Evening star., 1897-01-04
FIVE THOU SAND FISH
The Piscatorial fsod Supply Of the Potomac
Substantially Helped.
Many Bass Talpan Out Of the Canal
The Work OF Seininx begins and
VIII Be St1adily Continued.

Five thousandsafsh, including about 600
small-mouth black bass. ranging in lengt tn
from two to fol1rteen inches, were trans
ferred yesterday from the water in the
locks Of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal in
the immediate vicinity of Harper's Ferry
to the Potomac river. The other fish in
cluded white perch in quantities, club min
noWs and sinners. There were a few cat
nsh caught, but no carp. The fish were
taken IN seines, which were hauled under
the direction Of DR.. George w. Massamore,
the chief deputy game warden Of Mary
lard, and DR.. Walter s. Harlan Of this
city, by Capt. Laighton Harron of the
United States fish commission and three of
his expert assistants
. The catch was the result of the first DAYS
work OF seining the canal between this city
and Cumberland There had been some
SEEMING SEEMING done under the direction of Mr.. G..
Hancock and Wiliiamport but the ice was
t0o tnick at the time and little was accom-
phsneG. ihe recent thaw has removed this
S Sostacis; however. and now the seining will
pe steadily continued until the entire stretch
OF tEe canal has been seined
Some Difficulties.
SEEMING at Harper's Ferry yesterday was
cennned entirely to locks 36 35 and "a, and
the biggest hauls were made at the for
ner The pools in the canal between the
locks were not touched because the seiners
o1o not have proper rubber clothing, their
boots only reaching to their hips Six suits
Oh ruoDer Wading pants and boots were
sent up to Harper's Ferry this morning,
however and there will be no further draw
back IN this regard.
inere were many difficulties encountered
IN the vicinity Of Harpers Ferry because
OF the large rocks lying in the bed of the
cahai AT the entrances to and exits from
being dragged evenly upon the bottom
and allowed many fish to escape The re-
mainder of the canal above Harper's Fer
ry and toward Washington will not present
dinicultles OF this sort, and the men ia
mlilar with the canal are of the opinion
that the best results from the seining will
be secured in the locks and pools in the
vicinity OF Shepherdstown, above Harper's
at this end of the canal. Mr.. John f.
Smith, who is in charge of lock No. 36, and
who Is one of the most expert authorities
on the subject of bass. and Mr.. VIM B.
Cross of Harper's Ferry were engaged
yesterday to assist in the work.
All Food Fish Are Saved.
An impression seems to have gotten out
that all the fish taken out Of the canal
were to be destroyed except the bass.
This is mistake. Every food fish taken
from the canal yesterday was transferred
" eiiS otoihdC dl once, WIN tne eXcep-
tion of the carp. Only two or three of these
were caught at the locks mentioned, and
they were immediately killed. The re-
mainder of the fish were placed in the Po-
tomac. At WeverAon yesterday a dip net
was operated byl Thomas Hardy and sew
eral others and eleven carp were caught
one of which weighed twelve pounds. They
were killed A quantity of white perch and
minnows and few black bass were put
In the Potomac. Deputy Warden J. Scott
and hfG artx xrrfIl ofn- to- . IL,
morning to do therwork between Hancock
and Williamsport.
The expense of the work promises to be
greater than at first supposed, because of
the necessity for securing proper clothing
for the men engaged in it, and anglers and
others who desire to assist in accomplish
ing the object of adding substantially to
the stock of black bass in the Potomac may
send their subscriptions to The Evening
Star. The fund already collected by The
Star for the purpose, which amounted to
s19450, was forwarded to DR.. Massamore.
who is in general charge of the project at
Harpers Ferry, Saturday.