Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-12-10
NETS N
sea Fishers OF the AtIanfIc Coast
Who Use Lines Organize to Pro-
teCt the sport.

The netting of fish along the coast
of New Jersey and New York has
now grown to such proportions, ac-
cording to saltwater fishermen
those who angie for the sport OF it
that very few weak, blue, sleeps
head, and other edible fish are able
to get into the East and North rtV-
ers and nearby bays, being absolute
ly impossible for the fish to pass the
thousands of nets, some of which ex-
tend out into the ocean for q dis
lance of more than 1000 feet. To
put an end to or at least greatly to
minimize the evil of netting, the salt
water fishermen have banded togeth-
er in a league, with a membership OF
about a thousand, reports the New
York Times.
The nets along the Jersey coast ex-
tend from a point near Seabright up
TO the Atlantic Highlands. They vary
in length all the way from 500 to
1000 feet, and are to be found by the
thousands in the district mentioned.
The hshermen's association last
year attempted to get a law passed
by the New York and New Jersey leg
islatures that would compel the users
Of nets to raise them from moo Friday
until the FOLLOWING Monday thus giving
the fish a chance to swim into New
York harbor and other nearby
places, where the pleasure-seeking
angler might have an opportunity to
enjoy his sport with some chance of
making a good catch now and then.
The attempt was a failure, however,
and nothing was accomplished.
Speaking Of this attempt to secure
aid from the legislatures, a promi-
nent fisherman said the other day:
"When we tried to get the law
passed making 1t compulsory on the
professional fishermen to raise their
nets from Friday until Monday, the
New York legislature would not even
give us q hearing. AS things stand
now, it lie almost impossible for any
fab to run the gauntlet of the thou
sands of huge nets that line the coast
ali the way from the Highlands 70 g
point of Barnegat. To show the ex-
tent to which this evil Of netting
has grown, it a be proved that in
the last few years very few Of the
eatable fish have been caught with
the line in the district affected by
this Wholesale catching Of them with
nets. There was q time not so long
ago when of Barnegat you could see
hundreds of little fishing boats con.
tanning anglers busy hauling in the
eatable fish. They IRE out Of bust
ness low, though, FOR ten METERS car
DO the work Of hundreds Of line fish,
eTmOn.
'The Rsh always seek the sur
HnA where there are plenty Of
worms. The METERS know this, and
hsnce stretch their nets right from
the surf line to 3 distance Of a
much a. 1000 feet out into the
ocean"
Jamaica bay, where the law prohib
&c the netting Of hsh, is another
place frequented By the offending net
tsra, according to the fishermen. Tit
netters down there, they say, r 81
malicious that Il they find out tina
e man who fishes for the sport Of &
e aware Of their practices, they vii
cut holes IN his boat, and in otheI
WAYS make life, so far as angling !
concerned, almost unbearable To-
him. In order TO put an end to TIL
netting Of fish In Jamaica bay, there
fore, the fishermen have had printe'
and posted In conspicuous places pla
cards offering q reward of $50 70
the arrest and conviction Of any per
son caught netting fish in that VI
entity.