people can draw foot
abundant, excellent and cheap from
our teeming waters. When w
count the nets nightly spread be
tween Palatka and the sea i. it no
wonderful that shad ever reache
its spawning grounds? When W
consider the number of it's enemie
are we not surprised to see mule
in the river? Consider how help
lesely the Dream crowd each othe
or The few beds fit for the preserv
ton of their eggs and the mean
taken for their determination. an
the escape of single one Is nea
akin to q miracle.
The enactment Of law is useles
without its enforcement, and publ
servants are proverbially careles
till the people complain. Let tn
citizens of the counties along III
: St. Johns compel their respectiv
sheriffs to examine the nets of til
fishermen; let them memorabilia th
governor If necessary, or hold indis
nation meetings and appoint con
mi,tees charged to attend clo-el
to this matter IN which We are all :
nearly interested. 1t is idle to col
cider the fish supply inexhaustibl
Ten years from to-day at the pre-
emit rate of decrease there will reall
be the need of "stocking" our river
Natures gifts are never inexhausi
BILE save when wisely used.
Let the fish commission keep
carp and herring for those who CT
get no better food-let US take ca
of our native fishes before it is t
late. Let those interested write
us. and we will do our best to p
the matter in such shape that ne
departure shall become necessary.