Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-18
CAPT. LUCkEGT PAYS FINE
The Amount Reduced by the Court From
500 to SITS.
Case of Interest tO-AnsIers and Others
Interested in Protection of
Spawning Grounds.

The fine of S10O imposed by Judge KIM
ball in the case of Capt. John F. Luckett
of the sloop Bass for Illegal fishing was
reduced to S75 yesterday, and the captain
paid the fine. The case Is OF considerable
interest to anglers and others who are in
terested in the protection of the spawning
grounds of the Potomac Luckett is the
only person who has been arrested this
winter for violating this law. During past
years the police have received complaints
from time to time that seines We're being
operated on different parts of the river, but
this season Capt. Luckett seems to be the
only man about whom complaint has been
made.
lection Of fish in this part of the river
provides that no person shall fish with
fyke net pound net, stake net, weir. float
net. gill net, haul SEINE dip net, or any
other continuance, stationary or floating, in
the waters of the Potomac river and its
tributaries within the District of Column
bia; Provided. that nothing in this act
shall be construed to prevent the use of
parrei nets or pots for the catching or
killing of cells, or prevent the United States
commissioner of fish and fisheries, or his
agents, from taking from said waters in
any manner desired fish of any kind for
scientlhc purposes or for purposes of prop
agatlon, and that none of the provisions of
this act shall apply to persons employed in
catching young catfish, smelt, chub bull
m1nnows and crayffsh for Use as bait in
fishing with hook and line: Provided fur
tner, that any person engaged in taking
such catfish. smelt. club, bull minnows and
crayfsh shall first have procured written
permit from the said commissioner of fish
ana nsherleS to take such bait for hook
and line fishing.
Law Well Understood.
Every man who has done any fishing
in the Potomac during the last ten wears
knows of the existence of this law. Major
sylvester, the game warden, has had the
river watched both by deputy game war
dens and the police, but dispite their ac-
uvlty many thousands of pounds of fish
nave been taken from the water this win
ter. 1t is stated that a haul made several
nights ago melted the violator of the law
more than $50
Under the law one-half of the fines paid
by the persons arrested goes to the in
Tor mers or officers making the arrests.
Absence of Power to COnfiscate.
A serious obstacle in the way of success
full prosecutions, the police state, is the
absence of a provision of Jaw giving the
court power to confiscate the parapher-
MALTA found in possession of violators of the
law Under the present regulations it is
provided:
THAT all nets. boats or other contriv-
ances, the property of any person con-
victed under the provisions of this act shall
be returned to the property clerk of the
metropolitan police department to be de.
llVered to the owner, upon the order Of the
Judge of the police or other court. and il
not called for within six months by the
claimant the same shall be treated as Other
abandoned property coming into the hands
| of the police"
| In conversation with reporter this
morning policeman said that under tbs
| old law boats, nets and other contrivances
| could be confiscated This had an effect OF
| the lawbreakers that made them careful
| and, he said, he believed it resulted in keep
| ing some of them off the river. A pro
| vision of this kind, he said, he though
| would be great advantage and would pre-
| vent many violations of law