The Indianapolis journal., 1890-12-19
USERS OF THE ROD AND GUN
Several Suggestions as to What Is Need
edin Extending Protection OF the Law.
They Are Submitted to the State Association of
Those Interested in Keeping Up the
Supply of Fish and Game.

met yesterday afternoon ut the State-house,
with State Fish Commissioner Dennis in
the chair. In beginning the proceedings
Elijah Howland, of this county, reported
from the committee that had been consider
ipg the best method of securing the infu-
ence of the agricultural societies in adv anc-
ing fish and game interests" He suggested
amending the fish laws SO that members of
agricultural societies can fish in any way,
except during the close season, on their
own premises. 1t was further recon-
mended that it be made q misde.
meanor to enter premises rof another
without permission of the owner or oceu-
pant. with nets, poles or lines. The report
was approved.
j. +. Applegate, of New Albany. chair
man os she committee considering the best
methods of enforcing the law and what ad-
dttloGal Legislation Is needed. recommended
ior the COMMITTEES delay in asking for
Thought. is doing all the State could do.
anu is carrying out the work much better
than 1t can be done by any other means.
Inc chairman expressed the opinion
tnat indiana does not need a hatchery.
God" he said, has already provided
natural hatcheries, which it is only neces-
sary to protect by law, to keep the rivers
fall of fish," W. III. Dye. of Hancock
county, favored establishing bass-pond
In connection with each river, in order to
protect the young fish from the grown male
bass. and from injurious effects of spring
dreshets, which kill them by thousands.
iho recommendation WAS adopted. An
other recommendation that the sale OF
dynamite he regulated by law, was ap-
proved. by consent. without debate; but
suggestions as to the proper period tor close
seasons provoked very active discussion.
MI. Applegate read letter from George
w. Hazard, of Clark county, suggesting
that the season DO closed during May, as
bass are then spawning. The writer
Thought from April / to June Is too long
and likely to create opposition on part of
farmers. The letter also called attention
to- the necessity. of destroying gar fish,
OF game fish, than all other agencies conl-
bined.
The time for closing the season, proposed
by the Clark county fisherman. did not
meet with entire favor. b. Border. of
Winamac, said that while May may be the
part of the State, the time in the northern
lakes is from two weeks to a month later.
He further said that the law must be made
TO TT the two sections of the State, or the
Mr. Howland favored the season between
April ! and June l. Referring to the de.
structiveness of gar In Fall creek, he said
he saw five schools OF them within twenty
minutes one afternoon last summer, and
each school had from five to nine large fish
IN 1T. Some OF his neighbOrs, he had
learned. had been rewarded for violating
the law in seining by catching forty gar,
and nothing else. He said he had not seen
anything else worth catching for several
seasons, and laid the scarcity of game fish
to gar.
j. b. Kenner, of Huntington, favored
eight weeks of close season, saying it will
not do to make it too short. He also
advised restricting such season to bass.
Mr. AppleRate asked whether different
close section for different parts of the State
would be constitutional. Mr.. Border
thought it would if the discriminating act
would name the various rivers and their
tributaries. Colonel Lilly urged that the
proposed law be rather pioneer in charac-
ter and not to include too much. lest all
would be lost. He favored discriminating in
favor of bass, In order not to awaken
local opposition ny forbiding all fishing.
chairman pronounced in favor of an ab-
soiute close season. the matter was deferred
for further consideration at the night
meeting. A resolution was adopted asking
that the Legislature appropriate $4,000 for
the work of the fish commission for the
coming two years. The resolution urges
81, 900 for salary of Commissioners, and S4,-
600 for expenses. The report of the secre-
tary and treasurer was read and approved.
AT the evening session the close-season
period between April Is and June l5 1t
was also voted to make the season apply to
all fiJh, and that 1T be unlawful to fish
through the ice at any time. A motion
prevailed to urge legislation making 1t un-
lawful to catch and retain bass. wall-eyed
pike, perch pike or pickerel under six
inches in length. The proposed law. it
was also decided, should give the Com
missioner power to transport fish from one
river to another at any time. The commit
teemen on legislation, Messrs. Applegn te,
Fishback and Hatch, OF Indianapolis. were
instructed To draft u law Incorporating the
matter of the resolutions which had been
passed as the sense of the meeting.
Commissioner Dennis and Jesse III. Blair
were unanimously reelected president and
secretary and treasurer. respectively. A
resolution expressive Of the appreciation in
which the associa ton held the work OF the
Fish Commissioner was ordered spread
on the minutes. and a vote of thanks was
extended to Mr.. Blair. Before adjourn.
ment the president expressed his gratitude
for the compliment paid his work as Com
missioner. He said that it was not for the
salary of $500 per year he had accepted the
Office. but to advance the fish interests of
the State by arousing the people to appre-
ciate the great value of the fish product
as food. The association adjourned to meet
at the call of the presdeut