The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-07
THE FISH COMMISSION IN LINE.
,r HFARrILY APPROVES THE FISH
rg1 CONGRESS Al TAMPA.

The Government Issues Invitations
10 Foreign Countries to Be Repre-
.ente,l-Fish, Oyster, Turtle and
I'm Culture to BE Thoroughly
,,..ct.Sscd-The Sponge Industry
vii Also Be Treated-An Internal
.5,nai Fishery Association Pro-
posed.
U,shioeton, Oct. 6.-The fish commission
nv much interested in the national
o-r.ry congress which convenes at Tam
ma Fla. IN January. 1898.
The congress will, it is believed. prove
- he oae of the most noteworthy gather
,-,s OF lie KIND ever he'd in the country.
Arg, attendance of represe ntatives of
III. var GUS sta.e commissions. angling and
rsriqg a-s0ciations, and the national fish
....o,o,--.on s expected, and all persons
Interested IN fishing, angling and fish eul-
-,.,. VII be welcomed
TIE United States government has ex-
,.rr-d uvitations to the governments of
cr a. EItain, Germany, Russia France,
I,ar-. s.ain, Portugal, Sweden and Nor
u., denmark, Belgium, Austria-Hun-
cary Greece, the Netherlands, japan, Chi
M Mexico, Braz!;, Venezuela and other
countries.
It IS proposed to organize an internation-
Il fishery association a the congress. The
..,U for the congress was issued by Gov.
rIovham Of Florida. One of the main OBJ
4acts is TO secure harmony among the
atates in providing for the preservation,
nrop7gation and protection of their water
products
Fish culture, oyster culture, turtle Gull
turs and frog culture are down on the
programme for discussion. The applica
non Of modern methods to the cultivation
of oysters is a question in which all the
Atlantic coast states will be interested.
Turtle is an innova ton, but is fast be-
coming d necessity, in the absence of pro-
lection to the young and eggs of the green
turtle The utilization of waste marsh
lana and pond for the rearing of bull
frogs for market is a subject of great in
terest 10 many thousands of people. The
opportunity for those of small means to
engage in this business is excellent.
one Of the timely topics that will be
prominently presented to the congress is
the sponge industry. While Florida is the
only state actively participating in the
sponge fishery, every state is indirectly
interested. Already some of the best
sponge grounds have been depleted, and
the necessity for artificial measures to
maintain the supply is being generally APP
pre1iated. Sponge culture is one of the
most promising fields now opening in con-
necdOn with the fisheries. With unlim-
tied water bottom of suitable character
for planting, and with a home demand far
IN excess of the present output of the
Florida reefs. the growing of sponges
ought to engage the attention of many
people in the next few years and it is ex-
pected that this congress will give an
incentive to the enterprise. The United
States fish commission is said to be con-
sidering the transplanting of some of the
finer grades of Mediterranean sponges to
Florida waters. The best Turkish and
African sponges bring $40 to $50 a pound,
while the choicest of the Florida Sleeps
wool spouges are worth only 81 or 50 a
pound. The condition, extent, methods
and needs of the great commercial fisher
les viii receive considerable attention, as
viii the question of fishery legislation Ex-
hhits OF fishing apparatus, fishery pro-
ducts, and appliances for preserving or
preparing fish are solicited from dealers,
manufacturers and others. Some device
for drying fish like fruit is said 20 be
much needed on parts of the southern
coast and inventors would do well to take
advantage of this opportunity to exhibit
methods adapted to this end.
session of the congress will be devot-
Cd to the angling interests. Florida in win
ter is an anglers paradise and an oppor-
tunity will be afforded for an Interchange
of experiences by anglers from all parts
Of the country. An angling tournament,
ana competitive tests in ly-casting, with
appropriate prizes, have been provided for
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