Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-11

FAVOR AND THE REASONS GIVEN BIZ THE
HOUSE coMMrrEE-THE OPPOSITION.
With black bass selling at twenty-five cents o
bunch so early in the season it would seem that
that specimen Of fish was unusually plentiful
but in the face of their cheapness all reports
show that they are not 90 plentiful, but to the
contrary they do not appear 20 plentiful as
they did before the food two years ago. Those
that are selling at such low figures are very
small fish and are probably caught in the nets
that are put out for larger fish. Most Of them
are coming from down the river and are being
caught near the mouths of the numerous small
creeks that empty in the Potomac. 1t is stated,
however, that no small number Of them have
been caught in waters Of the Potomac within
the limits Of the District of Columbia.
Owing to the expiration of the five years fish
law which was passed for the protection of the
spawning grounds of the Potomac, it is not I'M
lawful for fishermen to use drag nets, stake
nets or any other appliances for taking fish
from the winters here, and many fishermen are
already awaiting themselves of that privilege.
SMALL FISH TAKEN BY THE HUNDRED.
No shad or herring have been caught here
this season as yet, but the smaller fish, such as
perch and other early fish, have been taken out
by the hundred. and many of them. entirely
too small for market purposes, are killed by the
nets and then thrown away.
When the five-year law expired an effort was
made to have it renewed, but as there are no
better fishing grounds on the river than in this
vicinity considerable opposition to the bill was
manifested and the bill which passed the Sen
ate has never been able to get out OF the COM
mittee room.
That law prohibited fishing with the various
appliances by means of which the spawning
grounds Of the Potomac we're virtually de-
stroyed, but did not prohibit fishing with rod
and line.
NATURE OF THE LAW.
Mr. Banks, from the committee on fisheries,
reported the bill favorably, and in commenting
upon it said: 'Of the practical value of this law
your committee entertains no doubt. Before
its enactment the shad and herring fisheries Of
the Potomac we're nearly destroyed by over
fishing; since its enactment these fisheries have
increased immensely, furnished employment
to hundreds of fishermen, and yielded cheap
and wholesome food to the people,
THE COMMITTEES REASONS.
The committee also reiterated the reasons
given for the passage Of the original bill, which
were as follows:
First. The rapid decline Of the shad and her
ring fisheries of the Potomac shows the I'M
doubted necessity and imperative demand for
the adoption OF protective measures whereby
varieties of food fishes may be prevented.
Second. In protecting shad and herring we
protect all the other varieties OF fish, and
it is confidently believed that this measure
promises better results in the interest of the
Potomac fisheries than any other ever ad-
vanced.
Third. The waters of the Potomac within the
District of Columbia, lying as they do just at
the head Of tide water, become the natural
spawning ground for shad. herring and other
varieties Of fish.
Fourth. The area covered by said waters COM
prises but a very limited portion Of the river,
comparatively speaking, and the forming Of
this portion into sort Of reservation for pro-
lection Of the fish and use spawning ground
would not initiate against the interests of those
plying the vocation of fishermen, as all the
length and breadth of the river below the Dis
| trict line is at their disposal.
Fifth. The boundary line between Virginia
| and the District of Columbia is laid down at the
low-water mark Of the Potomac river on its
Virginia shore, and. consequently, the entire
waters belonging to the District are under the
authority and subject to the provision OF laws
| enacted by Congress. All the other portions of
this river are controlled jointly by the two
states Of Maryland and Virginia, and all laws
relating thereto made by one state must DO
ratified By the other before they can go into eff
feet. This renders it well-nigh impossible to
secure protective legislation.
Therefore, to sum the matter up. it is emf
| nently necessary to insugurate protective
| measures in the interests of the Potomac fish
cries, and to protect the fish on these spawning
beds IL of first Importance. The waters of the
Potomac within the limits of the District Of Co
lumbia are the natural spawning grounds.
THE OPPOSITION.
The strongest opposition to the bill comes
from Gen. W. H. F. Lee. who represents that
part Of Virginia adjacent to the river and oppo-
site the District of Columbia There are a
| number of shores that are fished on that side of
| the river, and the passage Of the bill would
| probably take few hundred dollars out of the
pockets OF either the owners of the shores or
| those who. fish them.
In addition to this the fishermen have counsel
| employed to look after their interests and, to
defray the expenses of their undertaking they
| have had to contribute literally.