Evening star., 1902-02-15
Proposed Law in Maryland to
Exact a License.
MUCH LOCAL INTEREST
GAME AND FISH PROTECTIVE AS
ISOLATION ALARMED.
President Robley d. Evans Issues Cir
cular Giving Reasons Why Bill
Should Not Pass.

Should Not Pass.
| Members of the Fish and Game Protec-
| tive Association of the District of Colun-
bta are displaying some anxiety concerning
the proposed amendment to the Maryland
| fish law SO far as Montgomery county Is
concerned. The amendment pending before
the legislature provides that persons who
| fish or hunt within the county mentioned
| must first take out license. Particular
! attention Is being paid by the local asso-
clation to the question of angling. 1t is
claimed that The proposed amendment Is
| the work OF anglers who live in and about
| Rockville, and that it's enactment will de-
prive many Washingtonians of legitimate
pleasure after they have worked so hard
| to stock the river and canal with game
| fish.
| The matter is one which also appeals to
| the keepers Of hotels and boarding houses
along the Potomac river from the Chain
bridge to Washington Junction. as many of
| these people depend almost wholly upon
Washington anglers for support. Admiral
| Robiey d. Evans. president, and DR.. Will
lam r. Young secretary of the local asso-
| citation, have prepared a circular letter con.
| cerning the subject, which is of interest to
all anglers In this city who visit the upper
Potomac.
| The letter Is as follows:
What the Association Has Done.
THE Game and Fish Protective Associa-
| tion views with alarm the suggested amend
ments to the Maryland fish and game law.
which proposes to require persons who fish
| or hunt within Montgomery county to take
out a license. The members Of the Game
| and Fish Protective Association of the Dis
| frfct nj cd ho p3f a
| which resulted in the enactment of the trt-
| state Potomac river fish protective law, and
| expended considerable money and energy
| in securing the passage of that act.
| This association instigated the move
| ment to seine the Chesapeake and Ohio
| canal In the winter after the water had
| been drawn off. and paid the expenses for
| the seining. assisted by contributions Of the
angling fraternity in the District, and
| thereby saved thousands Of bass. crappie
and other fishes. which would otherwise
| certainly have perished as soon as heavy
| freeze occurred. All these fish were put in
| the Potomac river. which practically re.
stocked the stream. Our association did
| this two seasons at a large expenditure ct
| money.
Stocked the River With Fish.
"In the fall Of 1890, through the efforts of
this association. nineteen cans Of black bass
| fry were placed in the Potomac river be-
! tween Little Falls and Great Falls, all
within Montgomery county. During the
year just passed this association made
| requistion for. and had placed in the Poto-
mac river, 1.73O.OOO pike perch, otherwise
| known as wall-eyed pike or Susquehanna
salmon. This plant was made above Little
| Falls in Montgomery county. individual
| members OF this association have also
| stocked the Potomac river at various times
| with crappie, and very recently the asso-
| citation had placed In the mouth of one OF
| the creeks large consignment of rock
| bass
"This is some OF the work which has been
| accomplished by an association composed
Of as conscientious sportsmen as ever or
| ganized, with the reasonable expectation
that they would derive in part the pleas
ures and benefits accruing from their eff
! forts and now that these great ends have
| been accomplished it is but natural that
| We should be alarmed at threatened legiS-
! lation which would practically debar us
from roaping any Of the fruits Of our la
| borS.
An Injustice to True Sportsmen.
aside from the foregoing the Anglers
Club Is located on the river in Montgomery
! county. possessing very valuable prop
| erty there, improved and established at a
| large cost. the members of which are
mostly citizens Of the District Of Columbia.
The purpose for which this club was or
ganized was that the members might have
| a quiet and retired place where they might
go from time to time for rest and recrea-
ton. They are all true and law-abiding
anglers, who never violate a game or fish
| law, and their presence tends to restrain
others who incline to disregard those laws.
The enactment of the proposed law would
largely destroy the usefulness Of this club
because Of the increase in the cost Of the
pleasure.
1.-The Montgomery County Sycamore Is
| land Club Is an Incorporated body com.
posed Of anglers. which has bought and
Many Of the members Of that club. like
those Of the Anglers Club, are citizens o1
the District Of Columbia. They. too. OBJ
serve the fish protective laws and jeal.
their island against violations of the fish.
ing laws. The moral support of both these
clubs has been thrown with that OF the
Fish and Game Protective Association In
the matter OF restocking the river. as well
as protecting the fishes from vandalism
Citizens Of Montgomery county have beer
in no way disturbed because of these or.
ganizations. Us they have created condi
srable. and 1t might be reasonable to ex.
pect feeling of appreciation rather than
an unkindly one.
Many Can't Afford to Pay.
"Stil another phase of this subject pre-.
sents itself. There are many persons ir
the District who cannot afford to pay a II.
cense for the privilege Of fishing, and the
proposed law would consequently debal
them from one of their most pleasant
healthful and innocent pastimes. Hun
dreds of residents Of Washington spend
their summer season In Montgomery coun-
ty. drawn there because Of the fishing at
fractions, spending money freely among
the inhabitants for board. boats. bait,
livery, ETC., and such law as is under
discussion would cut Off that source OF
revenue from the residents OF that county
Taking all the foregoing facts into con-
! sideratiOn. we feel that the enactment OF
the law as proposed would work a great
injustice upon many worthy persons, and
we earnestly ask you to exercise your In
duence against a bill. the enactment OF
which would deprive 50 many people OF q
legitimate pleasure"
Copies OF the letter will be sent to men,
bers OF the Maryland legislature and 9th
ers who are interested In the subject. and
every effort possible will be made to de-
feat the proposed amendment.