Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-05-30
Potolnae Fish.

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
In your iasue Of May q b you make some
editorial comments OF lhe faols presented
by .he writer in ;he sams number In defence
of f-h culture and of the work Of the U. g.
Fish Commission. The writer might wai be
satisfied 20 let the argument rest rs IL stands,
sni wishes to be understood Is not Inviting
controversy, but as the aus Ion is cne aifsc I,
iug tie interests Of numbers Of psrsone, end
il g general wsy The whole ccuntry,is merely
desrous that the facts shall he properly p-e-
sented and uuGel stood, and iha truth do
termined, II possible. Ii it can 30 shown by
reasonable argument, fouEdet on facts, anG
not OF mere assertion, that the WORK Oh Ems
q. S. Fish Commission and the various
Stats fish commissions, ere not great put
lie bsnefectiou, then it is the opinion Of tie
writer that they should be abolished.
The gist of your editorial Is TO the effect
that there Is c constant decrease In The catcn
of chad in the Potomac instead OF Ga IN.
crosse. The arguments offered by the
writer we're based on statistics fprniahed by
the fishermen themselves nud include syery
net of auy description n the area narned.
The statistics G; tbs catoh otthe Potomac
were those Of Health Officer Townsend. and
show, IS stated, an increase TO May 10.h OF
about 100 900 over the entira catch of lost
vesr. The catch Of the Potomac has In
creased from 1870 In 1885 to probably
500 900 in 1890
These statistics are open TO the closest
scrutiny and cannot be impeaehed by tho
statements of individuals on the basin Of
their own cetcbeP, knowing nothing Of the
changes taking place in the distribution OF
eaten.
Concerning the abandonment OF 6shing
shores referred to In youy editorial it may
be stated that as many as ten or twelve
pound Eets mag be attended By four men.
resulting in very much greater economy in
fishing than by the seiue, thus Gimlrishios
the shors fisheries. Attention Ess been call
cd TO this iact In the reports of the o. 8 Com
mission for sore years. II ike manner
the hand line fisheries have baen aHeoied by
the purse Dat fisheries.
Your acaiogy OF the propagation OF ducks
and fishes cannot, of course, haye 6een So
rious. at sll events I think you will admit
that II one duck c9uid lay one or two hun
dgod Thousand eggs, and thai they could be
hatched within thg limits OF ons or two one
galcn ara, ard that they might then pass
away out of the reach Of mans destructive
Influence uaf!i they had meturet, thet
there might be some possibilities ID the erti-
foa! propagation OF ducks even.
Concerning the closing statement Of Jour
editorial it will only be necessary, l think,
to state tha following fact TO show that your
informent is in error in bis conclusions,
shsd eggs ere of the class kuown as non sd
hesiye; that ia, they are not spawned in gela-
tiaous messes as with some, noE DO thoy 3D.
here 10 plants. stones. ste, IS with
others. Each egg is free and unet-
tschad They are spawned CO shallow
bays. many fish being engaged n spawning
over tho same ares. the eE2s OF each fish oe-
ing scattered as she goes along and the great
mass of then ior thia reason escaping iefti!-
zation. As the eggs ore iEcpl 6 TO y days
In hatching, varying with temperature, a0d
as pound nets ere lifted every Gay, I think
you will admit that inferences dsawu f:om
the presence OF spent female shed aud Of
young fry Mt the ssma time axe only like
thousands of other opinions of Ike nature
which obtain among fishermen. end which
are we'll known among investigators, but
have no foundation in fact.
FISH CULTURE.