Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06
FISH AND GAME PROTECTION.
Meeting of District Association Held
Saturday Evening.


A well-attenGed meeting Of the Fish and
of Columbia was held Saturday evening at
the Light Infantry Armory. The president
OF the association, Commander Roblev D.
Evans, United States navy, presided and
the secretary treasurer, DR.. w. 2. Young
was In his place. The after made report
reviewing the work of the year, and stated
that through the efforts of the association
the legislature of West Virginia enacted a
game law which makes the statutes of that
state CORE spond in that particular with
those of the District and Maryland.
The report also stated that Capt. Brice
United States fish commissioner, had eX-
pressed his intention of having the canal
seined this month, for the purpose of saving
the young bass, in which the assistance of
the association is requested. AS treasurer,
DR.. Young reported receipts of $416 and ex-
penditureS of $3.50. 80, leaving a balance of
$1,000 in the treasury.
In the report of the warden of the asso-
ciation MIR Richard Sylvester, it was
stated that fishermen who violated the
law against seining We're sent to JAIL but
were released on their promise to discon-
tinue violations of the law, and no further
difficulties with that class had occurred.
One who took the matter into court on a
test case was beaten. No seine fishing is
now done in the District. The enforcement
of the laws governing the killing Of game
birds have been so rigidly enforced with
the assistance Of the association that the
illegal shooting of birds has been discon-
tinued and the test of the law making the
possession of quail out of season Ar Of
Tense, had been decided in the association's
favor. This has resulted in closing the
markets of the District to hundreds of
dozen Of birds killed out of season in many
states.
With regard TO the destruction of fish by
the pot dams and pulp mills Of the upper
Potomac, Mr.. Sylvester's report stated that
the pulp mills at Cumberland have ruined
the waters of the Potomac in that vicinity
and for miles below, not only killing and
driving of the fish, but working injury to
the inhabitants of that section. The mat
ter has been taken into the courts in Mary
land. but it is suggested that the water
supply of the city of Washington is within
the purview Of congressional action. and
the association is urged to push the matter
before Congress. Thanks of the associa-
ton. it was stated, are due to Assistant
District Attorney Shillinston. Harbormas-
ter Sutton ard the deputy wardens of the
state of Maryland for assistance rendered.
A motion was adopted providing a salary
equal to that of the secretary-treasurer for
the warden.
The pollution Of the water of the Potomac
by the pulp mills near Cumberland was dis
cussed. Commander Evans stated that he
had built d pulp mill and knew that the eff
fects Of the albuminoids of wood on fish
were deadly; that they were permanent so
loLS as the NH CONTINUED III operation ana
extended their influence to points hundreds
: of miles below the location of the mill. He
stated that their effect on the water they
entered was to totally unfit it for drinking
purposes. A committee will be appointed to
present this matter to Congress.
The association then discussed the sale
Of trapped birds in the District, and agreed
to urge a measure making their possession
an offense at any time. In this matter the
aid Of the Audubon Society of the District
will be requested. The question of setting
out Chinese pheasants was left over until
the cost IF purchasing number of pairs
of those birds and their transportation to
Washington can be determined. The kill
ing of ducks from steam launches was con-
sidered, and Mr.. Sylvester said that the po-
lice boat looked after yiolators Of the law
prohibiting that practice. The association
then adjourned to meet February 3.