The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-12-27
Drafted At Harrisburg For the
Protection of the Finny
Tribe.
They are Very VoIuminOus
Provide For a Fine OF
S25 for Sunday Fish
erS and the Punish
ment of Other
Offenders.

AT recent meeting of the repre-
sentatlves of the Fish and Game
Commissioners OF the State, the For
estry Commissioners, officers of the
State Board of Health and members
of the sportsmen's associations and
similar organizations at Harrisburg,
vigorous action was taken TO have
laws enforced TO protect fish and
game.
Heretofore objections have been
raised to bills presented because it
was stated they intertered with the
rights of other bodies seeking pro-
lection, and the meeting was for the
purpose of discussing legislation that
will meet the requirements of residents
IN all sections of the State. One
OF the bills to be presented for en-
dorsement has been prepared care
fully by the Pennsylvania Fish Pro.
tective Association, with the assistance
of the State Fish Commission. Most
OF those now on the statute books are
defective in character, and as a whole
are unsatisfactory to all interests.
, commercial as wei! as sporting
Before beginning the work the
association sent out more thar 1900
circulars 20 anglers and fish protective
associations throughout the State,
asking for suggestions, and, as far as
possible, in the bill, which is now
completed, the suggestions have been
carried out.
The bill is very volumlnous and
contains about fifty sections, some OF
them beng decidedly novel. AS
whole bill is regarded by those who
have seen it as both comprehensive
and fair, alike to the commercial men
and the anglers.
Section I defines what shall be
game fish aud commercial fish. The
various species OF trout, black bass,
plckerel, pike, muskellunge, strawberry
bass, pike, perch, blue pike, i. e., rock
bass and white bass are designated as
game fish, and shad, herring. white
fish, cisco, sturgeon and striped bass
or rock fish are named as food fishes.
Section prohibits fishing for any
species Of game fish in any manner
except with rod, hook and line, or for
food fish with device not specifically
mentioned In the act, under a penalty
of twenty twenty-five dollars.
Section 8 makes the open season for
trout, except lake trout, open April
IS and close on July IS; lake trout,
from January Ist to September Ist,
and bass, pike, pickerel, pike perch,
ETC., from June I5th to December RI.
The penalty for violation is ten dollars
for each fish
Other sections provide for the safety
OF fish, what sizes and how many can
be taken; the use of certain nets; the
prohibition of Sunday fishing; for the
erection OF fishways on dams; against
fishing In private waters; for state
reserves; punlshing the use of expIo-
slves; for elimination of undesirable
fish.
Section FL permits the Fish Com
missoners to declare a close season
OF any fish not protected by legislative
enactment by making public proc
lamanon. But such proclamation
shall hold good only for three years.
Violation of the provisions of the
provisions of the proclamation is pun
ishable by penalty of $a5.
Section 20 permits the capture OF
any fish not specifically named, game
or food fish at any time of the year
with rod, hook and line, except where
proclamation is made by the com
mission 10 the contrary.
Sections 20 to ao, inclusive, all
relate to legal procedure in case OF
violations.
Section 80 gives permission to the
Fish Commission to forbid the fishing
for any species OF fish newly planted
for three years, after giving public
notice in three papers in the county
in which the stream is located
Penalty for violation, $40 for each
fish captured.
| Section 80 forbids fishing on Sun,
| day, under a penalty of $a5, and