The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-13
FISH PROTECTION.
New jersey Fish and Game
Commissioners Discuss
Game Preservation.
A CLOSE SEASON NEEDED.
Better Plans for Policing the
Streams Arranged-Distri-
button of Ova.

Thu Fish and Game Commission, who have
been experimenting with a new code for the
preservation of fish and game, and a new
system Of policing the forests and streams of
the State, held their annual meeting in their
offices, Exchange Hall, yesterday afternoon.
| United States Marshal George Pfeiffer, of
| Camden, presided, and Howard L. Frothing-
ham, Mayor of Mt. Arlington, acted as
| secretary.
The other commissioners were W. Camp
| bell Clark, of Newark, and Parker W. Page,
of Summit. The reading of the annual re-
port occupied the time of the commissioners,
for it was a yoluminous document, in which
all the mixed conditions as they exist in re-
gard to game and fish matters in the State
were treated. In view of the fact that the
new fish and game law was made a political
issue in Salem, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris,
Sussex and Bergen Counties, the discussion
of strong and weak points of the law were of
considerable Importance. The reports sug-
gest a number of changes in the law, based
on the observance of the commissioners ard
the wardens.
The annual report opens with an account
of the natural advantages of New Jersey for
the successful preservation of the fish and
game of the State, and it states that its con-
ditions are probably as good as any in the
Union. The commission think that it has
been because of the States natural advan-
tages that so little attention was paid to the
preservation of fish and game. Other States
found it of advantage to enact stringent
avs and spend money for their enactment.
PLENTY OF SHAD.
The subject Of snad receives the first con-
| sideration in the report. In the opinion of
the commissioners the Delaware River is the
best shad stream in the State, made so by
the devotion of the United States Fish Com
mission, but the Hackensack River is receiv-
ing some attention now, with prospects OF
greater attention next year. The United
States Fish Commission has for years made
the point opposite Gloucester City a station
for experiments. Each year the Fish
Hawk the floating hatchery, has been in
the Delaware River under conditions to sup
| ply shad fry to all States. They could obtain
any amount on requisition. but the State had
to assume the responsibility of the transpor-
tation. The'State Of New Jersey was given
all the fry not demanded by other States,
and as a result the Delaware River was an
nually stocked with from Is 1000, 000to IS, o00,-
600 eggs. This was fortunate for the State,
for there is no surplus for the transportation
of the fry.
A large proportion of the money appro-
priated for the wardens has been used in po-
Icing the Delaware River. The laws have
been enforced by the wardens, and many
wing walls, fykes, setnets and other unlawful
contrivances have been destroyed.
Thousands of young shad have been de-
stroyed in the Trenton Water Power Run,
which takes in water at Scudder Falls. The
commission was successful in getting a pro-
per sluiceway and screen put in, and the de-
feet has been cured. There is a demand for
another sclose" day so as to give the shad a
chance to get to the natural spawning
| grounds, and the commission comedies that
the request is a wise one, but nothing can be
done next year, because it must be with the
accord of the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
which will not meet again until 1897.
ONA DISTRIBUTED.
The work of stocking the Hackensack has
begun. This year, between April "a and
June 2S, shad eggs estimated to be 3,270, 900
were deposited in the river, and there will
be more next year.
The Legislature of last session authorized
the commission to purchase or lease a fish
hatchery, but no funds were provided. With
limited means at command they have begun
the work and leased the hatchery of George
Ricardo on the Hackensack River. There
were purchased from Rhode Island SO, 900
trout eggs. Hardness in transportation
caused many to mature before depositing, SO
that only 25,216 were available, and they
were distributed in the streams as followS:-
Cherry Hill. 5000; Mt. Arlington, 5000;
West End. 5000; Sproutbrook, $500; Wash
ington, 5000; Thomas Brook, TIC. The Sc
curing of trout eggs Will be resumed this
month.
The propagation of smelt is considered a
very important and profitable food fish in
dustfy. The commission secured 70, 364,3 800
eggs, and placed all but 100000 0 In the Rar-
itan River, where she fish thrive well, and
the rest in the Hackensack River.
There is a very interesting chapter in the
report about carp. This fish has within nine
months acquired a market value as a food
fish, and a dispensation has been granted to
fishermen to take it out of the streams by
net. The carp is regarded as an enemy OF
food fish and a general piscatorial nuisance.
The sporting pubic are warned ABOUT the
proposed introduction of English tench,
which is even worse than the carp.
LOBSTER INDUSTRY FAILING.
The subject of eelbaskets, eelweirs and
eel pots was a political bone of contention in
Warren and Hunterdon Counties, and in
Warren County both parties incorporated a
pledge for the change of the law in their re-
s~pective platforms. The commissioners are
themselves favorable to a change.
The commission favors following in the
footsteps of the other States and prohibiting
absolutely the possession of fish and game
during close season. The commissioners
trust him