The evening times., 1895-10-24
IN NEED OF | A[W CHIEF
Fish Commission Work Delayed
by the Presidents InactIon.
MANY WANT THE POSITION
Dr. Capeta rt the Newest AspIrant for
the HOnOr-He Is Highly 1ndOrsed
and Is Man OF Practical Experi-
ence-Tnrieton IL. Bean Has With
drawn.

President Cleveland. it is expected, VII
appoint a Fish Commissioner soon after
his return from Atlanta. The work of the
commission. except in the mere routine. Il
at a standstill and will continue so til!
n commissioner is named. Acting Commits
sioner Gill said frankly more than a month
ago that he should begin no work, but
content himself with carrying forward To
completion what was then under way and
carrying il forward on established lines
There are numerous applicants for the
positiun-sevcrai more than have been
made known generally, and about twenty
have been published. Several have prac-
tically dropped out.
Among these may be considered DE.
Tarlcton II. Bean, iur several years as
sistant in charge OF fish culture, bat now
superintendent OF the salt water aquarium
in New York.
The candidates have been very active
in presenting their own merits and the
dcmcrits of their opponents. President
Cleveland has had an opportunity Ia know
fully the record of each. DR.. Bean has
been shown To- be Il Republican upon his
own statement, is nov an apppintec under
Mayor Strong. Republican. in New York,
and quite likely To GO out with his admin
istration. That accounts for his reaching
after the plum, 5000, with perquisites.
here.
NOT DONE MUCH.
Hehas failed on the other hand, to present
a record Of notable ability as an executive
here. He has been with the commission
about fifteen years, but his labors have
been mainly in the Identification of fishes
strong candidate who has just been
mentioned for the first time is DR.. W. X
Capehart, OF .Avur:, near EdentoD, n. Z
He is largely engaged in the fish business
and is personally acquainted with most OF
the wholesale fish dealers along the Atlantic
coast. He understands the commercial fish
cries of both coasts better probably than
any other man mentioned in the connec-
ton. He operates at his home on Abe
marie Sound one of the greatest fisheries
in the country. His seine is drawn by two
steamboats,, and during the shad season is
laid and pulled in with ciockwork reGu-
larity every six hours, six days in the week.
In addition, he has been engaged in prac
teal fish culture as long, probably, as any
other man in the country.
Supt. Stephen Ii. Worth. Of the fish
culture station here, said of him in ans wer
10 questions by Times reporter:
''Dr. Capchart is one of tue most ad-
mirably qualified men for Fish Commits
sioner To ne found in the United States.
His intellect is brilliant and his alcrtness
and penetration remarka bile. He is Of
lightning ripIdity in scizing upon a situa-
tion, and directs all kinds Dr mechanical,
agricultural, and fisheries work with accu-
racy and pushes ii forward with energy.
No man has a rcadier knowledge of the
technique of the fishing industry. He is
Il master of practical fish culture.
RECORD OF DR.. CAPEHART
"Dr- Capehart started hatchery for
shad with private funds in 1876 He fore
saw the value of artificial methods nd an
ticipated state action by two years. The
shad at his Sutton beach seine only aver
aged %, 900 before he started his hatchery,
but in 1856 an increase was noticed. and
since that year he has never caught less
than 10000. some years the number reach
ing nearly 100000. His fish are packed
for the market in the most admirable man.
ner, and dealers always know what to ex-
pect from his shipments before they See
them"
Among the candidates are several State
fish commissioners President May, of the
Nebraska commission, who has the support
of Secretary Morton, is believed to have the
best prospects. Others are H. C. Ford,
president OF the PENNSYLVANIA commission;
Prof. ]. A. Henshall, of Cincinnati, backed
by Attorney General Harmon; Capt. ]. W.
Collins and Mai. Ferguson, both formerly
of the National Commission; Prof. Rath-
bun, one of the commission scientists, and
Herschel Whitaker, actively identified with
fisheries interests on the great lakes.
President Clevcland's habit of finding a
man for himself suggests the likelihood that
he may take from the list before him q
name not yet made public at all.