Evening star., 1894-04-11
PREPARE YOUR FILE S
This Promises to Be Great Year for
Anglers.
Big Results Expected From the Fish
Protection Law-An Early Open
ing of the Season.


1t is now against the law to take from
| the waters of the Potomac river within the
District of Columbia fish of any kind by the
employment of fyke-n pound-net, stake
net. weir, fioat-net, gill-net, or haul-seine,
and the offense is punishable by fine of
not less than $40 nor more than 500 and a
forfeiture of boats and all appliances used
in violating the law. While such means CT
| catching fish are not lawful, the act recog-
nizes angling or fishing with outline as
lawful and also makes provision for TAX
| ing from the river fish for scientific pur-
poses or purposes of propagation, as Con-
gress intended that the law should in no
manner interfere with the work of the fish
commission of the sport of angling.
| The approval of the act by the President
was hailed with delight by lovers of pis-
catorial sport well the owners of the
large seines that are operated down the
river by those who supply marine products
to the dealers in the markets.
! The river between Alexandria and the
| Chain bridge has always been recognized
by fishermen as the spawning grounds of
the Potomac, and the continuation of the
| old law is intended to prevent a wholesale
slaughter of the shad and herring as we'll
|
| son.
| As to Jurisdiction.
AS printed in The Star few days ago,
| the only objection to the law was made
! by few persons who operate nets in the
| waters of the river within the District
| limits. Under the law, the question of
| jurisdiction is an important one and al
ready Harbormaster Sutton has been ques-
| toned about its enforcement. The particu-
! lar question is to the coves and small
| tributaries of the river. Under the law it
| has generally been held that the District
| has control of the river to the high water
| mark on the Virginia side of the river, and
| 1T is also held that this means from head
land to headland. The inlet at Four-mile
| run and then a short distance below at
| what Is known as Dangerflelds cove are
places upon which the friends of the meas
| ure are anxious to prevent net fishing, as
! well as the cove near Shepherds, at which
| places so many bass are reported 10 have
| been caught during the past few weeks.
| Most of the bass taken from these places
| have been of small size and have brought
| but small prices in the market. On the
! sand and gravel bottom near Shepherds a
| large number of them have been caught, so
! it is reported, while the same state of af-
| airs has existed at Four-mile run. At a
| single haul one day last week nine lunches
| Of small bass were caught.
Tne fshermen operating the small seires
evidently anticipated the approval of the
nets and traps within the headland lines the
day before the. approval of the measure was
announced.
Good Prospects.
bass fisherman, speaking to Star re-
porter, said he thought a strict enforcement
| of the law would make a great improve
| ment in the line of bass fishing about this
| city, and he thought there would soon be
| some good sport for the anglers.
this sport, this season promises to be a
| good one. Already the catch of fish down
| the river shows good results, rock fish or
| striped bass being more plentiful than they
have been for some years.
These fish afford fine sport in the vicinity
| of the Little Falls, as well as In other parts
of the river within the District later in the
| season. At Four-mile run yellow perch and
| other small fish are now being caught with
| rod and line, and several large bass have
| been seen to jump in the water about
where anglers were enjoying their early
| fishing trips.
| Pohick creek, which empties into the
! river just below Mount Vernon, has been
| furnishing some fine early fish, and most
| of the large bass caught in nets have been
| taken from the water at that place. Each
year this creek furnishes a number of fine
| specimens of this fish, and this year the
| catch has been better shan usual.
On Tuesday Capt. Blake OF the steamer
Manchester brought from Pohick creek
| fine rainbow trout The Ssh, which is said
| to be the first Of its kind caught in the
| lower Potomac. measured ten inches in
length, and was said TO be !lne specimen
| of that choice variety of fish.
While many anglers find sport in the
| lower Potomac and it's tributaries most of
those who enjoy black bass fishing are
| turning their attention to The waters of the
| upper Potomac.
| Early Sport.
The condition of the water has greatly
| improved during the past few days and
| should there be no rain or other unfavor-
| able conditions many anglers will cast
| their lines on Sunday. Arrangements are
| already being made for live bait, and the
| anglers are getting their tackle in readi-
| ness in anticipation of good sport for so
early in the season.
| Last fall the hsh commission furnished
| number of bass for the Potomac river.
| AT Woodmont several hundred of them
were put in the river while the .ame was
| done at the Anglers Club house this side
| of Great Falls, well as at Sycamore Is
| land. Members of the Anglers Club an
| ticipate good returns this spring from the
hSh they put in the water last fall The
| bass put in the river at that point were of
| what is known as the big mouth variety
| and considering the favorable condition of
| the weather this winter it is thought that
they will weigh in the neighborhood of two
pounds EACH
All the winter fish have been taken from
pools in the canal left there by drawing
Nii tIiS "dtSib anu IL Is TtpOTtSu tndt some
| of the carp weighed more than twenty
| pounds. Some good size pike, as we'll as
catfish, were also caught.
| In Broadwater, which is only short dis
lance beyond the Anglers Club house, some
| fne pike have been caught with hook and
! line recently. and some croppies or sarple-
eyes have also been captured. These latter
ish were put in there last year by mem
| bers of the club They resemble a white
perch and are said to be almost as game as
| black bass.
Between Cabin John bridge and Seneca
| this winter it is estimated chat fully IOtO
| bass have been caught in The ponds in the
canal