Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-01-17
ICoomunicated.l
THAT FISH BILL.
An Experienced Trap Fisherman
Writes or the Bill Which Dele
gate Lyell StOpped In Comm ttee.

titled "a bill to protect the fish of
the Potomac river" introduced in
the Legislature by the member from
Alexandria, and published In your
columns, is indeed loaded. 1t is
''loaded for bar" but the humble
fisherman will be the ultimate VIC
tim to lose his pelt if it is success
full. 1t is quite certain that it is in
spired by a certain Alexandria firm
who operate large fish-packlng
house at Reedville, and it is equally
certain that the prime object of its
aim is firm of manufacturers of
oil and guano on Cockrell's Greek,
although the pound-net fishermen
will be the real victims. And the
cause thereof is this: The factory
last spring offered more for the fish
than the fish packers wanted TO
pay. Even at the price the packers
paid at first they could not handle
the fish when they came. Then the
factory started up to cook the sur
plus. In day or two the run was
over. Having started, the factory
needed fish to keep it going without
mourning loss, and the price was
raised. Thereat the packers got mad,
about as mad as hornets, and they
have evolved this fish bill as sort of
stinger to knock out the factory
men.
Save and excepting those few days
the run of fish was slim, so slim in
deed that it paid to ship herring
nearly every day in the season, which
was unprecedented. The fishing
smacks of the blue fish fleet came
mp the bay and bought herring foi
bait by thousands, and paid three
and four dollars per thousand.
Taken altogether, the fish were so
scarce that the packers failed to get
a supply at a low price, and that's
what's the matter with them now.
They are sore, and this bill is sort
of salve to their wounds.
Now, as to the bill itself. 1t
makes the buying or selling of food
fish for the purpose of manufactur-
ing into fertilizer unlawful during
the months of April and May. Dur
ing the other months of the year
there is no restriction. But there
are very few food fish (herring are
meant by the billy manufactured into
fertilizer in any other mon this, and
April and May are the months when
the fish packers are on deck. SO you
see the fish bill is nicely doyetailed
into the interests of the fish packers.
The bill maxes it unlawful to
manufacture only, and places no re-
strlction upon using the fish for
manure by applying them raw upon
the land. The promoters of this fish
bill scheme are wise enough to know
that they can buy herring very low
IN price if there is no other market
for them. Most fishermen will sell
herring for fifty cents a thousand
sooner than haul them on the land
or throw them overheard. Aud this
is what is known by the packers.
Hence this beautiful specimen of the
love the fish PACKERS have for the
fishermen.
This certain firm of packers are
In the habit of writing or sending
word to the fishermen around about
this section to bring their herring
to the firms wharves for sale. This
the fishermen generally do, because
the house can handle large num-
Der. Sometimes a glut comes and
the house cannot handle them. The
late corners cannot sell except some
factory will buy for manufacturing
purposes. Some years ago the writer
sent vessel load to the firm men
toned, but they had no room and
refused to take them. The next
morning the boat was unloaded at
one of the factories at small price.
but 1T was better than nothing to
help foot the bill of chartering the
vessel. The fish were fit for nothing
else then. They were about as dead
as they ever get to be, and only fit
for manure. A certain young man
hired boat and bought fish and
carried them to this packing house
for sale. The house was full when
he got there, filled before he ar
rived, and he found no sale. No
factory was running and he carried
the fish away and hauled them up
on his land, making a lot of very
costly manure.
Last year the price received by
the fishermen was much better than
heretofore. The factory held up the
price and no one was forced to throw
away fish. OF late years the fishing
business has been at so low an ebb
that the money realized from her.
ring has been the only means of
saving many of the fishermen from
absolute failure. If the market for
herring were confined to the packers
many of the smaller pound-nets
would be driven out of the business.
As it is, if the packing houses are
filled up, or refuse to paw a fair
price for fish, then the fishermen
sell to the factories. As rule there
are not many herring sold to the
factories, but when it ia known that
a factory stands ready to buy it
causes the packers to pay more than
they otherwise would-that is. if
they want any fish.
should think it matter of in
difference to the factory men whether
such a bill is passed or not. They
do not need to cook herring for fer
tilizer. They do it more to help
the fishermen than for the profit
there is in it, but to the fishermen
it means the difference between a
partial success and absolute failure.
Mass-meetings have been called to
meet at Sunnybank Friday night
and at Reedyille Saturday night to
formulate protests against this bill.
1t would be well if fishermen every
where would take action in the
matter.