The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-04
MORE CATFISH NEEDED.
Fish and Game Protector Talks
About New Jerseys
Fisheries.


Protector for January and February has
just been issued and in it Mr.. Charles A.
Shriner alludes to the proposed changes
in the laws governing the Delaware
River fishery.
Fol the purpose of acquainting myself
more fully with the wants of the large
population of New Jersey depending alto
gether on the fisheries in the Delaware
River for gaining a livelihood" he says,
II held conferences with a number of the
fishermen and soon a~scertained hat their
views exactly conceded with the views
of the Commission. They regarded the
Delaware as a commercial stream from
which they gained their subsistence and
considered this of more Importance than
the demands of the sportsmen. Since the
present laws pertaining to the Delaware
were passed there has been a material
change in the fishing interests there. Be-
fore the artificial propagation of shad
began the shad interests represented
some $780, 600 a year; now they amount an
nually to over half a million dollars.
Since that time carp have been introduced
into the Delaware and there have been
changes in other conditions.
Recently I met twenty representative
shad fishermen from along the Delaware
and acquainted myself thoroughly with
their wants. Fortunately there was an
unanimous sentiment as to proposed
changes and every one of these changes
has in the past on several occasions met
with favorable discussion by your honor
able body. The drafting of the bill,
which had been left to your representa-
tive, was accordingly a matter of con-
siderable ease and I am glad to say
hat the authorities of Pennsyl-
vania and Delaware heartily con-
Cured in the changes thus pro-
posed. The bill will be introduced on
Monday next in the Legislatures of Penn
sylvania and Delaware with a very good
prospect of being passed. AS all the
changes are in the interest of the resi-
dents of New Jersey and meet with their
enthusiastic approval, there should be no
question of the passage of the bill by
our own Legislature. The principal
changes ere in the direction of letting
down the bars affording the fishermen
more liberties. The artificial propagation
of food fishes and the careful protection
accorded them both in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania has materially increased
the supply of fish, and there is no need
any further of the stringent laws which
were deemed necessary for the purpose of
bringing about the present state of af-
fairs. The changes suggested make the
laws uniform for the whole river n the
restrictions relative to the taking of fish
have been made less stringent.
In accordance with Instructions receiy-
ed from our honorable body | have en-
tered into negotiations with fishermen on
the Lake Erie for a supply of pike perch,
white bass and channel catfish. The in
PRODUCTION of the pike perch has met
with great favor wherever 1t has been
attempted n the results of the work of
your honorable body in this direction are
already apparent. Our State has no
hatcherieS and is consequently entirely
dependent on outside sources for a supply
of these fish. Other States annually
spend thousands of dollars in establish
ing and maintaining hatcheries, and New
Jersey is one of the very few States
pike perch, or wall-eyed pike or Susque-
hanna Salmon as they are frequently
called, can be introduced very effectually
in New Jersey by the bringing hither of
the adult fish in the early spring and late
fall. This is also true Of the white or
silver bass. The channel catfish would
make an exceedingly valuable addition
to the food fishes of the Delaware, where
our 1llulE6llOus IL dit cISlAS dill
nually. A United States Fish Commits
sioner informed me that Nothing better
could be lone for the Delaware River
thar the introduction of these fish.
During the past month the number
of complaints concerning irresponsible
persons prosecuting for violations of the
fish and game laws has materially in
creased. The law provides hat no per-
son shall institute such prosecutions un-
less he be a fish and game warden OF
deputy fish and game warden, or an Off
Ger appointed for that purpose by some
regularly incorporated iish and game pro-
tective association. Nevertheless during
the past few months there have been a
persons who were not empowered to do
SO by law and Ia most cases the object
was not so much the protection of fish
and game, If in fact any idea of such en-
but the desire to gather in the fines. In
such eases the rule invariably seems to
be that the money collected is divided
between the magistrate and the person
making the arrest, for it is certain that
the State receives no part of it. In Mid
dlesex county the grand jury has re-
turned Indictments against a Justice Of
the peace for such practices and this may
prove a warning to others to desist from
such reprehensible practices which can
result only in bringing the fish and game
laws and their proper enforcement into
d.srepute.
There has been a very large demand
for the last annual report of your honor
mand for the monthly reports, Indicating
a growing interest in this State in the
subject of fish and game protection. |
have also received a considerable number
of applications for trout, bass and other
kinds of fish from all parts of tine State.
the fate of which win depend ON the
amount of money at the disposal OF your
honorable body after existing contracts
~ hAn1 m rarA3 N,.4