The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-02
Bosrd OF Fisheries.
Editor Times

Editor Times:
sir.-Will you favor your patrons in
the country with some information OF
The duties Of the State Board of Fish
cries, and how the present board are
cfscharsing their duties? What are they
doing towards stocking the streams OIL
tho State with fish adapted thereto!
Your correspondent has hot heard OF
much having been donc III TINS dlrec-
ton since Colonel McDonald, VINO was
chief 10 the State Board of Fisheries,
accepted tho office of United States Com
missioner of Fisheries which he fitied
acceptably to the time of his death,
about six or eight years since.
At tho time that lie and his able asso-
ciatcs composed the State Boards, having
as one of its numbers the late Alex.
Mcseley, formerly editor OF the Whls'
substantial progress was made III stock
ing James River and other streams OF
the state with black bass, California
salmon. and other game fish for the IN
land Inhabitants of the State. From The
aforementioned fish the up-coUntrY peo-
pic have had considerable benefit, though
many other kinds that have been offered
hv scientists and the United States Com
missioner of Fisheries are well worth
a trial in our streams, which Wall, IN
part afford cheap and wholesome food
for The country taxpayers.
Has anything been done by the present
board or its predecessors towards car.
rying out this law requiring owners OF
cams TO erect fish ladders so as not TO
obst,~lct the passage of fish? Such "a
LAW was passed by the General Assem-
his. az :l7a State more than twenty wears
AGO II il was ever repeated or te9teu
me u..,..s, t am not aware II II.
iu the issue of your valuable paper OIL
2ilh instant, YOU maintain mat Cover
nor Montague expected 10 take up me
matter of appointments of members OIL
the State Board of Fisheries shortly, and
an tho old members are applicants Tor
r,appointmcnt In the interest of the
country people. l suggest that II IS q
matter worthy Of enquiry on the part OIL
The Governor 10 ascertain IL ms i'oai u
as at present constituted. Is conducting
lis work and Investigations as scientists
and practically. III sucn u way as 10 re-
suit in good TO the people OF the Whole
state Ne do occasionally sec notice
that they arc nj work in the oyster belt.
and also note that quite a number oil
the members OF the board are from the
4 Tidcwatcr region, where the people are
already supplied with an abundance OF
fine fish and oysters. Has the time not
come when all of The streams OF me
Valley. Piedmont, and Southside var
rinis. should he stocked with the best
lIp-to-date fish? Provided this could DC
Gcnc speedily, it would give an occa,
sional change of diet 10 the hog and
l,ominy'' farmers of the Valley and the
Fea-Ridge" inhabitants OF the South
/ side.
Cannot the few upland members Of the
/! board be persuaded TO direct their ener-
! GIGS TO accomplish this end?
1 Win yolg Mr. Editor, be so kind as 10
! give me The definite address Of the
boards ] wrote to chairman OF the
! board at Richmond some weeks ago Tor
Information in regard TO fish; also re-
Gently TO the secretary, and have not
heard from either OF them.
Does The board publish q report of It's
| work and distribute it for the inforina-
! ton of those who are Interested on this
subject? In the absence of a general
State law taxing dogs. it is impracuc-
able for the Southside farmers TO raise
sheep extensively; therefore. it is i'm
/ portant that fish culture should be en-
{. phasized for the streams Of tho State,
and in addition it becomes necessary for
/ the farmers TO have it as an adjunct 10
/ The farms. as it is an easy matter with
steel traps and shotgun to destroy the
i enemies to the fish. While, OIL the other
i hand. it is impossible for him to protect
/ his focks from the worthless non-faSed