The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
EELs Nv VAST NUMBERS.
A CROWNS BELIEF That They Are Feastiag
Upon the Cnproteeted Trout FRI

MILFORD, Pa. Feb. 20.-The subject OF per-
hitting eel weirs In the Delaware River 10 under
consideration by both branches Of the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature. with n fair prospect that q
law of this nature will be passed. A recent
Legislature granted the privilege OF building
weirs. but tho Governor vetoed the bill at tho re-
quest OF the Fish Commissioners. TWAS through
the efforts Of tho Fish Commissions OF Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and New York that eel racks
were prohibited In these States. Their theory
was that such devices were destructive OF all
kinds OF ish and made the stocking OF streams
vnlueless. On the other hand II was said that
the practical experience OF people living along
tho streams showed that the great destroyers OF
nsh we're not so much the weirs as tho SPAWN
eating cells, which were allowed uuobstructed
passage mp the streams whom eel weIrs ceased
TO exist
Now the Fish Commissioners are beginning to
arrive ut the conclusion that cells arc largely re-
sponslble for the disappearance OF all kinds OF
FISH In spite OF the money spent each year In
attempts to maintain the supply by restocking
streams. Tho New York Commission OF Fish
erios was tho first to recognize the destructive
qualities OF eel., and It's recent report says;
Fish OF all kinds are spawn eaters To greater
or less extent, but the eel 10 more destructive OF
spawn than any other Ash. as IL does not spawn
in fresh water, and is ready to prey upon both
ask that thi. commission have power to use or
authorize the use of eel pots In oil waters
whether inhabited by trout or not for IL 10 in
trout waters particularly that cells are proving
destructive to the young Ash"
Charles p Mott OF this borough. an old and
experienced hunter and fisherman. who fayors
the protection of nsh and game under reasona-
BILE restrictions. says:
tits my individual belief. based on inquiry
and personal observation, that the depletion
OF our streams OF their natural trout Is due to
the presence OF the great quantity of cells In
these wnters. driven thereto because OF tho
overcrowding OF tho rivers and the larger
streams and that in our brooks and creeks they
feast on the unprotected trout fry.
I'm advancing this as a reason for tho scarcity
GRATED by the testimony of half u dozen or more
people living on or near tho waters OF tho Bush
kill creeks that those streams were literally
filed with cells. Here 10 q story told me by
Mr.. Wallace, man Of unQpestioned yerAcity:
Last spring he was informed by his wife. who
had gone to tho Big Bushkill for a pail
OF water. that there was mass of
went to the creek and for a while watched .
procession such as he had never seen before.
although he had lived his lifetime In tho same
house on the bank OF this stream. The cells were
small. averaging possibly four inches In length.
and were formed In dense column about two
and halt To three feet In width. and were rap
Idly making their way up stream. Mr.. Wallace
went about his work. but returned to tho creek
nearly an hour afterward and found the school
GELS had been rum NC neither he nor any ono
knew, and 1t was impossi bic to estimate the
number. which must have been enormous. All
who saw this procession said they fully believed
that cells were largely responsible for the de-
crease OF trout in our streams"