The times., 1899-12-27

The preliminary report upon the dredging
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. which
has been done under the direction Of the
United States Fish Commission during the
past fifteen days, shows that the wo k Eas
resulted ia the Liberation in the Potomac
Of nearly 10000 game and food fishes, and
minnoWs estimated at 20 eco. In addition.
ass carp were caught. which were gwen to
the natives in The vicinity OF the canal.
The FISH caught and liberated are as fo--
lows. Black lass. 1926; rock bass, 40;
white perch, Gs5; crappie, 627; catfish,
$40: suckers. 4,SC0; sunnsh, ,S50 yellow
perch, 200 The minnows were mostly
smeits. and were put into the river as food
Tor the bass
Il is matter Of great surprise 10 The
Fish Commission that such a large number
Cf rock bass were caught in the canal. In
TACT. ID was stated that this is the first cN-
uerence Of the Commission in taking them
In the upper Potomac. Commission
George II. Bowers stated that there was
hardly any doubt that rock bass had been
planted iH the upper tributaries of the Po-
Jomac during the past five or six years.
one Of the most interesting facts in con-
nection with this dredging is the evidence
from the numbers OF bass and carp taken
that the bass are gaining The aseeUdsu-y.
The bass this year numbered 1 $40. and the
carp 4@s. OF nearly ten TO one, while in the
6reEeiugs made heretofore. the proportion
was about ten TO six. Small carp is con
si6ered an excellent bait for bass, and the
fact that no carp were caught in pEces
accessible 10 the larger fsh which weighei
less than a pound and oue-balf- in1i-
Gates that the bass had exhausted tteir
food supply OF young carp early in the
summer.
Several small schools Of young carp were
taken in obscure and shallow places, but
these included il the number stated
above weighed from one and one-hall 10
fifteen pounds.
About SEQ adult bass were taken. and
these VIII spawn during the coming season.
The introduction OF this large number into
TIE Potomac here viii prove 10 be most
gratifying to the local sporting fraternity.
Comm I0ner George NJ. Bowers stated 10
q Times reporter that 500 adult bass are
sufficient 10 stock any river in the United
States. The largest bass caught weighed
about three and one-half pounds. and the
majority Of the balance Of the mature bass
weighed in the vicinity OF TWO pounds. Il
eighty adult bass had been taken from one
pool
The work OF seining the pools in the
canal after the water had been drawn of
for the winter was suggested TO the Fish
Commission by q committee OF the Wash
ilgt0u Fish and Game Protective AssOcia-
ti0n Capt Robley d. Evans. President.
consisting OF DR.. " Polk Young. Secre-
1ary- Major r II. Sylvester, fish and game
warden uH FfF Walter = Harlan
Commissioner Bowers appointed L. G.
Earr0u. Of the Fish Commission, captain OF
rhe seining party who divided his eight
men into Two forces, working separately
A team and driver were supplied for carry
ing the equipment from place to place.
NiHety-tWo miles Of the canal were
seined beginning at MiddIekuff' S mill. Eve
miles beyond WIiliamsport, Nd. and end
ing al the Great Fails. All the pools but
three were thoroughly seiBed, and these
could not BE- worked on account Of the ice
During the latter days ice caused consid-
cradle annoyance and some hardship, and
frequently Il was necessary 10 break IL up
and work lt Of before operations could be
begun.
This is the third time this canal has
been seiued In this manner. but never so
thoroughly before During the winter
months nearly all these fish would likely
have perished.
The work was begun on the 18th Of this
month. and was finished last Friday The
complete report VIII be made 10 the Com
mission next week
During the past fiscal year. ended June
30 Co., 600 900 fishes have been liberated
from the various stations OF the Fish Com
mission throughout the United States. Pre-
-i0us 30 I6s5 the largest number liberated
ln any year was $50. GOO. eco. Last year The
number was raised 10 So. 900 545