Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-09
POTOMAC FISH PROTECTED.
The Bill for Protection of the Fisher
les Passed.

The House yesterday passed the Po-
tomac fish bill and it now remains
only for the President to add his signature.
The measure was first drawn in 1854
by Mr.. ]. Cooper McGinn of this city, who
had it introduced in both houses then.
Through the efforts of Mr.. McGinn and
others interested in the protection and
preservation of the fisheries the act
passed and went into effect, for a term of
five years, on March ., 1885. At expiration
of this term it was promptly reintroducej.
and has been at the opening of each ses-
sion since.
This bill, without change, provides for the
extension for the further period of ten
years of the provisions of the act of March
=, 1885. OF the practical value of this law
no one entertains doubt. Before its en-
actment the shad and herring fisheries Of
the Potomac were nearly destroyed by
everlasting; since its enactment these fish
cries have increased immensely, furnished
employment to hundreds of fishermen, and
yielded cheap and wholesome food to the
people.
The reasons given by Mr.. McGinn for the
passage of the original act, and heartily
seconded by the commission of fish and
fisheries, were as follows:
First. The rapid decline of the shad
and herring fisheries of the Potomac shows
the undoubted necessity and imperative de-
mand for the adoption of protective
of these most valuable varieties Of food
fishes may be prevented
Second. In protecting shad and herring
we protect all the other varieties of .isn.
and 1t is confidently believed that this
measure promises better results in the
interests of the Potomac fisheries than any
other ever advanced.
Third. The waters of the Potomac with
in the District of Columbia lying as they
do just al 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
comprises but very limited portion of
the river. comparatively speaking, and tine
forming of this portion into sort of reSer-
walton for protection of the fish and use as
a spawning ground would not militete
against the interests of those plying the
vocation of fishermen. as all the length and
breadth of the river below the District line
is at their disposal
Fifth The boundary line between Nir-
ginia and the District of Columbia Is laid
down at the low-water mark of the Poto-
mac river on its Virginia shore. and, con-
sequently. the entire waters belonging to
tho 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 oil
laws relating thereto made by one state
must be ratified by the other before they
can go into effect. This renders 1t we'll
nigh impossible to secure protective leyisla-
ton.
therefore, to sum the matter up, 1t is
emnently necessary to inaugurate orotac-
tive measures in the interests of the Poto-
mac fisheries, and to protect the fish on
these spawning beds is of first Importance.
limits of the District of Columbia are the
natural spawning grounds"