Evening star., 1896-12-05
SAVING THE BASS
The Canal, Will Be Seined and the
Game Fish Put in the River.
COMMISSIONER BHICE C0-OPERATES
Conferences on TIE Subject With
Very Gratifying Results.
OPERATIONS TO SOON BEGIN

OI OILISA1lONS III SUN BE(tlN
Inc anglers who whip the waters Of the
Potomac In search of that greatest Of game
fishes. the small-mouth black bass, and
who have for several years past regarded
with alarm the steadily diminishing supply
OF their favorite fish, will find the coming
winter most propitious one in its bearing
upon their future enjoyment Of this sport.
In the first place the stock of fish in the
river proper will be very largely increased
by the transfer to the waters Of the Po-
tomac Of all the bass that are now in the
chesapeake and Ohio canal. and, in the
second. the West Virginia legislature. up
on Its assembling. will pass the bill already
passed by the legislatures of Maryland and
Virginia, making 1t illegal to catch bass
during the spawning season in the spring
or to catch them at any other time other
than with the hook and line The system
by which the bass will be taken from the
canal and put back into the river will be
an interesting one.
How They Get There.
AS all experienced anglers know, the
canal is full Of bass. It is fed from the
Potomac. and when the water is let in the
bass come in with 1t. and remain between
the narrow banks until the water Is with
drawn In winter. Heretofore the fish thus
left in the mud and pools that remain after
the water Is taken out of the canal have
either been Smothered in the slime or
frozen when cold weather came. This year
as soon as the water is drawn off, which
will be about December ~, all the pools
Will be seined, the small-mouth ard large
mouth bass they contain transferred to the
river, and the carp, of which thousands
will undoubtedly be caught, will be killed.
as the carp Is the most destructive enemy
the bass family has.
DIR. Masxamore of Maryland.
The arrangements tor seining the canal
were virtually completed yesterday. when
DR.. George w. Massamo-e, the deputy
game warden of Maryland, and the secre-
tary and treasurer Of the Maryland Game
and Fish Protective Association, came over
to this city. DIR. Massamore is represen-
tative gentleman sportsman in the mCst
superlative degree. He is experienced and
expert as an angler, is an excellent shot
and an amiable companion and, moreover
he is a hearty and vigorous champion of
any means or method which seeks to pro-
tect fish or game. and increase the supply.
The idea of SEEMING the canal and saving
the quantities of bass which would other
more, and he placed himself in correspond
ence with DIR. Walter s. Harlan OF the
Blue Ridge Rod and Gun Club Of this city,
who also enjoys reputation as enyiabe
as that of DIR. Massamore.
There was some correspondence upon the
subject and it became evident that there
would have to be cooperation among the
Maryland and District anglers in order to
meet the expense of the proposed undertak-
ing.
Commissioner Br1ce Takes Action.
While this was being considered, Com
mander John J. Brice of the navy, United
States fish commissioner, whose practical
policy in directing this important bureau of
the government has already gained him
wide renown. returned from California. a
gentleman who had learned of the proposal
to seine the canal and who was heartily
over the subject visited Com
missioner Brice Immediately upon his re-
turn and informed him of the proposition.
The commissioner Immediately said he
would assist in the good work in any way
in his power and last night at his resi-
denCe, the Arlington. there was a CONSUL
tation between DR.. Massamore, DR.. Har-
ban and himself which was highly salts
factory; when Commissioner Brce, with
his customary direC tnesS, opened the con-
by saying that he would do any
thing required of his bureau in assisting
the work, and it was finally decided tnat
he would furnish the necessary seines ard
a number of expert men to join with those
to be supplied by the Maryland association
and the Washington clubs.
Canal Superintendent Nicholson,
Dr. Massamore during his visit yesterday
also saw Col. G. L. Nicholson, the efficient
superintendent of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal. who Immediately promised to CO.
operate in the work in every way possible
Col Nicholson will give the necessary per-
mits for the seining of the various pools
and when the water Is drawn off the canal
he will have it drawn off slowly so that
none of the fish now in it will leave Some
idea of the scope of the operations to be
undertaken may be gained from The fact
that the canal is 1S6 miles long and will be
seined at the points where the water col
lects in the pools and small lakes from
Cumberland to Georgetown. Dr. Massa-
more returned to Baltimore this morning
and in a few days all the plans will be
completed for the prosecution Of the work
desc ribed. There will be some funds reces-
sary for the prosecution of the work ard
it is believed that the fishermen who are
devoted to bass fishing will subscribe the
small sum necessary and subscription
paper will be circulated here and In Bal
timore in a few days.
Congress to BE Approached.
During the conversation at the Arlington
last night the question Of appropriate laws
to protect the Potomac. which Is admitted
ly the finest bass stream in the world was
brought up, and the law already passed by
Maryland and Virginia and to be passed
this winter by West Virginia was spoken
Of This law when it goes into operat ton
will be active only as far down the liver as
Little Falls, and 1t was agreed to take
measures to get Congress to pass a SINH
lar bill extending the provisions of the
statute to the southeast boundary of the
District. The question of the authority of
the District over the bed of the Potomac
Is undisputed, because when the United
States ceded back to Virginia that port on
of the original District Of Columbia which
lay in that state, 1t ceded back Only the
land above high water.
A Modern FISH Supply Policy.
While talking onthe subject Of fish pro-
lection Commissioner Rrice gratified his
visitors by announcing that in an en-
phatic and significant manner:
II believe that the best way to protect
the fish in American waters Is to fill them