New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-20
FISH AND GAME LAWS.
HEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION OF RE-
VISION.

A PROTEST FROM THE POUND NET F1shhh"N-'
AND PLEAS FROM THE GAME PROTECTORS
Albany Nov. 1o.-The Commission now enIasou 49,, -
revising and codlfyng the fish and game laws oi '"
State met at 10 O'Clock this morning ana gave u"
final hearing to those interested in the work.
Commissioner in Lunacy Henry A. Reeves s''a ''"'
behalf Of the net fishermen Of Suffolk County NJ
wanted to say that the restriction which tie Con,
mission desires to attach to net fishing IN rc'o
and Gardiner Bays is not acceptable to theh' az"
would infct upon them great loss and injury Ing
basis OF this restriction is mistaken opinion ''i'
fish in entering these bays from the outer oce'"
follow the shore and are necessarily stopped Dy "i'
pound nets. which extend out from the shore erc''
or less distances Some fish, no doubt, do move
along the shore but the greater body oil fsi ui"'
resort to these bays and 90 Independent d any
human influence and all the facts of long cxperen'
In the Of pound nets, going back for some ,n''
five years, clearly prove that the pound nets
have had little nothing TO do WIN
the question Of scarcity or abundance Oh ns''
1t is admitted that the years 1859 and 1890 have Deei
memorable for the unexcclcd abundance OF al the
species of fish commonly found in those bays il the
pounds actually stop fish from coming up the bay aey
should certainly have done so last year ana ts Ses'
for during those years there more pouncs SET
than ever before Spawn fish rarely found among
them. In fact speaking Of weakfish, bluensh anu
striped bass, the principal kinds sent to market,
there Is evidence that any considerable number OF
them spawn in the bays The fishermen believe tnat
these fish not spawn in the bays at all OF all the
varieties Of fish taken in pounds in these bays there Is
no evidence and no reason to believe that any par
ticular period can be defined the spawning ses-
son.,
Mr. Robbins a fisherman of twenty years experience
in Suffolk County, followed Mr.. Reeves, speaking III
the strain.
Stotn md fish favored
the amendment TO the laws restricting net hshng a'
the mouths of rivers.
Ex-Assemblyman Towne said the people on the shore
of Lahe Erie from Eric and Chautauqua counties al
vocate the amendment of the present law, which hmts
the Size of the meshes used In gill nets to four ana one
half inches. lie stated also that they waned the
prohibition of poundnet fishing in Lake Erie removed,
as such nets are lawfully In general use in other se
waters lie asserted that by reason of the Lake Erie
fishermen in this state being restricted to the use OF
50 large mesh they cannot successfully compete Win
fishermen engaged with nets of smaller mescs In waters
of the lake lying adjacent TO Pennsylvania ohio
Michigan and the Province of Ontario
Charles NJ Clark, representing the Buffalo Fish Com
pany and Lake ontario fishermen, favored the arsu
ments advocated by Mr.. Towne.
Mr. Burden again spoke asking for the proper pro
lection of the Of the Delaware River in order 10
prevent the netting Of shad and bass lie advised the
passage of an act making unlawful to capture salmon
in the Hudson River under three pounds IN "eish'
and compelling fishermen to take up their nets Tor one
day week at least in order to give Tile shad @i
opportunity to get mp the Hudson to spawn. TIC
thought the of seines at the mouth OF the Srouo
River now prevalent, should be stopped
Mr.. Kellogg, attorney for the st. Lawrence Anglers
Club said that from his experience, obtained In trying
to enforce the law, lie had concluded that the fine
against netting should be raised from SO to Sloo
and that the fine for the illegal killing of deer should
also be raised. He thought the penalty for using
dynamite should be three times as great as that for
any other Illegal fishing He favored the passage OF
law prescribing a heavy penalty for any person VINO
has hound in his possession in the prescrlDed
territory during the close deer season . .
Commissioners Sherman and Whitaker SAID they
would favor such law If it were shown to bS,
practicable ,.,,
Charles NJ Clark, of Suffolk County. thought 1t would
be advisable 10 make the laws in Kings. queens ana
suffolk counties uniform in regard to the killing o
upland game birds lie favored making the open
He also favored prohibition OF the shooting Of bay
birds or II this be not deemed advisable the making OF
the open sea son from July l to January l, and pro
hbition Of all shooting for ten years lie spoke
of the destruction of ducks In ShinnecOck Bay by
fishermen using large mesh nets. He Thought TINS
slaughter should be stopped by prohibiting the use OF
large mesh nets by stopping the Of nets In the
bay during the month Of october and thereafter for
suitable period Of time. He favored amendment
to the game laws prohibiting duck-shootlng in the
spring