The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-04
FEAR THE FISH WILL STARvE
WAR BETWEEN THE FTSHERHEN AND
the DEEP SEA sPoRTSMEN.

between the two classes OF lshermen-those
who flsh for sport and those who 0sh for the
market-upon tho question OF the probability
OF the extinction OF 1sh food. The amateurs
say that the fisheries from Maine to South
Carolina are endangered by the threatened
destruction OF their food supply. The feeling
in the matter Is shown by the following circu-
lar. which has been widely distributed:
The growing scarcity Of edible rshes along coast
line. from Maine TO North Carolina Ia matter OF i'm.
potancs that should be overlooked by the States
interested. Tho cause causes Of this diminut on
should be ascertAined. and remedy. ~ possible
should be applied A. once by the enactment OF simple
and uniform legislation In all Of the ssnooard States
before the now reduced supply becomes further ex.
haustsd. with this object In view. and with desire
for full impartial. and thorough examination OF the
whole subject the undersigned citizens Of the state
Of New York have determined that some orort should
be made TO obtain conference Of the Commits.
sioncrs OF Fisheries as well as otnsr citizens ~
the seaboard States interested, who have made
the matter q study In order that some plan
OF action be adopted to secure the protection
and preservation or food nshos We therefore. invite
you cordially and request that you will personally in.
vito such citizens Of your state may feel sufficient
interest IN this matter to attend conference 10 he
held At the office OF the Commissioners Of Fisheries Of
the state OF New York. at rs Broadway New York city
Wednesday Dec. Ia. 1898. at 10 O'Clock A. VI. This
Invitation rregusst will he extended to all members
OF the Commissions Of Fisheries Of the States of Name
Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey
Pennsylvania, Delaware Maryland, Virginia, and North
Carolina. and the Com ssioners in addition will be
requested to invite such citizens OF their states
would he likely To take sufficient interest in the after
to attend such conference
The circular is signed by the following:
Austin Corbin. Henry W. Bookstaver. Henry
L. McGown. Robert Is. Roosevelt. II. C. Fahn-
stock. John T. HILL W. c. Harris, Charles L.
Whitehead. Henry & Wilson. W. u. Williams
Albert f Cochran. James +. Hulshizer. Edwin
NJ. Felt Thomas n. Cuthbert. 4. b. Will
liams. John W. Beere, Silas C. Force.
1. T. Parker. George II. Pennimhn.
Jenkins Van Setback. Arthur NJ. Hunter.
William X. Vanderbilt, Calvin +. Pratt. rhlnens
c. Lounsbury. William T. Clyde. W. Bayard
Cutting. Richard V. Harnctt Charles r. Rey-
nolds. George q. Dewitt. Alex. Taylor. Jr..
William NJ. Fle!ss. Samuel +. Prentss. John s.
W. Thompson. Timothy I. Woodruff. Paul
Worth. II. A. Craft, S. W. Doubleday. Fred
Mather. Ezra S. Connor Watts T. Miller. +.
Howard Worth. and Alfred wagstafr.
Its array of well-known names does not
exempt the circular from the criticism OF those
men who claim that their interest In tho
matter does not begin and end in an occa-
sional angling trip. Il am wholly opposed to
the object OF that circular" said Eugene G.
Blackford. ex-Fish Commissioner OF the State
OF New York. and regard 1t rs based upon
false premises. Just look at those names,
sportsmcn. all OF them. who like to spend their
abundant leisure fishing. or. ns they call II.
angling. They go out for days sport. como
In empty handed. and at once give ont tho
alarming report that tho reason they havnt
caught any FISH ia because there are no longer
any fish to catch They have all been de-
:, Vow ought to know something about this
alleged deSTth 81 ths supply 2, hsh i1Gd,
instead OF putting tho blame for their inexpe-
rence where 1t belongs. wlnt to make people
destroyed the supply OF lsh. The circular is
really directed against the menhaden or moss
s sa ' PuTfo the the
purpose OF making oil and iertilizing mate
rial. II taking them up, it IS aeged that large
thus destructive waste is carried on.
Five years ago Congress passed a law pro.
that the, total prohibition Of ,mackerel fishing
mousiy increasing tho he supply The time H e1-
nired the first Of last January. The result OF
this years fishing has demonstrated ,conclu,
sively that the law had no Improbable effect
on the supply. Mackerel have been caught In
very moderate quantities. Anglers say that
attributed TO what they call the wasteiul
methods Of the menhadcn fishermen. from
For the last three years biueiish have been
very plentiful, and there IL no sign Of decrease.
fnvorite fish Of anglers is the striped bass.
As TO whether this variety Is as plentiful as
formerly is now a sublectof debate. Members OF
the Cuttyhunk and Pasquo Island cluhs claim
that the bass are much sCarcer than ten years
ago. Yet the markets have been ali along
abundantly supplied with striped bass from
the Chesapeak0 bay and tho coast OF North
Carolina. The present season for this fish in
the New York waters has been aunormally
god; ludEing from the market rcPorts From
ut Hell Gate. and they weigh from ten to elGh-
Z" My contention regarding the deep-ses fish
supply is that it is now full equal to what It
was ten years ago. base this on tho market
sionaI fishing excursions. and also upon the
very significant fact that moro men and more
sHnita ne now in the business than ever be,
amount Of capitpl invested in the business be be
decrcaseY 4 comparison Of the prices this
season with those OF ten or fifteen
saSS a0S Scarcity as Is claimed mere
food would fellow. There are in the Vicinity
employing 3n7 men and having capital in |
vested to tho amount Of Sl.ij5.VOo. Some |
the interest which would be affected by any |
legislation or any proposed legislation that |
than myself over tho question OF |
protecting fish In the inland waters; but We |
must be very cautious as to the steps We take
number Of laws now on the statute books
OF New York StHte for the protection OF fish |
were passed at my solicitation. and great i'm
has resulted In the quantity OF fish |
taken from the rivers and lakes OF tho State. |
The Hudson River to-day produces more shad |
annually than II did itteen years ago. Largo
quantities OF salmon were caught during tho
rAst year between Sandy Hook and Albany. |
Striped bass also were abundant In the Hul- !
son, All this is the result OF legislation. But
when we take up the question OF sea fish
am in entire harmony with tho doctrine
Of Prof. Huxley. who, as Commi hionIr
Df Fihheries lOr Great Britain, made an eX-
naustiNo investigation into tho condition OF
The fisheries OF that country. At tho conClu-
sion Of ms T"po,t he stated that 'Rs to the sea
i.hes man In not a factor in their increase or
heir decrease | should greatly deprecaie
any action by individual States, such as Is
in the circular sent out. before
an Investigation could be made by the United
states Commissioner OF Fish and Fisheries"
The amateurs. or anglers. as Mr.. BlackfOTd
,Alls them. do not accept this view OF the case.
They are already discussing the interest taken
q the circular. evidence OF which is found in
he following letter:
10 NovEMEsA 1894
4aR r. r. Doyle, 80. Commi si1asTs E,shsrtss ~ 4.
SiRI beg 10 acknowledge receipt Of your letter Of
he lJh int AM 20 state that sympathy with
movement flsase use NY name hut will be unable !
o attend any conference As am about to leave FOR |
EUROPE lam. yours Truly, w. b. NANaaEEILI
Secretary Doyle says that copies Of the cIrcu-
ar were sent to tho authorities in all the
States from Maine n Nnrtl ifnr..I,na