The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-02
FLORIDA's FISHERIES.
Cold Weather Brought the Industry
to Pnblic Attention.


to Public Attention.
Tallahassee, Fla, March If the Sc
we're freezes of 1895 and 1899 have seriously
damaged the fruit and trucking interests
of Florida-which is very doubtful--or If
they have created doubts in the minds of
her people as to the certainty of realizing
regularly from those crops they have at
any rate been IN the highest degree bene-
fetal In calling attention TO one of the
greatest sources of wealth which the state
possesses, and one in which she can per-
haps be rivaed by no portion of this or
any other country. nancy, her fisheries.
Around the 59.2eS square miles of Flori-
das area there stretches a seacoast line
of more than 200 miles and within the
borders of the state are hundreds of fresh
water lakes and rivers Of considerable
size, the adaptabllity of which for sue
cessful and varied fish propagation has
been proven by both nature and scientific
experiment. So widely different, too, are
the climatic and physical conditions in the
several portions of this long drawn-out
state, that the variety of fish food prod
uct which may here be produced and
profitabiy handled is practically unlimit-
ed, and furnishes basis for the confident
belief that the fish industries which will
be developed in and around Florida within
the next score of years will dwarf in ex-
tent any before known in the world
The wise craftsmanship of the present
Governor, Hon. William ID. Bloxham, and
the practical success which has attended
whatever investments of capital have been
made in these fisheries, is unquestionab bly,
turning the attention of the people of
Florida and of capitalists elsewhere to the
real Importance of the industry as one OF
the most certain sources of proftab in
vestment now TO be found anywhere.
One or the earliest of Gov. Bloxham's
official acts was to call the national fish
cries Congress 10 meet at Tampa in Feb
ruary, 1897, month after he was inaugu-
rated. Many important suggestions were
gathered from the distinguished official,
and scientists who assembled at that Con-
gress, and interested citizens of Florida,
have prosecuted their studies and expert
ments upon the subject.
The matter viii be brought seriously to
the attention of the state legislature, which
meets next month. The laws of Florida
upon the subject of her fisheries are in an
incomplete rather than an unsatisfactory
condition. Gov. BloXham has recently sue
ceeded in organizing fish commission I'M
der the act of 1859, which promises to ac-
complish much to develop the fish food
wealth of the state, if given proper sup
port by the legislature.
The object of the law of 1899 was 10 Of
ford legal protection to fish and oysters
along the coasts of Florida and in adjacent
watersi to procure, propagate and supply
the fresh water streams and lakes of the
state with the best varieties of food fish.
and also salt waters, where practica BILE.
As no appropria ton was made for the pur-
pose of executing the law, nothing was
done in the matter until recently, when
the Governor found two public spirited
citizens willing TO undertake the work.
John Y. Detwiler of New SMYRNA and
John G, Ruge of Apalaehicola-and trust
to the coming legislature to provide ways
and means for putting the law into sue
| cessful operation.
The commissioners have looked over the
| field and made report to the Governor.
suggesting such changes and reforms as.
| in their opinion, will best subserve the rub
| lie welfare. They recommend that the
United States fish commissioners have
the Florida coast surveyed with a view
to ascertaining the localities best adapted
for the oyster industry; that the United
States fish commissioners be reuuested
to furnish shad for Florida rivers; that
stringent laws be enacted for the protec-
ton Of green and loggerhead turtles. and
the preservation of their eggs; that the
sponge industry be taken I'm hand ana
I fostered and encoura ged; that the mana
tee, sometimes found i'm the Halifax and
Indian rivers, should be protected, as well
as the egret, bird of beautiful plumage.
at least for several years; that game needs
lawful and more genuine protection. etc.
There is strong reason to believe that
the legislature, which is soon to meet.
VIII make wise and ample provision for
the protection and development of the
fish industry Of the state, and it is sure
TO be a source Of great wealth to the people
in the future